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Environmental Process Technology and Circular Economies


Module name (EN):
Name of module in study programme. It should be precise and clear.
Environmental Process Technology and Circular Economies
Degree programme:
Study Programme with validity of corresponding study regulations containing this module.
Environmental Technologies, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2025
Module code: UI-T-UVK
SAP-Submodule-No.:
The exam administration creates a SAP-Submodule-No for every exam type in every module. The SAP-Submodule-No is equal for the same module in different study programs.
P241-0413, P241-0414
Hours per semester week / Teaching method:
The count of hours per week is a combination of lecture (V for German Vorlesung), exercise (U for άbung), practice (P) oder project (PA). For example a course of the form 2V+2U has 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of exercise per week.
4V+1LU (5 hours per week)
ECTS credits:
European Credit Transfer System. Points for successful completion of a course. Each ECTS point represents a workload of 30 hours.
6
Semester: 5
Mandatory course: yes
Language of instruction:
German
Assessment:
Written exam 180 min.

[updated 04.01.2025]
Applicability / Curricular relevance:
All study programs (with year of the version of study regulations) containing the course.

MAB_19_V_5.13.UVK (P241-0289) Mechanical and Process Engineering, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2019 , semester 5, mandatory course, Specialization Process Engineering
UI-T-UVK (P241-0413, P241-0414) Environmental Technologies, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2021 , semester 5, mandatory course, technical
UI-T-UVK (P241-0413, P241-0414) Environmental Technologies, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2023 , semester 5, mandatory course, technical
UI-T-UVK (P241-0413, P241-0414) Environmental Technologies, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2025 , semester 5, mandatory course, technical
Workload:
Workload of student for successfully completing the course. Each ECTS credit represents 30 working hours. These are the combined effort of face-to-face time, post-processing the subject of the lecture, exercises and preparation for the exam.

The total workload is distributed on the semester (01.04.-30.09. during the summer term, 01.10.-31.03. during the winter term).
75 class hours (= 56.25 clock hours) over a 15-week period.
The total student study time is 180 hours (equivalent to 6 ECTS credits).
There are therefore 123.75 hours available for class preparation and follow-up work and exam preparation.
Recommended prerequisites (modules):
None.
Recommended as prerequisite for:
Module coordinator:
Prof. Dr. Timo Gehring
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Timo Gehring

[updated 28.10.2024]
Learning outcomes:
After successfully completing this module, students will be able to:
• explain the causes of climate change and the significance of relevant greenhouse gases, analyze atmospheric CO₂ measurement data, and interpret seasonal and long-term changes.
• characterize fundamental metabolic processes, define and describe metabolic types, and illustrate their relevance to environmental processes.
• identify and analyze the legal foundations and standards governing the circular economy, and explain and apply the concepts derived from them.
• represent and analyze material flows and to prepare material and energy balances.
• calculate the kinetics of microbial growth according to the Monod model, as well as the rates of oxygen transfer and uptake.
• identify, explain, and compare various types of reactors used in environmental engineering, and describe their applications in the treatment of wastewater and exhaust air.
• calculate design specifications for selected components and systems and to develop process engineering solutions for specific applications.
• explain the biological principles and processes involved in biogas production, analyze feedstocks for biogas production, and calculate estimates of biogas yield and composition.
• explain and compare various cultivation and system technologies (sunlight-based, artificially lit, e.g., Floating Light Ball Reactor) used for algae cultivation, and evaluate them in terms of scalability and energy efficiency.
• critically discuss and evaluate ethical issues and the global relevance of the bioeconomy and industrial algae production.
• identify and define relevant individual and aggregate substance parameters for exhaust air and wastewater treatment, and explain how these parameters are measured.
• conduct laboratory experiments according to a protocol, evaluate measurement data, compile the results in a structured manner, and write a report in the style of a scientific publication.
• apply AI-based tools to address selected environmental engineering issues, analyze the results from a technical perspective, and critically evaluate them in terms of plausibility, source quality, and technical accuracy.
• review English-language scientific publications on environmental engineering issues, identify their key content and findings, summarize them in a structured manner, and classify them according to their field of study.
 
