Course Title: Environmental Engineering

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Environmental Engineering

Credit Points: 6.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PROC2058

City Campus

Undergraduate

120H Civil, Environmental & Chemical Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006

Course Coordinator: Professor Felicity Roddick

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2080

Course Coordinator Email: felicity.roddick@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 7.2.7


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course will build on the knowledge gained in the chemistry and process fundamentals courses covered in earlier years, and particularly that in the environmental section of PROC 2050 Chemical Engineering Applications.


Course Description

This course will provide you with a detailed knowledge of solid, liquid and gaseous wastes, their sources, types and classification. The principles of treatment processes for the different types of wastes will be identified and discussed and you will apply these to the design of selected processes. The knowledge gained regarding waste sources and treatment will be used to discuss the hierarchy of waste management and to develop waste management options for the implementation of waste minimisation/cleaner production.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

You will learn the principles of waste treatment unit operations for solid, liquid and gaseous waste streams, and develop the ability to design example processes.  You will learn about the management and treatment of hazardous wastes, and the assessment and treatment of contaminated sites.  

You will develop a greater knowledge of resource management, particularly with the goal of designing and running processes so that they have minimal impact on the environment.  This will entail development of process evaluation skills and the implementation of the principles of waste minimisation/cleaner production.


On completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify sources, types and categories of waste
  • Explain the principles of the main unit operations used in the primary, secondary and tertiary treatment of wastewater
  • Solve problems involving the design of a simple sedimentation tank, activated sludge aeration tank and a secondary clarifier
  • Discuss treatment options for various gaseous waste streams
  • Identify sources and mechanisms of land contamination and suggest treatment/management options
  • Describe processes for the management, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste
  • Apply the waste management hierarchy to processes and so  identify means by which wastes can be minimised  and processes made more efficient, thus minimising their environmental impact


Overview of Learning Activities

The weekly lectures will  explain the basic principles and concepts related to the different treatment processes and will give the opportunity to discuss examples and case studies.

There will be tutorials for you to test your understanding and to identify areas for improvement.

You will undertake a group project which will require a formal report and presentation.

You will participate in peer assessment.


Overview of Learning Resources

A range of references will be recommended in class and some will be available on-line.

Useful references include:

Alloway BJ and Ayres, DC (1993) Chemical Principles of Environmental Pollution, Blackie

Shaheen EL (1992) Technology of Environmental Pollution Control, Penn Well

Masters G (1991) Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science, Prentice Hall


Overview of Assessment

A range of assessment tasks is incorporated in the course including a student oral presentation (10%), written project report (20%) and final exam (70%).