Unit Operations

Overview

A unit operation, not to be mistaken with a unit process, describes a single step in a series of steps where a physical change occurs [1]. Unit operations can be placed consecutively to create a desired product. These unit operations complete a multitude of tasks and are used in fields such as water treatment, petrochemicals and in the purification of materials.

Unit operations in chemical engineering can be placed into sub categories to further describe their purpose [2]: