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Advanced Undergraduate Courses

INQU 5006. MATHEMATICAL TOPICS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: (MATE 4009 or MATE 3048) and INQU 4005.

Statistical analysis of experimental data, curve fitting, and sampling theory; nomography; problem solving with digital computers. Emphasis is given to chemical engineering applications.

INQU 5008. COMPUTER SIMULATION OF PROCESSES AND UNITS (I). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: INGE 3016, INQU 4002, and authorization of the Director of the Department.

Analysis, design, and simulation of chemical processes and units using computer programs developed by students under guidance of a faculty member.

INQU 5009. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS TO BIOMEDICAL SYSTEMS (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Authorization of the Director of the Department.

Modeling and analysis of vital functions in the human body by methods similar to those used to study the behavior of processing units in chemical plants, such as tracer techniques, microscopic and cell-scale mass and energy transfer, fluid mechanics of the circulatory system, and reactor kinetics applied to body systems.

INQU 5015. FUNDAMENTALS OF AIR POLLUTION (I). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INCI 4008 or Corequisite: INQU 4002.

Classification and extent of air pollution problems; meteorology and air pollution; dispersion from effluents; the effect of air pollution on plants and animals; visibility problems; socioeconomic impact of pollution problems; analytical and experimental sampling methods; equipment and process for abating air pollution; governmental regulations for air pollution control.

INQU 5018. AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (II). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INQU 4010 or Corequisite: INCI 4008.

A discussion of the theory, principles, and practices related to engineering control of particulate and gaseous emissions from natural, industrial, agricultural, commercial, and municipal sources of atmospheric pollution.

INQU 5019. INDUSTRIAL WASTE CONTROL (I). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INCI 4008 or Corequisite: INQU 4002.

The minimization of industrial wastes through the proper design and operation of manufacturing plants; treatment and disposal of industrial wastes, with emphasis on the chemical industries in Puerto Rico.

INQU 5021. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROCESS DESIGN I (I, II). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: ECON 3021. Corequisites: INQU 4002 and INQU 4017.

Principles of economic evaluation, cost estimation, mathematical techniques and process simulation as applied to chemical engineering design.

INQU 5022. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROCESS DESIGN II (I, II). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: INQU 4017 and INQU 4002, and INQU 5021.

Application of the principles of economic evaluation, cost estimation, mathematical techniques, and simulation to the chemical engineering design of processes and/or equipment.

INQU 5025. ANALYSIS AND CONTROL OF PROCESSES (I, II). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: INQU 4002, INQU 4017 and INQU 4008.

Mathematical simulation of chemical and physical processes. Analysis of first and second order systems; control modes; control hardware; roots locus and frequency response analysis; optimum control settings; applications to the design of control systems.

INQU 5026. MICROCLIMATE AND DISPERSION OF AIR POLLUTANTS (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INQU 4002 or INCI 4008.

Discussion of the elements of microclimate in urban, rural, and valley environments. Dispersion of air pollutants in these environments.

INQU 5027. EQUILIBRIUM STAGE PROCESSES (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: INQU 4002 and INGE 3016.

The equilibrium stage concept is applied to the analysis and design of stage-wise separation processes, with application to distillation, gas absorption, and extraction. Multicomponent systems, computer methods, and practical aspects of design are studied.

INQU 5028. ADVANCES IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (On demand). Two credit hours. Two hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INQU 4002. Corequisite: INQU 4027.

Discussion of chemical engineering topics in which recent advances are particularly striking.

INQU 5030. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY II (I, II). Two credit hours. Two three-hour laboratory periods per week. Prerequisites: INQU 4002 and INQU 4017. Corequisite: INQU 5025.

Experimental studies on mass transfer, process control, fermentation, kinetics and catalysis using pilot plant equipment at the Unit Operations Laboratory.

INQU 5035. BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: INQU 4017 or (QUIM 4042 and QUIM 5072).

Concepts of microbiology and biochemistry. Kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reaction networks and immobilized enzyme systems; transport phenomena in microbial systems; biological reactor design and analysis; analysis of multiple interacting microbial populations.

INQU 5036. PARTICULATE SYSTEMS (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INQU 4002.

