Environmental Chemistry

Atmosphere and its interaction with hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Composition of air, water, soil.

Atmospheric layers, vertical temperature profile, heat radiation budget of the earth atmosphere system. Properties of troposphere, thermodynamic derivation of lapse rate. Temperature inversion, pressure variation in atmosphere and scale height.

Biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen and sulphur.

Earth’s carbon cycle, carbon emitters, carbon sequestration, carbon footprint and carbon trading. 

Formation and reactions of O₃, O₂, NO_x, SO₂, hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl radical, organic radicals, etc.

Photochemical smog, green house effect, ozone depletion and acid rain. Effects and control of air pollutants-gaseous, particulates.

Chemical reactions in aquatic environment, concept of oxygen demand -DO, BOD, COD; TDS, pH, conductivity, colloids, salinity.  Aquatic pollution: sources (Inorganic and organic pollutants, pesticides, industrial effluents, sewage, detergents and oil spills), effect of pollutants on aquatic life (flora and fauna). Purification and treatment of water.

Toxicology: Threshold limiting value (TLV), LD₅₀, toxicity and control of toxicants: non   metallic compounds, asbestos, organic compounds (POP’s, phthalate, dioxins, PCB’s),    pesticides, VOC’s, endocrine disrupters.

Introduction, applications, merits and demerits: solar energy, biomass energy, hydrogen fuel cells, hydrothermal energy, wind energy and geothermal energy.