88385 - BIOPOLYMERS AND SUSTAINABLE POLYMERS

Anno Accademico 2022/2023

  • Docente: Laura Mazzocchetti
  • Crediti formativi: 6
  • SSD: CHIM/04
  • Lingua di insegnamento: Inglese
  • Modalità didattica: Convenzionale - Lezioni in presenza
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Laurea Magistrale in Low Carbon Technologies and Sustainable Chemistry (cod. 9246)

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

Polymers and production processes from renewable sources, processes of recovery and recycling of polymeric materials, depolymerization and degradation of polymeric materials, production of biodegradable polymers. Membranes and polymeric technologies and composite materials for the environment and energy.

Contenuti

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of organic chemistry, general chemistry and physical chemistry concepts.

Syllabus

  • Basic knowledge of polymer science:
    • Polymerization processes;
    • Molecular weight distribution and its assessment;
    • Amorphous phase and glass transition
    • Crystal phase
    • Structure-properties correlation in polymers: thermoplastics, thermosettings, elastomers and fibers.
  • Different aspects of sustainability in polymer science
  • Definition of Sustainable Polymers and Biopolymers
  • Overview of the main relevant international standards (ASTM and ISO).
  • Polymers from renewable resources:
    • Naturally occurring polymers: direct use and modifications
    • Biorefinery: Monomers form renewable resources and their chemical conversion
  • Biodegradable and compostable polymers:
    • Biodegradable polymers from renewable resources
    • Fossil-based biodegradable polymers
  • The fate of polymers: recycling and disposal of polymeric materials

A lab session will be carried out, working with biodegradable materials in order to understand their properties. Students will be asked to prepare a lab report about this experience. Owing to the specific activities required, in order to access the lab sessions students are required to first participate in the e-learning Modules 1 and 2 Health and Safety Training, as well as in the specific Chemical safety training Module 3. The methods of this training course are detailed on the sites of the degree programmes that have areas that can be accessed only after following this course.

Testi/Bibliografia

Teaching material (power point presentations and, when necessary, scientific papers) will be available on line on Moodle the day before lectures.

Additional reading material (reports, statistics and in-depth papers focussing on specific issues), will also be available. This additional material, that will not be essential for the course, will be clearly labelled in a "Supplementary Material" Folder that students will be able to access on Moodle. 

The Moodle platform will be available for all the students enrolled in the course.

Metodi didattici

The course will be mainly held as room lectures with the help of Power Point Presentations.

During the course students will be encouraged to enter active class discussion about open issues within the course development. Students involvement and their active suggestions will be addressed and followed.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

After completing the course the student should be able to:

  • Incorporate sustainabitity principles into polymer science concepts
  • Assess the main features of polymeric materials in terms of sustainability
  • Evaluate the application and fate of polymers as a function of their chemical structure;

Learning assessment is based on oral examination at the end of the course. In order to attend the final examination, students have to register online within the given deadlines (registration usually closes one day prior the exam date, but students are ancouraged to check a few days in advance for the exam date thay plan to attend). The oral examination will last about 20 to 30 minutes and it will assess:

  • the comprehension of the main aspects affecting sustainability of the macromolecules
  • the ability to correlate the structure of a polymer with its application and fate
  • the ability to discuss case studies addressing sustainability issues and standards application.

Students will be asked to start from a subject of choice: they can either discuss a part of the program or give a short talk on a specific theme related to polymer sustainability, even if outside the main syllabus. Two additional questions from the teacher will follow. The written report from the lab experience will be evaluated as a part of the final assessment.

 

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Students with DSA or disabilities can contact Servizio Studenti con Disabilità e DSA dell’Università di Bologna (website in Italian only, but they will answer in english when contacted via mail), the Department contact person (Prof. Giorgio Bencivenni, giorgio.bencivenni2@unibo.it) or directly the teacher to address the most convenient approach for accessing teaching materials and supports, and to gain access to all the convenient services and areas of the Departments (i.e. room for frontal lectures).

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Laura Mazzocchetti

SDGs

Imprese innovazione e infrastrutture Città e comunità sostenibili Consumo e produzione responsabili Lotta contro il cambiamento climatico

L'insegnamento contribuisce al perseguimento degli Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile dell'Agenda 2030 dell'ONU.