280201 VU Biogeochemistry of Pollutants and Nutrients (2025W)

10.00 ECTS (6.00 SWS), SPL 28 - Erdwissenschaften, Meteorologie-Geophysik und Astronomie

Continuous assessment of course work

We 12.11. 08:45-11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Registration is open from Th 04.09.2025 08:00 to Mo 22.09.2025 23:59
Registration is open from Th 25.09.2025 00:00 to We 08.10.2025 08:00
Deregistration possible until Fr 31.10.2025 23:59

Details

max. 30 participants

Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Please note: the first meeting of this course will be on MONDAY, 6.10.2025 at10:45!

This course will be taught in English. It consists of lecture parts with exercises and discussions. This course takes place in person with online elements in Moodle.

Wednesday 01.10. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 02.10. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 06.10. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 08.10. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 09.10. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 13.10. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 15.10. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 16.10. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 20.10. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 22.10. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 23.10. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 27.10. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 29.10. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 30.10. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 03.11. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 05.11. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 06.11. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 10.11. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
N Wednesday 12.11. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 13.11. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 17.11. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 19.11. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 20.11. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 24.11. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 26.11. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 27.11. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 01.12. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 03.12. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 04.12. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Wednesday 10.12. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 11.12. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Monday 15.12. 10:45 - 12:30 Eberhard Clar Saal Geologie 2B204 2.OG UZA II
Wednesday 17.12. 08:45 - 11:00 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum
Thursday 18.12. 08:45 - 10:45 Hörsaal 2 Eduard Suess, 2A122 1.OG UZA II Geo-Zentrum

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Students will gain in-depth knowledge about processes and mechanisms that control the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and pollutants in environmental systems. The course will provide the chemical foundation for understanding environmental systems and their transformation under human impact. Students learn how fundamental processes in environmental (hydro)chemistry and geochemistry shape water and soils, and why these processes are key to tackling today’s challenges of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. The course introduces core concepts, analytical methods, and experimental approaches.

Assessment and permitted materials

A total of 120 points can be earned through exams, exercises, and the laboratory course.
A) Short Exams (60 points total)
Four exams (45 minutes each), worth 15 points each.
Dates:
1. Monday, October 20 (Hofmann/vd Kammer)
2. Wednesday, November 5 (Krämer)
3. Thursday, November 20 (Zumstein/Pati)
4. Monday, December 15 (Hüffer/Göldner/vd Kammer/Breuninger/Krämer)
B) Exercises (60 points total)
Four blocks, each worth 15 points:
1. Hofmann/vd Kammer
2. Krämer
3. Zumstein/Pati
4. Hüffer/Göldner/vd Kammer/Breuninger/Krämer
Further details will be announced via Moodle.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

A total of 120 points can be earned through exams, exercises, and the laboratory course. Points from all activities are accumulated, and the final grade is based on the total number of points achieved during the semester.
Grading scheme:
> 87.5% – Grade 1
> 75–87.49% – Grade 2
> 62.5–74.99% – Grade 3
> 50–62.49% – Grade 4
> 0–49.99% – Grade 5
At least 50% of the total points (60 points) must be achieved to pass.

Examination topics

1. Exercise and exam (30 points): Basics of aquatic chemistry and env. chemistry of trace metals (Hofmann & vd Kammer)
2. Exercise and exam (30 points): Thermodynamic modelling and kinetics and redox processes (Krämer & Singh)
3. Exercise and exam (30 points): Env. organic chemistry (Zumstein & Pati)
4. Exercise and exam (30 points): Analytical chemistry (Hüffer, Göldner, vd Kammer, Breuninger, Wu)

Reading list

All literature will be provided on moodle

Association in the course directory

MA-ERD-A-5; MA-ERD-W-2.22

Last modified: We 01.10.2025 11:48