Instrumentation and Environmental Monitoring

The objective of this subject is to introduce the student to the different tools (including the main instrumental techniques) necessary to perform a correct environmental monitoring.
In this subject, the student will acquire or practice a series of cognitive skills, desirable in any university degree, and will also acquire other procedural/instrumental, aptitude and attitudinal skills typical of Environmental Engineering.
The specific objectives are:
1. To be able to design a sampling plan and define a protocol to solve a specific environmental problem.
2. To be able to design an environmental monitoring network.
3. To know the basics of the main instrumental techniques used for monitoring pollutants (treatment plants, etc.)
4. To be able to select the most appropriate analytical methods according to the criteria that define their quality and other parameters of interest, such as economic or availability criteria.
5. To be able to interpret the results according to the type of sample and origin (WWTP, industrial discharges, etc.).
6. To be able to manage the information obtained through different bibliographic sources and environmental legislation.
7. To be able to justify and publicly communicate the conclusions related to the resolution of an environmental problem.

The contents that are developed in the course are those contemplated in the descriptors of the subject in the study plan: Environmental sampling (water, air, discharges, soil, waste). Environmental networks. Instrumentation for pollutant monitoring. Sensors and remote sensors. Quality control in monitoring

Program:

Unit 1. Introduction to environmental monitoring.
Environmental sampling: types of samples and types of sampling. Environmental sampling plans and protocols. Sampling grids. Environmental bioindicators. Quality control in environmental monitoring: Sampling and analysis.

Unit 2. Sampling of water, discharges, soil and waste. Atmospheric sampling (gases, particles) and stack sample. Environmental monitoring networks.

Unit 3. Spectrometric techniques used in environmental monitoring. Molecular absorption spectroscopy: UV-VIS, IR. Molecular emission spectroscopy. Fluorescence, phosphorescence and chemiluminescence. Atomic spectroscopy: absorption, emission and fluorescence. Atomic mass spectrometry. Applications to the analysis of environmental samples.

Unit 4. Chromatographic techniques used in environmental monitoring. Basics and classification of chromatographic techniques. Chromatographic parameters. Liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography. Molecular mass spectrometry as a detection system. Environmental applications.

Unit 5. Sensors in environmental monitoring. Introduction. Conditions that a sensor must meet. Classification of sensors. Optical and electrochemical sensors. Biosensors. Applications in environmental monitoring.

Unit 6. Remote sensors. Principles of operation. Classification and configurations of remote sensors. Integrated path remote sensors. Range resolved remote sensors. Environmental remote sensing: Applications

BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
The slides prepared by the teachers, videos and other complementary materials will be provided to the students.
• Skoog, D.A., Holler, F.J. and S.R. Crouch Principios de Análisis Instrumental (7ª Ed.) Cengage Learning, México (2018). ISBN: 978-6075266558. In English, Principles of Instrumental Analysis, (2017, accessible online through Iacobus).
• Zhang, C. Fundamentals of Environmental Sampling and Analysis. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-471-71097-4 (accessible online through Pórtico).

