ID:
511424
Duration (hours):
56
CFU:
6
SSD:
FONDAMENTI CHIMICI DELLE TECNOLOGIE
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The objective of the course is to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to: (i) comprehend the fundamental principles of circular chemistry and their practical applications in chemical materials and processes; (ii) assess the significance of mineral resources in energy transitions and modern technologies; (iii) apply ecodesign principles to enhance sustainability in the development of chemical products and processes; and (iv) reflect on the ethical and social implications of chemical production and consumption, with a particular focus on environmental justice, resource equity and community impact, and the formulation of circular strategies.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of general chemistry and physical chemistry, acquired in the teachings of the bachelor's degree.
Teaching Methods
Teaching activities include both classroom (4 CFU) and laboratory (2 CFU) hours.
The course consists of face-to-face lectures, alternating with Socratic heuristic lectures during which dialogic discussion with the classroom will be favored, and includes seminars by experts from industry on specific issues addressed through selected case studies.
A series of laboratory activities designed to acquire skills on key recycling and recovery strategies for some primary critical materials and sustainability assessment methods.
The slides used to support the lectures will be uploaded to the Drive folder accessible from the KIRO platform. Registration for the course is required to download the slides.
The slides are considered part of the didactic material along with scholarly articles and book chapters recommended by the lecturers. Non-attending students are reminded to check the available lecture materials and directions provided.
The course consists of face-to-face lectures, alternating with Socratic heuristic lectures during which dialogic discussion with the classroom will be favored, and includes seminars by experts from industry on specific issues addressed through selected case studies.
A series of laboratory activities designed to acquire skills on key recycling and recovery strategies for some primary critical materials and sustainability assessment methods.
The slides used to support the lectures will be uploaded to the Drive folder accessible from the KIRO platform. Registration for the course is required to download the slides.
The slides are considered part of the didactic material along with scholarly articles and book chapters recommended by the lecturers. Non-attending students are reminded to check the available lecture materials and directions provided.
Assessment Methods
Summative assessment of learning is by an oral final examination, which consists of three partials, relating to the three modules. Lǝ student should demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of circular chemistry, and be able to (i) evaluate the importance of mineral resources in energy transitions and modern technologies, (ii) apply ecodesign principles to improve sustainability in the development of chemical products and processes, and (iii) reflect on the ethical and social implications of the production and consumption of chemical materials and products.
Texts
No single textbook is provided. Materials for final exam preparation include lecture notes, slides, textbook chapters and suggested scientific articles. The materials will be made available from the KIRO platform.
Suggested readings:
M.F. Ashby, Materials and the Environment Eco-Informed Material Choice, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2021.
S.E. Kesler and A.C. Simon, Mineral Resources, Economics and the Environment, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
European Commission, Critical Raw Materials and the Circular Economy – Background Report, 2017.
European Commission, Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU – a Foresight Study, 2020.
European Commission, Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability - 2020
Suggested readings:
M.F. Ashby, Materials and the Environment Eco-Informed Material Choice, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2021.
S.E. Kesler and A.C. Simon, Mineral Resources, Economics and the Environment, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
European Commission, Critical Raw Materials and the Circular Economy – Background Report, 2017.
European Commission, Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU – a Foresight Study, 2020.
European Commission, Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability - 2020
Contents
The objective of the course is to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of circular chemistry and ecodesign. The course will examine the interrelationships between these concepts, with a view to optimising resource efficiency, minimising waste and designing sustainable processes and products from a circular economy perspective. It draws on the disciplines of chemistry, material science, economics and environmental policy in order to address the challenges of resource utilisation, recycling and waste management. Particular emphasis will be placed on resources that are critical to energy transition technologies. Students will investigate the environmental impact of materials, the challenges of resource consumption and the strategies for achieving sustainability through the application of circular economy principles. MODULE A (2 CFU, 16 h) Linking society and Nature. Material flows and the resource nexus. Historical context: Industrial revolutions and nonrenewable materials. System thinking in Circular Chemistry. Natural Resources. Reserves and resources. Eco-properties and geo-economic aspects of materials and processes. Resource Consumption and Its Drivers. Materials, energy, and water nexus. Overview of mineral resources. Environmental and socio-economic impacts of mineral extraction. Material extractivism: Critical Materials and Supply Chain Risks. Critical raw materials: definition and leading global suppliers. Strategic importance of CRM for the ecological and digital transition. Factors contributing to criticality. Supply- chain risk. Recycling and End-of-life-recycling input rate. Substitution potential. CRM within the EU context. Strategies and policies for risk mitigation. Case study on critical materials and their geopolitical implications. The Materials Life Cycle. Recycling principles: addressing criticality and reducing resource depletion. The concept of waste as a resource. Secondary materials. The waste hierarchy. Resource efficiency optimization. Ladder of circularity. Resource Recovery and Material Circularity. Recycling technologies and processes. Urban mining. Exploration of the potential for recovering valuable materials from urban environments. Challenges and barriers to effective recycling. Obstacles to full recovery of matter from waste. Sustainability and Global Policies. Introduction to sustainability: History and interpretation. Sustainability frameworks. The ecological footprint: methods and applications. Overview of international legislation: treaties, protocols, and economic instruments. REACH regulation. Emissions trading schemes. ISO 14000.
Course Language
Italian
More information
With reference to the guidelines for teaching methods (a.y. 2025/2026), for students enrolled in the course who certify that they are in one of the conditions listed in Appendix A, up to 2 hours of tuition per week, also online, will be arranged. The tution must be arranged by e-mail at least one week in advance. The examination procedures will remain unchanged.
Degrees
Degrees
chemistry
Master’s Degree
2 years
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People
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