Water Quality Chemistry

Catalog description

C E 475 Water Quality Chemistry (4) Water Quality Chemistry is focused on both theoretical aspects of water chemistry and applied aspects of engineering practice. The course will cover a wide range of fundamental chemical principles that will be investigated further in the laboratory exercises and through an independent research project. The course covers reaction stoichiometry and reaction type with specific examples of processes typically encountered in water, wastewater and hazardous waste treatment situations. The course distinguishes between kinetic and equilibrium reactions and presents mathematical formulations for both types of reactions. The course reviews thermodynamics and electrochemistry and relates them to equilibrium constants and the spontaneity of reactions. The course covers redox reactions especially with respect to the corrosion of civil infrastructure, the generation of acid rock drainage, and biological wastewater treatment processes. The course covers acid/base reactions especially with respect to disinfection of drinking water and pH adjustments commonly used to enhance air stripping of pollutants. The course introduces the use of computer models for determining chemical speciation of acid/base constituents. The course covers alkalinity and the carbonate system especially with respect to the issues of acid rain, acidification of the Earth's oceans, and limestone buffering of surface waters in Pennsylvania. Computer models are used to calculate chemical speciation in carbonatecontaining systems. The course covers pH-dependent solubility of common minerals - primarily carbonates, hydroxides and aluminosilicates. The course covers engineering applications related to metal solubility including water softening, coagulation for turbidity removal in water treatment plants, heavy metal generation from acid rock drainage, and heavy metal removal in hazardous waste treatment. The course covers complexation reactions especially with respect to effects on metal solubility and toxicity. Computer models are used to calculate chemical speciation in multi-complexant systems. The course covers analytical chemistry especially with respect to the most common parameters measured in water and wastewater treatment systems, and with respect to the principles of measurement (i.e. gravimetric, spectrometric, volumetric, potentiometric analyses). The course involves a research project on a local water quality problem of concern. In the past, this project has focused on the proposed "Beneficial Reuse" of wastewater in Centre County, and on the impact of acid rock drainage from the construction of I-99 on Buffalo Run in Centre County.