Chemical Engineering in Aqueous Systems

Water is one of the most commonly used solvents, auxiliary agents, coolants, heating substances, and  working fluids in industrial applications. Water has several special characteristics that make it unique.  For instance, when water freezes, its density decreases. The purification and energy-efficient and cost-effective recycling of water is important on the global level.

Water has an important role in many unit operations in applications of the chemical industry, hydrometallurgy, wood processing, food production, the metal industry and biorefining. For instance, different types of unit operations of water systems include

•     precipitation
•     crystallization
•     freezing
•     eutectic freeze crystallization
•     drying
•     evaporation
•     absorption
•     adsorption
•     dissolution
•     heat transfer
•     post-processing of liquids and solids

For a deeper understanding and modelling of production processes, it is also important to know the states of equilibrium between multiphase systems. The gas-liquid, liquid-liquid, and solid-liquid states of equilibrium in water systems need to be known with a sufficient degree of precision.