Sustainable bioresources and Bioenergy Technology / Sustainable bioresources and Bioenergy Technology

Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, Odense
Teaching activity id: XC-SUBT-U1.
Teaching language: English.ECTS / weighting: 5 ECTS / 0.083 full-time equivalent.
Period: Spring 2018.Approved: 23-10-17.
Offered in: Odense.

Subject director:
Programme Coordinator Lene Pedersen, Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology.

Prerequisites:
Students are recommended to have taken two years study on bachelor in chemical engineering, biotechnology, energy technology or similar, prior to enrolment in this course.


Content - Key areas:
  • Bioenergy conversion technologies for 2nd generation biofuel production
  • Biochemical-, chemical- and thermal conversion process  
  • Pretreatment of biomass
  • Process biochemistry of hydrolysis of lignocelluloses
  • Sequential bioenergy production with zero carbon approach  
  • Energy potential of waste biomass and its smart process design
  • Design of biogas reactor and industrial process optimization
  • Holistic strategies of biomass utilization for energy production scenarios

Learning outcomes:
Learning outcomes:
The aim of this course is to provide students with fundamental understanding of bioenergy production processes adequate to diverse biomass characteristics and to introduce state-of-the-art technologies of 2nd generation biofuels from sustainable bioresources. This course will provide a comprehensive and balanced approach to bioenergy production fundamental theories and industrial application.

Knowledge
By the end of this course the successful students will be able to:

  • Describe biomass biodegradability and bioconversion rate in relation to energy yields.  
  • Describe biochemical processes of biomass conversion to bioenergy production with focus on hydrolysis, fermentation and anaerobic digestion.  
  • Describe technical operation conditions of bioreactors.
  • Describe diverse inhibitants and inhibition mechanisms.
  • Describe obstacles in bioconversion of recalcitrant waste biomass and fundamentals of various pretreatment technologies.  
  • Explain technological potentials and obstacles of 2nd generation biofuel production.
  • Have balanced insight into diverse biomass as raw material for specific biofuel production.  

Skills
By the end of this course the successful students will be able to:

  • Carry out methane potential tests of selected biomass for biogas production and assess biogas potential.
  • Predict specific biogas yield from selected operational conditions.
  • Carry out biogas kinetic analysis and statistical model validation.      
  • Propose suitable pretreatment processes for selected biomass.

Competences
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:

  • Discuss and propose feasible biofuel technologies and biofuel products from selected biomasses.
  • Design biogas reactor capacity, best available feedstock mixture (Co-digestion) and propose optimal and economically viable technical operational condition.  
  • Set strategies for high rate biogas production and strategies to avoid inhibition in bioreactors.    
  • Understand sequential bioethanol and biogas production (fermentation and anaerobic digestion) with zero carbon approach, and compare bioethanol and biogas scenarios with respect to energy recovery.  

Time of classes:
Spring

Lessons:
48 hours
Lecturing: 20 hours
Excursions to industries: 8 hours
Laboratory exercise: 8 hours
Work on assignments: 12 hours

Form of instruction:
Lectures, laboratory exercises and a casework project. Excursions to industries are included in the course.  

Through laboratory experiments students will experience determination of energy potentials of various biomasses and pretreatment methods to increase yield. The results will be integrated into training in designing a bioreactor and its optimal bioreactor operation. The outcomes will be used for the casework which will be presented as a written report and an oral presentation.

Examination conditions:
Submission of a written report at time specified by the teacher at the start of the semester.


Evaluation
Internal examination with a co-examiner assessed as pass/fail based on an overall assessment of

  1. Written report
  2. Oral presentations of the work carried out
  3. Individual oral examination

Comments:
A maximum number of participants: 30 students.

Programmes:
BSc in Engineering (Chemistry and Biotechnology)
6. semester, elective subject. Offered in: Odense
MSc in Engineering (Chemistry)
2. semester, elective subject. Offered in: Odense
MSc in Engineering (Chemistry)
1. semester, exchange, elective subject. Offered in: Odense
BSc in Engineering (Chemistry and Biotechnology)
1. semester, exchange, elective subject. Offered in: Odense