Environmental chemistry and techniques of documentation

Duration

15h Th, 5h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Caroline Collette, Gauthier Eppe

Coordinator

Gauthier Eppe

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course (environmental chemistry part) deals mainly with the major families of chemical substances that can be found in the environment, their properties, transport and fate in air, water and soils.
Natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution as well as the principal classes of environmental pollutants will be studied. The problem of waste production and waste treatment will be discussed. We will consider the particular case of domestic waste. The main regulatory and legal aspects (EU directives and regulations and the Belgian legislation) associated with each environmental compartment will be taught, focused essentially on limits of emission. Practical examples will de discussed. Particular attention will be given to the interpretation of the results in this context.
 
The course (documentation part) deals : The different modes of publication and provision of scientic information. The search for information in various scientific publications and how to cite documents.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The overall objective of the course (environmental chemistry part) is to provide to students an overview of the influence of the chemistry on our environment. Emphasis will be placed on the properties, reactions, sources and sinks as well as the danger of existing chemical substances, generated naturally and by human activity for each of the areas considered: air, water, soil.
 
The overall objective of the course (documentation part) is to educate students in research targeted scientific information and critical analysis of the results

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

 prerequisites
General chemistry
Basic scientific english
 
corequisites
Analytical chemistry, chemical methods of analysis

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Problem-based learning will be promoted with concrete examples of environmental problems encountered. Familiarization with the use of databases (eur-lex, U.S. EPA, Belgian monitor-Walloon environment, ...) will also be discussed.
For documentation part , use tools such as documentation to support problem-based learning mentioned above.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

face to face including problem-based approaches on specific environmental issues. Copies of lecture slides will be available

Recommended or required readings

Additional information can be found in the following books : CHIMIE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT (en français), Baird et Cann, De Boeck Université, 5th Edition
An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry (en anglais), ANDREWS, BRIMBLECOMBE, JICKELLS and LISS, Blackwell Science Ltd.
 
100 % Information Literacy Success, Solomon A. , Wilson G. , Taylor T. , Wadsworth, 2nd, Boston, 2012.
The hands-on guide for science communications, Christensen L.L. , Springer, Munich, 2007.

Assessment methods and criteria

In groups of two or three, students have to investigate a recent environmental event that has been reported in the scientific literature or in the printed or electronic media. it can also be a harmful substance from its industrial or agricultural use that has been released in the environment. Then, the following aspects of the problem are to be examined:
Define the problem, clarify the concepts. Analyse the problem.
Brainstorming about possible solutions, remediations.
The long-term solution to prevent this sort of problem in the future.
Deliverables: The research project culminates in a written report (10 pages, including illustrations and bibliography) Oral presentation and discussion
 
The final grade encompasses the contribution of the written report, the oral presentation and answers to questions. The exam is organized in Mai/June and September.

Work placement(s)

A visit of the Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator (MSWI) Uvélia (Intradel) in Herstal is foreseen. The visit is focused on the incineration process and the quality aspects of waste treatment including stack emission.

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Pr. Gauthier Eppe Institut de Chimie, Bat B6c, Local 1/9A Tel. +32-4-3663422 e-mail. g.eppe@ulg.ac.be
Collette Caroline, PhD
Institut de Chimie, Bat B6b, Bibliothèque des Sciences
Tel: +32-4-3663439
e-mail. C.Collette@ulg.ac.be

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