BIBLIOGRAFÍA COMPLEMENTARIA
• Harris, D. C. Análisis Químico Cuantitativo (3ª Ed.) Barcelona: Reverté, 2016. ISBN: 978-84-291-7225-6 (accessible online through Iacobus).
• C. Munstasar and R. Kecili, Modern Environmental Analysis Techniques for Pollutants, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2020. ISBN: 978-0-12-816934-6.
• A. Nigan, R. Gupta, Environmental analysis Laboratory Handbook, Hoboken (EEUU), John Wiley and Sons, 2020. ISBN 978-1-119-72480-3.
• Inamuddin, R. Boddula, A. M. Asiri, Green sustainable process for chemical and environmental engineering and science (Analytical Techniques for Environmental and Industrial Analysis), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2021. ISBN: 978-0-12-821883-9.
• Banica, F.G. Chemical Sensors and Biosensors. Chichester: John Wiley, 2012. ISBN: 9780470710678.
• Alegret, S., del Vallem, M. and Merkoci., A. Sensores electroquímicos. Barcelona: Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 2004. ISBN: 84-490-2361-0.
• J. Martínez Vega and M. Pilar Martín Isabel, Guía didáctica de teledetección ambiental, CSIC, 2010
• Townshed, A. Encyclopedia of Analytical Science. London: Academic Press, 2005. ISBN: 0-12-226700-1.
• C. Cámara, P. Fernández, A. Martín-Esteban, C. Pérez-Conde and M. Vidal. Toma y tratamiento de muestras. Madrid: Síntesis, 2004. ISBN: 84-7738-962-4.
• Conklin, A.R. Field Sampling: principles and practices in environmental analysis. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2004.
• Popek, E.P. Sampling and analysis of environmental pollutants. Amsterdam: Academic Press, 2003. ISBN: 0-12-561540-X.
• Downard, K. Mass Spectrometry. A foundation course, Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2004. ISBN: 0-85404-609-7.
• J.N. Miller, J.C. Miller, R.D. Miller, Statistics and chemometrics for analytical chemistry, 7a ed. Pearson (2018). ISBN: 0273730428. Available as an electronic resource through Iacobus.

WEBGRAPHY
• IUPAC Color Books, Chemical terminology, http://iupac.org/what-we-do/books/color-books/, last visited: 24/05/2024
• LIBRETEXTS, Analytical chemistry,
https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Analytical_Chemistry, last visited: 24/05/2024
• EPA, National Environmental Methods Index, https://www.nemi.gov/home/, last visited: 24/05/2024
• Normas UNE, http://www.bugalicia.org.ezbusc.usc.gal/recursos/aenor/, last visited: 24/05/2024

The students will be instructed in the following competencies in this subject of the master:

BASIC AND GENERAL COMPETENCIES
CB 6. To have knowledge and understand concepts that provide a foundation or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context.
CB 7. To know how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study
CB 8. To be able to integrate knowledge and face the complexity of formulating judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
CB 9. To know how to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and ultimate reasons that support them to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way.
CB 10. To have the learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
CG 1. To identify and state environmental problems.
CG 3. To take responsibility for their own professional development and specialization in one or more fields of study.
CG 4. To apply their knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and other natural sciences, obtained through study, experience, and practice, with critical reasoning to establish economically viable solutions to technical problems.
CG 5. To carry out the appropriate research, design and direct the development of engineering solutions, in new environments, relating creativity, originality, innovation and technology transfer.
CG 7. To direct and manage the organization of work and human resources applying criteria of industrial safety, quality management, occupational risk prevention, sustainability, and environmental management (good practices).

TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCIES
CT 1. To develop skills associated with teamwork: cooperation, leadership, knowing how to listen
CT 4. To show critical thinking (and self-criticism), analytical and synthesis capacity.
CT 5. To prepare, write and publicly defend scientific and technical reports and projects.
CT 6. To appreciate the value of quality and continuous improvement, acting with rigor, responsibility and professional ethics within the framework of commitment to sustainable development.
CT 8. To acquire ability for interpersonal relationships

SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
CE 1. To know how to evaluate and select the appropriate scientific theory and the precise methodology of the field of study of Environmental Engineering to formulate judgments based on incomplete or limited information, including, when necessary and pertinent, a reflection on the social or ethical responsibility linked to the solution proposed in each case.
CE 2. To know in depth the technologies, tools and techniques in the field of Environmental Engineering to compare and select technical alternatives and emerging technologies.
CE 8. Address a real problem of Environmental Engineering from a scientific-technical perspective, recognizing the importance of search and management of existing information and applicable legislation.
CE 9. To have the skills of autonomous learning to maintain and improve the skills of Environmental Engineering that allow the continuous development of the profession.

