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Chemistry for Sustainability
Cursusdoel
After completing this course students are able to:
- describe how chemistry and catalysis can contribute to a sustainable transformation and can apply chemical knowledge in real-life problems and issues.
- critically assess chemical processes regarding their sustainability and suggest improvements.
- demonstrate basic knowledge about
o sustainability assessment and green chemistry principles
o The carbon and nitrogen cycle and the major chemical streams in the fossil based industry
o Catalysis and catalyst synthesis
o Biomass and plastic waste valorization
o Solvents and green solvents - gather and process relevant (interdisciplinary) knowledge and information.
- clearly communicate and report about the items above
Assessment | Learning goal |
Written test on theory 40 % | 3, 4 |
(Mid-term) oral presentation about project 20 % | 1, 2, 4, 5 |
Written report about project 30 % | 1, 2, 4, 5 |
Participation 10 % | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Vakinhoudelijk
Part 1: Scientific Background
In this part of the course we will provide you with the scientific background to understand the role that chemistry has played in technological progress so far and to answer the question: can chemistry help in achieving sustainability goals, and how?
We will thus approach sustainability from a chemistry perspective, starting by introducing the 12 principles of green chemistry and giving examples of their applications in real life. You will learn about and become familiar with green chemistry metrics, such as atom economy and environmental factors, to be able to measure and compare aspects of chemical processes in terms of sustainability.
Equipped with such principles, we will revisit the basics of chemical reactions, such as stoichiometry and mass balances, and give an overview of the present state of the chemical and energy sectors. We will discuss the problem of the carbon cycle unbalance and CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere, and the challenges involved in closing such cycle to mitigate climate change. You will be able to answer questions such as: how did we get to the current climate crisis? What role did chemistry play in our (unsustainable) development? Where are we on the route to sustainability and how what will it take to stick to the Paris agreement? How can we transform chemistry going forward?
One of the most important pillars of sustainable chemistry is the use of catalysis: the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance, known as a catalyst, that is not consumed in the reaction itself. Catalysts are used in about 90 % of industrial processes, and are key in making many chemical processes more sustainable, by using less demanding conditions (e.g. lower temperatures) or by increasing selectivity towards a desired product, thus minimizing waste and reducing separation costs. We will give you an overview of the principles of catalysis and of different types of catalysts, with an eye on real industrial processes and sustainable chemistry.
You will learn about new processes to help closing the carbon cycle and reduce our environmental impact, which are the foundation of main sustainability strategies in Europe and worldwide: hydrogen production, biomass utilization, plastic waste recycling, and reduced use of solvents. The different strategies will be put in context, discussing pros and cons and their feasibility and cost. This will make you aware of the complex framework of sustainability and help you realize that there is no silver bullet to solve the global problems faced by society: we need tailored, informed solutions which depend on regional availability of resources.
Part 2: Green chemistry projects.
In project groups of 2-3 students, you will compare an established industrial chemical process with an emerging, more sustainable route, and deliver a report focused on the green chemical aspects of the process. Examples are: H2 production routes, carbon capture and utilization for methanol synthesis, the use of biomass for the production of fuels, the use of alternative solvents for plastic production, the use of mechanochemistry instead of thermal chemistry.
An introductory lecture will be given to support the project work. We will describe the green chemistry projects which you can chose from, with their objectives, and give you directions on how to access relevant information and read scientific papers efficiently, together with efficient team work. You will be expected to apply these skills when working on the project.
The following themes will be discussed:
• Socio-economical context: why is this particular process relevant for our society and economy, and what is its environmental impact?
• Fundamentals of the chemical reaction: what happens at the molecular level? What are the thermodynamic boundaries? What catalyst is used to improve the kinetics of the reaction? What is the catalyst most important function, and can it be improved?
• Environmental assessment: what is the sustainability footprint of the two processes? Can green chemistry metrics be defined? If not, what information is missing in the available literature?
• Economic evaluation: what is the cost of the product per ton? Is the process competitive, or could it become so with changes in policies and green energy prices?
The project addresses technological, economic and environmental aspects that are relevant to the introduction of chemical processes. It is part of the project work to scope the problem, to formulate the research questions (including the choice of concrete sustainability assessment criteria), to conduct a literature survey, to search data and to perform calculations and qualitative analyses in order to answer the research questions. You will present the research questions, approach, results and conclusions in two plenary presentations, once in an early phase of the project and once more at the final stage. You will also prepare a report, which represents the main deliverable of this course.
Werkvormen
Toetsing
Participation
Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75
Written report about project
Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25
Mid-term oral presentation about project
Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5
*midterm FEEDBACK*
Niet verplicht
written test on theory
Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3
Ingangseisen en voorkennis
Ingangseisen
Er moet voldaan zijn aan minimaal één van de cursussen:
Voorkennis
Recommended courses: [UCINTSUS21] Sustainability; [UCINTSUS31] Systems, stories and sustainability; [UCSCICHE22] Physical Chemistry; [UCSCICHE23] Biochemistry
Voertalen
- Engels
Cursusmomenten
Gerelateerde studies
Tentamens
Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus
Verplicht materiaal
Materiaal | Omschrijving |
---|---|
BOEK | Catalysis: Concepts and Green Applications by Gadi Rothenberg, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2008, ISBN 978-3-527-31824-7. Free download: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9783527621866. |
BOEK | Catalysis: An Integrated Textbook for Students by Ulf Hanefeld and Leon Lefferts, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2018, ISBN 978-3-527-34159-7 (will be made available). |
Aanbevolen materiaal
Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend
Coördinator
L.D.B. Mandemaker | L.D.B.Mandemaker@uu.nl |
Docenten
L.D.B. Mandemaker | L.D.B.Mandemaker@uu.nl |
Inschrijving
Naar OSIRIS-inschrijvingen
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien