chemical engineering - ingegneria chimica

This Advanced Transport Phenomena class aims to provide students with the theoretical foundations and computational tools required to formulate, analyze and solve advanced transport phenomena encountered in modern chemical engineering. Particular emphasis is placed on predictive mathematical modeling, numerical simulation and critical interpretation of transport processes in homogeneous and multiphase reactive systems.
The following areas are covered: i) transport equations for homogneoeus flows in arbitrary geometries and their numerical solution using finite-difference and finite-volume methods; ii) advanced treatment of mass transport; iii) fundamentals of turbulence and modeling of turbulent flows via RANS and LES techniques; iv) Population Balance Equations (PBE) and their application to processes relevant for Chemical Engineering; v) modeling of multiphase flows through Euleria-Eulerian and Eulerian-Lagrangian methods; vi) radiative heat transfer including optically active media.

Transport phenomena deals with the exchange of mass, energy, and momentum between systems, which plays an important role in engineered and natural systems. The course provides a systematic analysis and fundamental understanding of transport phenomena and their mathematical description, which builds the foundation of modern simulation software packages. Activities in this course intend to help students develop critical thinking skills and ability to interpret physicochemical phenomena to and from mathematical expressions.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Understand the governing equations and physical principles describing momentum, heat and mass transport in homogeneous and multiphase systems, including turbulence, radiation and population balance models. (DdD1)
Formulate, discretize and solve transport problems using appropriate mathematical models and numerical methods, critically selecting the most suitable modeling approach for a given engineering application. (DdD2-3)
Critically interpret and communicate the results of numerical simulations, discussing model assumptions, limitations, uncertainties and engineering implications. (DdD3-4-5)
Students will develop the capability of building predictive digital models of transport phenomena to support the analysis, design and optimization of chemical engineering systems.

Part 1: Transport equations
Multidimensional transport equations for momentum, energy, and species (including chemical reactions). Constitutive laws for viscous stresses, conductive and diffusive fluxes. Basic numerical techniques for solving of transport equations: finite differences and finite volumes. Velocity-pressure coupling. Introduction to the Lattice Boltzmann Method. Examples of applications to heat exchangers, mixers, and chemical reactors.
Part 2: Advanced mass transport
Multicomponent Stefan-Maxwell diffusion, thermal diffusion, and thermophoresis. Mass transport in porous media and dusty-gas model.
Part 3: Numerical modeling of turbulent flows
Introduction to turbulence. Kolmogorov theory and the turbulent energy spectrum. RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) and LES (Large Eddy Simulation). Eddy viscosity models. Competition between mixing and chemistry (turbulence/chemistry interaction models).
Part 4: Population Balance Equations
Population Balance Equations (PBE). Introduction to PBE. Examples of applications to processes relevant to Chemical Engineering (e.g., aerosols, polymerization, crystallization, bubble flows, liquid-liquid extractions, etc.). Numerical solution of PBEs via approximate Moment Methods for Mono-Variate Population Balance Equations (MoM) and via Discrete Sectional Methods (DSM).
Part 5: Transport phenomena in multiphase flows
Introduction to multiphase flows. Dispersed flows and separated flows. Discrete phase models (DPM): particle based (Lagrangian) formulation. Continuous phase models (CPM): single-fluid approach (mixture model, Volume-of-Fluid (VOF), cavitation models); two-fluid approach (Eulerian-Eulerian and Eulerian-Granular models). Examples of applications: bubble flows, fluidized beds, sprays.
Part 6: Radiative Heat Transfer in optically active media
Fundamentals of radiative heat transfer. The Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE) in participating media. Radiative properties of gases and particulate media. Spherical Harmonics (PN-Approximation).

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale facoltativa (a scelta dello studente) o condizionata (a scelta del docente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i facoltativo (a scelta dello studente), di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
The assessment consists of:
mandatory written examination, aimed at evaluating the student’s ability to formulate, analyze and solve advanced transport problems using appropriate mathematical models and numerical methods;
optional oral examination, aimed at assessing the depth of understanding, critical reasoning and ability to discuss modeling assumptions and simulation results;
optional team project, consisting of the reproduction of results presented in a recent scientific publication through numerical modeling and simulation. The project evaluates teamwork, scientific communication and critical interpretation of numerical results.
The final grade is primarily based on the written examination and may be improved through the optional oral examination and/or the optional project.

Versteeg H., Malalasekera W., An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics: The Finite Volume Method, Editore: Pearson, Anno edizione: 2007, ISBN: 978-0131274983
Note: Numerical methods for solving transport equations. Mainly focused on the finite-volume technique. Uses a step-by-step approach to introduce the numerical methodology.
P. Moin, W.H.R. Chan, Fundamentals of Turbulent Flows, Editore: Cambridge University Press, Anno edizione: 2024, ISBN: 9781009431408
Note: Discusses basic tools for the processing and analysis of flow data, providing students with hands-on experience with the analysis tools using realistic data from canonical turbulent flows. Provides a compendium of best practices in numerical methodologies for accurate simulation of turbulent flows.
J.H. Ferziger, M.Peric, R.L. Street, Computational Methods for Fluid Dynamics, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2020, ISBN: 978-3-319-99691-2
Note: The book is a guide to numerical methods for solving fluid dynamics problems. The most used discretization and solution methods, are described in detail. Some advanced topics, like simulation of turbulence, free-surface flows, multigrid methods and parallel computing, are also covered.
Ramkrishna D., Population Balances: Theory and Applications to Particulate Systems in Engineering, Editore: Academic Press, Anno edizione: 2000, ISBN: 978-0125769709
Note: It provides a general treatment of population balance models of dispersed phase systems, encompassing their mathematical structure, derivation, formulation, solution, and identification, through inverse problems and stochastic formulations. A wide variety of applications is presented.
Wesselingh J.A., Krishna R., Mass Transfer in Multicomponent Mixtures, Editore: VSSD, Anno edizione: 2006, ISBN: 978-9071301582
Note: Advanced treatment of mass transport in multicomponent mixtures. Mainly focused on the Stefan-Maxwell and dusty-gas diffusion models.
Brennen C.E., Fundamentals of Multiphase Flow, Editore: Cambridge University Press, Anno edizione: 2009, ISBN: 978-0521139984
Note: A reference book for the basic methods used in the treatment of multiphase flows. The book presents a unifying approach to the fundamental ideas of multiphase flows.
Modest M.F., Mazumder S., Radiative Heat Transfer, Editore: Academic Press, Anno edizione: 2021, ISBN: 978-0323984065
Note: A comprehensive reference on thermal radiation heat transfer, including models and calculations to help solve research problems across a variety of industries.
Bird R.B., Stewart W.E., Lightfoot E.N, Transport Phenomena, Editore: John Wiley & Sons Inc, Anno edizione: 2007, ISBN: 978-0470115398

CHIMICA FISICA APPLICATA
In questo corso verrà affrontata l'origine microscopica e molecolare dei meccanismi chimici, sviluppando una conoscenza di base sulla termodinamica statistica per comprendere le forze che governano le molecole ed essere in grado di predire il loro comportamento combinato nei sistemi fisici, chimici e biologici. In effetti, i progressi dell'ingegneria chimica sono guidati dalle capacità di manipolare la materia a livello microscopico, cosa che richiede una conoscenza fondamentale della chimica fisica per la comprensione dei sistemi su scala nanometrica. I concetti teorici di chimica fisica verranno poi applicati a diversi sistemi di interesse per l'ingegneria chimica: fasi liquide, soluzioni, interfasi, superfici e sistemi carichi elettricamente.

Obiettivo del corso è fornire i principali elementi di cinetica chimica e di ingegneria delle reazioni chimiche. Il corso tratterà il comportamento delle reazioni chimiche e gli elementi della cinetica di reazione (compresa la misurazione e l'interpretazione della cinetica chimica - con casi studio industriali); comportamento dei reattori chimici; reattori catalitici a letto fisso e processi di trasporto con reazioni catalizzate da solidi e reazioni gas-solido non catalitiche; flow patterns complessi: miscelazione micro e macro, distribuzione del tempo di residenza, modelli semi-empirici per reattori con pattern di flusso complessi; reattori a letto fluido; reattori a flusso multifase, sistemi di reazione gas-liquido e liquido-liquido.

Il corso offre una panoramica generale per la progettazione e la gestione degli impianti con focus particolare sulle operazioni unitarie non-convenzionali e gli aspetti operativi (ottimizzazione e controllo). In particolare, il corso completa l'analisi delle unità convenzionali attraverso la valutazione delle fasi di dinamica di accensione e spegnimento ed affronta ex novo le peculiarità di progettazione e gestione di unità più complesse quali essiccatori, essiccatori spray, evaporatori e condensatori, effetti, liofilizzatori, cristallizzatori, torri evaporative, cicloni, membrane ed altre separazioni gas/solido e gas/liquido. Il corso combina aspetti teorici ad esperienze pratiche e tutorial/visite in impianto, nonché tutorial di simulazione dettagliata e programmazione impiantistica con il fine ultimo di offrire allo studente una visione d'insieme del comportamento degli impianti e linee guida per la loro gestione.

Batch processes remain a cornerstone of fine chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, offering flexibility and control in the synthesis of complex molecules. This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of batch processing from a chemical engineering perspective. It bridges theoretical knowledge with practical tools essential for the design, analysis, and optimization of batch systems. Through a combination of lectures and applied case studies, students will develop the ability to critically assess process challenges, select appropriate technologies, and implement strategies for safe, sustainable, and efficient batch production. Emphasis is placed on real-world applications, integrating scientific principles with industrial pragmatism.

Lectures and exercises will enable the students to:
Understand the fundamental principles of batch chemical processing;
Analyze and design batch reactors and separation steps;
Apply scheduling and sequence control strategies to multi-step batch operations;
Identify and manage safety and environmental aspects of batch manufacturing;
Evaluate the role of equipment design and process intensification in batch systems.

Introduction: industrial background, product definitions, motivation for the use of batch processing.
Batch process design: process chemistry, process design, development of reliable process recipes, recipe implementation, pilot scale features, process scale-up.
Reactors: modeling and optimization of batch and semi-batch reactors, reaction kinetics and integration with process control, temperature control and heat transfer in reacting systems.
Agitation and mixing: principles of mixing and agitation in batch systems, scale-up challenges and mixing time estimation, impact of mixing on reaction selectivity and separation efficiency.
Solvents in batch production: solvent properties, solvent effects on reaction, solvent recovery and solvent destruction.
Separations: design and operation of batch separation units, including batch distillation, crystallization, and filtration.
Scheduling of batch processes: single and multiple product batch plants, transfer policies, parallel/intermediate units, sizing of vessels, inventory, NLP design of single- and multi-product plants optimization.
Safety and environmental aspects: hazard identification, selection of safety measures, waste minimization, waste treatment and solvent management.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
The final assessment will be conducted through a written exam. Students will be required to answer questions covering all topics discussed during the lectures and solve exercises related to the industrial case studies.

slides of lectures and study cases (available via WeBeep) https://webeep.polimi.it/login/index.php
P.N. Sharrat, Ed., Handbook of Batch Process Design, Editore: Chapman & Hall, Anno edizione: 1997
E. Korovessi & A. A. Linninger, Eds., Batch Processes, Editore: CRC Press, Anno edizione: 2006

1. Materie prime e linee di produzione dell'industria chimica organica. Impieghi chimici del gas naturale. Sintesi del metanolo e di alcoli superiori. Acido acetico. Sintesi di Fischer-Tropsch. Processi MTG e MTO.
Introduzione ai processi dell'industria petrolifera e petrolchimica. Processi di raffineria (topping, cracking, reforming, frazionamento di miscele di idrocarburi). Produzione di olefine leggere da steam cracking. Monomeri per materie plastiche. Esempi di processi di ossidazione selettiva. Processi di polimerizzazione.
2. Catalisi omogenea ed eterogenea. Reattori industriali. Criteri generali di separazione di miscele. Criteri di sicurezza. Problemi di inquinamento.
Lo sviluppo di processo: scale, apparecchiature, criteri. Intensificazione di processo. Cenni sulla valutazione economica dei processi industriali chimici.

The course provides an analysis on the fundamental principles, on the design and on selected examples of separation processes based on the use of membranes and solid adsorbents.
At the end of the course, the students are expected to be with the main thermodynamic and kinetic aspects involved in both types of separators and to design the related process based on considerations including composition of the mixture to be separated and type of separator.
In particular, the key aspects allowing the identification of the main physico-chemical and process parameters to be tuned in order to achieve required separation performance and design the corresponding units in optimal way will be discussed.
The course combines frontal lectures, providing the fundamental knowledge on the adsorption- and membrane- separations, and numerical exercises, where this knowledge is applied in the design of a selected separation process.

To be able to:

• write down the basic equations required to simulate membrane- and adsorption-based separation units;
• identify the best operating conditions for the specific process under examination;
• identify all required physico-chemical parameters behind the optimal design of such separation processes.

• Fundamental concepts (basic separation techniques and their classification, selection of feasible separations, short account of thermodynamics and mass transfer)
• Adsorption Separations: adsorbent materials, characterization techniques, adsorption equilibria (pure components and mixtures, gas and liquid adsorption), kinetics and transports (sorption modes, eluted peaks and separation efficiency, correlations for transport coefficients), scale-up considerations and process alternatives, frontal and pulse chromatography, equipment (multiple fixed bed, continuous moving bed, rotating annular chromatography), slurry/fixed bed adsorption systems, continuous adsorption systems (True Moving Bed, Simulated Moving Bed).
• Membrane Separations: membrane materials, modules, transport through porous membranes (liquid and gas), dialysis, electrodialysis, reverse osmosis, gas permeation, pervaporation.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Oral exam lasting approximately 30 min with questions and answers, where the students should demonstrate to master the concepts and contents covered during the lectures as well as the numerical excercises.

E.J. Henley, J.D. Seader, D.K. Roper, Separation process principles, 3rd Ed., Editore: Wiley, Anno edizione: 2011
R.W. Rousseau, Handbook of separation process technology, Editore: Wiley, Anno edizione: 1987

Problem solving for ordinary and partial differential equations. Manipulation of basic methods for solution (separation of variables, Fourier series, Fourier transform) and knowledge of qualitative properties of solutions (maximum principles and regularity properties). These topics will be presented in the perspective of their relevant applications to differential models in Chemical Engineering.
The teaching activity of this course includes lectures hours and training sessions. Expectation of achievements and abilities resulting from a successsful attendance of this course are those rassociated with the Dublin descriptors DD1, DD2 an DD3.

1. Partial differential equations - Knowledge of main examples of linear partial differential equations of Mathematical Physics, together with the related notions of boundary value problems and well posed problem.
2. Conservation Laws - Solving the initial value problem for the linear transport equation with source term, with/or without decay, exploiting the method of charactestics and explicit formulas of the solution.
3. Diffusion models - Knowledge of diffusion and heat conduction modeling and maximum principle. Solving the Cauchy problem for the heat equation in R^n by closed formulas. Solving the Cauchy problem for the heat equation in bounded domains by separation of variables. Nolinear diffusion.
4. Transforms - Evaluation of Fourier transforms of functions, evaluation of Fourier series of periodic signals. Ability to apply transform-based methods for solving differential equations with initial and/or energy conditions. Ability to apply Fourier series tecniques to find periodic solutions of ordinary differential equations.
5. The Laplace Equation - Definition and main properties of harmonic functions. Solution of the Laplace equation in bounded domains by separation of variables. Solution of elliptic equations in R^n by using Fourier transform. The fundamental solution in the physical space: Newtonian potential.
6. Waves and Vibrations - Solution of the one dimensional wave equation with D’Alembert formula. Knowledge of: types of waves, domain of dependence and range of influence of data for the wave equation in the physical space.
Lecture hours will allow students to know and understand the topics listed above (DD1), and to apply their knowledge focussing on the acquisition and critical use of basic tools (DD2, DD3).
Training sessions will allow studentsto become familiar with the theoretical concepts presented during lecture hours (DD1, DD2, DD3),
and help developing ability to make judgements (DD3).

1. Introduction to partial differential equations - Mathematical modeling. Examples of partial differential equations. Well posed problems. Boundary value problems: Dirichlet and Neuman boundary conditions. Initial value problems. Classification of second order linear PDE.
2. Conservation Laws - Pollution in a channel. Linear transport equation. Distributed source. Decay and localized source. Characteristics. Inflow and outflow. First order quasi-linear equations.
3. Diffusion - The diffusion equation. Heat conduction. Well posed problems. Separation of variables. Maximum principle and uniqueness. The fundamental solution. The Dirac distribution. The Cauchy problem for the heat equation. Energy estimates. An example of nonlinear diffusion: the porous medium equation.
4. Transforms - Fourier transform. Fourier series of periodic signals. Function spaces: C^k, L^1, L^2. Distributions. Convolution. Transform-based methods for solving differential equations with initial and/or energy conditions.
5. The Laplace Equation - Well posed problems and uniqueness. Harmonic functions and their properties. Separation of variables. Eigenvalue problems. The fundamental solution in the physical space: Newtonian potential. Solution of Laplace equation in R^n.
6. Waves and Vibrations - Types of waves. Transverse waves in a string. The one dimensional wave equation. D’Alembert formula. Domain of dependence and range of influence. Huygens principle. Energy conservation.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
The final (written) exam consists in solving exercises and answering questions related with the topics of the course,
in order to assess the knowledge of theorems and ability to exploit the mathematical tools presented in the frontal lessons:
all exam tasks will have prescribed scores: basic exercises are aimed at evaluating DD1, while advanced exercises and the theoretical question
are aimed at evaluating DD3.
Additional score can be achieved by a (facultative) theory question and a (facultative) final drill in MATLAB laboratory.
Precisely the exam will check the acquired skills concerning:
1- Knowledge of main examples of linear partial differential equations of Mathematical Physics, together with the related notions of boundary value problems and well posed problem.
2 - Solving the initial value problem for the linear transport equation with source term, with/or without decay, exploiting the method of charactestics and explicit formulas of the solution.
3 - Knowledge of diffusion and heat conduction modeling and maximum principle. Solving the Cauchy problem for the heat equation in R^n by closed formulas. Solving the Cauchy problem for the heat equation in bounded domains by separation of variables.
4 - Evaluation of Fourier transforms of functions, evaluation of Fourier series of periodic signals. Ability to apply transform-based methods for solving differential equations with initial and/or energy conditions. Ability to apply Fourier series tecniques to find periodic solutions of ordinary differential equations.
5 -Definition and main properties of harmonic functions. Solution of the Laplace equation in bounded domains by separation of variables. Solution of elliptic equations in R^n by using Fourier transform. The fundamental solution in the physical space: Newtonian potential.
6 - Solution of the one dimensional wave equation with D’Alembert formula. Knowledge of: types of waves, domain of dependence and range of influence of data for the wave equation in the physical space.

Franco Tomarelli, Mathematical Analysis Tools for Engineering, Editore: Esculapio, Anno edizione: 2024, ISBN: 978-88-9385-346-0
Filippo Gazzola, Franco Tomarelli & Maurizio Zanotti, Analytic functions, Integral transforms, Differential equations - Second Edition, Editore: Esculapio, Anno edizione: 2023, ISBN: 978-88-9385-345-3
Note: English text is also available as an E-book. A printed version in Italian language is available too.
Filippo Gazzola, Franco Tomarelli, Maurizio Zanotti, Analisi Complessa, Trasformate, Equazioni Differenziali, Editore: Esculapio, Anno edizione: 2023, ISBN: 978-88-9385-344-6

Climate change, a consequence of global warming, is a global issue resulting due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The main GHG of concern is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Scientists have utilized technologies in recent decades to mitigate GHGs. Among the proposed technological solutions, heterogeneous catalysis has played a vital role.
This course will be focused in particular on energy-efficient catalytic routes to clean fuels, i.e., those with minimal contaminants and which produce the most energy with the fewest possible byproducts. Among those, this course will focus mainly on:
syn-fuels, produced from synthesis gas obtained from fossil sources other than oil (e.g. natural gas);
bio-fuels, produced from bio-resources (biomass, biogas, etc.);
e-fuels, produced from green hydrogen (obtained from water electrolysis) and CO2.
An overview of the environmental and energy problems is given in this class with emphasis on the challenges and opportunities for the catalysis and reaction engineering community. Important research directions, entailing the hydrogen economy, process intensification, enhanced efficiency, transformation of underutilized energy resources (e.g., natural gas from remote and offshore locations), and biomass conversion with novel processing schemes, are outlined. Recommendations for future research needs are made.

According to the Dublin Descriptors (DDs), the Student:

• knows and understand state-of-the-art industrial and R&D catalytic processes for sustainable energy conversion (DD1);
• is able to explain how the main synfuels, biofuels, and e-fuels can be synthesized (DD2);
• is able to select the most suitable catalytic reactor for a specific fuel-processing process (DD2).

This course focuses mainly on select emerging technologies and processes where the Chemical Engineering community can significantly contribute in solving the energy problem, mainly through innovation in heterogeneous catalysis and reactors. Topics touched upon include process intensification and efficiency, hydrogen economy, offshore and remote natural gas utilization, and renewables, such as biomass utilization and transformation of various waste streams. As underscored herein, a crosscutting theme emerging for future power generation is processing at scales smaller than those of the conventional refinery and petrochemical plants. Future research needs are finally outlined.
More into details, this course will focus on:
a) syn-fuels production from underused natural gas resources
b) bio-fuels production from non-food resources
c) e-fuels, produced from green hydrogen and captured CO2.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Oral exam.
During the exam the student will be asket to describe at least one of the processes discussed in the course, providing details on:
(i) the importance of the process and the current technology readiness level (TRL);
(ii) the process flow diagram;
(iii) the adopted catalyst and the design of the catalytic reactor;
(iv) the need for product upgrading / purification.

Power to Fuel - How to Speed Up a Hydrogen Economy, Editore: Giuseppe Spazzafumo, Anno edizione: 2021, ISBN: 978-0-12-822813-5 https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780128228135/power-to-fuel
James G. Speight, Synthetic Fuels Handbook: Properties, Process, and Performance, Editore: McGraw Hil, Anno edizione: 2020, ISBN: 978-1-26-012896-3 https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781260128963

Teaching Objectives
The course aims to provide students with an integrated understanding of the central role of catalytic materials in enabling advanced, intensified, and sustainable chemical processes. Starting from the analysis of emerging industrial challenges—including process intensification, electrified chemical manufacturing, biomass valorization, plastic upcycling, and circular production systems—the course examines how catalyst design determines process efficiency, selectivity, energy consumption, and environmental performance.
Particular emphasis is placed on the catalyst as the core functional element of the process. Students will develop a thorough understanding of how catalyst composition, structure, morphology, and surface properties are tailored through conventional and sustainable preparation methods to meet the requirements of modern catalytic technologies. The relationships between synthesis, physicochemical properties, and catalytic performance are systematically discussed to establish a materials-oriented approach to process design.
The course also introduces the advanced characterization techniques required to investigate catalyst structure and functionality, including in situ and operando methods that allow the identification of active sites and the evolution of catalytic materials under realistic operating conditions. These techniques are presented as essential tools for rational catalyst development and optimization.
Laboratory activities complement the theoretical lectures by providing hands-on experience in catalyst preparation, characterization, and performance analysis, enabling students to connect material properties with process behavior and to develop practical skills relevant to catalyst development, industrial process optimization, and sustainable chemical manufacturing.

Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Understand the role of catalytic materials as key enabling components of advanced and sustainable chemical processes.
Explain the relationships between catalyst preparation, structure, physicochemical properties, and catalytic performance.
Select appropriate preparation and characterization techniques to investigate and develop catalytic materials for different applications.
Analyze catalytic processes from both engineering and materials perspectives, considering efficiency, stability, sustainability, and resource utilization.
Evaluate catalyst deactivation, regeneration, and recycling strategies within a circular economy framework.
Apply scientific and engineering principles to critically assess catalytic technologies for sustainable industrial applications.
Interpret experimental data obtained from catalyst preparation and characterization activities and communicate technical results effectively using appropriate scientific terminology.

The course is structured into sequential modules following a process-oriented framework: Industrial Challenge → Process → Catalyst Requirements → Preparation → Characterization → Performance. This approach enables students to understand how catalyst design, synthesis, and characterization are driven by the specific requirements of modern sustainable catalytic processes.
1 – Introduction & Criticality of Raw Materials in Catalysis
The role of catalysis in industrial chemistry, environmental technologies, and energy systems
The global catalyst market and evolving sustainability requirements
Introduction to critical raw materials (CRM): definitions, risks, supply chain vulnerabilities
Material complexity in catalysts (supports, promoters, binders)
Transition to circular materials management
2 – Sustainable Catalyst Design Principles
Approaches to reduce reliance on critical metals: dispersion, alloying, nanostructuring
Alternatives to noble metals: carbides, nitrides, phosphides, perovskites, spinels, single-atom catalysts
Support engineering to maximize atom efficiency
Catalyst durability as a sustainability parameter
Design for recycling: modular structures, coatings, magnetic catalysts
3 - Bifunctional Catalysts for Hydrocracking, Biomass Conversion & Plastic Recycling
The processes: hydrocracking, Biomass upgrading, Plastic upcycling, Reaction mechanisms
Catalyst requirements: Metal function, Acid function, Hierarchical porosity, Stability against coke
Preparation methods: Ion exchange (zeolites), impregnation, co-precipitation, Extrusion/shaping
Characterization Techniques: NH₃-TPD, XRD, BET, TEM, FTIR of acid sites
4 - Catalysts for Separation: Membrane and Adsorptive Systems
The process: Hydrogen purification, Membrane reactors, Sorption-enhanced reactions, Methanol/water separation
Catalyst requirements: Thin selective layer, Controlled pore size, Chemical resistance, Mechanical stability
Preparation methods: Hydrothermal growth of zeolite membranes, Dip coating, Sol-gel coating, Washcoating, Phase inversion (polymeric membranes)
Characterization Techniques: SEM cross-section, Gas permeation, XRD, Adsorption isotherms
5 - Electrocatalysis & Electrified Chemical Processes
The processes: Water electrolysis, CO₂ electroreduction, Fuel cells, Electrochemical ammonia
Catalyst requirements: Electrical conductivity, High electrochemical surface area, Low overpotential, Stability under potential cycling
Preparation methods: Electrodeposition, Hydrothermal synthesis, Spray/flame spray pyrolysis
Characterization Techniques: SEM/TEM, XPS

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
Student assessment is based on an oral examination (80%) and a laboratory report (20%). The oral examination evaluates the students' understanding of the fundamental concepts presented during the course, their ability to establish connections between catalyst preparation, characterization, and process performance, and their capacity for critical analysis and discussion of sustainable catalytic technologies. The laboratory report assesses the students' ability to interpret experimental results, relate catalyst properties to catalytic behavior, and communicate technical findings using appropriate scientific methodology and terminology.

I. Chorkendorff, J. Niemantsverdriet, Concepts of modern catalysis and kinetics, Editore: Wiley-VCH, Anno edizione: 2017, ISBN: 978-3-527-31672-4 https://www.wiley.com/en-it/Concepts+of+Modern+Catalysis+and+Kinetics,+3rd+Edition-p-9783527332687
Roel Prins, Anjie Wang, Xiang Li, Introduction to heterogeneous catalysis, Editore: Word Scientific, Anno edizione: 2016, ISBN: 978-1-78634-080-1 https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/q0035
Matthew Davidson, Richard Catlow, Christopher Hardacre, Nicholas Turner, Paul Collier, Modern Development in Catalysis, Editore: Graham Hutchings (Editor), Word Scientific, Anno edizione: 2014, ISBN: 978-1-78634-121-1 https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/q0035
autori vari, Chemical Engineering Essentials 2: Advanced Processes, Materials, and Sustainability, Editore: Raj Kumar Arya, George D. Verros, J. Paulo Davim, Anno edizione: 2025, ISBN: 9781836690177
Aliaksandr S. Bandarenka, Energy Materials - Short Introduction to Functional Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage 1st edition, Anno edizione: 2023, ISBN: 9780367458102
autori vari, Energy Materials - Fundamentals to Applications 1st Edition, Editore: Sanjay J. Dhoble, N. Thejo Kalyani, B. Vengadaesvaran, Abdul Kariem Arof, Anno edizione: 2021, ISBN: 9780128237106

The pharmaceutical industry is facing significant pressure to enhance the efficiency of its manufacturing processes, as rising costs outpace the pace of new drug development. Continuous manufacturing provides a proven solution to address this challenge. This approach offers numerous benefits, including minimizing waste, reducing energy consumption, and optimizing the use of raw materials. Additionally, it enables the accelerated synthesis of new drugs, allows for the utilization of smaller production facilities with lower building and capital costs, facilitates continuous monitoring of drug quality, and enhances process reliability and flexibility.
This class covers key aspects of continuous manufacturing of small molecules. The first part provides an overview of the chemical engineering principles and regulatory environment. The second part covers the technologies for manufacturing small molecules. The final part is devoted to process analytical tools for continuously operating manufacturing environments.

The course will allow students to:
Understand the core principles and underlying assumptions of continuous manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, including the benefits and challenges of this approach.
Learn about the reactors and unit operations used in continuous manufacturing.
Explore the regulatory and quality assurance frameworks that govern pharmaceutical manufacturing and understand how they apply to continuous processes.
Identify and assess risks in continuous manufacturing, and develop mitigation strategies to ensure process safety and product quality.

Introduction to continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing: industrial motivation for continuous processing, advantages and challenges of flow manufacturing.
Flow reactor technologies: design and operation of flow reactors for pharmaceutical synthesis, including micro- and mesoreactors, oscillatory flow reactors, microstructured and multifunctional reactors, and membrane reactors. Challenges associated with solids handling and highly viscous solutions or suspensions.
Novel reaction platforms: principles and applications of flow photochemistry, flow electrochemistry, flow enzymatic transformations.
Hydrodynamics, mixing and heat transfer: fluid dynamics in continuous-flow microreactors, diffusion and mixing phenomena in micromixers, mass transfer and separation processes, thermal management and heat transfer in flow systems.
Scale-up and process intensification: reactor dimensioning, scale-up and numbering-up methodologies, process optimization and industrial implementation of continuous manufacturing technologies.
Process monitoring and quality assurance: Process Analytical Technology (PAT), real-time process monitoring and data acquisition, microanalytical instrumentation and sensors, Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) attributes, Quality by Design (QbD), Design Space (DS), continuous risk assessment and Design of Experiments (DoE).
Safety and regulatory aspects: safety considerations in intensified and continuous processes, operation under highly reactive or thermal runaway conditions, risk management strategies, and regulatory requirements for flow chemistry under GMP and non-GMP environments.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Valutazione continua facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
The final mark will be based on an individual written examination. This closed-book assessment will encompass all topics covered in the syllabus and will consist of a mix of open and closed questions, numerical problems, and the resolution of a case study.

Slides, lecture notes, and research articles provided on the BeeP platform (beep.metid.polimi.it).
Patrick Tabeling, Introduction to Microfluidics, Editore: Oxford University Press, Anno edizione: 2023, ISBN: 9780191937606
Johannes Khinast, Jukka Rantanen, Continuous Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals, Editore: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Anno edizione: 2017, ISBN: 9781119001324
Note: Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13

Course objectives:

• to provide the theoretical knowledge and the numerical approaches necessary to describe and critically analyze the dynamic behavior of conventional facilities in the field of chemical engineering;
• to provide the theoretical foundation of control theory, covering from conventional feedback control strategies already introduced in previous fundamental courses to feedforward, model guided, model predictive control and other advanced techniques applied both to single facilities and to networks of units (i.e. simplified or real chemical plants)
• to apply the theoretical notions to the selection of the most suitable control strategies and to the design of feedback, feedforward and model guided controllers by means of numerical simulations

Lectures and computational laboratories sessions will allow students to:

• derive conservation equations to model the dynamics of facilities and units of interest in chemical processes (tank, series of tanks, heaters, reactors, distillation columns, flash separators, mixers,...)
• analyze the features and criticisms of a dynamic system in relation to stable and unstable behaviors
• assess the relation between degrees of freedom and control systems and is able to conceive suitable strategies to react to external disturbances and set point changes
• discern between advantages and disadvantages of different possible control strategies
• design effective controllers for a given case study
  Specifically, computational laboratories and the team work to produce the report will allow students to:
• implement numerical algorithm to describe the open loop, closed loop, model based control behavior of relevant systems in commercial software for the solution of dynamic systems (e.g. Matlab, Simulink)
• discuss critically and with an adequate technical language process dynamics and process control aspects
• analyze and improve numerical algorithms with respect to solutions proposed in class
• improve communication skills and team group capabilities

Development of mathematical models for chemical engineering applications:
Conservation equations and process variables for ideal reactors and unit operations
Kinetics, thermodynamics and transport equations
Input/output model
Degrees of freedom
Feedback control systems design
Dynamics of feedback controlled processes: effects of control actions
Stable/Unstable systems
Design of feedback controllers
Feedback controllers design synthesis
Advanced control systems concepts and design
Multiple loop control
Selective control
Feedforward control
Feedforward plus feedback
Adaptive and inferential control
Control of distillation columns
Plant control: control systems for multivariable processes (MIMO)
Control of simplified process layouts
Loops interaction and decoupling
Together with lectures on theoretical aspects of process dynamics and control, computer laboratories will target the implementation and solution of mathematical models using Matlab, simulink and other tools (process identification, model predictive control).

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
The students are required to produce a detailed, original and creative group report covering all computational laboratory sessions, critically bridging between theory classes and the many aspects addressed during practicals. Submission of this report is mandatory to access the exam. Reports are evaluated on a 0 to (0-5/30) scale that will complement the official exam evaluation.
The official exam is a written test covering theory notions and concepts from lectures, also including short exercise to test the students' capabilities of critically analyzing dynamics and control related problems. The official exam is evaluated on a 0-25/30 scale and is complementary to the report evaluation.

La conoscenza delle problematiche relative agli impatti ambientali delle attività industriale è fondamentale nella vita lavorativa dell'ingegnere in qualunque settore industriale: dal settore oil&gas, a quello chimico, farmaceutico, alimentare, o del trattamento rifiuti. Questo corso si propone di fornire queste conoscenze in primo luogo illustrando gli aspetti regolatori e le normative relative alla gestione ambientale in azienda, per poi focalizzarsi sulle tematiche più di frontiera del monitoraggio e della valutazione degli impatti ambientali, considerando sia le emissioni ordinarie che quelle accidentali. Nel corso verranno presentati degli esempi pratici e dei casi studio riferiti principalmente ad aziende dei settori food e oil&gas, prendendo in considerazione l'intero ciclo di vita delle produzioni industriali.

The course is intended to provide an introduction to the so-called “Formulation Engineering”, i.e. the part of the production process directly affecting the end-use properties of the final product not necessarily modifying the corresponding production recipe.

To pass the exam the student should:

• know the main principles of formulation technology, colloid chemistry and interface chemistry
• apply colloid and interface chemistry principles to a particular case study
• comment critically results obtained

The course contents are organized into two main parts:

• first part where the major physic-chemical phenomena behind the formulation of a product are discussed. Namely, the key features of the colloidal systems and of the corresponding interfacial properties are presented, with special emphasis on liquid-liquid emulsions, microemulsions and foams, powders and systems involving solid particles. In all cases, main issues related to dispersed systems (preparation, stabilization and rheology) are treated with detail;
• second part where the fundamental principles discussed in the first part are applied to different industrial processes. Namely, the best recipes and operating conditions aimed to control and optimize the following products are thoroughly presented: detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, food and agricultural products. This second part is actually developed through “study cases” in order to provide the students with closer contact with the industrial practice.
  In particular the topics are:
• Colloidal dispersions
• Tensides
• Emulsions
• Foams
• Click chemistry
• Hydrogels
• Suspensions
• Solid form and instant product

Prova orale obbligatoria
Oral examination with discussion of a report on a particular case study
In this discussion the attention will be focused on the application of formulation technology principles and the critical comment of results obtained.

