CHE5886 Advanced biopolymers
Faculty of Engineering
CHE5886 Advanced biopolymers is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2027 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2027
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 6 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
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Requisites
Before CHE5886
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After CHE5886
No unit lists CHE5886 as a prerequisite in the 2027 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must be currently enrolled in a master’s course in engineering or related STEM and in a related discipline. The unit assumes that you have the necessary foundational knowledge.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit will equip you with a detailed understanding of advanced biopolymers. Wood and non-wood lignocellulose fibres will be covered in detail, including the isolation and utilisation of various components. You will cover the efficient, large-scale production of cellulose nanomaterials derived from wood fibres, investigate alternative fibre sources, and learn about a variety of bio-derived polymers such as Chitosan and different protein polymers. The opportunities afforded from lignin and hemicellulose will also be discussed.
The course covers the relationship between fibre surface chemistry and functionality, biopolymer structural arrangement and functionality, biopolymers as an alternative to petroleum-derived analogues, development of packaging materials, and market opportunities for biopolymers.
Offerings in 2027
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Flexible |
Assessment
- Weekly quizQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle10%
- Weekly participation activitiesExerciseThreshold hurdle5%
- Assignment 1: Polysaccharide applicationWrittenThreshold hurdle20%
- Assignment 2: ProteinsWrittenThreshold hurdle10%
- PresentationThreshold hurdle5%
- Lab reportWrittenThreshold hurdle10%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Appraise the different types of naturally occurring biopolymers in terms of availability, morphology, composition and functionality to select the most appropriate manufacturing process.
- 2
Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different biopolymers.
- 3
Assess the biomass composition balance of a mill and propose opportunities for business growth and development.
- 4
Design a biopolymer product based on market needs and formulate the most effective composition and process to achieve the required properties.
Workload and teaching
- Practical activities20 hours
- Workshops24 hours
- Laboratories4 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachOnline 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.
This unit broadly follows a flipped-classroom approach, which seeks to promote active learning. Youare required to review a series of videos, readings and knowledge-based quiz questions prior to attending a virtual practical class, where you will practice applying the weekly skills with your peers and lecturer. At the end of the week, you will then have the opportunity to independently test your ability to apply these skills by completing a practice case study or quiz. The unit will use a series of case studies and problems to teach advanced biopolymers in an industrially relevant way.
Practical, solving real case industrial problems.
You will work in groups for in-semester assessment tasks and will also peer-review other member contributions to enhance uptake of unit materials.
All lectures have been recorded and will be available online through Moodle. You are required to attend the virtual practical class (via Zoom) every week during the semester.
Learning resources
Technology resources
You must be able to access Zoom.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Warren Batchelor
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Warren Batchelor
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for CHE5886?
CHE5886 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is CHE5886 offered?
In 2027, CHE5886 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is CHE5886?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does CHE5886 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 6 other tasks.