NSCPHD1067 Environmental Soil Chemistry

Volume 2013/2014
Content
This course comprises the various processes affecting the composition, reactions and quality of the soil solution and solid phases, and the bioavailability of natural and anthropogenic pollutants. Main focus is on reactions at the solid-solution interfaces in soil and sediment systems, in particular sorption, degradation and dissolution processes. The use of equilibrium computation and other types of estimation tools and modelling is trained.

Part of the course comprise lectures and exercises from the MSc course "Terrestrial Environmental Chemistry (LKEK10103)" taught in the same block. Also the lab exercises of the MSc course may be followed. In addition to these lectures and exercises, tutorials with only the PhD students attending and with focus on paper reading is performed. Papers are selected depending on the interests of the course participants. The papers are discussed in plenum and summarized by the course participants.

The main topics of the course are:

  • Structure of geosorbents (metal oxides, silicates, humic matter)
  • Description of processes at surfaces of geosorbents (minerals, organic matter, bacteria)
  • Equilibrium models for sorption of ionic and non-ionic pollutants (e.g. pesticides, petrochemicals, PAH's/PCBs, trace metals, natural toxins) including surface complexation models.
  • Kinetics of sorption processes incl. diffusion.
  • Redox processes - degradation and mobility of pollutants.
  • Sorption and activity of biological macromolecules (enzymes, proteins, DNA, biodetergents) at mineral surfaces
  • Particles as transporters of pollutants
  • Coupling between abiotic and microbial processes in control of pollutant degradation
  • Instrumental methods for characterization of surface chemical reactions. 
  • Engineered environmental reactive particles to be used for soil and water cleaning
  • (optional) Microbial degradation processes and pathways
Learning Outcome
  • Knowledge on structure of particle surfaces in soil and aquatic environment
  • Knowledge on sorption and chemical reactions at the solid-solution interfaces
  • Computation of sorption and degradation reactions at particle surfaces
  • Computation of speciation and estimation of pollutant chemical and physical properties
  • Insight on engineering of particle surfaces for sorption and degradation of pollutants
  • (optional) Modelling of pollutant leaching from soil
  • (optional) Lab methods to study sorption and mineralization of pollutants in soils
  • (optional) Insight on microbial degradation processes, pathways and kinetics

Literature 

  • Hansen, HCB (ed)(2013): Soil Pollution – Biogeochemistry and Modelling. Approx. 400 pp.
  • Journal articles (distributed at the course)
  • Equilibrium computation software (VMINTEQ) and other software (e.g. EpiSuite and chemical drawing programs). To be downloaded from the internet
Seven tutorials each with a duration of 3 - 4 hours
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Practical exercises
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 100
  • Project work
  • 50
  • Theory exercises
  • 30
  • Total
  • 200
Credit
8 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Written report or poster on topic agreed with the course teacher. Preferably to be completed within one month after termination of the tutorials.