H. Mollet, A. Grubenmann,, Formulation Technology, Editore: Wiley-VCH, Weinheim (2001)

The course is designed to provide students with the fundamental concepts and practical tools of Green Chemistry, with particular emphasis on the development, processing and evaluation of sustainable materials and products.
It combines lessons, classroom activities and laboratory sessions.
Particular attention will be devoted to the design, preparation, processing and critical assessment of bio-based and waste-derived materials, including heterogeneous functional and catalytic materials, developed through processes that minimise environmental impact.
The course emphasises the role of chemistry in the development of more sustainable processes and materials, highlighting the relationships among raw material selection, composition, processing conditions, structure and functional properties. It provides students with the fundamental tools to reduce the use of hazardous substances, minimise waste, water and energy consumption, improve resource efficiency, and valorise waste and by-products according to circular economy principles.
A specific focus is placed on biopolymers and bio-based materials obtained from renewable or waste-derived sources, with particular attention to films, coatings and composites for sustainable packaging and other functional applications.
Students will examine the selection and characterisation of raw materials, the recovery, modification, formulation and processing of biopolymers, and the preparation of films, gels, coatings and composites. Particular attention will be paid to the relationships between composition, processing conditions and properties such as thermal and mechanical stability, moisture interaction, surface behaviour, biodegradability, recyclability and reprocessability.
The course also addresses the development of heterogeneous functional materials for catalysis, focusing on supports and catalytic systems derived from waste or bio-based matrices, including biopolymers, lignocellulosic residues, functionalised biomass and agro-food by-products. Catalytic reactions will be used as functional tests to assess material activity, selectivity, stability, recoverability and reuse.
Through laboratory activities, students will connect the selection of raw materials, formulations, processing conditions and experimental procedures with safety, waste generation, water and energy demand, material functionality and overall process sustainability.
The primary objective of the course is to develop students’ ability to identify critical sustainability issues, interpret experimental results and propose technically sound solutions for the design and processing of safer, resource-efficient and functional materials. Students will be encouraged to critically assess trade-offs among environmental impact, safety, material performance, process complexity and potential scalability.
The course also includes the development of a short research proposal on one of the topics addressed during the course. The proposal will define a sustainability challenge, an experimental strategy, the expected material or process performance, and the main environmental, technical and scale-up implications. It will be presented and assessed as part of the final examination.

The course provides students in Chemical Engineering with a theoretical and practical introduction to Green Chemistry, pollution prevention and the sustainable design of materials and laboratory processes.
Particular emphasis is placed on the laboratory application of Green Chemistry principles to the recovery, formulation, processing and characterisation of bio-based and waste-derived materials, including heterogeneous materials for catalytic applications.
Students will learn how laboratory procedures and material preparation processes can be designed or redesigned to reduce the use of hazardous substances, minimise waste, water and energy demand, improve resource efficiency, and valorise renewable feedstocks, waste streams and agro-food by-products without disregarding material performance and process feasibility.
The course focuses on two complementary areas: biopolymer-based materials for sustainable packaging and other functional applications, and heterogeneous catalytic materials developed from waste-derived or bio-based matrices.
Laboratory activities will allow students to connect theoretical concepts with experimental practice by evaluating the effects of raw material characteristics, formulations, solvents, additives, processing conditions and downstream operations on safety, waste generation, energy and water demand, material properties and overall process sustainability.
The course also includes the development of a short research proposal addressing a materials-related Green Chemistry challenge. The proposal will be presented and critically discussed during the final examination.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
DdD1 – Knowledge and understanding
Understand the principles of Green Chemistry, pollution prevention and sustainable materials design. Recognise the role of renewable and waste-derived feedstocks, solvents, additives, processing conditions and heterogeneous functional materials in determining environmental impact, safety, processability and final material performance.
DdD2 – Applying knowledge and understanding
Apply Green Chemistry principles in the laboratory to the recovery, formulation, processing and characterisation of bio-based and waste-derived materials. Prepare and evaluate heterogeneous catalytic materials and use model reactions as functional tests of activity, selectivity, stability, recovery and reuse. Compare alternative laboratory procedures using mass balances and simplified sustainability metrics, including atom economy, E-factor, Process Mass Intensity, solvent intensity and basic energy and water indicators.
DdD3 – Making judgements
Critically evaluate the advantages and limitations of processes and materials proposed as sustainable by interpreting experimental data and identifying trade-offs among environmental impact, safety, functional performance, resource demand, process complexity and potential scalability. Assess whether the use of renewable or waste-derived feedstocks provides an effective sustainability benefit compared with conventional alternatives.
DdD4 – Communication skills
Clearly present experimental methods, material characterisation results, sustainability metrics and critical assessments through laboratory reports and an oral research proposal supported by a slide presentation, using appropriate technical and scientific terminology.
DdD5 – Lifelong learning skills
Independently investigate topics related to Green Chemistry, sustainable materials, biopolymers, waste valorisation and heterogeneous functional materials through scientific literature, technical documentation, safety data sheets and relevant material and process databases.

This course has limited enrolment. Admission is subject to the availability of laboratory places and completion of the mandatory application procedure described on the website: [https://www.ingindinf.polimi.it/en/].
1. Green Chemistry principles applied to materials and laboratory processes
Application of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry to laboratory processes and materials development.
Waste prevention, safer substances and safer experimental procedures.
Selection of raw materials, solvents, additives and processing conditions.
Role of Green Chemistry in Chemical Engineering and materials design.
Relationship between laboratory-scale choices, process feasibility and potential scale-up.
Introduction to performance–sustainability trade-offs.
Mass balances and sustainability metrics for laboratory processes
Yield, recovery yield, conversion, selectivity and mass balance.
Atom economy for chemical transformations.
E-factor and waste composition.
Process Mass Intensity.
Solvent and water intensity.
Basic evaluation of energy demand.
Metrics for extraction, modification and material formulation processes.
Comparison between conventional and alternative laboratory procedures.
Relationship between environmental metrics and functional performance.
Interpretation, applicability and limitations of simplified sustainability metrics.
Safer solvents, additives and experimental process design
Environmental, health and safety issues associated with solvents, additives and process chemicals.
Criteria and tools for safer solvent selection.
Water, bio-based solvents, low-solvent and solvent-free approaches.
Selection of plasticizers, crosslinking agents, fillers and processing auxiliaries.
Reduction of washing, purification and downstream operations.
Solvent recovery and reuse.
Waste minimisation in extraction, material preparation and characterisation.
Use of safety data sheets and technical data sheets for experimental planning.
Experimental design aimed at balancing safety, processability and material performance.
Renewable and waste-derived feedstocks for sustainable materials
Renewable feedstocks, secondary raw materials and waste-derived resources.
Agro-food by-products, protein-rich waste streams, biomass and lignocellulosic residues.
Recovery of biopolymers, functional fractions and material precursors.
Use of waste-derived resources as polymer matrices, additives, fillers, adsorbents and supports for functional materials.
Preliminary treatment, separation and purification of waste-derived feedstocks.
Composition, quality, variability and traceability of secondary raw materials.
Mass yield and resource efficiency of recovery processes.
Circular economy, cascade use and competing valorisation pathways.
Selected case studies on the recovery of proteins, polysaccharides, lignocellulosic fractions and functional molecules.
Critical assessment of the technical, environmental and economic limitations of waste valorisation.
Design, processing and characterisation of bio-based materials
Natural, bio-based and waste-derived polymers used as matrices for sustainable materials.
Selection of polymer matrices, plasticizers, fillers, crosslinking agents and functional additives.
Physical and limited chemical modification strategies aimed at improving processability, stability and functional performance.
Formulation and preparation of films, gels, coatings and composites.
Mixing, dispersion, casting, drying, curing and other relevant processing operations.
Relationships among composition, processing conditions, material structure and final properties.
Chemical, thermal, mechanical and dynamic-mechanical characterisation of bio-based materials.
Water uptake, solubility, moisture sensitivity, surface behaviour and dimensional stability.
Compatibility among material components and effects of formulation variables.
Ageing, storage stability, durability and reprocessability.
Biodegradability, recyclability and end-of-life options.
Comparison between bio-based materials and conventional alternatives based on functional performance and sustainability indicators.
Selected applications in sustainable packaging, coatings and other functional materials.
Bio-based and waste-derived heterogeneous catalytic materials
Role of heterogeneous catalysis in Green Chemistry and pollution prevention.
Fundamentals of heterogeneous catalysis relevant to the preparation and evaluation of supported catalytic materials.
Bio-based and waste-derived matrices used as catalytic supports.
Biopolymers, functionalised biomass, lignocellulosic residues and agro-food by-products as support materials.
Immobilisation and dispersion of catalytically active phases on bio-based matrices.
Metal and metal-free active phases supported on waste-derived materials.
Chemical, thermal, morphological and surface characterisation of catalytic materials.
Model reactions used as functional tests of catalytic activity and selectivity.
Evaluation of conversion, selectivity, yield and reaction productivity.
Catalyst recovery, reuse, deactivation and stability.
Leaching of the active phase and distinction between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic contributions.
Comparison with conventional or homogeneous catalytic systems.
Evaluation of material efficiency, process waste and resource demand associated with catalyst preparation and use.
Selected examples of aqueous, confined or low-solvent catalytic environments.
Green Chemistry Strategies for Drug Discovery case studies
Case Study 1 – Amide Bond Formation
Case Study 2 – Suzuki Coupling
Case studies on patent protection for green innovations.Critical assessment of scalability, robustness and industrial feasibility.
Development of a research and materials-design proposal
Identification of a scientific, technical or sustainability challenge.
Analysis of the state of the art and definition of the innovation gap.
Selection of renewable or waste-derived raw materials and justification of their use.
Definition of the target material, functional requirements and intended application.
Design of the experimental strategy, variables and control experiments.
Selection of preparation, processing and characterisation methods.
Identification of technical risks, limitations and alternative strategies.
Consideration of scalability, reproducibility and availability of raw materials.
Preliminary assessment of end-of-life options and potential environmental benefits.
Presentation and critical discussion of the proposal.
Laboratory
The laboratory is organised into two complementary experimental modules focused on the conversion of waste-derived resources into functional materials. Throughout the laboratory activities, students will follow the complete development workflow adopted in sustainable materials research: selection and preliminary assessment of the starting matrix, material preparation and processing, chemical and physical characterisation, functional testing, calculation of selected sustainability metrics, and critical evaluation of technical performance, environmental impact and potential scalability.
The laboratory activities are designed to strengthen the connection between Green Chemistry principles and experimental practice, allowing students to evaluate how raw material selection, processing conditions and formulation variables influence material properties, process efficiency, waste generation and overall sustainability.
Experimental Module 1 – Recovery and processing of waste-derived protein-based materials
The first laboratory module focuses on the recovery of proteins from waste-derived sources and their conversion into functional bio-based materials. Students will follow the complete experimental workflow, from the valorisation of the starting waste matrix to the preparation, characterisation and evaluation of the final material.
The activities will include:
preliminary assessment and characterisation of the waste-derived starting material;
extraction and recovery of proteins from waste-derived resources;
calculation of recovery yield and mass balance;
preliminary characterisation of the recovered proteins;
formulation of protein-based materials through the selection of plasticisers, crosslinking agents and functional additives;
preparation of films or other bio-based materials through appropriate processing techniques;
evaluation of the influence of formulation and processing conditions on material performance;
chemical, thermal, mechanical and dynamic-mechanical characterisation of the obtained materials;
assessment of water uptake, moisture sensitivity, dimensional stability and other application-relevant properties;
comparison with reference formulations or conventional materials;
preliminary evaluation of biodegradability, recyclability and end-of-life behaviour;
calculation of selected Green Chemistry metrics related to extraction and material preparation;
processing, interpretation and critical discussion of the experimental results.
This laboratory module will enable students to understand how waste-derived biological resources can be transformed into functional materials while critically evaluating their technical performance, environmental impact and potential industrial applicability.
Experimental Module 2 – Preparation and functional testing of waste-derived heterogeneous catalytic materials
The second laboratory module focuses on the preparation, characterisation and evaluation of heterogeneous catalytic materials obtained from waste-derived matrices. The emphasis is placed on the design of the catalytic material rather than on the organic transformation itself. Model catalytic reactions will therefore be used as functional tests to evaluate catalyst performance.
The activities will include:
preliminary assessment and characterisation of waste-derived matrices used as catalytic supports;
selection and pre-treatment of support materials;
preparation of heterogeneous catalytic materials from waste-derived resources;
immobilisation of catalytically active phases onto bio-based or waste-derived supports;
estimation or determination of active-phase loading;
chemical, thermal, morphological and surface characterisation of the prepared catalytic materials;
evaluation of catalyst activity, selectivity and productivity through model catalytic reactions;
assessment of catalyst recovery, reuse and operational stability;
evaluation of active-phase leaching and catalyst deactivation;
comparison with conventional homogeneous or commercial catalytic systems;
chemical characterisation of reaction products using appropriate analytical techniques (e.g. GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy);
calculation of selected Green Chemistry metrics related both to catalyst preparation and catalytic application;
processing, interpretation and critical discussion of the experimental results.
This laboratory module will allow students to understand how waste-derived resources can be transformed into heterogeneous functional materials and how catalyst design influences catalytic performance, recoverability, process efficiency and overall sustainability.
Comparative assessment and laboratory discussion
At the end of the laboratory activities, students will perform a comparative assessment of the two experimental modules. They will analyse the relationships between raw material selection, formulation, processing conditions, material properties, waste generation, resource consumption and functional performance. Particular attention will be devoted to the identification of trade-offs between technical performance, environmental impact, safety, process complexity and potential scalability, highlighting the opportunities and limitations associated with the development of sustainable materials from renewable and waste-derived resources.

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The examination consists of the assessment of a research proposal developed during the course as part of the project activities, followed by an oral discussion of topics addressed in the lectures and laboratory sessions.
Students are expected to describe the course content clearly and to discuss it critically, demonstrating an understanding of the underlying hypotheses, key challenges, and chemical and physical principles involved in the design of bio-based materials.

Paul T Anastas, John C Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Editore: Oxford Un. Press, Anno edizione: 2000, ISBN: 9780198506980
Note: Introductory Text
Paul T. Anastas, Handbook of Green Chemistry, Editore: Wiley VCH, Weinheim, Anno edizione: 2010, ISBN: 9783527337101

The course is focused on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
The aim is twofold: to introduce students to the theoretical fundamentals of the methodology and then to apply them to evaluate the environmental sustainability of materials and industrial processes.
A significant portion of the course will be devoted to applying the LCA methodology to representative real-life cases, mainly taken from chemical, food, and materials industries.
The course is organised as a computer laboratory. The open-source software, OpenLCA, is the tool adopted.
Lectures will be held in classrooms with electrical connections at every desk, and students are required to bring their own laptop computer.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
explain the principles and methodological framework of Life Cycle Assessment (DdD1);
use OpenLCA software to perform Life Cycle Assessment studies (DdD2);
select appropriate environmental impact assessment methods and indicators for different assessment goals (DdD2);
apply the LCA methodology to simplified industrial case studies (DdD2);
interpret and critically discuss the results of Life Cycle Assessment studies (DdD2);
critically interpret and evaluate published LCA studies (DdD3).

Sustainability assessment: introductory concepts.
Fundamentals of Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and Life Cycle Management (LCM)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): historical background, ISO standards, procedures, applications, data quality and data sources.
Eco-indicators: measurement methods, environmental and damage impact categories, impact quantification; carbon footprint and climate change.
Materials End-of-Life: open and closed-loop recycling, re-use, waste-to-energy, waste-to-materials, waste-to-chemicals, waste management processes.
Use of the software OpenLCA

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
The final assessment consists solely of a written examination, organised in two sections:
Part A: closed questions on theory fundamentals and one case study (half an hour)
Part B: numerical application of the LCA methodology to a simplified case study using the software OpenLCA (2 hours)
The final grade (maximum 33 points) is obtained by combining the scores of Part A (maximum 9 points) and Part B (maximum 24 points). Final grades are then converted to the Italian grading scale, with scores strictly higher than 31.5 awarded 30 cum Laude.
The test will last two and a half hours, with a short 15-minute interval between Part A and Part B.
Part A consists of multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions covering theoretical concepts and one simplified case study. During Part A, no electronic support or any other type of support is allowed.
In Part B, students will perform a simplified Life Cycle Assessment using OpenLCA and answer quantitative questions based on the obtained results. During Part B, students must use their own notebook computer. Printed notes, textbooks and other reference materials are permitted. Students may access online resources during Part B. Mobile phones are not allowed.
There is no limit to the number of examination sessions students may take, and there is no oral examination.
At the end of the course, students may take a voluntary mock examination under exam conditions. The simulation replicates the structure and timing of the official examination and offers an opportunity for self-assessment.
Students are required to bring their own notebook computer for the practical laboratory sessions and for Part B of the final examination.

Walter Klopffer and Birgit Grahl, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - A Guide to Best Practice, Editore: Wiley-VCH, Anno edizione: 2014, ISBN: 978-3-527-32986-1
Note: Textbook available in the Polimi library as e-book
Michael Z. Hauschild Ralph K. Rosenbaum Stig Irving Olsen, Life Cycle Assessment Theory and Practice, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2018, ISBN: 978-3-319-56474-6 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56475-3
Reinout Heijungs - Sangwon Suh, The Computational Structure of Life Cycle Assessment, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2002, ISBN: 978-94-015-9900-9

This course provides the fundamental concepts and methodologies of machine learning for chemical engineering applications. It aims to develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to analyze and interpret data, develop predictive models, and support data-driven decision making in chemical engineering. The course introduces mathematical foundations, optimization techniques, dimensionality reduction, supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, reduced-order modeling, and physics-informed machine learning. Practical sessions in Python enable students to apply these methods to real-world chemical engineering problems and to critically assess the performance and reliability of machine learning models.

By the end of the course, students:
Understand and explain the fundamental principles of machine learning, optimization, dimensionality reduction, neural networks, reduced-order modeling, and physics-informed machine learning, with particular reference to chemical engineering applications.
Are able to apply machine learning methodologies to analyze and interpret engineering data, develop predictive models, implement machine learning algorithms in Python, and assess their performance and reliability.
Are able to formulate independent judgments by selecting appropriate machine learning techniques for different engineering problems, critically evaluating model performance, and interpreting the results obtained.
Are able to communicate machine learning methodologies and results effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences through written reports and oral presentations.
Have developed the learning skills required to independently deepen their knowledge of machine learning and data-driven methodologies and to follow future developments in the field.

The course covers the following topics:
Mathematical foundations of machine learning: introduction to data science and machine learning, linear algebra, optimization, and the mathematical principles underlying machine learning algorithms.
Dimensionality reduction and data preprocessing: singular value decomposition (SVD), principal component analysis (PCA), feature engineering, regularization, and outlier detection.
Supervised and unsupervised learning: regression, classification, clustering, model selection, validation, and performance assessment.
Neural networks and deep learning: neural network architectures, activation functions, training algorithms, and applications to chemical engineering problems.
Reduced-order modeling and physics-informed machine learning: reduced-order models, physics-informed machine learning methodologies, and their application to predictive modeling and scientific computing.
Practical sessions in Python: implementation of machine learning algorithms, data visualization, model development, validation, interpretation, and application to real-world chemical engineering case studies.
One or more seminars led by industry experts may be included, providing real-world context to the application of machine learning in various sectors of chemical engineering, and potential avenues for future careers in the field.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The assessment consists of two components designed to evaluate both practical and theoretical competencies. Students are required to complete a group project involving the application of machine learning methodologies to a chemical engineering problem, including data analysis, model development, validation, interpretation, and presentation of the results. The course also includes an individual oral examination aimed at assessing the understanding of the theoretical foundations of machine learning and the ability to critically discuss the methodologies and applications covered during the course.

Steven L. Brunton, J. Nathan Kutz, Data-Driven Science and Engineering: Machine Learning, Dynamical Systems, and Control, Editore: Cambridge University Press, Anno edizione: 2022, ISBN: 9781009098489
Jake VanderPlas, Python Data Science Handbook, Editore: O'Reilly, Anno edizione: 2016, ISBN: 9781491912058 https://jakevdp.github.io/PythonDataScienceHandbook/
Andreas C. Müller, Sarah Guido, Introduction to Machine Learning with Python, Editore: O'Reilly, Anno edizione: 2016, ISBN: 9781449369897
Trevor Hastie, Robert Tibshirani, Jerome Friedman, The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference, and Prediction, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2017, ISBN: 9780387848570 https://hastie.su.domains/ElemStatLearn/printings/ESLII_print12_toc.pdf

The goal of the course is to provide the engineering foundations and discuss the technological challenges related to the manufacturing of biotherapeutics, including proteins, peptides, monoclonal antibodies and oligonucleotides. The analysis starts from the processes for the drug substance production via fermentation. The different configurations of a bioreactor will be discussed, ranging from the most simple and established batch reactor to the perfusion bioreactor. Then, the purification and virus inactivation steps are considered, with particular reference to chromatographic processes. During the course, particular attention will be devoted to the ever-increasing effort towards process intensification. With this regard, a thorough insight into integrated continuous biomanufacturing and the quality-by-design principle will be provided.

The lectures will allow students to:

• understand the current processes and future needs for the GMP manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals.
• design and recognize the peculiar features of the different configurations of bioreactors for the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, including batch, fed-batch, chemostat and perfusion reactors.
• acquire the fundamentals of biopharmaceutical chromatography
• design chromatographic processes for capture and polishing of biopharmaceuticals
• critically discuss continuous countercurrent chromatographic processes
• contextualize the current trends of process integration and digitalization
  The project sessions, in turn, will allow students to:
• decline continuity equations to the design of specific unit operations used in the biopharmaceutical industry
• apply numerical methods to solve these equations and to verify the consistency of the results
• critically discuss the results achieved in the context of the process and the technoeconomical landscape specific for the sector

The lectures describe the physicochemical fundamentals of processes for the production of biopharmaceuticals. The focus will be on the manufacturing of these drugs through recombinant technology. In fact, these are typically expressed by cells cultured in suitable bioreactors and subsequently purified through various steps, referred to as capture and polishing, usually based on chromatographic techniques. The relevant engineering aspects of these processes are discussed with a focus on productivity, yield and purity of the final product, but also on the quality of the final drug in terms of aggregates, fragments and charge variant distributions and glycosylation patterns. The relationship between the process operating conditions and the drug efficacy and safety for the patient are discussed, also in connection with economical factors.
During the project, the students divided in groups of 4 people will deal with the development from the clinical to the commercial scale of a biopharmaceutical. The project is developed according to the following steps:

• literature search
• definition of the project strategy
• definition and planning of the project activity
• solution of the problem through suitable mathematical models
• delivery of the results through an oral presentation

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The final evaluation consists of two contributions: oral exam on the content of the lectures (60%) and oral presentation of the results obtained during the project (40%).
In particular, in the oral examination, the student should demonstrate to have acquired the understanding and knowledge about the various aspects discussed in the lectures. The principles of biopharmaceutical production, methods for purification with particular attention to chromatographic techniques are the main part of the exam. The oral exam accounts for 60% of the final grade.
For the research projects, each work team of 4 students is required to produce and discuss orally a report, in the form of a presentation, about the obtained results, in front of the class and the instructors. The students are required to have properly understood and master the research project they worked on, to critically analyze the obtained final results and to illustrate the required subsequent developments. The discussion of the results of the project accounts for 40% of the final grade.

M. Wolf, J.-M. Bielser and M. Morbidelli, Perfusion Cell Culture Processes for Biopharmaceuticals, Editore: Cambridge University Press, New York, Anno edizione: 2020
G. Carta, A. Jungbauer, Protein Chromatography: Process Development and Scale-Up, 2nd Edition, Editore: Wiley-VCH, Anno edizione: 2020, ISBN: 978-3-527-31819-3
D. Pfister, L. Nicoud and M. Morbidelli, Continuous Biopharmaceutical Processes, Editore: Cambridge University Press, New York, Anno edizione: 2018

The main goal of the course is to provide the necessary knowledge to analyse and solve some basic problems of mechanics that can occur in chemical plants.
In order to reach this objective, the course main topics concern:

• the basic theory of mechanics to analyse the dynamics of simple mechanical systems and common machines;
• the fundamental knowledge for writing the equations of motion of simple mechanical systems;
• the very basic knowledge to assess the stress and strain distribution in the mechanical systems;
• basic theory on general vibrating mechanical systems and common rotating machines installed in chemical plant (as an example, electrical motors, pumps, centrifugal compressors, gas turbines and reciprocating machines).

Knowledge and understanding.
After the exam, the student:

• knows the methodologies and principles for analysing the kinematics and dynamics of a mechanical system and of a machine;
• understands and knows the operating modes of a machine and a mechanical system;
• knows the basic aspects of vibrations in a mechanical system;
• learns the ways of describing and representing the behaviour of mechanical systems also through graphic methods;
• knows the very basic theory to study the distribution of stress and strain in the mechanical systems.
  Applying knowledge and understanding.
  After the exam, the student:
• is able to perform the kinematic analysis of general mechanical systems;
• is able to write the equations of motion of general mechanical systems;
• is able to understand and describe the functioning of a machine or mechanical system from kinematic and dynamic point of view;
• is able to investigate basic problems that can affect vibrating systems (as those present in many chemical plants);
• is able to evaluate the static and dynamic loads applied to the components of mechanical systems, in order to study the distribution of stresses and strains and to evaluate the risk of damage.

• Kinematic analysis of rigid bodies.
• Kinetic energy and inertial actions. Dynamic analysis of rigid bodies.
• Inverse and direct problems in mechanics: fundamental principles.
• Fundamental principles of mutual actions in mechanical systems: interaction between solids (friction and wear) and interaction between fluids and solids.
• Machine dynamics: basic working principles and characteristic curves of internal combustion engines and electrical motors (DC and AC ); mechanical transmissions: fundamental principles, transmission efficiency and gear ratio.
• Dynamic behaviour of over-damped and under-damped (vibrating) Single-Degree-Of-Freedom (SDOF) systems. Vibrations of SDOF systems: free motion and forced motion.
• Design criteria for the mitigation of vibration levels and the transmission of dynamic forces to the supporting structure of vibrating systems.
• Evaluation of the static and dynamic loads acting to the components of mechanical systems: basic theory of stress-strain analysis.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The course consists in a series of lectures and practice lessons. During practice lessons some case studies concerning some basic problems of mechanics that can occur in chemical plants will be introduced. The student is required to prepare short reports concerning the analysis of the case studies introduced during the practice lessons. The final exam consists of an oral test. The oral test will cover all topics discussed in the course, including the discussion of reports related to the analysis of case studies and the solution of problems of kinematics and dynamics.
During the exam, the student has to:

• show to be able to solve problems of kinematics and dynamics;
• show to have learned the basic theoretical background about mechanics and vibrating systems;
• show to be able to carry out a critical analysis of the results of the problems;
• show to be able to discuss the main topics of the course.

N. Bachschmid, S. Bruni, A. Collina, B. Pizzigoni, F. Resta e A. Zasso, FONDAMENTI DI MECCANICA TEORICA ED APPLICATA, Editore: Mc Graw Hill, ISBN: 9788838668869
L. Meirovitch, Fundamentals of Vibrations, Editore: John Wiley & Sons Ed
G. Diana, F. Cheli, Advanced dynamics of mechancial systems, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2015
K. J. Walderon, G. L. Kinzel, Kinematics, Dynamics and Design Machinery, Editore: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The goal of the course is to present the recent advancements in methodological aspects concerning the application of molecular models to the determination of key parameters for thermodynamics, kinetics and, transport phenomena of interest for chemical engineers. The presentation of fundamental aspects will be followed by practical applications.

Lectures and practicals will allow the students to:
Learn the foundations of molecular modeling of molecules and materials;
Learn how macroscopic properties of fluids and materials are related to microscopic aspects;
Learn how to determine thermochemical parameters through molecular simulations;
Learn theoretical methodologies used to investigate reaction kinetics;
Learn molecular aspects related to constitutive transport equations;
Use state of the art methodologies to estimate transport and kinetic parameters of interest for chemical engineering applications;
Build a kinetic mechanism and use it to model reactive systems;
Reduce and analyze kinetic mechanisms;

Key concepts concerning Potential Energy Surfaces.
Kinetic theory of gases. Maxwell velocity distribution function. Collision probability and reaction theory. Mean free path and collisional frequency. Estimation of transport parameters for gas phase molecules.
Quantum chemistry calculations: basic concepts and introduction to molecular simulation software.
Introduction to statistical thermodynamics. Boltzmann distribution. Partition functions and density of states. Normal mode analysis. RRHO approximation.
Estimation of thermochemical parameters using quantum chemistry and statistical thermodynamics.
Estimation of rate constants: Conventional and Variational Transition state theory. RRKM theory. Master equation formulation and integration.
Boltzmann equation. Molecular theory of gases and liquids.
Molecular dynamics simulations: from force fields to the simulation of the dynamics of molecules in solution. Estimation of free interaction energies of molecules in solution.
Introduction to molecular dynamics simulation software.
Estimation of transport parameters using molecular dynamics simulations and the molecular theory of gases and liquids.
Practicals will be given in parallel to the course. The objective is to help students in applying the approaches and principles introduced during the lectures. Particular attention will be given to learn how to apply the theoretical methodologies explained during the lectures to determine parameters, such as rate constant, of interest for practical applications. Simulations will be performed using open source software distributed during the lectures

Prova orale obbligatoria
The Exam consists in a colloquium that concerns what has been explained during the lectures. Any argument that has been treated may be a subject of questions, which may concern for example the concepts that were introduced, or the mathematical approach used to derive the relevant laws. The purpose of the colloquium is to test the level of understanding of the concepts that were explained during the classes. The oral exam will start with some short numerical exercises.

J.I Steinfeld, J.S. Francisco, W.L. Hase, Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics, Editore: Prentice Hall, NJ, Anno edizione: 1999
Richard I. Masel, Chemical Kinetics and Catalysis, Editore: Wiley
Frank Jensen, Introduction to Computational Chemistry, Editore: Wiley

This course provides an introduction to the emerging field of nanomedicine, including biotherapeutics and vaccines, at the interface of nanotechnology, pharmaceutics and medical science. A multidisciplinary overview of the research and development processes of innovative pharmaceutical products is provided, involving different subjects such as physics, chemistry, pharmacy, biology, medicine and engineering.
Lectures are designed to provide the student with state-of-the-art knowledge, skills and research experience of the principles, technology and applications within this area.

This course will allow students to:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of nanomedicine.
• apply their knowledge and understanding, and their problem solving abilities, to the design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
• have the ability to integrate knowledge and handle complexity in this multidisciplinary field.
• have the learning skills to allow them to continue to study in a manner that may be largely autonomous.

Content includes:

• Design, synthesis and characterisation of bio-nanomaterials for drug delivery, imaging and diagnostics.​
• Biopharmaceutics formulation and delivery.​
• Physicochemical and biological interactions of nanoformulations with cells, tissues and organs. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and biodistribution.​
• Applications, including cancer, gene delivery, vaccine delivery, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, tissue engineering and cell encapsulation.​
• Nanotoxicology aspects and environmental monitoring.​
• Quality Assurance and regulatory aspects of drug development process. Translation of innovative products from bench to the clinic.​
  A laboratory teaching activity, comprising two two-hour sessions, is provided for Chemical Engineering students as a complementary component of the Pharma Track educational pathway.
  The laboratory experience involves the preparation of polymeric nanoparticles and the subsequent evaluation of the release profile of a tracer compound, enabling students to apply the theoretical concepts covered during the course in a practical setting.
  For students enrolled in the other Master's degree programmes in Engineering, the activity is delivered asynchronously through a video recording of the entire laboratory experience, accompanied by supporting teaching materials and explanatory slides to ensure effective achievement of the intended learning outcomes.

Prova orale obbligatoria
An oral examination will be carried out to assess the student’s knowledge and understanding on the nanomedicine topics. Specific questions will be formulated to evaluate problem solving abilities, as well as the capability to deal with multidisciplinary knowledge and handle problem complexity. Students must show the ability to cope autonomously with the design of a nanomaterial, depending on the application.

Lecture notes/handouts will be distributed. There are no specific textbooks for the course; assigned readings will be announced weekly based on topics being covered.

The course aims to provide the student with basic knowledge of the chemical and technological processes of the pharmaceutical industry. Issues relating to both the drug discovery process of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their formulation and preparation in commercial forms will be dealt with. In the first part of the course the basic concepts of pharmaceutical chemistry and the fundamental elements of drug design will be discussed. Subsequently, in the second part of the course, the basic technological operations in the pharmaceutical industry will be illustrated, such as grinding, mixing, filtration, drying, and sterilization. Finally, methods of pharmaceutical formulation and preparation of various commercial dosage forms will be illustrated (powders, tablets, capsules, granules, liquid preparations, etc...)
The course includes laboratory hours in which active ingredients will be synthesized and subsequently formulated in different final preparations.

The main expected learning outcomes are:
Understanding of the fundamental principles and key concepts of pharmaceutical chemistry.
Knowledge of the drug discovery and development process, from drug design and synthesis through preclinical and clinical development to market authorization.
Knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturing unit operations and formulation technologies, including critical process parameters, common challenges, and problem-solving approaches.
Ability to apply chemical engineering principles to the design, optimization, and troubleshooting of processes in the pharmaceutical industry.
Ability to critically analyze pharmaceutical production and formulation processes, identifying potential issues and proposing appropriate technical solutions.

PART A – PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY
Drugs and drug targets. Proteins: general structure and function. Enzymes and receptors. Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics. Dynamics of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. Bioavailability and routes of administration. Drug discovery, drug design and development: lead compounds screening, optimization of target interactions. Drug discovery from the bench to the market. Combinatorial and parallel synthesis. Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationships (qsar)
PART B – PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY
Unit Operations: comminution (particle size reduction), crystallization, mixing, filtration, drying and freeze-drying. Packaging: materials and technology. Sterilization of Drug Formulations. Principles of Drug Formulations. Pharmaceutical solids and their critical parameters (e.g. particle size, surface, density, and solubility). Solid Dosage Forms (Powders, Granules, Pellets, Tablets, Capsules). Excipients for Drug Formulations. Coating of Oral Dosage Forms. Liquid Dosage Forms (e.g. eye drops, syrups). Inhalatory Pharmaceutical Forms.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The evaluation is composed by an oral presentation of a case study related to the topics of the Course (15 min, individual projects only) and discussion with Q&A on the whole program. The final score will be composed as follows: 50% by the evaluation of the presentation and 50% based on the Q&A about the topics of the course.

Voigt's Pharmaceutical Technology, ISBN: 978-1-118-97262-5

Laboratorio di controllo e strumentazione
Obiettivo del corso è portare lo studente ad acquisire una comprensione più profonda dei più comuni sistemi di controllo dei processi chimici e industriali, attraverso l'analisi teorica e sperimentale di sistemi di controllo e misurazione reali. Il corso analizza i fondamenti della dinamica dei sistemi applicandoli all'analisi e al funzionamento di loop di controllo di livello, pressione, portata, temperatura, composizione. Le esperienze di laboratorio mireranno a osservare e analizzare (su base quantitativa) l'effetto delle azioni di controllo sulla risposta del processo, i criteri di tuning, l'architettura del controllore. Inoltre, lo studente sperimenterà l'applicazione dell'analisi della risposta in frequenza come metodologia per la diagnosi della dinamica e la messa a punto dei sistemi di controllo. L'analisi di casi reali consentirà di confrontare configurazioni a loop singolo e multiloop.

Chemical process design consists in finding a sustainable process that can convert the raw materials to the desired products cost effectively.
The objective of this course is to introduce students to systematic methods for process design, to provide an overview of the main steps involved in the typical life cycle of a process design and to make students understand the complexity of the design activity, considering the different types of industries and sectors with own domain specific equipment and standards. In addition to systematic approach for process design, other process design considerations (economics, heat exchangers, etc.) will be stressed in order to equip students with a flexible skillset to be able to design innovative, cost-competitive and sustainable processes in a wide range of process industries.
The course is taught in innovative teaching mode with approach “Blended Learning & Flipped Classroom” for 3 CFU. According to this approach, when dealing with some topics, students are introduced to the learning material before the lesson, and the classroom time is used to deepen the understanding through discussion with peers and problem-solving activities in small groups supported by the teacher. After the lesson, students think about the feedback they have received and use this to further improve their learning.
Moreover, through the Digital Twin Laboratory activity, students will also have the possibility of better understanding the development of separation processes starting from the analysis of phase equilibria by attending a demonstration with the experimental unit for collection of phase equilibria. The collected data will be then used for the thermodynamic modelling and the simulation of a given separation process.

