Introductory description

The concept of “one world living” has stimulated a demand for sustainable feedstocks and resources for a range of industrial applications . Economic and government policies have generated a market for “first generation” biofuels, however, there are growing public concerns that the crops used as feedstock for these fuels are utilising land mass more suited for food production and are therefore not truly sustainable. The development of a truly sustainable “second generation” biofuel is ongoing and there is increasing interest to exploit plants as feedstock’s for other industrial applications via the development of bio-refineries. There is a need to take account of ethics and increasing competition for land use for different purposes in order to develop a sustainable future in which biologically based technologies will play an important role

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Introduction.
2. Initial analysis of impact of differing land use, sustainability of different biofuels in light of carbon emissions and
   agricultural practices.
3. Life-cycle analysis and economics justification.
4. Background.
5. Biofuels or sustainable energy?
6. 1st generation biodiesiel cleanliness.
7. Advanced biodiesel.
8. First generation bio-ethanol from sugar cane, sugar beet and wheat including economics, impact of price and
   sustainability. Cellulosic ethanol.
9. Biomass crops.
10. Sustainability of supplies –the importance of balance.
11. Algae.
12. Cellulosics and alternative technologies for lignin breakdown.
13. Concept of biorefining.
14. Adding value.
15. Biogas and fuel cells.
16. Gussing example.
17. Industrial biotechnology.
18. Alternative technologies for lignin breakdown.
19. Adding Value
20. Revision

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the main issues with current processes in agriculture
• Demonstrate understanding of the different types of biofuels and sustainable energy, and current research techniques used to assess and analyse them
• Demonstrate understanding of new biotechnologies associated with climate, economic and governmental changes
• Demonstrate understanding of sustainability in process technologies production
• Demonstrate understanding of sustainability in feedstock production
• Demonstrate understanding of sustainability in energy production and use production

Subject specific skills

a. Demonstrate clear understanding of the scientific topic
b. Contain evidence of extended reading and lateral integration of material not covered in the lectures
c. Demonstrate independent thought and deep understanding
d. Specifically answer the set question using information from multiple lectures and sources
e. Be structured and formatted in a way that demonstrates understanding and logical flow
f. Use multiple sources to construct complex scientific arguments and integrating these to build and develop the student's own scientific conclusions.

Transferable skills

1. Critical appraisal of source material
2. Self directed learning
3. Adult learning