Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

CHEE 484 – BIOREMEDIATION

Course Syllabus – Winter 2019

TEACHING TEAM

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

Juliana Ramsay, PhD

Chemical Engineering
Queen’s University

E-mail: juliana.ramsay@queensu.ca

Please check the course website for an up-to-date list of TAs and other course personnel.

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CHEE 484 – Bioremediation Winter 2019

COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Bio/remediation as an option to treat contaminated soils and ground water. Advantages and
disadvantages of bioremediation compared to nonbiological processes. Factors affecting choice
of in situ or ex situ processes. Assessment of biodegradability; biostimulation vs
bioaugmentation; mineralization vs. partial degradation; factors affecting microbial activity
(choice of electron acceptor, toxicity of pollutant, C/N/P ratio, co-substrates, soil humidity, pH
and temperature); bioavailability of pollutant. Biodegradation of specific contaminants (e.g.
diesel fuel, polychlorinated biphenyls, dyestuffs, aromatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons) will
be studied in detail. The investigation component of this course consists of learning how to do
appropriate laboratory and field experiments to obtain data on microbial degradation of an
organic pollutant to be able to calculate bioremediation design parameters such as mass and
delivery rate requirements of electron acceptors and nutrients and degradation rates in reactor
and non-reactor based systems; and to be aware of limitations of these calculations. (0/0/0/42/0)

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

The purpose of this course is to introduce the underlying biogeochemical concepts pertinent to
remediation of soil and groundwater, and describe how systems can be successfully engineered
to support/promote remediation with an emphasis on bioremediation. Bioremediation is an
increasingly utilized remediation technology that employs biological agents (microorganisms
and plants) to treat hazardous contaminants in soil, and water; can lead to the permanent
removal of contaminants from the environment; and may be inexpensive when compared to
conventional techniques. It is a highly multidisciplinary, evolving technology that encompasses
microbiology; chemical, civil, and environmental engineering; and environmental, soil, and
analytical chemistry.

Specific course learning outcomes include:

CLO DESCRIPTION
Identify which pollutants are of greatest concern, describe the principles of various physical
and chemical remediation technologies and relate selection of these technologies to the
CLO 1
properties of contaminants.

Determine what is needed for site characterization, explain the relevance to selection of
appropriate remediation strategies, determine when bioremediation is an appropriate
CLO 2
technology and its advantages and limitations.

Describe the interactions between contaminants, soil, presence of a NAPL phase, water and
microorganisms and explain how these impact the fate of the contaminant and its
CLO 3
bioavailability for biodegradation.

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CHEE 484 – Bioremediation Winter 2019

Calculate the C:N:P and terminal electron acceptor requirements for biodegradation,
interpret the electron tower and energy gained from coupling appropriate half reactions
CLO 4 and describe the biodegradation of specific contaminants such as linear alkanes, BTEXs,
PAHs, and chlorinated compounds such as PCE and PCBs.

Explain how to apply culturable and non-culturable techniques for bioassessment and
CLO 5 biotreatability studies.

This course assesses the following attributes:

Knowledge base for engineering:

CHEE-KB-BIO-2. Applies foundations of science, materials science, and engineering in
biological, physiological, pharmaceutical and/or environmental problems or processes.

Investigation:
Investigates the published literature, organizes, analyzes and synthesizes data and information
to reach substantiated conclusions CHEE-INV-2 (CLO 1-5).

RELEVANCE TO THE PROGRAM

This elective course, offered at the 4th year level, applies foundations of mathematics, science,
and engineering in bioremediation and provides bio/geo/chemical insight for bioremedial
engineering applications.

COURSE STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITIES

3 lecture hours + 1 tutorial hour per week. Times and location can be found on SOLUS.

EXPECTATIONS FOR LECTURES/TUTORIALS

Lecture slides will be posted. Some lectures will include examples and problem solutions not
contained in the posted slides. Students are expected to read review articles assigned to specific
sections, and do the posted review questions.

Preparation, attendance and participation at tutorials are mandatory. You must read the
assigned journal article, prepare short presentations or answers to given questions before
coming to the tutorial. You must attend a minimum of 80% of all tutorials and actively
participate in discussions. Your tutorial grade will reflect your participation.

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CHEE 484 – Bioremediation Winter 2019

COURSE MATERIALS
There is no text book for this course. Reading material will be primarily review articles and
powerpoint lecture slides. Lecture slides and reading material will be posted in advance on
onQ-D2L. Some lectures will include examples and problem solutions not contained in the
posted slides.

COURSE EVALUATION
Deliverable Weight
Assignment 1: Items 1 to 4 of review article 5%
(satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade)
Assignment 2: Complete review article (items 1 to 8) 15%
Assignment 3: Oral presentations on review article 5%
Tutorials (attendance, preparation and participation, tutorial 2 = 1%) 5%
Midterm 20%
Final Exam 50%

Students are expected to complete their work in a timely fashion. The course instructor will
provide notification (in lecture and on course website) of due dates and any revisions thereof.
Submissions after the due date will be penalized at up to 20% per day unless suitable
justification is provided.

Students must pass each assignment or examination component (midterm and final exam) to
receive a passing grade, except if the midterm is missed for a medical reason (with appropriate
documentation), then the weight of the final exam may be readjusted to reflect the combined
total. You must pass each assignment or you will fail the entire course and be allocated a mark
of FR (40-49%), as stated by departmental policies.

