Ateneo - UPO

This course provides an exploration of the foundational chemical principles that serve as the basis for the inherent natural processes happening within and between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. It also examines the influence of human activities on these processes, specifically concentrating on the repercussions stemming from the escalating global energy demand originating from non-renewable sources. Additionally, it delves into the primary categories of pollutants by examining the connections between their physico-chemical properties and their interactions within the environmental spheres. Finally, they will learn about sustainability and circular economy approaches.

Lecture notes and presentation will be made available on the online
learning platform. Recommended textbooks:
-C. Baird, M. Cann “Chimica Ambientale” terza ed. italiana, Zanichelli,
2013 (in Italian)
-C. Baird, M. Cann “Environmental Chemistry” 5th ed. 2015 (in English)
-G.W. van Loon, S.J. Duffy “Environmental Chemistry”, 3rd edition,
Oxford, 2010 (in English)
- Lerwen Liu · Seeram Ramakrishna “An Introduction to Circular Economy”, Springer Nature Singapore,
ISBN 978-981-15-8509-8, 2021 (in English)

- To establish a strong foundational understanding of the fundamental concepts underlying the chemistry of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and pollution. This includes establishing connections between the chemical properties of pollutants and their i) mobility and availability within and between environmental compartments, ii) bio-availability, and iii) ecotoxicological potential.
- To build a solid knowledge foundation about the concepts underlying sustainability and circular economy, which aims to design technologies that lessen the ecological footprint of anthropogenic activities.
- To cultivate the ability to independently and critically evaluate the potential environmental impact of chemical processes associated with human activities or chemical species released into the environment.
- To enhance communication skills by employing appropriate chemical language to effectively describe topics in environmental chemistry.

Fundamentals of general chemistry, green chemistry and analytical chemistry.

Classroom lectures

The course will incorporate a series of "Fermi questions" that will be posed to students and subsequently discussed in the classroom during significant junctures. These questions serve the purpose of employing the fundamental concepts acquired throughout the course to make approximate estimations regarding the global repercussions of environmental disturbances. As an illustration, students will engage in exercises that involve developing scenarios for the worldwide rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide. These scenarios will take into account i) the escalating global energy demand obtained from survey tables, ii) the proportion of energy production attributed to fossil and renewable fuels, and iii) the application of concepts pertaining to sustainability and circular economy.

The assessment method employed in this course consist of a written exam. The exam will comprise a total of eight questions covering various topics addressed throughout the course. These questions may be in the form of multiple-choice (with four options) or open-ended questions, as indicated below:
A minimum of four questions will be used to evaluate knowledge and understanding.
At least one question will assess the ability to apply knowledge and understanding. This question will involve numerical exercises similar to those discussed during the course, such as problems related to thermochemistry, units in solution and the gas phase, or solution equilibrium.
Another minimum of one question will specifically assess communication skills. This question will be an open-ended question that requires a written response.
To facilitate preparation for the exam, a model exam paper will be provided to students at the conclusion of the course.

Module 1: Chemistry of the atmosphere. Chemical composition and structure of the four layers of atmosphere, chemical and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere, the stratosphere and the ozone layer, sources and reactions of inorganic and organic pollutants in the atmosphere.
Module 2: Greenhouse effect, global warming, climate change, and accelerated extinction of species.
Module 3: Consumption of both renewable and nonrenewable energy resources and the production of pollution, Biomass, hydrogen economy.
Module 4: Chemistry of the hydrosphere. Fundamentals, acid-base equilibria and the carbonate system, solubility equilibria, colloids, dissolved organic matter, dissolved oxygen, redox reactions, two-variables pE-pH diagrams.
Module 5: Organic and inorganic pollutants in the water and soil, waste generation, treatment of waste, emerging pollutants.
Module 6: Ability of the planet to convert wastes back into resources and biomass. Sustainable development and the three intersecting areas of sustainability (society, economy, and the environment). Concept of atom economy and circular economy.

The intended learning objectives for students in this course are as follows:
To acquire a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts in environmental chemistry and circular economy. To develop the ability to apply these concepts in evaluating and assessing the potential environmental impact of human activities.
To cultivate proficiency in discussing environmental chemistry and circular economy topics using appropriate technical language.
To become familiar with bibliographic resources, enabling students to pursue independent and in-depth learning on specific aspects of environmental chemistry in the future.
By attaining these objectives, students will gain a comprehensive grasp of environmental chemistry, enabling them to analyze and comprehend the environmental consequences of human actions while effectively communicating their knowledge using specialized terminology.