The course will allow students to:
know how to draw the common diagrams daily used by the process engineer, how to formulate the objective for design, identify, gather and analyze necessary data for product-process of interest, which are the main issues in a process plant, how to manage a plant and how to perform an economic analysis, which are the service facilities and the systems out of battery limits of a process plant ( conoscenza e comprensione – knowledge and understanding );
be able to apply the acquired knowledge to design a process flowsheet complete with energy and mass balances for a given design problem and to evaluate the optimal layout of a plant considering safety, energy and economic issues ( capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione – applying knowledge and understanding );
know how to use the simulation software ASPEN HYSYS ® to solve and optimize flowsheets ( conoscenza e comprensione – knowledge and understanding );
be able to autonomously learn new topics and apply theoretical ideas to find solutions to problems referring to fields different from the one presented during the course ( capacità di apprendimento legata alla modalità di didattica innovativa – learning skills related to innovative teaching approach );
be able to clearly explain the strategy used for solving problems, to impressively communicate the obtained results and to write a technical report ( capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione legata alla modalità di didattica innovativa – applying knowledge and understanding related to innovative teaching approach ).

The course is based on lectures and selected case studies for which the analysis of process schemes and their representation by using process simulators commonly employed by engineering companies will be carried out. Part of the course (focusing on diagrams and on the main issues in process plants) will be taught in innovative teaching mode with a “Blended Learning & Flipped Classroom”.
The following topics will be covered:
Diagrams: process scheme, BFD, PFD, P&Is, utility diagram;
Main aspects for process design: design basis, selection of the process flowsheet considering the different stages of separation and reaction, technology options and key process stages with related products, design trade-offs and alternatives, sensitivity analysis and optimization applied to a process scheme;
Other process design considerations: economics, energy saving, degrees of freedom and factors affecting productions, plant flexibility in response of variations of production demand, safety, environmental, ethical and societal issues;
Common utility systems and “off-site” units, with description of schemes and criteria for use and design: fuel supply, fuel oil and fuel gas plants; water treatment; steam generation and condensate recovery (high-P, medium-P and low-P steam); cooling water (open loop, closed loop, open recirculating systems); instrument air system; safety system, venting from pressure vessels, systems for conveying discharge, flares; storage (atmospheric storage, pressure storage, refrigerated storage, heated storage); waste disposal system (hints); wastewater treatment (hints);
Use of process simulator (ASPEN HYSYS ® ) to solve flowsheets.
The exercises will focus on the application of the theory to case studies, with the use of the software ASPEN HYSYS ® to simulate the process and of Microsoft Excel to analyze the results.
The student will also have the possibility to attend a demonstration of collection of phase equilibria data with the experimental units in the Process Thermodynamics laboratory (PT lab), part of the Process Design & Process Thermodynamics laboratory (PD&PT lab) of Politecnico di Milano. For a chosen system, the student will understand the type of data needed, analyze the collected points of phase equilibrium and design the optimal process for obtaining the product of interest.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale condizionata (a scelta del docente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The final evaluation of learning will be obtained through a written test with questions about all the topics covered during the course and, for students with a mark in the written test equal to or higher than 26, an oral test to further assess the student’s level of knowledge. Each student will prepare a short technical report on all the exercises and problems considered during the course, which will be provided to the teacher before the exam for the evaluation.
More details about the exam rules are made available on the WeBeep platform.
After having passed the examination, the student must be able to talk about and critically discuss all the topics presented during the course, showing the capabilities described in “Risultati di apprendimento attesi”.

The slides of the lessons will be shared on WeBeep platform early before the lesson.

The global energy transition is reshaping the way energy is produced, transported, and consumed. This course explores the value chains of natural gas and emerging low-carbon energy carriers, providing students with the engineering knowledge needed to understand the technologies that will shape future energy systems.
The first part of the course examines the natural gas value chain, covering resource production, gas treatment processes, and transportation technologies. As the world's leading transition fuel, natural gas is examined from both technological and environmental perspectives, highlighting its contribution to energy security and its role in supporting the integration of renewable energy sources.
Building on this foundation, the second part of the course explores the value chains of the most promising low-carbon energy carriers, examining their production routes, infrastructure requirements, and end-use applications. Their technological maturity, advantages, and limitations are critically compared with those of natural gas, enabling students to assess their potential role in achieving a secure and net-zero energy system.
A distinctive feature of the course is its strong connection with industrial practice. Delivered through the innovative Co-tutela con mondo esterno teaching format, the course is co-developed with experts from Saipem, one of the world's leading engineering and construction companies in the energy sector, providing students with direct exposure to real-world engineering projects, industrial challenges, and state-of-the-art technologies shaping the global energy transition.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the technologies, processes, and challenges associated with the natural gas value chain ( conoscenza e comprensione – knowledge and understanding );
apply the acquired knowledge to analyze engineering problems and select appropriate technologies for the production, treatment, and transportation of natural gas ( capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione – applying knowledge and understanding );
use the process simulation software ASPEN HYSYS ® to develop and analyze process flowsheets ( conoscenza e comprensione – knowledge and understanding );
critically evaluate and compare the value chains of natural gas and emerging low-carbon energy carriers, assessing their role in the energy transition ( autonomia di giudizio – making judgements );
independently apply the acquired knowledge to new case studies by integrating information from technical literature, textbooks, and industrial reports ( capacità di apprendimento – learning skills ).

The course is based on lectures and on development and discussion of real-life case studies, taught in innovative teaching mode in collaboration with experts from Saipem.
In the main part of the course, all the key technical aspects in the gas production and transportation value chain will be covered:
Key players: gas companies, oilfield service providers, EPC general contractors, gas transportation players;
Gas supply and demand: growth prospects; role of gas in overall global energy picture; conventional and unconventional reserves; natural gas liquids and associated gas, energy transition;
Gas production technologies: from traditional gas fields onshore to offshore; emphasis on fracking to produce shale gas; gas from offshore fields; deepwater exploitation and associate subsea production technologies; challenges of Arctic fields current permitting scenarios;
Design of gas purification processes: acid gas removal technologies (amine washing, physical absorption, PSA, membranes); conventional CO 2 removal processes cryogenic ones; treatment of ultra-sour gas, handling and valorization of gas fields by-products, dehydration, mercury removal and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) recovery;
Transportation and storage: key design criteria and challenges in gas transportation via long-distance pipelines, onshore and offshore; LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) value chain, liquefaction processes and technologies, specialized LNG vessels and carriers, regasification terminals, onshore and offshore;
Gas applications for energy: power production, pivotal role in balancing electric grids with power generation also from renewable sources; domestic and industrial gas usage; direct use of LNG or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) as clean fuels in automotive and marine transportation;
Biogas as a peculiar natural gas: biogas characteristics; biogas cleaning and upgrading; biomethane distribution through the existing gas grids, LBG production.
Then, taking natural gas as a reference, a general description of the value chain of the most relevant energy carriers (hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, liquid organic hydrogen carriers, e-fuels and biofuels), possible substitute of natural gas on the long-term, will be carried out and a comparison with the natural gas value chain will be performed.
Exercises will focus on case studies in accordance with Saipem. The simulation software (Aspen HYSYS ® ), commonly employed by engineering companies, will be used to solve flowsheets, by simulation of the process and related analyses.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale condizionata (a scelta del docente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Assessment is based on a written examination covering all the topics addressed during the course. Students who achieve a mark ≥ 26 in the written exam will also be required to take an oral examination to further assess the depth of their knowledge and understanding.
In addition, each student is required to prepare a short technical report summarizing the exercises and case studies discussed throughout the course. The report must be submitted to the instructor before the examination.
Detailed information on the examination procedures is available on the WeBeep platform.
Upon successfully completing the course, students are expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the course topics, discuss them critically using appropriate engineering terminology, and show that they have achieved the intended learning outcomes described in the “ Risultati di apprendimento attesi ” section.

The slides of the lessons and additional material provided by Saipem will be shared on WeBeep platform early before the lesson.

(1) to provide an overview of the main thermochemical energy conversion processes (pyrolysis, gasification, new fuels and combustion technologies) of present academic industrial interest in a decarbonized energy scenario and in a circular approach to waste recovery and utilization, and (2) to provide to the students the chemical reaction engineering knowledge (i.e. chemical kinetics and fluid dynamics) for the comprehension, the critical analysis and design of dedicated chemical reactors.

Lectures will allow students to:

• Understand criticism and opportunities in relation to the energy transition, decarbonization, circular economy and the production of new fuels and energy carriers
• Assess the integration of new energy and chemical products in existing value chains of the chemical and energy industry
• Analyze thermochemical conversion technologies (pyrolysis, gasification, new combustion concepts) of current interest for the chemical and energy industry
• Critically analyze the different scenarios highlighting advantages and disadvantages (both technical and systemic) of state-of-art or advanced technological solutions
• Gain and apply fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and transport phenomena aspects, as well as their interplay, for pyrolysis, gasification and combustion processes conceptualization and reactor design
• Become familiar with the current scientific stat of the art in terms of both experimental and modelling approaches for the processes of interest
  Computational laboratories and the preparation of the final report will allow students to:
• Analyze chemical kinetics, thermodynamics and transport phenomena aspects of the targeted processes
• Simplify the analysis of multiscale, multiphase and multicomponent phenomena based on decoupling and on reasonable assumptions by using available or ad hoc developed numerical modelling tools (e.g. OpenSMOKE++, Matlab, Chemical Reactor Network Analyzer,...) facilitating mechanistic interpretation of the involved phenomena
• Discuss critically the above aspects using an adequate technical language
• Summarize and present the results in a report of high technical quality
• Acquire soft skills in relation to communication and team work

Energy scenario, energy transition, decarbonization and circular economy: the role of thermochemical conversion technologies
Overview of current trends in industrial and academic research in the area of thermochemical processes
Fundamentals of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics and transport phenomena
Natural gas and hydrocarbons pyrolysis for turquoise hydrogen and carbon materials production
Sustainable fuels combustion (H2, NH3, bio-fuels, sustainable aviation fuels) and new combustion concepts (MILD, oxy-fuel, chemical looping)
Pollutants formation (NOx, particulate matter) from carbon-neutral fuels;
Biomass waste conversion (pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, hydrothermal liquefaction);
Thermochemical recycling of solid plastic wastes (pyrolysis and gasification) and energy recovery;
All of the topics (4 to 8) will be addressed systematically covering from thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, mass and heat transfer aspects characterizing the most diffused reactor technologies. Integration of the above in existing industrial processes will be also discussed.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
The exam consists of one mandatory written report covering all of the practical sessions to be prepared in groups of students and one written exam (typically 3 open questions) covering theory parts.
Specifically the aim of the report is to evaluate the student's capability of elaborating in a creative way and of critically analyzing the many aspects addressed during the practical sessions concerning thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, heat and mass transfer and their significance towards process and reactor design. Report evaluation covers from 0 to 5 points over 30. Oral exam covers from 0 to 25 points over 30.

LAVORO DI TESI E PROVA FINALE

The course aims at providing students knowledge and tools to understand some fundamental concepts regarding agri-food systems, including food supply chains as well as society, environment, and other public and private stakeholders. Agri-food supply chains are introduced and analyzed under a strategic design lens, with focus on supply chain strategies, configurations and main processes.
The course also identify key trends for modern agri-food supply chain referring to sustainability and quality.
Moreover, students will be introduced to examples of real supply chains in different food industrial segments, in which relevant and specific sustainability challenges and transformation will be analyzed from a theoretical as well as from a practical perspective, through seminars by companies' speakers.
Teaching is delivered by a mix of:
Lectures and introduction of theoretical frameworks
Discussion of case studies
Seminars from companies and academic experts in specific domains
Recorded video-lectures to provide bases for in-class discussion

At the end of the course the students will be able to:
Understand the concept of supply chain and supply chain management
Describe the main typologies of food supply chains in terms of industry overview, main actors, key processes, main sustainability challenges and related innovations
Understand, describe and analyze the type of supply chain strategies and the main models for global supply chain configurations (for non-food and food products)
Understand and describe the main trends and challenges connected to sustainable development and the grand challenges connected to the food industry
Understand principles of the circular economy paradigm for the food system, main business models and main enablers of food waste prevention and management
Understand the key principles and challenges connected to food traceability and their implications for the agri-food supply chains
Apply knowledge and analyse paradoxical issues regarding sustainability in food, devoleping and defending arguments while also communicating the main results.

Introduction to the concept of supply chain, supply chain management
Supply chain management processes
Push/pull view of supply chain processes
The SCOR model
The impact of complexity and uncertainty
Strategic network design
Supply chain strategies and strategic fit: Fisher (1997) and Hau Lee (2002) models (discussion of case studies)
Global supply chain: drivers and different global supply chain configurations
Risk and resilience in food supply chains
Sustainability in the agri-food supply chain
Definition of sustainability: grand sustainability challenges for the agri-food industry
The role of the supply chain: threats and opportunities
How to accelerate sustainability transitions in the agri-food supply chain:
Collaborations for sustainable value creation
Short food supply chains (discussion of a case study)
Traceability in the agri-food supply chain
Circular economy principles and business models
The food waste hierarchy framework
Technologies and solutions for food waste reduction and valorization
Supply chain configurations, managerial and sustainability challenges and related innovation for various industrial segments and products.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale condizionata (a scelta del docente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale

• Mandatory written exam (weighting 70% of the final grade), consisting of multiple-choice and open-ended questions.
• Mandatory debate session (weighting 30% of the final grade). Students work in groups to prepare for and participate in a debate on an assigned topic.
  As part of the debate, each group is required to prepare:
• a PowerPoint presentation;
• a short written summary paper.
  During the debate session, students present and defend their arguments while taking part in the different phases of the debate process.

Samir Dani, Food Supply Chain Management and Logistics - From Farm to Fork, Editore: Kogan Page, Anno edizione: 2015
Sunil Chopra, Supply Chain Management - Strategy, Planning and Operations, Editore: Pearson, Anno edizione: 2019
Note: (Only chapters from 1 to 6 and chapter 17)

The course is dedicated to the main engineering aspects involved in the field of air quality remediation and maintenance, with specific emphasis on all the related implications arising from energy production and conversion processes. Lecture contents are organised as to first give a general perspective on air quality, through the illustration of all the fundamental processes and characteristics of the pollution phenomena at the different scales of interest, the nature and effects of the pollutants and the main principles behind regulatory issues. Atmospheric emission sources are then examined and analysed with respect to the main phenomena affecting the generation of pollutants, to process and design variables related effects and to the whole issues involving their quantitative evaluation: particular attention will be devoted to stationary and mobile energy production activities, addressed in terms of all the different aspects that play a role in their qualitative and quantitative emissions budget (type of fuel, engineering configuration, process design options). The rest of the course is dedicated to the engineering of emission control processes, with a detailed examination of the base principles forestanding source reduction alternatives and pollutant removal techniques and the engineering aspects involved in their practical design and operation and in the evaluation of their removal capabilities and full scale potential applications.

Lecture sessions are addressed to give students knowledge capabilities and theoretical understanding requirements for:

• addressing and applying basic regulatory principles involved in air pollution control operations (DD1 & DD2);
• analyze quantitatively and qualitative the air emissions assets of industrial and energy production processes and the main factors affecting pollutants production (DD2);
• identify the engineering and operating aspects of the unit operations available for particulate and gaseous pollutants reduction and removal (DD2 & DD3);
• evaluate technical design, operating parameters and specific layouts required for gaseous and particulate removal with proper emissions reduction efficiencies (DD3).
  Precepts sessions will give students engineering skill opportunities for enhancing their understanding of theoretical knowledge, through practical application and problem solving abilities, and for acquiring written description and explanation capabilities, addressed within the following areas:
• perform numerical calculations of pollutant emissions arising from typical source activities (stationary energy production units, industrial processes, vehicular traffic) (DD2 & DD3)
• perform design of equipment and calculation of operating parameters for gaseous and particulate pollutants removal systems (DD2 & DD3);
• prepare and discuss written reports of the design results obtained (DD4);
• expand engineering capabilities and cticial skills for dealing with new situations arising from typical industrial case studies (DD3).

AIR POLLUTION PHENOMENA

• definitions, metrics, and regulatory principles.
• general characteristics of the atmosphere: chemical, physical and transport properties.
• spatial scales of air pollution: global, regional and local.
• pollutants: nature and types.
• effects of air pollution.
  EMISSION SOURCES
• source types: stationary and mobile combustion, industrial activities.
• source characterization and emissions evaluation.
• emission control principles: source reduction alternatives and removal operations (applicable mechanisms, collection efficiencies).
  PARTICULATE POLLUTANTS EMISSION CONTROL
• basic characteristics of particulate pollution: primary and secondary particles, physical properties, size distributions, atmospheric behavior.
• particulate removal equipment: engineering design principles and operation for cyclones, electrostatic b precipitators, fabric filters, wet scrubbers.
  GASEOUS POLLUTANTS EMISSION CONTROL
• general classification and basic physical and chemical characteristics: greenhouse gases, acidic compounds, volatile organics, trace toxics.
• removal equipment: engineering design principles and operation for absorption, adsorption, condensation, chemical conversion and biological filtration units.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale obbligatoria
Course final evaluation is conducted through a preliminary written test, followed by an oral examination whose access is subject to a satisfactory accomplishment of the written test.
The written exam consists of numerical exercises and theoretical questions. The exercises focus on numerical design calculations, in which students are required to apply fundamental skills and knowledge in the areas of calculation and problem-solving related to the assessment and control of air emissions. The theoretical questions focus on the aspects of air pollution, with particular emphasis on the principles underlying these phenomena and on methods and techniques for controlling emissions.
The oral exam consists of a discussion of the design evaluations carried out during the practical exercises, the results of which must be reported in specific written reports. In these reports, students must adequately explain and illustrate the main operating principles of the removal equipment, the engineering assumptions adopted, as well as the expected changes should the design assumptions be modified. The reports may also be used to assess students’ communication skills and their ability to integrate knowledge to manage new and/or complex situations arising from changes in process flows and/or removal requirements.

Dispense a cura del docente disponibili sul portale BEEP
Note: Le dispense fornite coprono tutti gli argomenti trattati nell'ambito dell'insegnamento.
Gli altri testi di seguito elencati possono fornire ulteriori approfondimenti e possono costituire riferimenti utili per l'attività professionale.
C. D. Cooper, F.C. Alley, Air Pollution Control, Editore: Waveland. Press Inc., Anno edizione: 2011, ISBN: 1-57766-678-X
D.A. Vallero, Fundamentals of Air Pollution (IV Ed.), Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2008, ISBN: 978-0-12-373615-4
N.P. Cheremisinoff, Handbook of air pollution prevention and control, Editore: Butterworth-Heinemann, Anno edizione: 2002, ISBN: 012399635X
Theodore L., Air pollution control equipment calculations, Editore: Wiley-Interscience, Anno edizione: 2008, ISBN: 0470209674
De Nevers N., Air Pollution Control Engineering, Editore: Waveland Press Inc., Anno edizione: 2010, ISBN: 1577666747

Source models: single-phase liquid outflow, outflow gaseous phase, two-phase outflow, formation of aerosols and rain - out, sizing and evaporation from pool. Dispersion models: punctual models, integral models and computational fluid dynamics . Models of explosions : TNT equivalent model, TNO, Multi -Energy , Baker - Strehlow. Fire models

Module 2 of the course will focus on sustainable approaches to the valorization of organic waste and agri-food biomasses, mainly by using green technologies based on organic ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DES). In detail, the following topics will be considered:

• Current definition of sustainable chemistry space: green chemistry, sustainability, links to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Quantification of sustainability: green metrics, analytical green chemistry metrics.
• Valorization of agri-food wastes: recovery of polysaccharides, lignin, terpenes
• Analytical method for the extraction and determination of pollutants, with emphasis on the industrial contaminants of emerging concern (ICEC). Details on liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) and dispersive LLME (DLLME) will be presented and critically discussed with the students in light of the analytical green metrics.
  Module 2 is oriented towards the understanding of the valorization of waste from chemical and agri-food manufacturing. The main objective is to provide the students with the scientific and technological foundations of the concept of sustainability. The transmission of concepts will be achieved through several case studies of the most recent literature, with emphasis on the role of green solvents in manufacturing and remediation. Module 2 will also adopt a strongly experimental approach by planning several laboratory sessions.

Module 2. The student will:
learn the principles of green chemistry, the link between green and sustainable chemistry, and their connection to UN SDG
be confident with the most important green metrics and analytical green metrics
learn some paradigmatic approaches to the sustainable valorization of waste from biomasses
learn some paradigmatic approaches to environmental remediation using green solvents.
be able to read and discuss case studies from the recent literature on sustainable chemical processes.

Module 2
The principles of Green Chemistry (GC). The connection between GC and Sustainable Chemistry (SC) through a case study.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) and their link to SC.
The quantification of sustainability: the green metrics.
Analytical Chemistry goes green: the analytical green chemistry metrics.
The environmental impact of solvents. Neoteric and sustainable solvents: the case of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DES), their sustainability and toxicology.
Biomasses from agri-food and the approaches to waste valorization.
Green solvents for environmental remediation.
Laboratory sessions:
Preparation of a set of hydrophilic DES and hydrophobic DES (HES).
Gelification of HES and preparation of eutectogels
Extraction of dyes from end-of-life polyesters
Chemical analysis of the extract via mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale condizionata (a scelta del docente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
The exam consists of a written test on the main topics of the course and a brief oral discuss i on on a case study.

P.T. Anastas, J.C. Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Editore: Oxford University Press, Anno edizione: 1998

The aim of the course is to allow the students to gain necessary basic knowledge in order to understand, analyze and solve problems related to electrochemical processes. The participants should also acquire knowledge about the applications of electrochemistry in the fields of electrolytic processes, electrochemical generators, sensors, electrocatalysis, bio-electrochemistry and industrial electrochemistry. Further, the students should gain basic abilities in calculations on electrochemical systems and in experimental methods in electrochemistry. The course is intended for engineering students.

Upon completion of the course, the student will
know the main components of an electrochemical system and how to analyze its performances;
know and understand the relationship between operating parameters and applications of electrochemical systems;
be able to apply the above described knowledge for the purpose of discussing selected electrochemical devices.
These learning outcomes are expected to provide the students with adequate knowledge tools and critical approach for their future activity related to electrochemical processes and devices.

Fundamental concepts: electron transfer and mass transport, property of electrolyte solutions, assessment of cell voltage;
Electrochemical engineering: performances and figures of merit of electrochemical processes, electrolysis parameters and cell design.
Selected aspects of modern applied electrochemistry: electrowinning and refining; chlorine and organic electrosynthesis; water remediation; metal finishing: electroplating and electrophoretic deposition; energy storage devices: batteries and supercapacitors; electrochemical sensors and biosensors; photoelectrochemistry of semiconductors; corrosion of coated systems.

Prova orale obbligatoria
The examination will be an oral discussion about the course topics, chosen by the examiner so that different parts of the course syllabus are involved.
The student must be also able to clearly describe and critically discuss selected electrochemical devices, highlighting the assumptions, critical points and industrial processing.

V. S. Bagotsky, Fundamentals of Electrochemistry, Second Edition, Editore: ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., Anno edizione: 2005, ISBN: 9780471700586
Pletcher, D., Walsh, F.C., Industrial Electrochemistry, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 1993, ISBN: 978-0-7514-0148-6

The aim of the course is to provide the fundamental theoretical background on basic mechanics. A first series of lectures deals with the fundamental principles of kinematics and dynamics of mechanisms. Friction forces between rigid bodies as well as fluid dynamic forces transmitted to rigid bodies are studied. Methods for the solution of direct and inverse problems of mechanics are shown. The energy balance of mechanical systems composed of a power source, a mechanical transmission and a motor-driven-system is carried out in order to: i) evaluate the input power that is necessary to obtain a pre-established motion of the system when it is subjected to assigned resistance actions; ii) evaluate the motion of the system under the effect of driving and resistance actions; iii) maximize or minimize the dynamic effects caused by friction forces or inertia actions. The basic theoretical background of linear vibrating systems is also shown in order to allow chemical engineers to solve simple but important problems that cause excessive vibration levels of piping systems and rotating machines, which can be installed in chemical plants. Precautions to prevent high vibration levels of mechanical systems are also shown. In the end, some basic information about the effects of static and dynamic loads on the distribution of static and fatigue stresses and strains in mechanical components are given.

DdD n.1: Knowledge and understanding
The student learns the skills to develop and optimize mathematical models for the simulation of the dynamic behavior of basic mechanical systems
DdD n.2: Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Through the analysis of case studies and after passing the exam, the student becomes able to apply the investigation methodologies he/she has learned to real cases even if of limited complexity
DdD n.3: Autonomy of judgement
After passing the exam the student.
is able to develop, optimize and manage mathematical models for the simulation of the dynamic behavior of mechanical systems;
s able to devise design changes aimed at improving the performance of mechanical systems.

• Kinematic analysis of rigid bodies, planar linkages and mechanisms.
• Dynamic analysis of rigid bodies, planar linkages and SDOF machines.
• Inverse and direct problems in mechanics: fundamental principles.
• Mechanical transmissions: basic theoretical background and fundamental principles. Transmission efficiency and mechanical advantage.
• Fundamental principles of tribology: friction, lubrication and wear.
• Vibrations of Multi-Degree-Of-Freedom systems: free motion and forced motion.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The course consists in a series of lectures and practice lessons. During practice lessons some case studies concerning some basic problems of mechanics that can occur in chemical plants will be introduced. The student is required to prepare short reports concerning the analysis of the case studies introduced during the practice lessons. The final exam consists of an oral test. The oral test will cover all topics discussed in the course, including the discussion of reports related to the analysis of case studies and the solution of problems of kinematics and dynamics.
During the exam, the student has to:

• show to be able to solve problems of kinematics and dynamics;
• show to have learned the basic theoretical background about mechanics and vibrating systems;
• show to be able to carry out a critical analysis of the results of the problems;
• show to be able to discuss the main topics of the course.

Bachschmid N., Collina A., Resta F. et al., Fondamenti di Meccanica Teorica e Applicata, Editore: McGraw-Hill, Anno edizione: 2010, ISBN: 978-88-386-6886-9
F. P. Beer, E. Russel Johnston, Jr. W. E. Clausen, Vector Mechanics for Engineers - Dynamics, Editore: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
K. J. Walderon, G. L. Kinzel, Kinematics, Dynamics and Design Machinery, Editore: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Meirovitch Leonard, Fundamentals of Vibrations, Editore: McGraw-Hill
AA.VV.: Teaching material (handouts) written in English WeBeep
Note: Handouts available on WeBeep

The course is dedicated to the environmental and engineering aspects involved in the energy exploitation of biomass and waste materials. The goal of the module on environmental aspects is to enable students to have a perspective on the environmental impacts of biomass and waste valorisation for energy purposes. This includes the technologies for the control of atmospheric emissions and the management of solid residues of different energy conversion routes of the raw materials. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is then introduced and applied as a tool to evaluate the environmental implications of different energy conversion routes from waste and biomass.

Lectures will allow students to:

• know the characteristics of waste and understand a laboratory report
• understand and apply the proper legislation on waste
• understand the operation of a waste sorting and recycling plant
• understand and control the environmental impacts of waste-to-energy facilities
• critically assess different options of waste management
  The exercises will allow students to:
• preliminarily design a mechanical-biological treatment plant, an anaerobic digestion plant, and a waste-to-energy plant
• write a technical report describing the plant main features
• quantitatively apply LCA to a waste treatment plant

Waste management scenario. Current waste generation and management in the world, Europe, and Italy. Emerging trends and future challenges.
Feedstock characterisation. Physical and chemical properties of waste materials.
Recycling. Strategies and technologies for the recovery of materials from waste.
Mechanical-biological treatment (MBT). MBT applied to the residual waste for the production of Solid Recovered Fuels (SRF) and for the recycling of materials.
Anaerobic digestion for biogas production. Technological options, plant start up, and operation.
Pollution control. Technologies and configuration of flue gas treatment plants; solid and liquid residues. Environmental implications of SRF co-combustion in non-dedicated plants.
Environmental assessment. Environmental impact indicators; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); LCA applied to waste management systems.
The class will be organized in lectures, exercises, and seminars. A field visit will be arranged to biomass-/waste-to-energy plants.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, con prove in itinere
Prova orale facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
The evaluation will be based on the result of a mandatory final written exam (including theoretical questions and problems) and an optional interview. Access to the oral interview is subjected to the satisfactory accomplishment of the written test (i.e. >= 18/30).
An optional midterm exam will be held around the middle of the semester. A positive result in the midterm exam will substitute the first half of the written exams held during the first exam session.
During the exam, the student must:
demonstrate to know the main routes for the energy exploitation of waste, their main features and limitations;
discuss waste-based processes by describing in qualitative and quantitative forms their energy, technical, and economic performances;
be able to preliminary design some energy conversion processes for waste.

Thomas H. Christensen, Solid Waste Technology & Management, Editore: WILEY, Anno edizione: 2011

This course provides the principles of biotechnology processes, with particular reference to the drug product (DP) manufacturing. The analysis starts with an introduction covering the industrial processes for the synthesis of biopharmaceuticals, including therapeutic proteins, peptides and oligonucleotides. After having clarified how a drug is manufactured, all the aspects related to drug formulation aimed at improved stability and therapeutic index will be addressed. This discussion will specifically refer to the concept of controlled drug delivery. The main objective here is to prevent or at least moderate the side effects related to systemic delivery, as it is the case for cancer chemiotherapies. The fundamental principles of the design of a drug delivery carrier are discussed and various options are presented in connection to different administration processes. Next, the treatment focuses on the use of polymer nanoparticles for the delivery of various drugs, including the case of gene therapies, as well as for diagnostic applications, such as imaging through different physical properties. The synthesis of various nanoparticles, with different size and surface properties (e.g., charge and chemical functionalities), and their efficiency in penetrating the target tissue are discussed. The discussion will follow on the fill and finish operations required to the preparation of the DP to distribution and administration. The main post-processing operations such as terminal sterilization, lyophilization, vial filling, capping and inspection will be discussed in order to understand the hurdles and critical steps required for bringing a drug formulation to hospitals.
The course combines frontal lectures with laboratory experiences, providing the students with an applied understanding of the technological challenges and practical issues arising during the manufacturing of colloidal drug formulations.

The lectures will allow the students to:

• understand the issues (efficacy, safety and cost) related to the use of biopharmaceuticals for therapeutic applications
• understand the role of organic and inorganic nanoparticles in biomedical appliacations
• understand the polymer reaction and colloidal engineering aspects related to the use of nanoparticles in medicine
• design and synthesize polymers and polymer nanoparticles for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
• design the main unit operations for fill&finish
• understand the main challanges related to operate in sterile conditions and ensure durg safety during the whole supply chain
  The laboratory experiments will allow students to:
• design and synthesize in a chemical laboratory drug carriers based on polymers and polymer nanoparticles for specific therapeutic indications.

Lectures
The lectures describe the physicochemical fundamentals of processes for the production of drugs and devices for biomedical applications.
The topics covered can be organized in three main parts.
In the first, introductory part the background related to biopharmaceuticals, including definition, main features and market considerations are addressed. The main aspects related to the manufacturing of therapeutic proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies, and oligonucleotides through recombinant technology will be discussed. The main aspects of the design of cell cultures and subsequent purification of the product through various steps, referred to as capture and polishing, usually based on chromatographic techniques will be covered.
The second part refers to the synthesis of polymers and polymer nanoparticles for the delivery of active therapeutic principles. We begin from general considerations about different polymerization chemistries and processes, in order to provide the necessary background to all students. In particular we discuss: the kinetics of free radical polymerization, emulsion polymerization processes; living polymerization processes: ROP, RAFT and ATRP and finally methods for the synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles. Colloidal stability is discussed with reference to the shelf drug stability and its formulation depending on the type of drug administration. These topics will be covered in an applied way, integrating the lectures with practical examples of applications as well as with laboratory experiments (as detailed in the following).
The third part covers the processes for fill and finish operations. A perspective on good manufacturing practices (GMP) and regulatory landscape will be provided first. Then, following a typical process flowchart, the main unit operations will be described, including freeze/thaw, filtration, pooling and mixing, filling and aseptic processes, lyophilization, capping and inspection. An outlook of the current technologies as well as of the future trends for this drug product manufacturing section will finally be provided.
Laboratory Project (Laboratorio Sperimentale)
After the introductory lectures, the students move to the polymer laboratory where they are divided in groups of 4 members and conduct selected experiments for the synthesis of polymer nanoparticles and gels for localized and controlled drug delivery.
In particular, the topics covered in the laboratory experiences include:
Synthesis of polymer nanoparticles
Magnetic and fluorescent nanoparticles for medical imaging
Hydrophilic gels for localised delivery of antibiotics
Smart polymer excipients able to respond to temperature stimuli

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
The final evaluation consists of two contributions: oral exam on the content of the lectures (60%), and laboratory reports (40%).
In particular, in the oral examination, the student should demonstrate to have acquired the understanding and knowledge about the various aspects discussed in the lectures, about the physical chemistry of drug delivery vehicles and devices for imaging as well as the processes for producing biopharmaceuticals, with particular attention to fill and finish operations. The oral exam accounts for 60% of the final grade.
The reports for each laboratory experiment, prepared by the work team, will be evaluated and credits will be given based on the team understanding of the obtained results and of the related critical issues. This implies that unsuccesfull results are accepted provided that the team can explain them and indicate possible alternatives. Attendance to the laboratory experiments is required, in order to collect the data necessary for the final written reports. The evaluation of the laboratory reports accounts for 40% of the final grade.

D. Pfister, L. Nicoud and M. Morbidelli, Continuous Biopharmaceutical Processes, Editore: Cambridge University Press, New York, Anno edizione: 2018
N. Isaacs, Physical Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, Editore: Addison Wesley Longman, Anno edizione: 1995, ISBN: 0-582-21863-2
Nicholas W. Warne, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Challenges in Protein Product Development, Editore: Springer Nature

Fornire allo studente le conoscenze base della catalisi in fase omogenea applicata ai più importanti processi industriali attraverso lo studio delle proprietà e della reattività dei catalizzatori. In particolare veranno trattati i processi catalizzati da complessi metallorganici dei metalli di transizione. Al termine del corso lo studente sarà in grado di interpretare dal punto di vista meccanicistico i processi base della catalisi omogenea nella sintesi di molecole organiche e di proporre in maniera autonoma un ciclo catalitico.

