Chemistry of Petrochemical Processes, Second EditionSamir Matar and Lewis F. HatchGulf Professional Publishing, 2001ISBN 0 88415 788 1

Reviewed by Adrian Todd(Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK)

The front cover of this text gives an accurate description of thecontentsin that it ‘providesa quickand easy access tohundredsof reactions, processes and products’. In one book one has acollection of the majority of processes associated withpetrochemical production. It is laid out in a very organizedfashion, which clearly it has to be since it is in essence a verybasic reference text. Indeed the author acknowledges that thetextisa simplescienti� capproach.This textis the2ndeditiontoa similar 1st edition text. The authors comment that this 2ndedition includes many minor additions and updates related tothe advances in processing and catalysis edition.

The 12 chapters cover the following well ordered topics;primary raw materials for petrochemicals, hydrocarbonintermediates, crude oil processing and production of hydro-carbon intermediates, non hydrocarbon intermediates,chemicals based on methane, ethane and higher paraf� nbased chemicals, chemicals based on ethylene, chemicalsbased on propylene, C4 ole� ns and diole� ns based chemi-cals, chemicals based on benzene, toluene and xylenes,polymerization, synthetic petroleum based polymers.

Within each chapter, very basic and brief information isgiven about the product, with respect to the process descrip-tion and the related chemistry. An important aspect of thebook is that within each section it provides reference tomore detailed information on the chemical processes. Thereferences therefore in themselves provide a valuableresource to the reader.

Who would be the reader? I would agree with the authorsthat it could have dual purpose, primarily as a reference,where I would see its use as a quick � rst stop to brie� y reviewa process and gain reference sources to examine in moredetail process information. The second application could beas a text for chemistry and chemical engineering students.Here, however, it should be emphasized that because it coversmany processes the information is very limited and if one wasintent in studying in detail a particular chemical or processthen its use would be to identify other sources of information.In summary a useful text to have on the shelf giving acomprehensive coverage of the many petrochemicals anda very brief description of the associated processes.

Fluidization-dynamicsThe Formulation and Applications of a PredictiveTheory for the Fluidized StateL. G. GibilaroButterworth-Heinemann, 2001232 ‡ xxiv pp, £50, ISBN 0 7506 5003 6

Reviewed by John Bridgwater(University of Cambridge, UK)

The two purposes are cited for this book. One is to give ameans of estimating the type of � uidization behaviour that

will arise in an application where experimental evidenceis lacking. The second is to provide a treatment ofwhat Professor Gibilaro terms � uidization-dynamics ‘that isreadily accessible to the non-specialist’. At a deeper andperhaps more interesting level, the book is an all toorare account of a long held interest of a highly regardedresearch worker.

The book opens with a nice historical backgroundconcerned with the evolution of the ideas that originatedin the 1960s. The author was most in� uenced by the work ofGraham Wallis and much of it has been progressed with PierUgo Foscolo. One thus hears about the seeds from which thetree has grown.

He starts by telling us how to understand particle suspen-sion from basic � uid � ow around spheres, � ow throughporous media, and the behaviour of expanded beds. Heexamines homogeneous � uidization, considering the forceson particles and how these balance. He then discussesunsteady state behaviour examining the responses of theupper and lower surfaces of a bed to changes in � uidvelocity.

He then traces the momentum equations needed forassessing the stability of the homogeneous state. Thisleads to the conclusion that homogeneous � uidization isalways unstable, which is not in accord with experience. Theargument is then aligned with the approach of Wallis thatcarries an extra term in the momentum equation. He makesuse of an approach which regards the assembly of particlesas an elastic one, this being caused by perturbations in localconcentration of particles; the argument does not seek tolink in with notions from soil mechanics.

The stability of beds is evaluated from the velocity ofvarious waves in the system. This in turn gives a stabilityparameter which can be interpreted as a function of thevolume fraction of particle in the system, this in turn leadingto the � ow behaviour. Thus the properties of the particles,the properties of the � uid phase and its velocity determinewhich type of � ow arises. He presents the Geldart classi� ca-tion of powder behaviour of � uidization with its variousregimes and provides fundamentally-based results thatreveal a good correspondence with experiment.

He then goes on to consider methods for dealing withtwo-phase models of � uidization behaviour. He � nallyconsiders slugging systems and ends with a brief accounton more detailed predictions in two-dimensional � uidizedbeds. Throughout, once a testable hypothesis is available,he is quick to compare the measurements with theoreticalvalues.

The book is well written which makes it a delight to read.Following the twisting and turning of the argument makes italmost read like a thriller at times. The style takes the readerthrough seemingly daunting concepts such as kinematic-shock and kinematic-wave velocities, and jump conditions.Not only are the explanations lucid, great care is taken tomake clear the steps of the mathematics and the linkage tothe physics. To cope readily with the work, the reader needsto have a familiarity with the use of physical arguments andtogether with a fair con� dence in the use of differentialcalculus. I suspect at some points the persuasive polish ofthe writing glides the reader too easily over issues that arequite subtle or have been the subject of great debate. Will allagree with his contentions? He hints that most, thoughperhaps not all, will be content.

Trans IChemE, Vol 80, Part A, October 2002

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