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EX501U: AIR AND WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

This course introduces the water cycle and the need for wastewater treatment. Biological wastewater treatment is covered in detail with focus on: activated sludge process for carbon and nitrogen removal and anaerobic digestion. Air pollution control is also covered in detail.  The course focuses on process design based on mass balance, heat balances and kinetics. 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Davide Dionisi

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

 

  1. Introduction on biological wastewater treatment, definitions of COD and BOD, the COD balance.
  2. Kinetics and stoichiometry of biological reactions, estimation of kinetic parameters.
  3. Activated sludge process for carbon removal. Mass balances, process design, choice of the design parameters and their effect on process performance. Oxygen transfer in biological wastewater treatment, design of the aeration system. Design of the secondary settling tank.
  4. Activated sludge process for carbon and nitrogen removal. Stoichiometry and kinetics of nitrification and denitrification, mass balances, process design, choice of the design parameters and their effect on process performance. 
  5. Anaerobic digestion. Stoichiometry and kinetics of anaerobic digestion, mass balances, process design, choice of the design parameters and their effect on process performance.
  6. Heat generation and heat balances in biological wastewater treatment processes.
  7. Attached growth processes
  8. Introduction to air pollution: the problem, major pollutants and their sources, concentration limits and regulatory framework, effects of air pollutants
  9. Chemistry of atmospheric pollution, local and global implications: smog formation (photolytic reactions), tropospheric ozone formation, acid rain, climate change
  10. Evaluation of the atmospheric pollution: emission, diffusion and concentration at the ground level
  11. Air quality modelling and plume dispersion: stack design and calculations, safety considerations for the stack design; Atmospheric air pollutant dispersion: air pollution meteorology, atmospheric dispersion, dispersion modelling, maximum ground level concentration, GEP analysis and safety considerations,
  12. Air pollution control technologies: gaseous pollutants emission control (SOx and NOx removal (scrubbing)), VOCs, CH4 and CO2 (adsorption). Particulate emission control: particulate collection mechanisms and removing forces: gravity settling, centrifugal action, inertial impaction and interception, electrostatic attraction, thermophoresis and diffusiophoresis, Brownian motion. Air pollution control equipment: operating principles, design and geometries, and performance equations of gravity settling chambers, cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and filters (baghouses).

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Coursework (25%)

Coursework (50%)

Timed online test (25%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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