A Consolidated Chemical Engineering Laboratory with a Focus on Bioenergy

该项目正在开发一个新的单位操作实验室，重点是生物能源，用于华盛顿大学本科生的化学工程课程。这是通过在生物丁醇生产的整个周期基础上开发实验室设施和实验模块来实现的。正在开发的实验室模块涉及发酵、水循环分离、溶剂净化、排放控制和热交换等主题。该实验室也是一门新的生物燃料生产课程的中心。实验室和课程采用了现代教学方法，包括基于团队的学习和基于项目的学习。该项目包括严格的形成性和总结性评价计划，定性和定量部分均由经验丰富的独立评价人员协调。评估计划包括对波多黎各大学(UPRM)教授的传统化学工程课程与华盛顿大学关于学生学习的新课程进行比较。这项研究的结果告诉我们，如何最好地将实验室纳入UPRM的课程，并将其用于代表人数不足的群体的学生。项目成果正在通过会议和期刊出版物以及国家科学基金会赞助的国家STEM分布式学习教育资源数据库进行传播。

This project is developing a new unit operations laboratory with an emphasis on bioenergy for use in the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum at the University of Washington. This is being accomplished by developing laboratory facilities and experimental modules based on the complete cycle of bio-butanol production. The laboratory modules being developed address topics in fermentation, separation for water recycling, solvent purification, control of emissions, and heat exchange. The laboratory is also the central focus of a new course in bio-fuel production. The laboratory and the course are utilizing modern pedagogies including team based learning and project based learning. The project includes rigorous formative and summative evaluation plans with both qualitative and quantitative components coordinated by an experienced independent evaluator. The evaluation plan includes a comparison between a traditional chemical engineering course taught at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez (UPRM) and the new course at the University of Washington on student learning. The results of this study are informing how the laboratory can be best integrated into the curriculum at UPRM and be used with students from underrepresented groups. The projects results are being disseminated through conferences and journal publications and the NSF sponsored National STEM Distributed Learning education resource database.