Fundamentals of R and WE

The stepping stone Fundamentals of Resource en Waste Engineering is compulsory for all students following the Resources and Waste Engineering (RenWE) track.

This module provides an introduction to three scientific fields, which will be specifically addressed in the three respective themes: (1) Circularity concepts in resource and waste engineering, aiming for reduction of use of primary resources and emission of harmful components to the soil-, water-, and atmosphere compartments; (2) Environmental impacts of resource production and use and associated production of waste, with focus on primary and secondary resources typically produced for and used in the geo- and civil engineering building sector; (3) Biogeochemical processes occurring in the soil-, water-, and atmosphere compartments, with specific focus on how biogeochemical processes transform specific geo- and building sector related contaminants in these compartments and what the consequences are for the environmental quality of these compartments.

Goal: The objective of the Resource en Waste Engineering stepping stone is to gain conceptual knowledge and understanding of environmental problems arising from geo- and civil engineering practices and how circular building and waste management strategies and (stimulation of) specific biogeochemical processes can mitigate these negative effects.

The module content is organized in the following three themes:

(1) Circularity in resource and waste engineering

Link to learning objectives of the module:

SS: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5, LO6 and LO7.

Central topic of this theme is the assessment of the theoretical background of resource efficiency principles and circular resource and waste concepts including value creation from waste and development of circular business models. The obtained knowledge will provide insight on how circular resource and waste management practices can be used to support the economy and achieve political goals for reducing use of primary resources and emissions of harmful components to the environment.

This theme particularly focuses on the following topics:

• Concept, history, scope and reach of the circular (building) economy;

• General principles of circularity and resource efficiency;

• Implications and implementation of circularity and circular economy in the context of supply chains and supply; networks;

• Value creation from secondary resources;

• Sustainable and circular business models;

• Legislative framework addressing circularity and resource efficiency;

• Quantification of circularity performance through LCA methods.

This theme builds further on prior knowledge obtained in the ENV programme module and provides theoretical background knowledge as a basis for further deepening and elaboration on specific circular resource and waste management techniques, cases and applications in subsequent RenWE track A and B modules.

(2) Environmental impacts of resource utilisation

Link to learning objectives of the module:

SS: LO1, LO5 and LO7.

Main aim of this theme is gaining understanding of the solid waste flows associated to mining- and civil engineering building practices and how these are linked to the production, use and end-of-life of primary and secondary resources and the environmental effects they cause in the soil-, water- and atmosphere compartments.

This theme particularly focuses on the following subjects:

• Introduction to types, properties and quantities of the main construction- and mining-related solid waste sources and streams;

• Environmental effects (impacts) and hazard risks of construction- and mining-related solid waste sources and streams;

• Legislative frameworks and ethical aspects of construction- and mining-related waste;

• Solid waste recycling- and disposal options in relation to material and energy flows

• Introduction to technical routes for converting- and valorising waste;

• Evaluating environmental effects and hotspots occurring in the exploration-, extraction- and production stage of mineral resources;

• The theory of physical and chemical transport phenomena

• Quantitative assessment of source emission and its impact on objects;

• Environmental impacts associated to geothermal energy production;

• Introduction to (overview of) possible remediation measures of environmental impacts related to solid waste production and processing;

Ethical aspects of resource utilization will also be discussed in an interactive lecture organized together with the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

This theme builds further on prior knowledge obtained in the ENV programme module and provides theoretical background knowledge as a basis for further deepening and elaboration on remediation measures of environmental impacts of geo- and civil engineering related waste production and processing in subsequent RenWE track A and B modules.

(3) Effect of biogeochemical processes on environmental quality

Link to learning objectives of the module:

SS: LO4 and LO7.

This theme builds further on the introduction to environmental quality provided in the Environmental Engineering core programme module. The main aim of this theme is gaining understanding of how biogeochemical processes occurring in soil, water and atmosphere are involved in the conversion of specific contaminants and what consequences are for the environmental quality of these three compartments. Theories are explained and calculations are done and applied to various cases.

This theme particularly focuses on the following subjects:

• Composition and structure of soil

• Hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of soil

• Retention and reactivity of soils – sorption of organics, ions, metals

• Transfer of gasses between soil, water and air

• Alkalinity, pH-buffering, and Acid / Base equilibria

• Dissolution and precipitation of minerals, calculation of activity coefficients

• Basics of chemical modelling (PHREEQC): speciation and water-mineral interaction

• Biogeochemical reactions (Gibbs free energy, Standard Potential, van ‘t Hoff equation)

• Microbial conversion of organic and inorganic contaminants

• Basics of redox reactions including calculation of oxidation states and chemical oxygen demand plus introduction on the occurrence of the main redox processes in groundwater and lakes

This theme provides theoretical background knowledge as a basis for further deepening and elaboration on contaminant remediation measures of geo- and civil engineering related waste production and processing in subsequent RenWE track A and B modules.