Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Raum IC 3 / 121
Universitätsstraße 150
44801 Bochum
+49 (0)234 / 32 – 26 470
+49 (0)234 / 32 – 14 164
Polyakova@fluidvt.rub.de
Maria Polyakova leads a research group in chemical process development that focuses on the systematic design of resource and energy efficient separation processes using an integrated methodological toolbox, with a particular emphasis on hybrid process concepts that combine conventional and membrane based unit operations. Central elements of this toolbox are miniaturized experimental systems that reproduce key hydrodynamic and mass transfer features of industrial apparatuses, advanced sensor concepts for spatially and temporally resolved measurements, artificial intelligence supported data analysis, and methods that explicitly account for heat integration already at early stages of process synthesis. By embedding hybrid separation schemes into this framework, different combinations of distillation, membrane processes and auxiliary unit operations can be systematically compared with respect to separation performance, energy demand and implementation.
The research aims at establishing a scale bridging framework that links fundamental transport phenomena with applied process design for both stand alone and hybrid separation processes. Experimental, modelling and data driven approaches are combined to enable transparent, evidence based decisions in early process development, when design flexibility is highest and the influence of technology choices on overall process performance is most pronounced. This includes the structured assessment of process variants in which membrane operations, such as pervaporation, are integrated with distillation and other thermal processes in order to overcome azeotropic constraints and reduce energy consumption.
A major focus lies on the development and application of miniaturized measuring cells that represent characteristic sections of packed columns and related separation equipment. These setups, often equipped with conductivity based film thickness sensors, allow spatially and temporally resolved measurements of local liquid distribution, wetting behaviour and transport phenomena at strongly reduced experimental effort, thereby providing high quality data for model development, scale up and the design of intensified and hybrid processes.
The experimental platforms are increasingly combined with high throughput experimentation and data driven modelling. Artificial intelligence and machine learning methods are employed to identify structure–property–performance relationships in heterogeneous datasets and to support optimal decision making in process development, complementing mechanistic models and classical process engineering workflows. This facilitates systematic screening of operating conditions and technology combinations, particularly for hybrid flowsheets in which novel separation steps must be embedded into existing process environments.
In parallel, process integration techniques are used to incorporate energy considerations at an early design stage. Graphical and optimization based “box type” methods are applied to represent the thermal structure of alternative flowsheet options in a compact form, enabling the potential for internal heat recovery and energy savings to be assessed while the process layout is still flexible. This early integration of heat recovery concepts is particularly relevant for hybrid separation processes, in which interactions between thermal and membrane based unit operations offer additional opportunities for process intensification and improved overall efficiency.
D. Harding, M. Polyakova, D. Nowara, S. Rec, M. Grünewald, C. Bramsiepe
New process function-based selection and configuration methodology for Process Equipment Assemblies (PEAs) exemplified on the unit operation distillation.
Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, Nov.2021, 10.1016/j.cep.2021.108531
Schindel, A.-L.; Polyakova, M.; Harding, D.; Weinhold, H.; Stenger, F.; Grünewald, M.; Bramsiepe, C.
General approach for technology and Process Equipment Assembly (PEA) selection in process design
Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, 159, 10.1016/j.cep.2020.108223, 2021
M. Polyakova, A.-L. Diekmann, M. Grünewald
Overview of Innovative Technologies in Liquid-Liquid Extraction Regarding Flexibility, Chemie Ingenieur Technik, https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.202000081
Bruns, Bastian; Herrmann, Felix; Polyakova, Maria; Grünewald, Marcus; Riese, Julia
A Systematic Approach to Define Flexibility in Chemical Engineering
Journal of Advanced Manufaturing and Processing, 2 (4), DOI: 10.1002/amp2.10063, 2020
