INDUSTRIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES

The course aims to provide knowledge of the main problems connected with industrial technologies and the environment. At the end of the course, the student will acquire skills regarding sustainable technologies for the environment and will be able to suggest interventions for risk prevention and environmental protection.

In reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course helps to acquire the following transversal skills:

Knowledge and understanding: inductive and deductive reasoning skills. Ability to understand the chemical processes involved in the analysis and control of the environment, the various types of chemical/industrial risks, the basic regulations in the environmental and industrial fields.

Applied knowledge and understanding: ability to apply the knowledge acquired for the correct assessment of various problems in the environmental and industrial fields and to develop the best and most sustainable strategy using rigorously the scientific method.

Making judgements: critical reasoning ability

Communication skills: ability to describe in oral form, with language skills and terminological rigor, a scientific topic, illustrating motivations and results.

Learning skills: knowledge in the field of chemical processes and technologies for industry and the environment useful for continuing to study mostly in a self-directed or autonomous way.

4 CFU (28 h) of lectures and 2 CFU of exercises (30 h)

As per the didactic regulations of the Course of Studies.

If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes with respect to what was previously stated may be introduced, in order to respect the program envisaged and reported in the Syllabus.

1. Introduction to industrial and environmental issues. Relationship between chemistry, technology and society.
2. Atmosphere. Ozone hole. Greenhouse hydrocarbons. Photochemical smog
3. Toxic organic molecules. PBC, IPA, DDT. Biomagnification and definition of lethal dose, LD50.
4. Inorganic compounds and environmental impact. Heavy metals and environmental pollution. Heavy metal toxicity. Mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, nickel
5. Civil protection and chemical risk. - General, reactive chemicals, decomposition, polymerization. Reaction with water, oxygen or other chemicals
6. Stability of chemical systems. Generality. Runaway reactions. Explosive substances. Fire. Criteria for predicting the level of risk of substances.
7. Harmfulness of chemicals. Basic concepts of nuclear chemistry. NBCR risk. Classification of products dangerous for health. Chemical weapons
8. Technologies in the waste disposal sector: Overview
   
9. "Green Chemistry": definition, historical notes. The principles of green chemistry.
10. Discussion of some chemical / industrial accidents. Seveso, Bhopal, Minamata

Teaching contribution to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/)

Goal 3

• Target 3.9

Goal 4

• Target 4.4

Goal 6

• Target 6.3
• Target 6.4
• Target 6.6

Goal 8

• Target 8.4

Goal 11

• Target 11.4
• Target 11.6

Goal 12

• Target 12.2
• Target 12.4
• Target 12.5

Goal 13

• Target 13.3

Goal 14

• Target 14.1
• Target 14.2
• Target 14.3

Goal 15

• Target 15.1
• Target 15.3
  

Teaching method: Lessons

Concepcion Jimenez-Gonzales and David J.C. Constable, “Green Chemistry and Engineering”, Wiley

Oral examination

Verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, should the conditions require it.

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the didactic objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department of Chemical Sciences

• Classification of the atmosphere in relation to the various criteria (composition, temperature, ionization).

• The greenhouse effect and the gases that cause it.

• Pesticides: classification in relation to the attack mechanism

• Difference between classic smog and photochemical smog and the causes of photochemical smog

• Difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification

• Why are heavy metals toxic?

• Difference between heavy metals and organic compounds in terms of toxicity

• Outline the main characteristics of the various heavy metals analyzed during the course.

• Why was civil protection born and why is it so structured?

• Chemical / industrial risk: the evolution of the regulatory framework in relation to industrial accidents in the chemical sector

• Chemical risk and personal protective equipment

• Explosion definitions and parameters that characterize the fuel / oxidizer mixtures

• Flammability diagram

• When can a reaction be defined as runaway?

• How to determine if a reaction is runaway or not

• Difference between combustion and runaway reaction

• Chemistry of explosives

• Safety data sheets and labeling of chemicals: the regulatory framework

• The REACH regulation

• NBCR risk and NBCR fire brigade core: how do you deal with this type of emergency?

• Chemical weapons: classification and role of the OPAC

• Why does "green chemistry" involve a new way of thinking about chemical processes?

• Parallelism between "green" processes and nature

• Describe the causes of industrial accidents in Seveso, Bhopal and Minamata in relation to the topics covered in the course.