CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PLANTS

Course objectives

This course equips you with the knowledge and tools to design and operate chemical and biochemical plants, particularly those focused on consolidated bioprocessing and biorefineries. You'll gain a thorough understanding of: Momentum, Heat Transfer, and Mass Transfer: Learn how to analyze these fundamental processes critical for efficient plant operation in biorefinery applications. Distillation Techniques: Master various distillation methods (simple, fractional, steam, vacuum, etc.) for separating components in biorefinery products. Liquid-Liquid and Solid-Liquid Extraction: Explore these techniques for selectively extracting desired compounds from biomass and other biorefinery feedstocks. Membrane Separations: Discover how membranes can be used for fractionation, purification, and concentration in biorefinery processes. Industrial Chromatography: Learn how chromatography can be used for large-scale separation and purification of biorefinery products. Industrial Bioreactors and Photobioreactors: Gain expertise in the design, operation, and management of bioreactors used for microbial and phototrophic cultivation in biorefineries. Operation Synthesis and Process Integration: Understand how to design optimal biorefinery processes that minimize waste, reduce energy consumption, and maximize profitability. Sterilization Processes: Explore various techniques for sterilizing equipment and products in biorefineries to ensure product safety and quality. By the end of this course, you'll be able to: Apply fundamental chemical engineering principles to design and analyze biorefinery processes. Select appropriate unit operations for separation, purification, and product recovery in biorefineries. Integrate different processes for optimal biorefinery design and operation. Ensure product safety and quality through proper sterilization techniques. This course is ideal for students interested in careers in the biorefinery industry, bioprocess engineering, and sustainable chemical production.

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MARCO BRAVI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Prerequisites
English (at least Intermediate), General physics, General and organic chemistry, Thermodynamics, Computer Science
Books
Study material for individual learning comprises monographs and scientific articles. The lecturer will specify the material and ensure its availability in accordance with copyright legislation
Frequency
Strongly recommended
Exam mode
The written exam consists of ten multiple-choice questions/small problems and one open-ended question/exercise, the answer to which may require calculation, but may also involve the recognition of an image or a process diagram. The time available for completing the exam is two hours. The exam text is provided in English; the solution must be given exclusively in English. The oral exam involves a discussion on a specific topic which, at the discretion of the instructor, may extend to a maximum of a second topic, not necessarily closely related. The oral exam may last from 20 to 60 minutes (typically 30 minutes). The final grade is calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the two exams.
Lesson mode
Lectures Calculation exercises
  • Lesson code10616730
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseChemical Engineering
  • CurriculumChemical Engineering for innovative processes and products - in lingua inglese
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDING-IND/25
  • CFU9
  • Subject areaIngegneria chimica