CHE5888 · Sustainability and innovation

Overview

Apply industrial ecology and circular economy principles to utilise by-products, minimise waste and enhance profitability of bioproduct manufacturing products. Apply design for recycling and eco-design principles to develop a new generation of biomass-derived materials and chemicals, including utilising lignocellulosic biodegradability and waste-to-energy applications. Critically evaluate new bioproduct manufacturing processes (either stand-alone or processing by-products) for techno-economic feasibility and their potential to enhance overall process sustainability. Apply lifecycle analysis to quantify the environmental sustainability of bio-based chemicals and materials and compare them with non-renewable alternatives. Understand the application of lifecycle analysis to multi-function systems, such as how to divide the overall lifecycle impacts to producing multiple systems products and having multiple functions.

Areas of study: E6011 Master of Professional Engineering - Specialisation: Chemical engineering E6014 Master of Engineering - Specialisation: Energy transitions engineering E6017 Master of Advanced Engineering - Specialisation: Bioresource engineering E6017 Master of Advanced Engineering - Specialisation: Renewable energy engineering E6017 Master of Advanced Engineering - Specialisation: Engineering Management

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Continuous assessment: 60% Final assessment: 40% This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Design products to meet recyclable eco-design.
2. Research the most effective materials and processes to maximise sustainability.
3. Synthesise and integrate a wide range of tools and best practices to evaluate product and process innovation sustainability.
4. Design processes using concepts such as green chemistry, industrial ecology and cleaner production to minimise environmental impact.
5. Utilise LCA to assess the sustainability of processes and materials.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.