DdD 1: Conoscenza e comprensione
Conoscere i principi base della catalisi omogenea e della chimica organometallica
Comprendere la struttura, la simmetria e la reattività dei composti dei metalli di transizione
Analizzare i più importanti processi in catalisi omogenea dell’industria chimica organica dal punto di vista del ciclo catalitico
DdD 2: Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione
Identificare e distinguere le tipologie di reazioni organometalliche e i loro meccanismi base
Riconoscere e prevedere (nei casi più semplici) la reattività dei complessi dei metalli di transizione in base alla loro composizione e struttura
Rappresentare graficamente in modo corretto e professionale le strutture dei complessi organometallici e i loro cicli catalitici tramite il software ChemDraw
Saper condurre ed analizzare alcune semplici reazioni organometalliche in laboratorio
DdD 4: Abilità comunicative
Rielaborare e presentare in maniera chiara e concisa un processo in catalisi omogenea tratto dalla letteratura scientifica attuale

Introduzione: metalli di transizione (MT), legame metallorganico, composti di coordinazione dei MT, numeri di coordinazione (CN), isomeria, chiralità, teoria del campo cristallino, conteggio degli elettroni, tipologie di ligandi.
Struttura, reattività e meccanismi base della catalisi omogenea: scambio di ligandi, addizione ossidativa, eliminazione riduttiva, inserzioni migratorie, transmetallazione, cicli catalitici base, calcolo del TON e del TOF.
Applicazioni industriali: Idroformilazioni di olefine; Carbonilazioni di alcoli ed esteri (processi Monsanto e Cativa per la sintesi dell’acido acetico); Idrogenazioni (riduzione di olefine, acidi grassi e dell’adiponitrile per la produzione del nylon); Reazioni di isomerizzazione (allilammina-enammina, processo Takasago per la produzione del mentolo); Idrocianazione; Accoppiamenti carbonio-carbonio (C-C coupling); Formazione del legame C-O attraverso ossidazioni (processo Wacker); Polimerizzazioni (Ziegler-Natta); Reazioni di metatesi e processo SHOP.
Ricerca bibliografica: ricerca sui principali database (Scopus, Web of science, Google Scholar, Espacenet)
Laboratorio sperimentale: al termine del corso saranno eseguite 3 esperienze di laboratorio, e verranno forniti i principi base per disegnare i cicli catalitici con il software ChemDraw. In particolare, fra le esperienze è prevista l'idrogenazione di un alchene usando un reattore a flusso continuo con generazione di H 2 via elettrolisi dell'acqua.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
La prova finale consiste in un esame orale volto a valutare le conoscenze teoriche sui contenuti del corso. Allo studente viene fornita della letteratura su un argomento specifico di un processo. Lo studente deve ampliare la letteratura fornita con una ricerca bibliografica attraverso i principali database. Al termine della ricerca deve sviluppare una presentazione di circa 20 minuti illustrando il processo industriale e lo stato dell'arte. In particolare lo studente deve proporre un ciclo catalitico, illustrare il rate determining step e calcolare il TOF del processo. Richiami alla struttura e ai meccanismi di reazione coinvolti nel processo saranno elementi base per la valutazione finale.

P.W.N.M. van Leeuwen, Homogeneous catalysis: understanding the art, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2004, ISBN: 978-1-4020-1999-9
G. P. Chiusoli, P. M. Maitlis, Metal-catalysis in industrial organic processes, Editore: RSC, Anno edizione: 2006, ISBN: 9780854048625
J. Hartwig, Organotransition metal chemistry: from bonding to catalysis, Editore: University Science Book, Anno edizione: 2009, ISBN: 9781891389535

The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the topic of air pollution control, from either fundamental and technical point of view.
The course aims to give students the skills and the tools for the comprehension and the critical analysis of the industrial processes.

Lectures will allow students to:

• evaluate the need for treatment of industrial waste emission;
• know and critically discuss about catalytic processes related to emission control systems;
• expose and describe the various aspects of catalytic air pollution control with the appropriate technical language;
• proceed with the evaluation of the operating performance of the catalytic processes.

The course will address the following topics:
Air pollutants: sources, health hazard, environmental impact, regulations.
Fundamentals of catalytic materials for environmental applications.
Catalytic control of emissions from mobile sources:
Gasoline engine emissions control: Three-way converters (TWC) for stoichiometric spark ignition (SI) engines; catalytic technologies for lean-burn gasoline.
Diesel engine emissions control: Diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with ammonia/urea; Ammonia slip catalysts; Lean NOx Traps (LNT); Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF).
Alternative fuels engine emissions control (e.g natural gas engines).
Cold-start emissions control: NOx Adsorbers, HC Traps.
New emerging technics
Catalytic Control of Emissions from stationary sources:
Abatement of volatile organic compounds (catalytic oxidation of VOC).
Removal of Nitrogen Oxides (selective catalytic reduction of NOx from power plants and chemical plants).
Catalytic abatement of N2O emissions.
New emerging technics
In addition to standard class lectures, the course will include laboratory insights on catalytic air pollution control devices and, possibly, seminars on specific topics.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Oral exam aimed at assessing:

• the knowledge and critical analysis of the main catalytic emission control systems.
• the ability to describe the use of industrial technology for air pollution control.

Ronald M. Heck, Robert J. Farrauto, Suresh T. Gulati, Catalytic Air Pollution Control: Commercial Technology, Third Edition, Editore: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Anno edizione: 2009, ISBN: 9780470275030 DOI:10.1002/9781118397749

Understand the property-composition relationships of functional ceramic materials.
Select and apply scientific and technological production tools to manufacture final ceramic products.
Design ceramic materials and processing routes for specialized applications.

CORE LECTURES (General Topics): Knowledge and understanding (DdD1)
Market Awareness: Gain awareness of the global market for functional ceramics.
Synthesis Technologies: Understand and discuss the various production technologies for ceramic powder synthesis.
Thermal Treatments: Analyse and evaluate different thermal treatment technologies.
Forming Processes: Examine and compare various forming processes.
Property Selection: Analyse final properties and select the appropriate technology to achieve them.
Equipment Identification: Identify and select the equipment used in the different unit operations of the production process.
INTERACTIVE LECTURES (Material Case Studies): Applying knowledge and understanding (DdD2) & Making judgements (DdD3)
Critical Application: Critically discuss, select, and apply the fundamentals learned during core lectures to real-world case studies.
PRACTICAL LABORATORY ACTIVITY: Applying knowledge and understanding (DdD2)
Hands-on Application: Directly apply the fundamental principles acquired during lectures.
STUDENT TEAMWORK & SEMINAR FORMAT: Making judgements (DdD3) & Communication skills (DdD4):
Information Synthesis: Critically research and synthesize concepts and information from sources beyond the course materials.
Logical Presentation: Logically structure, communicate, and present their findings.
AUTONOMUS STUDY & CONTINUOUS LEARNING: Learning skills (DdD5)
Self-Directed Learning: Develop autonomous learning habits necessary to keep up with future advancements in ceramic production technologies.
Literature Navigation: Build the capacity to locate, digest, and utilize technical literature, patents, and standards independently.

This course explores the fundamentals, unit operations, processing routes, and equipment used in the industrial-scale production of ceramic powders and materials. In detail, following a brief introduction to ceramic materials (history, global market, and future perspectives), the course will cover the following products and processes:
PART 1: Production Routes, Unit Operations, and Equipment
Solid-State Reactions: fundamental principles and related unit operations.
Precipitation and Co-Precipitation: fundamental principles and related unit operations.
Colloids and Sol-Gel Methods: fundamental principles and related unit operations.
PART 2: Forming Process and Characterization Techniques for Ceramics
Fundamentals of Key Characterization Techniques: XRD, FTIR, TG-DTG, and morphological analysis.
Laboratory and Practical Sessions (MANDATORY attendance): Hands-on laboratory activity focusing on the synthesis and characterization of a selected ceramic material.
Examples of advanced ceramic materials

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Valutazione continua facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
The final assessment for this course consists of two MANDATORY components: a Written Exam (70%) and a Group Presentation (30%).
WRITTEN EXAM OPTIONS (70% of Final Grade)
Students can choose one of the following two pathways to complete the written requirement:
OPTION A: Continuous Evaluation
Structure: Two partial written tests held at the end of Part 1 and Part 2.
Format: Open-ended questions verifying knowledge acquired during lectures.
Grading: The final score of the written exam is the arithmetic average of both tests.
Requirement: Students must complete both partial tests to pass via this route.
OPTION B: Full Exam
Structure: A single, comprehensive written test covering all course topics.
Timeline: Available during the standard exam sessions at the end of the course.
GRUP PRESENTATION (30% of Final Grade)
At the end of the course, students must deliver a MANDATORY group presentation in a seminar format.
Content: Discussion of experimental results from the mandatory laboratory activity, including the characterization of the synthesized material.
Preparation: Developed independently by the students under the continuous guidance and review of the professors.
EVALUATION CRITERIA - The exam is structured to assess the following student competencies:
Problem-solving: Ability to correctly frame ceramic production problems and identify the most suitable solution.
Argumentation: Ability to justify one's choices with a well-articulated, structured discourse supported by acquired knowledge.
Technical language: Mastery of specific terminology and the proper use of language typical of ceramic production.

Slides of the lectures, lecture recordings, supporting materials WeBeeP
C. B. Carter and M. G. Norton, Ceramic Materials: Science and Engineering, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2007
P. Boch and J.C. Nièpce, Ceramic Materials: Process Properties and Applications, Editore: ISTE, Anno edizione: 2007

Objective of the course is to provide the student with an overview on the established commercial fuels and energy vectors from fossil and renewable sources (e.g. oil and biomass) including the characterization of feedstocks, the detailed analysis of the key conversion processes refinery and in the the biorefinery, and information on the combustion performances. Novel solutions from the R&D frontier are also presented, including H2 (other than electrolysis), the so-called e-fuels (from green hydrogen, captured CO2 and N2, e.g. methanol and ammonia) and advanced biofuels (from waste biomass).

As expcted learning targets, the student matures several competences as herein detailed.
Knowledge and comprehension:

• the student knows the fundamentals on the chemical characterization of oil, natural gas, coal, biomass;
• the student knows the key processes for the production and finishing of logistic fuels from fossil sources;
• the students knows the classification (first generation, second generation, advanced fuels), the ethical issues, and the production processes of biofuels;
• the student knows the fundamentals on the processing routes that allow to design new processes for the production of energy vectors.
  Ability to apply knowledge and comprehension:
• the student is able to analyse the kinetic/termodynamic/economic factors that govern the production processes of fuels;
• the student is able to select proper solutions (catalysts, reactors, operating conditions) to produce fuels and evergy vectors from different C and H sources;
  -the student experiences the scaling up of a process from the labscale to the industrial scale;
  -the student practices the preliminary sizing of chemical reactors.
  Autonomy of judgement:
• the student has the tools for critically analyze existing process solutions and develop improved solutions;
  Learning ability:
• the student has the ability to extend the backgroud knowledge to the design of new processes.

1 - Fuels from fossil sources: the conventional refinery as technology hub (3.5 cfu)
Crude oil: a C-feedstock from "geologically-aged" organic material
Origin and formation of crude oil - Basics of organic chemistry (hydrocarbon classification, functional groups, O- S- N- compounds). Chemical and physical properties of crude oil: viscosity, specific gravity (API gravity, K-fraction, correlation index) – distillation curves (ASTM, TBP, EFV). Char value. Sulfur and heteroatoms contents, inorganic fraction (water and salts).
Oil to fuels
Engineering analysis (thermodynamics, kinetics, reactor design, plant configuration) of the main physical and chemical processeses of the refinery. Physical separation and chemical conversions: distillation, sorbent extraction, thermal vs catalytic cracking, hydrotreating and hydrocracking (the versatile technology for complex C-feedstocks), catalytic reforming, isomerization, alkylation.
H2 as a key feedstock for the production of logistic fuels.
2 – Fuels from biomass: from the refinery to the biorefinery technologies (2.0 cfu)
Chemical and biochemical conversion of biomass: a sustainble C-source?
1st generation / High-ILUC (Indirect Land Use Change) biofuels
Bioethanol from starches and sugars (wheat, corn, sugar cane, sugar beet)
Biodiesel from edible vegetal oils (rapeseed oil,soybean oil, palm oil)
HVO, hydrogenated vegetable oils
2nd generation / Low-ILUC (Indirect Land Use Change) biofuels
Bioethanol from cellulose
Biodiesel and HVO from non-edible oils
3rd generation / Advanced biofuels
Fuels from algal oils, microbial oils, waste
Thermochemical conversion routes: from renewable sources to circular economy
Pyrolysis of biomass and biocrude processing; pyrolysis of waste and plastics; biochar.
3 – H2, syngas platform and synthetic fuels (1.5 cfu)
H2 and syngas production
Methane Steam Reforming, Gasification processes in the refinery, Biomass and waste gasification
Syngas conversion
Methanol sythesis, Fisher-Tropsch synthesis
Renewable energy storage: e-fuels
Power-to-gas, e-NH3 synthesis, LOHC, cracking of energy vectors
4 - Characterization and combustion performances of fossil and renewable fuels (0.5 CFU)
(e.g., physical properties, combustion properties, energy density, emission performances, …)
5 - R&D of a catalytic process(0.5 CFU)
(e.g., preparartion and characterization of catalysts, methods of the kinetic investigation, development of novel catalytic reactors, intensification of catalytic processes for improved energy efficiency, electrification of chemical processes)

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i facoltativo (a scelta dello studente), individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The exam will be written.
In the examination, the student will be asked general and quantitative questions on the topics of the course, to verify the knowledge and comprehension of chemical characterizations, refinery/production processes and combustion properties of fossil and renewable fuels. The written exam will also verify the ability of the student to critically apply the general background matured to the quantitative analysis of specific cases including kinetic/termodynamic/economic factors and the evaluation of energy efficiency and environmental impact of combustion processes.
Questions will also refer to the seminars and the laboratory experiences where the student is exposed to R&D activities.

M. Maestri, Fondamenti dei Processi Chimici, Editore: McGraw-Hill, Anno edizione: 2021, ISBN: 978-8-83-865536-4
J.M. Smith, H.C. Van Ness, M.M. Abbott, Introduction to chemical engineering thermodynamics, Editore: McGraw-Hill, Anno edizione: 2005, ISBN: 978-0-07-124708-5
R.M. Felder, R.W. Rousseau, Elementary principles of Chemical Processes, Editore: Wiley, Anno edizione: 2000

The Course aims at giving students the necessary knowledge and technical tools to critically approach Chemical Projects Engineering and Management. A relevant interaction/involvement from a large EPC contractor is planned to be a key issue of the course, so as to provide students the highest connection with the real Chemical/Petrochemical/Oil&Gas Projects, and their Engineering and Management.
In particular, the course starts from (1) the feasibility study of any initiatives – (large) projects included – in which (2) further develops technical aspects of relevant phases of the basic engineering (from the process selection to the cost estimation), then (3) encompasses a critical picture and evolution of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) industry and the relevance of chemical engineering within it, provides (4) some basics of Project Management (PM), and enforces a practical approach to the overall issue by means of two voluntary project works (in teams of 5÷8 students) to be performed during the course, having professionals in the EPC sector as tutors.
The course targets the following Goals, within the broader context of the Programme, so as to empower the Student capabilities to:

• Understand context, functions, processes and performance with reference to chemical plants and related projects
• Design solutions applying a scientific and engineering approach with reference to chemical plants and related projects

With reference to the selected Goals at the Programme level, the Expected Learning Outcomes of the course relate to each Student being able to:

• Identify in a systematic way the relevance of the contextual factors, functions and processes with respect to the performance of a project, of a plant as a whole, or of a component, based on the general principles and laws/methods/models for project/plants engineering and management
• Set up and solve a problem related to a project, to plant as a whole, or to a component, applying the general principles and laws/methods/models for project/plants engineering and management

Chemical projects/plants: introduction and general concepts.
General principles of plant design: cost of downtime, bottleneck management and distributed vs. centralized capacity design.
Feasibility study – in the view of a (large) chemical project/plant: project strategy (scope), sales programme (and marketing concept), material inputs, location, site & environment, technology, engineering & layout (from a conceptual viewpoint, tackling bottleneck management and decentralized capacity design) later issue within the course), plant organization, human resources, project implementation (later issue within the course), investment appraisal.
Insights on plant engineering: project requirements and documents: overview of the tools, documents, workflow methods and procedures used in plant layout and piping design. Effective arrangement of equipment, also taking into account process needs, process integration, safety, environmental considerations, constructability, maintainability and operability. Simulation tools used for process, equipment and plant design. Lessons are organized using one or two case studies on plant design for chemical/petrochemical/oil&gas processes, and will include specific inputs and contributions by engineers of a large EPC company.
A view on (from) the industry: insights on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) industry and their projects/plants, with a special focus on chemical ones, through seminars and test cases held by experts in both technical and managerial/strategic aspects.
Project management: Introduction to Project Management, Scope Management, Work Breakdown Structure, Time Planning (Bar Chart, Network Diagram, CPM).
A practical approach is enforced by means of two voluntary Project Works (one for management, one for engineering), whose effort is planned mainly in October and December.
Regarding the INDEPENDENT STUDY, some (one or two) topics are introduced by corresponding packages of introductory clips that should be listened to and possibly understood independently by the students (it is advisable to dedicate approximately 4-5 hours of independent study for the package of clips of each topic), to ensure more in-depth discussions and applications, giving substance to the topics presented, and developing adequate preparation for solving numerical-quantitative problems.
Regarding the ASSISTED TEACHING, the course overall includes:

• TRANSMISSIVE/FRONTAL TEACHING: the hours are dedicated to the theoretical and quantitative content developed entirely by the teachers, except for moments of interaction planned by the teachers and/or requested by the students, functional to a better understanding.
• INTERACTIVE/PARTICIPATIVE TEACHING: the hours are dedicated to a structured discussion of the introductory clips, and – predominantly – to the development by the students – accompanied by the teachers – of some particularly significant and complex exercises/problems that are addressed during the course.
• PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TEACHING: the hours (in class) are dedicated to launching the two Project Works and accompanying the students in their preliminary efforts (the PWs are then developed, in Groups, as “independent study”).
• EVALUATIVE TEACHING: the hours are dedicated to moments of guided self-assessment (which does not contribute to the exam grade), also called “previous knowledge tests” of formative assessment, designed to help students understand their state of preparation and level of comprehension, as well as to allow the teachers to revisit topics that may be less understood.
  As far as SW applications are concerned, extensive use of MS Excel is part of the design of the course, ranging from the basic use of standard formulae to the use of the Solver function.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale condizionata (a scelta del docente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i facoltativo (a scelta dello studente), di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
The final grade will be based on a written exam, on an oral exam, and - when applicable - on the project works.
The written and oral exams have to be held in the same call, whilst the results of the project works keep their validity for the whole academic year.
The written exam consists of a set of quantitative problems to solve, and questions to answer; their assessment equally takes into account the formal development and the quantitative/qualitative content, so as to appraise the capability of each Student to:

• Identify the relevance of either contextual factors, or functions or processes with respect to the performance of a project, or of a plant as a whole, or of a component
• Set up and solve a problem related to a project, or to plant as a whole, or to a component
  The oral exam starts with the discussion of the written exam, then focuses on the knowledge and understanding of the content of the course, as well as of the general principles and laws/methods/models for project/plants engineering and management
  The voluntary project works (teams of 5÷8 students) result into reports; their assessment equally takes into account the formal development and the quantitative/qualitative content, so as to appraise the capability of each Student to:
• Set up and solve a problem related to a project, or to plant as a whole, or to a component

Gavin Towler, Ray Sinnott, Chemical engineering design/Principles, Practice and Economics of Plant and Process Design, 2nd Ed., Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2013
Max S. Peters, Klaus D. Timmerhaus, Ronald E. West, Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers, 5th Ed., Editore: McGraw-Hill, Anno edizione: 2003

The course will focus on the relations between the physical-chemical properties of materials involved in alternative energy systems and their macroscopic behaviour. In particular, electrochemical devices for the storage and electricity generation with low environmental impacts will be illustrated. Materials and devices for harnessing solar energy and for clean fuels production will be also described.

When the student has successfully passed the exam, he/she has a good knowledge of and is able to discuss the following topics (DdD1):

• alternative systems of energy generation and storage (i.e. fuel cells, rechargeable batteries and capacitors);
• common and innovative materials for energy applications;
• fundamentals properties of the main classes of materials involved in energy systems;
• relations existing between microscopic physical-chemical features of a material and its macroscopic properties and functions;
• dielectric materials for energy harvesting;
• renewable and sustainable ways to produce energy.
  A consistent part of the course will be devoted to solve numerical and practical problems related to materials properties and devices which they are assembled in; then the student will be able to solve specific problems, and to select the optimal materials for any case (DdD2,3).
  A project on a specific case study will be discussed with the teacher (DdD4,5).

The course deals with properties of materials for energy; it will concern different technologies for alternative energy production, for transportation and storage, as well as related kinetic and thermodynamic aspects. In detail, the following topics will be considered:

• materials for electrochemical devices for energy production and storage;
• hydrogen economy: production, storage and use;
• alternative electrochemical energy generators: low- and high-temperature fuel cells;
• materials for storage devices: rechargeable batteries and capacacitors;
• photovoltaic devices: inorganic semiconductors and photo-electrochemistry;
• piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity: application in energy harvesting.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Written exam (2 h) with questions about theory and numerical exercises.

Frano Barbir, PEM fuel cells: theory and practice, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2015, ISBN: 978-0-12-387710-9
Ginley D. S. and Cahen D., Fundamentals of Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Editore: Ginley D. S. and Cahen D., Anno edizione: 2012, ISBN: 978-1-107-00023-0

L’insegnamento contribuisce alla comprensione dei principi scientifici e ingegneristici della chimica del fluoro e dei materiali fluorurati e della loro applicazione nelle principali tecnologie industriali. In particolare, fornisce gli strumenti per comprendere le relazioni tra struttura molecolare, proprietà e prestazioni dei composti fluorurati, nonché i principali processi utilizzati per la loro sintesi e trasformazione. Il corso adotta inoltre metodologie didattiche e di valutazione innovative.
This course contributes to the understanding of the scientific and engineering principles of fluorine chemistry and fluorinated materials and their application in the main industrial technologies. In particular, it provides the tools required to understand the relationships between molecular structure, properties and performance of fluorinated compounds, as well as the main processes used for their synthesis and transformation. The course also adopts innovative teaching and assessment methods.

A seguito del superamento dell’esame, lo studente:
conosce i principi fondamentali della chimica del fluoro, le relazioni tra struttura e proprietà dei composti e dei materiali fluorurati, nonché i principali processi industriali impiegati per la loro sintesi, trasformazione e applicazione;
è in grado di analizzare le proprietà e le applicazioni tecnologiche di molecole e materiali fluorurati, interpretare criticamente informazioni tecnico-scientifiche del settore e applicare le conoscenze acquisite alla risoluzione di problemi specifici, formulando valutazioni tecnicamente motivate e comunicandole in modo chiaro ed efficace.
After successfully completing the course, the student:
understands the fundamental principles of fluorine chemistry, the relationships between structure and properties of fluorinated compounds and materials, and the main industrial processes used for their synthesis, transformation and application;
is able to analyze the properties and technological applications of fluorinated molecules and materials, critically evaluate scientific and technical information in the field, and apply the acquired knowledge to the solution of specific problems, formulating technically sound judgments and communicating them clearly and effectively.

Argomenti trattati
Introduzione alla chimica del fluoro. Proprietà atomiche e chimico-fisiche del fluoro e confronto con gli altri alogeni. Effetti della fluorurazione sulle proprietà di molecole e materiali.
Chimica industriale del fluoro. Produzione industriale dell’acido fluoridrico (HF) e del fluoro elementare (F2). Principali processi di fluorurazione e sintesi di composti organofluorurati.
Relazioni struttura–proprietà nei composti fluorurati. Effetti elettronici e sterici del fluoro, stabilità dei legami, interazioni intermolecolari e proprietà chimico-fisiche dei composti fluorurati.
Monomeri fluorurati e fluoropolimeri. Sintesi e proprietà dei principali monomeri fluorurati e dei fluoropolimeri industriali, tra cui PTFE, PCTFE, ETFE, ECTFE, PFPE e ionomeri fluorurati.
Tecnologia e applicazioni dei materiali fluorurati. Proprietà termiche, chimiche, meccaniche e superficiali dei fluoropolimeri. Tecnologie di trasformazione e principali applicazioni industriali nei settori dei materiali avanzati, dell’energia, dell’elettronica e dell’ingegneria chimica.
Attività progettuale. Analisi della letteratura scientifica e tecnologica, individuazione di un tema di ricerca nel settore della chimica del fluoro o dei materiali fluorurati e sviluppo di un progetto.
Subjects
Introduction to fluorine chemistry. Atomic, chemical and physical properties of fluorine and comparison with the other halogens. Effects of fluorination on the properties of molecules and materials.
Industrial fluorine chemistry. Industrial production of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and elemental fluorine (F2). Main fluorination processes and synthesis routes for organofluorine compounds.
Structure–property relationships in fluorinated compounds. Electronic and steric effects of fluorine, bond stability, intermolecular interactions, and physicochemical properties of fluorinated compounds.
Fluorinated monomers and fluoropolymers. Synthesis and properties of the main fluorinated monomers and industrial fluoropolymers, including PTFE, PCTFE, ETFE, ECTFE, PFPEs and fluorinated ionomers.
Technology and applications of fluorinated materials. Thermal, chemical, mechanical and surface properties of fluoropolymers. Processing technologies and major industrial applications in advanced materials, energy, electronics and chemical engineering.
Project activity. Analysis of scientific and technological literature, identification of a research topic in fluorine chemistry or fluorinated materials, and development of a project proposal.

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Modalità di valutazione
La valutazione si articola in quattro fasi:
1) Lo studente individua, in accordo con il docente, uno specifico tema applicativo nell’ambito della chimica del fluoro o dei materiali fluorurati.
2) Lo studente svolge un’attività di ricerca bibliografica utilizzando la letteratura scientifica e tecnica di riferimento, integrando le informazioni raccolte con i contenuti sviluppati durante il corso e predisponendo una presentazione sul tema scelto.
3) Lo studente presenta il lavoro al docente, che fornisce indicazioni per eventuali correzioni, approfondimenti e miglioramenti.
4) Lo studente espone il lavoro finale alla classe. Gli altri studenti sono tenuti a partecipare attivamente alla discussione formulando domande e osservazioni. Il docente valuta la qualità della presentazione, la capacità di analisi critica della letteratura, la padronanza degli argomenti trattati e la conoscenza dei concetti collegati all’intero programma del corso.
Le migliori presentazioni potranno essere rese disponibili agli studenti attraverso la piattaforma didattica del corso e utilizzate come materiale di approfondimento per le future edizioni dell’insegnamento.
Evaluation Method
Assessment is organized into four stages:
1) Each student selects, in agreement with the instructor, a specific application topic related to fluorine chemistry or fluorinated materials.
2) The student performs a literature review based on scientific and technical sources, integrates the collected information with the concepts presented during the course, and prepares a presentation on the selected topic.
3) The student presents the preliminary work to the instructor, who provides feedback and recommendations for improvements, corrections and further development.
4) The student delivers the final presentation to the class. All students are expected to actively participate in the discussion by asking questions and providing comments. The instructor evaluates the quality of the presentation, the ability to critically analyze scientific literature, the understanding of the selected topic, and the knowledge of the broader concepts covered by the course.
The best presentations may be made available through the course teaching platform and used as supporting material for future editions of the course.

[2016-17] - REACTIVITY, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF FLUORINATED MATERIALS corso attivo in Beep con materiale didattico disponibile.
Richard D. Chambers, Fluorite in Organic Chemistry, Editore: Blackwell publishing, Anno edizione: 2004
Peer Kirsch Copyright c 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Modern Fluoroorganic Chemistry., Anno edizione: 2004
Fluoro Polymer 2 Properties, Editore: Kluwer Academic Publishers New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow, Anno edizione: 2002 http://www.kluweronline.com
Note: Material Properties of Fluoropolymers and Perfluoroalkyl-Based Polymers
RICHARD R. THOMAS in Fluoro Polymer 2 Properties (Chapter 4)
Jiri George Drobny, Technology of Fluoropolymers Second Edition, Anno edizione: 2008

The course aims to make students aware of the basic concepts of sustainable polymers.
The course aims to stimulate interest in and promote understanding of this highly relevant subject: the sustainability of polymers, which are so important for human life.
The course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge of polymers, environmental waste, sustainable and green practices, circular economy principles, and the environmental impact of traditional and biopolymers, including bioplastics and bioelastomers.
The course aims to provide students with updated tools to address the issue of polymer sustainability.
Furthermore, the course aims to enable students to establish correlations between practical aspects and theoretical interpretations.
The course aims to enable students to become protagonists in this field by tackling critical issues and promoting innovation.
The course will put students in touch with the real world through guest lectures from senior scientists and managers from organisations and companies such as COREPLA, LyondellBasell, Novamont and Pirelli.
Nothing exists without materials.
These days, we might say: nothing should exist without sustainable materials.

Upon attending the course, the student:
will know the fundamental aspects of polymers sustainability, with knowledge of both theoretycal and practical aspects
will be able to apply such knowledge to practical problems
will be able to make proposals for a more sustainable preparation and use of polymers

Introduction to polymers. Hystorical development. The polymers in our life. Production, economic impact. Main types and applications: in a nutshell.
“Plastic” in the environment. Ocean gyres and garbage patches. “Plastic” in the ocean: story, classification. Origins and amount. Primary microplastic in the ocean. Mismanaged waste. Tyre debris.
Basic synthesis and reaction chemistry (organic chemistry). Few concepts useful for sustainable polymers.
The polymers. The polymeric nature of solids. Introduction to polymers. Origin. Nomenclature. Chemical composition. Structure. Dimension. Average molecular mass. Synthesis of polymers: stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics. Catalysis for polymerization and types of polymerizations. Intermolecular and intramolecular bonds in polymers. Stereochemistry. Organization of polymers at the solid state: amorphous and crystalline polymers. Thermodynamic origin of melting point. Main types of polymers. Transitions of polymers and thermodynamics.
Green, sustainable, circular. Green chemistry. Sustainability. Sustainable chemistry. Sustainable polymers. The CO 2 Issue. Circular materials and circular economy. The life cycle of polymers. Circular polymers. Green washing.
Environmental aspects of polymers. Degradation of Polymers. Additives and Chemicals in Plastics and in Rubbers. Release of Additives and Monomers from Plastic. Wastes Recycling of polymers.
Biomass. Biomass for materials
Main traditional polymers. Main concepts Properties of polymers. Synthesis, production and applications. Recycling. Bio-version of the polymers. Types of polymers: polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene terephtalate, polyurethanes, polyamides.
Main natural polymers: cellulose, starch, chitin, chitosan, alginates, carageenans, proteins.
Biopolymers. Classification. Amount. Bioplastics. Synthesis, properties, composites, recycling.
Biobased and biodegradable polymers: starch based polymers (TPS), poly(lactic acid), poly(hydroxyalcanoates), poly(butylenesuccinate)
Fossil based and biodegradable polymers: poly(butylene adipate terephthalate), poly(caprolactone)
Materials from CO 2.
Elastomers. Elasticity: in a nutshell. How to design an elastomer. Bioelastomers.
Comparison between polymers and other materials.
Net zero gas emission plastics.
Sustainable rubbers.
Sustainable food Packaging.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
The written exam will consist of approximately 11 open-ended or multiple-choice questions. The questions will cover the topics discussed in the course, so as to address all the concepts.
The oral exam will be at the student’s discretion, to clarify aspects that were not covered entirely satisfactorily in the written exam.

J. M. G. Cowie, V. Arrighi, Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials - third edition, Editore: CRC Press - Taylor & Francis Group, Anno edizione: 2007, ISBN: 978-0849398131

This course aims at achieving the following learning goals:

• LG1: Understand sustainability related context, functions, processes in a business and industrial environment and the impact of those factors on business performance
• LG2: Identify future trends, technologies and key methodologies in the domain of sustainable innovation

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• LO1.1: Understand the relevance of sustainable innovation for the long-term success of a firm
• LO1.2: Understand the importance to work in a collaborative way with the involvement of a set of key stakeholders to effectivelly implement a sustainable oriented innovation
• LO2.1: Identify the role played by technologies and new approaches for the implementation of a sustainable oriented innovation

The first module aims at presenting the role of collaborative innovation to achieve sustainable impact. This module will cover the following topics:
Understand the need for sustainability-oriented innovation.
Understand the what sustainability-oriented innovoation is.
Understand the need for collaboration to achieve sustainability-oriented innovations.
The second module focuses on sustainable business models and on innovation promotion and impact. This module will cover the following topics
Sustainable business model innovation
Sustainable behaivior and innovation adoption
Assessing the sustainable impact.
The third module aims to apply the concepts of the first two modules to the main sustainable innovation models, including:
Base of Pyramid innovation.
Circular economy and industrial symbiosis.
Certification
Shared models
A project work is integral part of the course. The objective of projects is to help students in applying the approaches and principles we teach in class.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
In this course, two assessment methods will be considered:

• group work assignment: in the group work assignment, students will be asked to exploit the value of collaborations for sustainability for a specific company. The group work will be delivered at the end of the course by means of a report and a final presentation. During the course, there are no intermediate deliveries, but there are moments dedicated to feedback integrated in the course schedule.
• individual exam: in the individual exam, the students will be requested to demonstrate their understanding of the phenomenon of innovation for sustainability.

Rüdiger Hahn, Sustainability Management - Concepts, Instruments, and Stakeholders from a Global Perspective, Editore: Pearson, Anno edizione: 2025, ISBN: 9781292482576
Lüdeke-Freund, F., Breuer, H., & Massa, L., Sustainable Business Model Design - 45 Patterns., Anno edizione: 2022, ISBN: 978-3-9824003-3
Note: https://www.sustainablebusiness.design/

The course aims at describing the main corrosion phenomena on metals in contact with natural (soil, atmosphere, water) and industrial environments. The students will be able to make a corrosion assessment, evaluating the maximum expected corrosion rate and making a proper material selection for a specific application as a function the environmental aggressiveness and operation condition. Among the several available protection techniques, cathodic protection will be described in details.
During the course, a corrosion real case will be proposed. Students, divided into groups of maximum 10 persons, will be asked to make a corrosion assessment, define the cause of corrosion or indicate a proper protection system to assure a safe use in operating condition. At the end of the course, any group has to write a technical report on the proposed subject. In the last day of lessons, some groups (maximum 6) will be asked to present their work in classroom.

Lectures, numerical exercises and practical examples will allow the student to (DdD1 - DdD2):

• define, for each environment, the parameters necessary to evaluate the corrosion rate
• know the possible forms of corrosion of a metal in contact with a specific environment
• make a corrosion assessment, discussing on the possible cause of corrosion, estimating the corrosion rate
• discuss and select a proper metal or a proper protection technique for a specific application
• know the cathodic protection systems and select a proper plant for a real structure
  The project work will allow students to (DdD2 - DdD3):
• discuss in a team on a real corrosion problem, stimulating the student's ability to develop autonomous knowledge of the subject
• address and critically discuss problems and situations also other than those faced during the lessons
• find a suitable remedy to the damage, using applicable technical standards
• write an organised technical report, in which the cause of corrosion and/or the application of a protection system are described

The course is taught in the first emi-semester and it deals with the following topics.
Basic principles of corrosion (outline). Electrochemical mechanism. Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects.
Corrosion and protection of metals in natural environments (related issues: main forms of corrosion, causes of corrosion, evaluation of corrosion rate, use of corrosion prevention systems, metals most used and specific corrosion issues). Atmosphere: effect of pollutant, RH, temperature. Soil: soil composition, stray current, differential aeration, SRB. Fresh water and seawater: indexes, scaling power, hardness, conductivity.
Corrosion and protection of metal in Oil & Gas industry. Off-shore and on-shore, oil and gas production and transportations, CO2 corrosion, H2S corrosion, erosion-corrosion. Corrosion in industrial boiler.
Cathodic protection. Galvanic and impressed current systems, anodic materials, feeding system, design and monitoring.
A project is integral part of the course. The aim of projects is to help students in using the approaches and principles tough during the course. Projects will be assigned in the first weeks of the emi-semester. The final report is expected to be released at a fixed deadline. Some intermediate revison processes will be scheduled. Some groups will present and discuss their report in classroom at the end of the emi-semester.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, con prove in itinere
Prova orale facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The evaluation will be carried out by a written exam.
An intermediate written exam will be scheduled at the end of the emi-semester of lessons, during the week of lesson suspension according to the official academic calendar.
The written exam consists of multiple choice questions, open questions and numerical exercises. Aim of the written exam is to verify the student ability to know the corrosion issues of metals in real working conditions and to verify if the student is able to make a proper corrosion assessment, estimating the corrosion rate, evaluating the residual service life or applying cathodic protection as main preventative or protection methods. Exams during the official dates are organized in the same way.
The maximum score of the written exam of the module "Corrosion Engineering" is 28/30. The written exam is passed even if the obtained score is 14/30.
The project laboratory report will be evaluated based on the proper corrosion assessment, the definition of the cause of corrosion and the proposal of a correct remedy. Structure of the report and clarity of exposition will be considered, too. The maximum score of the project laboratory report is 4/30. This score is sum up to the written exam score.
The oral exam is optional and can be scheduled only after a successful written exam. With the oral, a maximum increase of 3 points can be obtained. If the oral is not satisfactory, the score can be reduced.

