Fate and behaviour of environmental contaminants
Summary
The student will learn the important processes that control the transport and transformation of organic chemicals in the environment, as well as the formulation and solution of quantitative models to describe these processes.
Content
- Phase transfer processes, e.g., sorption and air-liquid partitioning
- Mass transfers through boundary layers, kinetics of air-water exchange
- Structure-Activity relationships
- Transformation reactions of chemicals in the environment: substitution, elimination, hydrolysis reactions, photolysis
- Introduction to biologcial contaminants (pathogens) and their fate in the environment
Keywords
organic pollutants
aquatic system
mass transfer
transformation reactions
kinetics
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
General chemistry
Recommended courses
Environmental chemistry
Important concepts to start the course
Interest in chemical processes in the aquatic environment
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Anticipate the important processes that control the fate of acquatic contaminants
- Formulate models that quantify that fate
- Solve those models, e.g., to determine chemical half lives
Transversal skills
- Collect data.
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
- Make an oral presentation.
- Write a scientific or technical report.
Teaching methods
Ex cathedra
Excercises
Student project
Expected student activities
Attend lectures and exercise sessions.
Complete assigned exercises.
Prepare independently for exams.
Prepare and present an independent project.
Assessment methods
Independent project (50 %)
Final exam (50 %)
Supervision
| Office hours | No |
| Assistants | No |
| Forum | No |
Resources
Bibliography
Schwarzenbach et al., "Environmental Organic Chemistry" (will be provided)
Ressources en bibliothèque
Notes/Handbook
Class handouts will be provided
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Fate and behaviour of environmental contaminants
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Fate and behaviour of environmental contaminants
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Fate and behaviour of environmental contaminants
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Fate and behaviour of environmental contaminants
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks