Unit RECYCLING, SUSTAINABLE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES

Code	A006007
CFU	3
Teacher	Daniela Pezzolla
Teachers	Daniela Pezzolla
Hours	24 ore - Daniela Pezzolla
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector	AGR/13
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	The course program includes an in-depth study of the chemical and chemical-physical characteristics of different types of biomass, such as agricultural and agro-industrial residues, municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge.
Reference texts	Didactic material provided by the teacher.
Educational objectives	The course aims to provide students with the scientific and engineering knowledge necessary to analyze the critical issues and potential of waste biomass, in order to evaluate the most suitable treatment in a sustainable and circular economy approach.
Prerequisites	Basics of the chemistry course.
Teaching methods	Teaching includes: - lectures focused on all course topics; - exercises aimed at correctly applying the concepts studied. Throughout the course, we try to accustom the student to reasoning not only qualitatively about the phenomena studied, but also quantitatively, evaluating the physical and chemical quantities involved. This is done not only through theoretical lectures but also through practical laboratory demonstrations and guided tours.
Other information	For each module of which the teaching is constituted, there will be: lectures and possible guided tours at biomass treatment plants. The time of the lectures and the classroom where they will take place can be found by connecting to the following address: http://www.ing1.unipg.it/didattica/studiare/orario-delle-lezioni
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of an oral test, which consists of an interview of about 20-30 minutes. The final evaluation will be assigned by calculating the average of the marks obtained in each module of which the course is constituted.
Extended program	The course program includes the study of different types of biomass, with particular reference to waste biomass, such as agricultural and agro-industrial residues, organic fraction of municipal solid waste, and sewage sludge. The potentiality and problems related to the biomass use will be examined to identify the best treatment in terms of environmental and economic sustainability. Specifically, the following issues will be addressed: - sustainable resource management; - classification and characteristics of biomass; - valorization of waste biomass for the production of energy, fertilizers and high-value molecules.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	Responsible consumption and production. Climate action.

Code	A006009
CFU	3
Teacher	Debora Puglia
Teachers	Debora Puglia
Hours	24 ore - Debora Puglia
Learning activities	Caratterizzante
Area	Ingegneria dei materiali
Sector	ING-IND/22
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	The course examines polymer blends, analysing the thermodynamic issues of miscibility, phase morphology and compatibilisation strategies to improve the mechanical properties of the final materials. In the second part, the course examines the four fundamental strategies for plastic recycling (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary), assessing their technical feasibility, energy impact and integration into circular economy models.
Reference texts	- La Mantia, F. P. (2020). Handbook of Plastics Recycling. Rapra Technology (Updated edition). - Utracki, L. A. (2002). Commercial Polymer Blends. Springer. - Scientific articles, industry reports (e.g. PlasticsEurope) and slides provided by the lecturer
Educational objectives	To understand the thermodynamic principles governing the miscibility of polymers and the chemical and physical mechanisms underlying the various recycling processes. - Be able to select the most suitable compatibiliser or recycling strategy for a mixed plastic waste stream or a specific industrial waste stream. - Critically assess the economic and environmental sustainability of a recycling process (e.g. mechanical recycling vs. chemical recycling) on an industrial scale.
Teaching methods	The course consists of lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations
Learning verification modality	The examination consists of an oral exam divided into two parts: - A discussion of a short research paper (essay or presentation) on an industrial compatibilisation or recycling process chosen by the student. - Theoretical questions on the course program
Extended program	- Thermodynamics of polymeric mixtures: free mixing energy, Flory–Huggins theory, phase diagrams (UCST and LCST). - Morphology of immiscible blends and phase evolution during processing. - Physical compatibilisation: block and graft copolymers as polymeric surfactants. - Reactive compatibilisation: in situ reactions during extrusion (reactive extrusion). - Primary recycling (in-plant recycling): Reprocessing of clean pre-consumer industrial waste. - Secondary recycling (mechanical): Post-consumer management; sorting, washing, grinding and extrusion stages. The problem of thermo-mechanical degradation. - Tertiary recycling (chemical): Depolymerisation (glycolysis, hydrolysis, pyrolysis, gasification) for the recovery of monomers or hydrocarbon fractions. - Quaternary recycling (energy recovery): Incineration with heat/energy recovery; analysis of the calorific value of different polymers and flue gas treatment.

