94331 - Chemical and Energetic Technologies for a Sustainable Development

Learning outcomes

Sustainable development needs to develop, evaluate and apply technologies that take into account the limits of ecosystems and the characteristics of the territory and of the industrial and economic systems present. The role of education and the ability to communicate principles for the development of sustainable technologies form the basis for a society capable of evaluating daily choices and directing them towards greater sustainability. In the framework of the sustainable development goals and the contrast to climate change will be analyzed with a technological perspective with particular reference to chemical and energy technologies, the impacts on emission and energy consumption of choices on transport sectors, the impacts of the products of materials with particular reference to polymeric materials, and the development of new solution for recovery and recycling in production chains aimed at increasing sustainability and circular economy. Starting from real cases, students are able to know and communicate 1) the principles of green chemical technologies, 2) the use and main ways of transformation of renewable resources, 3) the main technologies and polymeric materials used in daily life, 4) the development potential of processes for the circular economy for materials and polymers and the possibility of reducing the impact related to dispersion into the environment. Students are also able to highlight and communicate the critical aspects for the sustainability of a given technology, the indicators of energy efficiency, carbon intensity and the critical impacts for the territory.

Course contents

The course starts from the principles of sustainable development and deals with the analysis of production and consumption systems and new trends, use of renewables, green chemistry, circular economy and bioeconomy.

The course therefore focuses on the hierarchy of strategies and tools for reducing impact with particular reference to the role of public planning, social and community innovation and technological innovation.

The course also analyzes the steps and the development process of an innovation: from experimentation to demonstration the diffusion of the innovation and its replacemnt at the end of the cycle.

Finally, the course examines the analysis of different production and consumption sectors and the reduction objectives and strategies promoted by European international institutions and the private sector. In particular, the course analyzes and identify comunication strategies for a series of sectors exemplifying the need for different approaches to sustainability, the main data describing the sector, the environmental impact, the possibilities of reducing the impact also in relation to costs, time and the application context. For this purpose, the following will be analyzed: energy production, mobility and transport, the production of materials and the circular economy, cosmetics, as an example of a chemical formulation and green chemistry, and the bioeconomy.

Readings/Bibliography

Energia per l’Astronave Terra - Terza Edizione, L’Era delle Rinnovabili, di Nicola Armaroli e Vincenzo Balzani, Zanichelli, 2017

green chemistry in practice, 1^st edition, Greener material and chemical innovation through collaboration, Thomas Mckeag, Elsevier, 2021.

It is also suggested to consult and read some of the books on the course topics related to sustainablility that can be found in the library of the industrial chemistry department which contains useful informations

Teaching methods

The course will make use of theoretical lectures, in-depth study of application case studies and, above all through exercises, active / cooperative teaching methodologies with the aim of promoting the critical and active participation of students.

Assessment methods

The assessment will be performed through the single evaluation of the three integrated components and of the different modules constituting the course "Didattica e Sviluppo Sostenibile". Students will be required to discuss a topic previously chosen, well in advance, with the approval of the teachers. At the end of the presentation, starting from the proposed subject, the main aspects related to the overall training programme of the course will be investigated. The accuracy and completeness of the answers, their pertinence, and the specific terminology used will be assessed.
No additional equipment or adaptation relating to the exam is permitted, except in the case of a prior agreement among teachers, the interested student and the Service for disabled students and students with specific learning disabilities of Unibo.
Final grade will be expressed in thirtieths (xx/30). The registration through AlmaEsami is required for students who want to take the exam, complying mandatorily with the given deadlines. Those who could not register within the deadline due to technical difficulties, must promptly communicate (in any case, within the official closure of the registration list) the problem to the degree programme office. Teachers may decide to admit or not these students.

Teaching tools

The course will be taught with the aid of computer support for the projection of text and images. the use of policy original document from UE and international istitution will be also used.  An area of Unibo platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/) will be set up to share ppt presentation, single and/or group reports, indications for exercitations.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Basile