Bramsiepe, Christian; Polyakova, Maria; Stenger, Frank; Grünewald, Marcus
Anforderungsprofil für die skalenübergreifende modulbasierte Prozessentwicklung
Chemie Ingenieur Technik, 90 (9), 1218, 2018
Presentations
M. Polyakova, M. Grünewald
Application of miniaturized laboratory equipment in process development
Annual Meeting of Process Engineering and Materials Technology, Nov 2024, Frankfurt
M. Polyakova, A. Schindel, D. Harding, H. Weinhold, C. Bramsiepe, M. Grünewald
Selection of liquid-liquid extraction technologies within a process design methodology
Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet-Fachgruppen Extraktion und Membrantechnik, 04.02-05.02 (online)
M. Polyakova, J. Koch, A. Meijer, H. Weinhold, M. Grünewald
Fluiddynamische Untersuchung an einem Kreisringzentrifugalextraktor
ProcessNet Fachgemeinschaft Extraktion, Mai 2022, Frankfurt
M. Polyakova, C. Glanemann-Heitkämper, A. Schindel, C. Tewes genannt Kipp, D. Wolff, M. Grünewald
Bewertung und Auswahl von Apparaten im Rahmen einer skalenübergreifenden Prozessentwicklungsmethodik, Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet Fachgemeinschaft Prozess-, Apparate- und Anlagentechnik, November 2021, online
M. Polyakova, A.-L. Diekmann, C. Bramsiepe, D. Harding, M. Grünewald
Charakterisierung von Extraktionsapparaten im Rahmen einer skalenübergreifenden Prozessentwicklungsmethodik ProcessNet Fachgemeinschaft Extraktion, 26-28 Februar 2020, Berchtesgaden
M. Polyakova, A.-L. Diekmann, C. Bramsiepe, D. Harding, M. Grünewald
Selection of liquid-liquid extraction technologies within a process design methodolody, ProcessNet Fachgemeinschaft Extraktion 05.02.2021, online
Schindel, Anna-Lena; Schmalenberg, Mira; Polyakova, Maria; Grünewald, Marcus; Kockmann, Norbert
Matching matrix for the selection of continuous crystallization technologies exemplified by the CFI-crystallizer
Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet Fachgemeinschaft Prozess-, Apparate- und Anlagentechnik, 09.-10.11 (online)
Diekmann, Anna-Lena; Polyakova, Maria; Harding, David; Weinhold, Hannes; Grünewald, Marcus
Bewertung von Technologien im Rahmen einer skalenübergreifenden Prozessentwicklungsmethodik
Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet-Fachgemeinschaften Prozess-, Apparate-, und Anlagentechnik, 04-05.11.2019
Polyakova, Maria; Diekmann, Anna-Lena; Bramsiepe, Christian; Harding, David; Grünewald, Marcus
Apparateauswahl für die Flüssig-flüssig Extraktion im Rahmen einer skalenübergreifenden Prozessentwicklungsmethodik
Process-Net Jahrestreffen der Fachgruppe Extraktion und Phytoextrakte, 07.-08.02.2019, Muttenz, Schweiz
Polyakova, Maria; Bramsiepe, Christian; Diekmann, Anna-Lena; Harding, David; Stenger, Frank; Grünewald, Marcus
Methode für die skalenübergreifende modulbasierte Prozessentwicklung
Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet Fachgemeinschaft Prozess-, Apparate- und Anlagentechnik, 12-13 November 2018, Köln
Bramsiepe, Christian; Polyakova, Maria; Stenger, Frank; Grünewald, Marcus
Anforderungsprofil für die skalenübergreifende modulbasierte Prozessentwicklung
ProcessNet-Jahrestagung, 11. – 13.09.2018, Aachen
L. Willamowius, W. Leushacke, M. Polyakova, M. Grünewald
Messverfahren zur Untersuchung der Fluiddynamik von Bodenkolonnen, Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA-Fachgruppen Fluidverfahrenstechnik und Adsorption, 21-23.03.2023, Frankfurt
P. Pötter, M. Polyakova, M. Grünewald
Entwicklung eines flexiblen Filmdickensensors zur Bestimmung Flüssigkeitsverteilung in einer Packungskolonne, Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA-Fachgruppen Fluidverfahrenstechnik und Adsorption, 04-06.03.2024, Bochum
M. Polyakova, M. Grünewald
New perspectives on process development, DECHEMA-Forum, 11-13.09.2024, Friedrichshafen
Lisa Willamowius, Wibke Leushacke, Maria Polyakova, Marcus Grünewald
Messverfahren zur Untersuchung der Fluiddynamik von Bodenkolonnen
ProcessNet Jahrestreffen FVT und Adsorption 2023, 21.-23.03.2023, Frankfurt
M. Polyakova, A. Meijer, H. Weinhold, M. Grünewald
Fluiddynamische Untersuchungen an einem Kreisringzentrifugalextraktor, Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet Fachgruppe Extraktion, 05.02.2021, online
Weinhold, H.; Schindel, A.; Harding, D.; Polyakova, M.; Wekenborg, K.; Grünewald, G.
Entwicklung einer Prozesssynthesemethodik für Spezialchemiekalien: Herausforderungen und Ergebnisse
ProcessNet Jahrestagung, 21.-24. September, virtuell
Diekmann, Anna-Lena; Polyakova, Maria; Grünewald, Marcus
Bewertungssystem für die Apparateauswahl im Rahmen einer skalenübergreifenden Prozessentwicklungsmethode
Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet Fachgemeinschaft Prozess-, Apparate- und Anlagentechnik, 12-13 November 2018, Köln