CHE5882 Biomass and biorefineries
Faculty of Engineering
CHE5882 Biomass and biorefineries is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2021 in Semester 2 at Clayton and Suzhou (SEU). It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2021
- Semester 2
- Clayton, Suzhou (SEU)
- Assessment
- No exam
- 5 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review CHE5882.
Overview
The unit covers biomass reaction engineering including kinetics, reaction/mass transfer limitations, selectivity, improving reaction rates, and homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. The role of biotechnology including enzymatic reactions, fermentation, selectivity will also be studied together with common separation liquid and liquid-solid separation processes.
Global concepts relevant to biorefineries will be emphasised including the carbon cycle (micro and macro perspectives), overall sustainability of water, energy, and minimising by-products from biorefineries.
Offerings in 2021
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Online |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Term 3 | Suzhou (SEU) | On campus |
Assessment
- Moodle quizThreshold hurdle10%
- Case study 1Threshold hurdle20%
- Case study 2Threshold hurdle20%
- Executive group reportThreshold hurdle20%
- Final assessmentThreshold hurdle30%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Analyse new developments in fundamental aspects of biorefineries by identifying the main pathways of chemical conversion within biorefineries, the resulting products and their applications.
- 2
Critically evaluate and critique new advances and applications for biorefineries from a technical perspective to devise a strategy based on the economic factors, safety considerations and environmental impacts and use them to inform engineering decision-making.
- 3
Research. analyse and recommend an appropriate biorefining approach for various biomass feedstocks.
- 4
Review and critique recent biorefinery research literature to systematically synthesise the finding and insights to design a solution to a problem and/or the project
- 5
Create and analyse experimental data to produce an accurate and detailed report
Workload and teaching
- Lectures13 hours
- Practical activities22 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Students are encouraged to take a broad perspective on the fundamental aspects of biorefineries and to use this knowledge to assess real-case industrial problems and recommend solutions.
All lectures have been recorded and will be available online through Moodle. Students are required to attend the virtual practical class (via Zoom) every week during the semester.
The unit consists of lectures, practice classes, and a group project. Learning in the unit is mainly through lecture materials, book chapters and contemporary journal papers which will be supplied throughout the semester. For some of the assignment problems, there are no right or wrong answers, but students will be expected to provide solutions based on the application of theory taught in the class or given through reading materials. The practical classes will be run online in discussion mode, both individual and as group discussion.
Learning resources
Technology resources
Zoom
Students will be required to have their own device for Moodle quiz and to access the online materials and resources for this unit.
Where it fits
CHE5882 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2021 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Bai-Qian Dai
- Dr Zhikao Li
- Professor Gil Garnier
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Gil Garnier
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for CHE5882?
CHE5882 has no prerequisites.
When is CHE5882 offered?
In 2021, CHE5882 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton and Suzhou (SEU), with an online option.
How much work is CHE5882?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does CHE5882 have an exam?
No. CHE5882 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include CHE5882?
CHE5882 is part of Chemical engineering; and Renewable and sustainable energy engineering.