69145 - Environmental Applied Chemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have a knowledge of the major classes of pollutants to air, water and soil and their sources. The student will know and predict the main degradation pathways and effects of an organic or inorganic substance introduced into the environment. The student will also know the natural cycles of major chemical elements and the main environmental chemical measures. Students will also know about the impact of novel technologies for the sustainable management of waters and energy.

Course contents

3 credits (24 hours) will be dedicated to topics related to organic compounds of environmental interest. The topics to be discussed are detailed below: the concept of persistence and the evaluation of the lifetime of an organic compound in the environment. Partition of organic compounds between different environmental compartments, vapor pressure, solubility in water, air-water and octanol-water partition coefficients. The process of absorption and water-solid partition. Estimation of the mobility of organic matter and mean residence times in the different compartments. Nature and role of humic acids in the transport of organic pollutants.
The chemistry of organic compounds in the atmosphere: photochemical and radical reactions.
Atmosphere and organic pollutants: mechanisms of depletion of  stratospheric ozone, the role of chlorofluorocarbons; formation of tropospheric ozone and other secondary pollutants, the role of the organic component in photochemical smog, tropospheric oxidation of volatile organic hydrocarbons.
Main classes of organic substances in the atmosphere, sources, persistence and toxicity. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, particulate absorption. Chlorinated compounds: polychlorinated dibenzo-1 ,4-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls. The industrial accident in Seveso.
Greenhouse effect: mechanisms of absorption of infrared radiation.
Main classes of organic pollutants in water and soil: sources, persistence and toxicity. Hydrocarbons from oil spills, hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents from industrial activities, pesticides, herbicides, surfactants, halogenated organic substances from industrial and agricultural activities, organometallic compounds. Gasoline additives and oxygenates. Main mechanisms of degradation of organic compounds in water and soil: reactions of hydrolysis, photolytic processes, redox reactions, microbiological degradation.

2 CFU (16 hours) will be dedicated to the following topics of environmental analytical chemistry: reference Materials in Analytical Chemistry, soils and sediments: composition, chemical properties, pollution, sampling, and analytical methods, indoor and outdoor air: micropollutants, atmospheric particulate matter, particulate matter and air sampling methods, analytical methods, water: classification, pollution, sampling, and analytical methods.

The laboratory (1CFU, 12 hours) will provide activities related to the topics covered in lectures. It will take place in Ravenna in the laboratories of chemistry within the  Environmental Sciences laboratories "R.Sartori".  Students will work in small groups and at the end of the lab will produce a brief written report

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes

Colin Baird, Chimica Ambientale, Zanichelli

S. E. Manahan, Chimica dell'ambiente, Piccin

B. Rindone, Introduzione alla Chimica Ambientale, Città Studi Edizioni

R. P. Schwarzenbach, P.M. Gschwend, D. I. Imboden, Environmental Organic Chemistry, Wiley Interscience

R. A. Larson, E. J. Weber, Reaction mechanisms in environmental organic chemistry, Lewis Publishers

Teaching methods

Lessons and discussion.

Practical laboratory training.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme

Assessment methods

The exam is oral and concurrent for both modules.

The end-of-course exam aims to assess the achievement of the learning objectives and verify the student's ability to apply their knowledge and make the necessary logical-deductive connections.

The final course grade is determined by the average of the grades obtained in three specific questions on topics related to the main objectives of the course.

The student must therefore demonstrate:

- Knowledge of the main classes of pollutants in the atmosphere, water, and soil, and their sources.

- Knowledge of and prediction of the main degradation pathways and effects of an organic or inorganic substance released into the environment.

- Knowledge of the natural cycles of the main chemical elements and the main environmental chemical measures.

Final grade:

Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course  that emerges only with the lecturer's assistance, generally correct language expression → 18-24;
Preparation on a large number of t opics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology → 25-29;Substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and connection, full mastery of specific terminology and ability for argumentation and self-reflection → 30-30L.

Teaching tools

Lecture slides

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Galletti

See the website of Alessandro Girolamo Rombolà