Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Forum Posts (1500 words) | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Literature Review (2000 words) | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Case study (2500 words) | 45% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Apprise a range of waste streams in terms of the potential market value of their metabolites.
2. Appraise a range of desired end products and identify waste streams that could yield component materials.
3. Evaluate suitable methodologies, technologies and equipment for separating and fractionating waste, taking account of: extraction cost, market value and environmental impact.
4. Identify a range of metabolites that will become important as oil becomes more expensive and extraction costs reduce.
Brief description
Organic waste arising from many biotechnological industries can be processed to extract useful products or sources of energy. Much waste therefore has a value, determined by extraction costs and by the market value of its metabolites. This module explores the potential to valorise a range of waste streams and will include case studies of exemplary waste streams as well as from students’ own chosen areas of interest. The methods, technologies and equipment used to separate and fractionate waste, both downstream and upstream, will be discussed, as will the biotechnologically important metabolites that we can expect to be in demand in the future.
Content
1. Introducing the concepts of waste stream valorisation
2. The green economy
3. Selecting the right technology for biomass conversion
4. Case Studies including: Apple seed oil, Plum waste, Orange seed, Grape seed, Blackcurrant pomace, Tomato waste
5. Toxin removal e.g. Cyanide
6. Brewery waste stream valorisation
7. Bread/bakery waste stream valorisation
8. Concentrating glanthamine
9. Case study: Quorn
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Numeracy will be demonstrated in the assessed case study task using real datasets to determine economic viability. |
| Communication | Students will be expected to be able to express themselves appropriately in their assignments. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Detailed feedback will be given for assignment work. This will be assessed through the feedback providing general guidance towards the student’s next assignment. |
| Information Technology | Students will be required to source information from a variety of scientific publication data bases and to use Blackboard for all aspects of the module. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | This module will provide the students with the latest research into waste stream valorisation to help them to develop their business or provide the most up-to-date information/advice to their colleagues/clients in the biotech Industry. |
| Problem solving | Problem based learning challenges alongside online forum posts will be used throughout the module to help develop and improve student’s problem solving skills. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to undergo directed self-study, so will develop their literature research skills. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Subject specific concepts relating to waste-stream valorisation will be developed and assessed throughout the module. |
| Team work | Online assessments will require students to debate among themselves to develop a consensus of opinion. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7