Creation, characterization, separation and agglomeration of particles. Sizing fractionation of powders, surface area and pore size determinations. Pulverization, crystallization, agglomeration, tableting and granulation.

INQU 5037. MEMBRANE SEPARATION PROCESSES. Three credit hours. Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Prerequisite: INQU 4002.

Study of the principles of membrane separation processes such as: reverse osmosis, nano¬filtration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, dialysis, electrodialysis, gas permeation, and pervapora¬tion. The study will cover mass transfer and the design and operational aspects for both liquid and gas separation systems. The separation, purification, and recovery processes will be applied to the chemical, biochemical, and food industries.

INQU 5045. TRANSPORT PHENOMENA (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: (INQU 4008 and INQU 4010) or INCI 4008.

Momentum, energy, and mass transport. Emphasis is given in the understanding of basic physical principles and their mathematical description.

INQU 5995. SPECIAL PROBLEMS (I, II, S). One to three credit hours. One to three laboratory, library or independent work periods per week. Prerequisite: Authorization of the Director of the Department.

Undergraduate research problems in chemical engineering or related field. Topics vary with interest of student and instructor. Open only to outstanding chemical engineering students.

Graduate Courses

INQU 6001. MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (I). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Authorization of Department Director.

Mathematical formulation and analysis of chemical engineering problems: application of linear algebra, vector analysis, and advanced ordinary differential equations.

INQU 6002. NUMERICAL METHODS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (II). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Authorization of the Director of the Department.

Formulation and numerical analysis of chemical engineering problems: application of partial differential equations, boundary value problems, orthogonal functions, and error analysis.

INQU 6005. REACTOR DESIGN (I). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

Analysis and design of batch and continuous chemical reactors for homogeneous, heterogeneous, catalytic and non-catalytic reactions; residence time distribution; influence of mass and heat transport on yield and product distributions; stability and optimization of reactors.

INQU 6006. SIMULATION OF CHEMICAL PROCESSES (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

A study of modern numerical procedures suitable for digital computer simulations; principles of formulation of mathematical models, fundamental laws. Advanced analysis of momentum, energy, and mass transport in continuous media.

INQU 6007. OPTIMIZATION OF CHEMI¬CAL PROCESSES (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INQU 6006.

Application of optimization techniques to chemical engineering problems. Emphasis on minimum and maximum theory, geometric programming, linear programming, dynamic programming, and search techniques.

INQU 6008. ADVANCED PROCESS DE¬SIGN TECHNIQUES (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: Authorization of the Director of the Department.

Study of techniques for the solution of complex systems of non-linear process equations as encountered in process design. Computer calculations appropriate for process design. Typical flow-sheet-type design programs. Study of optimization techniques.

INQU 6016. ADVANCED TRANSPORT PHENOMENA (II). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

Advanced analysis of momentum, energy and mass transport of continuous media. Analytical and numerical solutions to the equations of change, transport coefficients, boundary layer theory, relationship between microscopic and macroscopic balances, and dimensional analysis.

INQU 6017. ANALYSIS OF SEPARATION PROCESSES (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

Application of phase equilibria to chemical engineering separation processes. Emphasis is given to multicomponent systems, particularly in distillation and absorption processes. Ideal and non-ideal mixtures, including azeotropic and extractive distillation. Design of separation equipments by analytical and numerical methods.

INQU 6018. ADVANCED HEAT TRANSFER (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

Advanced studies in heat transfer applied to chemical processes and equipment design.

INQU 6019. ADVANCED THERMODYNAMICS (I). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

A study of thermodynamics, emphasizing thermodynamic potential functions, fugacities in gas and liquid mixtures, thermodynamic properties, and phase equilibria.

INQU 6025. CATALYSIS (II). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

A study of heterogeneous reactions, reaction rate, catalysis, activity and selectivity of catalytic agents, and surface chemistry; an analysis of industrial catalysts.

INQU 6028. INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL PROCESS (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INQU 5025.

Application of advanced control techniques to chemical engineering processes. Emphasis on feedback/feedforward control, ratio control, multi-variable process control, interacting control loops, and sampled-data systems.

INQU 6029. GRADUATE SEMINAR (I,II). From zero to one credit hour. From zero to one one-hour session per week.

