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 is able to

  • Tell the physical and chemical distinctions between natural fibres, regenerated fibres, and nanofibres
  • Describe the basic structures, properties and functions of common hemicelluloses and lignins
  • Master the morphology of the native cellulose microfibril and acknowledge how it affects nanocellulose preparation and properties
  • Explain comprehensively how nanocellulose is produced
  • Detect the major obstacles and difficulties in cellulose dissolution and regeneration through basic laws of physical chemistry
  • Explain the main pathways to chemical modification of cellulose and nanocellulose
  • Apply basic structure-property relationship to cellulose-based fibres and understand their implications in most common modern applications (excluding paper and board)

Credits: 5

Schedule: 06.09.2023 - 12.10.2023

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Eero Kontturi

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:

    Isolation of wood and non-wood fibres from the plant material; cell wall structure of lignocellulosic fibres; chemical structure and most common chemical reactions of cell wall components; crystallinity and morphology of cellulose; structure-property relationships of lignocellulosic fibres; sorption behaviour and effect on properties; fibre mechanics and modelling; defects in fibres and their effect on properties; dissolution of cellulose and manufacture of regenerated cellulose; structure and properties of regenerated cellulose; nanocellulose isolation, characteristics and applications

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Oral examination (50% of the grade)

    Report based on the project work (50% of the grade)

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    12 lectures: 25 h (including preparation)

    Examination: 20 h (self-study)

    Laboratory project: 90 h (including planning, reporting, and presenting)

DETAILS

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
  • 13 Climate Action

  • 14 Life Below Water

  • 15 Life on Land

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    All lectures take place in the first period.

    The project work (laboratory exercise) takes place in the second period

    Teaching Language : English

    Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Autumn I - II
    2023-2024 Autumn I - II

    A course implementation may be cancelled if the number of students enrolled to the course implementation does not meet the required minimum of five students. In the case of cancelled course implementations, the students enrolled to them must be provided with an alternative way of completing the course or be advised to take some other applicable course.