This course explains the chemical and chemical engineering aspects of processes for the exploitation of biomasses and of other renewable raw materials.

The chemistry at the basis of the conversion processes will be introduced, then the processes and plants for the profuction of energy, fuels or chemical products from renewable raw materials will be discussed in depth. Due to the growing interest towards the substiution of primary biomasses with secondary biomasses, a part of the course will be dedicated to the waste-to-energy market, and to the emerging technologies that can be used to convert waste materials into valuable products. A focus on the economical and environmental sustainability issues related to the different sources will be discussed. 

The subsitution of fossil energy sources with renewable materials represents one of today's biggest engineering challenges for the improvement of the quality of our environment. For this reason, the knowledge of the technical and economical aspects related to the exploitment of such materials is of great importance for the chemical engineers of today, who will more and more have to face problems related to energy and environment in their working lives.

This course aims to give the students the basic knowledge to understand the technical and environemntal aspects related to the exploitment and the conversion of renewable raw materials, thereby provoding them with the elements and instruments for a quantitative analysis of the related problems.

The lectures, exercises, and the exam wil allow the students to:

- know and discuss about data regarding energy markets from fossil and renewable fuels

- know the principles of chemistry and chemical engineering related to the exploitement of renewable raw materials

- evaluate the environmental and economical issues related to the exploitment of renewable raw materials

- analyse problems related to the exploitment and conversion of renewable raw materials from a quantitative point of view

- prepare, present, and discuss a presentation on a topic related to renewable raw materials 

The arguments of the course follow the typical scheme of a course of chemical industry, thus illustrating the product relevance, and then investigating the processes and plants for the exploitment of the different energy resources.

More in detail, the course will include the following topics:

1. Overview of the energy market and energy resources. Illustration of the global energy market and comparison between the exploitment of fossil and renewable energies. Introduction on the use of green sources for the production of chemicals and fuels. Forecasts for the evolution of the renewable energy market for different possible scenarios. Regulatory framework in the energy sector and its consequences on the market.

2. Principles of organic chemistry related to biomass exploitation as energy source. Introduction about chemical properties and reactions that are at the basis of the exploitment of biomasses as energy sources. Oleochemistry related to the production of biodiesel from vegetal or animal oils (esterification and trans-esterification), chemistry of carbohydrates related to the production of bioethanol (fermentation), and other chemical reactions related to the production of biogas or bio-oil.

3. Biomass. This topic represents the central and principal part of the course. Definition of biomass and distinction beetween primary and secondary biomasses. Photosynthesis and chemistry of biomasses. Overview of biomass conversion processes. Thermochemical processes: combustion, gassification, pirolysis. Biochemical processes: transesterification, fermentation, digestion. Description of processes and plants. Economic and environemntal sustainability. Innovative technologies and future perspectives. Biorfeineries: description and classification. Practical examples.

4. Waste-to-energy. Use of organic wastes as biomasses. Description of traditional and new technologies for the waste treatment and its conversion into energy or biofuels. Waste treatment plant design in consideration of economic and environmental issues. Practical examples.

5. Biomass derivates, biopolymers and paper. Description of biomass derivate materials (e.g., cellulose) applied to different industrial sectors, suchas pharma, food, etc.  Bionass conversion into biopolymers. PLA, PHB as major product obtained by chemical and fermentative processes.

6. Green solvent. Description of the great importance of green solvents on the market. Emissions fo volatile compounds related to green solvents and dircetives limiting their use. New types of green solvents.

Basic concepts of organic and inorganic chemistry. Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the processes are treated within the course.

Oral exams, with a first part dedicated to the explanation of a scientific paper pre-authorized by the teacher.

The student will be required to make a classroom presentation on specific aspects related to the conversion of a renewable raw material, going in depth into the problem and using the knowledge acquired during the course. 

The evaluation of the presentation will be based on the capability of the student to demonstrate the acquisition of the topics explained during the course, to carry out a numerical evaluation related to the topic exposed, and to expose the presentation in a clear and effective manner.

The bibliography of the course is dispensed at each lesson. It includes scientific papers, books chapters, and technical sheets.