Abstract:

Since the implementation of the Bologna Declaration and considering the transversal competences of the Chemical Engineering degree, our department has updated the Ecological Chemistry course. This subject teaches the actual problems of the chemical industry, but maintaining the student interests. The aim of the subject is to enhance the student’s abilities to understand environmental dilemmas in the chemical industry and propose better alternatives in terms of sustainability and ethics procedures.

The course is comprehended by real cases of the chemical industry studied in a theoretical and practical overview. In all the studied cases an environmental improvement was achieved according to the green chemistry principles. One of the studied cases is the replacement of polypropylene (PP) by poly lactic acid (PLA). PP is a thermoplastic polymer with a majority presence in our every day. However PP is obtained from petrol, a no-renewable raw material which it is supposed to be exhaust during this century. In addition a large environmental impact is derived from its production. Therefore, it is necessary to replace PP by renewable materials. One of the promising alternatives is PLA. It is a thermoplastic polymer with better stiffness and strength than PP and it is obtained from the polymerization of the acid lactic, a by-product in the sugar fermentation. In the past years the fermentation has been optimized to a quantitative acid lactic production. Nowadays, PLA is a commercial and competitive polymer in to the plastic market. Furthermore, PLA is easily degraded in ambient conditions and it does not produce waste management problems.

The students discussed the advantages and drawbacks of both polymers in terms of production process and its environmental impact, the associated cost of the manufacturing, mechanical properties assessment and waste management. The resolution of the proposed problematic allowed the students to achieve the associated competences of the course. A feedback of the students was requested in order to improve the quality of the course and adequate to student requirements.

Keywords:

Critical thinking, sustainability, Petrol, Biopolymer, Chemical Engineering.