Learning objectives
Objectives: The course on “Catalytic technologies for sustainability” aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles, applications, and advancements in catalysis that contribute to environmental sustainability. The specific objectives of the course are here described:
1. Understanding Catalysis Fundamentals: Introduce students to the fundamental principles of catalysis, including types of catalysts, catalytic mechanisms, and kinetic aspects relevant to sustainable processes.
2. Environmental Impact of Catalysis: Educate students on the environmental challenges associated with traditional catalytic processes, such as energy consumption, waste generation, and resource depletion.
3. Green Chemistry Principles: Emphasize the principles of green chemistry in the context of catalysis, focusing on designing catalysts and processes that minimize environmental impact, reduce hazardous substances, and enhance sustainability.
4. Materials Science and Engineering: Explore the role of materials science in developing sustainable catalytic materials, covering topics such as catalyst synthesis, characterization techniques, and structure-function relationships.
5. Technological Advancements: Discuss recent advancements in catalytic materials and technologies that improve efficiency, selectivity, and durability while reducing energy requirements and waste generation.
6. Case Studies and Applications: Analyze case studies of successful implementation of sustainable catalytic processes in various industries, such as energy production, chemical manufacturing, and environmental remediation.
7. Research and Innovation: Encourage students to explore current research trends and opportunities for innovation in sustainable catalytic materials, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Overall, the course on “Catalytic technologies for sustainability” aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the development and implementation of environmentally responsible catalytic processes in various sectors. It bridges fundamental principles with practical applications, encouraging a holistic understanding of sustainability in catalysis.
In particular the course will cover the following aspects:
1. Introduction to Catalysis: Overview of catalytic processes, catalyst types (homogeneous, heterogeneous, biocatalysts), and their applications.
2. Environmental Impact Assessment: Examination of the environmental impact of catalytic processes and the need for sustainable alternatives.
3. Green Chemistry Principles: Principles such as atom economy, catalytic efficiency, and safer solvents, focusing on their application in catalysis.
4. Catalytic Materials: Study of materials used in catalysis, including metals, metal oxides, organocatalysts, and their synthesis methods and characterization techniques.
5. Technological Advances: Exploration of advanced catalytic technologies, including nanocatalysts, enzyme engineering, and photocatalysis, with a focus on sustainability.
6. Case Studies: Analysis of real-world examples where sustainable catalytic materials have been successfully applied to solve environmental and industrial challenges.
7. Future Directions: Discussion on emerging trends and future directions in sustainable catalytic materials research and application, including challenges and opportunities.
Full programme
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
o Overview of Catalysis and Sustainable Catalytic Materials
o Importance and Relevance of Sustainability in Catalysis
o Objectives and Scope of the Course
2. Fundamentals of Sustainable Catalysis
o Basic Principles of Catalysis
o Definition and Key Concepts of Sustainability in Catalytic Materials
o Green Chemistry and Catalysis
3. Design and Development of Sustainable Catalytic Materials
o Criteria for Sustainable Catalytic Materials
o Design Strategies for Enhanced Sustainability
o Role of Computational Methods in Catalyst Design
4. Types of Sustainable Catalytic Materials
o Metal-based Catalysts
Transition Metals
Precious Metals
o Metal-free Catalysts
Organocatalysts
Carbon-based Catalysts
o Hybrid and Composite Catalysts
5. Renewable Resources and Feedstocks
o Biomass-derived Catalytic Materials
o Utilization of Waste and By-products
o Catalytic Conversion of Renewable Feedstocks
6. Catalyst Synthesis and Fabrication
o Green Synthesis Methods
o Solvent-free and Low-energy Processes
o Advances in Catalyst Fabrication Techniques
7. Characterization of Catalytic Materials
o Analytical Techniques for Catalyst Characterization
o Structure-Activity Relationships
o In-situ and Operando Characterization Methods
8. Catalyst Performance and Optimization
o Metrics for Evaluating Catalyst Performance
o Optimization Techniques for Catalytic Efficiency
o Case Studies of High-performing Catalysts
9. Catalyst Stability and Longevity
o Factors Affecting Catalyst Stability
o Strategies for Enhancing Catalyst Durability
o Reusability and Regeneration of Catalysts
10. Environmental and Economic Considerations
o Environmental Impact of Catalytic Materials
o Lifecycle Assessment of Catalytic Processes
o Economic Viability and Cost Analysis
11. Applications of Sustainable Catalytic Materials
o Catalysis in Energy Production and Storage
o Environmental Catalysis
o Industrial Catalytic Processes
o Catalysis in Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals
12. Emerging Trends and Innovations
o Advances in Nano-catalysis
o Photocatalysis and Electrocatalysis
o Catalysis for Circular Economy
13. Challenges and Future Directions
o Technical Challenges and Solutions
o Policy and Regulatory Challenges
o Future Research Directions and Opportunities
14. Case Studies and Real-World Examples
o Successful Implementations of Sustainable Catalytic Materials
o Lessons Learned from Industrial Applications
o Comparative Analysis with Traditional Catalytic Materials
Bibliography
- Chemical Process Technology (Jacob A. Moulijn, Michiel Makkee, Annelies E. Van Diepen) 2013, Wiley
- Industrial Catalysis, A Practical Approach (Jens Hagen), 2015, Wiley
Teaching methods
The classes will be conducted in person, supplemented with PowerPoint presentations. These slides will be uploaded weekly on the Elly platform. Additional resources can also be accessed through Elly. To download the slides, students must enroll in the online course. The slides are essential components of the teaching materials. Non-attending students are reminded to review the available teaching materials and guidelines provided by the instructor via the Elly platform. The instructor is available for further explanations by appointment via email.
Assessment methods and criteria
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts will be assessed through an oral examination. During this examination, the student must demonstrate several competencies:
- Comprehensive understanding of sustainability and catalysis in chemical processes.
- Ability to critically compare and discuss catalytic materials, such as comparing older catalytic methods with more innovative approaches.
- Proficiency in using appropriate language.
- Capability to integrate knowledge from other courses.
The date and time of the oral examination will be scheduled via email (nicola.dellaca@unipr.it). The oral test will evaluate understanding of the topic's aspects, critical reasoning ability, and the capacity to connect different course components. Additionally, synthesis, technical language usage, and communication skills will be positively assessed. The exam score will be communicated immediately following the test. Students are encouraged to register on the ESSE3 portal before the scheduled oral examination.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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