LABORATORIO DI TECNICHE ANALITICHE AMBIENTALI - COSTITUZIONE CHIMICA DELLE MATRICI AMBIENTALI
Module COSTITUZIONE CHIMICA DELLE MATRICI AMBIENTALI

Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: GIUSEPPE FORTE

Expected Learning Outcomes


The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge on the main sources of pollution in the various environmental matrices: air, water and soil; on the main pollutant monitoring techniques, on the main environmental sensors and their use in controlling the quality of the environment.
In this context, the student will acquire the following knowledge: 1) main sources of pollution, type of pollutants and concentration limits of pollutants in the various environmental compartments; 2) specificity and critical points of each environmental sector, 3) Hazardous waste; 4) main methods for a correct carrying out of sampling, storage, sample treatment and analytical determination; 5) main sensors for monitoring chemical and microbiological pollutants in environmental matrices; 6) interpretation of the analytical result for a correct evaluation of environmental monitoring; 7) Italian legislation on pollution and waste.

Course Structure

Frontal lessons with the help of slides.

Required Prerequisites

To take the exams of Environmental Chemistry and monitoring networks it is necessary that the student has passed the General Chemistry which is preparatory, as reporterd in CdL regulation


Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is compulsory according to the rules of the didactic regulations:
http://www.dsf.unict.it/corsi/l-29_sfa/regolamento-didattico.

Detailed Course Content

The course takes into account the aspects related to the chemical characterization of environmental systems, the analytical and sensor techniques for monitoring and determining the main pollutants.
Program
Introduction. Environmental chemistry and main sources of environmental pollution.
Pollution of the atmosphere. Chemistry and pollution of the atmosphere. Mechanisms of ozone formation and destruction, photochemical smog, greenhouse effect and global warming. Particulate matter and asbestos fibers.
Water pollution. Chemistry and water pollution. Waters for civil, industrial and agro-zootechnical use. Main inorganic and organic pollutants in water, acidity and oxygen demand.
Soil pollution. Soil chemistry and pollution. Heavy metals and pesticides. Waste: nature, sources and classification of hazardous waste.
Principles of Statistics. Statistical treatment of data and main analytical parameters.
Sampling and analysis methods. Main methods of sampling and environmental chemical analysis. Monitoring of volatile organic substances (BTEX, IPA etc.), inorganic oxides (NOx, SOx) and heavy metals. Sampling and main analysis techniques of particulate matter (PM10 and PM 2.5) in the atmosphere. Sampling and main analysis techniques of asbestos fibers. Sampling of microplastics in water and main analysis techniques.
Sources of Renewable Energy. Hydroelectric energy, wind energy, Nuclear energy (fission and fusion), solar energy, solar cells
Sensors. Introduction to Sensors. Characteristic parameters of the Sensors (Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, stability and reversibility). Main chemical sensors and environmental biosensors.
Regulations. Italian legislation on environmental pollution. Waste legislation.

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Introduction to the course, environmental chemistry. main sources of environmental pollution. T2 C1 e C2 Lesson notes
2Chemistry and pollution of the atmosphere. Mechanisms of ozone formation and destruction T1 C2 C3,C4; T2 C9, C10, C11, C12 Lesson notes
3Photochemical smog, greenhouse effect and global warming T2 C13, C14 Lesson notes
4Particulate matter and asbestos fibers T2 C10, Lesson notes
5Chemistry and water pollution. Waters for civil, industrial and agro-zootechnical use. T1 C7 T2 C7, Lesson notes
6Main inorganic and organic pollutants in water T2 C7, Lesson notes
7Main pollutants in water: acidity, oxygen, organic pollutants T2 C7, Lesson notes
8Soil chemistry and pollution T1- C9 T2 C16 Lesson notes
9Heavy metals and pesticides in the soil T1- C9 Lesson notes
10Waste: nature, sources and classification of hazardous waste T2 C18 C19, Lesson notes
11Statistical treatment of data and main analytical parameters. T4 C1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
12Introduction to the main sampling methods T2 C24 Lesson notes
13Introduction to the main environmental chemical analyzes. T2 C24 Lesson notes
14Monitoring of volatile organic substances, Monitoring of inorganic oxides NOx, SOx, monitoring of heavy metals Lesson notes
15Sampling of PM10 and PM 2.5 particles and analysis techniques Appunti di lezione
16Asbestos fiber sampling and analysis techniques (optical and electron microscopy). Microplastic sampling and analysis techniques. Appunti di lezione
17Introduction to Sensors. Characteristic parameters of the Sensors (Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, stability and reversibility) T3 C1 Lesson notes
18Environmental chemical sensors T3 C7, Lesson notes
19Environmental biosensors T2 C21 Lesson notes
20Environmental pollution legislation Waste legislation Lesson notes

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Students will have to take an oral test with questions relating to the topics of the program covered in the lessons.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Chapman cycle 
Mechanism of ozone destruction by pollutants
Methods of sampling and measurement PM10 and PM2.5
The greenhouse effect
Biosensors Methods of sampling and measurement of asbestos fibers