Undergraduate Courses

Units: 3
An introduction to the chemistry and physics of atmospheric aerosols. Topics include aerosol sources and sinks; basic aerosol properties; single aerosol mechanics; aerosol population dynamics; atmospheric aerosol optics; aerosols and climate; aerosols and health; regional haze; aerosol measurement techniques. Concurrent with ATMO 569B.

ATMO 469B/569B Syllabus (PDF)

Units: 3

This course will introduce you to the fundamental principles of chemical process analysis. It will equip you with problem-solving techniques and will give you experience in the application of these techniques to a wide variety of process-related problems. This course will also begin demonstrating how mathematics and spreadsheets can be a fundamental tool for solving complex engineering problems.

Demonstrates how mathematics and programming can be fundamental tools for solving complex engineering problems. Students learn how to use Visual Basic implemented in Excel to program solutions for mathematically intractable problems.

This course provides an introduction to the field of environmental engineering by examining both environmental processes and environmental systems. Topics addressed include air quality, water quality, solid and hazardous waste, risk assessment, and sustainable technology. The course balances a broad overview of environmental engineering with an in-depth investigation of selected environmental problems and technologies. An emphasis is placed on understanding the fundamental scientific principles that serve as the basis of environmental engineering applications. Methods for quantitative analysis of environmental systems are developed.

The Chem-E-Car design course is an opportunity for students to engage in a hands-on and collaborative engineering project. Participants will work in student-led teams to design and construct a shoe-box sized car powered with a chemical energy source that will carry a specified load a given distance and stop. Participants are encouraged to compete at the annual AIChE Spring Regional and Fall National Conferences where they will have the opportunity to travel with their teammates and compete against peers from other schools. Upperclassman can take more leadership roles in the Chem-E-Car design, build and test for the two-credit option. Students from all majors welcome.

Laboratory and computational exercises on basic chemical engineering processes.

Introduction to mass transfer analysis of mass transfer operations in chemical engineering, such as distillation and absorption.

Fluid mechanics for environmental engineers covers the topics of fluid mechanics with applications relevant to environmental engineers. Fundamental topics include fluid properties, fluid statics, flow concepts, control volume analysis, continuity, energy and momentum concepts, boundary layer concepts and drag theory. Application topics include flow measurements; flow in pipes and ducts, open channel flow, dimensional analysis and similitude and applications in hydraulics. Examples will include natural and engineered settings for environmental engineers and fundamentals of engineering style questions.

Principles and methods of analysis of environmental engineering issues. Includes greenhouse gas effects, tropospheric air pollution, environmental air pollution, environmental risk assessment, surface and group water pollution, and drinking and wastewater treatment. Course may be taken by special exam for credit (not for grade).

This course focuses on the principles of microbiology, including physiology, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. The course explores fundamental microbial processes as well as their environmental significance and application in environmental engineering.

This laboratory experience focuses on unit operations and processes commonly applied in environmental engineering and supports fundamental concepts developed in required courses for Environmental Engineering majors. Individual and group reports and oral presentations will serve as vehicles for the development of technical communications skills. Two and a half hours of laboratory per week during 5 weeks. Concurrent with CHEE 500A.

This laboratory experience focuses on unit operations and processes commonly applied in environmental engineering and supports fundamental concepts developed in required courses for Environmental Engineering majors. Individual and group reports and oral presentations will serve as vehicles for the development of technical communications skills. Two and a half hours of laboratory per week during 5 weeks. Graduate-level requirements include a course paper, an oral presentation, and additional exam questions. Concurrent with CHEE 500B.

Laboratory of environmental engineering operations.

Solution of complex chemical engineering problems using analytical and numerical techniques.

This course is suited to people with a physical sciences background who have not been trained as electrochemists, but who want to add electrochemical methods to their repertoire. There are many disciplines in which it would be advantageous to understand and use some electrochemical methods to complement the work that they are doing. The following topics will be covered: 1) Introduction and Overview of Electrode Processes 2 )Chemical vs. Electrochemical Thermodynamics and cell potentials, Nernst equation, electrode-solution interface, double-Layer structure, and adsorption and applications in analytical electrochemistry and sensors 3) Chemical Stoichiometry vs. Faraday's Law and coulometry, bulk electrolysis 4) Chemical vs. Electrochemical Kinetics and electrode reactions, rates, mechanisms and rate constants, mass transport, Butler-Volmer, Tafel, and Levich equations 5) Kinetic Methodology and potential step and sweep methods, polarography, controlled-current techniques, controlled mass transport approaches, rotating electrodes, microelectrodes, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy 6) Electrochemical Instrumentation and voltmeters, potentiostats, cells, counter and reference electrodes, etc. Also included, if time permits: 7) Coupled Characterization Methods and modified electrodes, spectroelectrochemistry, in-situ neutron scattering, surface analysis, etc. 8) Scanning Probe Techniques and scanning electrochemical microscopy, AFM, etc. Concurrent with CHEE 512.

Theory of automatic control as applied to elementary chemical engineering processes. Use of continuous system simulation languages for study of practical control problems in the process industries.

