Chemistry and Sustainability

Core modules:

Communication for Sustainability Researchers

The recent growth of knowledge and debates about sustainable development led to research in sustainability, however and to some extent paradoxically, there is often a lack of consensus on what sustainability really means. For example, in the context of Sustainable Energetic Resources, this could either mean: (i) renewables, (ii) minimization of usage, (iii) source reduction (like the redesign of manufacturing processes). Another example could be in the implementation of recycling policies, when these are actually referring to reuse and repair, which are all distinct concepts.

Furthermore a full account on what makes a process or development sustainable, should consider multiple factors like: technical and scientific advances in the area, ecological, economic and societal principles, and ethical investments as a whole.

This module will provide students with the tools that are needed to argue, judge and select a chemical or physical process or even the effect of a policy in terms of life cycle assessment. That is: by investigating specific case studies, students will evaluate all stages and the lifetime of products, their environmental impacts as well as services, manufacturing processes, to create and formulate decision-making aimed to determine if the implementation of a sustainable process or not.

This unit aims to allow students to work as a part of a team to investigate a relevant and debated topic in sustainability, and to be able to present their findings to a general audience by means of a magazine-like article and a video. The scope is to assemble and create a piece of work soundly rooted in matter of facts, for which the students will need to carry out a detailed and updated literature involving data gathering, with the goal to address research questions in sustainability and be able to write publishable material of interest for the general public.

15 credits

Fundamentals of Sustainable Chemistry

Chemical processes for commodities of everyday use can largely affect and contribute to our lifestyle. At the same time though, the constantly increasing energy demand of these processes is creating an imbalance to the environment, as many of these processes are unsustainable either energetically or in terms of environmental impact. This module will illustrate, examine and evaluate which requirements are needed to: make a chemical process environmentally sustainable; the impact of anthropogenic activity to the environment; how to transform our society from a fossil fuel based society to a renewable and sustainable resources based society capable of storing and distributing energy in a sustainable manner. This module aims to: 1. Discuss the parameters that are needed to qualify and quantify sustainability. 2. Illustrate methods to qualify and quantify the impact of anthropogenic activity to the environment. 3. Develop students' critical thinking on how to address sustainability challenges in chemical processes. 4. Describe how hydrogen, methanol and biomass can be used as alternative energy generators as opposite to fossil fuels. 5. Explain the working principles and the characteristics of materials for energy storage. 6. Develop students' ability to undertake self-directed learning and formulate ideas in a creative and independent manner.

15 credits

Technologies for Sustainability

Our current manufacturing technologies for chemicals, plastics and construction materials, are carbon intensive technologies and in order to maintain our living standards we need to decarbonise those technologies. In order to achieve this overarching aim, we need to make better use of fossil-based and renewable resources, and move towards a circular economy. Topics include the current status of the industry, life-cycle analysis, non-fossil fuel and feedstocks, and reuse reforming and recycling. This will be focused to the following main areas: Fine chemicals and commodities. This module will discuss the current state-of-the-art of fine chemicals and commodities manufacturing and how to minimize their impact to the environment. Plastic and polymers. Plastic waste is a growing problem and this course will discuss the challenges associated with current plastics, what the alternatives are and whether they will be feasible.

15 credits

Current Topics in Industrial Catalysis

Catalysis either in its homogeneous or heterogeneous forms is a pillar for the chemical industry, where catalysis is used to produce bulk chemicals at large scales and fine chemicals at smaller ones. This module explains the principles as well as the applications of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis by analysing some of the most economically important catalytic reactions. It covers the chemical basis of these processes, and the advantages and disadvantages of heterogeneous and homogeneous systems including sustainability considerations.  Reaction mechanisms and the role of the metal centre, and fundamental physical processes such as adsorption and reaction kinetics, will be discussed in detail, together with the applications of these concepts for scale up purposes. Concepts are illustrated by analysing, in detail, catalytic reactions including hydrogenation, oxidation, carbonylation and polymerisation.

