بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

University of Jordan Instructor: Dr. Mustafa Al Kuisi

Dept. of Geology and Environment Semester: First @ 2005/2006

Course: Environmental Geochemistry (0305481) Sunday, Monday, Thursday 10-11

Course Syllabus

Environmental geochemistry is the application of chemical and hydrochemical principles to predicting the fate of organic and inorganic pollutants at the earth's surface and in the atmosphere. The purpose of this course is to provide a practical background in basic geochemical principles that can be applied to environmental problems. The course will make use of computer programs to solve geochemical problems. Some simple chemical analyses will be done to illustrate important environmental chemical reactions, e.g., pH, Eh, dissolved O2, alkalinity, hardness, nutrient concentrations.

Text Book: Principles of Environmental Geochemistry (2004) G. Nelson Eby

The course will deal with the following subjects:

1-Introduction

What you will learn?

Definition of Environmental Geochemistry

Fundamentals of Environmental Geochemistry

What’s In an Aqueous Geochemical System?

2- Groundwater Geochemistry Fundamentals

Chemical Principles

The Aquifer Geochemical System

Groundwater Solution

Chemical Reactions and the Equilibrium Constant

Soil / Rock Composition

Water / Rock Processes Controlling Solution Composition

Water Rock Interaction

Adsorption / Desorption

Ion Exchange

Mineral Precipitation / Dissolution

3- Water Quality

Physical Characteristics

Chemical Characteristics

Microbiological Characteristics

Radiological Characteristics

Water Quality Standards

Water Classification and Treatment Systems

4- Water Quality Management

Water Pollutants and their Sources

Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Nitrogen Oxidation, Phosphorus Oxidation, Sulfur Oxidation

Stratification and Turnover

Biological Zones

Eutrophication

Acidification of Lakes and Reservoirs

5- Applications of Geochemistry to Specific Types of Contaminants and Contaminated Environments

Contamination of Groundwater by Agriculture and other NonpointSources

Biocides

PCB's

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH's)

Metals Contamination

Land Disposal

Geochemistry of Acid Mine Waste

6- Atmospheric Chemistry and Pollution

Air Pollution Standards

Effects of Air Pollution

Origin and Fate of Air Pollutants

Micro and Macro Air Pollution

Acid Rain, Ozone Depletion, Green House Effects

GRADING:

Midterm Exam: 30%

Term Paper,Problems and Activation: 20%

Final Exam: 50%

Text Books:

1-Environmental Engineering (1998) Davis and Cronwell

2-Fundamental of Environmental Engineering (1999) Danny D. Reible

3-Environmental Engineers Handbook (1997) David and Lipta'k

4-Basic Concepts of Environmental Chemistry (1997) Connell

5-Environmental Chemistry (1996) Colin Baird

6- Applied Chemical Hydrogeology (2001). Kehew, A.E

7- Groundwater Geochemistry Fundamentals and Applications to Contamination (1997) William J. Deutsch

8- Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry (1998) Evangelou V.P.

9- Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry (2003) Donald Langmuir

10- Principles of Environmental Geochemistry (2003) G. Nelson Eby