Credit hours
In-class work per week |
Practice per week |
Credits |
Duration |
Total |
2 |
2 |
4 |
15 weeks |
60 hours |
Instructor
Maria Paula Cardeal Volpi
Objective
The objective of this course is to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the technologies and applications involved in biomass conversion into bioenergy and bioproducts, with a particular focus on the integration of biorefineries into agricultural systems. To achieve this, the course will cover technical, environmental, economic, and regulatory aspects related to the field.
Students will gain a broad perspective on the main biomass conversion pathways, including thermochemical, biochemical, and physicochemical processes. Additionally, the course will explore strategies for coproduct valorization, environmental impact assessment, and the economic feasibility analysis of biorefineries.
By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyze emerging technologies and their applications in the transition toward a circular and sustainable economy, considering the diversity of agricultural systems and their specificities.
Content
The course covers the fundamentals and technologies of biorefineries and biomass conversion, focusing on thermochemical, biochemical, and physicochemical processes for bioenergy and bioproduct production. It will discuss different types of biomass and their characteristics, conversion pathways (such as combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion, alcoholic fermentation, biohydrogen, and biodiesel production), and the valorization of co-products.
The course also includes the assessment of environmental impacts, economic and social feasibility analysis of biorefineries, as well as the exploration of regulations and public policies. Case studies and future trends will be discussed, including the integration of biorefineries with sugar and ethanol plants.
Bibliography
1. Cherubini, F. (2010). The biorefinery concept: Using biomass instead of oil for producing energy and chemicals. Energy Conversion and Management, 51(7), 1412-1421.
2. Bridgwater, A. V. (2012). Review of fast pyrolysis of biomass and product upgrading. Biomass and Bioenergy, 38, 68-94.
3. Demirbas, A. (2009). Biofuels: Securing the planet's future energy needs. Energy Conversion and Management, 50(9), 2239-2249.
4. Kamm, B., Gruber, P. R., & Kamm, M. (Eds.). (2006). Biorefineries – Industrial Processes and Products. Status Quo and Future Directions. Wiley-VCH.
5. Peters, J. F., & Patel, M. K. (2020). Life cycle assessment of biorefineries: A critical review of the state-of-the-art. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 134, 110321.
6. Chernicharo, C. A. de L. (1997). Reatores Anaeróbios: Princípios do Tratamento Biológico de Águas Residuárias (Vol. 15). Belo Horizonte: Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
7. Deublein, D., & Steinhauser, A. (2010). Biogas from Waste and Renewable Resources: An Introduction (2nd ed.). Wiley-VCH.
8. Angelidaki, I., Treu, L., Tsapekos, P., Luo, G., Campanaro, S., Wenzel, H., & Kougias, P. G. (2018). Biogas upgrading and utilization: Current status and perspectives. Biotechnology Advances, 36(2), 452-466.
9. Mohanty, P., Pant, K. K., & Naik, S. N. (2013). Biochar: Production, properties, and emerging applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 28, 664-678.