MATERIALI SOSTENIBILI E ANALISI DEL CICLO DI VITA

Knowledge and Understanding

The course Sustainable Materials and Life Cycle Assessment aims to introduce students to the principles of Green and Sustainable Chemistry and to provide an understanding of the main environmental issues associated with industrial activities. The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and tools required for the proper assessment of environmental impacts and for the development and evaluation of different recycling processes, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the transition towards more sustainable industrial practices.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding

Through theoretical lectures, practical exercises, case studies, and applications of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, students will develop the ability to apply their knowledge of sustainable materials, with particular emphasis on polymeric materials, their properties, and the main production and processing technologies, as well as recycling and end-of-life recovery processes. Students will be able to assess materials and related processes throughout their entire life cycle, applying the main LCA tools to quantify and compare their environmental impacts and to support the selection of design solutions aimed at improving sustainability and circularity.

Making Judgements

Students will be able to critically analyse and assess the characteristics of materials, with particular emphasis on polymeric materials, their production and processing processes, and different end-of-life management strategies, considering opportunities for reuse, recycling, and recovery. They will also be able to compare different materials, production processes, and recycling strategies, critically interpreting LCA results and identifying solutions consistent with specific sustainability objectives, including those related to the principles of the circular economy.

Communication Skills

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to use the appropriate technical and scientific terminology related to sustainable materials, polymeric materials, their production and processing technologies, recycling processes, and Life Cycle Assessment. They will be able to clearly and effectively describe the properties and performance of materials, the main production and recycling processes, and the environmental impacts associated with the different stages of the life cycle. Students will also be able to present and discuss LCA results using appropriate data, indicators, and graphical tools, and to communicate effectively with technical professionals and practitioners on topics related to material production, polymer recycling, and sustainable design.

Learning Skills

Students will develop the ability to independently update their knowledge through the consultation of scientific literature, technical standards, databases, and national and international guidelines related to sustainable materials, polymeric materials, production processes, and recycling technologies. They will also acquire the tools needed to independently explore developments in innovative and recycled materials, polymer production, processing and recycling technologies, waste reduction and valorisation strategies, and advanced methodologies for assessing sustainability and circularity throughout the life cycle.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Frontal and intermediate tests will be provided to evaluate the knowledge level of the students during the course development

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

General Chemistry and Materials Science and Technology (important prerequisite)

Attendance of the course is mandatory.

1.Summary of the course 2.Principles of environmental sustainability and Green Chemistry 3.Environment and sustainable development 4.LCA 5.Biomasses 6. Biomaterials and Biopolymers 7. Plastics production processes and their recycling 8.Biocomposites 9. Compost.

BIOPOLYMERS: REUSE, RECYCLING, AND DISPOSAL Michael Niaounakis

Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers,Catia Bastioli

Compostable Polymer Materials, Ewa Rudnik

The assessment of learning may also be conducted remotely, should conditions require it.

Oral examination. Evaluation criteria: relevance of the answers to the questions posed, quality of the content, ability to establish connections with other topics covered in the program, ability to provide examples, command of technical language, and the student’s overall expressive ability.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and when is it applied

Differences among the various groups of biopolymers, including their respective advantages and disadvantages

Plastic production processes

Mechanisms of degradation

How polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is recycled