Content

This course is divided into two parts: aquatic chemistry and soil chemistry.This course is a follow-up of the BSc course on environmental chemistry that was focused on concepts of the equilibrium states. In this course, the focus will be on models, methods of soil and water analysis and on applications.

Part I. Aquatic chemistry. The major reaction types in water are shortly reviewed, i.e. acid-base reactions, precipitation reactions, complexation reaction and redox reactions. The reactions with major geochemical impact will be given with due attention to reaction rates. Most important methods for water analysis will be given, including the interpretation of environmental data. The calculation of speciation in water with a computer code (Visual Minteq) will be shown and exercises will be given that will be solved by the students.
 
Part II Soil chemistry
(1) The structure and colloidal properties of the major soil minerals will be reviewed. Soil mineralogy will be discussed in relation to soil weathering.
(2) The composition of soil organic matter, its acid-base and metal complexation properties will be reviewed. Interactions of soil organic matter with soil minerals will be given.
(3) Surface chemistry and adsorption: the types and site density of surface binding groups are given. The different surface complexation models, including non-specific ion binding, are given and a computer model is illustrated during the course.
(4) Chemical equilibrium in soil: the combination of aquatic and surface reaction allows the calculation of speciation in soil. This is applied to calculate the pH dependent Al en phosphate in soils using Visual Minteq. The major reactions of soil nutrients are given.
(5) Environmental soil chemistry of organic contaminants. The chemical properties of organic contaminants (pesticides, PAH, antibiotics,…) are related to their structure (QSAR). These properties are vapour pressure, solubility, Henry coefficient, Kow and acid-base properties. Sorption mechanisms of organic contaminants will be given and effects of pH, DOC and time on sorption of organic contaminants are given.
(6) Methods of soil analysis. Analysis of routine soil properties is reviewed, i.e. soil texture, CEC, %organic matter, exchangeable ions and pH. Interpretation of soil composition is given.
 

Course material

Applied Soil and Aquatic Chemistry, lecture notes. E. Smolders

Slides are available on Toledo

Content

There are two parts:

Part 1: Soil analyses are performed in the laboratory. Students are practically taught to measure soil pH, CEC, mineral-N and P-sorption. The results are summarized in a lab-report and some questions in the manual need to be answered.

Part 2: Speciation calculations: students are trained in calculations with Visual Minteq (free software). Some fill-in questions need to be solved, followed by more comprehensive scenario's of environmental reactions, including effects of temperature on CO2 exchanges, waste-water treatment and soil fertility evaluations. The students receive some open questions to be solved independently, by which creativity is tested.

Course material

Exercises and lab manual are available on Toledo.

Language of instruction: more information

This course is given to groups and language is adapted depending on the group.

Format: more information

Five sessions will be given with speciation calculations with a speciation code (VMinteq) to calculate chemical  speciation in water, soils and groundwater. In the laboratory, soils will be analysed.