Pietro Pedeferri, Corrosion Science and Engineering, Editore: L. Lazzari, M. Pedeferri, Anno edizione: 2018, ISBN: 978-3-319-97625-9
Dispense del corso
L. Lazzari, P. Pedeferri, M. Ormellese, Cathodic Protection, Editore: PoliPress, Anno edizione: 2008

Difference between safety- and security-related risks. Risk sources and typologies and risk appetite. Techniques for open source risk identification and business intelligence. Integrated functional analysis and representation methods of business processes. Deductive and inductive logic and logic operations. Risk spectrum definition. Critical paths and critical elements identification. Probability calculation (values, strength and cost). Risk in project management. Organisational forms and risk prevention. Culture and leadership as tools for risk prevention. Risk perception. Sanction and reward in risk management. Decision making strategies in risk management. Decision making models. Managerial perspective of the risk prevention Law. International standard and approach in risk management. Emerging risks.

The goal of the course is to enable students to master the fundamental elements of the energy conversion produced by renewable sources and their connection to the electric grid. The course covers the analysis, modelling and sizing methods of electronic power converters and the electric machines suitable to renewable sources applications, in particular photovoltaic and wind, but not only.

Lectures and exercise sessions will allow students to know:
the principles of the static conversion of electrical energy and understood the logical and mathematical links regarding the main physical quantities that characterize power converters;
the principles of the electrical machines and understood the logical and mathematical links regarding the main physical quantities that characterize the electromechanical conversion;
the working principle and the model of the main components of power plants for the electricity generation from renewable sources;
the layouts of power plants for the electricity generation from renewable sources.
The student will be able to:
improve autonomously and continuously the detailed knowledge in power converter for renewable energies;
read and understand generic layout of power plants;
define the layouts of power plants for the electricity generation from renewable sources and to size the main components.

Part I - Power Electronics and Static Converters
Introduction to power electronics for the electricity static conversion. General overview of switching power converters, power balance. Line commutated and self-commutated switches. Ideal switches and practical switches, conduction and commutation losses.
Overview of power semiconductor switches. Diode, thyrisitor (SCR), gate-turn-off thyristor (GTO), bipolar junction transistor (BJT), insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), new power switches technologies. Steady state and dynamic thermal models for power semiconductor switches; cooling and heat-sinks. Selection criteria for power switches and verification of the thermal design.
Switching converters. The basic switching cell (chopper). Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). Analog and digital PWM generators.
DC/DC converters. step-down converter (buck), step-up converter (boost), buck-boost converter. Single-quadrant, two-quadrant and four quadrant chopper. Calculation of losses and efficiency. Current control in voltage-source converters: open-loop, feedback and hysteresis regulators.
DC/AC converters. Single-phase inverter and three-phase inverter. Two-level voltage source inverter: power stage. DC bus sizing criteria. Inverter-Control Techniques. Auxiliary circuits. Calculation of losses and efficiency.
Grid interface. Control, Operating limits and constraints.
Part II - Electrical Machines
Introduction. Definition of the main physical parameters for the study of electrical machines.
Transformer. Isolation transformer and high frequency transformer. Example of application in PV fields.
Introduction to electrical rotating machines. The elementary electrical machine. Reversibility. Electromagnetic force and electromagnetic torque.
The rotating magnetic field. The Galileo Ferraris theorem.
Asynchronous machines. Working principle of induction machine. Squirrel cage and wound rotor. Speed-torque characteristics calculation: no-load and load condition. Asynchronous motor and asynchronous generator. Fields of application. Example: the doubly-fed induction generator as a solution for variable speed wind turbines.
Synchronous machine. Working principle of synchronous machine. No load and load condition. Operating characteristics of synchronous machine: power-angle characteristic. Fields of application.
Brushless and Permanent Magnets Synchronous Machine. Equivalent circuits of permanent magnets synchronous machines and speed-torque curve calculation. Example: permanent magnet synchronous generator as a wind power generator.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale condizionata (a scelta del docente)
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i facoltativo (a scelta dello studente), di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The course will offer lectures and exercises, some experimental activities will be included. Course attendance is warmly suggested. Students’ knowledge and skills will be evaluated by a written test. Two alternative and exclusive types of optional oral test are available: conventional oral test (at the option of the teacher, a minimum grade in the written test is required) or a presentation of a technical study correlated to the topics of the course.
The written test will verify the students’ knowledge and understanding, and applying knowledge and understanding abilities. In the written test the students must answer questions related to the theory and solve numerical problems. The students are required to:
explain the operation of power converters and electrical machines from an analytical point of view;
solve numerical problems concerning power converters and electrical machines, and analyze the results critically;
make correlations between different subjects.
The student can withdraw from the exam at any time and without any penalty. The exam is passed if the mark of the written test is greater than or equal to 18/30. Marks in the range between 10/30 and 17/30 (boundaries included) correspond to the evaluation POSTPONED (RIMANDATO), while marks lower than 10/30 correspond to the evaluation REJECTED (RIPROVATO).

N. Mohan, T. M. Undeland, W. P. Robbins, Power Electronics: Converters, Applications and Design, Editore: John Wiley & Sons, Anno edizione: 2002, ISBN: 978-0-471-22693-2
N. Mohan, Power Electronics - A first course, Editore: Wiley, Anno edizione: 2011, ISBN: 978-1-118-07480-0
M. H. Rashid, Power Electronics Handbook, Editore: Academic Press, Anno edizione: 2001
A. E. Fitzgerald, C. Kingsley, S. D. Umans, Electric Machinery, Editore: Mc Graw-Hill, Anno edizione: 2013, ISBN: 978-0-073-38046-9

The objective of the class is to raise awareness about the current changes in terms of energy production and uses due to pollution, raising costs of fossil fuels and other raw materials and their depletion as well as the resulting EU policies. This is inducing rapid societal and economical changes that bring, at the same time, challenges and opportunities for the next generations of engineers. Starting from the current situation in terms of energy use and its recent evolution, to finally reach the ideal of a circular economy, many issues need to be overcome. Green electricity is not easily storable and thus, electrochemical energy storage and conversion is a necessary part of the equation.

DD1: knowledge and understanding
Lectures and tutoring sessions will allow students to:

• learn the problematics of energy consumption vs. production of goods, quality of life and pollution;
• learn the approaches proposed to lower emissions and the challenges that the energy transition brings;
• learn what is the place of electrochemical energy storage in the energy transition and the value chain of batteries from mining to recycling;
• learn the EoL approaches to batteries and accumulators;
• learn the fundamentals of Life Cycle Thinking as applied to the field of energy storage.
  DD2/4: ability to apply knowledge and understanding/communication skills
  Students that successfully pass the exam:
• are able to assess the sustainability of energy production considering the whole value chain;
• are aware of the technical and societal challenges that need to be addressed to significantly lower emissions;
• know the directions in terms of development and investment in the energy sector (production and storage) pursued by EU policies;
• know the different scale of energy storage needed and the position of electrochemical energy storage in the mix;
• are able to prepare a report on the concepts learnt and discuss it critically.

New regulation and sustainability of electrochemical energy storage in the energy transition (2 CFU)

• Introduction to the electrochemical storage options;
• the EU battery and accumulators directive (2006/66/EC): primary and secondary legislation;
• framework of the new EU battery regulation: EU Grean Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, proposal for a new regulation on batteries and waste batteries;
• End of Life of accumulators;
• recycling and reuse of waste batteries: technologies and market perspectives;
• Life Cycle Thinking;
• Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for batteries: Carbon Footprint of batteries and their role in the decarbonisation;
• Life Cycle Assessment of batteries and capacitors: state-of-the-art.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Report on a specific topic to be submitted before the exam and presentation with the support of electronic media during the oral examination.

The course is meant to provide a general background in electrochemistry and coverage of some areas of electrochemical processes and technologies.
The main objective is to introduce the students to the fundamentals of electrochemistry and complement the latter with the illustration of some particular applications, with a focus on topics and issues relevant to material engineering. Students are expected to address this latter aspect in preparing the individual oral presentation, which is one the course assignment.
The course is a first step towards a professional career in the area of applied electrochemistry as well as a prerequisite for engaging in research activities in different domains of electrochemistry.

The student is expected to acquire familiarity with the key concepts of electrochemistry and be able to critically analyse practical applications of electrochemistry in the light of the fundamental aspects denoting the peculiar nature of electrochemical systems. (DdD1)
Moreover and in particular, the student shall be able to use electrochemical understanding to discuss aspects of material processing and electrochemical energy storage. (DdD1)
Specifically, the student is expected to acquire the ability to analyse electrochemical processes in terms of the following aspects and fundamental concepts: double layer structure and its phenomenology; ionic transport; kinetics of charge transfer; essential on kinetic mechanisms and electrocatalysis; diffusion kinetics; significance and relevance of the nature, physical state and stability of electrode materials to their electrochemical behaviour. (DdD1 - DdD2)
These learning outcomes will enable the student to follow advanced courses in electrochemical technologies.

Electrochemical systems: definitions, structure and functioning (electrolytic and galvanic cells)
Electrochemical thermodynamics: fundamental relationships, electrochemical potential and the Nernst equation. Calculation of cell potential. Reference electrodes. The electrochemical series. Liquid junction potential. Pourbaix diagrams.
Structure of the electrode-electrolyte interphase. Galvani and Volta potential. Gibbs adsorption isotherm; Lippmann equation. Development of models of the interface structure (metal/aqueous electrolyte) and their significance vis-à-vis experimental evidence from electrocapillarity measurements of the interface capacitance.
Ionic transport. Electrolytes and conductivity. Transport properties of electrolytes: mechanical and electrical mobility; molar and equivalent conductivity; transport number.
Solid electrolytes (outline): defects and conduction mechanisms; oxide conductors for high temperature electrochemical cells and devices; Ag and Cu halide solid electrolytes; sodium ion conductors; polymer electrolytes.
Electrochemical kinetics. Overpotential and kinetic regimes. Butler-Volmer equation: single electron transfer processes. Low and high field approximation of the B.-V. equation; charge transfer resistance; Tafel's law. Multiple step e-transfer reaction. Mass transfer kinetics: the Nernst diffusion layer, steady-state diffusion controlled kinetics and mass transport limited kinetics. Diffusion control and mixed control regime. Mass transfer effects under transient conditions: Cottrell and Sand equations. Summary on transport processes in electrolytic solutions (infinitely dilute solutions)
A brief on electrocatalysis. The hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. Electrocatalysis and electrode materials: traditional electrode materials, mixed oxide electrodes, boron doped diamond.
Electrochemical methods for the experimental study of electrode processes. Steady state and transient techniques. Voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Application examples.
Electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Primary and secondary batteries. Alkaline batteries; lead-acid battery; secondary lithium batteries. Electrochemical Double layer Capacitors (EDLC): principles and behaviour. Activated carbon: properties and electrochemical behaviour. EDLC energy and power performances; experimental assessment of supercapacitor cell performance. Types of EDLC and hybrid devices.
Fuel cells. Historical outline. Types of fuel cells: low (polymer electrolyte membrane FC) and high temperature systems (Solid oxide FC): performances and material issues.
Electrochemistry and state of the art technology of water electrolysis: polymer electrolyte electrolyzers.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Assessment will be through a writing exam and a final oral presentation.
The exam consists of exercises relating to thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemical systems through problems requiring the interpretation of data and experimental evidence obtained by electrochemical methods and through theoretical questions. A primary objective is that of assessing basic understanding of electrochemical processes in their experimental representation and of challenging students' ability to attempt an interpretation of the behaviour of electrode materials and/or electrochemical systems.
The project assignment shall be devoted to a specific application or technology, with specific attention to the choice of materials for the electrodes of the relevant system or device, their behaviour and performance. The student is free to propose the topic of his/her interest and acceptance of the topic will be decided together with the instructor.

Presentations and lecture notes
Philip H. Rieger, Electrochemistry, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 1993 https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/polimi/reader.action?docID=3108909
J.O. Bockris, A.K.N. Reddy, Modern Electrochemistry, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2007, ISBN: 978-0-387-24569-0
Dieter Landolt, CORROSION AND SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF METALS, Editore: EPFL Press, Anno edizione: 207, ISBN: 978-2-940222-11-7

The main objective of the course is to study the climate change challenge using quantitative, numerical tools. Specifically, the aim is to learn the basic elements of the global energy and climate problems, evaluate the solutions with a focus on the energy sector, and use optimization and simulation models to evaluate the emission reduction and adaptation strategies.
To do so, a discussion of the fundamentals of the global economy, energy, land and climate systems will be complemented by development and applications of mathematical models integrating these key components. The course will also involve programming languages used in energy-climate planning, such as AMPL and python, among others.
The course uses innovative teaching methods, in particular, it is a flipped classroom course: students will form groups of 4-5 and work on projects to improve one or more numerical models to deal with climate change solutions, either on mitigation or adaptation.
Students based in Leonardo (e.g., Mathematical Engineers) may attend part of the course virtually.

At the end of course, students will be able to:

• Explain the foundations of climate science / climate change and how climate change affects energy and economic systems
• Describe the main historical landmarks of climate- energy policy (IPCC)
• Explain the link between climate change and energy systems
• Discuss advantages and limitations of the different mitigation and adaptation strategies
• Describe the different components of an energy system
• Distinguish between major modeling paradigms (IAMs, bottom-up and top-down energy models, etc.) and choose the appropriate type of model for a given question
• Answer specific questions using optimization models and critically interpret / analyse results
• Translate a real-world problem into an optimization formulation
• Write a mathematical model in a specific programming language
• Identify the main sources of uncertainty and calculate their impact on model outcomes
• Present a project in class, and thus create a presentation and be able to communicate it properly

The specific list of topics is as follows
Topic 1: Introduction to the climate change challenge: physics and causes of climate change, consequences and impacts.
Topic 2: Global energy and climate policies and agreements
Topic 3: The role of technology in climate change mitigation
Topic 4: Fundamentals of continuous and discrete optimization
Topic 5: Mathematical modeling and optimization using AMPL
Topic 6: Fundamentals of climate economics
Topic 7: Introducing the tools of Integrated Assessment Models
Topic 8: The simplest integrated energy-economy-climate model: the DICE model
Topic 9: Introduction to energy systems
Topic 10: Energy models: EnergyScope and PyPSA
Topic 11: Climate risks, adaptation and climate engineering
Topic 12: Accounting for risks and uncertainty: sensitivity and uncertainty analysis methods, stochastic and robust optimization

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Final grade will be based on two main components. A group project which involves model development and presentation during the course lectures. An additional written exam which will be done during the standard exams timeline.
1) Model development and group presentation (2/3): This will be done in class during the course, and we will evaluate both the modeling work as well as the communication skills. In particular, the teacher will assess the relevance of the chosen project, the validity of the software development (also looking at the code) as well as the presentation and oral skills.
2) Written exam (1/3): This will test knowledge of programming and of the theoretical concepts. The theoretical questions will cover the topics examined in class.

Global Energy Assessment - Toward a Sustainable Future, Editore: Cambridge University Press, Anno edizione: 2012 http://www.globalenergyassessment.org/
IPCC 6th assessment report, Anno edizione: 2023 https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/
DICE 2013 http://www.econ.yale.edu/~nordhaus/homepage/documents/DICE_Manual_100413r1.pdf
The AMPL Book https://ampl.com/resources/books/ampl-book/

This course deals with the application of ethical theories to problems created, aggravated or transformed by technology. This course aims at showing how the decision to develop a technology (meant at large), the processes of its design, development, management, control, and production are inherently moral. It is intended to give students a chance to reflect on the ethical, social, and cultural impact of technological applications (in particular AI).
The course includes lectures by the instructor and invited lecturers; class participation will be expected, and students should apply what they learn through reading, lectures, and class discussions by looking at current events through an ethical lens.

Dublin Descriptors
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Students will:
Acquire a broad perspective on the ethical and social impacts and implications of science and technology;
Be acquainted with normative ethics and normative argumentation;
Learn how to recognize and analyze ethical and social aspects and issues inherent in some technological applications;
Be able to understand how technical problems are inherently connected to a social dimension within a socio-technical perspective.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will:
Be able to use critical skills in clarifying and ethically analyzing case-studies involving technology;
Be able to apply ethical theories to problems created, aggravated or transformed by current technologies;
Be able to explore and assess possibilities for solving or diminishing existing and emerging ethical and social problems.
Making judgements
Students will be able:
To autonomously analyze the ethical issues of a technology and to develop a critical analysis on that;
To evaluate and select the appropriate knowledge in the effort of elaborating and justifying a philosophical argument on a topic autonomously selected.
Communication
Students will learn to:
Exercise and improve their skills in a critical writing;
Present in an effective way the results of their research, being able to justify their choices.
Lifelong learning skills
Students will:
Be better prepared to their future professional life in an ethically and socially responsible way;
Be able to analyze problems through an ethical lens.

The course will cover different topics both from a theoretical and a more practical point of view. We will start with a broad analysis of the concept of responsibility, in particular in an engineering perspective, and of normative ethics and its tools. We will discuss ethical questions in the design of technology with a focus on Design Ethics and its Social Ethics paradigm. Then ethics in IT-configured societies will be discussed and technology as the instrumentation of human action will be presented. Topics will include, for instance, the novel framework of Responsible Research and Innovation, Value-Sensitive design, the ethical aspects of technicolgical risks, the relationship among sustainability, ethics and technology, information flow, privacy, and values and uncertainty
Students will be supervised in class sessions in the development of the individual final essay in order to meet the standards required by scientific publications.

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Type of assessment
Description
Dublin descriptor
Collective presentations
Students are encouraged to:
Develop an argument in which the presented claims are justified by the use of ethical argumentation and the relevant literature;
To present this argument in an oral presentation in class in front of the instructor and their student colleagues.
1, 3
4, 5
Individual written essay
The individual final essay must show that the student has the capacity to read and carefully study the suggested bibliography and the ability to apply it to case-studies;
The individual final essay will be about the ethical issues associated to technologies that require to have developed critical skills in analyzing technical problems with the tools provided by ethical theories and argumentation.
1, 2
3, 4, 5

Ibo van de Poel, Lambèr Royakkers, Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction (second edition), Editore: Wiley-Blackwell, Anno edizione: 2023, ISBN: 978-1-119-87943-5
Mattia Andreoletti, Daniele Chiffi, Philosophy of Risk, Editore: Cambridge University Press, Anno edizione: 2027
Note: If not yet published, an advanced draft of the book will be made available to students.
Behnam Taebi, Ethics and Engineering. An Introduction, Editore: Cambridge University Press, Anno edizione: 2021, ISBN: 9781316628409

Le lezioni riguarderanno, in particolare, i seguenti argomenti:

• cenni sui combustibili e sui principali prodotti di combustione;
• fattori che possono influenzare l'innesco, lo sviluppo e l'evoluzione di un incendio;
• comportamento dell'incendio in base ai materiali coinvolti e alla potenza;
• sostanze estinguenti e modalità di contenimento/estinzione incendi;
• misure di prevenzione e protezione incendi;
• criteri di sopravvivenza (es. visibilità, effetti termici diretti e indiretti, tossicità);
• piani di gestione dell'emergenze incendi e modalità di esodo delle persone;
• cenni a norme e letteratura tecnica nell'ambito della sicurezza e prevenzione incendi;
• introduzione ai modelli dettagliati per la simulazione d'incendi.

Food packaging sits at the intersection of materials science, food science, process engineering, regulation, and sustainability. The course of Materials for Food Packaging introduces:
the basic principles of modern food packaging technologies, and the deterioration mechanisms that packaging is designed to control;
the main classes of packaging materials, their industrial production and converting processes, and their role in the food industry;
the systematic selection of materials for a packaging system, from the translation of product requirements to the screening, ranking and documentation of candidate solutions, with computer-aided tools;
the transport phenomena that govern barrier performance, and the sizing of monolayer and multilayer structures;
the European regulatory framework on food contact materials and on packaging and packaging waste, and the assessment of the end-of-life of a packaging solution.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
1.1. Describe the functions and the levels of a packaging system, and the industrial scenario and technical needs of the food packaging sector.
1.2. Explain the physical, chemical, and microbiological mechanisms of food deterioration, and their relationship with intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
1.3. Describe mass transport phenomena in packaging materials and the physical meaning of diffusion, solubility, permeability, permeance and transmission rate.
1.4. Describe the composition, the main properties and the manufacturing and converting technologies of the main families of packaging materials.
1.5. Outline the European regulatory framework for food contact materials and for packaging and packaging waste.
Applying knowledge and understanding
2.1. Define the index of failure of a food product and build a kinetic model to predict its shelf life.
2.2. Translate a set of product and process requirements into a structured grid of materials properties, constraints, objectives and free variables.
2.3. Screen and rank candidate materials, also by means of computer-aided tools (Ansys GRANTA EduPack), and document the selection.
2.4. Size the barrier requirements of monolayer and multilayer structures and identify the appropriate measurement standards.
2.5. Select food simulants and testing conditions for a compliance assessment, and evaluate the end-of-life scenario of a proposed solution.
Making judgements
3.1. Critically compare alternative packaging solutions in terms of performance, safety, cost and sustainability, and defend the choice.
3.2. Research, collect and critically evaluate data from scientific literature, grey literature, patents, standards and legislation.
Communication skills
4.1. Organize a technical text presenting the solution of a case-study problem.
4.2. Present, in written and oral form, the results of a technical solution, with a transparent acknowledgment of the tools used.
Learning skills
5.1. Retrieve and use the technical, normative and commercial sources of the packaging sector (datasheets, standards, EUR-Lex, materials databases) independently.

The course is organized in four sections, delivered through lectures, practical sessions, seminars, and group work. Each class is divided into a theory block and a practical block (numerical exercises, computer lab, in-class experiments and demonstrations, guided progress on the annual assignment).
Food packaging: functions, product requirements, and shelf life
1.1. Fundamentals of packaging: historical timeline, facts and figures, definitions and technical terms.
1.2. The functions of packaging: containment, protection, preservation, convenience, communication; packaging levels (primary, secondary, tertiary).
1.3. Product deterioration and shelf life: definitions and standards, index of failure, kinetic models, water activity and sorption isotherms; physical, chemical and enzymic deterioration.
1.4. Microorganisms in food: growth and predictive models, effect of temperature, pH, water activity and oxygen; thermal death kinetics.
The materials selection process and the classes of packaging materials
2.1. Design and development strategy; translation, screening, ranking and documentation; constraints, objectives, free variables and materials indices.
2.2. Materials families and materials property charts; the main physical and chemical properties of materials for food packaging; computer-aided selection.
2.3. Glass: composition, container nomenclature and manufacturing.
2.4. Paper and paperboard: composition, manufacturing and converting, oil and grease resistance, coating and lamination.
2.5. Polymers: common polymers and additives, processing and converting (extrusion, coextrusion, coating and lamination, orientation, thermoforming, blow molding).
2.6. Metals: steel and tinplate, aluminum alloys, two-piece and three-piece can manufacturing, coatings.
Transport phenomena, preservation technologies, and food safety
3.1. Barriers in food packaging and classic transport laws: diffusion coefficient, solubility, permeability, permeance, transmission rate (OTR, WVTR).
3.2. Factors affecting permeability in polymers; multilayer structures and the series-resistance model; measurement standards.
3.3. Shelf-life extension by packaging technologies: respiration of fresh produce, modified and controlled atmosphere packaging.
3.4. Migration and food contact materials: mechanisms, overall and specific migration, migration models, NIAS; Reg. (EC) 1935/2004 and Reg. (EU) 10/2011.
Sustainability of food packaging
4.1. Packaging waste: myths, facts and figures; the waste hierarchy.
4.2. The European framework on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) and recyclability assessment.
4.3. Recycling technologies for paper, metals, glass and plastics; mechanical and chemical routes; recycled materials in food contact applications.
4.4. Biobased, biodegradable and compostable materials.
Case studies and practical sessions
A substantial part of the course is based on practical sessions and on seminars on industrial case studies. The practical sessions are designed so that each class advances by one step the annual design assignment, which is the object of the final examination.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The final exam will be based on a case study related to a food packaging materials problem in an industrial context. The exam will consist of two parts:
1. A written report, to be submitted at least one week before the examination date;
2. An oral presentation based on the selected case study, supported by slides. At the end of the presentation, the instructor will pose questions about the presentation and topics presented during class hours.
The assessment is based on a semester-long design assignment: selecting materials for a packaging element of a packaging system for an assigned food product in an industrial context. Students may complete the assignment individually or in groups of two, and develop it incrementally during the practical sessions, with periodic reviews in class.
The written report assesses the ability of the student to:
Define the industrial scenario and the technical needs addressed by the proposed solution;
Collect and critically evaluate information from scientific literature, grey literature, standards and legislation;
Develop and justify a materials selection process, including the quantitative sizing of the requirements;
Summarise and present the results in a technical and scientific report.
The oral presentation and discussion assess:
The quality of the exposition and the command of the specialized vocabulary;
The ability to discuss technical problems related to food packaging, organizing knowledge in a coherent argument;
The level of knowledge of the topics presented during the course.
The use of generative AI tools is allowed but must be acknowledged, specifying the tools used, how they were used, the prompts entered, and the sections concerned.

Gordon L. Robertson, Food Packaging: Principles and Practice, Anno edizione: 2012

L'obiettivo principale di questo corso è fornire una valutazione quantitativa delle maggiori sfide ambientali e delle loro ripercussioni sul funzionamento dei sistemi economici e umani. Un focus particolare sarà dato a due sfide ambientali globali che rappresentano due tra i maggiori rischi affrontati dalle nostre società: il cambiamento climatico e l'inquinamento atmosferico. Il corso presenta il loro impatto su diverse sfere economico-sociali e individuerà politiche e soluzioni per mitigare la loro influenza, dal punto di vista dei governi, delle aziende private e dei cittadini. Il focus geografico sarà globale, analizzando sia le economie industrializzate che i paesi in via di sviluppo. Il corso mira anche a trasmettere metodologie di econometria e data science per analizzare le relazioni causali tra le sfide ambientali globali e gli esiti socio-economici. Durante il corso, gli studenti impareranno l'applicazione di metodi sperimentali (ovvero studi randomizzati controllati) e non sperimentali (Dif-in-Dif, dati panel, Regression Discontinuity Design) per la valutazione dell'impatto. Si discuterà anche di come i big data provenienti da sensori intelligenti, osservazioni satellitari, ecc. possano aiutare a identificare le cause del cambiamento ambientale globale e mitigare il loro impatto. Ciò avverrà principalmente attraverso la presentazione di articoli accademici e casi di studio e lavori di gruppo applicati.

With increasing quantities of goods moving across the globe, growing environmental regulatory pressures and increasing customers’ expectations, sustainable logistics has now become one of the key business areas for companies to compete, be successful and thrive in nowadays business environment. The course aims to provide students with the capabilities to master advanced managerial issues related to Sustainable Logistics operations. Understanding the environmental impact of complex logistics systems, identifying the practices and actions that can be undertaken by managers to embrace more sustainable logistics strategies and design greener logistics networks, becoming aware of the tools and methods for sustainability quantification, analysing the company’s green logistics performance over a set of relevant KPIs will be among the key topics.
The course fits into the overall program curriculum pursuing some of the defined general learning goals. In particular, the course contributes to the development of the following capabilities:
Understand context, functions, processes in a business and industrial environment and the impact of those factors on business performance
Identify trends, technologies and key methodologies in a specific domain (specialization streams)
Design solutions applying a scientific and engineering approach (Analysis, Learning, Reasoning, and Modelling capability deriving from a solid and rigorous multidisciplinary background) to face problems and opportunities in a business and industrial environment

Understand and describe:
the main green logistics strategies and their consistency with the general company strategy
the main practices and actions that can be undertaken in the arena of green logistics, with reference to key aspects such as network design, transport, warehousing, and logistics innovation
the main methodologies for sustainability quantification and company’s green logistics performance analysis
Apply the theories, models, principles and criteria to understand and address real-world problems related to green logistics
Design and illustrate innovative sustainable logistics solutions in new fields (e.g. sustainable B2c eCommerce and last mile delivery)

Sustainability in Logistics as a strategic priority for companies. Definition of Green Logistics. Evolution of the concept over time. Triple Bottom Line (TBL) and SDG frameworks. Types of environmental impact. Green logistics and corporate strategy.
Assessing Green Logistics: frameworks and quantification methods. Guidelines, metrics and measures. GHG Protocol, ISO standards, GLEC framework. The carbon footprint of logistics activities.
Sustainable logistics network and green transport. Design and management of green logistics networks. The role of transport in greening logistics networks and types of sustainable transport solutions. Cost, service and sustainability performance. Sustainability performance quantification.
Green warehousing. Energy-efficient solutions for warehousing. Best practices and impacts on corporate performance. Assessment of the environmental impact of logistics sites. Systems for monitoring green performances (e.g. ‘Green IT’).
Sustainability strategies for city logistics and last mile deliveries. Innovative last mile delivery solutions. Impacts on efficiency, effectiveness and environmental sustainability. City logistics networks. Crowdsourcing logistics in urban environment. Relationship between service level and sustainability.
New models of collaboration towards sustainability. Collaborative practices. The role of logistics service providers (LSPs) in improving sustainability.
The impact of logistics on social sustainability. Logistics solutions for reducing food waste.
Innovation in logistics and sustainability implications. B2c eCommerce. Sustainable packaging. Reverse Logistics. Logistics 4.0 and sustainability.
The Green Logistics course leverages the following teaching methodologies:
Theoretical lessons, i.e. “traditional” lessons to provide the students with both a deep knowledge on green logistics systems/processes and criteria, methods and tools to design and manage sustainable logistics systems (ILOs 1, 2)
Practical lessons, i.e. lessons going through structured exercises to let the students apply what has learnt been during the theoretical lessons (ILO 2)
Seminars, i.e. lectures given by external guests (top managers from multinational companies and international experts) to provide the students with strong connections with the real applications of what has been learnt during the lessons (ILOs 1, 2, 3)

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i facoltativo (a scelta dello studente), di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, senza presentazione/discussione finale
The final exam consists of a written examination (mandatory) and a group assignment (optional/on a voluntary basis).
Written exam
The written exam is individual and structured into:
Theoretical Questions: open questions where the students have to be able to both present/describe green logistics strategies/solutions and apply them to specific contexts/problems (ILOs 1, 2, 3)
Quantitative Exercises: practical exercises with numbers where students are required to apply the methods learnt during the course (ILOs 1, 2)
Group assignment
The group assignment is optional (not mandatory) and can be carried out in small groups. It consists of a real business case to be discussed in terms of as-is process analysis and identification/ proposal of logistics strategies and solutions for improving the overall sustainability performance. The evaluation of the assignment is between 0-3 points to be added to the final mark of the written exam (ILOs 1, 2, 3).
The teaching material consists of: (i) a set of slides supporting the in-class lectures; (ii) practical lessons/exercises; (iii) selected references (e.g. selection of papers and book chapters). All the material will be available before the related lesson on WeBeep.

A. McKinnon, M. Browne, M. Piecyk, A. Whiteing, Green logistics: improving the environmental sustainability of logistics, Editore: Kogan Page, Anno edizione: 2015, ISBN: 978-0749471859
D.B. Grant, A. Trautrims, C.Y. Wong, Sustainable logistics and supply chain management: principles and practices for sustainable operations and management, Editore: Kogan Page, Anno edizione: 2017, ISBN: 978-0749468668

The goal of the course is to provide energy engineers with a broad introduction to the fundamentals of ecology, as well as to discuss the applications of this discipline to the problems related to industrial production, with a particular focus on the ecological impacts of human activities at both local and global scales.

Upon completing the course, the students will gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of

• the principles of ecological organization and how human activities can interfere with ecological processes;
• the flows of energy and matter in ecosystems, with a specific focus on global biogeochemical cycles and their relation with global climate change;
• the basic mechanisms that govern population dynamics, with a special emphasis on human demography;
• the concept of sustainability, and how to promote sustainable practices in the management of natural resources and industrial systems.
  The students will be able to apply the concepts outlined above to
• assess the status of ecological systems by using suitable biodiversity indexes;
• evaluate energy/matter flows in ecosystems by formulating simple quantitative balances;
• describe population dynamics by applying demographic methods and models;
• design sustainable management scheme for natural resources and assess the environmental impact of industrial production.
  Students will also be guided towards making up their own judgement about engaging topics of broad and urgent interest, specifically concerning the impact of anthropic activities on ecosystem integrity, diversity and services and on global climate change, with the overarching goal of promoting sustainable practices in human societies and industrial systems.

What is ecology and why it is important

• fundamentals of ecology and physical geography
• global environmental challenges
• biodiversity: basic concepts, measures, threats
• measuring the value of nature: ecosystem services
  Ecosystem functioning
• basic ecosystem processes and their measurement
• energy and matter flows within and between ecosystems
• ecosystem structure: trophic networks, ecological efficiencies, energy pyramids
• biogeochemical cycles: general notions, the carbon cycle and its implications for global climate change, the nitrogen cycle, hints to other cycles
• the flow of toxic chemicals in ecosystems: principles of ecotoxicology, phenomenological and quantitative aspects
  Population dynamics and demography
• basic concepts, Malthusian dynamics, growth rates
• age- and size-structured populations: demographic indicators and dynamics
• human demography: age pyramids, local and global projections, demographic transitions
• density dependence: interference/exploitative competition, positive density dependence
  Sustainability
• the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability
• measuring sustainability: indicators and trade-offs
• sustainable management of renewable resources: maximum sustainable yield and optimal harvesting policies
• basic notions of bioeconomics: open-access resources, the tragedy of the commons, regulation methods
• environmental impacts of industrial production: energy and material flow analysis, basics of circular economy, industrial systems as ecological networks
  These topics will be covered in succession and will be accompanied by tutorial classes, during which students will be required to solve numerical exercises.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Valutazione continua facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
Assessment is performed through a mandatory final written test covering all the topics discussed in the course, to be taken during one of the official exam sessions. Tests include both quantitative exercises (typically four) and conceptual questions (typically in a true/false format). The conceptual part of each test may be substituted with the voluntary participation to flash quizzes proposed during the course. A 0-32 scale is used to grade tests. The exam is considered as passed with a grade ≥18/32. Formal correctness, numerical accuracy, and exposition clarity contribute to the final grade.
Specifically, the final written test will evaluate the students' ability to

• apply biodiversity measures to real or realistic field data;
• formulate energy and matter balances to study exchanges within and between ecosystems;
• evaluate demographic indicators for structured populations and study population dynamics through mechanistic models;
• use bioeconomic methods to design sustainable management of natural resources.

Course slides and reading material https://webeep.polimi.it/
Ayres, R.U., Ayres, L.W., A Handbook of Industrial Ecology
Ricklefs, R.E., The Economy of Nature
Smith, T.M., Smith, R.L., Elements of Ecology
Socolow, R., Andrews, C., Berkhout, F., Thomas, V., Industrial Ecology and Global Change

The goal of the course is to provide students with knowledge to tackle the challenges and to assess the benefits of integrating renewable energy sources with nuclear to effectively support the transition towards a carbon-neutral power grid.
The aim of this module is to provide a general overview of the role of nuclear energy in carbon neutral scenario, highlighting the benefit and challenges of the presence of the nuclear option in the energy mix. The module will focus on the technical aspects of the integration among advanced nuclear plants, renewable energy sources, storage solutions, enhanced grid networks, load-shifting, and flexible backup options.
This module will focus on the use of Modelica code for the modelling and the technical evaluation of the integrated energy systems for the project work.