  


[updated 24.09.2026]
Module content:
Greenhouse gases, causes of climate change, CO2 measurements in the atmosphere, seasonal fluctuations, and data analysis.
Biological foundations: Biomass, nutrition, and metabolic types; photosynthesis; energy production and storage in cells; aerobic and anaerobic modes of life and their relevance to process engineering
Circular Economy: regulatory framework and standards (Climate Protection Act, Circular Economy Act), Cradle-to-Cradle vs.  Cradle-to-Grave, waste hierarchy
Guiding principles of environmental process engineering; additive vs. integrated environmental protection measures
Presentation and analysis of material flows; material and energy balances
Reactor types in environmental engineering; reaction kinetics, residence time
Mechanical, thermal, physical/chemical, and biological processes for the treatment of wastewater and exhaust air
Biogas production; estimation of yield and composition based on the feedstock used
Cultivation and facility techniques for algae production; types of photobioreactors (sunlight-based and artificially lit, including the Floating Light Ball Reactor)
Ethical issues and the global relevance of the bioeconomy and industrial algae production
Fundamentals of the design and sizing of selected environmental engineering equipment and systems (e.g., heat exchangers, municipal wastewater treatment plants), materials used, and related patents (optional).
Sensors; offline and online analysis of selected parameters in wastewater, exhaust air, and biogas (BOD5, COD, TOC, ammonium and nitrate, CO2 and methane, H2S, O2, particles)
Practical lab experiments in small groups: Training in laboratory safety and laboratory techniques; cultivation of microorganisms and/or algae; and microscopic examination.
Reading and analyzing original English-language scholarly literature; structured summarization, contextual analysis, and critical evaluation of scholarly findings.
Use of AI-based tools to address environmental engineering issues and analyze data; critical validation of AI-generated results with regard to plausibility, source quality, and technical accuracy.
Optional: Trip to environmental facilities (e.g., waste-to-energy plant)

[updated 24.09.2026]
Teaching methods/Media:
Teaching methods: Lectures with exercises, seminar-style instruction, discussion of scientific publications, laboratory work in small groups, and an optional trip to environmental engineering facilities. Media: PowerPoint presentation, blackboard notes, original English-language literature, laboratory procedures.

[updated 24.09.2026]
Recommended or required reading:
For additional reading, see the Moodle course
 
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Abwassertechnische Vereinigung e.V. (1997): ATV-Handbuch Biologische und weitergehende Abwasserreinigung. 4. Aufl. Berlin: Ernst & Sohn (ATV-Handbuch).
 
Chmiel, H. (2011): Bioprozesstechnik. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag
Christen, D. S. (2010): Praxiswissen der chemischen Verfahrenstechnik. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
 
DECHEMA Society für Chemische Technology und Biotechnology e.V. (Hg.) (2024): Statuspapier Circular Economy. Die Perspektive von chemischer Technik und Biotechnologie.
 
Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall (2016): Bemessung von einstufigen Belebungsanlagen. Hennef: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall (DWA-Regelwerk Arbeitsblatt DWA-A, 131).
 
Emig, G.; Klemm, E.; Freund, H. (2024): Chemische Reaktionstechnik. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
 
Fischedick, M.; Görner, K.; Thomeczek, M. (2015): CO2: Abtrennung, Speicherung, Nutzung. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
 
Fleischhauer, W.-J.; Falkenhain, G. (1996): Angewandte Umwelttechnik. Ein einführender Überblick für Techniker in Ausbildung und Praxis. 1. Aufl., 1. Dr. Berlin: Cornelsen Girardet.
 
Gehring, T.; Maurer, P.; Yildirim, M.; Lierse, M. S.; Ickes, R. (2025): Floating Light Ball Reactor: A Scalable and Flexible Photobioreactor Design for Microalgae Cultivation. In: Sustainability & Circularity NOW 02 (CP).
 
M. Yildirim, P. Maurer, M. S. Lierse, et al. “Nonsterile Cultivation of the Thermophilic Cyanobacterium Parathermosynechococcus lividus PCC 6715 in a Floating Light Ball Reactor (FLBR) on 53‐L Scale for Zeaxanthin Production.” ChemFoodChem (2026): e70034. https://doi.org/10.1002/cfch.70034
 
Kremer, B. P.; Bannwarth, H. (2018): Einführung in die Laborpraxis. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
 
Madigan, M. T.; Bender, K. S.; Buckley, D. H.; Sattley, W. M.; Stahl, D. A.; Brock, T. D. (2020): Brock Mikrobiologie. 15., aktualisierte Auflage. München: Pearson (Pearson Studium - Biologie Ser).
 
Naumer, H.-J. (2023): Grünes Wachstum. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.
Ottow, J. C. G. (Hg.) (1997): Umweltbiotechnologie. Stuttgart, Jena, Lübeck, Ulm: G. Fischer.
 
Reineke, W.; Schlömann, M. (2020): Umweltmikrobiologie. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
 
Rosenwinkel, K.-H.; Kroiss, H.; Dichtl, N.; Seyfried, C.-F.; Weiland, P. (2015): Anaerobtechnik. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
 
Vogt, E. T. C.; Weckhuysen, B. M. (2024): The refinery of the future. In: Nature 629 (8011), S. 295–306.


[updated 24.09.2026]
 
[Sat Oct 31 16:15:28 CET 2026, CKEY=muuk, BKEY=ut3, CID=UI-T-UVK, LANGUAGE=en, DATE=31.10.2026]