BIO-BASED FEEDSTOCKS FOR ORGANIC SYNTHESIS

The use of renewable resources - such as biomass - as a raw material for the synthesis of fuels and chemicals is a goal for green chemistry with a view to developing new sustainable products and processes. The studies in this field are aimed at the development of the biorefinery and represent an advanced research topic that aims to gradually replace non-renewable fossil resources with raw materials of vegetal origin. The use of biomass for the synthesis of fuels is dealt with in the course Refinery and Biorefinery of the present degree course, here instead the use of biomass is described as a starting point for the synthesis of chemicals.

This course therefore focuses on the description of the ecological, social and economic reasons tha are at the basis of the transition from the fossil petrochemical industry to a renewable and therefore sustainable one, on the nature of biomass, on its transformation - upgrading - into simpler building-blocks, and on the subsequent steps aimed at obtaining high value-added secondary products for the chemical industry. The chemical and biochemical transformation technologies are also treated, focusing attention on the molecular level understanding of processes.

This course deepens some concepts of green chemistry in a targeted and expanded manner and contributes - together with other courses in this field of the master's degree course - to provide students with the intellectual tools and specific knowledge useful for future careers in technology, the green economy, bio-economy and the circular economy.

Knowledge and understanding
to. To be familiar with the current and future scenario of availability and use of the main chemical resources and raw materials, both of fossil and renewable origin.
b. Know the main concepts and motivations for the development of the biorefinery, recent developments and future prospects.
c. Know and understand the scientific, economic and social reasons behind the transition from the use of fossil resources to renewable ones.
d. Know the main existing technologies and the state of the art of chemical production of molecules, intermediates, materials, and derivatives.
is. Understanding the future potential for the production of chemicals, intermediates, materials, starting from renewable raw materials.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
to. Ability to use the knowledge to evaluate the sustainability of raw materials for the chemical industry.
b. Knowing the connection between cause and effect in the use of different types of raw materials for chemical transformations, by recognizing any critical issues and potential environmental and ecological problems, for example relating to greenhouse gases.
c. Knowing how to search, find, consult and understand the main bibliographic sources to support the concepts related to the use of renewable resources as synthetic building blocks.
d. Understand and apply the knowledge and methods learned from this course to those of other branches of chemistry and disciplines connected in an interdisciplinary manner.
is. Ability to propose alternative processes and different raw materials for the synthesis of chemicals or materials.
f. Knowing how to identify benefits, disadvantages and how to improve aspects of a chemical product or process from the resources point of view.
g. Ability to identify the main elements that can be improved in terms of eco-sustainability and chemical process safety, with particular attention to technologies and raw materials.

3. Ability to judge
a. To be able to critically and comparatively evaluate the type of renewable raw material and its potential / drawbacks in view of developing a chemical product or process
b. Develop critical thinking and independent judgment on the main characteristics of a chemical product or process related to the impact on human health and the environment.

4. Communication skills
to. Ability to explain and argue with rigor, clarity and conciseness the concepts underlying the synthesis from renewable resources through examples and case studies with attention to the context and principles of green chemistry.
b. To be able to explain the main sources of renewable raw materials, the main products, solvents, methodologies and processes.
c. Knowing how to critically discuss different products or processes in terms of eco-compatibility.
d. Knowing how to interact in the classroom with the teacher and with the classmates, formulating questions, answering questions and arguing about the problems posed by the teacher.

5. Learning skills
to. Ability to identify independently the main aspects and concepts discussed in class.
b. Ability to connect and integrate topics from different chemical fields in the context of the development of new products of renewable origin.
c. To learn how to enrich one's own training through bibliographic research.

The course mainly requires knowledge of Organic Chemistry and Green Chemistry but its interdisciplinary nature also draws on knowledge of Industrial Chemistry and Sustainability. It is required to be able to carry out bibliographic research using the main electronic resources.

Description of the program, methods of examination and bibliography
Context, main sources of raw materials for the chemical industry, why use renewable raw materials of plant origin?
Biomass: composition and structure. food and non-food biomass - Lignin, Cellulose, Hemicellulose, Lipids. Hints on the hydrolysis of polysaccharides, the chemistry of oligo- and mono-saccharides.
Biomass: origin, crops and sources.
Biomass: main pretreatment processes, separation of the different components, primary transformation and purification.
Main building blocks obtainable from biomass by chemical synthesis: light molecules, technologies to produce them in an efficient and selective way, structure, properties, characteristics, uses. From C1 molecules (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methanol), to molecules with an increasing number of carbon atoms.
Primary products (platform chemicals): Ethanol, lactic acid, glycerol, propionic acid, succinic acid, furfural, itaconic acid, levulinic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural
Secondary products and platform derivatives.
Molecular level understanding synthetic and transformation processes, mechanisms, catalysts and technologies.
Transformation technologies: synthesis and catalysis
Examples of chemical transformations, products, processes and reactions taken from the current scientific literature. Discussion.

Introcuction to Chemicals From Biomass, Second edition, J. Clark and F. Deswarte Eds. Wiley, (disponibile online attraverso la biblioteca di Ca' Foscari)
Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass Vol I and II, U.S: Department of Energy.
Lecture notes
Scientific literature

The exam is oral and consists in the presentation and discussion of a scientific article chose by the student from the recent literature. The students are asked to choose a recent scientific article relevant to the course, to read it, to prepare a short conference presentation (15 min) with slides and to discuss the scientific aspects of the research with the instructor. Questions will follow, to verify that the student is able to link the topics of the article with the general context of the course.

The course consists of lectures on the topics indicated in the contents section, accompanied by case studies, examples, excersises and discussion in the classroom.
The teaching material is available and can be downloaded on the "Moodle" platform of the University.

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The student at the end of the course will be able to evaluate from a sustainability standpoint:
- The impact of the choice of raw materials on an organic syntheses with respect to the environment and on the human health
- The impact of industrial processes on the environment and on the human health
- Natural resources as feedstooks for organic transformations

Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments: Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). In the case of disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development