Engineering Aspects of Biofuels and Biomass Conversion Technologies

By Prof. Ejaz Ahmad | IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

Learners enrolled: 206

ABOUT THE COURSE:

The engineering aspects of biofuels and biomass conversion technologies course blends applied engineering and fundamental science pertinent to research and industrial applications for decarbonization and to achieve sustainable development goals. Biomass is an important carbon-neutral fuel source and several high-value chemicals, such as biopolymers. As a result, a wide range of technologies has been developed, which are categorized as high-temperature conversion processes and low-temperature conversion processes in this course. After this, process flow development and the requirement for different instruments and accessories for briquetting, pelletization, gasification, and pyrolysis have been discussed. The discussion follows the development and use of different auxiliary units for produced fuel storage, transportation, and utilization. Similarly, low-temperature processes cover biogas production, cleaning and compression processes, and system development. Gradually, the course moves towards producing high-value chemicals and fuel additives via chemo-catalytic and biochemical routes. Ultimately, the use of algal biomass and non-edible oil for bio-lubricants and sustainable aviation fuel has been discussed. Overall, the course provides different aspects of engineering requirements and design strategies for scaling up biofuels and biomass conversion technologies.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: University Students and Industrial Practitioners

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Fuel Industries, Biorefineries, Government PSUs, Food and Processing Industry, Sugar Industries, Agriculture Industries

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Mechanical Engineering Civil Engineering Energy Science and Engineering Energy Systems Energy and Environment
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	02 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1:

Introduction to biofuels and biomass conversion technologies
Problems arising due to waste biomass and agro residues
Need for biorenewable energy and biofuels
Economic and innovation opportunities
Government policies and sustainable development goals
Waste to Wealth

Week 2:

Different types of biomasses and their categorization
Biomass worldwide production and in India
History of biofuels and biomass conversion technologies
Different generations of biofuels
Introduction to high-temperature conversion technologies
Brief on thermochemical conversion of biomasses

Week 3:

Briquetting of biomass: Different processes and equipment
Development of block flow diagram for briquetting of biomass
Process flow diagram development for briquetting plant
Fume exhaust system, pressing systems for briquetting
Biomass pelletizers
The difference between briquets and pellets and their burning

Week 4:

Gasifier stove: Household and commercial
Types of commercial gasifier stove
Components and accessories of commercial gasifier stove
Types of household gasifier stove
Operation of household gasifier stove
Factors affecting gasifier stove

Week 5:

Large-scale industrial gasifiers and theory
Process flow diagram development for gasification plant
Gasifier operating and design parameters
Gasifier classification and design, Commercial Gasifiers
Rule of thumb for gasifier selection
Detailed parameters for gasifier selection

Week 6:

Pyrolysis of biomass
Types of pyrolysis processes
Bio-oil, syngas, and bio-coal production
Process flow diagram development for different pyrolyzers
Bio-oil upgradation

Week 7:

Introduction to low-temperature conversion technologies
High-value chemical production from biomass
Catalytic processes for biomass conversion
Fuel additives, artificial sweeteners, and biopolymers production
Green gasoline, green diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel additives production

Week 8:

Biochemical conversion of biomass
High-value chemical production via biochemical route
Basics of 1G and 1.5G ethanol production & economics
Process flow diagram development for bioethanol production
Development of auxiliary units for separation and purification of ethanol
By-products utilization

Week 9:

Biogas production from biomass
Aerobic and anaerobic digestion
Block flow diagram and process of anaerobic digestion
Digesters and factors affecting its performance
Standard testing in a biogas plant

Week 10:

Equipment of biogas plant
Operation and maintenance of the biogas plant
Control philosophy and safety aspects of biogas plant
Biogas enrichment and handling system
CO₂ capture and conversion

Week 11:

Algal biomass
Types, sources, and generation
Algal biomass conversion technologies
Fuel production from algal biomass
Chemicals production from algal biomass

Week 12:

Non-edible oil: availability and opportunities
Non-edible oil to fuel
Non-edible oil to sustainable aviation fuel
Non-edible oil to bio-lubricants and polymer precursor
Used and discarded cooking oil to fuels and chemicals

Books and references

Wertz, J-L. and Béduéand, O. (2013). Lignocellulosic Biorefineries, EPFL and CRC Press
Bhaskar, T., Pandey, A., Venkata Mohan, S., Lee, D.-J., Khanal, S. K. (2018). Waste Biorefinery: Potential and Perspectives, Elsevier
K.K. Pant, Sanjay Gupta, Ejaz Ahmad “Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental Sustainability Volume-I, Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery” Springer Nature https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9

Instructor bio

Prof. Ejaz Ahmad

IIT(ISM) Dhanbad

Dr. Ejaz Ahmad is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT ISM Dhanbad and the Faculty In charge of Sponsored Research & Industrial Consultancy at his institute. He is a two-time recipient of India's most prestigious Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award (GYTI), awarded by the honorable president of India once and the honorable science and technology minister a second time. His research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis for biorenewable energy, green gasoline, bioaviation fuel, clean hydrogen, waste to wealth and Urban mining. He has been a visiting scientist at Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Germany, for a year as a recipient of the “German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Bi-national research grant”. He also received the “Prime Minister Fellowship for Doctoral Research” for industrially relevant research. He was also awarded the “FITT Award for Best Industrially Relevant Thesis”by IIT Delhi, “Best Thesis Award” by Loveraj Kumar Memorial Trust, and the “INAE Special Mention Award” 2019 from the Indian National Academy of Engineering during INAE 3rd Youth Conclave 2019. Dr. Ahmad has 7 patents and has published over 40 articles in highly reputed journals. Moreover, Dr. Ahmad published two edited books in Springer Nature in 2021 and edited a special issue in Elsevier's journal. He was appointed “Associate Editor” in 2022 for Materials Science for Energy Technologies, an Elsevier journal. Furthermore, Dr. Ahmad has received 11 externally funded projects worth Rs. 15 Crores in the form of a Startup Research Grant, SUPRA from SERB, Delhi Science and Technology Cluster (DRIIV) project from the office of PSA to the Government of India, DBT, DST, Tata Steel as well as a Science Outreach project from Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Dr. Ahmad has also been conferred membership of the Indian National Young Academy of Science (INYAS), Royal Society of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, Institution of Chemical Engineers UK, IIChE, and Materials Research Society etc.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: November 02, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Kharagpur .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team