Geochemical Processes (250656) – Course 2024/25 PDF

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

CE01 - Apply scientific concepts to environmental problems and their correlation with technological concepts. CE02 - Analyze systems, environmental problems and their resolution using models and evaluate them. CE03 - Acquire basic skills of laboratory work and identify the methods and instrumentation for the determination of parameters relevant to the analysis of environmental problems. Very aware of the structure of land, water and artificial ecosystems and their interactions. Meet the ecology and the cycling of elements. Meet the major environmental problems globally. Analyzes energy bases, stoichiometric and kinetic of different processes. Modeling process and quantifies the performance and efficiency of systems. Determines the basis of environmental hazards to human health and ecosystems. Apply material balances and energy to environmental problems. Interprets water-rock and water - air interactions using thermodynamic and kinetic methods. Meet the pollutants and identify their impact. Learn the basics of how the atmosphere and applies them in maintaining air quality. Learn the basics of climate and discusses the implications of current climate change. Conceptualized an environmental problem described by equations and poses analytical or numerical solution. Identifies the codes you need to solve a problem as conceptualized. Recognizes the spatial and temporal scales required to resolve the problem. Is familiar with solutions to problems relating to dynamical systems. Learn about simple solutions to problems advection- dispersion - reaction. Recognizes the existence of uncertainty in the parameters of the equations and is capable of performing an uncertainty analysis and sensitivity. Learn methods for information and action on various parameters or variables. Understand that any measure inherently carries an associated error and is able to work with them. It is critical to the values reported by others when the measurement method is not specified. He has worked in the laboratory measurement of some parameters of environmental interest. Concepts of soil science. Organic pollutants: VOCs, COVSs, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins. Inorganic contaminants, metals, cyanide, anions, cations. Properties of compounds: solubility, melting and boiling temperature, vapor pressure, etc.. Henry's Law, partition coefficients. pH, acidity / alkalinity, oxidation-reduction (redox). Environmental Geochemistry. Chemical reactions: dissolution / precipitation, cation exchange. Photochemical reactions.

Competencies

Especific

Apply scientific concepts to environmental problems and their correlation with technological concepts.

Analyze systems, environmental problems and their resolution using models and evaluate them.

Acquire basic skills of laboratory work and identify the methods and instrumentation for the determination of parameters relevant to the analysis of environmental problems.

Transversal

EFFECTIVE USE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES: Managing the acquisition, structuring, analysis and display of data and information in the chosen area of specialisation and critically assessing the results obtained.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Achieving a level of spoken and written proficiency in a foreign language, preferably English, that meets the needs of the profession and the labour market.

Total hours of student work

Hours Percentage
Supervised Learning Large group 25.5h 56.67 %
Medium group 9.8h 21.67 %
Laboratory classes 9.8h 21.67 %
Self Study 80h

Teaching Methodology

The course consists of 2.5 hours per week of classroom activity (large size group) and 1.3 hours weekly with half the students (medium size group). The 2.5 hours in the large size groups are devoted to theoretical lectures, in which the teacher presents the basic concepts and topics of the subject, shows examples and solves exercises. The 1.3 hours in the medium size groups is devoted to solving practical problems with greater interaction with the students. The objective of these practical exercises is to consolidate the general and specific learning objectives. Support material in the form of a detailed teaching plan is provided using the virtual campus ATENEA: content, program of learning and assessment activities conducted and literature. Although most of the sessions will be given in the language indicated, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

Problems (assignments by topics): 30% Written test nº1: 30% Case study: 30% Class participation and proactivity: 10%

Test Rules

Failure to perform a laboratory or continuous assessment activity in the scheduled period will result in a mark of zero in that activity.

Office Hours

Every day (except Thursday), 12: 00-13: 00, at https://meet.google.com/rbe-xbey-nvk Thursday, 10: 00-11: 00 at North Campus B1-106C

Bibliography

Basic

  • Ryan, P. Environmental and low temperature geochemistry. Wiley-Blackwell, 2016. ISBN 9781119568582.
  • Anderson, G.M. Thermodynamics of natural systems. 2nd ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-521-84772-8.
  • Brantley, S.L.; Kubicki, J.D.; White A.F. (eds.). Kinetics of water-rock interaction. New York: Springer, 2008. ISBN 9780387735627.
  • Lollar, B.S. (ed.). Environmental geochemistry. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2005. ISBN 9780080446431.
  • Misra, K.C. Introduction to geochemistry: principles and applications. Chichester, West Sussex ; Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. ISBN 9781405121422.

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