CE 697-013, Spring 2011 (3 credits)

Advanced Physico/Chemical Processes of Environmental Engineering

MWF 9:30-10:20 AM   CIVL 2113

Blatchley

Overall Course Description

Physico/chemical processes are central to the behavior of most Environmental Engineering systems.  Therefore, knowledge of fundamental physico/chemical processes and the principles that govern their behavior is of broad importance in the field.  This class has been designed to provide students with advanced knowledge related to five general groups of physico/chemical processes: gas-liquid transfer, solid:fluid transfer, precipitation:dissolution, membranes, and photochemistry/photochemical reactors.  The class is divided into five modules of roughly equal length (ca. three weeks), each dealing with one process group.

The first four process groups relate to two-phase systems.  In each case, lectures will begin with a presentation of fundamental equilibrium and transport principles.  These background lectures will be followed by lectures that relate to the dynamic behavior of each system.  Each module will conclude with several lectures that relate to specific examples that illustrate relevant governing principles, and techniques used to evaluate them.

The fifth module will focus entirely on photochemistry and photochemical reactor theory.  This is a rapidly emerging area that has importance in both engineered and natural systems.  Moreover, it is an area where conventional methods of analysis often fail.  Lectures in this module will begin with basic principles of photochemistry, followed by materials that relate to system dynamics where photochemistry plays an important role.

For all modules, homework assignments will be given on a (roughly) weekly basis.  Each module will conclude with an exam that covers module-related materials.