CHEM 760 : Advanced Green Chemistry

Science

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines topics that are of key global significance to sustainability such as human activities that exceed the planetary boundaries, global warming, ocean acidification, endocrine disrupting compounds, global population, imbalance of the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles, and extinction of species. No formal prerequisite, but knowledge of green chemistry at the level covered in CHEM 360 will be assumed.

Course Overview

CHEM760 will explore skills essential for the practical implementation of green chemistry including toxicology and life cycle assessment. A major focus will be on how these approaches are implemented and methods for the prediction of the toxicity and biodegradability of unknown compounds. Modern research topics relating to green chemistry will also be explored including water as a solvent for organic chemistry and carbon dioxide capture and conversion. This course will be of relevance to those interested in a career working either directly or indirectly with the chemical industry who want to know more about how to transition to less hazardous and more environmentally sustainable practices.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically evaluate and synthesise aspects of toxicology of relevance to the field of green chemistry (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  2. Critically evaluate the use of predictive models for understanding the toxicology of unknown substances (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  3. Critically discuss the relationship between chemical structure and biodegradability (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  4. Critically analyse the relationship between dose and adverse effects (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  5. Assess the role of life cycle analysis within the context of green chemistry (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  6. Apply life cycle analysis to determine the environmental impact of a chemical process (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  7. Critically discuss the use of water as a solvent for chemical synthesis in the context of green chemistry (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  8. Discuss approaches to facilitate aqueous organic synthesis (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  9. Critically evaluate catalytic technologies available for the conversion of carbon dioxide (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  10. Critically assess carbon dioxide capture technologies in terms of their performance with respect to their properties (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Test 70% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Assignments
Test

Special Requirements

There are no special requirements for this course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 22 hours of lectures,  78 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 50 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation over the course of the semester.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not necessarily be available as recordings.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course resources will be prescribed by individual lecturers where required. Lecture notes and recordings will be available on Canvas. There is no prescribed text book for this course.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions.  Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 10/11/2021 07:24 p.m.