Part 1 – Bioprocess Engineering Principles and Applications
The course provides PhD students with a comprehensive introduction to the main concepts and modern applications of bioprocess engineering for the development of the bio-based industry. Emphasis will be placed on the engineering principles governing biological processes and on the integration of biotechnological approaches into sustainable production and treatment technologies.
The course will cover fundamental aspects of bioprocess engineering, including microbial metabolism and kinetics, transport phenomena, bioreactor configurations, and operational parameters affecting process performance. Different biological systems based on bacteria, yeasts, and photosynthetic microorganisms will be discussed, with particular focus on fermentation processes and photobioreactor cultivation strategies for the production of bio-based compounds and valuable biomolecules. Specific attention will also be devoted to biofilm systems and their technological applications, highlighting the role of microbial consortia in attached-growth processes and engineered biological reactors. Applications in wastewater treatment, nutrient recovery, and environmental biotechnologies will be presented together with the main design and operational challenges.
The course will include examples from both industrial practice and current research activities, such as algal cultivation platforms, aerobic and anaerobic fermentation systems, and biofilm reactors for water remediation. These case studies will allow students to explore process integration strategies and recent developments in modern bioprocess engineering.
Part 2 – Chemical Engineering for Waste Valorisation and Resource Circularity
The course is aimed at providing PhD students in chemical engineering with an overview of advanced approaches for waste valorisation, resource recovery, and circular process design. The course will address the role of chemical engineering in the transition toward sustainable and circular industrial systems, combining fundamental concepts with industrially relevant applications.
The first part of the course will introduce the principles of circular economy and resource circularity, including current challenges in waste management, European regulatory frameworks, and the main technological approaches for recycling and recovery processes. Particular attention will be devoted to advanced recycling technologies for polymeric materials, including chemical recycling and thermochemical conversion processes such as pyrolysis and gasification.
A dedicated module will focus on sustainability assessment methodologies, with emphasis on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) as tools for evaluating the environmental and economic performance of recycling processes.
The course will conclude with industrial case studies, including lithium recovery from LFP battery waste and carbon tetrachloride recycling for chloroform production. These case studies will provide students with examples of process integration and industrial implementation of circular chemistry strategies.
