Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology

Overview

The objective of the course is to provide students with basic concepts from environmental chemistry and microbiology for understanding and solving environmental problems.
Major topics that will be covered in environmental chemistry are: review of basic concepts in chemistry, concept of chemical equilibria, equilibrium constants and activity, reaction kinetics, acid and basis, polyprotic acids and bases, acidity, alkalinity, carbonate system, pH-Ct, buffers, and solubility reactions, nuclear chemistry, nitrogen chemistry and chlorination.
Major topics that will be covered in environmental microbiology are: Introduction, the bacteria, the fungi, the algae, protozoa and other higher forms, viruses, pathogens and disease, microbial growth and enumeration, control of microorganisms, microbial diversity and metabolic pathways for remediating contaminated water, solid and hazardous waste, and soil.