All assessments in this course will receive numerical percentage marks. The final grade you
receive for the course will be derived by converting your numerical course average to a letter
grade according to the established Grade Point Index.

Unless other arrangements have been approved, departmental policies regarding late and missed
assignments, and missed quizzes/exams will be followed. Only a Casio 991 non-programmable,
non-communicating calculator will be allowed during tests and exams.

COURSE POLICIES
Please review the following policies concerning copyright, academic integrity, absences and
academic accommodations:

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CHEE 484 – Bioremediation Winter 2019

COPYRIGHT
Unless otherwise stated, the material on the course website is copyrighted and is for the sole use
of students registered in this course. The material on the website may be downloaded for a
registered student’s personal use but shall not be distributed or disseminated to anyone other
than students registered in this course.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Information on policies concerning academic integrity is available in the Queen’s University
Code of Conduct, in the Senate Academic Integrity Policy Statement, on the Faculty of
Engineering and Applied Science website, and from your instructor.

ABSENCES (ACADEMIC CONSIDERATION) AND ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS

For absences and academic accommodations please review the information on the FEAS
website.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
No specialized computer-related technical skills are required for this course. If you require
technical assistance, please contact Technical Support.

PERSONAL SUPPORTIVE COUNSELLING

If at any time you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, anxious, sad, lonely, or distressed,
consider confidential supportive counselling offered by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Science.

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CHEE 484 – Bioremediation Winter 2019

COURSE OVERVIEW
CHEE 484 || Module overview
Course learning outcomes (CLO): Students will be able to:
1. Identify which pollutants are of greatest concern, describe the principles of various physical and chemical remediation technologies and
relate selection of these technologies to the properties of contaminants.
2. Determine what is needed for site characterization, explain the relevance to selection of appropriate remediation strategies, determine
when bioremediation is an appropriate technology and its advantages and limitations.
3. Describe the interactions between contaminants, soil, presence of a NAPL phase, water and microorganisms and explain how these
impact the fate of the contaminant and its bioavailability for biodegradation.
4. Calculate the C:N:P and terminal electron acceptor requirements for biodegradation, interpret the electron tower and energy gained
from coupling appropriate half reactions and describe the biodegradation of specific contaminants such as linear alkanes, BTEXs, PAHs,
and chlorinated compounds such as PCE and PCBs.
5. Explain how to apply culturable and non-culturable techniques for bioassessment and biotreatability studies.

Students are expected to augment lecture material through reading of associated sections of the textbook, and to practice execution of course
principles by completing posted tutorial questions
Modul Lecture approach* and content Tutorials Assessment (CLO, and % of
e Tutorial and practice problems are course grade)
available on course website
Module 1 Bio/remediation: overview (CLO1) Tutorial 1 – Considerations in choice Material is included on mid-term, final
(Wk 1) of a remediation technology (CLO1, exam (CLO1)
CLO2)

Module 2 Pollutants of concern (CLO1) Material is included on mid-term, final

(Wk 1) exam (CLO1)

Module 3 Overview of site remediation technologies (CLO1, Tutorials 2-3: Remediation Tutorials 2-3: Remediation strategies
(Wk 2) CLO2) strategies (CLO1, CLO2) (1%, CLO1, CLO2)

Material is included on mid-term, final

exam (CLO1, CLO2)
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CHEE 484 – Bioremediation Winter 2019

Module 4 Overview of bioremediation technologies Tutorials 2-3: Remediation Material is included on midterm and
(Wk 2-3) (CLO1, CLO2) strategies (CLO1 CLO2) final exam (CLO1-CLO2)

Module 5 Site characterization and assessment (CLO2) Material is included on midterm and
(Wk 3) final exam (CLO2)

Module 6 Interaction of microorganisms, pollutants and soil Tutorial 4: Contaminant interactions Material is included on midterm and
(Wks 4-6) (CLO3) with soil (CLO3) final exam (CLO3)

Tutorial 5: Soil classification and Assignment 1 (5%, CLO1 – CLO3)

contaminant distribution
(CLO3)

Midterm Midterm: 1-2 questions will target each

(end Wk 6) of CLO1, CLO2 and CLO3, worth 20%
of course grade

Module 7 Energetics, stoichiometry and process Tutorials 6-7: Intrinsic remediation, Material is included on final exam
(Wks 7-8) requirements (CLO4) nutrient calculation (CLO4) (CLO4)

Module 8 Metabolism of selected organic compounds Material is included on final exam

(Wks 8-9) (CLO4) (CLO4)

Module 9 Microorganisms and bioassessment studies Tutorials 8-9: Molecular biology Material is included on final exam
(Wks 10- (CLO5) review (CLO5) (CLO5)
11)
Assignment 2 (15%, CLO1-CLO5)

Module 8 Oral presentation by students on remediation of Material is included on final exam

(Wk 12) specific contaminants (CLO1-CLO5) (CLO1 – CLO5)

6
 Assignment 3 (5%, CLO1-CLO5)

EXAM Final exam: One-two questions will

target each CLO, worth 50% of course
grade

*Lecture content delivery through lecture materials available in power-point, in-class examples and solutions/discussions.

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