90024 - Pollutant Organic Compounds and Fundamentals of Microbiology for Depollution t

Learning outcomes

Expected knowledge and skills: Upon completion of the course, students will understand the structure and nomenclature, reactivity, and industrial relevance of major organic chemical compounds, including those responsible for air, water, and soil pollution. Students will be familiar with the main biological constituents of microbial cells of environmental and industrial interest, the fundamental aspects of their physiology, and strategies for their cultivation and use in bioremediation settings. They will also be familiar with the basics of microbial ecology in terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Course contents

 ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Introduction to Organic Chemistry and its relevance in industrial (chemical, pharmaceutical, and bioindustrial) and environmental fields.

Molecular formulas of organic compounds and their graphical representations.

Classification of organic compounds. Common-use nomenclatures and IUPAC systematic nomenclature of organic compounds.

Isomerism in Organic Chemistry: structural isomerism and stereoisomerism; the R/S and E/Z nomenclature systems.

Organic reactions and their classification. Review of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. The mechanism of organic reactions: general principles and thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. Inductive, resonance, and steric effects.

Structure, nomenclature, physical properties, preparation, and reactivity of the main organic compounds of industrial and environmental relevance, including: aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated organic compounds, alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids (and their derivatives), and amines and their derivatives.

Main industrially relevant organic compounds detected in the environment: their origin, distribution, and impacts on terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

MICROBIOLOGY

Structure of living matter: main biomolecules, their structure, and their role within the cell. Fundamentals of bioenergetics and metabolism.

Enzymes: function, classification, and nomenclature. Mechanisms of enzymatic reactions, reaction rates, and factors affecting them. Mechanisms of enzyme inhibition and regulation.

Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells: main subcellular structures, their organization, and biological roles. Cell replication. Fundamentals of mycology.

Fundamentals of molecular biology: DNA replication, transcription, and translation. The genetic code. Taxonomy and phylogeny.

Fundamentals of microbial ecology and introduction to the basic concepts of bioremediation.

Nutritional requirements of microorganisms and microbial growth. Culture media for the cultivation of microorganisms of environmental interest. Mixed cultures, co-cultures, and pure cultures, and biochemical, microbiological, and molecular methods for their characterization. Isolation of specialized pure cultures. Preservation of microbial cultures. Growth kinetics.

Readings/Bibliography

Organic Chemistry:

J. McMurray - Fondamenti di Chimica Organica - Ed. Zanichelli, Bologna.

In general, any universitary book dedicated to the organic chemistry subject can be utilized.

Microbiologia:

Madigan MT, Bender KS, Stahl DA, Sattley WM. Brock - Biologia dei microrganismi. Microbiologia generale, ambientale e industriale. Pearson.

Nelson DL, Cox MM. I principi di biochimica di Lehninger. Zanichelli

Students are also encouraged to use the teaching materials provided by the instructor and made available on the “Virtuale” platform.

Teaching methods

the Course consists of 60 hours of class lectures.

Assessment methods

The examination consists of a 2-hour written test.

The test will include six questions related to the topics discussed during the lectures: three questions will concern the Organic Chemistry section and three questions will concern the Microbiology section. Each section will be assigned a maximum score of 30 points, and the final grade will be calculated as the average of the scores obtained in the two sections.

During the examination, students are allowed to use the periodic table and the necessary writing materials for completing the exam on the sheets provided. The use of artificial intelligence tools and any other digital tools is strictly prohibited. Any use of such tools constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Students are reminded to check the course prerequisites specified in the degree programme regulations.

Information for students with disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD):
Students wishing to request examination accommodations must contact the University Office for Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders, which is responsible for collecting the relevant documentation and defining the eligible accommodations (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ). Students should not send certification documents directly to the instructor.

Requests for accommodations must be submitted to the instructor for approval at least 15 days before the examination date. The instructor will assess the appropriateness of the requested accommodations, also considering the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

Class lectures will be supported by power point presentations which will be then made available on the virtual platform related to the course. 

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Fava

See the website of Elena Biagi