Environmental Chemistry

 

LEARNING RESULTS

The aim of the course is for students to understand the concept of the environment and to acquire skills on how to control and measure key parameters that characterize its quality. Moreover, another aim is to understand basic chemical principles and phenomena related to environmental and hygienic problems and to be able to understand the basic laboratory methods and techniques. Finally, to get acquainted with the operation, organization and equipment of a laboratory of health interest

Upon successful completion of the course the students will be able to:

• perform proper sampling, sample preservation and simple on-site measurements
• know the basic principles of Environmental Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Colloidal Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, Electrochemistry and Organic Chemistry
• know the properties and cycles of basic chemical elements as well as the main homologous series of organic compounds
• know the basic required equipment, the building infrastructure, the networks, the organizational form of a laboratory of health interest
• be trained in basic laboratory methods and techniques and in the selection of the necessary laboratory equipment
• calculate ion concentrations in parts of chemical equilibrium.

 

GENERAL SKILLS

• Autonomous Work with basic chemical analyses in matters of sampling and field analysis
• Teamwork on routine chemical analysis of water, waste and aerosols
• Decision making on basic principles of environmental science, analytical, inorganic and organic chemistry
• Search, analysis and synthesis of data and information, using the necessary technologies in matters related to solutions, mixtures, colloids, measurement reliability
• Respect for the natural environment in matters of atmospheric chemistry, drinking water, seawater and soil.

 

CORSE CONTENT

Theory

• Basic principles of Analytical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
• Basic principles of environmental science
• Basic environmental processes
• Basic Chemical Elements and compounds in the environment
• Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Oxygen and their compounds
• Biogeochemical cycles. Cycle of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur
• Insecticides-Pesticides-Disinfectants
• Heavy metals
• Principles of Nuclear Chemistry, Radioactivity
• Atmospheric Chemistry. Basic principles, gases, particles, chemical and photochemical reactions
• Water Chemistry, Basic Principles, Inorganic and Organic Components, Physicochemical and Biochemical Processes
• Seawater chemistry, properties of seawater, Composition, Physicochemical and biochemical processes in the marine environment
• Soil Chemistry, Inorganic and Organic Soil Ingredients
• Physicochemical and biochemical processes
• Environmental control laboratories, basic equipment, conditions and specifications, supply networks. Hygiene and safety measures of environmental control laboratories

Laboratory

• Sampling, sampling systems, subdivision and preservation of samples, processing
• Basic categories of methods for analysis of environmental parameters, basic laboratory techniques, laboratory errors, quality control of measurements
• Solutions, mixtures
• Gravimetric analysis, Titration, titration applications
• Contents
• Concentrations
• Ion balances
• Buffers
• Colloids
• Photochemical methods of analysis
• On-site measurements
• Usual chemical analyses of water, waste and aerosols
• Equipment maintenance
• Reliability of measurements
• Demonstration of standard environmental control laboratory equipment

 

STUDENT EVALUATION

The evaluation is done in Greek.

Theory

The evaluation of the theoretical part is done with a written examination at the end of the semester, which includes short development questions and possible problem solving.

For the successful completion of the theoretical part the grade of the examination should be at least five (5.0)

Laboratory

During the workshops the students are divided into groups and perform specific laboratory exercises. Before the execution of the exercise, an analysis of the theoretical background is made, the instruments-utensils-chemicals that will be used are presented and the course of the exercise is briefly presented. Students record and present the results

The evaluation of the laboratory part is done with:

• Written final exam at the end of the semester (50%)
• Interim written evaluation (30%)
• Individual work (15%)
• Daily evaluation in laboratory exercises (5%)

For successful monitoring of the laboratory part the weighted average should be at least five (5,0)

 

RECOMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

• Σκούλλος, Μ., Σίσκος, Π.Α. 2010Χημεία Περιβάλλοντος. Εκδόσεις Σ. Αθανασόπουλος & ΣΙΑ Ο.Ε.
• Φυτιάνος, Κ., Σαμαρά-Κωνσταντίνου, Κ. 2009. Χημεία περιβάλλοντος. Εκδόσεις University Studio Press Α.Ε.
• Βασιλικιώτης, Γ.Σ. 1993. Χημεία Περιβάλλοντος. Εκδόσεις University Studio Press Α.Ε.
• Pulford, I. & Flowers, H. 2008. Η χημεία του περιβάλλοντος με μια ματιά. Εκδόσεις Παρισιάνου Α.Ε.,
• Dietrich, T. 2003. Περιβαλλοντική Χημεία. Ευρωπαϊκές Τεχνολογικές Εκδόσεις
• Harris, D.C. 2009. Ποσοτική χημική ανάλυση (2 τόμοι). Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης
• McMurry, J. 2012. Οργανική χημεία. Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης
• Baird, C. & Cain, M. 2012. Environmental Chemistry. 5^th edition, W. H. Freeman
• Girard, J.E. 2004. Principles of Environmental Chemistry. Jones & Bartlett Publishers
• Manahan, S.E. 2004. Environmental Chemistry. 8^th, Edition CRC Press

Relevant scientific journals:

1. American journal of infection control
2. Journal of Applied Microbiology
3. Letters in Applied Microbiology

 

EUDOXUS

• Αναλυτική Χημεία, Harris C. Daniel, Lucy A. Charles Λεπτομέρειες
•  Η χημεία του περιβάλλοντος με μια ματιά, I. PULFORD, H. FLOWERS Λεπτομέρειες
•  Χημεία Περιβάλλοντος, Σκούλλος Μιχάλης,Σίσκος Παναγιώτης Α. Λεπτομέρειες
• Χημεία περιβάλλοντος, Φυτιάνος Κωνσταντίνος Κ.,Σαμαρά – Κωνσταντίνου Κωνσταντινή Λεπτομέρειες