THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELING

Course objectives

Objectives The topics covered in the module are related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda SDG11 "Sustainable cities and communities" and SDG12 "Responsible consumption and production", with connections also with other objectives, mainly SDG8, SDG9, SDG13 , SDG14 and SDG15. Students will understand that the recovery and recycling of raw materials from waste produced in urban areas ("Urban Mining") represents the sustainable alternative to the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources, i.e. the extraction and treatment of minerals from ore deposits (“Ore Mining”). Furthermore, since waste is composed by a complex system of materials that must be processed in order to obtain their separation and to produce secondary raw materials, an overview of the main traditional and innovative technologies used in recycling plants will be provided. Finally, the main challenges and critical aspects with reference to some recycling chains for the production of secondary raw materials will be highlighted. Knowledge and understanding Knowledge of the fundamental aspects of sustainable production and consumption of resources and sustainable waste management. Knowledge of the principles of circular economy, a model in which the circle closes with the transformation of waste into resources, through strategies that are effective from a technical point of view and convenient from an economic point of view. Knowledge and evaluation of the main problems and challenges in the recycling sector also for the achievement of the targets set by the European Union.

Channel 1
SILVIA SERRANTI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Definitions and fundamental concepts Primary and secondary raw materials. Ore Mining and Urban Mining. Comparison between mineral processing and waste processing. The main types of waste produced in urban areas. From linear economy to circular economy. Circular use rate of raw materials. Efficient use of resources and SDG12 Extraction and consumption of raw materials on a global and regional scale. Environmental impacts of mining activities. Correlation between raw material consumption, waste production, population growth and urbanization. The concept of decoupling: doing better with less. Transition toard resource efficiency. SDG12 and relationship with the other objectives of 2030 Agenda. Critical Raw Materials Definition and description of the critical raw materials identified by the European Union. Leading world producers. Problems related to their criticality and reasons for their strategic importance in relation to the most advanced technological sectors, including that of renewable energy and sustainable mobility. Problems related to the recycling of critical raw materials from waste from electrical and electronic equipment (e.g. smartphones). Examples of recycling-oriented characterization using innovative methodologies. The recycling chain Waste production at global and European scale. The hierarchy in waste management. Urban waste treatment methods. Recycling rates of urban waste and packaging waste and targets set by the European Union. Description of the main operations of a recycling plant: disassembly, comminution, screening, separation. Focus on the most innovative separation methods: “sensor based sorting”. Plastic recycling Production and consumption of plastics by polymer and by sector, production of plastic waste and methods of treatment. The plastic recycling chain: description of the main operations in a plastic recycling process, from waste to secondary raw material. Examples of innovative methods for plastic recycling.
Prerequisites
No specific prerequisite is required, the course can be followed by students enrolled in all Sapienza degree courses.
Books
- Book: Scienze della Sosteniblità, A cura di: S. Serranti, Autori: F.CIoffi, L. De Santoli, A. Lalli, F. Manes, L. Persia e S. Serranti, Zanichelli Editore, 224 pp. ISBN: 8808499855 - Lesson Slides - Documents, reports and publications provided by the teacher
Frequency
Students are invited to register in the classroom through which all the communications and the sharing of teaching material will take place. Instructions for classroom registration will be provided on the teacher's notice board.
Exam mode
The evaluation will be carried out through a written test consisting of 3 open questions on the contents of the 6 modules covered in this course. The test will last an hour and a half.
Lesson mode
Frontal lessons
SILVIA SERRANTI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Definitions and fundamental concepts Primary and secondary raw materials. Ore Mining and Urban Mining. Comparison between mineral processing and waste processing. The main types of waste produced in urban areas. From linear economy to circular economy. Circular use rate of raw materials. Efficient use of resources and SDG12 Extraction and consumption of raw materials on a global and regional scale. Environmental impacts of mining activities. Correlation between raw material consumption, waste production, population growth and urbanization. The concept of decoupling: doing better with less. Transition toard resource efficiency. SDG12 and relationship with the other objectives of 2030 Agenda. Critical Raw Materials Definition and description of the critical raw materials identified by the European Union. Leading world producers. Problems related to their criticality and reasons for their strategic importance in relation to the most advanced technological sectors, including that of renewable energy and sustainable mobility. Problems related to the recycling of critical raw materials from waste from electrical and electronic equipment (e.g. smartphones). Examples of recycling-oriented characterization using innovative methodologies. The recycling chain Waste production at global and European scale. The hierarchy in waste management. Urban waste treatment methods. Recycling rates of urban waste and packaging waste and targets set by the European Union. Description of the main operations of a recycling plant: disassembly, comminution, screening, separation. Focus on the most innovative separation methods: “sensor based sorting”. Plastic recycling Production and consumption of plastics by polymer and by sector, production of plastic waste and methods of treatment. The plastic recycling chain: description of the main operations in a plastic recycling process, from waste to secondary raw material. Examples of innovative methods for plastic recycling.
Prerequisites
No specific prerequisite is required, the course can be followed by students enrolled in all Sapienza degree courses.
Books
- Book: Scienze della Sosteniblità, A cura di: S. Serranti, Autori: F.CIoffi, L. De Santoli, A. Lalli, F. Manes, L. Persia e S. Serranti, Zanichelli Editore, 224 pp. ISBN: 8808499855 - Lesson Slides - Documents, reports and publications provided by the teacher
Frequency
Students are invited to register in the classroom through which all the communications and the sharing of teaching material will take place. Instructions for classroom registration will be provided on the teacher's notice board.
Exam mode
The evaluation will be carried out through a written test consisting of 3 open questions on the contents of the 6 modules covered in this course. The test will last an hour and a half.
Lesson mode
Frontal lessons
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseMechanical Engineering for the Green Transition
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDING-IND/29
  • CFU1