701-1314-00L  Environmental Organic Chemistry

Courses

Catalogue data

Abstract	This course is focused on environmental transformation reactions of organic chemical contaminants. An overview of important fate processes of organic pollutants will be given, along with a discussion of the factors that determine pathways and rates of transformation reactions. Special emphasis will be given to redox transformations, photochemical reactions, and enzyme-catalyzed processes.
Learning objective	The students will - further their knowledge of important classes of environmentally relevant organic compounds - become familiar with the tools for studying reaction mechanisms - learn the fundamentals of environmental photochemistry - obtain a detailed understanding of redox reactions of pollutants and biogeochemically important species - get a survey of important enzymatic transformations - learn to critically evaluate published data
Content	- Methods and tools used in the study of reaction mechanisms and kinetics - Environmental photochemistry, including direct and indirect photolysis - Redox properties of important environmental phases and redox reactions of organic pollutants - Enzyme-catalyzed reactions involved in environmentally important enzymatic processes
Lecture notes	Materials that are needed beyond the required text will be distributed in the lecture.
Literature	Schwarzenbach, R.P., P.M. Gschwend, and D.M. Imboden. Environmental Organic Chemistry. 3rd Ed. Wiley, New York (2016).
Prerequisites / Notice	Introduction to Environmental Organic Chemistry, Bachelor 5th semester, M. Sander, K. McNeill
Competencies	Subject-specific Competencies Concepts and Theories assessed Techniques and Technologies fostered Method-specific Competencies Analytical Competencies fostered Problem-solving fostered Personal Competencies Critical Thinking fostered Self-direction and Self-management fostered

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits	3 credits
Examiners	K. McNeill, T. Hofstetter, M. Sander
Type	session examination
Language of examination	English
Repetition	The performance assessment is offered every session. Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Admission requirement	Students who do not pass the written exercises (at least three out of six) cannot take part in the final examination and must deregister from it. In cases of failure of the final oral examination and repetition thereof, students do not need to repeat the exercises.
Mode of examination	oral 30 minutes
Additional information on mode of examination	A total of six exercises will be handed out over the course that students will have to work on in writing. Each student is required to hand in at least 3 of the 6 written exercises. The exercises will cover each of the lectures’ main topics (bonding/kinetics, redox thermodynamics, environmental reactants, reductions, oxidations, photochemistry). Exercises will have to be handed in within 10 days after their publication and will be assessed on a pass/no-pass basis. Students who do not pass the written exercises (at least three out of six) cannot take part in the final examination and must deregister from it. In cases of failure of the final oral examination and repetition thereof, students do not need to repeat the exercises.
This information can be updated until the beginning of the semester; information on the examination timetable is binding.

Learning materials

Groups

Restrictions

Offered in

Programme	Section	Type
Doctorate Environmental Systems Sciences	Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics	W
Science, Technology, and Policy Master	Resources and Environment	W
Environmental Sciences Master	Biogeochemical Processes	W