15 credits

Research, Presentation and Professional Skills

This module  aims to prepare students to become professional scientific researchers ready to conduct a research project.  Students will be taught how to retrieve and critically assess the existing literature on a particular research topic and to communicate this as a scientific review. They will learn about the attributes of an ethical researcher, scientific method and how to undertake research safely and responsibly and how to manage data. In addition, students will acquire professional skills relevant to their future employability and learn how to present scientific information. Students will undertake a training needs analysis supported by an experienced researcher so that they can take charge of their own development. This will allow them to tailor their subsequent training to the project they are about to undertake and to their wider individual professional and researcher development. On completion of the module students will have produced a portfolio of work that will form the  foundations of their training as a professional researcher.

30 credits

Sustainable Chemistry Research Project

This module is the major research project associated with the Master of Science in Chemistry and Sustainability, where students undertake an extended and original research by working to solve a topical problem in the field of sustainable chemistry.

Students will be trained in research methodology using state-of-the-art facilities to help them develop the advanced technical skills they need for their projects.

They will also put their previous research training and transferable skills into practice through literature searches, communicating their work and presenting their findings.

60 credits

Optional modules:

A student will take 30 credits (two modules) from this group.

Current Topics in Chemistry of Light

Understanding processes caused by light is key in chemistry, physics, biology and engineering, and has recently led to many major scientific breakthroughs. This course explains how light and matter interact in molecules, nanostructures and materials. It will explain photoinduced electron and energy transfer - essential processes in nature and everyday life - using examples of natural and artificial photosynthesis. Modern techniques for studying light-induced processes, on time-scales from seconds to femtoseconds, are also covered. More specifically, each spectroscopic technique covered will be described in terms of the physical concepts on which it is based, the information it helps acquire, and the practical concerns associated with it such as resolution, availability, costs, etc. The goal is to bring the students to appreciate the main advantages and constraints of each technique so that they can start developing their own research plan to answer any given research questions.

The theory grounding light-matter interactions is taught in the context that will be relevant to modern applications in photocatalysis, photonics and optoelectronics, solar energy conversion, phototherapy, imaging, and other light-induced processes in medicine.

15 credits

Current Topics in Advanced Materials Chemistry

Materials chemistry is at the heart of technological solutions to problems that society faces in energy, health care, transport and the environment. This module will focus on functional materials based on supramolecular assembly from molecular components. Students will learn about design strategies, molecular properties, characterisation and material function, and use concepts from coordination chemistry, organic chemistry and solid-state chemistry. The role of materials properties in applications such as sensing, molecular separations, gas adsorption, catalysis, drug delivery, propulsion and gas generation will be discussed in the context of providing technological solutions.

15 credits

Current Topics in Catalysis and Asymmetric Synthesis

Chemists' ability to synthesise organic molecules with defined stereochemistry is the backbone of many useful applications, from medicines to new materials. Modern methods of organic synthesis rely on sophisticated and efficient chemical reactions that create exquisite levels of functional group selectivity and stereochemical control. This module will explain the cutting edge processes that achieve these objectives, in the context of catalysis and stereoselective synthesis. There is a focus on transformations that are promoted by a sub-stoichiometric amount of catalyst. Concepts behind controlling stereochemistry in important synthetic chemical reactions will also be explained. From the generation of new medicines to the creation of new materials, chemists' ability to synthesise molecules with defined stereochemistry is of critical importance. Stereochemical control, exquisite functional group selectivity,  high yield and efficiency are the touchstones of modern organic chemistry. This module will review the cutting edge methods that are used to achieve stereochemical control and catalysis in organic reactions. Students will study transformations that are promoted by a sub-stoichiometric amount of catalyst. Emphasis will be placed on explaining the concepts behind controlling stereochemistry in important chemical reactions for modern organic chemistry.

15 credits