The competences to be achieved by the students correspond to module M04 of Environmental Engineering.



a) Ability to analyze, design, simulate and optimize processes and systems with environmental relevance, both natural and artificial.



b) Knowledge and ability to participate in the design, project and execution of engineering solutions to environmental problems, including the evaluation of alternative strategies and control and safety criteria.



c) Knowledge of material and energy balances, biotechnology, mass transfer, separation operations, chemical and biological reaction engineering, reactor design, and valorization and transformation of raw materials and energy resources.



d) Knowledge of design and management of applied experimental procedures and modeling of phenomena and systems in the field of environmental engineering, fluid flow systems, heat transfer, matter transfer operations, kinetics of chemical reactions and chemical and biological reactors.



Because of the learning outcomes, they should know:



- Sizing and designing a chemical and/or biological reactor, both by classical numerical methods and using process simulators, with special emphasis on effluent treatment systems and their influence on pollution prevention and sustainable development.



- Write and present assignments on chemical and biological reaction engineering.

Block 1. Chemical kinetics.

Block 2. Stirred-tank and plug-flow reactors: Design of homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction systems. Characterization of flow models. Use of tracers.

Block 3. Biological reactors. Configurations for active biomass recycling.

Block 4. Stirring and aeration. Reactor configurations.

Both team and individual methodologies will be employed. In the face-to-face classes, the theoretical and practical concepts of the subject will be developed by means of the lecture modality, however, encouraging the participation of the students through questions that incite discussions and analysis of the reaction systems. Also part of the lecture time will be devoted to the resolution of problems individually or in groups in a participatory way. Likewise, the work in small groups will be promoted performing computer practices carrying out exercises-works in which they can use different computer tools (databases and specific software). After these sessions, a report will be delivered to the teacher with the result of the activities carried out for the follow-up of the same ones. In the laboratory practices, experimental work will be developed to obtain data related to processes that have been analysed theoretically in class.



Information and communication technologies such as spreadsheets (Excel), chemical process simulation software (Aspen Plus) and numerical methods software (Polymath) will also be employed. In addition, the eGela platform will be used to exchange information and links of interest, distribute class notes, order-submit activities and exercises, as well as to announce schedule changes/news.



"In the case of health conditions do not allow the realization of a face-to-face teaching activity and/or evaluation, a non-face-to-face modality will be activated of which students will be promptly informed."

The final grade of the course will be obtained by applying 70% to the grade obtained in the Individual Final Exam, and the remaining 30% of the grade will be obtained by Continuous Evaluation throughout the course. In order to take both percentages into account, it is mandatory to have passed both parts, that is, to have in each of them a grade higher or equal to 5 points out of 10. In case of not reaching the minimum of 5 points out of 10 in the Individual Final Exam, the grade obtained in the Individual Final Exam will automatically become the mark of the final grade.



Characteristics of the Final Individual Test: a written test that will account for 70% of the final grade and will consist on theoretical-practical problems and may include some theoretical questions.



Characteristics of the Continuous Evaluation: it represents 30% of the final grade of the course and will be carried out throughout the course and is mandatory. It is divided as follows:

Follow-up activities (10 %): they will be carried out individually, preferably during face-to-face classes. Their purpose is to know the degree of knowledge that the students have during the course. The questionnaires may be carried out without prior notice.



Computer practices (6 %): they will be carried out individually. There will be 4 computer sessions of 3 hours each. In the first sessions the student will work with the Polymath program to solve the problems developed in the lectures. This section is directly evaluated in the final test. During the other computer sessions the student will work with the Aspen Plus program. Throughout these sessions students will learn how to work with this simulator and at the end of the last session they will have to hand in a document that will be evaluated.



Laboratory and experimental data treatment (6 %): it will be carried out in a session of 3 hours. The laboratory practice will be related to chemical kinetics or bio-gas reaction systems. It will be carried out in groups of maximum two people. During the session, the students will carry out the experimental part in which they will collect experimental data for its later treatment. Before attending the laboratory session, the students must hand in a previous work document. For the evaluation, the work team must deliver the results of the experimental data treatment with their observations and/or comments.



Team project (8 %): series of tasks (information search, problem solving, simulation of reaction systems, etc.) will be completed in small groups. It will be carried out throughout the course, and will include all the knowledge acquired for the resolution of a practical case.



However, as stated in article 8, point 3 of the regulations governing the evaluation of students in official undergraduate degrees, students will have the right to be evaluated through the final evaluation system, regardless of whether or not they have participated in the continuous evaluation system. For this purpose, students must submit in writing to the faculty responsible for the subject the resignation of continuous assessment. In the particular case of this course, which consists of 15 weeks, the resignation letter must be sent before week 9 from the beginning of the term.

The resignation to the continuous evaluation does not exempt from the evaluation of the competences that are worked in the continuous evaluation. That is why those students who have not participated, or who have failed the part of the subject evaluated in a continuous way and who present themselves for the final evaluation will have to perform:



a) Final Individual Test (70 %).

b) A test or activity to evaluate and measure the learning outcomes acquired in the laboratory practice (15 %).

c) A simulation of a reaction system using a process simulator (15 %).

- Textbook Fogler, H.S., Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering, 5th Ed., Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2016.
- Computer calculation tools:
Excel spreadsheets.
Polymath.
Aspen Plus process simulation software.
Databases (see bibliography).

Basic bibliography

- Doran, P.M., Bioprocess Engineering Principles, 2nd Ed. Academic Press, 2013.

- Levenspiel, O. Chemical Reaction Engineering (3ª Ed.). Wiley, 1999.

- Gódia, F. y J. López, Eds., Ingeniería bioquímica, Síntesis, 1998.

- Santamaría, J.M., J. Herguido, M.A. Menéndez y A. Monzón. Ingeniería de reactores, Síntesis, 1999.

In-depth bibliography

- Ullman, Ullmann's biotechnology and biochemical engineering, Wiley-VCH, 2007.
- Perry, Manual de Ingeniería Química, 7ª Ed., McGraw-Hill, 2001.
- Chemical Engineering Kinetics (3ª Ed.). J.M. Smith, 1981.
- Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industrial Practice (3ª Ed.). C.N. Satterfield. Krieger Publishing Company, 1996.
- Chemical Kinetics and Catalysis. Richard I. Masel. Ed. Wiley, 2001.

Journals

-Chemical Abstracts
-Chemical Engineering Abstracts
-Chemical Engineering & Technology. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
-Chemie-Ingenieur Technik. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
-AlChE Journal. AIChE, New York
-Ingeniería Química. Suplemento Nuevas Plantas. Ingeniería Química S.A., Madrid
-Química e Industria. Asociación Nacional de Químicos de España, Madrid
-Chemical Engineering. McGraw-Hill, New York
-Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. John Wiley and Sons, New York