Sources and characteristics of waste streams emanating from chemical and related industries are reviewed as the basis for developing appropriate abatement and treatment strategies. Treatment processes utilizing individual operations as well as integrated systems of physical, chemical and biological treatment are covered. Treatment process designs and sensitivity analyses of alternatives are undertaken for case studies involving industrial solid, liquid and gaseous wastes. Canadian guidelines and regulations are presented and implemented within the context of environmental and human health. (0/0/0/17/25)
PREREQUISITES: CHEE 221 or MINE 221, or permission of the department.
The principal objective of the course is to provide students in chemical engineering and engineering chemistry with the necessary tools to understand and evaluate physical, chemical and biological waste treatment processes. The students will learn how to apply engineering principles to the estimation and evaluation of unit operations associated with waste treatment processes, and ultimately to analyze the efficiency of applicable treatment solutions.
Specific course learning outcomes (CLO) include:
| CLO |
DESCRIPTION |
INDICATOR |
| CLO1 |
Identify environmental and human health issues related to waste treatment processes. |
KB-ES (Biochemical) |
| CLO2 |
Determine the parameters necessary to characterize waste streams and processes associated with their physical, biological and chemical treatment. |
KB-ES (Biochemical) |
| CLO3 |
Analyze waste streams, design appropriate process flow diagrams and estimate appropriate size of unit operations required to meet applicable standards. |
KB-ES (Biochemical)
PA-Formulate
DE-Solution |
| CLO4 |
Apply sound engineering principles to evaluate and select appropriate abatement strategies and treatment methods to specific case studies. |
KB-ES (Biochemical)
PA-Evaluate
DE-Solution |
| CLO5 |
Justify selected waste treatment strategies and analyze their strengths and limitations with respect to current guidelines, standards and regulations. |
IM-Environmental
PR-Regulations
PR-Standards |
This course develops the following attributes:
- Knowledge base for engineering: application of the foundations of science, materials science, and engineering in biological, physiological, pharmaceutical and/or environmental problems; specifically, knowledge of fluid mechanics, mass, momentum and energy balances, and chemical engineering processes (CLO 1, 2, 3 and 4).
- Problem analysis: application of models and solutions to related problems using appropriate methods, in order to reach substantiated conclusions (CLO 3, 4 and 5)
- Design: based on knowledge developed in this course as well as engineering concepts introduced in previous courses, conception of appropriate systems to achieve efficient waste stream treatment (CLO 1 through 5)
- Impact of Engineering: assessment of reliability, risk, regulatory compliance and safety and takes appropriate action to mitigate social and/or environmental impacts (CLO 1,4)
- Professionalism: integration of appropriate standards, codes, legal and regulatory factors into decision making, taking into consideration the protection of the public and public interest in decision making and recommendations; development of an understanding of the roles, responsibilities and ethics of professional engineers; practice of efficient team work and communications (CLO1 through 5)
This engineering science course covers the physical, biological and chemical treatments necessary to process waste streams, which is an application of chemical engineering and engineering chemistry. The engineering science skills taught in this course are complementary to 3rd and 4th year courses (in particular CHEE 331/332/333 – Design of Unit Operations, and CHEE 471 – Design of Manufacturing Processes), and provide students with specific applications of fluid mechanics, mass, momentum and energy balances, mass transfer, biokinetics, thermodynamics, and chemical engineering processes and reactions.
The course assumes knowledge of 2nd year thermodynamic properties of fluids, and chemical processes and systems.
3 lecture hours + 1 tutorial hour per week. Please refer to SOLUS for times and locations.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LECTURES/TUTORIALS
Lecture slides will be posted in advance on the course online Learning Management System (LMS). These course notes are incomplete, and lectures will include examples and problem solutions not contained in the posted slides. Students are expected to read associated sections of the textbook before coming to class, and to study worked examples, and complete self-study problem sets, with solutions provided online. These must be completed as soon as each topic has been discussed in class. It is strongly recommended that each student attempts all the suggested problems, as they are selected to help practice the analytical tools provided in class.
Group work assignments will be part of workshops and tutorials. Tutorial and workshop problems are posted online. Maximum benefits can be gained only if students come prepared for the tutorial sessions by studying the questions in advance. Solutions will be worked out during tutorial periods. Abbreviated solutions will be posted online following each tutorial session.
In group assignments, each group member is expected to contribute fairly and equitably. In the event of serious deficiencies in the contributions (e.g. observed by instructor, through peer assessments, or through complaints from other group members and/or teaching assistants), the student will be issued a written warning, stating the expectations and timeline for remediation and compliance. The student may be assigned individual work to compensate for the lack of contribution. If the student does not comply within the specified time frame, a second written warning will be issued (with a copy to the Associate Head and Undergraduate Chair). Failure to comply will result in automatic expulsion from the group, and possibly a failing mark in the assignment and/or in the course. A peer evaluation form is available through the LMS. This form may be filled out by a group member at any time during the semester. The form must be submitted to the instructor, who will take appropriate action in response to this submission (response may include a request for each group member to fill out a peer evaluation, individual meetings, group meetings, and follow up action as described above).
Recommended Textbook
- Principles of Environmental Engineering and Science by Davis and Masten, 4rd Ed. McGraw Hill (2020) (This is the International Student Edition. It is available at campus bookstore).
Additional Textbooks (Optional)
- Environmental Chemistry 4th Ed., by Baird and Cann (or previous editions) Freeman (2008); (referred to as B&C)
- Wastewater Engineering – Treatment and Resource Recovery, 5th Ed., by Metcalf & Eddy / AECOM (or previous editions) McGraw Hill (2014); (referred to as M&E)
- Course Reader printed on campus and available at the Queen’s campus bookstore; this document includes a student version of lecture notes, tutorial questions, problem sets, assignment questions, and review material.
Other Material
All course lecture slides, assignments and tutorials will be posted online. If you are registered for the course, you can access this information by logging in to the LMS.
Selected scientific articles pertaining to the mitigation of industrial pollution will be identified as required reading during the term. These articles will be available online. Their contents will be discussed during the course and may be tested on the final exam.
TAs and instructor are available for consultation on an open-door policy (appointment by e-mail is recommended).
