Unit GEOMATERIALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
- Course
- Earth science and environment
- Study-unit Code
- A004575
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Azzurra Zucchini
- Teachers
-
- Azzurra Zucchini
- Hours
- 42 ore - Azzurra Zucchini
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2024
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Sector
- GEO/06
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- The course will start with an introduction to environmental sustainability, ecological transition and the circular economy.
The second part of the course will study the analytical techniques most commonly used to study geomaterials, with particular reference to chemical-mineralogical analyses.
Then, the teaching will move on to the study of geomaterials and how they are used in industry and technology. This will include looking at how they can be used in a sustainable way, both as natural materials and as second-generation raw materials.
The lectures will also include practical activities. These will involve trying out one of the technological-industrial applications studied in a laboratory setting. - Reference texts
- Material provided by the teacher
- Educational objectives
- The ‘Geomaterials and Environmental Sustainability’ course aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of:
- the concept of environmental sustainability applied to technological and industrial realities;
- the various types of geomaterials most commonly used and their primary technological and industrial applications;
- the analytical methodologies used to study geomaterials;
- the difference between natural geomaterials and second-generation raw materials, with the aim of improving the environmental sustainability of technological and industrial processes in a circular economy.
The main knowledge acquired by the student will be:
- knowledge of the mineralogical and crystallographic characteristics of minerals fundamental to the ecological transition, used in various industrial processes, as well as of the main waste products;
- knowledge of the main chemical and mineralogical analyses used to study different types of raw materials and industrial products;
- know the difference between waste products, by-products and second-generation raw materials, and be able to apply this knowledge to different technological and industrial contexts.
The main skills acquired by the student will be:
- ability to reproduce in the laboratory some of the industrial processes studied from a sustainable perspective;
- ability to analyze and then choose the best natural and/or waste raw materials to be used in each industrial field analyzed;
- ability to use the main chemical-mineralogical analysis techniques used to study both natural and second-generation geomaterials, with particular attention to optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Raman and IR spectroscopy.
The student, at the end of the course, will have the basis to address mineralogical issues in the industrial field, as well as to undertake methodological and experimental studies aimed at improving production efficiency and environmental sustainability. - Prerequisites
- The topics covered require the student to be familiar with systematic mineralogy and basic concepts of crystallography. These topics will however be covered in the first part of the course.
In order to be able to take the final exam, it is strongly recommended to pass the 'Mineralogy' exam. - Teaching methods
- The course will be organised with lectures, laboratory exercises and possibly field trips. In detail:
- lectures on the topics of the course;
- laboratory exercises to reproduce some of the industrial processes studied;
- exercises in optical and electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction laboratories to apply the aforementioned mineralogical analyses to the second-generation raw materials, as well as to the products, of some of the industrial processes studied;
- possible field trips to factories in connection with some of the industrial processes studied. - Other information
- Learning verification modality
- The exam will consist of an oral exam lasting approximately 20–25 minutes.
Students will be asked one question for each of the following groups of concepts studied during the course. Specifically:
Environmental sustainability and the circular economy
Natural and second-generation geomaterials
Analytical methodologies
Use of geomaterials in our daily lives
The objective of the exam is to assess the level of knowledge acquired by students regarding the topics covered during the course. The evaluation of the oral exam will also take into account the student’s ability to connect environmental sustainability requirements, the needs of technological-industrial processes, usable natural and second-generation geomaterials, and the analytical techniques to be applied to both raw materials and the finished product. Students will also be evaluated based on their presentation skills and the appropriateness of the technical/scientific language used.
For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or DSA, please refer to http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa. - Extended program
- 1. Environmental Sustainability and the Circular Economy.
- Environmental Sustainability and the Circular Economy: Definition and Introduction to the Topic.
- Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM).
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
2. Natural and Second-Generation Geomaterials.
- Geomaterials: Definition, Classification, and Introduction to Applications.
- Critical Raw Materials (CRM): definition and introduction to the issue.
- Industrial waste from mining, chemical processes, and waste-to-energy: origin and chemical-physical characterization.
- Upcycling techniques for waste materials, compared to downcycling techniques: processes for regenerating waste products into second-generation materials.
- Definition and discussion of examples of reusing waste products as second-generation materials.
3. Fundamentals of optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy.
4. The Use of Geomaterials in Our Daily Lives.
- Cement: geomaterials used, potential second-generation raw materials, mineralogical composition of raw materials, cement production, cement minerals, characterization of the finished product, environmental sustainability in the cement industry.
- Ceramics: geomaterials used, potential second-generation raw materials, industrial and technological ceramic materials, advanced ceramic materials, ceramic material production, characterization of the finished product, environmental sustainability in the ceramics industry.
- Geopolymers: geomaterials used, potential second-generation raw materials, production processes, applications.
- Micro- and mesoporous geomaterials: characteristics, properties, and applications.
- Glass: geomaterials used, potential second-generation raw materials, industrial glass production, characterization of the finished product, environmental sustainability in the glass production process. - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
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