Course Description. This course explores the generation and treatment of municipal and industrial waste streams---air, water, solid, and hazardous. Students are introduced to various waste treatment technologies by their mode of action---biological, chemical, physical, and thermal. Students examine various industrial processes and their specific waste treatment technologies. The materials balance concept is explained. A brief introduction to the concepts and methods of pollution prevention is also included. Students prepare a technical paper that requires an assessment of a specific technology that treats or prevents pollution.
Course Outline
- Introduction, Nature of pollution, Material balances
- Library & Internet research
- Physical treatment technologies
- Chemical treatment technologies
- Thermal treatment technologies
- Biological treatment technologies
- Methods for air pollution control
- Methods for water pollution control
- Industrial waste treatment
- Pollution prevention and waste minimization
- Technical paper, Student oral presentation
Course Objectives. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Perform a waste audit and assessment of a viable business and recommend methods and technologies to treat or reduce, reuse, and/or recycle wastes
- Analyze the application of conventional and innovative physical, chemical, thermal, and biological treatment technologies for water, air, solid, and hazardous waste streams
- Understand the flow of materials (mass) within industrial and municipal processes
- Outline the generic processes occurring in several industries and the resulting waste streams
- Understand the overall treatment and disposal of air-borne, aqueous, and solid wastes
- Explain several treatment procedures use to reduce the volume, mobility and/or toxicity of hazardous wastes
Text Books
Classroom handouts
W. Strunk, Jr., & E.B. White, The Elements of Style, McMillian
