88379 - Sustainable Inorganic Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The role of Inorganic chemistry in topics such as inorganic resources and their extraction, renewable energy, materials for energy storage, homogeneous catalysis, nanomaterials and inorganic key enabling technologies, waste minimization and avoidance, CO2 and H2 storage, and renewable industrial feedstocks.

Course contents

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of inorganic chemistry and the most important aspects of the structure, properties and reactivity of inorganic compounds. Knowledge of the fundamental principles of thermodynamic and thermochemistry, industrial and organic chemistry, basic electrochemistry.

Contents:

This course dea:ls with several topics related to the role of inorganic chemistry for a sustainable and low carbon society.

a) Industrial inorganic chemistry: state of the art and possible developments;

b) Metals in a low carbon society;

c) Metals in the environment: waste, pollution and health aspects;

d) The energy issue and the contribution of inorganic chemistry for the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable resources. Solar fuels and the role of homogeneous catalysis;

e) Bio-inspired H2 production, artificial photosynthesis, hydrogen storage;

f) Nuclear energy limits and perspectives.

Readings/Bibliography

K. H. Buchel, H.-H. Moretto, P. Woditsch, Industrial Inorganic Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Second Edition.

D. A. Atwood, Sustainable Inorganic Chemistry, Wiley.

J. G. Speight, Environmental Inorganic Chemistry for Engineers, Butterworth-Heinemann

J. E. Huheey, A. E. Keiter, R. L. Keiter, Inorganic Chemistry, Pearson

D. F. Shriver, P. W. Atkins, C. H. Langford, Inorganic Chemistry, Zanichelli

Ch. Elshenbroich, Organometallics, Wiley-VCH

Teaching methods

The course includes class lectures and tutorial activities. Lectures are supported by slide projection. Class discussion is encouraged. The course includes also some practical and laboratory activities related to some of the topics presented in the classroom.

Assessment methods

Students are asked to take an oral examination in one of the scheduled sessions at the end of the course. The exam is based on the topics of the course and is aimed at checking the understanding of the student and his/her capacity to apply the concepts of inorganic chemistry to sustainable chemistry.

The oral examination consists in a 15 minutes presentation with slides. This shall be divided in two parts, synthetically covering one topic from each of the two modules. These two topic can be freely chosen by the student among those of the lectures.The presentation must be based on new original slides, and not made by reusing those of the lectures. This presentation will be followed by specific questions focused on the two chosen topics.

The final grade, expressed on a 30 base, is based on the capacity of the student to present the different topics in a synthetic and complete manner, and to understand the links among the topics of the course and fundamental concepts of inorganic chemistry. The quality of the presentation will be evaluated and will contribute to the final grade.

The duration of the oral examination is ca. 30 minutes.

Teaching tools

Teaching supports include PowerPoint presentations, and slide projection. Documents and slides shown are made available to students as pc files. Indications are given to students regarding the bibliographic resources available on-line and in the library. The teaching material for the preparation of the final exam is available to students via the web at: [https://iol.unibo.it/]. Usernames and passwords are reserved to Unibo students and are given by the teacher. Practical activities are carried out with the teaching and research laboratories of the Department of Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari".

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Cortecchia

See the website of Cristina Femoni