• To provide the students with basic knowledge of the chemistry of biomass and its applications.
• To develop the skills required to evaluate routes to biorenewable chemicals, taking into consideration current economic, technological and sustainability issues.
• To provide the students with an understanding of the current transformations that the chemical industry is undergoing and to enable them to identify potential business opportunities.
• To provide the students with updated knowledge and skills in an emerging industrial activity that will widen and enhance career options.

(LO1) The students should be able to demonstrate understanding of the basic terminology and chemical nomenclature associated with the area of biorenewable chemicals

(LO2) The students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main synthetic routes to derive chemicals from biomass

(LO3) The students should be able to demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding of the main biorefinery models

(LO4) The students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the sustainability issues associated with the use of biomass

(LO5) The students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the main technologies, companies, industries, challenges and trends in the emerging bioeconomy

(LO6) Students should be able to identify the potential applications of bioderived chemicals

(LO7) Students should be able to demonstrate understanding of platforms for renewable feedstocks and, their role in the production of chemicals based upon their availability, composition and, technologies available for their transformation.

(LO8) Given a specific chemical/product as commercial target, the students should be able to critically evaluate routes and opportunities to it taking into account the state of the art technology and pathways for commercialisation

(S1) skills in the evaluation, interpretation and synthesis of chemical information and data

(S2) the ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts,concepts, principles and theories relating to renewable chemicals and biomass transformations

(S3) skills in communicating scientific material and arguments

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Media analysis

(S5) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S6) Critical thinking and problem solving - Creative thinking

(S7) Information skills - Information accessing:[Locating relevant information] [Identifying and evaluating information sources]

Lectures. 16 x 1 hr in-person lectures + 1 additional hour revision lecture.

Workshops. 2 x 1 hr In-person workshops, scheduled to enable reduced groups to get direct guidance and obtain clarification on their own individual CA that deals with critically analysis routes to chemicals from biomass.

Individual Video Feedback Sessions. Students will be offered slots of 20 min each for individual video feedback based on a draft of their CA. Students opting out live appointment will be supplied with a video feedback discussing the submitted draft.

Coursework. A 2500 word essay using scientific and open access information sources to critically evaluate a particular chemical route/problem within the area of "Biorenewable Chemicals from Biomass" to be submitted mid semester. A unique essay title will be provided for each student individually near the beginning of the semester and the topics will provide an opportunity for the student to expand the content of the lectures on specific routes to bioderived chemicals (i.e. biodiesel, bioderived polyolefins, bioderived hydrogen, etc.). Guidance on how to write the essay will be given, based on expanding scientific and commercial reports in the Bioeconomy area, available in Reading List in Canvas (i.e. Bio-based chemicals: value added products from biorefinery).
Individual feedback and guidance on this essay will be offered to each student via online appointment and written form.

*Lectures: 16 hr
*Workshops: 2 hr

1. The Bio-based Economy and Circular Economy as the basis to renewable and zero carbon products.

2. Biorefinery Introduction, Classification and sources of renewable carbon within the Circular Economy.

3. Main Platforms in Biomass Conversion I
- a. Syngas Platform
- b. Biogas Platform
- c. C6 and C6/C5 Sugar Platform
- d. Plant-based Oil Platform

4. Main Platforms in Biomass Conversion II
- e. Algae Oil Platform
- f. Organic solutions Platform
- g. Lignin Platform
- h. Pyrolysis Oil Platform

5. Evaluating Biobased Product Opportunities: Resources, Examples and How to write your Essay

6. Commercial & Near Market Products: C1 and C2 containing compounds.

7. Commercial & Near Market Products: C2 containing compounds

8. Commercial & Near Market Products: C3 containing compounds

9. Commercial & Near Market Products: C4 containing compounds

10. Commercial & Near Mark et Products: C5 containing compounds.

11. Commercial & Near Market Products: C6 containing compounds.

12. Commercial & Near Market Products: Biorenewable Aromatic compounds.

13. Commercial & Near Market Products from Lignin

14. Biobased Chemicals:
- a. Opportunities and Growth Prediction
- b. Benefits of Integration of Fuels and Chemicals Production
- c. Product Commercialisation

15. Yeasts, Microbes and Enzymes in Biorefining