250075 From Plants to Bioenergy

Details
Responsible DepartmentDepartment of Agriculture and Ecology   45 %
Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology   30 %
Forest & Landscape   25 %

Earliest Possible YearMSc. 1 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits7.5 (ECTS)
 
Level of CourseMSc
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

written examination


Written Exam in Lecturehall

All aids allowed

Description of Examination: 4 hours written examination

Weight: Written examination: 100%



7-point scale, external examiner

Dates of Exam:
28 January 2011
 
Organisation of TeachingLectures (major part) Practicals Theoretical exercise Excusions (2 days) Case Study
 
Block PlacementBlock 2
Week Structure: B
 
Language of InstructionEnglish
 
Optional PrerequisitesBachelor degree in biology, biotechnology or similar plant science
 
Course Content
This international course is based on the premise that demands are set by EU and globally for utilization of bioenergy in transportation by converting lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol and other liquid energy carriers. There is a demand for candidates that have sufficient understanding of the molecular breeding and carbohydrate chemistry to develop technologies for this new direction in the roadmap of biofuel study and production. Topics covered are:

. Carbon and Nitrogen partitioning
. Cell wall components and their structure
. Molecular plant breeding strategies for biomass target traits
. Process enzymology
. Chemistry and physics of carbohydrates and lignocelluloses
. Conversion technologies for biomass to energy carriers
. Biomass crop production in temperate and tropical area
 
Teaching and learning Methods
Teaching methods Foundation lectures will give overview of plant genetics and genome structure. Lectures will be dedicated to biomass components, cell wall structures, lignocellulose, starch and carbohydrate chemistry. Exercises will build students skills of applying empirical and dynamic models on investigating the relations biomass conversion using prediction software. Self studies will build students capacity to review and identify the most important relations in dynamic and complex settings summarized and presented for the general reader following the Nature News in Science concept. Practicals will include carbohydrate-arrays and anatomy by microscopy survey of plant tissues. Excusions to industrial plants converting biomass and producers of converting enzymes. Group presentations and discussions will build competencies in terms of presenting and discussing on an academic level on complex issue.
 
Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome
The course will provide the theoretical bases for understanding carbon and nitrogen sequestration in plants, the biosynthesis and structure of type I and type II plant cell walls, introduction to enzymes for plant polymer conversion and methods for processing and conversion of biomass into solid and liquid carriers. The principles of forward and reverse genetics will be provided and strategies for utilizing candidate genes in molecular breeding for plants with improve biomass conversion potential presented. The perspectives for biomass crop production in temperate and tropical areas will be discussed and put in a socio-economics and environmental context.

Knowledge
. Describe the structure and biochemistry of carbohydrates, cellulose, ligno-cellulose
. Give an overview of enzymes implicated in the biosynthesis of plant cell walls
. Describe molecular breeding towards altering biomass make-up
. Describe the function of hydrolytic enzymes important for plant polymer conversion
. Summarize processing and conversion of biomass to solid and liquid energy carriers

Skills
. Compare differences in cell wall structure and composition between plant species
. Apply reverse genetic tools to modify biomass composition
. Identify target genes encoding enzymes relevant for bioconversion
. Participate in academic discussions on sustainability of bioenergy production systems

Competencies
. Assessment of C- and N- sequestration in different crop plants in response to growth condition
. Evaluate feasibility of forward and reverse genetics of improved biomass conversion
. Propose an ideal crop plant for bioenergy
 
Course Coordinator
Søren K. Rasmussen, skr@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 353-33436
 
Course Fee
Kurset er også masteruddannelse/efteruddannelse
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Work Load
lectures74
theoretical exercises32
Excursions20
practicals20
preparation60

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