Learning objectives
understanding of the fundamental chemical phenomena responsible of the environmental pollution.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Environmental Chemistry (water, soil, nuvlear chemistry).
Full programme
Water. Generality and classification. Analysis of water. Hardness of water. Methods for water treatements. Sedimentation. Coaugulation. Filtration. Outgassing. Sweetening. Caustic fragility. Demineralization. Ion exchange resins. Distillation. Electrodialysis. Drinkable waters.
Water pollution. Nature and classification of water pollutants. Elements as pollutants. Heavy metals. Non-metals. Metal and non-metals bonded to organic species. Eutrophic agents. Acidity, alkalinity and salinity. Oxygen, oxidant and reducing agents. Organic pollutants. Waste water. Soaps. Cleasings. Emulsifyings. Pesticides as pollutants. By-products of the industrial production of pesticides.
Nuclear chemistry. Nuclear decay processes. Half-life time. Nuclear activity. Dating methods with radiocarbon. Radioisotopes in water. Nuclear plants and envinronmental pollution.
Soil Chemistry. Minerals in soil. Classification and features of rocks. The three-dimensional structure of silicates. Organic components in soil. Carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, proteins, humic substances. Physical processes of soil trasformation. Chemical processes of soil transformation. Processes of transformation of the organic substances. Phisycal and mechanical properties of soil. The coolids and their role in soil. Texture in soil. The porousness in soil. Water and air in soil. Water-solids interactions in soil. Phisical absorption. Chemical absorption. Physicochemical absorption. The cation exchange in soil.
Bibliography
1) S. E. Manahan, Chimica dell’ Ambiente, ed. Piccin;
2) L. Radaelli, L. Calamai, Chimica del Terreno, ed. Piccin.
Teaching methods
Oral lesson - power point slides
Assessment methods and criteria
Written test on open questions
Other information
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