Laboratory Techniques in Environment

Presentation

This curricular unit has as main objective to provide the practical and laboratory skills essential to the performance of the tasks of the future Environmental Engineer as well as to provide technical bases for subsequent curricular units of the Environmental Engineering degree.

Programme

Environmental Engineering

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 5

Year | Type of course unit | Language

1 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULP287-13837

Recommended complementary curricular units

n.a.

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

1 Sampling. Sampling - solids, liquids, gases and particulate matter. Sampling frequency. Preparation / Preservation of samples. Errors and uncertainties.

2 Laboratory Techniques in Chemistry. Safety, handling of liquids and solids. Preparation and standardization of solutions. Volumetric and spectrophotometric analysis. Practical work.

3 Physical Characterization Laboratory Techniques. Purity criteria. Measuring densities. Determination of melting point and boiling point. Practical work.

4 Laboratory techniques for characterization and separation of solids. Determination of the solids content. Techniques of separation / recovery of solids using different physical processes. Practical work.

5 Laboratory Techniques in microbiology. Aseptic technique, preparation and use of culture media; Techniques for isolating microorganisms; kinetics of microbial growth. Observation of microorganisms present in effluents. Practical work.

Objectives

Familiarize the students with laboratory safety procedures as well as various techniques associated with measurement of fundamental physical and chemical variables as well as basic laboratory techniques in microbiology. At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

- Understand and apply various elementary techniques related to measurement of fundamental physical and chemical variables.

- Understand and apply various basic techniques in microbiology.

Teaching methodologies and assessment

The sessions, although using the expository and interactive method, presenting the subjects through audiovisuals, will be of an essentially laboratory nature. Students will be encouraged to participate, present and discuss their findings.

Evaluation: Continuous, consisting of laboratory sessions and scientific reports. The transition to 100 % remote learning, in the context of COVID, is planned for and feasible at all times.

Pedagogical innovation practices: emphasis on carrying out laboratory work, the respective reports and maintaining a lab book.

References

APHA. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Wastewater.

Davis, M. L., Masten, S. J. 2004. Principles of environmental engineering and science. Boston: McGraw Hill

Reeve, R. N. 2002. Introduction to environmental analysis. Chichester, Wiley & Sons.

Sawyer, C. N.; McCarty, P. L.; Parkin, G. F. 1994, 4ªed Chemistry for environmental engineering.

Ferreira, W. C., Sousa, J. C., Lima, N. 2010. Microbiologia. Lidel

Pepper, Gerba e Gentry. 2014. Environmental Microbiology. Elesvier

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