EXPERIMENTAL METHODS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CATALYSIS

The course falls within the core training activities of the Master Study Programme in Sustainable Chemistry and Technologies. The specific objective of the course, which includes both theoretical and practical lessons to handle programs to analyse spectra, is to provide basic and advanced knowledge in the preparation and characterization of catalysts, and their application in different reactions of environmental interest.
The course aims to develop skills that allow the students to know and to interpretate different types of catalytic reactions such as biomass valorization, abatement of pollutants for air, hydrogen production and CO2 reduction, among others.
Students will be able to analyse and understand specific characterization techniques such as XPS, Raman spectroscopy, Thermal Programmed Desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD), Thermal Programmed Reduction (TPR) and Solid State NMR, identifying advantages, limits and applications of each technique.
To achieve these objectives, a number of practical sessions are planned within the course, including the critical interpretation of recent papers on environmental catalysis by the student.

1. Knowledge and understanding.
I) Being able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Catalysis, including different aspects on synthesis, characterization and applications.
II) Being able to evaluate catalytic results.
III) Understanding the existing relationships between the structure and catalytic reactivity of a selected materials in different catalytic processes.
IV) Knowledge the of advanced characterization techniques
V) Knowledge of basic and advanced concept in Green Chemistry applied to Catalysis
VI) Knowledge the synthesis methodologies based on non-toxic elements

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding.
I) Being able to use the concepts learned to a right interpretation of the catalytic results
II) Demonstrate skills in the different catalytic reactions of environmental interest such as the selective catalytic reduction of NOx (NOx-SCR), abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), production of biofuel, hydrotreatment of fuels (HDS, HDN, HDO), hydrogen production and CO2 valorization.

3. Ability to judge.
I) Being able to use the acquired knowledge to evaluate catalytic results (Turn Over Frequency, selectivity and conversion data).
II) Being able to evaluate the potential use of different catalysts in reactions of environmental interest.
III) Being able to discuss papers on environmental catalysis

4. Communication skills
I) Being able to use the appropriate scientific-technical terminology and symbology in Catalysis, both verbally and in written form, to discuss the course contents.
II) Being able to interact constructively with the teacher and with the other students.

5. Learning skills
I) Being able to synthesize in an autonomous way the salient aspects of the concepts expressed in class.
II) Being able to make logical connections between the topics of the course.

Prerequisites include basic courses in Chemistry, Materials Science and Solid State Physics. In particular, the student must have competences concerning the fundamental aspects of General, Physical-Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry.

According to the training objectives and expected learning outcomes, the theoretical contents of the course can be divided as follows:
1.- Preparation of catalysts by different routes.
2.- Characterization of catalysts by specific techniques (XPS, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, H2-TPD, H2-TPR, Raman, Pyridine coupled FT-IR, Solid State NMR, Porosity, among others).
3.- Catalytic system of environmental interest (selective catalytic reduction of NOx (NOx-SCR), abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), production of biofuel, hydrotreatment of fuels (HDS, HDN, HDO), hydrogen production and CO2 valorization).
4.- Discussion of recent papers on Environmental Catalysis.

Environmental Catalysis. G. Ertl, H. Knözinger, J. Weitkamp, WilleyVCH Verlag GmbH 1999, Doi:10.1002/9783527619412.
Environmental Catalysis. V.H. Grassian, CRC Pres, 2019 , ISBN 9780367392741.
Environmental Catalysis. F.J.J.G. Janssen, R.A. van Santen, Imperial College Press, 2019, ISBN: 1-86094-125-7.
Acces to the most relevant journals in Catalysis such as: Journal of Catalysis, Applied Catalysis B: Enviromental, Applied Catalysis A: General, ACS Catalysis, Catalysis, Science &Technology, Catalysists, among others.

The assessment of learning takes place through test examination and an oral discussion of a paper on Environmental Catalysis. The test exam consists of 20 questions, and the oral will be a presentation during 20 minutes with a critical discussion of the most relevant aspect of the paper. The final mark will depend both on the test examination (50%) and the oral exposition (50%).

Teaching is organized in lectures and practical works (at least 75 % of class is required to pass the course), In Moodle platform, educational material is available and can be downloaded.

English

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE COURSE COULD CHANGE AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.


Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion.
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.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development