SUSTAINABLE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- PIER PAOLO GIOVANNINI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- CHIM/11
Training objectives
- The course will furnish to the students an overview on the main chemical and biotechnological processes devoted to increase the environmental and economical sustainability of the agri- and aquaculture through the upgrading of the waste.
In particular, the lessons will focus on processes for the production of energy, biofuels, commodity and specialty chemicals, as well as on the production of substances applicable to the agri- and aquacultural sectors.
At the end of the course, the students will gain concepts usefull to identify the more promising chemical and biotechnological processes for the waste upgrading. Prerequisites
- Basical concepts of general and organic chemistry
Course programme
- Introduction to the biochemistry of fermentative pathways.
Bioethanol production:
Chemical properties of the feedstock for the production of first, second and third generation bioethanol. The main fermentative microorganisms, their original and modified fermentative pathways. Bioethanol from non-fermentative processes. Technology of the fermentative bioethanol production (batch and continuous processes, chemical and enzymatic saccharification, recovery and purification of the product).
Biodiesel production:
Chemical composition of the feedstock for the production of first, second and third generation biodiesel. Technology of the chemical and enzymatic processes and new strategies for the revamping of petrochemical plants for the production diesel-like fuels from fat-rich waste. Upgrading of vegetable fats and oils to products other than biodiesel with uses in agriculture (surfactants, biocides).
Biomethane production
Chemical composition of agricultural and livestock waste suited for biomethane production. Biochemistry of anaerobic fermentation and technology of the process: digesters configurations and methane purification equipment.
Gasification
Fundamentals of the synthesis gas production process and of its transformation to chemicals and fuels through industrial scale chemical and biotechnological processes.
Production of bio-hydrogen
Photo-fermentation processes and fermentation in the dark. Technology of the related bioreactors.
Other strategies for the upgrading of agricultural and livestock waste
Direct use and derivatives as adsorbent materials in the purification of heavy metals. Direct use and derivatives for the formulation of controlled release fertilizers. Didactic methods
- Lectures with the use of power point presentations and blackboard
Learning assessment procedures
- The exam will aim to verify the achievement of the above reported objectives and will consist of an oral test. In particular, the student will be invited to speak topic of his choice. Then three or four additional questions will be addressed to the student in order to verify its preparation and attitude to connect concepts and notions highlighted in different parts of the course program. The exam will be passed if at least one third of the questions will be answered.
Reference texts
- The lessons organized as electronic files will be furnisced to the students by the teacher. This material is exaustive on the course an is more than enough for the passi ng of the exam.
For further in-deep, the following texts should be noted:
C. M. Drapcho, N. P. Nhuan, T. H. Walker
Biofuels Engineering Process Technology McGraw-Hill Ed.2008
J. Clark, F. Deswarte
Introduction to chemicals from biomass
Wiley Ed. 2008
