Course manager

Esperanza Jurado 

Semester schedule

Autumn (13-week period)

ECTS

5

Language of instruction

English

Course type

Elective

Qualifications

Competences corresponding to the participation in the courses Project 1-4, General and organic chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemical unit operations, Chemical engineering and Analytical chemistry 1 – is recommended.

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to give the student knowledge on existing and future biorefinery concepts, converting biomass into multiple products of bioenergy, biomaterials, and biochemicals. The students will familiarize themselves with different types of biomass, their chemical composition and transformation technologies to different bioproducts. 

Content

• Principles for production of energy and biochemicals from biomass
• Use of fats, carbohydrates, lignin, and hemicellulose in bioenergy and biochemical production
• Principles of pre-treatment of complex biomass
• Outline of the principles of a biorefinery process including chemical, biological, and thermo-chemical conversion methods
• Microbiology and metabolic pathways involved in the production/formation of biochemicals and bioenergy
• Growth conditions in bioenergy and biochemical plants, including pH, temperature, dry matter content, feed velocity, inhibitors etc.
• Design and operation of biochemicals and bioenergy plants
• Description of some basic concepts in sustainable biotechnology as bioeconomy principles and life cycle assessment

Learning targets

On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge

• Classify and explain production of energy and biochemicals from biomass
• Describe the most common fats, carbohydrates, and high molecular compounds (like lignin) that can be used for biorefinery production
• Distinguish and explain the microbiology and most applied metabolic pathways involved in the production/formation of biochemicals and bioenergy
• Describe the principles of a biorefinery including chemical, biological, and thermo-chemical conversion methods
• Distinguish and describe growth conditions in bioenergy and biochemical processes, including pH, temperature, dry matter content, feed velocity, inhibitors etc.
• Account for design and operation of a biorefinery as well as function of the individual process steps
• Outline of the principles of biorefinery products including bioenergy, biomaterials and biochemicals
• Discuss the main issues related with sustainable biotechnology as life cycle assessments and bioeconomy principles

 Skills

• Formulate the possible bioproducts related with a specific feedstock
• Identify possible challenges in biorefinery related with lignocellulosic feedstocks
• Predict results of operational changes in a biorefinery production e.g., in growth conditions such as pH, feed and temperature
• Analyze how the choice of microorganisms can affect the operation of a biorefinery
• Undertake data collection on relevant control parameters in relation to operation of a plant
• Include scientific literature in the evaluation of the operation of a biorefinery

Competences

• Evaluate suitability of biorefinery concepts
• At a basic level be able to design and plan a biorefinery
• Be able to include scientific literature in the planning and design of a biorefinery
• Be able to evaluate the economic and societal factors influencing bioenergy and biochemicals production
• Be able to evaluate pros and cons for the selection of different types of technology for biorefineries
• Be able to take a critical view on sustainable technology and environmental issues

Teaching method

Seminars, supervision, individual project work, and company visits

Qualifications for examination participation

• Fulfilment of the requirements for compulsory participation as given in the study program part 2.4.
• Participation in all planned company visits
• Participation in all planned teaching activities involving external lecturers

All shall be executed and submitted pursuant to guidelines set out by the course manager.

Examination and aids

• Submission of individual project report
• Individual oral examination based on the project report. Duration of examination: 20 min.

Permitted aids: Project report. No access to the internet. 

The final marking will be an overall assessment of the written project report and the performance at the oral examination. 

Marking 

Internal

Grading

The 7-point grading scale