Physicochemistry of natural means

The study of natural systems is an important challenge that comprises topics from different fields that overlap. The main objective of this course is to provide a view of the main chemical processes and interactions that take place in natural waters and soils.

The study of such systems will be only possible using the laws and methods of sciences (chemistry, physics and mathematics) applied to specific processes in which other scientific fields are also involved (biology, geology, genetics…).

The approach applied to pursue the objective is to start with the study of the composition of natural systems. This will provide the basis to better understand the main chemical process that control these systems, to design adequate methods for analysis and to identify and solve contamination problems that could alter the reference state.

The contents of the course are those compiled in the keywords in the description of the Master en Investigación Química y Química Industrial.

The content is presented in diferent thematic units which contain theoretical concepts and its practical application.

Chemical composition of natural systems
• Water: key properties that make water an interesting compound, chemical composition…
• Soil: chemical composition, characterization, cationic exchange capacity …
• Electrolyte solutions: theories, activity coefficients, ionic strength
• Speciation in natural systems: components and species, mass and charge balance, equilibrium constants
• MINTEQ: Speciation in natural media. Program management.

Physico-chemistry of water in natural systems (natural waters and soil solution):
• Acid-base equilibria: proton balance, CO2 and H2S equilibrium in water, pH, alkalinity
• Complexation: ionic pairs, complexes, stability constants
• Solubility and precipitation reactions: calcic carbonate in surface and ground waters, stability diagrams
• Redox equilibria: potentials in the H scale (EH), electron activity (pE), pE-pH diagramas, stability intervals for H2O in main natural systems (Example: Fe)
• MINTEQ: examples of speciation in natural waters, pH in natural waters (effect of CO2 and calcite)

Natural organic matter (NOM)
• Humic substances: humic acids, fulvic acids an humine
• Other organic matter
• Reactivity of NOM in natural systems
• MINTEQ: Examples of complexation of humic and fulvic acids with metal ions. Comparison with simple organic acids, e.g. citric or ascorbic acid.

Surface chemistry and sorption reactions
• Mineral surfaces
• Surface charge
• Mineral-NOM interactions
• Adsorption isostherms
• MINTEQ: Examples of copper adsorption on minerals and anion adsorption (PO4, AsO4, CrO4 on goethite)

Basic

• Manahan, S.E. (2009) Environmental Chemistry. 9ª edición. Boca Ratón, CRC-Press. ISBN: 9781420059205
Sinatura ETSE: A200 15 B
• White, W.M (2013) Geochemistry. Nueva York, Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 9780470656686
Sinatura Química: QCR 242

Complementaria

• Andrews, J.E., Brimblecombe, P., Jickells, T.D., Liss, P.S., Reid, B. (2004) An introduction to Environmental Chemistry, 2ª edición. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9781118685471
Sinatura Bioloxía: A EMA 697

BASIC AND GENERAL

CB6- To achieve and understand the knowledge that gives the basis or opportunities to originally apply the ideas, mainly in a reserch environment.
CB7- Students should learn how to apply the acquired knowledge and their hability for solving problems in new or less explored environments within wider contexts (or multidisciplinary) related to their field of study.
CB10 – To possess the learning ability that allows them to follow the study in a self-managed or autonomous way.
CG8 – Assess of the human, economic, legal and technical dimension within the professional performance, as well as the impact of the chemistry in the environment and on the sustainable development of society.

TRANSVERSAL

CT1 – Elaborate, write and defend in public scientific and technical reports.
CT2 – Team working and adaptation to multidisciplinar teams.
CT3 – Work autonomously and efficiently in the daily practice of research or professional activity.

SPECIFIC

CE2 – Formulate alternatives in solving complex chemical problems of the different areas of chemistry.
CE5 – Correctly assess the risks and environmental and socioeconomical impact related to special chemical substances
CE7 – Work with advanced equipment for chemical analysis and structural determination.
CE8 – Analyze and use the data autonomously obtained during complex laboratory experiments as well as relate them to the adequate chemical, physical or biological techniques, including the use of primary bibliographical resources.

Through learning platform Moodle the Virtual Campus of USC will be used. Course information (lecturers, schedule and contents) as well as different support materials will be made available for the study and students personal work. Scientific papers, Power Point presentations of the lectures, video-tutorials about the use of speciation software, interesting videos for this course, documents with interesting information for the course, course assisgnemets, etc.

In the lecture sessions, the majority of the contents detailed in the syllabus will be presented. In order to cover the rest of the contents, some some self-learning will be required and further assessed as part of the continuous assessment.
Seminar sessions will be used to solve some applied exercises, discussion of topics related to the course and work some reference systems in the environment using free software Visual MINTEQ.

Personal assignments will be delivered as part of the continuous assessment.

Continuous assessment (70%): solving exercises, use of Visual MINTEQ software, personal work. The students will have to deliver and/or present their results. Since it is based on the personal achievement of the students, it will be the same in the three case-scenarios.

Exam (30%): Contents and competences acquired during the course will be evaluated.

In case of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulations for the evaluation of student academic performance and review of grades will apply.

The following table indicates the number of sessions

Activity Hours
Lectures 15
Seminars 7
Tutorials 2
Personal work 51

For those taking this course it is advisable to possess basic knowledge of Chemistry. They will be of great importance to understand all the processes that will be studied within this course and to solve the problems related to them.

To achieve optimum performance in this course it is also advisable to have a series of additional knowledge: ability to read texts in English, user level of some computer applications (Word, Excel, e-mail, web browser and web pages, USC virtual campus).