Environmental Pollution Control is a compulsory subject in the Degree in Environmental Science (2nd year, 2nd term). The subject accounts for 9 ECTS credits: 4.0 credits of lectures, 2.3 credits of classroom practices, 1.9 credits of laboratory practices and 0.8 credits of field practice.

Environmental Pollution Control subject belongs to the 4th module (Environmental Technology). In this module, several aspects related to the different forms of environmental pollution are studied: fundamentals, origin, measurement, technologies for its control, treatment or mitigation, etc. The significance of these aspects in Environmental Science is evident and the module, along with other two modules, forms the core of the 2nd year. The module accounts for 24 credits, divided into three subjects: Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering, Pollutant Analysis and Environmental Pollution Control.

1. To be able to use the basic models for the dispersion of air pollutants and to understand the air quality monitoring networks.

2. To understand pollution treatment methods and to be able to select the most suitable one in each situation.

3. To know the technologies to prevent or correct water and soil pollution.

4. To be able to design physical-chemical purification methods for gaseous effluents.

Lesson 1. State of the environment in the Basque Country

UNIT I: WATER

Lesson 2. Water pollution

Lesson 3 Potabilization of water

Lesson 4. Wastewater treatment

UNIT II: AIR

Lesson 5. Air pollution

Lesson 6. Dispersion of air pollutants in the atmosphere

Lesson 7. Treatment of gaseous effluents: gases and vapours

Lesson 8. Treatment of gaseous effluents: particle separation

UNIT III: SOIL AND WASTE

Lesson 9. Soil pollution

Lesson 10. Soil remediation

Lesson 11. Municipal solid waste management



- Laboratory practice:

Practice 1: Water treatment by adsorption with activated carbon

Practice 2: Analysis of the absorption column for CO2 sequestration

Practice 3: Particle separation using a cyclone

Practice 4: Sedimentation tank

Practice 5: Energy production through solar and fuel cells



- Field practice:

Visits to water treatment plants: Araka (drinking water treatment plant, DWTP) and Crispijana (wastewater treatment plant, WWTP)

- Lectures to explain the basic principles of each lesson

- Classroom practice to solve problems

- Laboratory practice

- Problem-solving seminars: the students, working in small groups, will solve a proposed exercise

- Field practice

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 80
  • Multiple-Choice Test (%): 20

- Tools and percentages for grading:

Laboratory practice: 20% (exam in the computer room)

Final exam (theoretical-practical): 80%

Problem-solving seminars: additional mark (maximum of 10 %)



- Opting out of the ordinary sitting

Failure to appear at the final exam on the official date of the ordinary sitting will automatically mean opting out of that sitting, which will lead to the grade of Not Sat.

In the extraordinary sitting, the only system to assess the student will be the final evaluation system. Nevertheless, if the student has a positive grade in laboratory practices or problem-solving seminars, those grades will be maintained. On the contrary, if the results are negative, the final exam will enable the student to get 100% of the final grade.

Lesson notes, lists of exercises, tables and graphs, calculator, practice scripts.
Students must wear a laboratory coat during the laboratory practice. Moreover, students must bring a laptop during the laboratory practice (at least one for each group).

Basic bibliography

Baird, C. “Environmental Chemistry”, Freeman and Company, New York (1995).

Boubel, R.W., Fox, D.L., Turner, D.B., Stern, A.C. “Fundamentals of Air Pollution (3rd ed.)”, Academic Press, San Diego (1994).

De Nevers, N. “Air Pollution Control Engineering (2nd ed.)”, McGraw-Hill, Boston (2000).

Henry, J.G., Heinke, G.W. “Environmental Science and Engineering (2nd ed.)”, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey (1996).

Kiely, G. “Environmental Engineering”, McGraw-Hill, Boston (1998).

Pepper, I.L., Gerba, C.P., Brusseau, M.L. “Environmental and Pollution Science (2nd ed.)”, Academic Press, Amsterdam (2006).

Stern, A.C. “Fundamentals of Air Pollution (2nd ed.)”, Academic Press, Orlando (1984).

Wark, K., Warner, C.F., Davies, W.T. “Air Pollution: Its Origin and Control (3rd ed.)”, Addison-Wesley, California (1998).

In-depth bibliography

- Tratamiento de aguas residuales. R.S. Ramalho. Ed. Reverte, Barcelona, 1996.
- Contaminación e ingeniería Ambiental. III. Contaminación de las aguas J.L. Bueno, H. Sastre, A.G. Lavin. FICYT. Oviedo, 1997
- Contaminación e ingeniería Ambiental. II. Contaminación atmosférica. J.L. Bueno, H. Sastre, A.G. Lavin. FICYT. Oviedo, 1997
- Ingeniería de aguas residuales. Tratamiento, vertido y reutilización. Metcalf&Eddy. Mc.Graw-Hill, 2000
- Contaminación del suelo: estudios, tratamiento y gestión. M. Seoánez Calvo. Ed. Mundi-prensa, 1999