Environmental Chemistry

The environmental chemistry takes into account the chemical aspects of the problems created by humankind in the natural environment. Based on this premise, the main learning objective of the course is to give the basic knowledge about the chemistry of air, water and soil and its main anthropogenic chemical pollutants, analysing the way in which they are distributed, transported, transformed and stored in the three environmental compartments. For a comprehensive understanding of these phenomena, in this context also the energy production and energy sources are analysed, starting from the most traditional ones such as fossil fuels, to the most modern and alternative ones such as photovoltaic cells, passing through the most controversial ones such as atomic energy, with particular emphasis to their impact on the environment. To complete this journey, the course aims to provide an overview of the feasible strategies to remedy, prevent or decrease the environmental impact of the main sources of pollution, as well as on the new approaches for the industrial synthesis of chemicals through more sustainable processes.

At the end of the Environmental Chemistry course the student must know:
- the basic chemistry of the three environmental compartments, air, water and soil.
- classification, sources, structure, transformations and destiny of the main environmental chemical pollutants: VOC, particulates, CO2, SOx and NOx, chlorinated solvents, BTX, IPA, heavy metals, pesticides, Dioxins and DLCs, endocrine disruptors, flame retardants , PFCs.
- the main methods of water purification (potabilization) and wastewater treatment.