Ateneo - UPO

This course aims to provide the fundamental scientific knowledge and skills required to understand issues related to raw materials, their applications, and their associated environmental impact. Emphasis will be placed on raw materials that are critical for energy and digital transitions in the context of a more circular economy.In recent years, this field has rapidly evolved from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary, and finally to transdisciplinary, where various disciplines — such as chemistry, technology, ecology, economics, and sociology — merge into a single, comprehensive solution.The course is divided into two parts. The first covers general aspects, including regulations, chemistry, and industrial processes for the production, recovery, recycling, and processing of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), as well as the associated environmental, economic, logistical, and social considerations. The second part focuses on rare earth elements and actinides, with particular attention to their extraction, use in modern technologies, and recycling within the circular economy.

The course covers topics that are evolving rapidly and continuously; consequently, textbooks are either incomplete or rapidly become obsolete.Students are advised to refer to the slides presented during the course, which are available on the DIR platform.During the course, instructions will be provided on how to access documents produced by national and international organizations (such as the European Union, the US Department of Energy, etc., generally available online for free), and recent scientific articles will also be recommended.General reference texts (in English):A. King, "Critical Materials", 1st Edition, Elsevier, 2020.S. Erik Offerman, “Critical Materials”, World Scientific Series in Current Energy Issues Volume 5, World Scientific, 2019.R. Pöttgen, T. Jüstel, C. A. Strassert (Eds.), “Rare earth chemistry”, De Gruyter, 2020.S. Cotton, “Lanthanide and Actinide Chemistry”, Wiley, 2006.

Through relevant real-world examples, students will be introduced to the importance of raw materials and how chemists can help solve challenges related to their use and supply. The course will examine specific extraction-processing-use cycles and the relationship between raw materials and the "green economy," ultimately addressing the practical aspects of material recycling.Students will thus acquire the skills necessary to:understand and evaluate the state of the art regarding the management of both critical and non-critical raw materials;analyze the current status and future perspectives of industrial process sustainability — looking beyond superficial "greenwashing" — to devise ways to extract fewer materials more efficiently and diversify production;understand the meaning of sustainable development and how sustainability concepts apply to raw materials, as well as their recovery and reuse;design new materials for traditional applications and conceive new uses for traditional materials, a form of "material repurposing";gain a general overview of the social, economic and environmental consequences associated with the production and use of raw materials.

The knowledge of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry that third-year chemistry students should have acquired during their studies.

Lectures, viewing and group discussion of videos, group projects or in-class analysis of case studies.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam consists of a two-hour written test designed to assess students' ability to apply the knowledge acquired during the course. The test will include two questions regarding Module 1 (critical raw materials) and two questions regarding Module 2 (rare earths and actinides), based on the topics covered during the course. Each question carries a maximum of 8 points. The exam is considered passed if the total score reaches a minimum of 18 points, while honors are awarded for scores exceeding 30 points.A passing grade is achieved when the written test demonstrates basic knowledge and minimal understanding of the topics underlying the questions. The maximum grade is awarded when the written test reveals solid knowledge and a high level of understanding of the topics discussed and, above all — the ability to draw logical connections between the various topics covered in the course. Independent judgment will be viewed positively when there is evidence of personal in-depth study of any of the topics discussed. The level of proficiency in using appropriate technical-scientific terminology will also be taken into account.

Module 1 Critical Raw MaterialsExamples of issues associated with specific materials throughout history; definitions of raw materials and Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) according to the European Union; raw material usage, suppliers, and associated challenges (dependency, geopolitics, social and environmental impacts); circular economy and sustainability. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Specific CRMs will be selected for in-depth study, covering their production aspects (primary and secondary sources) as well as their traditional and innovative applications.Module 2 Rare earth and actinidesIn the second module of the course, the following topics will be covered: Discovery of lanthanides, minerals and their abundance in the Earth's crust, extraction processes, aspects related to the recycling and reuse of rare earths, chemical properties along the lanthanide series, electronic and magnetic properties of lanthanides, description of the main families of lanthanide-based compounds, coordination compounds and polymers, applications in optical, magnetic, and biomedical fields; bioinorganic chemistry of rare earth elements; aspects of circular economy; chemical properties of actinides and their main applications.

Knowledge and understandingAt the end of this course, students will be able to:be familiar with the state of the art regarding raw material management, their uses and their associated environmental impact;understand the meaning of sustainable development and how the concepts of sustainability and environmental ethics are applied to resources and their exploitation;understand the fundamental concepts of resource efficiency, circularity, and criticality of raw materials within the broader context of the energy and digital transition. Making judgmentsAt the end of this course, students will be expected to:possess the skills to form a basic assessment on the technical, economic, environmental, and social sustainability of raw materials or resources;be able to use appropriate quantitative indicators to assess the sustainability of raw materials;be able to locate and evaluate the information needed to independently explore the fundamental concepts learned. Communication skillsAt the end of the course, students will be expected to:use appropriate language to communicate their knowledge;use the technical terminology common to the field of environmental sustainability in order to coordinate with various professionals.