Research presentation by graduate students and faculty members.

INQU 6035. SELECTED TOPICS IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING (On demand). Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

Advanced topics in biochemical engineering: kinetics of enzymatic reactions, transport phenomena in microbial systems, deviation from ideal flow patterns, design and analysis of biological reactors.

INQU 6036. ENGINEERING PROJECT (I, II, S). Three to six credit hours.

Comprehensive study of a specified chemical engineering problem selected so as to integrate the knowledge acquired in the graduate program of study. This project fulfills one of the terminal requirements of the Master of Engineering program, and will be governed by the norms established for this purpose.

INQU 6037. MASTER'S THESIS (I, II, S). Six credit hours.

Research in chemical engineering, and presentation of a thesis.

INQU 6995. SPECIAL PROBLEMS (On demand). One to three credit hours. One to three hours of lecture per week.

Investigations and special problems in chemical engineering.

INQU 8005. FINITE ELEMENTS IN TRANSPORT PHENOMENA. Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

Application of finite elements to the solution of differential equations governing distinct and practical problems in transport phenomena.

INQU 8006. ATMOSPHERIC TRANSPORT PHENOMENA. Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: INQU 6016.

Turbulent momentum, heat and mass transport in the atmosphere. Modeling of atmospheric pollutants dispersion.

INQU 8015. MODELS FOR FLOW SYSTEMS IN CHEMICAL REACTORS. Three credit hours. Two hours of lecture and one one-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: INQU 6005 and INQU 6007.

A study of the flow systems in various chemical reactors involving multiphase transport processes associated with chemical reactions. Includes the study of: multiphase chemical reactors, types of flow systems, mathematical models applicable to chemical reactors, analytical and numerical optimization methods.

INQU 8016. SPECIAL TOPICS IN HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS. Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: INQU 6025.

Selected topics in heterogeneous catalysis. Includes a catalyst design project or a seminar on recent research.

INQU 8025. FOOD FERMENTATION AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. Three credit hours. Three hours of lecture per week.

A study of the chemistry, microbiology and technology in fermentation processes in the food industry. Includes topics such as: kinetics of biological processes, optimal conditions for the design of fermentors, thermodynamic and stoichiometric limitations, and production of industrial microorganisms by genetic engineering processes.

INQU 8099. DOCTORAL SEMINAR. One credit hour.

Oral presentations and discussions in areas of interest.

INQU 8995. SPECIAL PROBLEMS. One to six credit hours.

Research and special problems in Chemical Engineering.

INQU 8999. DOCTORAL DISSERTATION. Eighteen credit hours.

Development, preparation and defense of a thesis or dissertation based on an original research project in Chemical Engineering, which represents a significant contribution to the state of knowledge of this discipline.

A list of professors who engage in graduate activities in the Department follows, including the highest earned degree, date, and institution granting the degree. Research and teaching interests are also included.

JAIME BENITEZ-RODRIGUEZ, Professor, Ph.D., 1976, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Research Interests: Air Pollution, Composting Waste Treatment. Teaching Interests: Air Pollution Control, Unit Operations, Thermodynamics, Dispersion of Air Pollutants.

MOSES N. BOGERE, Associate Professor, Ph.D., 1993, University of Akron. Research Interests: Multiphase Transport Phenomena in Dispersed Multiphase Systems, Control and Optimization, Applied Mathematics. Teaching Interests: Multiphase Transport Phenomena, Process Control, Modeling and Instrumentation, Process Design.

JULIO G. BRIANO-PERALTA, Professor, Ph.D., 1983, University of Pennsylvania. Research Interests: Thermodynamics, Absorption and Surface Phenomena, Correlation of Petroleum-Like Fluids. Teaching Interests: Thermodynamics, Momentum, Heat, and Mass Transfer.

NELSON CARDONA-MARTINEZ, Professor, Ph.D., 1989, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research Interests: Heterogeneous Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Kinetics, Surface Thermodynamics and Surface Science. Teaching Interests: Kinetics and Catalysis, Thermodynamics.

