This question paper consists of 2 printed pages, each of which is identified by the Code Number PREN109101

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering January 2007 Examinations

PREN109101 RESOURCES, PROCESSES AND HAZARDS 1

Time allowed: 2 hours Answer three questions Question 1 (compulsory) and one question from each section 1 COMPULSORY QUESTION
(YOU SHOULD SPEND NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR ANSWERING THIS QUESTION)

With the aid of sketches and/or chemical formulae, where applicable, explain what is meant by each of the following: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) bucket wheel excavation of ores ball and rod milling of ores hydrocyclone classification of particles froth flotation of minerals the mechanism and practice by which canning enables efficient food preservation a filter press used for solids recovery from a slurry the electrochemical manufacture of sodium hydroxide factors influencing the selection of a suitable chemical route for the commercial scale manufacture of acetyl salicylic acid from a salicylic acid feedstock. [5 marks each] SECTION A

Describe the mining technique and equipment you would use to extract TWO of the following: (a) (b) (c) a deep coal seam a porphyry copper deposit a lead/zinc vein deposit. [10 marks each] Turn over

PREN109101

Write notes on TWO of the following operations used in the chemical processing of minerals, illustrating your answers with diagrams and/or flowsheets as appropriate: (a) (b) (c) ore leaching techniques purification of leach liquors by solvent extraction electro-winning of metals.

[10 marks each]

SECTION B 4 (a) In bioprocessing, explain and differentiate between the two terms catabolic and anabolic pathways and primary and secondary metabolic processes. [5 marks] Explain why biochemical reactors usually have to be sterilised prior to their use (say) for a fermentation reaction. [5 marks] Citric acid can be manufactured from the aspergillus niger fungus. Review this process and one of the manufacturing routes used commercially. Highlight in your answer the culture conditions typically adopted and the criteria that need to be followed to prevent the formation of oxalic acid as a by-product. [10 marks]

(b)

(c)

(a)

Briefly describe the two factors that govern the rate at which a chemical reaction takes place. Define all terms. Include in your answer a key equation associated with each factor. [5 marks] Solvents play a significant role in mediating the rates of chemical reactions. Explain how the selection between a protic or an aprotic solvent can affect the rate of reaction. [5 marks] In the summer of 1976, a major accident took place at the Hoffman la Roche plant at Givandan near the Italian town of Seveso. Explain what happened, why it happened and the lessons to be learned from this accident. [10 marks]

(b)

(c)

END