37384 - Industrial and Environmental Biotechnologies II M

Learning outcomes

The course aims to give the biotechnology rudiments required to develop and optimize the main biotechnological processes relevant for the modern chemical industry (production of fine chemicals, biomaterials and biofuels) and for the sustainable remediation of contaminated environments and insustrial sites.

Course contents

Microbial ecology: distribution of microbial processes in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Application of biotechnologies in the remediation of contaminated sites. Techniques for the ex-situ and in-situ bioremediation of soils contaminated by organic pollutants. Myco- and phyto-remediation techniques. Biotechnological remediation of contamnated sediments. Role of Industrial (White) Biotechnology in the modern chemical, pharmaceutical, food, textile and biofuels industry. Lignocellulosic and forest biomass and agrofood industry byproducts, effluents, residues and surplus as new feed-stocks for the modern biotech, chemical, pharmaceutical, food, textile and biofuels industry. Biotech production of biofuels such as bioethanol (I and II generation), biomethane and biohydrogen, and biodiesel from biomass and/or agrofood industry byproducts and wastes. Fine-chemicals production trough pre-treatment and/or enzymatic/microbial conversion processes from biomass and/or agrofood industry byproducts and wastes. Production of biopolymers and microbial polymers from biomass and/or agrofood industry byproducts and wastes.

Readings/Bibliography

Madigan et al. (2000) Brock: Biology of Microorganisms. 9th edition, Prentice Hall International, Inc., New Jersey, USA.  R. Ulber, D. Sell (2007) White Biotechnology, Vol. 105 of the series Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology, Springer, EU and USA.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Fava