GUILLERMO COLON-BURGOS, Professor, Ph.D., 1986, University of Massachusetts. Research Interests: Fermentation, Membrane Technology, Supercritical Extraction, Mass and Energy Transfer in Porous Media. Teaching Interests: Mass and Energy Transfer, Industrial Pollution Control, Food Engineering, Material and Energy Balances.

JOSE A. COLUCCI-RIOS, Professor, Ph.D., 1985, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research Interests: Catalysis and Electrochemistry with Emphasis on Environmental. Teaching Interests: Chemical Reaction Engineering, Catalysis, Applied Mathematics, Electrochemistry and Plant Design.

L. ANTONIO ESTEVEZ-DE VIDTS, Professor, Ph.D., 1983, University of California-Davis. Research Interests: Supercritical Fluids Fundamentals and Applications; Bubble Columns Hydrodynamics and Applications; Distillation Tray Efficiency. Teaching Interests: Thermodynamics, Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer, Separation Processes, Reactor Design, and Applied Mathematics.

ARTURO J. HERNANDEZ-MALDONADO, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., 2004, University of Michigan. Research Interess: Synthesis and Characterization of Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, Zeolites, Zeolitic Crystallography, Adsorption. Teaching Interests: Mass Transfer, Transport Phenomena, Adsorption Engineering.

SATYA N. MANDAVILLI, Professor, Ph.D., 1959, Indian Institute of Technology. Research Interests: Reaction Engineering, Mass Transfer, Phase Equilibria, Solid-Solid Reactions, Bioprocessing, Bioreactor Design and Performance, Complex Biocatalytic Reactions. Teaching Interests: Chemical Engineering Kinetics, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Mass Transfer, Reactor Design, Mathematical Modeling, Transport Phenomena.

NARINDER K. MEHTA, Researcher, Ph.D., 1979, California Coast University. Research Interests: Environmental monitoring, Photo-catalytic Oxidation, Biodegradation, Corrosion Inhibition (EIS), ATR-IR of Surface Films, Instrumental Analysis.

CARLOS A. RAMIREZ-QUIÑONES, Professor, Sc.D.Ch.E., 1979, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Interests: Artificial Pancreas, Polymers as Physical Supports for Drug Delivery, Biomedical Engineering. Teaching Interests: Transport Phenomena, Kinetics, Applied Mathematics, Fundamentals of Bioengineering.

CARLOS M. RINALDI-RAMOS, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., 2002, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Interest: Continuum electromechanics, rheology of complex fluids, synthesis, characterization, and nanotechnological applications of magnetic nanoparticles. Teaching Interests: Transport Phenomena, Fluid Mechanics, Rheology.

LORENZO SALICETI-PIAZZA, Professor, Ph.D., 1996, Purdue University. Research Interests: Biochemical Engineering, Utilization of Renewable Resources. Teaching Interests: Biochemical Engineering, Process Control and Applied Statistics.

LAKSHMI N. SRIDHAR, Associate Professor, Ph.D., 1991, Clarkson University. Research Interests: Analysis and Separation Processes, Process Optimization and Control Design, Synthesis and Control. Teaching Interests: Applied Mathematics, Separation Processes, Reactions Engineering, Transport Phenomena.

DAVID SULEIMAN-ROSADO, Associate Professor, Ph.D., 1994, Georgia Institute of Technology. Research Interests: Specialty Separations and Advanced Materials. Teaching Interests: Material & Energy Balances, Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Transport Phenomena.

MADELINE TORRES-LUGO, Associate Professor, Ph.D., 2001, Purdue University. Research Interests: Biochemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials, and Polymers. Teaching Interests: Polymers, Thermodynamics.

CARLOS VELAZQUEZ-FIGUEROA, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., 1997, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut. Research Interests: Process Control, Application of Control Theory to Pharmaceutical Operations and Biotechnology, Supercritical Fluid for Pharmaceutical Applications, and Parameter Estimation. Teaching Interests: Process Control, Instrumentation, Material and Energy Balances, Pharmaceutical Technologies.

GILBERTO VILLAFAÑE-RUIZ, Professor, Ph.D., 1974, Tulane University. Research Interests: Biomedical Engineering, Kinetics. Teaching Interests: Kinetics and Catalysis, Reactor Design, Biomedical Engineering.