Physico/Chemical Processes in Environmental Engineering

Learning Objective:

Students in this class will learn fundamental principles of physico/chemical processes that are commonly used by Environmental Engineers. Examples will be given from many applications, but the emphasis will be on water, wastewater, and air treatment. 

Description:

Students in this class will learn fundamental principles of physico/chemical processes that are commonly used by Environmental Engineers. Examples will be given from many applications, but the emphasis will be on water treatment. The principles that are taught in this class have broad application in Environmental Engineering, and in other disciplines. As such, the focus will be on fundamental concepts, so as to prompt their application in a wide range of settings, encourage questions and discussion, and to promote creativity. The class is divided into three modules. 

• Module 1: mass balances, fundamental transport phenomena, interphase transport, reaction kinetics, reactor theory, and reactor simulation methods
• Module 2: gravity-based separations (sedimentation, flotation), centrifugation, coagulation/flocculation, and filtration
• Module 3: adsorption, ion exchange, chemical disinfection, UV disinfection, and gas:liquid transfer

Topics Covered:

Material balances, reactor theory, physical separation processes, sorption processes, ion exchange, disinfection, gas:liquid transfer processes. 

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in engineering, or completion of calculus/differential equations, general chemistry, first-year physics (Newtonian mechanics), and fluid mechanics. 

Applied / Theory:

40/60 

Web Address:

https://purdue.brightspace.com

Homework:

Homework and quizzes are given roughly once per week. 

Exams:

All exams will be distributed as timed, templated assignments in Gradescope: grading will also be conducted via Gradescope. 

Textbooks:

Required:

Montgomery/Watson/Harza (MWH) (2012) Water Treatment: Principles and Design, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York

Recommended:

Stumm, W. and Morgan, J.J. (1996) Aquatic Chemistry: Chemical Equilibira and Rates in Natural Waters, John Wiley & Sons, New York