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Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products

Learn how to design an effective biorefinery to obtain valuable components from various biobased feedstocks such as plants, organisms and waste streams.

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Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products

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Starts Jun 2
Ends Jul 25
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Starts Jun 6
Ends Nov 21
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Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products

Learn how to design an effective biorefinery to obtain valuable components from various biobased feedstocks such as plants, organisms and waste streams.

Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products
7 weeks
12–20 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

Choose your session:

9,832 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Jun 2
Ends Jul 25
Enroll
Starts Jun 6
Ends Nov 21
Enroll
Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products

About this course

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The use of fossil resources is a controversial topic and there is much scientific research to argue against their use for energy, chemicals, and in the production of almost every product. Because of this, we're seeing a huge shift towards sustainable biobased and renewable resources and away from fossil-based ones. In this new world, it's critical to know how to efficiently and effectively obtain valuable elements from biomass.

Join the MOOC Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products and gain the latest academic knowledge on biorefinery which can be applied to their ongoing studies or to advance their careers.

Just as the petrochemical refinery is a crucial part of the fossil-based industry,so is the biorefinery for the biobased industry. In a biorefinery, a complex biobased feedstock is separated and processed in such a way to maximize sustainability and application opportunities. Upon completing this course, you will understand the tools and techniques needed to efficiently disentangle, separate and convert different biomass based feedstocks into simpler (functional) components.

First, you'll learn about available techniques and processes for biomass activation, disentanglement and separation. Next, you'll explore how to design a biorefinery taking into account feedstock and sustainable energy use and dive into:

  • Mass and energy balances
  • Design of biorefinery process units to obtain multiple products from one type of biomass
  • How to recover energy and resources in the biorefinery system
  • Evaluation of the designed system with respect to sustainability and economic criteria
  • Evaluation of criteria for successful implementation

This course is part of the MicroMasters Program in Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability: a series of 3 courses and a final capstone project designed to help you develop the skills needed to seize opportunities and embrace the transition from a fossil-based economy to a biobased one.It'sespecially valuable to those who have (or ambition to have) a career in industries such as: (bio)chemical industry, agrifood water companies, energy producers, logistics, and related (non-)governmental organizations.

Explore the other courses in the MicroMasters Program:

At a glance

  • Institution: WageningenX
  • Subject: Chemistry
  • Level: Advanced
  • Prerequisites:

    BSc in technology, engineering (and applied) sciences. You should have at least BSc level knowledge on courses and topics such as chemistry, mathematics and process engineering.

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills: Scientific Studies, Renewable Energy, Biorefinery, Chemistry, Refinery Experience, Economics, Petrochemical

What you'll learn

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After this course you will be able to:

  • Choose proper (chemical) pre-treatment and conversions to arrive at the required products
  • Conceptually design a biorefinery process
  • Critically evaluate a process design with respect to energy and feedstock efficiency
  • Compare that design with fossil-based processes
  • Know how to activate/disentangle and separate biobased feedstocks

Syllabus

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Module 1: Introduction to Biorefinery
In this introduction module you will get acquainted with the general concepts of biorefineries. Use our diagnostic test to check if you need to get additional information before starting with the next module.

Module 2: Biomass and Biorefineries
Let's take a closer look at biomass, what components can be found in them and how to get these out as value-adding compounds. This module focuses on the refinery of naturally occurring compounds, such as oils and proteins.

Module 3: Conversion
In this module we zoom in on fermentation as a bioconversion method. Based on the case of the acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation by Clostridium species, we will illustrate the use of fermentation in biorefineries.

Module 4: Downstream Processing
This module highlights several methods used to separate fermentation broth into different streams. You will learn how to effectively get your product out!

Module 5: Process Evaluation and Improvements
Let's zoom out and look at the biorefinery process as whole. Find out how you can improve a process with respect to energy use, side-streams recovery, and economics.

Module 6: Case Study: Process Design
You will learn to use the flow-sheeting software SuperPro Designer to design a bio-butanol process. You will look at the different steps needed to convert and separate the product. In addition you will look at a biorefinery process and propose relevant improvements using the knowledge acquired in the course.

Learner testimonials

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" This course shows how biomass can be used most efficiently and teaches the usefulness of the biorefinery concept further. It gave me more insights in the technologies that are required for the transition to a biobased economy. After following this course, I wanted even more strongly to make this transition happen.”
Judith

" This course was really interesting and promising for you to know more about biomass conversion to valuable products of chemical, material and energy. "
Rizka

About the instructors

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do you have questions about the MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and/or related online programmes of Wageningen University & Research? To help you find answers to your questions, we created a list with frequently asked questions about enrolling, participating in- and finishing a MOOC.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability MicroMasters Program

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Expert instruction
4 graduate-level courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
6 months
14 - 21 hours per week

Ways to take this course

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Verified Track
Audit Track

Price

$149 USD

Free

Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

Expires on Jul 21

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Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

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