The department possesses the material equipment necessary for work in inorganic, organic, analytical and industrial chemistry. Fume closets are installed in both laboratories for the proper handling of processes involving harmful fumes. A continuous supply of distilled water is furnished by an enclosed still. A parsons generator supplies hydrogen sulfide for the work in qualitative analysis.
Among the various special pieces of apparatus are the following: A Parr calorimeter, a centrifuge, conductivity apparatus, mechanical grinder, pumps for the production of compressed air and suction, various special pieces of apparatus for distillation and filtration and for the handling of gases.
The Chemical Engineering Laboratory
The Chemical Engineering Laboratory is arranged for the study of unit operations by the students of the chemical course. The apparatus is commercial equipment of modern design, which has been equipped with numerous meters, gauges and measuring devices for accurately testing the machines. The students make quantitative studies of factory operations and of the problems involved in the design of equipment. The unit operations studied include heat transfer, fluid flow, distillation, evaporation, drying, etc.
A copper, forced-convection, vacuum evaporator, having a capacity of one thousand pounds of water per hour is available. This machine is so equipped that accurate heat and material balances may be obtained and operation costs calculated as in commercial practice.
A very flexible apparatus is the copper experimental distillation unit, which is 23 feet high. This consists of a 50-gallon kettle, a 19-plate rectifying column, condensers, cooler and an automatic decanter and feed control. Five of the sections of the column are of Pyrex glass, so the actual operation can be carefully studied. It can be operated on several modifications of batch, steam or continuous distillation.
The batch drier, equipped with automatic temperature and humidity control, is arranged for the study of the drying process as it is carried out in commercial practice.
A rotary suction drum filter, Sweetland, plate and frame, and stoneware suction filter are used in experiments on filtration.
Experiments on grinding include a study of a Ball Mill, Jaw Crusher, Micro pulverizer, and an Attrition Mill.
The laboratory is also equipped with a centrifuge, sulfonator, vacuum crystallizer, autoclave and other pieces of equipment, such as pyrometers, necessary for experimental runs on the various units.