44732 - Chemical Principles of Environmental Technologies (Graduate Course)

Learning outcomes

The course is designed to provide the student with the principal concepts needed to understand in a systematic way the physico-chemical properties of main pollutants in air, water and soil, with respect to their production and sources (natural vs. anthropogenic). In addition, the reactivity of such pollutants into the environment will be studied, in order to evaluate the potential alteration of environmental parameters and prevent them or at least reduce their extent.

Course contents

Introduction to the Environmental Chemistry. Physico-chemical characteristics of environmental compartments: atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere and their interaction with the anthroposphere. Geochemical cycles of some important elements (C, O, N, S e P). Source (natural and anthropic), reactions, transport, effects and fate of the main chemicals in water, soil and atmoshere. Acid-base, precipitation, redox and complexation reactions. Global and local effects: greenhouse effect, the consequence of fossil fuel utilization, mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions. Biofuels and the use of hydrogen as energy vector. Ozone depletion and the replacement of ODS: CFC substitutes and their environmental effects. Acid rains and the effect of sulfur and nitrogen oxides; chemical principles of abatement processes (capture and SCR). Photochemical smog: precursor, reactions and effect.

Readings/Bibliography

C. Baird, M. Cann Environmental Chemistry, 3rd ed. W.H.Freeman & Company, 2005

Teaching methods

Lectures with discussion of selected topics

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Teaching tools

Copies of the slides usef for lectures will be distrubuted to students in advance. Documents useful to focus on specific topics may be also distributed during lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Fiorini