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CHEM20110

Academic Year 2024/2025

Env & Sustainable Chemistry (CHEM20110)

Subject:
Chemistry
College:
Science
School:
Chemistry
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor James Sullivan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is a core module for those students taking the Chemistry with Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry programme.
It is also a prerequisite for a trimester 1, level 4 module in Green and Sustainable Chemistry (CHEM40960).

The following topics will be covered;
• Sources and effects of air and water pollution with a case study of pollutants generated by different internal combustion engines
• Pollution cycles (smog, O3 depletion, greenhouse gas) and remediation
• Sustainable / green chemistry
• Sustainable energy generated from biomass feedstocks and solar thermal sources.
• The basis and tenets of green chemistry
• Hazard and risk assessment, introducing the concept of toxicity and life cycle analysis.
• Identifying hazardous chemicals and designer safer ones with biodegradability.
• Different methods of chemical waste treatment and the treatment of drinking water.
• Green solvents including water, ionic liquids, super-critical liquids, solvent-less reactions.
• New methods to induce chemical reactivity including microwave heating, photo- and sono-chemistry.
• Fuel cells, energy storage in batteries, hydrogen generation and storage.
There will be 2 lectures per week, workshops in weeks 6 and 12 and student group presentations in weeks 3 and 9.
The laboratory sessions (of which there are 6) will consist of experiments with following themes:
• Colourimetric analysis of nitrate concentration in different sources of water.
• Synthesis of biodiesel from different commercial oil sources.
• A green chemistry approach to the bromination of stilbene.
• Conducting a chemical reaction only in the solid-state.
• Application of a homogeneous organo-catalyst.
• Understanding the physical properties of biphasic aqueous solutions.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Following this module students should be able to understand the sources and effects of a range of pollutants. They should be able to discuss the benefits and problems associated with different environmental remediation strategies. Furthermore, they should understand the mechanism of pollutant action and be able to present methods by which different levels of pollutants can be monitored.

They should also be familiar with the problems associated with current methods of power generation and have the ability to discuss the benefits and issues associated with a range of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel combustion. They should also have an outline of the tenets of Green Chemistry and be able to analyse the environmental and sustainable impact of different types of chemical reactions.

Students will learn about chemical toxicity and the hazards associated with chemicals and potential damage to the environment. Moreover, an in-depth coverage of different methods for treating chemical waste including those in the research phase. Students will learn how to evaluate and perform analyses on several topics including chemical/energy waste generation in a chemical manufacturing process, perform a product life cycle analysis, and conduct a self-audit on their personal carbon footprint. Students will learn about designing safer chemicals and how to incorporate biodegradability and sustainably source the compound. A group presentation on the topic of material recycling is a designated as an out of class research project. Moreover, students study how current organic-based solvents are toxic and how they are replaced with green ones and more efficient reaction technologies. Finally, a discussion on aspects of the hydrogen economy which includes details on current efforts conducted by researchers at the UCD school of chemistry.

Indicative Module Content:

The following topics will be covered;
• Sources and effects of air and water pollution with a case study of pollutants generated by different internal combustion engines
• Pollution cycles (smog, O3 depletion, greenhouse gas) and remediation
• Sustainable / green chemistry
• Sustainable energy generated from biomass feedstocks and solar thermal sources.
• The basis and tenets of green chemistry
• Hazard and risk assessment, introducing the concept of toxicity and life cycle analysis.
• Identifying hazardous chemicals and designer safer ones with biodegradability.
• Different methods of chemical waste treatment and the treatment of drinking water.
• Green solvents including water, ionic liquids, super-critical liquids, solvent-less reactions.
• New methods to induce chemical reactivity including microwave heating, photo- and sono-chemistry.
• Fuel cells, energy storage in batteries, hydrogen generation and storage.
There will be 2 lectures per week, workshops in weeks 6 and 12 and student group presentations in weeks 3 and 9.
The laboratory sessions (of which there are 6) will consist of experiments with following themes:
• Colourimetric analysis of nitrate concentration in different sources of water.
• Synthesis of biodiesel from different commercial oil sources.
• A green chemistry approach to the bromination of stilbene.
• Conducting a chemical reaction only in the solid-state.
• Application of a homogeneous organo-catalyst.
• Understanding the physical properties of biphasic aqueous solutions.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

56

Lectures

24

Seminar (or Webinar)

4

Conversation Class

4

Practical

18

Total

106


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
the 24 lectures are face-to-face.
The workshops and presentations are group activities for the students.
The laboratory experiments are completed in pairs.
the online materials required before the lab sessions are completed through the Brightspace page.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

CHEM 10050
CHEM 20080 (or equivalent)
CHEM 20100 (or equivalent)


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): a 2h final exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
55
No
Group Work Assignment: 2 presentations Week 4, Week 7 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
No
Practical Skills Assessment: 5 x laboratory sessions + 2 x workshops Week 2, Week 3, Week 5, Week 6, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on presentations is given to the entire class. Feedback on the lab and workshop sessions is given during these sessions - and summative feedback is given 2 weeks following the final submissions (before the examinations). Lab write up feedback is given during the following lab session. Late submissions will not be accepted after feedback has been given.

Name Role
Dr Andrew Phillips Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Eva Naughton Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 22, 25, 29, 31 Wed 15:00 - 16:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 24, 26, 30, 32 Wed 15:00 - 17:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 23 Wed 16:00 - 16:50