CHEM-E1150 - Biomass Pretreatment and Fractionation - in Class D, Lecture, 10.1.2022-3.5.2022

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Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the course, the student

  1. understands the most important pretreatment processes for the successful fractionation of lignocellulose.
  2. knows about the transport processes underlying the pre-treatment processes.
  3. understands the chemistry and technology of existing and novel fractionation processes and, based on this knowledge, can describe the principles of a forest biorefinery.
  4. understands the principles of kinetics of degradation and depolymerization reactions.
  5. can make well-founded predictions about chemical reactions during biomass refining under different conditions.
  6. can explain the basics of the chemistry of novel solvents for lignocellulose and is able to describe the interactions of solvents with biomass components using semi-empirical solvent parameters.
  7. understands the shortcomings in the sustainability of existing fractionation processes and can make concrete proposals as to which process steps need to be further developed and improved in order to achieve future environmental goals (e.g. avoiding global warming of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius).

Credits: 5

Schedule: 10.01.2022 - 03.05.2022

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kyösti Ruuttunen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    At the beginning of the course the physical-chemical phenomena of lignocellulose impregnation, typically wood, are presented and later deepened in exercises.
    Subsequently, the most important technical pre-treatment methods will be presented, before the main part of the lecture will be continued with the chemistry and technology of the most important fractionation methods. Among the fractionation methods are Kraft pulping, Acid Sulfite pulping, Hydrothermolysis and the most important Organosolv fractionation methods.
    An integral part of this course are Matlab exercises, in which selected examples such as heat transfer during the steaming of wood chips, the kinetics of xylose formation in the dilute hydrolysis of lignocellulose, the diffusion of ionic species in a wood chip, the fluid mechanics within a wood chip and the Donnan equilibrium are presented and calculated in detail. An important concern is to discuss the sustainability of new processes in comparison to conventional processes and to identify differences and potential for improvement. The prerequisite for the course is a general understanding of wood chemistry with a focus on cellulose and lignin chemistry. In addition, students should have a basic knowledge of Matlab in order to solve and understand the prepared examples.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    As a default, examination together with assessment of the assignments are used as the evaluation criteria. Details will be discussed with the students in class, after which final decisions are made.

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    135 h in total

    lectures, assignments in class, home assignments and other independent studying

     

DETAILS

Study Material

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lecture notes, text books on wood chemistry, pulping technology, biorefineries and green chemistry.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    4 Quality Education

    5 Gender Equality

    6 Clean Water and Sanitation

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    13 Climate Action

    14 Life Below Water

    15 Life on Land

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Spring III-V

    2021-2022 Spring III-V

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=CHEM-E1150

    Registration for Courses: In the academic year 2021-2022, registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) instead of WebOodi.

Rules of Conduct - Students´ Rights and Responsibilities (in force from 1 August 2020)

Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof