Undergraduate Course: Sustainable Chemistry Level 10 (CHEM10023)
Course Outline
| School | School of Chemistry |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This lecture course covers a range of topics with the overarching aim of introducing you to ways in which chemistry can contribute to sustainability across different industrial sectors.
In this course we will;
(1) Review how chemistry impacts in the recovery of metals from primary and secondary sources.
(2) Consider the development of sustainable materials across their full life-cycle.
(3) Analyse the opportunities and challenges faced in using renewable biomass feedstocks and in biorefining.
(4) Provide knowledge of solar cells and solar fuels, with a particular emphasis on the chemistry of the materials that underpin these technologies.
(5) Examine the application of natural and engineered biocatalysts for chemical synthesis. Exemplars will be chosen from published case studies from industrial and academic experts. |
| Course description |
Not entered
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | This is a fourth-year honours level course; students are expected to have an academic profile equivalent to the first three years of this degree programme. Study equivalent to the following University of Edinburgh courses is required: Chemistry 3A (CHEM09005) AND Chemistry 3B (CHEM09006) AND Chemistry 3P Practical and Transferable Skills (CHEM09007) |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Knowledge and Understanding : At the end of this course students will be able to show an understanding of the principal concepts and applications of ¿Green Chemistry¿. Be aware of the difficulties in defining the boundaries of systems in order to minimise the impact of individual manufacturing processes. Understand the chemistry of extractive metallurgy and the contrasts between smelting and related pyro-metallurgical processes and hydrometallurgical recovery methodologies. Appreciate the contributions of biotechnology to the improved sustainability of chemicals production. Understand the environmental impact of automotive exhaust emissions and the role of catalyst technology in meeting both European and North American emissions legislation. Appreciate how catalysis based systems may provide 'clean technologies' for heavy industry and power generation.
- Practice: Applied Knowledge, Skills and Understanding: Apply this integrated knowledge in a "systems engineering" approach to the design of new products and processes and an appreciation of how this is being implemented in various industrial sectors in response to a combination of diminishing resources as well as economic and political pressures.
- Generic Cognitive Skills: Critically review current resources, routes and production of chemicals (either large scale intermediates or fine chemicals) and demonstrate an ability to analyse or assess complex problems based on diverse, or limited, datasets.
- Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills: Interpret and use a wide range of numerical, graphical and schematic data and communicate this effectively.
- Autonomy, Accountability and Working with Others: Show an appreciation of complex ethical, economical and professional issues related to the production of chemicals in accordance with current professional and/or ethical codes or practices.
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Learning Resources
Suggested reading material ¿ 2 reviews per lecture course.
(1a) A.M. Wilson, P.J. Bailey, P.A. Tasker, J.R. Turkington, R.A. Grant, & J.B. Love. Solvent extraction: the coordination chemistry behind extractive metallurgy. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2014, 43, 123. (doi.org/10.1039/C3CS60275C)
(1b) A. Nag, A. Qurashi, C.A. Morrison, K. Moth-Poulsen, T. Pradeep & J.B. Love. Recent advances of recycling of precious metals using sustainable chemistry. Coord. Chem. Rev., 2025, 548, 217186. (doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2025.217186)
(2a). Y. Zhu, C. Romain & C. K. Williams, Sustainable Polymers from Renewable Resources, Nature, 2016, 540, 354. (doi.org/10.1038/nature21001)
(2b). Y.D.Y.L. Getzler & R.T. Mathers. Sustainable Polymers: Our Evolving Understanding, Acc. Chem. Res., 2022, 55, 14, 1869. (doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00194)
(3a) Lecture course 3
(3b) Lecture course 3
(4a). J. Han, K. Park, S. Tan, et al. Perovskite solar cells. Nat. Rev. Methods Primers, 2025, 5, 3 . (doi.org/10.1038/s43586-024-00373-9)
(4b). Golovanova, V., Mittal, D. & García de Arquer, F.P. What solar fuel technologies can learn from each other. Nat. Rev. Clean Technol., 2026, 2, 151¿171. (doi.org/10.1038/s44359-025-00130-5)
(5a) E.L. Bell et al. Biocatalysis. Nat. Rev. Methods Primers, 2021, 1, 46. (doi.org/10.1038/s43586-021-00044-z)
(5b) R. Buller R, et al. From nature to industry: Harnessing enzymes for biocatalysis. Science, 2023, 24, 382. (doi: 10.1126/science.adh8615) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Numerical, graphical and schematic data analysis and processing skills.
Note-taking skills in lectures
Making informed judgements on complex issues based on science, economy and ethics. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
25 hours lectures + 7.5 hours tutorials, at times arranged. |
| Keywords | SusC(L10) |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Dominic Campopiano
Tel: (0131 6)50 4712
Email: Dominic.Campopiano@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Zoe Burger
Tel: (0131 6)51 7257
Email: zoe.burger@ed.ac.uk |
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