Application of thermodynamic and kinetic fundamentals to the analysis and design of chemical reactors. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a current topic. Concurrent with CHEE 520.

Fundamental material, electrical and chemical properties of solid metal, semiconductor, insulator and organic surfaces applied to selected gas-solid surface chemical reactions important in semiconductor processing and heterogeneous catalysis. This course is designed to introduce students to the chemistry and physics of solid surfaces and interfaces with an emphasis on the gas-solid interface. The first half of the course is devoted to learning the fundamental material, electrical and chemical properties of solid surfaces. The second half covers applying these fundamentals to topics in chemical catalysis and integrated circuit manufacture. Concurrent with CHEE 527.

Preliminary economic, environmental, safety and design principles associated with chemical process equipment.

Design project from scoping and process selection through material and energy balances, equipment design and sizing, safety and environmental consideration and economic analysis of capital cost and operating expense.

Application of theory and engineering experience to design of unit operations for production of potable water. Covers water regulations, conventional treatment technologies and selected advance treatment topics. Graduate-level requirements include a research paper. Concurrent with CHEE 575.

Application of design of biological systems principles of engineering, science and mathematics, including statistics, kinetics, sensors, and bioreactor design and scale-up. Exploration of principal areas of biological engineering, such as food process engineering, tissue engineering and large-scale fermentation processes. Graduate-level requirements include an oral presentation and belonging to the Journal Club. Identical to ABE 481A/581A. Concurrent with CHEE 581A.

Contaminants of emerging concern are major scientific and political issues. Many have been detected in air, water, soil and biota, and most are identified and quantified using nonstandardized methods, often with limited or questionable quality assurance and quality control. At times, public policy and resource allocation are based on these uncertain data. There are thousands of potential contaminants for which no analytical methodologies have been developed. Through this course, students become familiar with the diversity of analytical (instrumental) and bioanalytical (bioassay) tools currently available, and discover the pros and cons of each approach. The class also discusses future opportunities, such as development of online sensors and miniaturization of environmental methods. While the emphasis of the course is on water analysis, the class also briefly discusses implications for other environmental matrices, such as biosolids, sediments, solids, tissues, body fluids and aerosols. Contaminants are discussed in terms of classes (such as pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones, nanoparticles, metals, disinfection byproducts) and physical chemical properties (such as water solubility, pH, volatility, molecular weight and molecular geometry). This class provides a hands-on experience with key instrument platforms, such as gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, inductively coupled plasma with mass spectrometric detection, liquid chromatography with diode array UV, fluorescence and mass spectrometric detection. Cellular and whole animal bioassays for the screening of complex mixtures of contaminants are discussed and demonstrated. Key principles of toxicity identification and evaluation are covered, along with real-world examples of how to determine causes of observed environmental toxicity. Students work independently and in groups to investigate a key issue relative to environmental analysis, write a paper on this topic, and present and defend their findings before the class. Concurrent with CHEE 582.

The aim of this course is to develop a working understanding of the foundations of polymeric materials. Successful completion of this course will allow you to understand basic polymer chemistry, characterization of polymers and polymer behavior. Topics covered include the structure of polymers, mechanisms of polymer synthesis, characterization methods (including calorimetric, mechanical, rheological and X-ray-based techniques), and their electronic, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties. Special classes of polymers: engineering plastics, semiconducting polymers, photoresists and polymers for medicine. Concurrent with CHEE 583.

Special topics in transport phenomena oriented toward practical applications in specific industrial and research areas. Topics include the dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids, thermal radiation, transport in multiphases systems, design of fluid transport systems, atmospheric transport and mechanics of interfaces. Concurrent with CHEE 587.

Nanomedicine engineering research involves the advance of diagnostics for rapid screening and monitoring, controlled and localized drug delivery, targeted cancer therapies, enhanced cell material interactions, scaffolds for tissue engineering and gene delivery systems amongst others. Developments in nanomedicine engineering to effectively benefit patients require the interaction of diverse disciplines including chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, engineering, materials science, cellular and molecular biology, pharmaceutical sciences and clinical translational medicine. This interdisciplinary course will address how materials are fabricated and characterized, and how they interact in biological systems. The emphasis of the course will be in the application of therapeutics and controlled release drug delivery systems. Integration of biomaterial nanostructures and release analysis will be highlighted throughout the course. Through lectures, paper reviews, class discussions, experimental lab exposure, class presentations and homework assignments, students will develop an in-depth understanding of the various ways nanoparticles have been used as diagnostics tools, in advancing tissue engineering and in how drug delivery systems can be improved to overcome the problems associated with typical oral and intravenous administration. Several types of drug and gene delivery methods, including oral, transdermal, implantable, targeted and pulmonary, will be discussed. The course will highlight the rational design of drug delivery devices based on the fundamental understanding in engineering, pharmacology, chemistry and biomaterials science. Concurrent with CHEE 589.

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service to a department program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work, and patient study. (1-3 units)

The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation. (1-3 units)

The practical application of theoretical learning within a small group setting and involving an exchange of ideas and practical methods, skills, and principles.

A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required. (1-3 units)

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. (1-3 units)

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. (1-3 units)