OIL REFINERY, COAL AND BIOMASS:MASS AND ENERGY FLOWS AND MAIN PROCESSES

Code	A006006
CFU	3
Teacher	Alberto Maria Gambelli
Teachers	Alberto Maria Gambelli
Hours	24 ore - Alberto Maria Gambelli
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector	ICHI-02/B
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	English/Italian if required
Contents	Energy context and current role of conventional energy sources; Refinery: description of input and output material flows; Main refinery processes for crude oil transformation; Refinery processes for pollutant reduction; Main chemicals obtained from refinery processes; Coal refinery; Biorefinery; Comparison between different types of refinery, in terms of processes, impacts and opportunities.
Reference texts	Energy context and current role of conventional energy sources; Refinery: description of input and output material flows; Main refinery processes for crude oil transformation; Refinery processes for pollutant reduction; Main chemicals obtained from refinery processes; Coal refinery; Biorefinery; Comparison between different types of refinery, in terms of processes, impacts and opportunities.
Educational objectives	In-depth knowledge of the conventional refinery, in terms of energy produced, processes implemented and related technological and plant solutions. Comparison of the supply chain with other types of refineries: coal and biomass.
Prerequisites	General concepts of thermodynamics. Knowledge of the main components of industrial plants. Basic notions of organic chemistry.
Teaching methods	The course is structured in: 1) classroom lectures on all program topics with discussion with students; 2) seminar-style face-to-face lectures with projector support; 3) practical in-lab activities.
Other information	Examination schedule: the examination schedule can be found at the link: http://www.ing1.unipg.it/didattica/studiare/calendario-esami
Learning verification modality	The verification of the educational objectives of the course includes an oral exam. It consists of a discussion lasting between 20 and 40 minutes, aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge of the theoretical and methodological contents provided and detailed in the program. The oral exam also aims to verify the communication and organic synthesis skills, as well as the student's command of language in relation to the theoretical and practical topics covered. The final evaluation will be made in thirtieths by the commission. For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or DSA visit the page http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa
Extended program	The chemical Industry. Brief history of inorganic and organic chemicals. Structure of the chemical industry. Raw materials and energy context (fossil fuel consumption and reserves; biomass as an alternative for fossil fuels; composition of fossil fuels and biomasses). General concepts of organic chemistry. General concepts on catalysis. Processes in the oil refinery: - General overview with input and output mass and energy flows; - Physical processes: desalting and dehydration, crude distillation and propane deasphalting; - Thermal processes: visbreaking, delayed coking and flexicoking; - Catalytic Processes: definition of octane and cetane numbers; Catalytic cracking; catalytic reforming; Alkylation; Hydroprocessing; Production of synthesis gas: - Synthesis gas from natural gas, reactions and thermodynamics; - Steam reforming process; Autothermal reforming process; - General concepts on coal gasification; Clean and conditioning of synthesis gas (acid gas removal, water-gas shift reaction, methanation) Bulk chemicals ans synthetic fuel derived from synthesis gas: - Ammonia; - Methanol; - Synthetic fuels and fuel additives. Introduction to the Biorefinery.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	7) Clean and affordable energy; 9) Industry, innovation and infrastructure; 12) Responsible consumption and production.

