Book excerpt: Batch processes are used to manufacture many fine organic chemicals, and as such they can be considered to underpin much of the modern chemical industry. Despite widespread use and a consequent huge contribution to wealth creation, batch processes have attracted limited attention outside the user industries. Batch chemicals processing uses a number of core techniques and technologies, such as scheduling and sequence control, agitation and batch filtration. The combination of these technologies with often complex chemistry, the multi-purpose nature of much of this type of plant, the distinctive safety and environmental issues, and a fast moving commercial environment makes the development of a successful batch process a considerable challenge for the chemist or engineer. The literature on the topics covered in this book is fragmented and often not easily accessible, so this handbook has been written to address this problem and to bring together design and process analysis methods in the core areas of batch process design. By combining the science and pragmatism required in the development of successful batch processes this new book provides answers to real problems in an accessible and concise way. Written by an international team of authors drawn from industry, consulting and academe, this book is an essential part of the library of any chemist, technologist or engineer working on the development of new or existing batch processes.