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CODE 108662
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR CHIM/11
LANGUAGE Italian
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 2° Semester
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

The course is divided into frontal lessons and laboratory experimental tests. It is aimed at studying the main unit operations involving biotechnological methods for the production of energy and for the treatment of environmental pollutants.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide adequate knowledge for the management and the development of biotechnological processes and plants, with specific reference to environmental and energy applications. In this regard, frontal teaching will be alternated with laboratory experimental tests, aimed at setting up and monitoring biotechnological plants of interest to the chemical and process engineer.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to describe and show some of the plants used in the main biotechnology industry processes with experimental tests performed in laboratory. The student will be able to develop and design a new biotechnological process according to the required requirements and constraints, following the criteria and methods of chemical and process engineering.

 

At the end of the course, it is expected that students will be able to:

- evaluate the process steps necessary to obtain a biotechnological product.

- identify the requirements applicable in the design of biotechnological process transformation plants, as well as the ethical and environmental implications involved.

- associate each biotechnological process phase with the correct equipment together with its currents equipment.

- evaluate the equipment, operational planning and production costs of a biotechnological process through specialized software, aimed at resolving costs in terms of materials and energy.

- Analyse a biotechnological process in different scenarios.

- Managing one's social interactions with a collaborative attitude in various group activities in the class and in the laboratory.

- Draw up laboratory reports on the course experiences.

- Design simple experiments using bioreactors on laboratory scale knowing how to set up and monitor them.

PREREQUISITES

No formal prerequisites are provided.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lessons held in the classroom with the help of slides (35 hours) and of practical experiences that will be carried out by the students (15 hours). Students will work on team and individually, this way they will acquire transversal skills in terms of independent judgment and cooperation. Each group at the end of the course will present their own case study. 

Students who are working and students with dyslexia, disabilities, or other special educational needs are encouraged to contact the professor at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that take into account individual learning styles, while respecting the course objectives.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The syllabus of the course consists of:

- introduction to the main environmental biotechnological processes with examples of innovative industrial applications;

- introduction to the main energy biotechnological processes with examples of innovative industrial applications;

- description and use of bioreactors, from laboratory to industrial scale;

- identification of unit operations of biotechnological processes;

- elaboration of appropriate diagrams that represent the sequence of biotechnological processes;

- planning of the correct method to obtain process information that allows to adequately resolve the material and energy balances;

- identification in a real plant (laboratory scale plant) of the equipment needed to carry out a biotechnological process;

- translate the conceptual projects into real equipment and operational sequences;

- identification of the information that must be collected in order to scale the biotechnological processes and economic feasibility analysis.

- laboratory expriences. Experimental development of one of the studied biotechnological process using software, development of the feasibility analysis of the developed biotechnological processes.

The course contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030:

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all..

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the material shown during the lessons is provided to the students. In general, the notes of each lesson and the slides are sufficient to study and to have success in examinations.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ALESSANDRO ALBERTO CASAZZA (President)

ATTILIO CONVERTI

MARGHERITA PETTINATO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start in the second semester, according to the Polytechnique School’s program (https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/10376/studenti-orario).

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists in the production of a laboratory report on the experiences carried out in the laboratory and in an interview on the contents of the course.

There will be 3 exams during the winter session and 4 exams during the summer session.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

 Student’s preparation will be verified by a written and an oral examination. The former, will be useful to evaluate the student skill in writing scientific report, while the second will give information on the student knowledge of the topics of the course. Moreover, the quality of the exposition, the correct use of technical terminology and critical reasoning ability will also be assessed.

Exam schedule

Data appello Orario Luogo Degree type Note
17/01/2024 09:00 GENOVA Orale
14/02/2024 09:00 GENOVA Orale
11/06/2024 09:00 GENOVA Orale
03/07/2024 09:00 GENOVA Orale
24/07/2024 09:00 GENOVA Orale
06/09/2024 09:00 GENOVA Orale

FURTHER INFORMATION

During the laboratory exercitations, students will be divided into groups. The frequency is strongly recommended. For specific needs, students can talk to the professor before the starting of the course.

Student must have a personal cotton lab coat, while the personal protective equipment will be furnished by the laboratory.

For specific needs, students are invited to contact the teacher before starting the course. Working students and students with SLD, disability or other special educational needs certification are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning modalities.

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals
Clean water and sanitation
Clean water and sanitation
Affordable and clean energy
Affordable and clean energy
Responbile consumption and production
Responbile consumption and production
Climate action
Climate action

OpenBadge

 PRO3 - Soft skills - Gestione progettuale base 1 - A
PRO3 - Soft skills - Gestione progettuale base 1 - A
 PRO3 - Soft skills - Sociale base 1 - A
PRO3 - Soft skills - Sociale base 1 - A