INDUSTRIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY - 2023/4

Module Overview

The module provides an overview of the industrial production of major chemicals at the larger scale, and their use in society. This includes aspects of chemical processes including economics, societal effects, health and safety, and engineering. The module also introduces the numerous interlinked chemical processes, both natural and anthropogenic, that take place within the Earth's environment. This includes coverage of the impact they may have for life on Earth along with potential solutions to current environmental issues.

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

VARCOE John (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Introduction to considerations (including economic and political) of large-scale chemical processes and their environmental implications


• Select large-scale industrial processes: Soda Ash, Chloroalkali, Ammonia + Fertilisers, Pharmaceutical, Heterogeneous Catalysis


• Environmental cycles involving C, O, N, S, and P


• An introduction to pollutants in the atmosphere


• Water cycles and the modern problem of microplastics


• Metal extraction and the consequences of heavy metals in the environment


• Renewable, nuclear, and other clean, sustainable energy technologies

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The learning and teaching strategy is designed so the student can demonstrate understanding of the fundamental of industrial chemical processes and of the chemistry of the environment (with links between the two).

As this is a Level-4 module converting fundamental concepts and basic science, the summative assessment for this module will consist of:

15% Online In-Class Test (Week 5)

15% Online In-Class Test (Week 9)

70% Invigilated Exam (MCQ style questions)

Formative assessment: Online and in-class practice problems will be released at regular intervals and parts of the course will be revisited where required (if the problems reveal areas of lower student understanding). Feedback: The students will be given detailed feedback on their performance in the practice problems so they can identify any deficiencies in understanding.

Module aims

• Introduce the students to aspects of industrial chemical manufacture and processing, including the planning of the location of industrial chemical plants;
• Highlight the key considerations when undertaking larger scale chemical transformations and processes;
• Introduce the students to key fundamental concepts and principles of environmental chemistry, including chemical processes that occur naturally and as a result of anthropogenic activities;
• To provide a rationalisation of key environmental problems currently confronting society, and a consideration of possible solutions.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed so the students develop a fundamental appreciation of chemical processes at the larger scale along with both anthropogenic and naturally occurring chemical interactions within the wider environment. The learning and teaching methods include

3 h of lectures (average) per week for 11 weeks;

2 h of revision seminars covering some practice problems;

Practice problems for guided learning.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG1100

Other information

Due to the nature of this module, sustainability concepts (particularly around considering the circular economy and the environment) are incorporated throughout. Understanding the application of chemistry on an industrials scale will improve the students employability. The fundamental and discipline spanning nature of the content of this module means that many of the concepts will feed into subsequent modules in the Chemistry and Chemistry with Forensic Investigation degree programmes. Examples include CHE2038 Materials chemistry: fundamentals to application and the various compulsory Inorganic and Organic chemistry modules.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.