Overall objectives:

1 - Understand the importance of waste conversion technology;
2 - Know and distinguish the different transformation methodologies, as well as the processes and microorganisms involved;
3 - Know and understand the biomass that can be used, produced, converted or targeted for extraction, in the production of biofuels and other materials;
4 - Properly mobilize the acquired knowledge;
5 - Develop skills to interpret, evaluate, decide and intervene responsibly in situations related to future professional activity;
6 - Develop and demonstrate initiative, autonomy and work habits.

Syllabus:

1 - Definitions and concepts related with reutilization and conversion of waste.
1.1 - Definition of waste and evaluation of its usability and accessibility
1.2 - Waste conversion as a strategy to increase sustainability and circularity.
2 - Waste classification, characterization and management.
3 - Technologies de reconversion, disadvantages and benefits.
4 - Implementation of biorefineries. Definition. Strategies.
5 - Fractionation and valorization of biomass.
6 - Use of the thermochemical processes in the wast conversion/ transformation
7 - Use of microorganisms, biochemical processes and enzymes in the transformation of waste.
8 - Applied laboratory activities to illustrate and explain the theoretical contents of the courses.

Literature/Sources:

Crocker, M. , 2013 , Thermochemical conversion of biomass to liquid fuels and chemicals. in RSC Energy and Environment Series, , RSC Publishing.
Demirbas, A. , 2010 , Biorefineries: For biomass upgrading facilities. In Green Energy and Technology, , Springer.
Hood, E. E., Nelson, P., & Powell, R. W. , 2011 , Plant Biomass Conversion. In Biomass and BiofuelsSeries, , Wiley-Blackwell.
Vertès, A. A., Qureshi, N., Blaschek, H. P., & Yukawa, H. , 2010 , Biomass to Biofuels -Strategies for Global Industries, , Wiley

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The aim is to acquire and apply the knowledge foreseen in the course?s objectives and syllabus contents, through an active and interdisciplinary methodology. The student must learn the basic concepts and know-how to relate them to each other, proceeding with their reinforcement, through applied learning using available tools and study visits to concrete situations of the future professional activity. To achieve the objectives and implement the syllabus, the UC's contact hours are scheduled as follows: Theoretical-practical teaching: 19 hours; Practical and laboratory teaching: 30 hours; and Field work: 15 hours. The evaluation will include several moments of evaluation applied to the theoretical-practical components, laboratory practices and field work (e.g. frequencies, works and reports), any of the elements cannot exceed a weighting of 50%. the theoretical-practical elements can be retrieved in resource.