IDENTIFYING DATA 2023_24
Subject (*) ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY Code 20204111
Study programme
Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering (2010)
 Cycle 1st
Descriptors Credits Type Year Period
6 Compulsory Third AN
Language
Català
Department Chemical Engineering
Coordinator
CONTRERAS IGLESIAS, SANDRA
 E-mail sandra.contreras@urv.cat
carmenmaria.torres@urv.cat
erikaamparo.torres@urv.cat
Lecturers
CONTRERAS IGLESIAS, SANDRA
TORRES COSTA, CARMEN MARIA
TORRES REYES, ERIKA AMPARO
Web
General description and relevant information <p>GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT:</p><p>The main objective of the subject is to acquire a global vision of environmental engineering: to know the problem of air and water pollution, which are the most common technologies for the treatment and removal of pollutants or how waste is managed. The concept of environmental sustainability, the indicators to measure it, and how to apply it to production processes will also be discussed: how to asses an activity from the environmental point of view and which analysis tools must be incorporated into the process in order to avoid end-of-pipe treatments.</p>

Competences
Type A Code Competences Specific
 A1.1 Consistently apply knowledge of basic, scientific and technological subjects pertaining to engineering
 A1.2 Design, execute and analyse experiments related to engineering
 A1.3 Ability to analyse and assess the social and environmental impact of technical solutions (G7)
 A2.1 Ability to deal with specifications, regulations and mandatory standards (G6)
 A4.10 Basic knowledge and application of environmental technologies and the principles of sustainability (RI10)
Type B Code Competences Transversal
 B1.1 Communicate information clearly and accurately to diverse audiences (CT5)
 B6.2 Apply ethical principles and social responsibility as a citizen and as a professional (CT7)
Type C Code Competences Nuclear

Learning outcomes
Type A Code Learning outcomes
 A1.1 Aplica les tecnologies mediambientals i de sostenibilitat.
 A1.2 Comprova a través de l'experimentació i treball en grup en el laboratori els fonaments teòrics explicats a l'aula.
 A1.3 Avalua ambientalment un producte o activitat.
Elabora i analitza Sistemes de Gestió Ambiental i Estudis d'Impacte Ambiental.
 A2.1 Coneix i aplica especificacions, reglaments i normes relacionades amb el medi ambient.
 A4.10 Aprèn conceptes bàsics d'ecologia.
Coneix el concepte de sostenibilitat ambiental i les eines existents per aconseguir-la.
Coneix les tecnologies més comunes de tractament i eliminació de contaminants.
Type B Code Learning outcomes
 B1.1 Plan their communications: generate ideas, search for information, select and order the information, make schemes, determine the type of audience and the objectives of the communication, etc.
Draft documents with the appropriate format, content, structure, language accuracy and register, and illustrate concepts using the appropriate conventions: formats, titles, footnotes, captions, etc.
 B6.2 Aplica la normativa vigent en qüestions medioambientals, de seguetat industrial, de riscos laborals, etc.
Té el coneixement rellevant sobre les conseqüències dels resultats tant de les seves accions com del rang d'alternatives existent.
Avalúa ambdós, els resultats i les alternatives, en termes de valors morals rellevants que puguin incloure, entre altres, el benestar, la igualtat, la seguretat, la sostenibilitat, la responsabilitat i l'eficiència.
Utilitza aquestes consideracions com a requisits per a disenyar i desenvolupar noves tecnologies, productes i serveis.
Type C Code Learning outcomes

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
I. SUSTAINABILITY - Causes and origin of unsustainability
- Sustainability paradigm. Concept of sustainable development.
- Measurement of sustainability. indicators
- Fundamentals of ecology: industrial ecology
II: SUSTAINABILITY AND PRODUCTION PROCESSES - Green Chemistry
- Ecodesign
- Life Cycle Analysis
- Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001 and EMAS)
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Cleaner production: Concept of BAT. Pollution prevention.
- Environmental regulations
III. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES
III.1. Characterization of the atmospheric environment. - The Earth's atmosphere
- Atmospheric pollution and air quality
- Gas treatment systems: removal of particles and removal of polluting gases
- Noise pollution: noise effects, noise management
- Light and radiation pollution
- BAT technologies.
III.2. Characterization of the aqueous medium - Water as a resource
- Water characterization, sampling and analysis. Water quality indicators
- Treatment of water and waste water: Drinking water. WWTP
- BAT technologies.
III.3. Soil contamination - Composition. Main soil pollutants
- Soil recovery techniques: off-site / in-situ
III.4. Characterization of waste - Definition and classification of waste
- Urban waste management: selective collection, recycling, waste recovery
- Management of industrial waste
IV. COMPUTER LAB: Life Cycle Analysis Practices with specific software for sustainability assessment through LCA

