Module Identifier BSM8210  
Module Title ORGANIC CONTAMINATION  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr John Scullion  
Semester Available all semesters  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam examination - 1.5 hours 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Enabling Objectives :

After studying this module you should:


Content

This module contains seven chapters. The introductory chapter aims to demonstrate the diversity of organic contaminants and their sources and to give you a glimpse of some of the issues that will be covered in more detail later in the module. The second chapter describes the structures of the compounds and the convention for naming them. It also indicates the ways in which chemical structure affects the persistence of organic contaminants in the environment. The third chapter explains the physical behaviour and basic chemical reactions to which contaminants are subject in the natural environment, including degradation reactions. The fourth chapter describes the factors affecting the rate of biodegradation in the natural environment.

The reasons for concern over organic contamination are detailed in chapter five. Emphasis is placed on the uncertainties involved in predicting the risk and toxicity that organic contaminants present to targets.

The difficulties in analysis are outlined in chapter six along with a description of the most commonly used separation and detection systems for organic contaminants.

In the final chapter the options for remediation are covered. The chapter is split into sections, each dealing with a particular generic type of remediation technology. The generic categories covered include biological systems, chemical systems, thermal systems solidification systems and physical systems. This chapter concentrates on innovative technologies for remediation but is must not be forgotten that more traditional approaches are also valid. We will be covering such approaches, including cover and barrier systems, in a later module.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7