BBE 4403/5403 Bio-based Products Engineering Lab I – (2 credits)
Spring Semester
Laboratory exercises in bio-based products engineering. The hands-on experiments cover engineering principles as they apply to bio-based products engineering and materials aspects of processing-structure-property relation. This course also introduces standard testing procedures commonly used for biomass characterization and the pulp and paper industry, and also in the field of (bio)polymer -- including molding, mechanical testing, water vapor transmission and thermal analysis.
Laboratory sessions.
BBE 4404/5404 Biopolymers and Biocomposites Engineering – (3 credits)
Fall Semester
This course covers the raw materials, physico-chemical properties, applications, and performance durability of bioplastics and biobased composites. It also includes engineering of plant-based composites in which polymer is used either as a binder matrix or heat-cured adhesive for cellulose nanomaterials, lignocellulosic fiber, and wood.
In-person lecture (with lab activities).
ESPM 3605/5605 Recycling: Extending Raw Materials – (3 credits)
Spring Semester
This course introduces students to the basic principles of recycling, the role of recycling in raw material utilization, energy consumption, and the effect recycling, or a failure to do so, has on the environment. This includes recycling processes for a number of commonly recycled materials and products, and the properties of recycled materials versus virgin materials. In almost every case, we will compare the processing differences between recycling the material and deriving the same material from our natural resources.
In-person lecture.