The students will know and comprehend:
The challenges of the transitions towards a carbon-neutral world and the implications on the power grid
The features of the integration among the different low carbon energy sources
The characteristics of the nuclear reactor concepts for hybrid systems (e.g., Small Modular Reactors and Generation-IV reactors) and the technical challenges from a control and safety point of view
The students will be able to:
Analyze needs and address the challenges of power generation planning and dispatchment in the green energy transition
Use and develop models for the study of low carbon energy sources
Perform a simplified techno-economic analysis of systems characterized by the presence of advanced nuclear reactors, renewables power plant, storage and other components
Exhibit fluency in technical communications with use of accurate scientific terminology.

Introduction to nuclear technology for integrated systems: basic principles of nuclear power plant production with a particular focus to the most promising concepts to be used in the integration with renewables (e.g., Small Modular Reactors and Generation-IV reactors), key plant components involved in the integration with other energy sources and their interface with the electrical grid.
Role of nuclear energy in the energy mix: base load, load-following and frequency control, GHG emissions, environmental footprint and grid stability. Non electrical applications: hydrogen production, district heating, thermal storage, desalination.
Nuclear technical challenges for the integration: principles and goals of nuclear safety, impact of the integration on safety, analysis of the daily regulation on the main power plant parameters, control issues coming from the integration with non-programmable renewable energy sources.
Fundamentals of electricity market: forward/short term market, formation of market price, wholesale market models, zonal vs nodal market, ancillary service & balancing market, capacity market.
Seminar from experts coming from industry, research center and intergovernmental agencies (OECD/NEA, IAEA, …): outlook on the current worldwide situation toward the decarbonization and role of the nuclear/renewable integration.
Techno-economic analysis of a real-world case: use of Modelica language to analyze feasibility and impact of the low-carbon sources integration.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The evaluation consists in an oral examination aimed at verifying the knowledge of the course topics. In particular, the ability to explain the current challenges of the transition towards a carbon-neutral power grid, the ability in analyzing the problem with the proper tools – both from the technical and economic point of view - and the capacity to understand and comment the outcomes of the models are tested and evaluated. In addition, the examination requires also the preparation and the discussion of a scientific report regarding the real-world study case analyzed in the project work. The report should be prepared in advance and sent at least one week before the oral examination.

Green Chemistry (also known as Chemistry for Sustainability) and Green Engineering are a set of knowledge useful in designing the construction of products, materials, and plants in a manner that has minimal impact on human health and the environment. The course introduce the principles of of these disciplines, providing the tools necessary to quantitatively evaluate different synthetic procedures (chemical and biochemical), industrial risk, and toxicity. Examples from industry, including reaction conditions, alternative solvents, feedstock and intermediates selection, optimization of performance materials, will be discussed as well as emerging trends in bioprocesses and catalysis.
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
recognize and discuss the major issues related to sustainability
understand the basics of green chemistry/green engineering and recognize green chemical processes and products
understand fundamental considerations on alternative energy sources
understand the nature, reactivity, and environmental fates of toxic organic chemicals
undestand the biochemical basis of biological organisms and the importance of biomass as source of chemicals and energy
undestand the recent trends in industry issues related to sustainability and safety with enphasis on national and international regulations.
understand the societal implications of some environmental problems and the green chemistry proposed solutions

The course is intended to provide students in Engineering Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Safety Engineering and Material Engineering with an overview of the fundamentals of pollution prevention, green chemistry and green engineering. Students should gain a greater appreciation of how improvements and modifications are being made in both research and manufacturing to maintain and even enhance environmental quality, preventing risks connected with the production and use of harmful or toxic chemicals. It may also assist students and laureates in choosing a professional career in chemical industries and in the environmental-safety sectors. The course includes recent trends in the fundamental re-engineering of chemical process, i.e. process intensification, use of catalysis and non-traditional media and energy sources, green metrics and LCA criteria to evaluate alternative processes and products, etc.. A section is devoted to the role of biomasses as renewable sources that are capable to "green up" the chemical industry and to support sustainable development of the human society, satisfying the demand in energy and materials.At the end of the course, students will have the knowledge to address green and sustainability issues described in the objectives.
In terms of knowledge and understanding (Dublin Descriptor 1), students will be able to:
recognize and discuss the major issues related to sustainability
understand the basics of green chemistry/green engineering and recognize green chemical processes and products
understand fundamental considerations on alternative energy sources
understand the nature, reactivity, and environmental fates of toxic organic chemicals
undestand the biochemical basis of biological organisms and the importance of biomass as source of chemicals and energy
undestand the recent trends in industry issues related to sustainability and safety with enphasis on national and international regulations.
understand the societal implications of some environmental problems and the green chemistry proposed solutions
Regarding the application of the knowledge and understanding acquired (Dulino Descriptor 2), students will be able to:
perform simple green metric calculations on simple chemical reactions
have a broad vision about the issues related to a chemical process and how to move in a more green and sustainable direction
have a broad vision about the issues related to the use of natural resources (fossil and sustainable) and how yo reduce the environmental impact related to their use
Through classroom exercises, students will acquire the ability to make independent judgments (Dublin Descriptor 3), and in particular to:
determine the mass balance and the related green metrics through stoichiometric calculations
formulate hypotheses on how to improve a process or how to choos the best on depending on the effect of experimental variables such as temperature, pressure, solvents, reaction times
evaluate the reasonableness of the result of numerical calculations, based on estimates of the orders of magnitude involved.
Furthermore, students will have improved their communication skills (Dublin 4 Descriptor), using correct technical-scientific terminology to describe green and sustainable materials, their transformations, and energy production.
Finally, students will be able to independently rework, select and summarize (Dublin 5 Descriptor) the concepts relating to the information contained in basic and advanced textbooks, scientific and technical literarure in the field of chemical technologies, in particular in green and sustainable chemistry.

The course is organized in several sections:
1) Sustainability and Principles of Green Chemistry
2) Control of Environmental impact of chemical processes and products,
3) Toxicity,
4) Green metrics,
5) Biopolymers and Natural products,
6) Biotransformation and Biotechnology,
7) Energy Efficiency and Emerging Technologies,
8) Process Intensification,
9) Solvent and feedstock selection,
10) Catalysis for Sustainable Chemistry,
11) Product and Process Alternatives
Description of topics
1) Sustainability of raw materials and energy sources: renewable and not renewable resources – survey of main concerns – 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering – tools and methodologies for the assessment of chemical, toxicological and environmental risk – life cycle analysis of products and processes, indicators – green design of chemicals, polymers, and materials.
2) Toxicology – hazard and exposure – toxicity risk assessment
3) Improvement of environmental performance of existing industrial processes – green metrics – greener production of chemical commodities, materials, and fine chemicals from industry
4) Energy – sources, efficiency, safety: fuel types and their environmental impact – hydrogen economy – unconventional energy sources: microwave, ultrasounds, photochemistry and electrochemistry.
5) Biomasses and Cn building blocks – biopolymers and composites.
6) Bio-refinery: transformation of conventional raw materials into commodities – biocatalysis – energy crops – biofuels – solvents and molecular specialties – biotechnological applications.
7) Catalysis in green chemistry: heterogeneous catalysis (acid, metal, micellar, phase transfer) – supported reagents – homogeneous catalysis – biocatalysis.
8) Alternative solvents for Green Chemistry: VOC – supercritical fluids – ionic/eutectic liquids – gas expanded liquids – polymeric liquids.
9) Mechanical, thermal and chemical recycling: effluent and waste minimization and control – durability of products and materials – recycle of plastics.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, con prove in itinere
Exams consist in the evaluation of how the topics discussed during the course are approached by the student, and includes exercises on green metrics, question about the organic chemistry concepts important in green chemistry, and open questions. There is an intermediate exam in november (written) regarding the first part of the course and the second part (written), together with the full exam (written) in january. The students that pass the first part can do the second part, the other students they will do the full exam. It is a choice of the student, to refuse the first part even if positive (>= 18) an do the full exam. All the other written exames will cover the full program of the course. The student that pass the first part in november can take the second part in january, or february, or june, or july, or september; to pass the whole exam, aslo the grade of the second part has to be >=18, if it is lower, the student has to repeat the full exam.

P.T. Anastas, J.C. Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Editore: Oxford Un. Press, Anno edizione: 2000
Note: Testo Introsuttivo
L. Constable, D. Constable,, Green Chemistry Metrics: Measuring and Monitoring Sustainable Processes, Editore: Wiley, Anno edizione: 2009
Note: testo generale
M. Doble, A.Kumar, Green Chemistry and Engineering, Editore: Academic Press, Anno edizione: 2007, ISBN: 0123725321
Handbook of Green Chemistry, Editore: Wiley VCH, Weinheim, Anno edizione: 2013, ISBN: 978-3-527-33710-1
Note: Set I: Green Catalysis, (Vol. 1: Homogeneous - 2: Heterogeneous - 3: Biocatalysis);
II: Green Solvents (- Vol. 4: Supercritical Solvents -: Reactions in Water - 6: Ionic Liquids);
III: Green Processes (Vol. 7: Green Synthesis - 8: Green Nanoscience - 9: Designing Safer Chemicals)

Gli odori rappresentano una delle principali cause di impatto ambientale percepito dalle comunità e costituiscono una sfida sempre più rilevante nella progettazione e gestione di impianti industriali e di trattamento dei rifiuti e delle acque. Il corso di Laboratorio di Caratterizzazione e Modellazione delle Emissioni Odorigene introduce gli studenti ai metodi e agli strumenti utilizzati per analizzare, quantificare e prevedere la diffusione degli odori industriali nell’ambiente.
Attraverso le attività di aula relative allo sviluppo di un caso studio, gli studenti acquisiranno familiarità con le principali tecniche di campionamento e caratterizzazione delle emissioni odorigene, comprendendone i principi di funzionamento, i limiti applicativi e il ruolo nel monitoraggio ambientale.
Il corso approfondirà inoltre l’utilizzo di modelli matematici e strumenti di simulazione per lo studio della dispersione degli odori in atmosfera, consentendo di valutare l’impatto delle sorgenti emissive sul territorio e di interpretare i risultati nell’ambito di studi ambientali e procedure autorizzative.
Al termine del corso, gli studenti saranno in grado, attraverso la presentazione di un progetto di gruppo, di comprendere il percorso che va dalla misura delle emissioni odorigene alla valutazione del loro impatto, integrando dati sperimentali e strumenti modellistici per affrontare problematiche reali di gestione e controllo degli odori.

Al termine del laboratorio progettuale, gli studenti saranno in grado di raccogliere, elaborare e interpretare dati relativi alle emissioni odorigene e al loro impatto sul territorio, applicando in modo integrato le conoscenze teoriche e gli strumenti operativi acquisiti durante il corso.
In particolare, gli studenti svilupperanno un progetto di gruppo finalizzato alla valutazione dell'impatto olfattivo di un impianto reale o simulato. Il progetto comprenderà l'analisi delle sorgenti emissive, la caratterizzazione delle emissioni odorigene, l'applicazione di modelli di dispersione atmosferica e la valutazione delle potenziali ricadute sul territorio circostante.
Al termine dell'attività progettuale, gli studenti saranno in grado di presentare criticamente i risultati ottenuti, discutendo le principali crititità, le incertezze dell'analisi e le possibili strategie di mitigazione dell'impatto odorigeno.

Introduzione alle emissioni odorigene e al loro impatto ambientale.
Quadro normativo e linee guida per la valutazione dell'impatto odorigeno.
Fondamenti di olfattometria dinamica e misura della concentrazione di odore.
Tecniche di campionamento delle emissioni odorigene.
Caratterizzazione delle sorgenti emissive puntuali, superficiali e diffuse.
Introduzione ai composti responsabili delle emissioni odorigene e alle tecniche analitiche di supporto.
Principi di dispersione degli inquinanti in atmosfera.
Modelli di dispersione atmosferica applicati alle emissioni odorigene.
Analisi e interpretazione dei risultati modellistici.
Indicatori di impatto odorigeno e criteri di accettabilità.
Elaborazione di mappe di impatto olfattivo sul territorio.
Strategie di prevenzione, contenimento e mitigazione delle emissioni odorigene.
Sviluppo di un progetto di gruppo per la valutazione dell'impatto odorigeno di un impianto e presentazione dei risultati.

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
La valutazione finale del laboratorio progettuale sarà basata sull'esposizione orale, svolta in gruppo, del progetto sviluppato durante il corso.
Nel corso della presentazione verranno valutati la correttezza dell'approccio metodologico adottato, la capacità di analizzare e interpretare i risultati ottenuti, la qualità della presentazione tecnica e l'efficacia della discussione delle criticità e delle conclusioni emerse dallo studio di impatto odorigeno.
Particolare attenzione sarà dedicata alla capacità degli studenti di integrare le attività di caratterizzazione delle emissioni con gli strumenti di modellazione e di comunicare in modo chiaro e rigoroso i risultati del progetto.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), first released to power camcorders, have revolutionized the society leading to cell phones market penetration in the 90’s (then laptops, smartphone connected werables etc…) and finally to the connected society we are living in today. Thanks to recent development in LIBs technology, EV cars with ranges above 500 kms are expected and battery production in the EU is expected to reach a 250 Billion€ market within the current decade. The paramount importance of LIBs in modern society was established by the 2019 Nobel Prize awarding in Chemistry to LIBs inventors. LIBs are leading the forthcoming energy transition but new energy storage technologies are quickly raising.
The course will bring students to the understanding and knowledge of the key electrochemical energy storage technologies able to drive the energy transition, focusing on the state of art as well as the new coming challenges. The first part of the course (module 1) is focused on LIBs technology: from the concept of insertion electrodes to the materials used to their designs and manufacturing process, including sustainability aspects of production. In the second part (module 2), safety and critical aspects related to battery materials supply chain and recycling are considered. Moreover, new generation lithium batteries, beyond Li-ion, are explored. In particular, non-Li chemistries such as Zn-based batteries, supercapacitors and technologies for long duration storage, e.g. redox flow batteries, are introduced and discussed within the framework of the energy transition and resilience.

In the framework of course and exam preparation and evaluation, students will:

• learn the working principles of LIBs and post-LIBs technologies (DdD1);
• understand the principle of battery design, for a specific target e.g. high energy or high power (DdD1);
• understand the challenges and opportunities in the forthcoming energy transition in relation to the development of LIBs and next-generation batteries (DdD1);
• critically analyze the energy technologies' strengths and weaknesses in relation to the various application fields (DdD2);
• be able to do an autonomous literature review and communicate the results of their activity with clarity and proper language (DdD2).

Li-ion batteries: the key feature of LIBs technologies.
History
Electrochemical working principles
Materials (active and inactive materials)
Safety
Post LIBs: working principles and materials
Li-metal batteries (LMBs)
Lithium-Sulfur batteries (LSBs)
Design rules for LMBs and LSBs
The European scenario and EU objectives:
Supply chain
Recycling
Beyond Li chemistries: working principles, materials and challenges for non-Li based chemistries.
Panorama of the non-Li batteries (Na-ion, K-ion, Zn-ion, etc.)
Supercapacitors
Long-duration energy storage (LDES)
Redox flow batteries
Design rules for LDES
The course will be inclusive of laboratory demonstration and activities related to LIBs materials, electrode preparation, battery assembly and testing.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Students are requested to prepare a.ppt presentation on a specific topic in the framework of the course. The topic must be approved by the teachers and presentation will be followed by Q&A session.

The course aims at providing knowledge, skills and tools needed for analyzing, understanding, and assessing strategic decisions about energy management. The course provides students with methods and tools to analyse the context, understand the main trends and phenomena affecting the energy industry, assess the different alternatives a company has in the management of energy, in the light of the ongoing decarbonization path.
The course starts by providing a global framework of the current scenarios characterizing the energy sector and the main evolutionary trends enabling its decarbonization. Then, it focuses on the market and industry dynamics related to “traditional” sources ( oil&gas and electricity sectors ), as well as renewable energy sources (such as photovoltaic and wind energy ). Energy efficiency and the emerging paradigms (also enabled by the spread of digital technologies ) such as smart buildings, energy communities, and smart mobility are further investigated. Finally, two of the most promising emerging options to decarbonize the energy sector are addressed, i.e. energy storage systems and hydrogen. Across the different topics mentioned above, the role of technological innovation and regulatory framework is assessed, as well as the current and emerging market opportunities for companies, to provide students with a comprehensive view and understanding of the phenomena.
The discussion of business cases, together with guest lectures held by executives and managers, will encourage students to examine and get familiar with the abovementioned topics as well as their strategic and practical implications for companies.
The course fits into the overall program curriculum pursuing some of the defined general learning goals. In particular, the course contributes to the development of the following capabilities:

• Understand context, global framework, market and industry dynamics in the energy field and their mutual effects on business, economy, environment and society
• Identify trends, technologies, key methodologies and stakeholders needs in the energy domain

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Dublin Descriptors
MsC Learning goals – Management Engineering
Expected learning outcomes
DdD 1: Knowledge and understanding
Understand context, global framework, market and industry dynamics in the energy field and their mutual effects on business, economy, environment and society
Students will:
Understand and interpret the role of energy management in the current competitive environment and its evolution
Understand the market and industry dynamics in the energy industry
Understand the impact of the technological innovation and of the regulatory framework in the energy field
DdD 2: Applying knowledge and understanding
Identify trends, technologies, key methodologies and stakeholders needs in the energy domain
Students will:
Apply the appropriate tools to analyze the competitive environment in the energy industry
Identify the critical decisions in the management of energy by firms
Discern and select the appropriate strategic approaches to energy management
Identify the main opportunities to launch new businesses in energy domain

Basics of energy & sustainability. The current scenarios characterizing the energy sector.Energy sources and uses at global level; Top Countries in production and use of energy; Evolutionary trends enabling its decarbonization; Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and other enabling mechanisms.
Market and industry dynamics in the electricity sector. Electricity industry value chain; Electricity markets overview; Power generation technologies: technical and economic performance.
Market and industry dynamics in the Oil&Gas sector. Global Market dynamics; Technologies & Business Models (Revenues, Margins, Organization) in the oil&gas industry; Analysis of top players at global and European level; Decarbonization trends in the Oil&Gas industry.
Market and industry dynamics in the renewable energy sector. Global Market dynamics; Renewable energy technologies overview (e.g., PV, Wind, Hydropower); The evolution of the regulatory framework in Europe related to energy production from renewable energy sources and its impact on industry dynamics; Existing and emerging Business Models (Revenues, Margins, Organization) in the renewable energy industry (e.g., Power Purchase Agreement, Power-to-gas).
Market and industry dynamics in the energy efficiency sector. Global Market dynamics; Energy efficiency technologies overview (e.g.,electric engines, VSDs, building insulation) for buildings and industrial processes. The evolution of the regulatory framework in Europe related to energy consumption and energy efficiency (incentives, obligations, certifications) and its impact on industry dynamics; Existing and emerging Business Models (Revenues, Margins, Organization) in the energy efficiency industry (e.g., Energy Performance Contracts).
Smart Ecosystems. The role of digital technologies in the energy domain; Integrating new technologies for producing, using and storing energy in local environments (energy communities) as well as in buildings (smart buildings). Business cases and examples of energy communities and smart buildings.
E-mobility. Emerging trends (e.g., electrification, sharing, autonomous driving) that are reshaping "traditional" mobility towards "smart mobility"; e-mobility enabling technologies overview (e.g., e-cars, charging infrastructure); the evolution of the regulatory framework in Europe related to electric vehicles and its impact on industry dynamics; Existing and emerging Business Models (Revenues, Margins, Organization) in the electric vehicles charging services (e.g., Charging Point Operators, Mobility Service Providers).
Cross-sectoral decarbonization enablers. Hydrogen and energy storage systems: global market dynamics; technologies and production processes overview (e.g., blue hydrogen via CCUS, green hydrogen via electrolizer); the evolution of the regulatory framework in Europe related to hydrogen and its impact on industry dynamics; existing and emerging business models.
The course leverages the following teaching methodologies:
Traditional lessons, providing theoretical background
Seminars with company guest speakers
Group work on a company problem (project work)

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i facoltativo (a scelta dello studente), di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The final course evaluation is based on:
Oral exam: it is based on the topics of the course and is intended to evaluate a student’s ability to discuss and link different topics.
Project work: The project should take the form of a systematic analysis of one of the topic covered in the course (or close to the ones covered in the course), by making use of the methods and tools introduced and discussed in class; it is to be implemented in a group of 4-5 students. The project is intended to evaluate a student’s ability to critically analyse a novel problem and discuss possible alternative solutions, by integrating different perspectives and contributions emerging within the team. The project work output is evaluated at the end of the semester (no intermediate evaluations).
Composition of the final grade: Oral exam = 100%; Project work report and presentation (optional) from -2 to +2 on the grade of the oral exam.

The goal of this course is to enable students without previous specific knowledge to perform independent critical reasoning and further self-study on state-of-the-art and advanced materials-science topics, underlying the devices implementing the two key Direct Energy Conversion routes: interconversion of (i) electrical and chemical energies ( batteries ), (ii) electrical and solar energy ( photovoltaics ). The vision of this course, within the framework of an Engineering School is twofold: (i) to integrate these contents in a wider, system-oriented engineer’s approach and (ii) to provide quantitative tools for making appropriate design and control decisions.

Methodologically, this is a self-contained course that, on the one hand, will provide the physico-chemical and photophysical bases required for a well-grounded understanding of the topics addressed, and, on the other hand, will present a comprehensive and up-to-date selection of cases, enabling the development of a general and rational understanding, within the following realms of Materials for Direct Energy conversion.
The Students will acquire knowledge regarding the main chemical, structural and electronic properties of functional materials and the static and dynamic processes underlying redox processes, light harvesting, charge transfer and charge transport.
The Students will become acquainted with experimental methods to assess and quantify functional properties and to follow them in operando.
The Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to fabrication methods, assembly of materials in real components and devices and evaluation of their durability/degradation. Application methods will combine theoretical and experimental approaches.

This course focuses on: functional properties, fabrication, implementation, operation and durability of materials employed in the key components of present and next-generation devices for the direct conversion of chemical energy ( batteries ) and sunlight into electrical energy or storable fuels ( photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical ).
BATTERIES
1.1 Basic Battery types, components and metrics
1.2 Mechanisms involved in battery operation: electroplating-stripping; i ntercalation-deintercalation; conversion; alloying; pseudocapacitive processes.
1.3 Electrode materials: anodes and cathodes for Li-based technologies; anodes and cathodes for post-Li technologies; gas electrodes: electrocatalysts and electrode structure.
1.4 Electrolytes: organic; aqueous; water-in-salt; ionic liquids; solid electrolytes: inorganic, organic.
1.5 Other cell components: separators, current collectors, binders, coatings.
1.6 Materials for metal-air: a queous catholytes and anolytes; redox couples; e lectrodes and electrocatalysts; m etal-air flow batteries; membranes.
PHOTOVOLTAICS
2.1. The solar resource: properties of sunlight; solar cells and sunlight, light handling, light absorption and optical losses.
2.2 Overview of semiconductor properties and basic equations of device physics.
2.3 Charge excitation: charge generation and recombination.
2.4 Charge separation.
2.5 Properties of materials and their impact on performance: silicon-wafer based, thin films, emerging technologies.
2.6 Charge collection: contacts, metallization.
Practical lessons
The students will attend a series of frontal lessons, the contents of which will be based on experimental activities, regarding the fabrication of functional materials for direct-conversion devices, as well as their characterization and operation in devices. These practical classes will strengthen the students’ theoretical knowledge and foster their concrete skills to rationalize and manage the behaviour of materials. Moreover, simple instances of numerical modelling will favour their quantitative attitude towards material design, fabrication and testing.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Each Student's evaluation will be based on two Tasks, detailed below.
(Task i) An Oral Exam, regarding the programme of the whole course, including Lessons and Laboratory Units.
The Aspects of the Learning Outcomes assessed with the Oral Exam refer to the level of understanding of the Course contents.
The oral exam consists in thematic questions, organized as follows: (a) 2 questions on the topics presented in the Course Section regarding Batteries; (b) 2 questions on the topics presented in the Course Section regarding Photovoltaics. One of the two questions of each section will cover a theoretical topic and the other one will be oriented to applications or technological aspects.
The total score allotted to the Written Exam is 20/30: each correct answer contributes equally to the total score.
(Task ii) Elaboration of a Project addressing a topic among those expounded in the Course.
The Aspects of the Learning Outcomes assessed with the Project refer to the capability of critically thinking, correctly expounding and logically linking the topics presented in the Course.
The Project will consist in the following steps. (a) Freely select and check with the professor one of the topics presented during the Lessons or Laboratory Lessons of the Course. The project can be of one of the following types: (i) bibliographic analysis; (ii) critical review / elaboration of course contents; (iii) original computational / modelling aspects; (iv) experimental activity with related reporting. (b) Prepare a PowerPoint presentation: the PowerPoint file will have to be delivered to the Professor before the presentation, for archiving purposes. (c) Expound the presentation publicly in ca. 15 min. (d) Q&A session (ca. 5 min) in which the Student will answer questions, put by the Professor, on the contents of the presentation. The aim of the Q&A session is to assess the depth of the understanding of the topics expounded and the capability of justifying the statements made during the presentation.
The total score allotted to the Project is 10/30, with the following breakdown: (a) accuracy of the presentation of the subject matter (i.e. comprehensive and correct formalism): 2; (b) originality of the organization of the PowerPoint presentation (e.g. layout of the whole presentation and of the individual slides that helps to clarify the subject matter and establish conceptual links, extending the didactic material distributed during the Course): 2; (c) quality of the oral presentation (e.g. clearly elucidated conceptual points, capability of framing the background, showing confidence, avoiding fillers, conveying effectively the take-home message ): 2; (d) replies in the Q&A session: 4.
Both tasks will have to be performed in the same session.
NB - For the achievement of the score “30/30 with Honours”, the Student who has obtained a score of 30/30 in the two Tasks described above (points (i) and (ii)), will be asked one Additional Question. This additional question will assess the Student’s capability of critically and creatively linking advances aspects of the subject matter of the Course.

R.A. Huggins, Energy Storage: Fundamentals, Materials and Applications, 2nd ed., Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2016, ISBN: 978-3-319-21238-8
Note: Reference text for section of course regarding Batteries. Recommended reading: chapters 9-24.
A. McEvoy, T. Markvart, L. Castaer, Solar Cells: Materials, Manufacture and Operation. 2nd ed., Editore: Academic Press, Anno edizione: 2012, ISBN: 9780123869647
Note: Reference text for section of course regarding Photovoltaics. Recommended reading: part I.

Il modulo di “ Fondamenti ” fornisce le basi biologiche, scientifiche e ingegneristiche necessarie per comprendere e progettare i processi biotecnologici industriali, dalla selezione del microrganismo fino all'ottenimento del prodotto finale.
Al termine del modulo, lo studente sarà in grado di:
Comprendere il panorama delle biotecnologie, inclusi gli aspetti storici, di mercato e le prospettive future.
Analizzare le caratteristiche dei microrganismi industriali e l'impatto dei diversi substrati nutrizionali.
Padroneggiare i concetti chiave di microbiologia e biologia applicata ai processi produttivi.

Al termine del modulo lo studente avrà acquisito le conoscenze teoriche fondamentali relative ai processi biotecnologici industriali. In particolare dimostrerà di possedere:
Conoscenza e capacità di comprensione ( Knowledge and understanding DdD1):
Comprendere i principi scientifici e ingegneristici che regolano le biotecnologie e i mercati di riferimento.
Conoscere le caratteristiche biologiche dei microrganismi industriali e la biochimica dei substrati.
Identificare e descrivere le singole operazioni unitarie che compongono il flusso di processo (Upstream, Bioreattori, Downstream).
Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione ( Applying knowledge and understanding DdD2):
Selezionare i microrganismi, i substrati e gli enzimi più idonei in base al target produttivo desiderato.
Calcolare e impostare i parametri operativi di base per la conduzione delle fasi di Upstream (es. preparazione terreni e sterilizzazione).
Autonomia di giudizio ( Making judgments DdD3):
Analizzare e confrontare diverse strategie di fermentazione, valutandone i pro e i contro tecnici ed economici.
Formulare giudizi autonomi sulla sostenibilità e sull'efficienza di un layout biotecnologico integrato (dalle materie prime al prodotto finale).
Abilità comunicative ( Communication skills - DdD4):
Utilizzare una terminologia scientifica e ingegneristica appropriata e rigorosa (es. nomenclature dei bioreattori, cinetiche di crescita, parametri di purificazione).
Esporre in modo chiaro, sintetico e strutturato le problematiche e le soluzioni relative alle diverse fasi del processo biotecnologico.
Capacità di apprendimento ( Learning skills - DdD5):
Consultare e comprendere la letteratura scientifica, i brevetti e i manuali tecnici del settore biotecnologico industriale.
Integrare autonomamente le proprie conoscenze di biologia e ingegneria per affrontare l'evoluzione delle tecnologie emergenti nel settore.

Chimica delle cellule viventi
Biomolecole di interesse biotecnologico: descrizione strutturale e funzionale di composti biologici quali acidi nucleici, proteine, acidi grassi, fosfolipidi, carboidrati e polisaccaridi.
Microrganismi di interesse industriale: classificazione, caratteristiche e criteri di selezione.
Genetica applicata: il codice genetico e introduzione alle tecniche di ingegneria genetica.
Enzimi e cinetica enzimatica
Attività enzimatica: meccanismi d'azione e sistemi di regolazione catalitica.
Cinetica enzimatica: modelli cinetici e parametri fondamentali.
Applicazioni industriali: biocatalizzatori di interesse industriale e tecniche di immobilizzazione enzimatica.
Descrizione di alcuni bioprocessi e ingegneria delle fermentazioni

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Valutazione continua facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
La valutazione finale dello studente si basa sulla combinazione di due componenti obbligatorie (Lavoro di gruppo e Prova scritta), con l'aggiunta di un eventuale colloquio orale integrativo
Lavoro di Gruppo Autonomo (30% del voto finale)
Modalità: Presentazione in lingua inglese sotto forma di mini-conferenza.
Presenza: Obbligatoria.
Tempistica: A fine corso, nei giorni stabiliti e comunicati dalla docente all'inizio delle lezioni.
Argomento: Assegnato dalla docente. Sarà correlato ai temi trattati in aula, ma non coincidente con essi.
Prova Scritta (70% del voto finale)
La prova verte su domande aperte relative al programma svolto in classe. Lo studente può scegliere tra due percorsi alternativi:
Opzione A: Valutazione continua (Prove intermedie):
Struttura: Normalmente 3 compiti scritti somministrati al termine di ogni ciclo di lezioni (date comunicate a inizio corso).
Vincolo: È obbligatorio sostenere tutte le prove intermedie.
Voto: Media aritmetica dei voti ottenuti nei singoli compiti.
Opzione B: Esame finale unico
Struttura: Unico compito scritto a fine corso.
Contenuto: Domande aperte su tutti gli argomenti del programma.
Colloquio Orale (Opzionale, a discrezione del docente)
Carattere: Non obbligatorio.
Attivazione: Previsto solo ad esclusiva discrezione dei docenti per definire e perfezionare la valutazione finale.
Criteri di Valutazione
L'esame è strutturato in modo da verificare le seguenti competenze dello studente:
Problem solving: Capacità di inquadrare correttamente i problemi biotecnologici e identificare la soluzione più idonea.
Argomentazione: Capacità di giustificare le proprie scelte con un discorso ben articolato, strutturato e supportato dalle conoscenze acquisite.
Linguaggio tecnico: Padronanza della terminologia specifica e della proprietà di linguaggio tipica delle biotecnologie.

This course aims at showing some techniques, based on electromagnetic radiation, for the evaluation of different properties of the materials through a practical approach. This means that the general theory behind the techniques is discussed; then the instrumentation, the sample preparation and the practical applications of the techniques are considered. An important goal is to provide the tools for the choice of the sutiable technique (in accordance to the target property) and for the interpretation of the IR spectra of materials and molecules. The course aims also at providing the knowledge of the optical properties of materials as function of their structure with also a practical activity related to the measurement of these properties in different samples.

At the end of the course and after the examination, the student should:
Know the optical properties of materials (dispersion, scattering, absorption) and their differences according to their structure, e.g. the optical behavior of conductive and dielectric materials;
Know the basic theory of the different characterization techniques starting from the simple models used to describe the material;
Know the structure and the main elements of the instrumentation peculiar of the different characterization techniques also considering the methods and issues related to the sample preparation;
Be able of choosing the suitable characterization techniques as function of the target property to be measured and the main features of the sample and apply these knowledge starting from the thesis work;
Be able to interpret an IR spectrum in terms of main chemical groups present in the molecule/material under study;
Be able to use simple instrumentation for the measurement of optical properties of materials (refractometer, spectrometer).

The course deals with principles and applications of widespread modern methods for material characterization. For each technique considered, the basic principles, the methods of interpretation will be shown, paying also attention to the instrumentation and sample preparation. The aim of the course is to provide tools and clarify what structural information can be obtained from the different techniques; what is the range of applicability and what are the possible options for measuring specific properties.
Table of contents (from this following list, 3-4 topics will be discussed and deepened according to the class composition and the students' learning activities).
INTRODUCTION TO SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS: Electromagnetic (EM) waves and propagation in vacuum. EM weaves-matter interaction: reflection, refraction, transmission and absorption. Energy levels in materials: quantized transitions. Elastic and inelastic scattering processes. Diffraction. Basic elements and properties of a spectroscopic instrumentation; design of a spectrograph.
OPTICAL PROPERTIES: refractive index in dielectric and conductive materials, techniques for its measurement.
ELECTRONIC SPECTROSCOPY: absorption, fluorescence, reflection electronic spectroscopy of atoms and molecules.
VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY: Normal modes of vibrations in molecules and crystals. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy.
X RAY SPECTROSCOPY: Laue approach. Reciprocal lattice, intensity analysis: Structure Factors and Electron Density.
SPIN SPECTROSCOPY: nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electronic spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.
MICROSCOPY: Optical microscopy, electronic microscopy, scanning probe microscopy (SPM).
THERMAL ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).
Laboratory activity:
For each technique discussed there will be a laboratory activity to practise with the instrumentation, sample preparation and data analysis.

Prova orale obbligatoria
The examination is an oral discussion covering the course topics, chosen by the examiner. Usually, there is a general question related to one key topic, then other more focused questions.
The student has to answer to the general questions contextualizing the topic, showing the key features with the help also of equations, models, schemes. Moreover, the discussion of details is welcome as well as the connections with other topics that are part of the program. The student has also to solve simple numerical exercises to support the discussion of the general topics. There is also an exercise related to the interpretation of the infrared spectra where the candidate has to assign the chemical structure to the corresponding spectrum.

L'insegnamento affronta i diversi aspetti del problema dei cambiamenti climatici globali, con l'obiettivo principale di fornire gli elementi necessari per l’impostazione e la valutazione delle politiche di mitigazione. Per raggiungere questo obiettivo, sono approfondite le basi fenomenologiche del problema, mostrando l'origine e l'entità delle diverse forzanti antropiche, nonché gli impatti attesi a breve e lungo termine sui diversi comparti ambientali. Dopo aver familiarizzato durante le esercitazioni con i metodi di stima delle emissioni di gas serra da diverse tipologie di sorgenti, sono valutati gli scenari emissivi redatti da diverse organizzazioni scientifiche.
Nella seconda parte del corso sono presentate le strategie di riduzione delle emissioni di gas serra nei diversi settori e a diverse scale, e sono valutate anche tramite esercitazioni pratiche le metodologie per la stima del potenziale di riduzione delle emissioni di diverse opzioni tecnologiche. Un secondo e non meno importante obiettivo del corso è quello di far capire l'evoluzione del negoziato internazionale sui cambiamenti climatici, nonché di mostrare il ruolo che possono avere i principali strumenti del mercato del carbonio nel favorire la decarbonizzazione del sistema energetico. Sono infine illustrate le principali politiche sul clima proposte a livello europeo e sono discussi i motivi del ritardo nell'implementazione delle politiche di mitigazione del cambiamento climatico, affrontando anche i problemi legati alla comunicazione.