Code	A006008
CFU	3
Teacher	Daniela Pezzolla
Teachers	Daniela Pezzolla
Hours	24 ore - Daniela Pezzolla
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector	AGR/13
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Contents	In modern process engineering, biological processes play a central role, leading to the sustainable use of renewable natural resources to obtain new materials and/or energy. The programme involves the study of biological or chemical treatments of waste or effluent to obtain energy and/or new resources, and then moves on to industrial applications of sustainable processes. Among these, some examples of biorefineries for the production of bioethanol, bio-oil, and biodiesel will be examined. Furthermore, anaerobic processes for the production of biogas from different biomass and integrated anaerobic-aerobic processes for the treatment of municipal solid waste, leading to the production of biomethane and fertilizers, will be taken into consideration. Regarding contaminated wastewater treatment plants, activated sludge processes and biological and chemical processes for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus will be described.
Reference texts	Didactic material provided by the teacher.
Educational objectives	The aim of the course is to provide the student with scientific and engineering knowledge necessary for the understanding, analysis and design of industrial biological processes in a sustainable and circular economy scheme.
Prerequisites	Basics of the chemistry course.
Teaching methods	Each module includes: - Lectures on all subjects of the course; - Classroom exercises aimed for a correct application of the concepts developed for the resolution of numerical exercises and problems of practical application. During the course the student is encouraged to work in a quantitative way over all the studied phenomena, using appropriately the involved physical and chemical quantities. This is done through theoretical frontal lessons and carrying out practical laboratory demonstrations and guided visits to prototype and industrial reactors.
Other information	For each module of which the course is constituted, there will be: frontal lessons, tutorial discussions with experimental demonstrations in the laboratory and numerical exercises. Guided tours to chemical industries of interest can be organized. The timetable and Classroom can be downloaded at the following Web address: http://www.ing1.unipg.it/didattica/studiare/orario-delle-lezioni
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of an oral test, which consists of an interview of about 20-30 minutes. The final evaluation will be assigned by calculating the average of the marks obtained in each module of which the course is constituted.
Extended program	The course program includes the study of industrial applications of sustainable processes; some examples of biorefineries for the production of bioethanol, bio-oil, and biodiesel will be examined; furthermore, anaerobic processes for the production of biogas from different types of biomass and integrated anaerobic-aerobic processes for the treatment of municipal solid waste that lead to the production of biomethane and composted fertilizers will be considered. Regarding contaminated wastewater treatment plants, activated sludge processes and biological and chemical processes for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus will be described.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	Good health and well-being. Affordable and clean energy. Climate action.

Code	A006010
CFU	3
Teacher	Debora Puglia
Teachers	Debora Puglia
Hours	24 ore - Debora Puglia
Learning activities	Caratterizzante
Area	Ingegneria dei materiali
Sector	ING-IND/22
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	The course explores cutting-edge strategies for the treatment of unconventional and technologically complex waste streams. It analyses the recovery processes for thermosetting materials (e.g. carbon/glass fibre composites), the logistics and recycling technologies for EPS (expanded polystyrene), the recovery of rubber and carbonaceous fractions from ELTs (End-of-Life Tyres), and the metallurgical and polymeric processes for WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). The final part of the course is dedicated to the end-of-life management of biopolymers (biodegradable, compostable and bio-based).
Reference texts	- Pickering, S. J. (2016). Recycling of Thermoset Composites. Elsevier Science. - Kutz, M. (2018). Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook: Processing, Materials, and Applications (Chapters on biopolymers and WEEE). - Current European technical guidelines and regulations
Educational objectives	- Understanding the chemical and physical barriers inherent in the recycling of thermosets (due to cross-linking) and the dynamics of thermal and biological degradation of new polymeric materials. - Be able to design a logistics and technology chain for the recovery of multi-material products (such as WEEE or tyres) by effectively separating polymer matrices, metals and fillers. - Be able to determine whether mechanical recycling, industrial composting or pyrolysis is the most environmentally preferable option for a given biopolymer or special waste.
Prerequisites	Fundamentals of Polymer Materials Science, with particular reference to the structural differences between thermoplastics and thermosets, as well as basic concepts of organic chemistry.
Teaching methods	The course consists of lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations
Learning verification modality	Oral exam
Extended program	- Recycling of thermosets and composite materials - Mechanical processes (grinding and reuse as filler); - Thermal processes (pyrolysis and fluidised bed for the recovery of high-value carbon fibres); - Chemical processes (solvolysis and supercritical fluids). - Expanded Polystyrene (EPS): Logistical issues related to bulk density; Mechanical compaction technologies and selective dissolution in green solvents. - End-of-life tyres (ELTs): Tyre structure (vulcanised rubber, steel, textile fibres); Mechanical and cryogenic shredding processes; Rubber powder and its applications (modified bitumen, sound insulation); Pyrolysis of ELTs for the recovery of carbon black and transitional oils. - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) - Classification of WEEE (R1-R5) and regulatory framework. - Dismantling techniques, densimetric and magnetic separation of engineering plastics (ABS, PC, HIPS) containing brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and strategies for their removal. - Biopolymers and Bio-based Plastics - Definitions and classifications: bio-based vs. biodegradable/compostable - The end-of-life of biopolymers: mechanical recycling and contamination issues in traditional plastic streams; - Degradation in a controlled environment (industrial composting) and biodegradability in the marine environment.