EGH411 Sustainable Chemical Engineering in Practice

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

It is essential that chemical and process engineers involved in industrial chemical production translate fundamental knowledge of chemistry and engineering into practical outcomes. In this unit you will focus on green chemistry, industrial biotechnology and catalysis which underpins 90 % of all chemicals made today. You will be introduced to catalyst fundamentals and their application to industry for bulk chemicals, production of sustainable polymers and plastics, zeolites for green chemistry and bio-catalysts such as enzymes. You will also be guided through the development of professional skills which includes creation of a MindMap, completion of a Dynamic SWOT analysis, and presentation of business ideas in a poster. This unit brings together learnings from prior units in the chemistry stream.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the fundamental principles of engineering chemistry for green chemistry at a mastered level.
2. Develop a business case using engineering chemistry for green chemistry at a mastered level.
3. Develop chemical solutions for engineering chemistry following green chemistry principles, at a mastered level.
4. Communicate engineering design and analysis procedures used in engineering chemistry for management and economics, at a developed level.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you can expect to experience the following timetabled activities:

• Formal lectures from experienced professional engineers and scientists that will activate your understanding of theories and principles, and model approaches to solving problems. You will have the opportunity to ask questions during these lectures.
• Tutorial classes that will give you the opportunity to solve problems. These will be facilitated by tutors and will provide an opportunity to test your understanding and gain feedback on your work.
• Workshop classes in which you will collaboratively write a critical plan for introduction of a "green chemistry" process and communicate your findings to your peers.

To complement timetabled activities, you can expect to be provided with learning resources including videos and readings on a unit Canvas site that you can access flexibly to complete your learning in this unit. Success in this unit will require you to manage your time to ensure you have focused time each week (beyond timetabled activities).

At the beginning of the unit, you will be made aware of the ways in which you can ask questions or seek clarification from the Unit Coordinator and Tutors.

You are expected to:

• Engage with timetabled activities on campus and ask questions.
• Manage your time to engage with online resources outside of timetabled activities. These will be available on the unit Canvas site. You will receive regular email announcements regarding release of these resources.
• Engage with your peers in a learning community to practise problem solving and then work independently to complete your assessment tasks.
• Prepare for timetabled classes and activities and follow up on any work not completed.
• Complete assessment tasks by working consistently across the semester and meeting the due dates that are published via the unit Canvas site.
• Allocate 12 hours of study per week for this unit. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback throughout the semester which includes:

1. Assessment submission will be graded against criteria and standards which will be shared with you at the beginning of semester through Assessment Task Descriptions and Marking Rubrics.
2. Marked assessment will include feedback from markers against the criteria.
3. Formative feedback through online quizzes.
4. Feedback by participation in weekly Tutorial sessions.
5. Generic comments provided via QUT Canvas and in class.

Assessment

Overview

As you progress through this unit you will move between learning underpinning scientific theory and concepts in green chemistry and using that theory in practical applications. You will be developing your capability to solve problems by looking at examples of processes which could be improved by green chemistry principles.  You will evaluate the appropriate theory and methods to use in order to apply appropriate solutions, which is a key capability for professional engineering practice. The assessment for the unit is designed to assess your learning against the unit learning outcomes and includes a case study, poster presentation, and a final exam, which will test your capability to diagnose and solve problems in engineering science.  

Peer and expert (tutor) review of teamwork, case study and poster may be used by the unit coordinator to moderate individual assessment results.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Case Study

You will write a plan which outlines how to improve and deploy a new green chemistry process in Australia.  This assessment is authentic as it is not only based on providing strategies to address real world problems but also simulates the report writing and analysis which is required by professional engineers.  

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Poster Presentation

You will create a graphic representation of a green chemistry technology to be introduced to Australia.  This assessment is authentic in terms of relating to real world situations where employees have to present ideas, concepts and solutions to an audience. 

Assessment: Examination (Theory)

Final theory exam where you will be assessed on your knowledge of catalysis, green chemistry and biotechnology and understanding of the overall unit content.

“If campus access is restricted at the time of the central examination period/due date, an alternative, which may be a timed online assessment, will be offered. Individual students whose circumstances prevent their attendance on campus will be provided with an alternative assessment approach.”

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Green Chemistry Metrics, A Guide to Determining and Evaluating Process Greenness, Andrew P. Dicks and Andrei Hent, 2015, Springer

Green Chemistry and Applications. Edited By Aidé Sáenz-Galindo, Adali Oliva Castañeda-Facio, Raúl Rodríguez-Herrera, 1st Edition, 2020, CRC Press

Nørskov J. K., Studt F., Abild-Pedersen F., Bligaard T., Fundamental Concepts in Heterogeneous Catalysis, Wiley Online, 2014.

Course Learning Outcomes

EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Make decisions ethically within the social, cultural, and organisational contexts of professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, Case Study, Poster Presentation, Examination (Theory)
2. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: ULO4, Case Study, Poster Presentation
3. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: ULO2, Case Study, Examination (Theory)
4. Engage with and apply regulatory requirements relating to safety, risk management, and sustainability in professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO3, Case Study, Examination (Theory)
5. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, Examination (Theory)

EN60 Graduate Certificate in Communication for Engineering

1. Demonstrate and apply specialised knowledge and technical skills in at least one Engineering discipline.
   Relates to: ULO1, Case Study, Examination (Theory)
2. Critically investigate real world engineering issues and solve complex problems drawing on specialised creative skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, theory and practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Case Study
3. Employ effective written and oral professional communication skills across social, cultural and discipline domains.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Case Study, Poster Presentation, Examination (Theory)
4. Exercise responsibility and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice including working independently, ethically and collaboratively.
   Relates to: ULO4, Case Study

EV01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Make decisions ethically within the social, cultural, and organisational contexts of professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Case Study, Poster Presentation, Examination (Theory)
2. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: Case Study, Poster Presentation
3. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: Case Study, Examination (Theory)
4. Engage with and apply regulatory requirements relating to safety, risk management, and sustainability in professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Case Study, Examination (Theory)
5. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Examination (Theory)