Biorefinery and Biomass Chemical Conversion

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The first T classes (2h/week), where the fundamental concepts of Biorefineries (PI) are discussed, are supported by materials available in the e-learning platform. In PII T classes are used to follow the group work of bibliographical research, writing of the monograph and preparation of presentation. The monograph presentation and discussion takes place in the final classes with the professor and the students.
The evolution of the group's work throughout the semester, the quality of the monograph, the presentation and the discussion are considered for evaluation in "Avaliação Continua" mode.

Learning Outcomes

Provide the student with key knowledge in the field of production of chemicals from plant biomass, allowing him, during the academic career to deeply develop specific aspects of this intrinsically broad area in particular:
Recognize the importance of plant biomass as a renewable and sustainable source of chemicals, materials, fuels and energy, through the biorefineries, as an alternative to the fossil resources.
Understand the concept of biorefinery, and identify the different types of biorefineries.
Identify the main conversion platforms of plant biomass used in the biorefineries.
Identify and describe the main components of the plant biomass, and the main conversion pathways and the main product that can be obtained within biorefineries.
Knowing in detail the composition of the various families of biomass components, as well the main pathways of chemical conversion within biorefineries, the resulting products and their applications.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Part I: Biorefineries

1. Introduction:
Principles and evolution of the biorefinery concept

2. Biorefineries
Different types of biorefineries

Part II: Chemical refining of vegetable biomass*

3. Sugar as a source of chemicals
Main sources of sugars
Chemicals from monosaccharides

4. Vegetable oils as a source of chemicals
Main sources of vegetable oils
Chemicals from vegetable oils, fatty acids and glycerol.

5. Terpenic compounds as a source of chemicals
Main sources of terpenic compounds
Chemicals from terpenic compounds

6. Phenolic Compounds
Main sources of phenolic compounds
Chemicals from phenolic compounds

7. Nitrogen- and Sulfur-containing compounds
Main sources of Nitrogen- and Sulfur-containing compounds
Chemicals from Nitrogen- and Sulfur-containing compounds

* Examples of possible topics

Head Lecturer(s)

Mara Elga Medeiros Braga

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 100.0%

Bibliography

Bibliografia base /Key Bibliography:
J. Sadhukhan, K.S. Ng, E. M. Hernandez, Biorefineries and Chemical Processes: Design, Integration and
Sustainability Analysis, Wiley, 2014
P.R. Stuart, M.M.El Halwagi, Integrated Biorefineries: Design, Analysis and optimization, CRC Press, 2012,
ISBN 9781439803462
M. Aresta, A. Dibenedetto, F. Dumeignil, “Biorefinery: from biomass to chemicals and fuels”, De Gruyter,
2012
B. Kamm, P. Gruber M. Kamm (Eds). Biorefineries- Industrial Processes and Products: Status Quo and Future
Directions, Vols 1 e 2. Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2006.
A. Corma, S. Iborra, A. Velty. Chemical Routes for the Transformation of Biomass into Chemicals. Chem. Rev.
2007, 107, 2411.
C. Bergeron, D. J. Carrier, S. Ramaswamy (Eds.). Biorefinery Co-Products: Phytochemicals, Primary
Metabolites and Value-Added Biomass Processing. 2012, Wiley Press.