Syllabus

Module I (6 Hours): Fundamentals of Water Chemistry
Structure and bonding of water Unique properties of water and their environmental significance, Sources of water and types of impurities, Role of water chemistry in environmental engineering
Module II (10 Hours): Chemical Equilibria in Aquatic Systems
Acid-base equilibria and pH control, Buffer systems in natural and engineered aquatic environments, Complexation reactions and metal speciation, Solubility equilibria of salts and minerals
Module III (10 Hours): Redox Chemistry and Reaction Kinetics
Oxidation-reduction equilibria and redox potential, Electron transfer processes in natural and engineered systems, Reaction kinetics and rate laws, Thermodynamic principles governing chemical reactions
Module IV (10 Hours): Practical Applications in Water Treatment
Adsorption mechanisms and pollutant removal, Application of equilibrium and kinetic principles in treatment design

The aim of this course is to explore the structure and properties of water and how these influence water quality and the treatment of water impurities.

The aim is also to have a solid understanding of acid-base equilibria to predict and control chemical interactions in water treatment processes.

The students will learn the principles behind chemical kinetics and thermodynamics applying them to the design and optimization of water treatment systems.

Students will investigate the principles of redox processes and adsorption in practical applications.

Students will distinguish between contaminants and pollutants in freshwater systems and apply principles of acid-base equilibria, salt hydrolysis, and charge balance to analyze pH variation and speciation behavior in natural and engineered aquatic environment.

Students will apply concepts of ionic strength, buffer chemistry, and inorganic carbon equilibria to model pH behavior, predict speciation, and design buffer systems in complex aqueous environments.

Students will evaluate pH regulation, solubility, and metal speciation in aqueous systems by applying strong ion difference, proton balance, and complexation principles to predict precipitation and stability under varying environmental conditions

Students will apply thermodynamic and kinetic principles to predict chemical equilibria and reaction rates in water systems, and quantify contaminant removal through adsorption using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms

Students will analyze redox processes in aquatic systems by determining oxidation states, applying standard electrode potentials and the Nernst equation, and constructing Eh–pH diagrams to assess species stability and reaction feasibility.

Sawyer, C.N., McCarty, P.L., Parkin, G.F., Chemistry for Environmental Engineering, Tata McGraw-Hill , 2007, Fifth Edition

Manhan, S.E.,, Environmental Chemistry, Lewis Publishers , 2017, Tenth Edition

Benefield, L. D., Judkins, J. F. and Weand, B. L., Process Chemistry for Water and Wastewater Treatment, Prentice Hall , 1982, First Edition.

Faust, S.D. and Aly, O.M., Chemistry for Water Treatment, Ann Arbor Science Book , 1998, Second Edition.