Chemical Conversions in Environmental Engineering

This equivalency course replaces the following course from the old master programme: CIE4705. It is identical to parts of the Principles of physicochemical and biological processes theme of module ENVM1500 in the new programme. Please see the study guide description of ENVM1500 and the information below. Please contact the module manager at the start of the module for registration and additional information.

Principles of physicochemical and biological processes

Link to learning objectives of the module:

A1: LO1, LO2 and LO3.

Central topic of the module sub theme is learning to apply the principles of physicochemical processes, reactor technologies and pollutant removal/degradation processes with the aim of using this know-how for designing and evaluating a treatment unit in module B1. It provides an environmental process engineering perspective and addresses the fundamentals on:

• Calculating equilibria of chemical conversion processes in natural or engineered treatment units.

• Assessing chemical reaction kinetics in dependence to applied reactor conditions and operational process characteristics using mathematical models.

• Assessing removal efficiency of pollutants by physicochemical processes, by exploring, understanding and applying underlying concepts like mass balances, chemical thermodynamics, mass transfer phenomena, dissolution, precipitation, degradation kinetics.

• Reactor technologies.

• Factors that impact removal, degradation or conversion of pollutants (e.g. chemicals of concern) that pose a risk to human health.

Chemical reactor performance analysis

Link to learning objectives of the module:

A1: LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 and LO5.

Central topic of the module sub theme is the execution of a chemical lab experiment and mathematical modelling and performance analysis of this system. Through the lab experiment students can use know-how from module sub theme I to describe the chemical conversion processes and rates, and evaluate the removal efficiencies of contaminants (chemicals and pathogens that pose a risk to human health) in a single process unit. The following topics will be addressed:

• Using mathematical modelling in different software environments (e.g., phreeqC, matlab, python) the experimental results can be described with chemical conversion models and evaluated for their potential to protect human health.

• Presenting, proposing and reporting about improved operational conditions for performance enhancement.