Industrial Chemical Technologies and Laboratory

The aim of the course is to offer a detailed cognitive overview of the oil industrial process in all its peculiar aspects, in relation to conventional and innovative chemical technologies for carbon management and biomass, in a framework of contemporary energy efficiency methodologies. Furthermore, the course also aims to carry out an experiential laboratory activity, regarding the analytical aspects of quality control of final products and semi-finished products with a diversified matrix.

In particular, the course aims to:

- provide basic knowledge of the oil industrial process, integrated with petrochemical and cogeneration aspects of electricity, with a view to energy efficiency;

- deepen the knowledge of raw materials: crude and biomass, semi-finished products and conventional and renewable finished products (Diesel HVO - Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil / SAF – Sustainable Aviation Fuel), with particular attention to their production and quality control; examine the commercial, customs and tax aspects related to the sale and distribution of fuels and combustibles, with particular attention to denaturants;

- deepen the knowledge of energy management and energy efficiency in industry, with particular attention to renewable energy technologies as guarantors of environmental protection;

- introduce the basic elements for the knowledge of the application methods of analytical chemistry for the control of an industrial process in relation to the related analysis technologies and for the optimization of the production cycle;

- provide the national/international regulatory tools for the preparation and implementation of a quality management system for the purpose of achieving formal national/international ACCREDITATION of a chemical laboratory according to the requirements of a specific reference standard (ISO 9001 and UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025);

- design and implement targeted laboratory experiences for samples with aqueous and hydrocarbon matrix, in particular on biomass, of manual and instrumental type. Application-type in-depth study of the chromatographic/gaschromatographic technique. Provide basic knowledge for the statistical evaluation of data obtained during laboratory analytical experiences. Where possible, offer the possibility of study visits directly to a refinery.

In particular, the course aims:

with regard to knowledge and understanding:

- to make known the production system of the oil downstream, in its articulated aspects concerning the process, process control, and the formulation of the final products in order to guarantee compliance with commercialization, custom / fiscal and environmental specifications through accredited quality control according to a national / international regulatory framework;

- to understand the technological complexity of the plant, the chemical and chemical / physical qualitative characteristics of fuels, the related analytical control methodologies and the prescriptive regulatory elements in view of following up the accreditation of a chemical laboratory;

with regard to the ability to apply knowledge and understanding:

- to develop and / or to improve the ability to recognize the main oil downstream processes integrated with petrochemical and cogenerative processes so as to understand the dynamics of control and economy of the production system, analytical verification of products and final quality assurance through both laboratory activities specifications and through the preparation of assessment of the analytical methods risks applied during the laboratory procedures, respectively;

with regard to autonomy of judgment (making judgments):

- to provide tools to assess the criticalities of the production processes, the plant implications, the products obtained both in terms of chemical and chemical / physical properties and in their marketing;

- to provide tools to assess the statistical procedures for the evaluation of the analytical data obtained during analytical measurements in the laboratory;

- finally, to provide the tools for the preparation of the basic documentation necessary for the implementation of a quality system for the accreditation purposes of a chemical laboratory;

with regard to communication skills:

- to develop and / or to improve both the written presentation of laboratory tests according to a format adopted in industrial practice, and the oral presentation of the knowledge acquired with a technical and analytical relevant language;

with regard to learning skills:

- to know how to apply the knowledge of production processes for their evaluation and analytical control;

- to know how to apply the knowledge to evaluate and design the properties analytical control of finished products for quality assurance purposes;

- to know how to apply analytical and statistical knowledge on tests performed in the laboratory and estimate the data variability;

- to know how to apply the knowledge to prepare the necessary documentation for the accreditation of a chemical laboratory (compliant with standard: UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025).

- know how to manage the spectral data processing software obtained during spectral measurements.

Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD.

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs.

In this case, it is advisable to contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participated Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLD) professor of the Department where the Degree Course is included.

The course is structured through theoretical lessons in the learning room, experiences of chemical analysis in the laboratory and study visits in Crude Oil  depending on company availability

Learning room: mandatory with the exceptions established by the didactic regulations of the CDS in Industrial Chemistry

Laboratory: mandatory for at least 70 % of the scheduled hours.

