Environmental Chemistry

This course is part of the programme
Bachelor's programme in Environment (first cycle)

Objectives and competences

The main aim of the course is to equip students with the knowledge of the chemical properties of elements and compounds, as well as about the chemical reactions essential for the emergence and existence of the cycling and accumulation of pollutants in the environment. The course addresses the chemistry of elements and compounds in the atmosphere, water and soil, and lays special emphasis on the processes that define the connections and the dependence between individual segments of environment. This knowledge is essential for the understanding of environmental phenomena, as well as for more specialised studies.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite knowledge of chemistry and certain chapters of mathematics, above all of functions and derivatives, and physics. The course Environmental chemistry provides students with basic knowledge useful in other courses, such as in the courses covering topics of atmospheric, water and soil pollution, the course Waste treatment and management, and others.

Students should have passed the first-year course Chemistry.

Content

Solid-state and Liquid state environmental chemistry, Gaseous-state environmental chemistry, Applied environmental chemistry

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:
Students learn the basic principles of environmental chemistry. They will be able to apply previous knowledge on analytical chemistry to environmental processes and samples. They will understand the interconnections between different sectors of the environment (soil, water, atmosphere) and the effect of human activities on the natural chemical processes.

Readings

Basic:
• C. Baird, Environmental Chemistry, W. H. Freeman and Company, 1998. Catalogue E-version
• D. W. Hawker, D. W. Conell, M. Warne, P. D. Vowles: Basic Concepts of Environmental Chemistry, Lewis Publishers, Inc., 1997. E-version

Additional:
• R. P. Schwarzenbach, P. M. Gschwend, D. M. Imboden: Environmental Organic Chemistry, J. Wiley and Sons, Inc. 1998. Catalogue E-version
• G. Howard: Aquatic Environmental Chemistry, Oxford Science Publ., 1998. Catalogue E-version
• S. E. Manahan: Environmental Chemistry, Lewis Publishers, Inc., 1994. E-version

Assessment

Written examination (70 %), laboratory reports (30 %).

Lecturer's references

Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nova Gorica

  • OORT, Pouline M. van, WHITE, Iain R., AHMED, Waqar, JOHNSON, Craig, BANNARD-SMITH, Jonathan, FELTON, Timothy, BOS, Lieuwe D., GOODACRE, Royston, DARK, Paul, FOWLER, Stephen J. Detection and quantification of exhaled volatile organic compounds in mechanically ventilated patients : comparison of two sampling methods. Analyst, ISSN 1364-5528. [Online ed.], 2021, vol. 146, no. 1, str. 222-231, ilustr. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9AN01134J, doi: 10.1039/C9AN01134J.

  • BEALE, David J., JONES, Oliver A. H., KARPE, Avinash V., OH, Ding Y., WHITE, Iain R., KOUREMENOS, Konstantinos A., PALOMBO, Enzo A. Breathomics and its application for disease diagnosis : a review of analytical techniques and approaches. V: CUMERAS, Raquel (ur.). Volatile organic compound analysis in biomedical diagnosis applications. Oakville; Waretown: Apple Academic Press. cop. 2018, str. 159-194, ilustr.

  • SONDERFELD, Hannah, WHITE, Iain R., GOODAL, Iain C. A., HOPKINS, James R., LEWIS, Alastair C., KOPPMANN, Ralf, MONKS, P. S. What effect does VOC sampling time have on derived OH reactivity?. Atmospheric chemistry and physics, ISSN 1680-7316, May 2016, vol. 16, iss. 10, str. 6303-6318, ilustr., doi: 10.5194/acp-16-6303-2016.

CORDELL, Rebecca L., WHITE, Iain R., MONKS, Paul S. Validation of an assay for the determination of levoglucosan and associated monosaccharide anhydrides for the quantification of wood smoke in atmospheric aerosol. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, ISSN 1618-2642, 2014, vol. 406, no. 22, str. 5283-5292, ilustr., doi: 10.1007/s00216-014-7962-x.

  • BARBER, Shane, BLAKE, Robert S., WHITE, Iain R., MONKS, P. S., REICH, Fraser, MULLOCK, Steve, ELLIS, Andrew Michael. Increased sensitivity in proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry by incorporation of a radio frequency ion funnel. Analytical chemistry, ISSN 0003-2700. [Print ed.], 2012, vol. 84, no. 12, str. 5387-5391, ilustr., doi: 10.1021/ac300894t. [COBISS.SI-ID 5420283],

  • PRADHAN, M., LINDLEY, R. E., GRILLI, R., WHITE, Iain R., MARTIN, Damien, ORR-EWING, A. J. Trace detection of C2H2C2H2 in ambient air using continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy combined with sample pre-concentration. Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics, ISSN 0946-2171. Tiskana izd., 2008, vol. 90, iss. 1, str. 1-9, ilustr., doi: 10.1007/s00340-007-2833-1.