Dopo aver frequentato l'insegnamento e aver superato con successo le prove d'esame, lo studente:

• Conosce le principali fonti di emissione di gas serra e le principali metodologie di stima (Descrittore di Dublino: 1)
• Comprende i fondamenti scientifici del problema del riscaldamento globale, il ruolo dei fattori naturali e antropici, le scale spaziali e temporali dei diversi processi, l'importanza dei fenomeni di feedback presenti nel sistema climatico, gli scenari futuri di aumento delle temperature e di altri impatti in relazione a diverse ipotesi di evoluzioni dei sistemi energetici e delle relative emissioni climalteranti (Descrittore di Dublino: 1)
• Conosce le diverse tipologie di azioni disponibili per ridurre le emissioni di gas serra e per rimuovere la CO 2 atmosferica, acquisendo capacità di valutare vantaggi e svantaggi delle diverse opzioni e il loro potenziale (Descrittore di Dublino: 2 e 3)
• Comprende il ruolo del negoziato internazionale sul clima e acquisisce capacità di applicare a diversi contesti territoriali i concetti compresi, nonché di valutare ad esempio il livello di ambizione degli impegni presi da diversi Stati nell'ambito dell'Accordo di Parigi (Descrittore di Dublino: 2 e 3)
• impara a giudicare come i mezzi di comunicazione informano sul cambiamento climatico, nonché a riconoscere e superare i problemi tipici della comunicazione di questo tema (Descrittore di Dublino: 3 e 4)

Parte I
1. Introduzione ai cambiamenti climatici: scale temporali e spaziali, il ruolo dell'IPCC
2. Emissioni di gas serra: fonti e metodologie di stima.
3. Il bilancio del carbonio e gli inventari delle emissioni di gas serra a diverse scale territoriali.
4. Dati osservativi sui cambiamenti climatici: gas serra in atmosfera, temperature, precipitazioni, consistenza dei ghiacci, livello del mare
5. Fenomenologia dell’effetto serra e principali fenomeni di feedback.
6. I modelli e le proiezioni climatiche: tipologie di modelli e di scenari emissivi, recenti proiezioni
7. Impatti dei cambiamenti climatici e misure di adattamento, in diversi settori
Parte II
8. Opzioni per la mitigazione. Risparmio energetico ed efficienza energetica. Energie rinnovabili (eolico, fotovoltaico, idroelettrico, geotermico, biomasse). Energia nucleare. Stoccaggio dell'energia; produzione di idrogeno e biocombustibili. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) e Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU). Scenari tecnologici e potenziali di riduzioni in diversi settori (energia, trasporti, agricoltura).
9. Opzioni per la rimozione della CO2 atmosferica. La necessità delle emissioni negative. Imboschimento e rimboschimento, sequestro del carbonio nel suolo, biochar, bioenergia con cattura e stoccaggio del carbonio (BECCS), cattura diretta di CO2 dall'aria e stoccaggio (DACCS), alcalinizzazione degli oceani (ocean liming), enhanced rock weathering.
10. Scenari di decarbonizzazione (cenni)
11. Il negoziato sul clima: Dalla Convenzione UNFCCC all'Accordo di Parigi. Analisi degli NDC di diversi Stati.
12. Il mercato del carbonio: i meccanismi flessibili del protocollo di Kyoto: ETS, JI, CDM e i nuovi strumenti dell’art. 6 dell’Accordo di Parigi. Il sistema europeo di Emission Trading. I crediti del mercato volontario
13. Clima e comunicazione (cenni)
Esercitazioni e laboratori: Stima delle emissioni di gas serra per sorgenti di combustione. Stima della carbon footprint personale. Elaborazione dati di emissioni e temperature. Kaya Identity e decomposizione delle emissioni per diverse nazioni. Scenari tecnologici di riduzione delle emissioni: i cunei di riduzione. Analisi e confronto fra le opzioni tecnologiche per emissioni negative. Confronto degli NDC di diversi paesi.
Saranno previsti seminari ad invito e visite tecniche, da definire

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
Valutazione continua facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
L'esame si svolge in forma di prova scritta, è composta da 15 domande chiuse (scelta fra opzioni), da 2 domande aperte e da 2 esercizi sui temi delle esercitazioni.
Concorreranno alla definizione del voto finale anche attività pratiche facoltative svolte nel corso del semestre, che verranno presentate agli studenti all'inizio delle lezioni, e saranno definite in dettaglio di anno in anno.
In aggiunta allo scritto è prevista anche la possibilità di richiedere un esame orale facoltativo (massima variazione +/- 2 punti).

IPCC, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change - Summary for policymakers, Editore: IPCC, Anno edizione: 2022 https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_SPM.pdf
M. Giusti, L'urgenza di agire. Perché e come abbandonare rapidamente le fonti fossili, Editore: LuCe Edizioni, Anno edizione: 2024, ISBN: 978-88-97556-49-7 https://luce-edizioni.it/prodotto/l-urgenza-di-agire/
S. Caserini, Il clima è (già) cambiato. 9 buone notizie sui cambiamenti climatici, Editore: Edizioni Ambiente, Anno edizione: 2019, ISBN: 978-88-6627-272-4 https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_SPM.pdf
Eelco J. Rohling, Oceani. Una storia profonda, Editore: Edizioni Ambiente, Anno edizione: 2020, ISBN: 9788866273189
Mann M, Le nuove guerre del clima, Editore: Edizioni Ambiente, Anno edizione: 2021, ISBN: 9788866273301
Hansen J., Tempeste, Editore: Edizioni Ambiente, Anno edizione: 2010, ISBN: 9788896238677

The goal of the course is to teach students how to perform electronic structure simulations, as well as to give some overview of the associated theoretical background. The final aim is to teach how to use these advanced tools to determine properties, such as structural, thermochemical, molecular and kinetic parameters, that are of interest for process engineering. The necessary electronic structure calculations are nowadays traditionally performed through High Performance Computing facilities.

Lectures will allow the students to:
Learn how to exploit HPC facilities to perform electronic structure calculations (Dublin descriptor 2 -applying knowledge and understanding).
Familiarize with the theory underlying electronic structure calculations (Dublin descriptor 1 -knowledge and understanding).
Learn how to use electronic structure calculations to determine structural, thermodynamic and kinetic data of interest for process engineering (Dublin descriptor 5 -lifelong learning skills).
Learn how to determine molecular structures and kinetic parameters using state of the art simulation software (Dublin descriptor 2 -applying knowledge and understanding).
The practicals will allow students to (Dublin descriptor 2 -applying knowledge and understanding):
Properly set up, execute and analyze molecular simulations on their own notebook and on HPC facilities (l ocal cluster or on CINECA supercomputing facility).
Use modern electronic structure and kinetic software and interpret simulation results.
The software used in the practicals will be installed on the students own computers, and thus will be available also after the end of the class, or it will be accessible from dedicated accounts created on HPC clusters.

HPC for electronic structure calculations
description and installation of modern and updated suites of programs for the accurate determination of the electronic structure. Queue submission systems and strategies for high throughput calculations. Current trends in software for electronic structure calculations: open source and commercial.
Application of HPC for the determination of molecular properties
electronic structure of atoms and molecules; the molecular bond; Slater determinant; basis sets; molecular orbitals; the Hartree-Fock approximation; post Hartree-Fock models for estimation of electron correlation energy; Density Functional Theory; Multi Reference methods; determination of the molecular structure of molecules; harmonic oscillator (HO) approximation; beyond the HO approximation; estimation of molecular properties (entropy, enthalpy, heat capacity, NMR, IR, rate constants); models for solvation of molecules; estimation of the free energy of solvation.
Quantum Computing
Brief overview of the basic concepts of quantum computing, including qubits, quantum gates, circuits, and current hardware architectures. Introduction to the Qiskit development environment for circuit design and simulation.
Execution of simple Configuration Interaction (CI) calculations on model molecular systems (H ₂, N ₂, CO) using a hybrid classical–quantum approach combining PySCF and Qiskit (throught VQE-type methods).
Quantum chemistry calculations for materials
Overview of computational methods for solid-state materials, with particular emphasis on extending quantum mechanical approaches to periodic systems through periodic boundary conditions. Practical sessions will include selected applications to crystalline materials, such as ionic, molecular, polymeric, and hybrid organic–inorganic frameworks (MOFs). Key concepts—including lattice energy, lattice parameters, and host–guest interactions in porous materials—will also be discussed.
Practicals will be given in parallel to the course. The objective of practicals is to familiarize the students with the main codes currently available on HPC clusters to perform electronic structure calculations.

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The exam will consist in a discussion on a report on a set of computer simulations that the student has to perform to prove that he/she is able to use the concepts explained during the lectures and practicals (related to Dublin descriptors 1 and 2). The simulations will concern the determination of properties of interest of molecules, such as minimum energy structures, formation enthalpies and heat capacities, rate constants as a function of temperature and pressure, NMR or IR spectra, related to Dublin descriptors 1, 2 and 5.). The student will be able to perform such calculations either on his own computer or on workstations that will be made available for this purpose (related to Dublin descriptors 2).

F. Jensen, Introduction to Computational Chemistry, Editore: John Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 978-0-470-01187-4
D.A. Mc Quarrie and J.D. Simon, Physical Chemistry, a Molecular Approach, Editore: University Science books, Anno edizione: 1997, ISBN: 978-0-935702-99-6

The course aims to provide a general introduction to the computational methods which can be used to model the behaviour of molecular systems and materials. The lectures will introduce the theoretical concepts, first in qualitative terms and then in the form of equations and algorithms. The practical hand-on computational sessions will introduce the students to the usage of freely available programs for molecular simulation and visualization. The students will become aware of the meaning of "modelling", "simulation" and "computing", in a way which may be useful also in other, unrelated contexts.

The students will learn some theoretical principles underlying current molecular modelling methods. This will allow them to read an understand the scientific literature emplying these methods. (Dublin descriptor 1: Knowledge and insight).
They will learn how to use some common codes for the calculation and interpretation of the properties of molecules, liquids and materials, and specifically: VMD (visualization), ORCA (quantum chemistry), Tinker and LAMMPS (molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo). They will also learn some basics of scientific data analysis, using Python-based tools: Jupyter notebooks, numpy, scipy, matplotlib. (Dublin descriptor 2: Applying knowledge and insight).
They will be expected to gain some critical understanding of the methods, in order to choose the right method for a specific problem and assess the results of their calculations. (Dublin descriptor 3: Judgement).
The students will be expected to present the results of a computational project, both as a written report and during a subsequent oral discussion. (Dublin descriptor 4: Communication).

Introduction to molecular modelling: overview of problems and approaches.
Elements of molecular quantum mechanics: Schroedinger equation, Born-Oppenheimer approximation, electronic wavefunctions, independent-particle model, molecular orbital (MO) theory, basis sets. Molecular properties: the electron density and the molecular electrostatic potential. Electron correlation and the bond dissociation problem. Concepts from density functional theory (DFT): Hohenberg-Kohn theorem, Kohn-Sham scheme, exchange-correlation functionals. Semiempirical molecular orbital methods.
Empirical models: force fields for organic and biological molecules, shell model for ionic polarization, the embedded-atom model for metals, empirical "reactive" potentials for semiconductors and carbon-based systems. Coarse-grained models.
Exploring potential energy surfaces: stationary states, energy minimization and saddle point location methods. Conformations of large molecules.
Introduction to simulation methods: elements of statistical mechanics, ensembles and calculation of thermodynamic properties, boundary conditions, treatment of short- and long-range interactions.
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations: integration algorithms, introduction of constraints. Choice of initial conditions. Controlling temperature and pressure in MD. Analysis of trajectories: pair distribution functions, analysis of molecular conformations, time correlation functions. Evaluation of transport properties. Non-equilibrium methods. Enhanced sampling for "rare" events.
Monte Carlo (MC) simulations: general principles (Markov processes, transition probabilities, detailed balance) and Metropolis Monte Carlo for the NVT ensemble. Generalization to other ensembles. Example: the Ising model.
Application examples:

• calculation of molecular energies, geometries, vibrational spectra, electron densities, interactions, etc.
• structure and properties of solids, liquids, soft materials, interfaces, etc.

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The students will be evaluated on the basis of written reports on the practical modeling problems, followed by an oral examination covering the reports and the theoretical concepts underlying the empoyed methods. Projects can be carried out individually or in groups of two.
The final grade will be based on:

• understanding of the theoretical principles of the chosen computational model(s) (Dublin descriptor 1: knowledge and insight).
• capability to run the numerical simulation codes, extract and analyze the results from them (Dublin descriptor 2: Applying knowledge and insight).
• soundness of the computational method(s) for a specific problem, capability to interpret the results and identify possible problems or limitations (Dublin Descriptor 3: Judgement).
• presentation of the results, both in writing (report) and orally (final discussion) (Dublin Descriptor 4: Communication).

Frank Jensen, Introduction to computational chemistry (3rd. edition), Editore: JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd, Anno edizione: 2017, ISBN: 9781118825990
M. P. Allen and D. J. Tildesley, Computer Simulation of Liquids, 2nd edition, Editore: Oxford University Press, Anno edizione: 2017, ISBN: 9780198803201
Andrew R. Leach, Molecular Modelling: Principles and Applications (2nd ed.), Editore: Prentice Hall, Anno edizione: 2001, ISBN: 0582382106
Peter Atkins, Julio de Paula, ATKINS' PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, Editore: W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, Anno edizione: 2006, ISBN: 0-7167-8759-8

The course aims at describing the physical principles of energy conversion processes, with particular focus on the photovoltaic and the thermoelectric energy conversion effects, and the properties of materials of interest for such applications, with particular attention to new nanostructured materials and systems. Specific lectures will be focused on the principles and nanomaterials-related aspects of other direct energy conversion technologies.

After attending the course and after the final examination, the student will:

• know the physical principles needed for a microscopic description of electrical and heat transport phenomena in materials, with particular focus on semiconductors in non-equilibrium conditions and under illumination, and the physical principles underlying the photovoltaic effect, the thermoelectric effects and other energy conversion effects/devices (e.g. photocatalysis, fuel cells); (DdD1)
• know the working principles, the materials-related aspects and the architecture of the most important classes of photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices, including those employing nanomaterials and nanostructures; (DdD1)
• know the current research trends in the application of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials for the development of novel energy conversion devices; (DdD1)
• be able to apply the above knowledge to a critical description and discussion of the devices and the related materials properties, limitations and developments, with a quantitative approach, and to communicate this knowledge in an effective way. (DdD2)

• Introduction to direct energy conversion technologies
• Properties of solar radiation
• Introduction to irreversible thermodynamics for the description of transport phenomena; kinetic coefficients and Onsager theorem
• Review of semiconductor physics and properties
• Microscopic description of charge and heat transport in solids: Boltzmann equation; derivation of electrical conductivity for metals and semiconductors
• The photovoltaic effect; p-n junction under illumination, I-V characteristic of solar cells, definition of power conversion efficiency and quantum efficiency; limits for the efficiency (detailed balance limit, thermodynamic limit)
• Crystalline Si solar cells (1st generation)
• Thin film solar cells (2nd generation)
• Excitonic solar cells: organic (bulk heterojunction) and hybrid solar cells, dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells
• New concepts for 3rd generation solar cells (tandem or multijunction cells, intermediate band cells, multiple exciton generation, hot carrier cells, up- and down-conversion, concentration)
• Nanostructured materials for 3rd generation solar cells (e.g. QD-based solar cells)
• Phenomenology of thermoelectric effects (Seebeck, Peltier, Thomson);
• Irreversible thermodynamics description of thermoelectric effects: relationship between thermoelectric coefficients and kinetic coefficients
• Efficiency and figure of merit of thermoelectric systems (refrigeration and power generation)
• Boltzmann equation: derivation of thermal conductivity and thermoelectric coefficients for metals and semiconductors
• Conventional and advanced thermoelectric materials; the phonon glass-electron crystal concept, the substructure approach; Bi2Te3 and related compounds, skutterudites, clathrates, complex oxides
• Nanostructured thermoelectric materials, examples (superlattices, nanowires, nanocrystalline or nanocomposite materials)
  During the course specific seminar lectures will be organized, to discuss recent developments in other energy conversion technologies involving nanomaterials (e.g. fuel cells, solar water splitting, batteries).
  See bibliography for suggested books (covering more than the programme of the course). Additional documents or lecture notes will be made available by the lecturer.

Prova orale obbligatoria
The examination is an oral discussion about the course topics, chosen by the examiner (typically one topic related to photovoltaic physics, materials and devices, and one topic related to thermoelectricity and thermoelectric materials and devices).
The student must be able to clearly describe and critically discuss the topics, with the related hypotheses, the critical points, the physical meaning, the mathematical approach (complete derivations are not strictly required, but of course their knowledge may contribute to the final mark; however understanding the physics underlying the mathematical approach is considered the fundamental aspect), the materials properties, the device architecture and properties. The student should also know the value or order of magnitude of the main important quantities involved in the discussion, and may be asked to apply the theoretical knowledge to specific examples, with a quantitative approach.

J. Nelson, The Physics of Solar Cells, Editore: Imperial College Press, Anno edizione: 2003
H.J. Goldsmid, Introduction to Thermoelectricity, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2009

The course focuses on NaTech (Natural Hazard Triggering Technological Disasters) risk assessment and management. NaTech events occur when natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes impact industrial facilities, leading to fires, explosions, and toxic or radioactive releases.
These accidents can have severe social, environmental, and economic impacts and are often overlooked in disaster risk reduction frameworks.
The NaTech Risk Assessment requires a comprehensive understanding of the interdependencies between human, natural, and technological systems. Effective Natech risk management involves identifying potential hazards, assessing vulnerabilities, and implementing Natech-specific safety measures, as well as proper emergency procedures.
For this reason, it is important to define variables useful for characterizing the different types of natural events (such as wind speed for gusts, lightning energy, etc.) that can trigger industrial accidents and to define maps for the areas of interest. Historical analysis of accidents, databases, lessons learned, and case-studies will be considered. Models available for risk analysis, both short-cut and QRA models (where and how to insert the Na-Tech parameters), will be described and used.

Nature Based Solutions or NBS refers to nature-inspired environmental management and intervention solutions. It is a relatively recent concept, used by the European Commission to identify strategies, actions, technologies and interventions, which provide environmental services and socio-economic benefits that can increase environmental resilience. Today there is great attention to these solutions and to the development and enhancement of innovative technological solutions based on the example of natural systems. Examples of NBS are the so-called "green infrastructures" used to control stormwater runoff in urban areas, constructed wetlands and the modern "vertical gardens". In the proposed course, the different types of NBS will be illustrated, the main design parameters will be indicated and the basics to quantify their ability to provide ecosystem services will be provided.
The course is held by two teachers:
Arianna Azzellino, main expertise: ecosystems quality, environmental risk, and impact assessment
Grazia Concilio, main expertise: urbanization challenges and policy making for sustainability transition

After taking the course,
D1. knowledge and understanding: a) the student knows the fundamental principles underlying nature-based solutions; b) knows and understands the environmental issues that NBS may help to solve; c) understands the principles of available NBS technologies; d) knows the data and tools needed to build the assessment scenario for designing NBS
D2. Applying knowledge and understanding: the student is able to apply the knowledge acquired to case studies
D3. Making judgements: a) the student is able to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of an NBS intervention in a specific context; b) is able to provide an evaluation of NBS, even if not strictly related to those evaluated in the course;
D4. Communication skills: the student is able to explain what he/she has learnt and the reasons for his/her own evaluations in a clear and convincing way
D5. Learning skills: the student has acquired the skills needed to pursue further study independently.

1. Principles of Nature-Based Solutions for enhancing resilience to climate change.
2. The concept of ecosystem services
3. Human activities interrelations with ecological systems and main tools and approaches for applying Nature-Based Solutions to reducing climate risks.
4. Green infrastructures as aviable complement to grey engineered protection structures for reducing impacts of disaster events.
5. Main design parameters of the different types of NBS and their ability to provide ecosystem services
6. Environmental factors of interest for designing NBS
7. Practical guided examples on how to apply Nature-Based Solutions for reducing risks of natural hazards by investing in restoration and protection. (The students will work in teams and will provide a preliminary evaluation of an NBS application scenario. GIS tools will be used)

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i facoltativo (a scelta dello studente), di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The exam consists of two evaluation parts: the first part is an individual test with open / closed questions to be answered on the topics covered during the course and accounts for 90% of the grade; the second part refers to a Lab proejct group that is not mandatory and accounts for 10% of the final grade.
The final examination aims to evaluate not only the students' knowledge of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), but also their ability to apply the concepts discussed during the course to simple real-world situations.
The assessment is based on the following criteria:
Understanding of the fundamental concepts related to Nature-based Solutions and ecosystem services.
Ability to identify and explain the ecosystem services provided by different Nature-based Solutions.
Capacity to interpret simple scenarios and apply the acquired knowledge to support decision-making.
Critical thinking, including the recognition of multifunctionality, synergies and potential trade-offs among alternative Nature-based Solutions.
Quality and clarity of reasoning, particularly when explaining assumptions and justifying answers.
Appropriate use of scientific terminology and effectiveness of communication.

course slides and handouts

Basic principles of NMR spectroscopy: nuclear spin orientation, origin of the NMR signal, Fourier transform, main features of the NMR spectrum. Signal frequency and multiplicity, relationship between spectrum and molecular structure. Identification of compounds through NMR spectral analysis. Dynamic properties: nuclear relaxation and diffusion. Solis state spectra and analysis of materials.

The course aims to provide the necessary competences to the students to perform the risk assessment for workers exposed to hazard of chemical, physical and biologica1 origin; as well as to perform experimental verifications for risk assessment and to define the improving actions.
1. History and principles of the prevention. Signs of biology, anatomy and physiology. Changes happened in the organization of the job of the countries industrialized. Definition of danger, risk, accident, professional illness, job-in partnership illness
2. The risks of chemical origin: Principles of toxicology. Toxicological Risk (general concepts, toxic effects of chemical substances, relationships dose-response and dose-effect, pathways of exposure, metabolism and elimination of toxicants, carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and teratogenesis). Toxicology of Metals, Gases and Solvents. Estimation of generations, techniques for planning of the investigations and evaluation of the results, analysis of the principal methods of environmental improvement.
3. The risks of physical nature. The microclimate, the energetic balance applied to the human body, criterions of evaluation for moderate environments, criterions of evaluation for warm severe environments, criterions of evaluation for cold severe environments.
The noise, characteristics of the sounds, techniques of measure and evaluation of the data. Vibrations, techniques of measure.
4. The risks of biological nature: Definitions of the principal classes of biological agents: Bacteria, Virus, infecting yeast and mould, allergens and profiles of risk.
5. Occupational Health. Signs to the Professional Diseases: professional cancer, renal and liver pathologies, allergies and dermatopathies, muscle-skeletal disorders, vasculopathies and neuropathies. Signs of Ergonomics and Epidemiology

To increase the transdisciplinary basic knowledge and understanding of the key facts regarding the pollution phenomena casused by plastic disposal, mostly in aquatic environments, locally and globally.
Main course contents: disposal/fate/recovery of plastic and bioplastic, standard to define bioplastic biodegradabiity, bacterial production of VFA, PHA and EPS, the environmental problems related to the often incorrect use of plastics, including micro and nanoplastic and possible solutions.

Knowledge and understanding
The student will gain an overall knowledge and understanding of of the fate/disposal and recovery route of plastic and bioplastics in the environment; of the environmental problems/impacts and solution approaches.
Application of knowledge and understanding
The student will have to apply the knowledge acquired to perform multidisciplinary projects/case studies and lab activities on actual and emerging problems. These activities will enhance the cultural level and capability of students to confront with the challenges and opportunities coming from plastic and bioplastic in the environment and in different economical sectors.
Autonomy of judgment
The student will carry out autonomous choices and interpretations with respect to case studies and lab activities supplied, being able to debate and explain the pros/cons/uncertainties of the solutions proposed or results obtained

1. Introduction to macroplastic pollution in aquatic environment, evolution, impacts, modelling, solutions
2. Biodegradation of plastics: fundamentals and standards. Fate of biodegradable plastics in the environment and in wastewater/biosolids tretament plant
3. Methods to recover and produce biopolymers from liquid and solid organic waste.
4. Microplastics: origin, fate, impacts, solutions

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
The written exam is composed by 2 questions and 2 calculation exercises. The candidate shall answer to 1 question and 1 exercise.
The evaluation/mark depends on:
question: breadth and accuracy of the content reported, level of argumentation and understanding of the question as a whole
exercise: correctness of the solution methods applied and the results obtained

Air Pollution. Particle Dynamics. Particle control. Technical elements for environmental risk analysis. Gravimetric chambers. Cyclones Collectors. Electrical Precipitators. Fabric Filters. Scrubbers. Gas absorption and adsorption. Equipments for handling emergency relief effluents: vapour-liquid separation; quench pools; flares. Water and first flush stormwater treatments. Grinding, Sedimentation Equalization Physical treatments. Polluted soils remediation.

The course provides the scientific and engineering principles required for the rational design of polymeric materials starting from targeted industrial and research applications. Students will learn how polymer architecture, synthesis strategies, functionalization, and processing can be tailored to achieve specific physicochemical and functional properties while integrating Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles throughout the entire polymer development process.
The course covers the design of both synthetic and bio-derived polymers, illustrating the relationships between molecular architecture, processing conditions and final material properties. Conventional and advanced polymerization strategies, including batch and continuous approaches, flow polymerization, reactive extrusion, post-polymerization functionalization, depolymerization and circular-by-design concepts will be discussed together with the most relevant physicochemical characterization techniques.
Additionally, the development of next-generation polymeric materials through the use of bio-derived and nature-inspired building blocks, as well as on strategies for the valorization of biomass as alternative feedstocks for polymer synthesis, will be discussed with the aim of enhancing polymer performance.
Particular emphasis will be devoted to the design of polymers for advanced applications, including additive manufacturing, microfluidic systems, smart coatings, biomedical applications/pharma, sustainable and environmentally responsive materials. Laboratory activities will provide hands-on experience in designing, synthesizing, functionalizing and characterizing polymeric materials while addressing realistic research and industrial challenges.

Knowledge and understanding
explain the relationships between polymer molecular architecture, synthesis strategy and material performance;
describe advanced polymerization and functionalization techniques;
discuss Safe and Sustainable by Design principles applied to polymer development.
Applying knowledge and understanding
select appropriate monomers, polymerization routes and functionalization strategies according to target applications;
identify the most suitable characterization techniques to validate polymer properties;
design polymer formulations considering processing constraints, application requirements and sustainability criteria.
Making judgements
critically evaluate alternative polymer design strategies;
compare different synthesis routes in terms of performance, and scalability;
assess the suitability of polymeric materials for biomedical, environmental and/or industrial applications.
Laboratory skills
design, synthesize and characterize polymeric materials;
interpret experimental data;
work effectively in teams.

Polymer-by-Design: from application requirements to material selection
Structure–processing-property relationships in polymeric materials
Polymer synthesis and formulation: conventional and advanced polymerization strategies (coordination polymerization, living/controlled polymerization, photopolymerization, two-photon polymerization) and rational selection of initiators, catalysts, crosslinkers and functional additives
Batch, continuous and reactive extrusion processing
Polymer functionalization and post-polymerization modification
Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD): bio-based and nature-inspired polymers, REACH framework, sustainability, and toxicity considerations.
Depolymerization, recycling and end-of-life design strategies
Physicochemical characterization and validation of polymer performance
Polymer design for advanced manufacturing technologies (3D printing, photopolymerization and microfabrication)
Polymer design for advanced applications, including:
biomedical applications and therapeutic delivery;
microfluidic devices;
smart and functional coatings (eg., antifouling, protective, antimicrobial);
sustainable and intelligent polymers for environment and controlled-release systems (eg., pesticide delivery, biodegradable agricultural networks).
Laboratory experiences: experimental activities focused on polymer synthesis, functionalization and physicochemical characterization to illustrate the key parameters governing polymer production and performance.
Laboratory design project: team-based development of an application-oriented polymer design project selected from case studies proposed by the lecturer. Students will design and synthetize the polymer, identify the most suitable characterization methods, and critically evaluate the obtained results according to the target application.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The final assessment consists of an oral examination comprising two equally weighted components.
The first component (50% of the final grade) consists of the oral presentation of the laboratory design project developed in groups during the course. The project is selected by the students from a set of application-oriented case studies proposed by the lecturer. During the presentation, students are expected to illustrate the project objectives, the rationale behind the polymer design, the adopted formulation and synthesis strategy, the experimental activities performed, the characterization methods, and the critical discussion of the obtained results.
The second component (50% of the final grade) consists of two oral questions covering the theoretical topics discussed during the course. This part aims to assess the student's understanding of the fundamental concepts presented during the lectures and the ability to apply them through critical reasoning and problem solving.

Note of the lecturer
J.M. Asua, Polymer Reaction Engineering, Editore: Wiley-Blackwell, Anno edizione: 2007
Yoshiki Chujo, Springer Handbook of Functional Polymers, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2025
L. Chu and W. Wang, Microfluidics for Advanced Functional Polymeric Materials, Editore: Wiley-VCH, Anno edizione: 2017
Wei-Fang Su, Principles of Polymer Design and Synthesis, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2013

The first objective of the course is the description and classification of the main classes of monomers and polymerization processes of industrial interest.
A second objective of the course is a quantitative description of the general principles of polymerization, including a detailed statistical and kinetic analysis of the mechanisms of polymer chain formation, growth and gelation, vulcanization and crosslinking.
The third objective is the thermodynamic interpretation and the derivation of molecular theory for the entropic elasticity of rubbers, highlighting the limitations of the model by comparison with the real elastomer behaviour.

After attending the course and after the final examination, the student will:
know the main types of available industrial monomers and polymers, and understand how to classify them according to their structure (DD1, DD2)
know and understand the kinetics and statistics of chain formation and growth in both step and chain polymerization processes (DD1, DD2)
know and understand how to control composition and sequence in copolymerization (DD1)
know and understand the mechanism of network formation in polyfunctional polymerization processes (DD1, DD2)
know and understand the role of catalysis in polymerization (DD1, DD2)
know the features of homogeneous and heterogeneous polymerization processes, with application to the most relevant industrial cases (DD1, DD2)
know and understand the molecular basis of the entropic elasticity model (DD1, DD2)
know the main chemical technologies for rubber vulcanization, and the behaviour of real elastomers (DD1, DD2)
be able to apply the above described knowledge to the quantitative control of process variables in polymerization, solving numerical problems aimed at the control of rate of reaction, conversion, and molecular weight (DD2)
be able to apply the above described knowledge to the prediction of the gel point / gel time in polyfunctionl process (DD2)
be able to apply the entropic elasticity model to the modeling of the mechanical behavior of elastomers (DD2)
These learning outcomes are expected to provide the student with the needed knowledge tools necessary for successfully performing their future activities in an industrial environment, with particular reference to the polymer industry

The course is divided in two parts, with the following programme
Part 1: Polymerization
Classification of monomers and polyreactions, correlation with polymer microstructure.
Step polyreactions, kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of polycondensations, most probable distribution of molecular weights, control of polymerization.
Chain polyreactions, phases of free-radical poyadditions, kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of free radical polyadditions, distribution of molecular weights, chain transfer and control of molecular weight, effect of temperature. Some hints on controlled radical polymerizations.
Chain polyreactions, ionic processes, phases of cationic and anionic polymerizations, living anionic polymerizations and block copolymers. Ziegler-Natta catalysis and stereospecific polymerization. Control of the polymer microstructure.
Copolymerization, derivation of the kinetic model, reactivity ratios and Lewis-Mayo equation, F1-f1 diagrams, Alfrey-Price parameters, yield and control of compositional drift in copolymerization. Determination of composition in copolymers.
Crosslinking ad thermoset polymers. Carothers and Flory's statistical models for the estimation of the gel point in crosslinking processes. Experimental monitoring of the gel time.
Industrial production of polymers: batch and continuous processes, homogeneous and heterogeneous processes. Bulk polymerization, suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization. Production of PET, PA6, PVC, SBR.
Part 2: Rubber science and technology
Structural requirements of elastomeric materials, correlation with intra and intermolecular parameters. Definition of entropic elasticity.
Classical thermodynamics of rubber elasticity, derivation of the equation of state of elasticity at constant pressure and constant volume; thermoelastic inversion ( flipped classroom ).
Molecular (statistical) theory of rubber elasticity; gaussian chain and elastic retraction force, Kuhn model and ideal rubber, affine deformation and derivation of the constitutive law for ideal rubber (flipped classroom).
Behavior of real elastomers; hysteresis and dissipation, strain-induced crystallization of stereoregular rubbers, Mooney-Rivlin plot.
Vulcanization of rubbers; sulfur, peroxy and ionic vulcanization processes. Process monitoring by rheological and thermal methods. Isothermal kinetic modelling of rubber vulcanization.
Mechanical reinforcement of real elastomers; reinforcing fillers, small deformation behavior and Payne effect; large deformation behavior.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
The final examination will be a written test about all the course topics, chosen by the examiner. The test will consist in 5 or 6 questions, typically some 2-3 questions concerning theoretical aspects, derivation of mathematical models, graphical representation of data and physical interpretation of results, and 2-3 questions in form of numerical problems to be solved.
The student is required to be able to write clearly and critically discuss the proposed topics, highlighting hypotheses, assumptions, critical points, the physical meaning and its consequences, including a correct mathematical approach where needed.
Students who obtain a passing mark in the written examination are eligible to request an additional oral assessment. This oral component may result in a variation of plus or minus 3 points relative to the initial written score.
Numerical exercizes will be carried out during the course organizing the classroom in small groups and in an interactive way. Attendance in presence at these sessions, although not mandatory, is highly recommended and it can lead to an increment in the final evaluation mark up to +1 (in case of evaluation at least 18/30 in the written test)

S. Turri, Principles of Polymer Chemistry - lecture's notes
G. Odian, Principles of Polymerization, Editore: Wiley, Anno edizione: 2004
J.E. Mark, Rubber Science and Technology, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2013

Il corso esplora il ruolo dell'idrogeno nella transizione energetica globale e ne valuta la sostenibilità. Vengono analizzati i processi di produzione dell'idrogeno a partire da fonti rinnovabili (H2 con diversi codici di colore), le tecnologie di accumulo e quelle di trasporto. Vengono forniti i criteri d'analisi di processo in relazione alle proprietà chimico-fisiche dell'idrogeno e agli aspetti di sicurezza. La sostenibilità è valutata dal punto di vista economico, dell'efficienza energetica e di decarbonizzazione, con riferimento alle policy attive e agli scenari di ampliamento dell'utilizzo.

The aim of this second part of the course is to illustrate and study some specific processes of the food industry by identifying the unit operations involved and try to size the single units referring to real (or realistic) plants.
This will be achieved by a first illustration of some unit operations that are very characteristic of the food industry (by making specific reference to some food production processes), and then through a group work during which the students will study and analyse the unit operations and the equipment composing a complex process by referring to a specific food product. The food production processes for the project development will be inspired by real existing plants.
If possible, 1/2 plant visits will be organized in order to "see" the operation of a food processing plant.

Lectures and exercises will allow students to:

• know and discuss the main processes and technologies of the food industry
• know and discuss the typical unit operations of food processing
• know and discuss some specific food production processes, with particular focus on the unit operations involved
• analyse food processing units from a quantitative point of view
• design and calculate the main features of food processing units

Specific unit operations of the food industry: study of some unit operations that are characteristics of the food industry, with specific references to some food productions:
Dehydration, freeze drying
Paseturization, sterilization
Deepening of some specific topics/processes: e.g., sensors and AI for food process monitoring, wine fermentation, oil production
Study and development of a specific food processes: group works aiming to study and analyse the unit operations and equipment composing a specific food production process
Seminars: seminars given by experts from the industry on specific topics (e.g., flavour production, wine fermentation monitoring)
Other: if possible we will organize plant visits

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The evaluation mode will include both a written and an oral exam for the verification of the understanding of the unit operations studied during the course and the food process developed as a group work.
The written exam will include an exercise and/ or theoretical question referred to the unit operations discussed during the course.
The oral exam will consist in an oral exposition of the work done by the group.

