IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i21p5772-d439838.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Implementation of Modeling Tools for Teaching Biorefinery (Focused on Bioethanol Production) in Biochemical Engineering Courses: Dynamic Modeling of Batch, Semi-Batch, and Continuous Well-Stirred Bioreactors

Author

Listed:
  • M. Ángeles Martín-Lara

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Alicia Ronda

    (Chemical and Environmental Department, Higher Technical School of Engineering, University of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain)

Abstract

Due to the ever-growing pressure on our planet’s natural resources to supply energy, the production of bioethanol by fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass is increasingly important in courses related to engineering and energy. Moreover, recent changes in the teaching–learning paradigm make necessary the introduction of novel teaching tools where students are the protagonist of their education. In this context, the purpose of this study is to compare the results obtained after traditional lessons with those obtained after the implementation of various computer activities based on modeling and simulation of bioreactors to teach biorefinery concepts focused on bioethanol production. Berkeley Madonna was chosen as the digital simulation software package because it is user-friendly, fast, and easy to program. This software allowed students to gain experience writing models that let optimize fermentations in well-stirred bioreactors and others bioprocess of industrial interest. The students (those who participated in the modeling-simulation classes and those who participated in traditional ones) completed a questionnaire and a cognitive test at the end of the course. Students that participated in modeling-simulation classes got a better score than students that participated in traditional classes. Therefore, the study showed the improvement in the understanding of the biorefinery concepts and the students improved their grades. Finally, students’ perception about the proposed modeling-simulation learning was also analyzed and they rated the efficiency of this new learning methodology as satisfactory. There are very few studies providing information about educational experiences regarding the development of skills for the formulation, interpretation, simplification, and use of mathematical models based on mass balances and simple microbial kinetics in biochemical engineering courses. The experience described in this work can be used by professors to plan and conduct courses based on the modeling of biochemical engineering problems.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Ángeles Martín-Lara & Alicia Ronda, 2020. "Implementation of Modeling Tools for Teaching Biorefinery (Focused on Bioethanol Production) in Biochemical Engineering Courses: Dynamic Modeling of Batch, Semi-Batch, and Continuous Well-Stirred Bior," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:21:p:5772-:d:439838
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5772/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5772/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Henke, J.M. & Klepper, G. & Schmitz, N., 2005. "Tax exemption for biofuels in Germany: Is bio-ethanol really an option for climate policy?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(14), pages 2617-2635.
    2. Malça, João & Freire, Fausto, 2012. "Addressing land use change and uncertainty in the life-cycle assessment of wheat-based bioethanol," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 519-527.
    3. Hu, Xiaojun & Chang, Shiyan & Li, Jingjie & Qin, Yining, 2010. "Energy for sustainable road transportation in China: Challenges, initiatives and policy implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 4289-4301.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jarosław Solarz & Małgorzata Gawlik-Kobylińska & Witold Ostant & Paweł Maciejewski, 2022. "Trends in Energy Security Education with a Focus on Renewable and Nonrenewable Sources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Malça, João & Freire, Fausto, 2012. "Addressing land use change and uncertainty in the life-cycle assessment of wheat-based bioethanol," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 519-527.
    2. Xingping Zhang & Rao Rao & Jian Xie & Yanni Liang, 2014. "The Current Dilemma and Future Path of China’s Electric Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-27, March.
    3. Noel, Michael D. & Roach, Travis, 2017. "Marginal reductions in vehicle emissions under a dual-blend ethanol mandate: Evidence from a natural experiment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 45-54.
    4. Wu, Tian & Shen, Qu & Xu, Ming & Peng, Tianduo & Ou, Xunmin, 2018. "Development and application of an energy use and CO2 emissions reduction evaluation model for China's online car hailing services," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 298-307.
    5. Zhang, Yong & Yu, Yifeng & Zou, Bai, 2011. "Analyzing public awareness and acceptance of alternative fuel vehicles in China: The case of EV," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7015-7024.
    6. Charlotte Stead & Zia Wadud & Chris Nash & Hu Li, 2019. "Introduction of Biodiesel to Rail Transport: Lessons from the Road Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Vang Rasmussen, Laura & Rasmussen, Kjeld & Birch-Thomsen, Torben & Kristensen, Søren B.P. & Traoré, Oumar, 2012. "The effect of cassava-based bioethanol production on above-ground carbon stocks: A case study from Southern Mali," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 575-583.
    8. Gümüşsoy, Aleyna & Başyi̇ği̇t, Mikail & Uzun Kart, Elif, 2023. "Economic potential and environmental impact of metal recovery from copper slag flotation tailings," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    9. Milazzo, M.F. & Spina, F. & Primerano, P. & Bart, J.C.J., 2013. "Soy biodiesel pathways: Global prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 579-624.
    10. Song, Malin & Zheng, Wanping & Wang, Zeya, 2016. "Environmental efficiency and energy consumption of highway transportation systems in China," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 181(PB), pages 441-449.
    11. Zhang, Zhijin & Zhang, Haiyan & Wang, Tianyou & Jia, Ming, 2014. "Effects of tumble combined with EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) on the combustion and emissions in a spark ignition engine at part loads," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 18-24.
    12. Behera, Shuvashish & Kar, Shaktimay & Mohanty, Rama Chandra & Ray, Ramesh Chandra, 2010. "Comparative study of bio-ethanol production from mahula (Madhuca latifolia L.) flowers by Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells immobilized in agar agar and Ca-alginate matrices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 96-100, January.
    13. Guillaume POUYANNE & Laëtitia GUILHOT & André MEUNIÉ, 2018. "L'usage de l'automobile et la structure spatiale en Chine : le modèle de ville compacte en question," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 48, pages 105-120.
    14. Grazi, Fabio & van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M., 2008. "Spatial organization, transport, and climate change: Comparing instruments of spatial planning and policy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 630-639, November.
    15. Li, Wenjie & Yang, Lixing & Wang, Li & Zhou, Xuesong & Liu, Ronghui & Gao, Ziyou, 2017. "Eco-reliable path finding in time-variant and stochastic networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 372-387.
    16. Szklo, Alexandre & Schaeffer, Roberto & Delgado, Fernanda, 2007. "Can one say ethanol is a real threat to gasoline?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 5411-5421, November.
    17. Kishimoto, Paul N. & Zhang, Da & Zhang, Xiliang & Karplus, Valerie J., 2013. "Modeling regional transportation demand in China and the impacts of a national carbon constraint," Conference papers 332390, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    18. Yang, Q. & Chen, G.Q., 2013. "Greenhouse gas emissions of corn–ethanol production in China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 176-184.
    19. Manuel Frondel & Jörg Peters, 2005. "Biodiesel: A New Oildorado?," RWI Discussion Papers 0036, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung.
    20. Dijkman, T.J. & Benders, R.M.J., 2010. "Comparison of renewable fuels based on their land use using energy densities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 3148-3155, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:21:p:5772-:d:439838. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.