Biofuels Professional Certificate Program

Fuel derived from renewable resources present an attractive alternative to petroleum, with benefits ranging from reduced green house gases to reduced dependency on foreign oil.

The Biofuels Certificate Program is designed to build competency in the process of converting renewable energy crops into fuel. The program reviews the global drive for biofuel exploratory research and commercialization, conventional and emerging energy crop (biomass) options, conversion processes, and outlook for the future.

The Biofuels Certificate Program is composed of the following four courses:

Biofuels- An Introduction

This course provide students with an overview of conventional biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel), the process from biomass feedstock to finished product, and energy potential. The course reviews corn, sugarcane, and oils that can be pretreated and converted into biofuel.

Biofuels- Cellulose Ethanol

This course provide students with an overview of the cellulose ethanol production process from biomass feedstock to finished product. The course reviews cellulose based biomass that can be pretreated and converted into biofuel. We also explore crop availability and pricing, fuel potential, case studies, and outlook for both food-grade and non food-grade crops.

Biofuels- Algae

This course provides an overview of algal production technology and the main processes, such as thermochemical, chemical and biochemical conversion of microalgae becoming energy, that results in the production of bio-oil, biodiesel, and ethanol, methane and hydrogen, respectively. This course also reviews leading research companies and government agencies that are funding efforts to reduce capital and operating costs and make algae fuel production commercially viable.

Biomass Pretreatment Technologies

A primary technological challenge in converting lignocellulosic biomass into fuel is overcoming the recalcitrance of its matrix to enzymatic hydrolysis. This course provides a comprehensive overview of conventional and emerging pretreatment technologies, their effectiveness, models for prediction, scale-up opportunities, economics, and outlook for the future.

After completion of the Biofuels Certificate Program, students will be equipped with a basic understanding of the following:

• Global petroleum issue
• The need for biofuels
• Biofuel options (ethanol, diesel, butanol, gas)
• Biomass options (conventional, lignocellulose, algae, other)
• Biofuel production processes
• Emerging research
• Challenges faced
• Outlook for the future

No prior experience or coursework required. 

 Students will be assigned 5 homework assignments, and 1 final exam. 

See the syllabus of the four(4) courses for details

 This course is Instructor-led and delivered through our award-winning online Learning Management System.