PhD in Chemical and Materials Sciences

From biomass to chemicals and biopolymers towards a sustainable future

Energy & Environment

Academic year 2022/2023

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Program
• Notes
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

Lignocellulosic biomass (the non-edible part of biomass, that usually  includes agricultural and forestry residues) has gained increasing interest in the past few decades as a renewable raw material to be converted into biofuels, chemical building blocks and even biopolymers, according to a biorefinery approach. Indeed, it is capable of driving sustainability from environmental, economic and social points of view, without competing directly with the ever-growing need for world food supply.
Therefore, this course will give an overview on the sustainable processes for biomass conversion into key building blocks, such as sugars and polyols, organic acids and furans, and on their further transformations into high added-value-added compounds. In addition, chemical and biochemical processes will be described for the production of biofuels and biopolymers, by comparing limits and advantages with fossil derived compounds. Recent advances in intensification techniques for an integrated biorefinery will be also presented as tools to improve processing yields and impact.

Results of learning outcomes

By the end of the Course, the students will:

-have a knowledge of the products that can be obtained from biomass

-be able to compare fossil sources to renewable sources in terms of products for industrial applications, advantages, limits

-have a knowledge of the main enabling technologies for process intensification

-have an overview on the already existing industrial biorefineries

Course delivery

This year, the Course will be held in presence, but the students not able to be in the classroom could follow remotely at the following link: https://unito.webex.com/meet/silvia.tabasso

(i.e. the students will be connected from their own laptops or PCs from home/office/pub). 

Lessons will be "live" and attendance of at least 70% is mandatory. This means that, out of a total of 12 hours, each student is allowed to miss a maximum of 2,5 hours.

Students who are interested in attending the Course must register on-line so that the teacher will be able to contact them via e-mail with all necessary information: links to lessons, scripts, slides, etc.

Learning assessment methods

The type of examination will entail an oral discussion with all students presenting and sharing with the class, in groups, a case study describing an already existing industrial process based on biomass conversion into chemicals or biopolymers, and the commercialization of the products. 

Program

• Biomass composition and description
• Top-Value Added Chemicals from biomass and their applications
• Biopolymers: classification and examples
• The biorefinery approach
• Enabling technologies for sustainable processes
• Process intensification for an integrated biorefinery

Class schedule

Note

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums