Sustainable Resources and Processing

CHEN44491 Sustainable Resources and Processing 15 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 6 Christopher Parlett Unit coordinator Arthur Garforth Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 <ol> <li>The unit consist of the following main topics:</li></ol><ol> <li>Linear and circular economies of chemical production: the concept of linear and circular chemical feedstocks are introduced and discussed. This will focus on how to identify and describe the two,  evaluate the benefits and drawbacks, and access these holistically through LCA</li> <li>Alternative Feedstocks: potential replacements to petroleum as sources of chemical feedstocks will be explored and put in context with linear and circular production concepts. For example; biomass, blue and green hydrogen, CO2, and waste streams, including waste original derived from petrochemical feedstocks such as plastics, will be presented along with the opportunities and requirements for how these can displace petroleum.   </li> <li>Prevention over disposal: the principles for waste minimisation during chemical synthesis will be considered. Metrics to quantify chemical process sustainability, including selectivity, atom economy, and E-Factor, will be introduced to allow evaluation of competing chemical production pathways.</li> <li>Novel products and processes: here alternatives to petroleum-based products (e.g. 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid as a replacement for terephthalic acid, and chemical alternatives for bisphenol-A) will be explored and discussed. In particular, focusing on the concept of conserving molecular complexity, in the context of retaining chemical functional groups (and therefore chemical properties), instead of building it in.</li> <li>Reaction Media: here green solvents, ionic liquids/ deep eutectic solvents, and supercritical fluids, will be considered as reaction media options to displace volatile organic solvents.</li> <li>Alternative technologies: this topic will explore alternative technologies, including microwave heating, sonication, photochemistry, and plasma reactors.</li> <li>Catalysis: the role of catalytic processes will be compared to stoichiometric reagents as green and safer alternatives. Furthermore, it will focus on the developments in producing sustainable catalytic materials, including concepts centred on element sustainability, materials recycling, and optimal utilisation of rare and high-value elements.</li> <li>End of Life: in this topic, the concept that products have an end-of-life will be discussed, along with strategies to tackle these waste streams. Concepts will include designing in reuse, recycle, or repurpose at the point of production alongside methods for processing composite materials where performance dictates complexity (e.g. blister packs)</li></ol> The unit will introduce and develop an understanding of the concepts key to the drive towards sustainable chemical production and the switch a circular economy model. 1. Appraise chemical feedstocks in the context of sustainability and a circular economy2. Design chemical processes that reduced waste generation during production and at their end-of-life.3. Propose alternative sustainable chemical products to conventional petrochemical ones.4. Develop sustainable chemical production pathways based on alternative solvents, technologies, and catalysis.5. Evaluate and analyse chemical products and processes to identify and quantify sustainability improvement. The unit makes use of three main types of learning and teaching sessions delivered using a blended approach:<ul><li>Lecture sessions - synchronous and asynchronous content online and face-two-face</li><li>Tutorial/online exercises and problem solving sessions</li><li>Drop-in discussion sessions</li></ul>All materials are available via the e-learning platform of Blackboard, including lecture notes, lecture podcasts, and sample solutions to the tutorial exercises. Communications outside of the scheduled teaching slots also make use of the Blackboard platform.Teaching ActivitiesAssessment (Exam) - 2 hours Lecture - 16 hours Workshop - 16 hours Independent Study - 32 hours Assessment (Coursework) - 35 hours Assessment (Revision/Preparation) - 49 hours 0 Other 100% <figure class="table"><table class="Table" style="border-collapse:collapse;border:1.0pt solid windowtext;" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:246.4pt;" width="329">Assessment task</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:114.85pt;" width="153">Weighting</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:246.4pt;" width="329">Exam</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:114.85pt;" width="153">50%</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:246.4pt;" width="329">Group presentation</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);padding:0cm 5.4pt;vertical-align:top;width:114.85pt;" width="153">30%</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Individual  presentation</td><td style="border:0.1px solid hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">20%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> MEng (Hons) Chem Eng MEng Chemical Engineering Fourth Year Optional MEng (Hons) Chem Eng w I E MEng (Hons) Chem Eng w I E Fourth Year Optional MEng (Hons) Chem Eng w SIE MEng Chem Eng w SIE Fourth Year Optional <table> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left">All reading lists now must be managed through the library tool at: <a href="https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/using-the-library/staff/reading-lists/">https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/using-the-library/staff/reading-lists/</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> Assessment written exam 2 Lectures 16 Practical classes & workshops 16 0 32