The subject has a workload of 3 ECTS credits, 1 ECTS credit corresponds to 25 hours of total work, which are distributed as follows:
Activity: Hours in the class/ Hours of individual work/ ECTS credits
Lectures: 10/ 20/ 1,2
Interactive lessons: 12/ 20/ 1,28
Group tutorials: 2/ 9/ 0,44
Exam: 2/ / 0.08
Total: 26/ 49/ 3

FORMATIVE ACTIVITIES:

• Lectures: In this classes the teacher will explain the theoretical contents of the subject combined with examples of applications of the different techniques of instrumentation and environmental monitoring. The classes will be taught in person and can be combined with classes taught online and with the participation of external company speakers.
Various audiovisual materials (presentations, videos, etc.) will be used during these classes, and students will be able to access them through the Virtual Campus.
• Interactive lessons:
o Seminars and practical classes: Learning in the seminar classes will be based on problem solving, study and discussion of practical cases. In these interactive classes, exercises and evaluation questionnaires will be carried out (use of Moodle, Kahoot, or similar).
Follow-up activities: exercises and questionnaires, participation lists.
o Visits to industries and institutions: As a complement to the activities carried out in class, one or several visits are scheduled in this area (Centro de Control de la Calidad del Aire de la Xunta de Galicia, Laboratories of the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the USC), in addition to the possibility of inviting a speaker for a talk during school hours. The objective of carrying out the visits is to observe in situ some of the instruments used for environmental monitoring, and obtain more information about the control of air quality in Galicia. The visits will be evaluated through the questions made in the final exam.
Follow-up activities: Participation lists

• Tutorial lessons:
o Scheduled group tutorials: They will be based on cooperative learning. Students will prepare projects related to environmental monitoring and analysis (Project-Based Learning, PBL). Carrying out this work will require the use of specialized databases and web resources. Students will present the conclusions of their project to their peers, with a subsequent debate between students and teachers.
Follow-up activities: Scheduled assignments.
o Individual tutorials: They will be carried out in person or through the MS Teams platform. In addition, students will be able to receive online teaching support through the virtual campus tools.

The assessment system will consist of:
• A final exam (complementary to the continuous evaluation) with 50% of the final grade, including questions about the technical visit.
• Assessment of the work done throughout the course on different projects about topics related to the subject program, with 25% of the final grade.
• Assessment of the results of questionnaires and other exercises: 20%
• Assessment of the active participation of students in face-to-face and non-face-to-face teaching activities, with 5% of the final grade.
These percentages will be maintained in both exam opportunities. Therefore, the assessment of the work done and active participation in class will be saved for the second opportunity. Repeating students must undergo the entire evaluation process again.

The following competences will be evaluated:
• Exam: CB6, CB8, CB10, CG4, CT4, CE1, CE2, CE8, CE9
• Group projects: CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CG1, CG3, CG4, CG5, CG7, CT1, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT8, CE1, CE2, CE8, CE9
• Questionnaires and/or other exercises: CB6, CB8, CB10, CG4, CT1, CT4, CT6, CE1, CE2, CE8, CE9
• Active participation in class: CB8, CB9, CG1, CG3, CG4, CT1, CT4, CT6, CT8, CE1, CE2, CE8, CE9

The following table shows the distribution of the grade according to the different activities:
1.Continuous assessment: 50%
1.1 Project assessment (including presentation): 25%. Face-to-face
1.2 Questionnaires and/or other exercises: 20% Face-to-face. Use of Moodle or Kahoot
1.3 Active participation: 5%. Face-to-face
2. Final exam: 50%. Face-to-face

In case of cheating on exercises, tests or exams (e.g. plagiarism or or fraudulent use of technologies to carry out exams, or other tasks) , the “Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións” will be applied.

The necessary time that the student must dedicate to pass the subject, is at least, the attendance to the theoretical classes and for each theoretical or seminar class, approximately two hours of personal work

• Class attendance and participation
• To read the bibliography recommended
• To participate in the tutorials

Students are supposed to have basic knowledge of chemistry. Moreover, they should be able of reading scientific English and should have basic computer skills (Word, e-mail, internet, scientific databases).
Language: A group in Spanish-Galician