TITLE:

THERMODYNAMIC GEOMETRY OPTIMIZATION OF MULTI-STEP CHEMICAL REACTIONS

DATE:

Friday, April 27th, 2012

TIME:

3:30 PM

LOCATION:

GMCS 214

SPEAKER:

Bjarne Andresen.
Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen.
Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.

ABSTRACT:

Optimization of thermodynamic processes which proceed in steps of equilibration, e.g. sequential chemical reactions or trays in a distillation column, can be optimized conveniently using the method of thermodynamic geometry. The method and its thermodynamic/mathematical background will be discussed. These previously solved systems are monotonically driven, i.e. the reaction path goes monotonically through states of higher to lower free energy. Light driven processes like photosynthesis are special in that the absorption of a photon increases the free energy of the working substance in a particular step, thus driving the process forward. This necessitates extra care in the identification of the equilibrium steps of the process. The free energy of radiation is a delicate issue here. The procedure will be explained taking photosynthesis as the example.

HOST:

Dr. Peter Salamon.

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