CH4516 – The Future of Sustainable Chemical Production

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Duration:

20 hours

Lecturers:

Dr A. Kumar, Dr J. L. Payne, Professor V. Thangadurai and Dr P. B. Webb*

*Module Convenor

Aims:

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the scientific, technological, and industrial challenges associated with defossilising the chemical industry. The module seeks to develop knowledge of alternative carbon feedstocks, electrification strategies, and carbon management technologies, alongside fostering critical evaluation of sustainability, circular economy concepts, and life-cycle thinking within chemical manufacturing.

Objectives:

1. To understand the principal challenges facing the chemical industry in transitioning from fossil-fuel-based production systems to sustainable alternatives.
2. To evaluate a range of above-ground carbon sources, including plastic waste, biomass, and carbon dioxide, and to understand the economic feasibility, the technical challenges and the environmental impacts of their use as sustainable chemical feedstocks.
3. To understand key electrification strategies in chemicals production, including electrically driven thermal processes, electrochemical processes, in particular green hydrogen generation, and the use of non-conventional energy vectors.
4. To apply principles of sustainability assessment, including life-cycle and systems-based approaches, to critically analyse the environmental impact and long-term viability of chemical processes and industrial practices.
5. To integrate theoretical knowledge and applied problem-solving skills to evaluate real-world case studies and propose innovative, practical, and evidence-based solutions to support net-zero carbon and sustainability targets within the chemical industry.