Sustainable development is all about adopting economic and social models that allow us to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It's a balance between growth and responsibility, ensuring that today's actions don't lead to tomorrow's problems.
When it comes to chemical activity, innovations that promote sustainable development focus on reducing or eliminating the use of non-renewable resources, minimizing the environmental impact of production processes, and ensuring that the substances produced are eco-friendly.
The course is designed to explore the development of materials, applications, and processes derived from renewable resources, guided by the principles of circular economy and circular chemistry. The goal is to instill in students the importance of evaluating sustainability as a crucial factor when selecting materials and developing processes.
Explore Renewable Raw Materials: We'll present both plant-based and animal-based materials available on the market.
Learn about Bulk and Fine Chemicals: Understand how these renewable resources are used to produce various chemicals and materials.
Focus on Energy Efficiency: We'll cover production methods that aim to reduce solvent use and energy consumption.
Embrace Circular Practices: Familiarize yourself with practices that promote recycling and reuse to minimize waste.

Expected learing outcomes for the students:

• knowledge about the main sources of renewable materials and their nature
• knowledge about the structure and reactivity of renewable resources and how to obtain them
• knowledge about the developement of functional materials from renewable resources and their applications
• ability to use new chemical methodologies from renewable resources
• ability to developement of key products from renewable resources and the related industrial processes
• ability to comunicate the knowledge learned in the field of renewable resources

Short recall of the basic concepts of chemistry and organic chemistry
Bio-based and biodegradable materials (resources, production, processes and applications): Cellulose; Starch; Chitin/Chitosan; Lignin; Lactic acid and PLA; Alginates; PHA
Use and valorization of food waste for the production of biofuels or chemical intermediates: Bioethanol and Bioalcohols
"Bio-based" processes for the production of chemical intermediates
CO 2 as feedstock in chemical synthesis
Solvents from renewable resources and ionic liquids
Biosurfactants
“Bio-based” materials for food and food packaging
Green hydrogen from renewable resources

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
Valutazione continua facoltativa (a scelta dello studente)
Throughout the year, you'll participate in intermediate evaluations (optional) based on group projects that cover various course topics. This collaborative approach helps deepen your understanding and encourages teamwork. Towards the end of the course, you'll create a project (individually or in groups of two people) in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. This project will require you to choose a course-related topic and analyze it identifying potential challenges, and propose solutions. During the oral exam, you'll present your project and respond to questions about your chosen topic and other course material. This tests your comprehension and ability to articulate your insights.

WeBeep
Note: Slides, reviews and papers

Modern complex industrial systems require a systematic approach to design and operation, with specified safety and reliability constraints/objectives (safety-based and reliability-based design and operation).
The goal of this course is to provide the students with the adequate competences on methods and computational tools for the evaluation, the analysis and the control of the risk associated to the operation of industrial equipment and systems. These competences, typical of safety and reliability analysts and managers, are necessary in all modern engineering for the design and operation of safe and reliable systems.

PART A
The student knows:

• ELO A.1 - the basics of probability theory, system analysis and simulation methods for reliability and availability assessments;
• ELO A.2 - the basics of maintenance engineering.
  The student is able to:
• ELO A.3 - estimate reliability and availability indicators of industrial equipment and systems;
• ELO A.4 - develop stochastic simulation methods for estimating system reliability and availability indicators;
• ELO A.5 - apply methods of maintenance engineering to industrial equipment and systems.
  PART B
  ELO B.1 - the student understands the concept of risk and the probabilistic framework for its assessment;
  ELO B.2 - the student is able to apply the methods and tools for the probabilistic risk assessment of industrial equipment and systems;
  ELO B.3 - The student knows the methodological tools to treat the uncertainty in the reliability and risk assessments and can make judgments on the confidence in the results obtained, for robust decision-making.

PART A
Basics of probability theoryfor applications to reliability analysis and risk assessment (ELO A.1);
Estimationof reliability parameters from field data(ELO A.3);
Reliability of simple systems:series, parallel, redundancies, standby (ELO A.3);
Reliability and availability of complex systemssubject to realistic procedures of inspection, maintenance, repair, renewal (ELO A.3);
Monte Carlo simulation methods for reliability and availability analysis:stochastic simulation framework; random sampling; definite integrals estimation; variance reduction techniques to increase simulation efficiency,estimation of reliability and availability of complex systems (ELO A.4);
Maintenance engineering (ELOs A.2 and A.5).
PART II
Risk:qualitative and quantitative definitions (ELO B.1);
Probabilistic risk assessment framework:identification and quantification of accident sequences (Failure Mode and Criticality Analysis, Hazard Operability Analysis, Fault and Event Tree Analyses, and Bayesian Belief Networks); risk curves and matrices; risk analysis as a tool in support of regulatory licensing and operating requirements (ELOs B.2 and B.3);
Dependent failures (ELO B.2);
Importance measures (ELOs B.2 and B.3);
Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis (ELOs B.2 and B.3)
Seminars on advanced topics (e.g. digitalization in Industry 4.0, integrated deterministic and probabilistic safety assessment, Prognostics and Health Management);
Case studies taken from real industrial systems and plants will be illustrated, and quantitative exercise classes will be carried out in support to the comprehension of the material covered in class.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Modalità di valutazione
The evaluation consists in a written exam consisting of numerical exercises theory questions.
The numerical exercises will evaluate the student abilities in applying the techniques for quantifying the reliability and availability and control the risk of industrial equipment and systems (ELOs A.3 and B.2).
The theory questions aimsat verifying the student understanding of the risk concept, the probabilistic framework for its assessment, the basics of probability theory and stochastic methods for reliability, availability and risk analysis, dependent failures, importance measures, the maintenance engineering approaches (ELOs -A.5 and B.1, B.2). Furthermore, it verifies the student ability of making judgments on the confidence in the results obtained, for robust decision-making (ELO B.3).

Compared to the past, the chemical industry (not only in Italy) is nowadays characterized by the much more significant presence of highly diversified sectors, such as fine chemicals, specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals. In such industrial sectors, plants and processes are typically discontinuous. Moreover, some of the reactions performed are significantly fast and exothermic, thus implying potential safety issues, which can be even more critical for discontinuous reactors. This because, for the same plant productivity, a discontinuous reactor is normally larger than a continuously operated one to compensate the idle times burdening the production cycle. The reaction mass hold-up is therefore higher, as well as the potential magnitude of its uncontrolled decomposition or release in the environment.
After an introductory but fundamental section dedicated to the macrokinetic characterization of heterogeneous reaction systems, the first part of the course aims to provide Students with useful criteria for selecting and monitoring safe and productive conditions of a discontinuous reactor in which a potentially runaway reaction is performed, even in the absence of all the necessary information to address the problem using standard simulation approaches. This is particularly important when dealing with fine chemical processes, for which a detailed characterization of each reaction system is normally unavailable, because of the huge process fragmentation and the constant evolution towards ever-new products.
The second part of the course addresses the reactor protection against overpressures resulting from incidental conditions.
The third part of the course deals with environmental safety problems, such as carbon capture and storage.
Finally, the objective of the last part of the course is providing Students with the ability to perform the analysis of a real discontinuous process, from its lab design to the safe industrial scale-up.

The Student:

• has a practical understanding of the influence of mass-transfer phenomena on the conversion rate in heterogeneous reaction systems, with reference to the main involved plant parameters under the operator’s control,
• has a complete knowledge of the safety criteria for selecting the operating conditions of discontinuous reactors in which potentially runaway reactions are performed;
• is able to select, starting from the lab recipe, safe and productive operating conditions of the industrial reactor monitoring them during the normal reactor operation;
• is able to properly select and size pressure relief systems for the protection of the reactor against overpressures due to the loss of control of potentially runaway reaction systems;
• is able to deal with environmental safety problems;
• is able to analyze a real discontinuous process, with a full confidence of the involved quantities and expected orders of magnitude.

Macroscopic mass and energy balances for discontinuous and semi-continuous reaction systems (single-phase systems and two-phase liquid-liquid systems): definition and characterization of the slow reaction, fast reaction, and instantaneous reaction regimes, correlations for the estimation of physical and transport parameters; dimensionless balance equations and physical meaning of the arising model parameters. Methods for identifying and monitoring safe and productive operating conditions of semi-continuous exothermic reaction systems (the boundary diagram method; the temperature diagram method; kinetic-free methods). Thermal instability of substances and mixtures. Decomposition temperature and its experimental significance. Thermal analysis: TG, DTA, DSC; adiabatic calorimetry: ARC, Phi TEC II; reaction calorimetry: RC1. Selection and sizing of emergency pressure relief systems in chemical reactors (PSV and RD; vapor, gassy and hybrid systems; single-phase and multi-phase reliefs; sizing and rating criteria for PSV and RD; Omega method for calculating the flow capacity of the relief system). Analysis of a selected set of discontinuous processes of industrial relevance

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, individuale, senza revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
A few weeks before the end of the lectures, a real industrial case will be assigned to the students.
The oral exam begins with the request to present and discuss the assigned industrial case in approximately 10 minutes. During these first 10 minutes of the oral exam, the examiner does not intervene. At the end of these first 10 minutes, two different situations may occur, described below:
1. The student's presentation was seriously insufficient. In this case, the exam ends with the result "Rimandato."
2. The student's presentation was sufficient. In this case, the exam continues (and then ends with a grade between "Rimandato" and "30 Lode") with questions aimed to verify the practical understanding of the topics covered all along the Course, with particular emphasis on the physical significance of the methods and tools and their industrial application.
For each official exam period, a few data will be defined for the project discussion and oral exam; the students are required to enroll on one of the available data through WeBeep and to confirm their choiche in presence at the official date/hour available on the Online Service.
Enrolling through the official Online Service is mandatory to give the oral examination.

K.R. Westerterp, W.P.M. van SwaaiJ, A.A.C.M. Beenackers, Chemical Reactor Design and Operation, Editore: John Wiley and Sons, Anno edizione: 2001
J. Etchells, J. Wilday, Workbook for chemical reactor relief system sizing, Editore: Health and safety executive, Anno edizione: 1998, ISBN: 0717613895
Paolo Cardillo, Incidenti in ambiente chimico - guida allo studio e alla valutazione delle reazioni fuggitive, Editore: Stazione Sperimentale per i Combustibili - San Donato Milanese, Anno edizione: 1998
Note: in Italian
F. Maestri, R. Rota, Thermally safe operation of liquid-liquid semibatch reactors. Part I. Slow reactions, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2005, Fascicolo: Chem. Eng. Sci. 60, 3309-3322
F. Maestri, R. Rota, Thermally safe operation of liquid-liquid semibatch reactors. Part II. Fast reactions, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2005, Fascicolo: Chem. Eng. Sci. 2005, 60, 5590-5602
F. Maestri, R. Rota, Temperature diagrams for preventing decomposition or side reactions in liq.-liq. semibatch reactors, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2006, Fascicolo: Chem. Eng. Sci. 2006, 61, 3068-3078
F. Maestri, R. Rota, Kinetic-free safe operation of fine chemical runaway reactions: a general criterion, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2016, Fascicolo: Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 55, 925-933
F. Maestri, R. Rota, Simple Monitoring of Semibatch Polymerization Processes: An Integrated Criterion, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2017, Fascicolo: Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 56, 7434-7444

The course is an introduction to the physics of soft materials, complex fluids, and biological systems, ranging from simple colloidal suspensions to polymer, spontaneous surfactant aggregates, gels, proteins and nucleic acids. Besides providing a bottom-up presentation of the properties of complex fluids, based on their microscopic structure and interactions, the course aims to highlighting the important role played by these materials in the consumer market and for nanotechnologies, focusing in particular on those applications that require an adequate knowledge of their flow and rheological properties.

Knowledge and Understanding (DdD1): Students will master the fundamental ideas of soft matter physics, gaining a comprehensive understanding of general concepts that enable the investigation of diverse materials using unified models and methods.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding (DdD2): Students will apply these general concepts to topics relevant to materials science, with a specific focus on recent advancements in disperse systems.
Making Judgments (DdD3): Students will effectively convey their acquired knowledge, demonstrating clarity and accuracy in synthesizing complex subjects related to soft matter.

1) General introduction to disperse systems and supramolecular systems. Elements of statistical thermodynamics. Dilute suspensions and osmotic pressure. Effective forces between dispersed particles: excluded volume, van der Waals and electrostatic interactions, depletion forces. Brownian motion.
2) Colloidal dispersions. Stability of a suspension of colloidal particles and colloidal aggregation. Colloidal crystals, glasses and hydro/aerogels. Patchy particles. Active colloids. Applications of nanofluids in nanotechnology.
3) Polymer solutions. Dilute solutions and polymer coils. Semi-dilute solutions, polymer meshes, and Flory-Huggins theory. Polymer gels. Polyelectrolytes.
4) Surfactant solutions and Emulsions. Classes of surfactant and their practical applications. Micellization and basic principles of detergency. Self-assembly of surfactant molecules: micelles, “living polymers”, inverted micelles, and vesicles. Emulsion stability. Micro and Nano Emulsion. Pickering Emulsions.
5) Experimental methods to investigate soft materials (i.e. Light Scattering, correlation spectroscopy, video microscopy, micro and macro-rheology (with lab presentation).

Prova orale obbligatoria
The evaluation involves an oral examination designed to determine the extent to which students have achieved the course objectives. During the exam, the student is asked to discuss a topic covered in the course, assessing his/her ability to summarize and present an argument. Additionally, his/her mastery of acquired knowledge is evaluated by focusing on key physical concepts and applying them to real-world situations. For the overall evaluation, clarity of communication, scientific language proficiency, and ability to connect different topics are considered.
At the beginning of the exam, the student is asked whether he/she intends to provide details of the demonstrations carried out during the course. In case of a negative response, the maximum achievable grade is 27/30.

Roberto Piazza, Soft Matter: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made of, Editore: Springer Verlag, Anno edizione: 2011, ISBN: 978-9400705845
Note: This is not a textbook, but rather a popoular science book written in a plain language and accessible to a large audience. Yet, it contains most of the physics we need
Coussot, Philippe, Rheophysics, Editore: Springer International Publishing, Anno edizione: 2014, ISBN: 978-3-319-38016-2
Note: This book presents a unified view of the physicochemical origin of the mechanical behaviour of soft materials.The mathematical formalism is reduced in order to focus on physical explanations.
R.G. Larson, The Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids, Editore: Oxford University Press, Anno edizione: 1999, ISBN: 978-0-19-512197-1
Note: A bit technical, but a good starting point for appreciating the physics and dynamics of complex fluids.
R. A. L. Jones, Soft Condensed Matter, Editore: Oxford University Press, Anno edizione: 2002, ISBN: 978-0198505891
Note: A slim and accessible introduction, although at a level which is not as advanced as the one of this course
T. A. Witten,, Structured Fluids, Editore: Oxford University Press, Anno edizione: 2010, ISBN: 978-0199583829
Note: A very good book, at a level a bit more advanced than the one of this course, and with a more theoretical lingo

Aim of the course is to provide the elements to address the technical aspects of the management and treatment of municipal solid waste, as well as of some specific waste streams:
Knowledge of the properties and characteristics of waste
Knowledge of EU and Italian legislation on waste
Knowledge of the different options for waste collection
Setting up of integrated waste management schemes and plans
Design of treatment, recovery and disposal plants, such as sorting facilities (MRF), Mechanical-biological treatment plant (MBT), composting and anaerobic digestion plants, energy recovery facilities and landfills
Assessment and control of the environmental impacts of waste treatment plants
Management of selected non-municipal waste streams

Lectures will allow students to:

• know the characteristics of waste and understand a laboratory report (Dublin descriptor: 1)
• understand and apply the proper legislation on waste (Dublin descriptor: 1)
• define an integrated waste management plan (Dublin descriptor: 2)
• understand and control the environmental impacts of waste management and treatment (Dublin descriptor: 1 and 2)
• critically assess different options of waste management (Dublin descriptor: 3)
  The exercises and the projects will allow students to:
• quantitatively define the properties of waste streams (Dublin descriptor: 2)
• preliminarily design a waste treatment plant (Dublin descriptor: 2 and 3)
  The practical activities will allow students to:
• deepen the knowledge of specific waste streams (Dublin descriptor: 1 and 2)
• engage in practical quantitative evaluations related to waste (Dublin descriptor: 4)
• improve their ability to work in group (Dublin descriptor: 4 and 5)

Overall framework: waste production and management in Italy, the EU and in the world
Waste characteristics: waste composition analysis, proximate and elemental analysis, calorific value, biogenic content. Solid Recovered Fuels - SRF
Legislation applicable to waste (in Italy and in the EU)
Waste prevention and re-use: general concepts, decoupling, examples of waste prevention activities
Integrated waste management: general concepts, waste management plans, waste collection strategies and schemes
Material recycling: overall framework, focus on the sorting and recycling of paper, plastic, glass, aluminium
Mechanical-Biological Treatments (MBT): process concepts, mass and energy balances, impacts on the environment
Biological processes (composting, anaerobic digestion): process concepts, mass and energy balances, impacts on the environment
Thermal treatments through combustion in dedicated plants: process concepts, mass and energy balances, impacts on the environment, assessment of biogenic vs. fossil CO2 emissions
Alternative thermal treatments: gasification and pyrolysis; co-combustion in cement kilns and power plants
Landfill disposal: design and operation, leachate and biogas characteristics and management, legislation, aftercare
Assessment and management of selected waste streams: Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), Construction and Demolition waste, End of Live Vehicles, Li-ion batteries, Used Tyres
Introduction to the role of waste management in the circular economy framework
The course includes a series of exercises on the main topics of the teaching program.
A field visit to one or more waste treatment plants is part of the program, together with one or more seminars held by external professionals.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
During the semester
M2C students will have to carry out individually (or in couple) one project related to the preliminary design of a waste treatment plant. The project will be evaluated for its corectness, proper design choices, adequate technical language.
The other students will have to carry out a practical activity in small groups. It will be evaluated based on its comprehensiveness, also during its plenary presentation, which will include a peer-review session.
Both the project and the practical activities cannot be repeated during the year (one-shot)
At the calls
The same rules apply to all students: a written test with exercises and a theoretical question, followed by an oral exam on the whole program. (Rules might change in case of very crowded calls). Both written test and oral exam need to be sufficient (6/10) to achieve the final grade.
The final mark is based on the outcome of the written test, of the oral exam and of the projects or practical activity.

Thomas H. Christensen (Editor), Solid Waste Technology & Management, Volume 1 & 2, Editore: John Wiley & Sons, Anno edizione: 2011, ISBN: 9781405175173
Slides, lecture notes on the key topics. All has to be to be complemented by the students notes. Beep

The subsitution of fossil energy sources with renewable materials represents one of today's biggest engineering challenges for the improvement of the quality of our environment. For this reason, the knowledge of the technical and economical aspects related to the exploitment of such materials is of great importance for the chemical engineers of today, who will more and more have to face problems related to energy and environment in their working lives.
This course aims to give the students the basic knowledge to understand the technical and environmental aspects related to the exploitment and the conversion of renewable raw materials, thereby providing them with the elements and instruments for a quantitative analysis of the related problems.
This course explains the chemical and chemical engineering aspects of processes for the exploitation of biomasses and of other renewable raw materials.
The chemistry at the basis of the conversion processes will be introduced, then the processes and plants for the profuction of energy, fuels or chemical products from renewable raw materials will be discussed in depth. Due to the growing interest towards the substiution of primary biomasses with secondary biomasses, a part of the course will be dedicated to the waste-to-energy market, and to the emerging technologies that can be used to convert waste materials into valuable products. A focus on the economical and environmental sustainability issues related to the different sources will be discussed.
This introductive end explanatory part of the course will be prpaedeutic to the second part of the course, in which the students will have to work in groups by chosing a specific topic reated to the content of the course, study it in-depth and then present it in class in a flipped-classroom mode. The deepening of the chosen topic shall include the development of a quantitative exercise to prove the understanding of the engineering aspects of the problem and the capability to analyse the environmental and economical issues related to the exploitment of renewable raw materials.

The lectures and the group projects wil allow the students to:

• know and discuss about data regarding energy markets from fossil and renewable fuels
• know the principles of chemistry and chemical engineering related to the exploitement of renewable raw materials
• evaluate the environmental and economical issues related to the exploitment of renewable raw materials
• analyse problems related to the exploitment and conversion of renewable raw materials from a quantitative point of view
• prepare, present, and discuss a presentation on a topic related to renewable raw materials

The arguments of the course follow the typical scheme of a course of chemical industry, thus illustrating the product relevance, and then investigating the processes and plants for the exploitment of the different energy resources.
More in detail, the course will include the following topics:
1. Overview of the energy market and energy resources. Illustration of the global energy market and comparison between the exploitment of fossil and renewable energies. Introduction on the u se of green sources for the production of chemicals and fuels. Forecasts for the evolution of the renewable energy market for different possible scenarios. Regulatory framework in the energy sector and its consequences on the market.
2. Principles of organic chemistry related to biomass exploitation as energy source. Introduction about chemical properties and reactions that are at the basis of the exploitment of biomasses as energy sources. Oleochemistry related to the production of biodiesel from vegetal or animal oils (esterification and trans-esterification), chemistry of carbohydrates related to the production of bioethanol (fermentation), and other chemical reactions related to the production of biogas or bio-oil.
3. Biomass. This topic represents the central and principal part of the course. Definition of biomass and distinction beetween primary and secondary biomasses. Photosynthesis and chemistry of biomasses. Overview of biomass conversion processes. Thermochemical processes: combustion, gassification, pirolysis. Biochemical processes: transesterification, fermentation, digestion. Description of processes and plants. Economic and environemntal sustainability. Innovative technologies and future perspectives. Biorfeineries: description and classification. Practical examples.
4. Waste-to-energy. Use of organic wastes as biomasses. Description of traditional and new technologies for the waste treatment and its conversion into energy or biofuels. Waste treatment plant design in consideration of economic and environmental issues. Practical examples.
5. Biomass derivates, biopolymers and paper. Description of biomass derivate materials (e.g., cellulose) applied to different industrial sectors, such as pharma, food, etc. Bionass conversion into biopolymers. PLA, PHB as major product obtained by chemical and fermentative processes.

Prova orale obbligatoria
Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The exam will be represented by the group project and its presentation in class. The topic of the project will have to be pre-authorized by the teacher.
During the classroom presentation, the students will have to prove to have gone in depth into the problem. The evaluation of the group project and of the presentation will be based on the capability of the student to demonstrate the acquisition of the topics explained during the course, to carry out a numerical evaluation related to the topic exposed, and to expose the presentation in a clear and effective manner.
The grade will be individual, and it will be based on the oral expsition as well as on the capability to answer specific questions related to the topic presented.

null Beep
Note: The bibliography of the course is dispensed at each lesson. It includes scientific papers, books chapters, and technical sheets.

Main aim of this course is providing, by means of statistical and probabilistic methods, a rationale for the thermodynamic description and a bottom-up description of the structural and dynamic properties of materials. These concepts are then applied to the description of systems of specific interest in engineering applications, such as liquids, plasmas, disordered solids (glasses and gels) and magnetic materials, and to investigate physical problems of technological relevance such as phase transitions, superfluidity and superconductivity.

At the end of the course, students should
Know and master the fundamental ideas of statistical physics and the basic tools, such as statistical ensembles and partition functions, which allow to relate the microscopic world to the macroscopic realm of thermodynamics;
Manage to apply the former general concepts to topics in condensed matter and material science of interest for their specific course of studies.
Be capable of conveying the knowledge they have acquired with plainness but also with accuracy and the ability to synthetize the argument (even for an audience that may not be as learned in the field as their teacher).

1. Review of probability and statistics. Probability distributions of interest in physics. Statistical entropy. Brownian motion as a paradigm of stochastic processes in physics.
2. From the macroworld to the microworld. Review of thermodynamics. Physical description of classical and quantum many-particle systems. Phase space and Liouville theorem. Density of quantum microstates and its dependence on total energy.
3. Foundations of statistical mechanics. Boltzmann fundamental postulate. Microcanonical distribution and thermodynamics. Gibbs paradox and Maxwell-Boltzmann (MB) approximation.
4. Closed systems and canonical distribution. Partition function and free Energy. Average value and fluctuations of internal variables. Canonical distribution for independent particles and system of indistinguishable particles. Classical monatomic gas. Polyatomic gases. Einstein and Debye models for the specific heat of solids. Phonons in solids. Paramagnetism and diamagnetism. Bohr-van Leewen theorem.
5. Mean field theories. Van der Waals model of the liquid-gas transition. Ferromagnetism and Curie-Weiss theory. Plasmas in the Debye-Hückel approximation.
6. Open systems and gran-canonical distribution. Chemical potential. Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Inhomogeneous systems and local chemical potential. Colloidal dispersions. Quantum statistics. Weakly-degenerate gases. Fermi gas and Sommerfeld theory for electrons in metals. Degenerate Bose gas and Bose-Einstein (BE) condensation. Laser cooling and BE condensation in dilute gases confined by magneto-optical traps.
7. Highly correlated systems. Liquid structure. Density correlations and structure factor. Superfluidity in 4 He and Landau-Tisza phenomenological model. Superconductivity (hints).

Prova orale obbligatoria
The evaluation consists in an oral examination, structured so to ascertain whether and to what extent the goals of the course have been reached. Specifically, the student is first asked to give a concise introduction to one of the general subjects discussed in the course, so to check her/his skills in summarizing and framing an argument. Practical mastering of the acquired knowledge is then verified by asking the student to explicitly derive some of the main results related to that topic (namely, the student should be able to combine synthetic with analytic skills), focusing on a specific application of the discussed subject to the main subject of his/her studies. For the overall evaluation, a yardstick of the student’s performance, besides the clarity and effectiveness of the exposition, will also be the skill in using an appropriate scientific language and the readiness in finding connections between different topics. The final assessment will also take into account the degree of incremental knowledge acquired by student with respect to her/his starting level.

Roberto Piazza, Statistical Physics: A prelude and fugue for engineers, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2017, ISBN: 978-3-319-44536-6
Note: This is the official textbook of the course, which can be FREELY DOWNLOADED by all the students from
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-44537-3
using their PoliMi credentials

Il corso intende introdurre lo studente al tema dello sviluppo sostenibile e al ruolo della tecnologia nella complessità delle sfide globali. Lo sviluppo sostenibile mira a identificare modelli innovativi per la Prosperità economica compatibili con il rispetto del Pianeta e l'inclusione sociale di tutte le Persone. In questa prospettiva il razionale e le logiche che sottendono a tale paradigma dello deve essere analizzate e compreso dalle generazioni di ingegneri che lavoreranno in contesti sempre più globali e inserito come elemento caratterizzante per una professione che inevitabilmente è in continua evoluzione. L'interesse per questi temi è evidente e ben esplicitato nell'Agenda 2030 delle Nazioni Unite e nei 17 obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile, nella visione di una Europa della conoscenza e nell'interdipendenza globale marcata dagli effetti diretti e indiretti delle crisi economiche e sociali mondiali sui sistemi tecnologici e economici

Industries play the crucial role in enabling and accelerating the transition towards the sustainable development. While this transition is an imperative for abating the climate change and ensure the livable future, it also becomes an indispensable condition for companies to retain competitive advantage and to remain at the market. The course is designed to provide students with concepts and instruments necessary for understanding and analysing industrial practices in terms of their sustainability performance (with a particular focus on environmental performance). The course starts with the principles of industrial ecology, sustainable development, and circular economy concepts. Then, technologies and production practices at company and industrial system levels are introduced and the approaches for their deployment are discussed.
The course is organised in lectures, in-class exercises, and project work.

Identify and analyse opportunities for improving sustainability of industrial processes
Examine the impact of identified measures on sustainability performance of industrial processes
Present solutions and ideas in a professional and constructive way, fostering the value of the teamwork, and using a language adequate to both managers and fellow students

The role of sustainable development and circular economy in transforming production practices and industrial systems
Industrial Symbiosis

Progetto/i - Elaborato/i obbligatorio, di gruppo, con revisioni periodiche, con presentazione/discussione finale
The final exam will be based on the public presentation of the group work. Students will face periodic reviews of their project during the whole semester.

The course provides fundamental notions aimed at building solid awareness of the responsibilities arising from technical activities.
Specifically, the course is oriented towards providing a general overview of the rights and duties of technical experts, along with the identification of tools and procedures for legal protection (such as insurance, contractual clauses). Furthermore, the course aims to illustrate the rules protecting inventions - copyrights, and patents - granting the student immediate access to reference sources and applicable regulations, also through the analysis of practical cases.
The last part of the course offers an analysis of the legislation related to artificial intelligence and its evolution.

The knowledge of the fundamental concepts of food chemistry is of primary importance in the modern food industry and technology. For this reason, the “Technologies for food chemistry” course aims at providing the basic information on the composition of food, the chemical and physical properties of its main constituents, their nutritional value, together with a general overview of the main chemical reactions they undergo during processing, storage, and handling. Brief mentions of the main techniques used for food characterization and analysis will also be provided. At the beginning of the course, some key concepts of general and organic chemistry will be revised, in order to fill possible gaps in students’ chemical background.
The course will cover the following main topics:
Key concepts of general and organic chemistry
Main constituents of food: classification, chemical structure and nutritional value
Chemistry of food processing and storage
Food additives
The course is organized in lectures (to introduce theoretical concepts), exercise sessions (to discuss specific examples and practical applications) and laboratory activities (to provide practical experience of significant chemical reactions involved in food processing and analysis).

At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
identify the different functional groups in organic compounds, their name, chemical structure and reactivity
distinguish the main constituents of food, in terms of chemical structure, properties and nutritional values
apply their general chemical knowledge to the key chemical reactions involved in food processing and storage
identify and describe the main classes of additives used in the food industry and their function

Key concepts of general and organic chemistry
1.1 Brief summary of the fundamental concepts of general chemistry
1.2 Introduction to organic chemistry: C hybridization, structure and conformations of organic compounds
1.3 Functional groups and classes of organic compounds: chemical structure, nomenclature and properties
1.4 Main classes of organic reactions and their mechanisms
Main constituents of food: classification, chemical structure and nutritional value
2.1 Water
2.2 Lipids
2.3 Aminoacids and proteins
2.4 Carbohydrates
2.5 Minerals and vitamins
The chemistry of food processing and storage
3.1 Main chemical reactions due to cooking and other treatments
3.2 Quality-degrading processes
3.3 Brief overview of the main techniques used for food characterization and analysis
Food additives
4.1 General classification of food additives (Codex Alimentarius) and their functions
4.2 Colouring agents
4.3 Flavors and flavor enhancers
4.5 Food contaminants

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Altro
The final evaluation will be based on a 2 h written test composed of 7 questions (either practical exercises or open questions). Attendance to the laboratory sessions with the handing in of a written report will constitute part of the final mark. The overall score will be the combination of the two parts.

WeBeep https://webeep.polimi.it/login/index.php
Note: slides of the lectures, exercises, instructions for the laboratory sessions, tables and data.
Zeece, Introduction to the chemistry of food, Editore: Elsevier Academic Press, ISBN: 978-0-12-809434-1
deMan, Finley, Hurst, Lee, Principles of food chemistry, Editore: Springer, Anno edizione: 2018, ISBN: 978-3-319-63605-4
Provost, Colabroy, Kelly, Wallert, The Science of Cooking: Understanding the Biology and Chemistry Behind Food and Cooking, Editore: Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-21033-7
Cappelli, Vannucci, Principi di chimica degli alimenti, Editore: Zanichelli, ISBN: 978-88-08-62123-8
Note: in italian
Cabras, Martelli, Chimica degli alimenti, Editore: Piccin, ISBN: 88-299-1696-X
Note: in italian

Due to the growing sensitivity and awareness of environmental issues, and increasingly stringent regulations, water treatment technologies are a rapidly growing area of engineering. This course aims at filling educational gaps on advanced water-related technologies, with particular focus on the application of advanced oxidation and reduction methods to pollution sensing and abatement. Many of the technologies presented are not available on an industrial scale and aim to address environmental problems that conventional technologies are unable to effectively tackle. The program includes plasma processes, sonolysis, ionizing processes, photochemical and photocatalytyic processes and all electrochemical technologies industrially applied for the detection and removal of pollutants. The course will provide a comprehensive coverage of the theory and practice. The value of the course will be enhanced by lessons given by industry representatives, both in the field of technologies manufacturing and water managing.
XXX
La crescente sensibilità e consapevolezza nei confronti delle problematiche ambientali, unitamente a normative sempre più stringenti, rendono le tecnologie per il trattamento delle acque uno dei settori dell'ingegneria in più rapida evoluzione.
L'insegnamento si propone di colmare le lacune formative nell'ambito delle tecnologie avanzate per il trattamento delle acque, con particolare attenzione all'applicazione dei processi avanzati di ossidazione e riduzione per il monitoraggio e l'abbattimento degli inquinanti. Molte delle tecnologie presentate non sono ancora disponibili su scala industriale e sono finalizzate ad affrontare problematiche ambientali che le tecnologie convenzionali non sono in grado di risolvere in modo efficace.
Il programma comprende i processi al plasma, la sonolisi, i processi basati su radiazioni ionizzanti, i processi fotochimici e fotocatalitici, nonché le principali tecnologie elettrochimiche impiegate a livello industriale per il rilevamento e la rimozione degli inquinanti.
L'insegnamento offre una trattazione completa sia degli aspetti teorici sia delle applicazioni pratiche. Il percorso formativo è inoltre arricchito da interventi di esperti provenienti dal settore industriale, attivi sia nella progettazione e produzione di tecnologie per il trattamento delle acque sia nella gestione delle risorse idriche.

The students are expected to acquire familiarity with modern engineering technologies for water remediation and pollution detection.
In particular, upon completion of the semester the student will be able to:
understand and describe the role of physico-chemical advanced technology in water remediation;
classify the unconventional methods applied to water analysis and water treatment;
autonomou sly recognize, compare and evaluate the various technologies considered during the semester relative to the target;
****
Gli studenti dovranno acquisire familiarità con moderne tecnologie per la decontaminazione delle acque.
In particolare, al termine del semestre gli studenti dovranno essere in grado di:
1. comprendere e descrivere il ruolo delle tecnologie fisico-chimiche non convenzionali nel settore del trattamento delle acque
2. classificare i metodi non convenzionali applicati all'anaisi ed al trattamento delle acque
3. riconoscere, confrontare e valutare in modo autonomo l'efficacia delle diverse tecnologie considerate durante il semestre in relazione allo specifico obiettivo nell'ambito del trattamento delle acque.

Introduction
(Cold) Plasma processes
Ionizing processes
Gamma-rays
Electron-beam
Microwaves
Sonolysis
Photochemical processes
Photocatalytic processes
Electrochemical technologies
Electrochemical oxidation
Electrochemical reduction
Electroflotation
Electrocoagulation
Electrodyalisis
Electrochemical disinfection
Electrochemical sensing of pollutants
Potentiometric sensors
Amperometric-coulometric detection of pollutants
Voltammetric detection of pollutants
Polarographic detection of pollutants
Amperometric gas sensors
Stripping analysis
Conductivity detectors
Photoassisted detection of pollutants
Innovative teaching: several lectures will be given by industry representatives.

Prova scritta obbligatoria, senza prove in itinere
Written exam consisting in 3-5 open questions, including 2 general questions and 1-3 specific questions. The student is expected to be able to describe the various technologies presented in the course using a suitable technical language, and to discriminate among different techniques selecting the most suitable one(s) with reference to a specific practical study case.
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Esame scritto, 3-5 domande a risposta aperta delle quali 2 di carattere generale e 1-3 specifiche. Lo studente vorà essere in grado di descrivere le varie tecnologie presentate nel corso utilizzando un linguaggio tecnico appropriato, e di discriminare tra le diverse tecnologie selezionando quella/quelle più adatta/e a risolvere specifici problemi di inquinamento.