Environmental Laboratory

Code:

AMB113

Acronym:

AMB113

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environmental Sciences

Instance: 2013/2014 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Environmental Sciences and Technology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:CTA	65	Plano de estudos de 2008 até 2015/16	1	-	5	42	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

CHEMISTRY MODULE Students are provided with a solid background in fundamental aspects of Laboratory Chemistry, namely safety rules, basic laboratory equipment and procedures, significant figures and types of errors. To develop critical thinking, encouraging critical analysis of the experimental results obtained and to learn basic report writing skills.

GEOLOGY MODULE It is intended that the student learn how to: a) Work with topographic field maps, including coordinates and scales b) Represent a topographic cross-section. c) Drawn the limits of an hydrographic basin d) Interpret a simple geological map and cross-sections e) Use a compass in orientation in the field and to measure geological structures.

PHYSICS MODULE To provide a basic understanding of the treatment of experimental errors and graphical analysis of experimental data.

BIOLOGY MODULE To provide a basic understanding of the treatment processes for wastewaters. Addressing ecological principles of Nature Conservation applied to wetlands.

Learning outcomes and competences

Learning outcomes and competences:

- Know the basic rules of laboratory safety

- Identify laboratory equipment and their functions

- Know how to prepare and handle solutions

- Perform and interpret volumetric titrations

- Interpret uncertainties and calculate errors associated to experimental measures

- Elaborate graphs and determine linear correlations between experimental measures

- Planification an environmental assessment and/or environmental monitoring study based on the Water Framework Directive

- Sampling and laboratorial procedures to quantify nutrients and physical nad chemical parameters in water

- Sampling and identification of biological communities in the water column

- Reading and interpreting military maps at 1: 25 000.

- Know how to convert a numeric scale graphics and vice versa, and know how to solve problems involving other scales.

- Know how to make topographic profiles with the vertical axis scale equal to or different from the scale of the map.

- Know how to make and interpret geological profiles from geological maps

Working method

Presencial

Program

CHEMISTRY MODULE  Safety rules. Good laboratory practices. Basic laboratory equipment and procedures. TP1 - The use of volumetric pipettes. The use of volumetric flasks. Mass measurement. Precision of measurement. TP2 - Acid-base tritration

GEOLOGY MODULE Field maps interpretation. Geographic coordinates. Graphic and numerical scales (read and convert one in another) Topographic cross sections. Hydrographic basin: contour and area. Interpretation of simple geological maps and cross-sections Use of a compass in orientation and rock measurement

PHYSICS MODULE TP1 i) Treatment of experimental errors and uncertainties arising from experiment. ii) The importance of errors; systematic and random errors iii) Measurement distributions iv) Estimation of errors v) Treatment of functions and the propagation of errors vi) The least squares method for data fitting TP2 i) Graphical methods and analysis ii) Graphical representation of experimental data including error bars iii) The use of Excel in graphical data analysis

BIOLOGY MODULE 1. Wastewater characterization. Objectives of wastewater treatment. Treatment processes (pre-treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, and tertiary treatment). Sludge treatment. Technical visit to a Wastewater Treatment Plant. 2. Introduction to strategies of Nature Conservation applied to wetlands. Field class in the wetland of Salreu.

Mandatory literature

Manuel A. V. Ribeiro da Silva; Técnicas Laboratoriais, Departamento de Química-FCUP, 1977
Instituto Geográfico do Exército; Manual de leitura de cartas, 2004
J.A. Rebelo; As Cartas Geológicas ao serviço de desenvolvimento, Instituto Geológico e Mineiro
L. Kirkup; Data Analysis with Excel: An Introduction for Physical Scientists, Cambridge University Press, 2002
DW Preston and ER Dietz; The Art of Experimental Physics, J. Wiley and Sons, 1991
G. L. Squires; Practical Physics, Cambridge University Press, 2001
José A. Martinho Simões e outros; Guia do Laboratório de Química e Bioquímica, LIDEL, 2000. ISBN: 972-757-146-8
APHA; Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 1992
Metcalf & Eddy; Wastewater Engineering. Treatment and Reuse, McGraw - Hill Internat. Ed. Civil Engineering Series, 2003

Teaching methods and learning activities

Chemistry module Laboratory classes.

Geology Module Theoretical and theoretical-practical lessons.

Physics module Theoretical and theoretical-practical lessons.

Biology module Lectures using Power point presentations. Technical visit to a Wastewater treatment plant and a field lesson in the wetland of Salreu.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	48,00
Trabalho escrito	52,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	93,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

To be eligible for final evaluation students must attend at least 75% of the programmed classes. Students not eligible will be excluded.

Calculation formula of final grade

OVERALL FINAL MARKS

CHEMISTRY MODULE: The final mark of this module is the average of the marks obtained in the practical sessions, which includes the practical performance as well as laboratory reports. Moreover, an individual assessment will be carried out at the end of the module.

BIOLOGY, PHYSICS AND GEOLOGY MODULES: The final mark of each one of these modules is the obtained from a written final test.

The final (overall) classification, NF, corresponds to the weighted average of the marks obtained in each of the 4 modules (NQ, NB, NF, and NG) and will be calculated according to the following equation: NF = [(NQ x 6) + (NB x 2) + (NG x 2) + (NF X 2)] / 12 - The students with a classification ≥ 9.5 points (0/20 points) will be approved.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The assessment of special cases will be considered by the Jury, taking into account the peculiar circumstances of the student.