Ateneo - UPO

The course covers the key topics of sustainable industrial chemistry and ecological transition in chemical production processes. The program is structured into 4 main modules:

1. Green Chemistry Principles and Sustainability Metrics: evolution of sustainability towards industrial scale-up; mass and energy metrics , EHS risk profiles and introduction to Life Cycle Assessment.

2. Transition from Fossil Feedstocks to Biomass: comparison between fossil and renewable resources , lignocellulose valorization; integrated biorefinery architecture; synthesis of platform chemicals.

3. Carbon Dioxide as Feedstock and Energy Carriers: Carbon Capture and Utilization technologies; thermodynamic constraints and chemical conversion (urea, carbonates, methanol); integration with green H2 and Power-to-X processes (Sabatier, RWGS, Fischer-Tropsch).

4. Sustainable Industrial Processes and Circular Economy: industrial redesign case studies (e.g., ibuprofen, adiponitrile); industrial feasibility evaluation via Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and introduction to Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA).

- Fondamenti di Chimica Industriale, F. Cavani, G. Centi, M. Di Serio, I. Rossetti, A. Salvini, G. Strukul Zanichelli 2022 - Sustainable Industrial Chemistry: Principles, Tools and Industrial Examples, F.Cavani, G.Centi ,S.Perathoner and F.Trifiró Eds:Wiley-VCH, 2009. Materiale fornito dal docente

The course aims to provide students with theoretical and practical skills, as well as critical thinking abilities, to evaluate, design, and optimize industrial chemical processes from the perspective of environmental sustainability and resource-energy efficiency.

Organic Chemistry I
Physical Chemistry I

Lectures in classroom, exercises and classroom discussion.

During the course, at the end of each key topic, the students will be involved in the analysis and discussion of scientific papers.

_Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special
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_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 learning assessment aims to verify the achievement of the learning outcomes and the student's critical analysis skills.
The evaluation consists of two parts:
1. Project Work
Carried out in small groups (max 3 students) or individually. It consists of a critical analysis of a recent scientific paper or a patent related to a sustainable chemical process. Students will deliver an oral presentation (supported by slides) presenting and analyzing the provided text.
2. Final Oral Examination
The presentation will be followed by an individual oral exam aimed at testing knowledge of the course contents and the ability to correlate the contents of the different modules.

Assessment Criteria
Knowledge of contents and scientific rigor: Mastery of theoretical principles, industrial processes, and analytical methodologies (LCA, mass and energy metrics).
Critical and presentation skills: Ability to critically identify the critical aspects of a chemical process, distinguishing genuine technological innovations from greenwashing phenomena.
Use of technical language: Correct and appropriate use of chemical, engineering, and industrial terminology.

Grading Scale:
30 - 30 cum LaudeExcellent mastery of concepts, strong critical thinking, flawless presentation with technical rigor, and brilliant execution of the Project Work.
27 - 29 Very good knowledge of contents, well-developed independent analytical skills, and a clear, well-argued project presentation.
24 - 26 Good knowledge of topics, correct application of sustainability metrics, with some limitations in critical analysis or technical exposition.
21 - 23 Fair knowledge, mostly based on rote learning, with limited ability to correlate different course modules.
18 - 20 Minimal knowledge limited to basic concepts, sufficient to pass the exam but with gaps in quantitative and critical treatment.
< 18 (Fail) Severe gaps in key course concepts, inability to structure a process analysis or calculate fundamental metrics.

Module 1: General Principles, Sustainability Metrics, and Introduction to LCA
- Introduction and evolution of the sustainability concept: From Green Chemistry to Sustainable Industrial Chemistry. The 12 principles revisited from an industrial scale-up perspective.
- Quantitative sustainability metrics:Mass metrics: Atom Economy, E-factor, Process Mass Intensity (PMI), Reaction Mass Efficiency (RME).Energy metrics, EHS (Environment, Health, Safety) risk profiles and datasheets. Numerical exercise: comparative calculation of metrics for traditional vs. alternative sustainable synthetic routes.
- Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):ISO 14040/14044 standards: Goal & Scope definition, Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), and Interpretation.Application of LCA methodology to chemical processes: system boundaries (Cradle-to-Gate vs. Cradle-to-Grave), functional unit, and allocation of environmental impacts.

Module 2: Transition from Fossil Feedstocks to Biomass and Biorefineries
- Raw materials for the chemical industry:Current landscape: fossil resources (petroleum, natural gas, coal) and associated carbon emissions.
- Renewable resources: classification of biomass (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation). Risks related to competition with the food supply chain.
- Chemistry and valorization of 2nd Generation Biomass: Structure and fractionation of lignocellulose (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). Chemical and catalytic processes for depolymerization and functionalization.
- The Biorefinery Concept: Architecture of an integrated biorefinery. Platform chemicals from biomass: synthesis and applications of 5-HMF, levulinic acid, furfural, FDCA, succinic acid, and glycerol.
- Production of bio-fuels: Bio-ethanol, biodiesel, and SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels).

Module 3: Carbon Dioxide as a Feedstock and Energy CarriersCarbon Capture and Utilization (CCU):
- Capture technologies (amine absorption, adsorption, membranes). Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of CO2 functionalization (Delta G > 0, requirement of high-energy reagents).
- Chemical conversion processes of CO2: Synthesis of urea, organic carbonates, formic acid, and methanol.
- Integration with "Green" Hydrogen and Power-to-X: Water electrolysis technologies (Alkaline, PEM, Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell - SOEC).
- Power-to-Liquids and Power-to-Gas processes: Sabatier reaction, Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS), and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for e-fuels.
- Overview of emerging technologies: Electrocatalysis and photocatalysis for CO2 reduction.

Module 4: Sustainable Industrial Processes, Circular Economy, and Scale-up
- Industrial Redesign Case Studies: Detailed analysis of historical industrial processes re-engineered for sustainability (e.g., Ibuprofen synthesis, Adiponitrile production, phosgene-free Polycarbonate synthesis).
- Industrial Feasibility: TRL (Technology Readiness Level) concepts applied to chemistry, and introduction to Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA: CAPEX, OPEX, raw material cost).

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding:
Understand the transition dynamics from fossil-based to renewable raw materials; master the principles of Green Chemistry, quantitative metrics, and the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.

Applying knowledge and understanding:
Calculate sustainability metrics for complex reactions and processes; identify energy and thermodynamic bottlenecks in the valorization of biomass and CO₂.

Making judgements:
Critically analyze industrial reports and scientific papers on "green" processes, identifying potential greenwashing practices and evaluating the actual scale-up feasibility (TRL).

Communication skills:
Present quantitative analyses on the environmental and technological impact of an industrial process with scientific rigor and appropriate technical language.