Circular Bioeconomy for Ecological Transition

Code: -
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ICAR/03
Understanding of the main environmental and socio-economic drivers of the circular and ecological transition occurring in the bioeconomy sector, with a focus on innovative process and technologies for the recovery and valorization of biological waste and residues into renewable energy, fuels and added-value bioproducts (materials, chemicals, feed, food).

Lesson hours:

48

Practice hours:

-

Propaedeuticities:

-

Credits:

6

Types of examinations:

Oral test

Teacher:

-

Objectives:

  • Understanding of the principles of circular bioeconomy and the anthropogenic causes of environmental pollution and climate change;
  • Overview of the main national and international programs and directives involving circular bioeconomy and ecological transition;
  • Analysis of the main process and technologies implemented in the field of carbon capture and utilization;
  • Analysis of the main process and technologies used for nutrients recovery (nitrogen and phosphorus);
  • Evaluation and design principles of modern and innovative biorefineries for biological waste and residues treatment and conversion into bioenergy, biofuels and other added-value bio-commodities.

Contents:

Introduction to the circular bioeconomy and ecological transition. The theory of the sustainable planetary boundaries. The biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Main drivers and problems linked to industrial agriculture. The butterfly model and the principles of actions of the circular economy. The European Bioeconomy strategy and the EU Green Deal. The circular bioeconomy and its engine: the biorefinery. The various generations of feedstocks and biorefineries. Multi-feedstock and multi-product biorefineries: the bio-based values pyramid. Technologies for carbon capture and storage. Technologies for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery. Qualitative and quantitative characterization of biomass feedstocks. Principles of biological processes. Biovalorization of lignocellulosic materials. The anaerobic digestion biorefinery: bioenergy and biofuels. Anaerobic biorefineries: syngas fermentation, solventogenesis and chain elongation. Photosynthetic biorefineries: microalgae-based processes for carbon capture, nutrient recovery, biofuels and added-value compounds production. Aerobic biorefineries: upcycling of carbon and nitrogen into microbial protein and other bioproducts. Case studies.

Teaching materials:

Course educational notes and scientific articles uploaded.