CLASSROOM LESSONS

1. Crude oil refining, integrated production system. Characteristics of the raw material. Selection criteria according to market scenarios. Integrated refining cycle: block diagrams, description of the plants (integrating the co-process), formulation of finished products, cogeneration of electricity.

2. Petrochemicals. Production plants of chemical intermediates for the formulation of fuels: block diagrams, characteristics and description of plants. Alternative routes for the use of CO2 through dry reforming of methane. Reforming of natural gas into industrial gases and chemical products through chemical looping.

3. Energy efficiency and renewable sources. Energy efficiency in oil production plants. Ensuring environmental protection by reducing CO2 and CO emissions with energy saving and energy efficiency. The need for renewable energy. Comparison of low-carbon energy sources.

4. Product specifications: national and international; standardization of automotive fuels. Origin of a product specification: drafting and publication process; characteristics and interpretation.

5. Quality control: semi-finished products, raw materials, finished products, additives and denaturants. Analytical methodologies for the control of raw materials supplied for the integrated refining cycle, for the control of semi-finished products and finished products. Description of the analytical methods indicated in the product specifications, in terms of meaning and operating methods. Characteristics of the additives used for the final formulation of fuels with particular regard to Cold Flow Improvers. Fiscal denaturants used for the differentiation of fuels based on their intended use.

6. Biomass: FAME, SAF, HVO. Raw material for the production of Biodiesel, SAF and HVO: production process, characteristics and use. Optimal planning of biomass co-combustion networks with carbon sequestration based on biochar, Industrial oleochemicals from cooking oils (UCO): advantages and challenges for sustainability. Critical aspects in the development of sustainable biorefinery systems based on bioelectrochemical technology with carbon dioxide capture.

7. Accreditation of a chemical laboratory (integrated). Interpretation of the UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard; example of drafting of supporting documentation: Quality Manual, Management Procedures, Technical Instructions.

8. Direct analytical quality control (online) of products Measurement methodologies. Instrumentation and control and validation of the analytical measurement on line.

LABORATORY, WITH FIELD VISIT TO A QUALITY CONTROL LABORATORY OF A REFINERY

9. Safety in chemical laboratories. Prescriptions and precautions.

10. Elements of experimental data analysis: statistical quality control. Measurement errors, accuracy.

11. Methods for developing an analytical method. Critical analysis of a measurement method, preparation of the instrumentation and experimentation. Verification of the data obtained regarding the expressed repeatability. Drafting of a technical note.

12. Application notes on Chromatography and Gas Chromatography

13. Viewing and verification of test methods for fuels and combustibles. Visit to the quality control chemical laboratory of a refinery. In particular, theoretical and practical insights into CFR (Cooperative Fuel Research) engine determinations.

14. Laboratory experiences: analytical determinations concerning water, petroleum products and biomass / petrochemicals. Final reports on the experiences, written by the students

1. 1. Teacher’s slides in PDF format

   2. Armando canuti, L’ultima acqua, Chiariotti Editore

   3. John R. Taylor, Introduction to error analysis, Zanichelli

   4. D.H. Williams I. Fleming, Spectroscopic methods in organic chemistry, McGraw-Hill

   5. Pierluigi Poggi, Tutto Combustibili, Sandit Libri

   6. Carlo Giavarani, Guide to the study of refining and petrochemical processes, SIDEREA scientific editions

   7. Sikdar Subhas, Princiotta Frank, Advances in Carbon Management Technologies, Vol. 1 and 2, CRC Press

   8. Da Silva Neves Marcus Vinicius, Flutt Antonio Felipe, Energy Efficiency in Oil Production, Springer

   9. Dunlap Richard A., Renewable Energy, Springer

   10. Kaya Durmus; Çanka Kiliç Fatma; Öztürk Hasan Hüseyin, Energy Management and Energy Efficiency in Industry, Springer

Oral exam with numerical exercises, verification of laboratory reports, and written report on the study visits carried out at the refinery.

Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD.

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs.

In this case, it is advisable to contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participated Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLD) professor of the Department where the Degree Course is included.

Questions will be asked on all contents expressed by the course, on the laboratory experiences, and on the study visits to the refinery if carried out.