AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of typical and innovative methods for the analysis of some environmental matrices: air, soils and organisms. Data interpretation in relation with biogeochemical cycles and/or with pollution. Learning of practical methods for environmental analyses. Development of  chemical laboratory work skills and of computing and presenting experimental data, both in written form and as oral presentation.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is: a) the knowledge of typical and innovative methods for the determination of pollutants or essential or characteristics substances in different environmental matrices as fresh waters, air, soils, sediments and organisms; b) data interpretation in relation with biogeochemical cycles and/or with pollution and environmental impact;  c) achievement of  chemical laboratory work skills, of computing and presenting experimental results, both in written form and as oral presentation.

At the end of the course, students will be able to plan sampling, storage, treatment of environmental matrices and to apply the appropriate analytical method. They will also be able to process the obtained data, even in a multidisciplinary context, and to present and discuss the results. 

PREREQUISITES

In order to attend lessons and laboratory of this course with good benefits, it is strongly reccommended to have already achieved knowledge of basic analytical chemistry (equilibria, volumetric and instrumental analysis, data and method evaluation (accuracy, precision an so on), preconcentration and purification procedures of samples).

TEACHING METHODS

The course (6 credits) consists of lessons and practical exercises. Moreover, 12 hours of theoretical exercises will take place, utilizing flipped classroom methods. 

Attendance to lessons its not compulsory, but highly recommended, while attendance to practical and theoretical exercises is compulsory. All exercises will be performed by groups of students.  At the beginning of the course, the dates of the excercises will be notified and students can choose in which group they will work. It will be possible to make up the missed practice exercise.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Biogeochemical cycles. Pollution. Speciation analyses. Introduction to environmental legislation.

Geosphere: origin, composition, sampling and analytical methods regarding soils. Determination of metal content and of natural and anthropic organic matter. Solid speciation analyses applied to soils and sediments.

Atmosphere: charachteristics of some pollutants and anaytical methods for their determination. Sampling systems.

Biosphere: Use of bioindicators in environmental monitoring. Speciation of metals and organometallic compounds in biological matrices.

Practical and theoretical exercises will be performed on the topics of the course and students will work in groups.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Chimica dell'Ambiente. Manahan. Ed. Piccin

Le Analisi Chimiche Ambientali. Giannì. Ed. I.C.S.A.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

From October 14, 2024, according to the timetable reported here.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The students who want to be submitted to the exam must register at least two days in advance on https://servizionline.unige.it/studenti/esami/prenotazione.

The topics are specified in the detailed syllabus published on the "aulaweb" service, together with other material (slides, scientific papers, guidelines for official analysis) considered useful.The exam will be oral and will involve questions both on theory and on practice exercises. During the oral exam the student must demonstrate the achievment of the learning outcomes, both orally and writing formulas, chemical reactions, graphs and analytical procedures schemes.When the commission will judge that the learning outcomes have not been reached, the students will be invited to repeat the exam in one of the subsequent dates.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam is always carried out by two teachers with several years of experience and will last 30-40 minutes.  The exam is carried out in order to evaluate not only if  students have achieved the required knowledge, but even if they thoroughly understood them and if they are able to apply them to analytical and/or environmental problems. Being a theoretical and practical course, the commission evaluates also the behaviour of the students during practice exercises, if they are able to carry out analytical procedures in a correct way and to elaborate and present obtained data in written reports or by an oral presentation.  Moreover, during the course, some exercise are proposed, in which students must deepen and evaluate some environmental problems. Therefore, the commission is definitely able to verify with high accuracy if the student has reached or not the learning outcomes. When the commission will judge that the learning outcomes have not been reached, the students will be invited to repeat the exam in one of the subsequent dates.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.