Fate and behaviour of environmental contaminants

ENV-507 / 4 credits

Teacher:

Language: English

Remark: Pas donné en 2024-25

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: Written (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
  • Project: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Written (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
  • Project: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Written (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
  • Project: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Exam form: Written (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
  • Project: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

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