Biotechnology applied to waste and wastewater treatment and valorization

Course objectives

EDUCATIONAL GOALS The course contributes to the achievement of the training objectives set out in the Manifesto of Studies of the Master Degree in Industrial Chemistry (ARES curriculum: Environment, Resources, Energy, Safety). In particular, the course aims to provide an overview on the application of chemical, physical, and biotechnological processes in the field of environmental protection, with particular reference to the main processes involved in waste and wastewater treatment, including their valorization, as both secondary resources and for energy purposes. In this context, the course also intends to provide the key elements of the analysis and description of the aforementioned processes, also based on chemical engineering methods (kinetic analysis, mass and energy balances, thermodynamic relationships), providing specific examples for the cases studied. Students who have passed the examination will have known and understood (descriptor 1 - acquired knowledge): - Fundamentals of the main chemical, physical, and biological processes for the treatment of waste and wastewater and for energy and materials recovery - Methods of quantitative representation of processes and preliminary sizing of the related equipment - Use of specific techniques for measurement, monitoring, and control of relevance in the studied processes Students who have passed the examination will be able (descriptor 2 - acquired skills): - To apply methodologies for the analysis of processes of industrial relevance in the field of treatment and valorization of waste and wastewater and for the production of energy from renewable resources (up to the preliminary design of the main process units) - To frame the contents learned in the more general context of environmental protection, also with reference to the regulatory framework - To frame the contents learned in the more general context of development of chemical industry, with particular reference to environmental sustainability. Along with lectures, the execution of numerical exercises and participation to laboratory activities, with self-employment of written reports on the studied topics, will allow to increase the critical and judgmental skills (descriptor 3) and the ability to communicate what has been learned (descriptor 4)

Channel 1
MARIANNA VILLANO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Main topics of lectures will be: - Introduction: Introductory aspects dealing with strategies of environmental protection, environmental sustainability, treatment. (1CFU) - Characterization of waste and wastewater with main reference to methods commonly used for the analysis of the organic and inorganic carbon content in the considered stream (TOC, TIC, BOD, COD ); biodegradability tests. (1CFU) - Biological processes for wastewater treatment with main reference to kinetics of biological reactions and to carbon and nitrogen removal: processes based on suspended and attached biomass, oxygen transfer in biological reactors (mentions), mass balance in biological reactors with and without biomass recirculation; respirometric methods for the characterization of kinetics and biological activity of the biomass. (2 CFU) - Treatment and recovery of wastes (mentions): production, disposal, recovery technologies. Valorization of waste and wastewater (examples): anaerobic digestion, innovative technologies to produce energy, chemicals, and biopolymers from organic waste and wastewater. Bioremediation of contaminated sites (mentions). (2 CFU)
Prerequisites
There are no particular prerequisites except for the enrolment in the Master’s degree program. This implies the fundamental knowledge of mathematics, biology, and general chemistry. However, basic elements required to understand the main topic of the course will be briefly recalled during the lectures.
Books
The teacher provides students with a copy of the lectures and ad hoc prepared handouts. Articles from scientific literature will be possibly provided to go into details of specific topics.
Frequency
Presence in class during lectures is suggested
Exam mode
The final examination will be held through an oral interview to evaluate the learning of the training objectives of the course
Lesson mode
Mainly traditional teaching with frontal lectures.
MARIANNA VILLANO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Main topics of lectures will be: - Introduction: Introductory aspects dealing with strategies of environmental protection, environmental sustainability, treatment. (1CFU) - Characterization of waste and wastewater with main reference to methods commonly used for the analysis of the organic and inorganic carbon content in the considered stream (TOC, TIC, BOD, COD ); biodegradability tests. (1CFU) - Biological processes for wastewater treatment with main reference to kinetics of biological reactions and to carbon and nitrogen removal: processes based on suspended and attached biomass, oxygen transfer in biological reactors (mentions), mass balance in biological reactors with and without biomass recirculation; respirometric methods for the characterization of kinetics and biological activity of the biomass. (2 CFU) - Treatment and recovery of wastes (mentions): production, disposal, recovery technologies. Valorization of waste and wastewater (examples): anaerobic digestion, innovative technologies to produce energy, chemicals, and biopolymers from organic waste and wastewater. Bioremediation of contaminated sites (mentions). (2 CFU)
Prerequisites
There are no particular prerequisites except for the enrolment in the Master’s degree program. This implies the fundamental knowledge of mathematics, biology, and general chemistry. However, basic elements required to understand the main topic of the course will be briefly recalled during the lectures.
Books
The teacher provides students with a copy of the lectures and ad hoc prepared handouts. Articles from scientific literature will be possibly provided to go into details of specific topics.
Frequency
Presence in class during lectures is suggested
Exam mode
The final examination will be held through an oral interview to evaluate the learning of the training objectives of the course
Lesson mode
Mainly traditional teaching with frontal lectures.
  • Lesson code10616832
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseBiochemistry
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDING-IND/25
  • CFU6