| Department of Agricultural Sciences
88 % Department of Natural Sciences 12 % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | BSc. 3 year | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Course Level | Joint BSc and MSc BSc Nat.Res.elective MSc Env.Nat.Res.Econ. mandatory MSc NORBE Biosys.Eng.elective MSc Ag.Dev.elective MSc Env.Chem.elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Examination | Continuous Assessment oral examination Portfolio Examination All aids allowed Description of Examination: Portfolio oral examination will include an oral presentation by students of their project, followed by questions by the examiners to the students related to the project and other parts of the portfolio (exercises, case studies) Weight: Theoretical assignments: 25% Case studies: 30% Written report: 20% Portfolio examination: 25% 13-point scale, internal examiner | ||||||||||||||||||
| Requirement For Attending Exam | Completed minimum 60% of theoretical exercises, 2 of 3 case studies and submitted written report | ||||||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Lectures Theoretical exercises- including use of computer software and models Case study exercises Project work One full-day excursion | ||||||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 3 Week Structure: C | ||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English may be conducted in Danish | ||||||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | The course: Jord, Vand og Planter. For non-KVL students who have not taken "grundpakken" introductory university-level courses in chemistry and mathematics are required. Basic university-level courses in: biology, ecology, physics are recommend | ||||||||||||||||||
| Restrictions | 28. Limited by availability of teaching resources. Students will require access to computers with specialized software and the internet for the weekly theoretical calculation exercises and for group project work. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic Science-Transfer math concepts to solve 1st-order linear differential-integral equations, manipulate log relationships, convert between dimensional systems of units Applied Science-Apply principles from chemistry, physics, biology, ecology with mass/energy balances to develop simple models of environmental systems and technologies Apply simplyfied assumptions and estimate parameters in the face of biological variability and uncertainty in measurement and prediction Understand processes governing transport and transformation of chemical substances within environmental and technology systems Knowledge of technologies available for control and treatment of effluents at source, at end-of-pipe and within the natural environment Ethics and Values-Awareness of potential environmental impacts associated with use of technologies Be aware of philosophies and values behind the selection of specific technology systems, including cleaner production and ecotechnology. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||||||
| Introduce the key methods used to quantify environmental systems for selection and design of environmental and eco-technologies Provide an overview of technologies for treatment and utilization of wastewater, organic solid waste, air pollution and odour, and remediation of soil and water Introduce the basic processes governing the design and performance of environmental technologies Expose students to different approaches to pollution abatement, including ecotechnology and cleaner production | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||||||
| The course deals systemically with technology for pollution abatement, waste treatment and waste utilization related to natural resources (agricultural crop and animal production, forestry, food processing) and presents technology systems suited for developing countries as well as for industrialized nations. These include end-of-pipe solutions (environmental technology e.g. filtration, disinfection, biological and chemical scrubbers, activated sludge process, biogas plants, lagoons) as well as systems that draw upon the self?design capacity of ecosystems as an integral part of the solution (ecotechnology e.g. constructed wetlands, biomanipulation, phytoremediation). Topics include principles of ecological engineering design; mass balances with first order reactions, CMFR and PFR models of closed systems; exergy/emergy flow analysis; fate of pollutants in the natural environment and in waste treatment facilities and the effects of environmental pollutants on biological organisms; basics of exergy-based life cycle analysis, cleaner production, green accounting and cost-benefit analysis of environmental technology systems; physical, biological and chemical waste treatment processes; environmental and eco-technologies for treatment and utilization of wastewater air pollution and odours chemical contaminants and organic solid waste from crop and animal production, the food processing industry, and households; in-situ and ex-situ technologies for soil and groundwater remediation and for ecosystem restoration. The course is recommended for students who upon completion of their studies will be employed in sectors dealing with environmental issues, such as in public inspection, environmental consulting, agriculture, forestry and the biological processing industries. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||||||
| The lectures will be used to provide an overview of the applications, solution methods and tools, and basics of environmental technologies. During lectures instructors will solve a number of example calculation problems to illustrate the use of mathematical tools, models and good problem solving practices. In addition to lectures there will be a series of calculation assignments that will be run over the entire instructional period. Several assignments will make use of software such as QSAR models, simulation software and spreadsheets. Case studies will involve a lecture followed by group work on a design or analysis problem that builds upon basic skills practiced in the calculation assignments. A written report on a technological topic or design problem chosen according to the students' own interest will be assigned. Students will work in groups of 3-4 on the project, which will be followed by a presentation as part of the portfolio examination. There will be one full-day excursion to relevant sites. The excursion will allow students to see technology systems under operation, and relate to the practical limitations as well as opportunities for environmental pollution abatment and waste management. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||||||
| (1) Textbook: W.J. Mitsch and S.E. Jørgensen, (2004), "Ecological Engineering and Ecosystem Restoration", Wiley (tentative) (2) Periodic Table Electronically available literature: (3) NEH/USDA Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook (http://www.info.usda.gov/CED/ftp/CED/neh651-all.pdf) (4) US EPA FactSheets on Biosolids Technology and on Wastewater Treatment Technology (http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/mtbfact.htm) (5) A number of related scientific and technical articles and handouts will be provided | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dvora-Laiô Wulfsohn, dw@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Environment, Resources and Technology, Phone: 35333395 Hans Christian Bruun Hansen, haha@life.ku.dk, /VIVA - Knowledge about Water, Phone: 3528 Jens Raunsø Jensen, jrj@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Environment, Resources and Technology, Phone: 35333387 Lars Stoumann Jensen, lsj@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333470 Jakob Magid, jma@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333491 Søren Hansen, sha@life.ku.dk, Department of Basic Sciences and Environment/Agrohydrology, Phone: 3528 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||||||
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