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Competences (*) Class hours
 Hours outside the classroom
 (**) Total hours
Introductory activities
0.5 0 0.5
Lecture
A1.1
A1.3
A2.1
A4.10
 24 40.8 64.8
Problem solving, exercises in the classroom
A1.1
A1.3
A2.1
A4.10
B1.1
B6.2
 15 25.5 40.5
Laboratory practicals
A1.1
A1.2
A1.3
A4.10
B1.1
B6.2
 10 17.5 27.5
Personal attention
0.5 0 0.5
 
Mixed tests
A1.1
A1.3
A2.1
A4.10
B1.1
 3 5.1 8.1
Mixed tests
A1.1
A1.3
A2.1
A4.10
B1.1
 3 5.1 8.1
 
(*) On e-learning, hours of virtual attendance of the teacher.
(**) The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies
  Description
Introductory activities Activities aimed at making contact and collecting information from the students and presentation of the subject
Lecture Presentation of the contents of the subject.
Problem solving, exercises in the classroom Formulation, analysis, resolution and debate of a problem or exercise, related to the subject matter. Work will be done individually and/or in groups.
Laboratory practicals Realization of practices with specific software for the evaluation of the sustainability of a project or product through life cycle analysis.
Personal attention Assist students individually or in small groups in order to guide them in the acquisition of technical knowledge and social skills

Personalized attention
Description

Students will be attended individually during visiting hours in office 303 of the Chemical Engineering department via prior appointment by email (sandra.contreras@urv.cat). The visiting hours will be announced in the subject's Moodle space.

Assessment
Methodologies Competences Description Weight        
Problem solving, exercises in the classroom
A1.1
A1.3
A2.1
A4.10
B1.1
B6.2
 During problem-solving classes or at home, some individual or group exercises will be carried out under the supervision of the professor, which will be asked to be handed in at the end of the session in order to be corrected and evaluated. 15%
Laboratory practicals
A1.1
A1.2
A1.3
A4.10
B1.1
B6.2
 Assessment of the sustainability of a project using the life cycle analysis tool with specific software 20%
Mixed tests
A1.1
A1.3
A2.1
A4.10
B1.1
 At the end of the first part of the subject there will be a test that will include both conceptual questions and exercises 30%
Mixed tests
A1.1
A1.3
A2.1
A4.10
B1.1
 At the end of the second part of the subject there will be a test that will include both conceptual questions and exercises 35%
Others  
 
Other comments and second exam session

Continued assessment:

To make an average, the minimum mark for each section is a 4.

For the second call, the final exam will account for 65% of the grade (or 30/35% if only one of the two mid-term exams has to be resit). The remaining 35% will come from continuous assessment: 15% from solving problems and exercises, and 20% from completing work related to the LCA computer practice. In the second call, the minimum mark for each section is also a 4.

Dates and times for computer practice sessions will be determined at the beginning of the course.

During the assessment tests, mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices that are not expressly authorized by the test must be switched off and out of sight.

Sources of information

Basic Orozco C., Pérez A., González M.N., Rodríguez F.J., Alfayate J.M., Contaminación ambiental : una visión desde la química, Thomson, 2003
Kiely G, Ingeniería Ambiental: Fundamentos, entornos, tecnologías y sistemas de gestión, McGraw-Hill , 1999
Gómez Orea D. , Evaluación de impacto ambiental, Ed. Mundi-prensa, 2a Ed, 2003

Documents from Càtedra Unesco de Sostenibilitat, UPC: http://tecnologiaisostenibilitat.cus.upc.edu
Complementary Masters G.M., Introducción a la ingeniería medioambiental, 3a ed., Prentice Hall, 2008
Metcalf & Eddy, Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill , 2003
De Nevers, N, Ingeniería de Control de la contaminación del aire, McGraw-Hill, 1998
Sonnemann G., Castells F., Schuhmacher M., Integrated life-cycle and risk assessment for industrial processes, Lewis-Publisher , 2004
Tchobanoglous G., Theisen H., Vigil S., Integrated solid waste management: engineering principles and management issues, McGraw-Hill, 1993
Rigola M., Prevenció en origen de la contaminació a l’empresa, Monografies universitàries, 5, Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Generalitat de Catalunya, 2005
Riera P , Avaluació d’impacte ambiental , Departament de Medi Ambient, Generalitat de Catalunya, 2000
Conesa, V., Guía metodológica para la evaluación del impacto ambiental, Ed. Mundi-prensa, 4a Ed, 2010

- UNEP (2007), “Life cycle management – A business guide to sustainability” (http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx0889xPA-LifeCycleManagement.pdf)

- Documents BREFs (http://eippcb.jrc.es/reference/)
Recommendations

Subjects that continue the syllabus
BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING/20204210
APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY/20204211


Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
CHEMICAL KINETICS AND REACTOR DESIGN/20204124
DESIGN OF SEPARATION OPERATIONS/20204122
BIOTECHNOLOGY/20204123
(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.