Object of the course is the description of the systems that, by using characteristic methodologies of an engineer approach, are able to lead to the environmental sustainability of human processes: on the basis of the knowledge of the origin of the phenomena that must be regulated and also of the evaluation of the tools that can be used, the different solutions able to lead to a containment of impact are presented. In particular the intervention technologies for primary waters and wastewater, for residuals treatment, for limitation of emissions are presented. Also different approaches useful for environmental protection are introduced, with reference to the adoption of prevention policies, the use of economic and financial tools, the fixation of rules. The course is a part of a whole formation way, that is directed to evaluate the possibilities for the technological control of the quality of the environment and the right use of the resources, with particular focus on process and plant aspects.

On the basis of the learning of the proposed solutions and technologies the student will be able to evaluate the impact load that is originated from a specific human activity, and to fix the instruments that must be adopted for the containment, by considering performances, applicability, project criteria, costs, results.
The knowledges that must be acquired are directed to the definition of a multi-disciplinar approach to the establishment of solutions for impact limitation, by evaluating for the different tools that could be considered the best use in a perspective of integrated resolution.

In order to obtain an useful apprehension and a capacity to apply the transmitted information with the required competence, the student must know the necessary operative fundaments, that are at the basis of the technological solutions that are adopted in the different cases.
The required knowledge concerns aspects of water chemistry (stoichiometry, equilibria, chemical kinetics) and basical elements of biology that are applied in the operations of biological oxidation; it is also very important the preliminary capacity to define the reactor process aspects and the plants for mass transfer, as these structures are the basis for the construction of most of the technological solutions that are adopted in the pollution treatment.

Global water cycle
Selection of primary sources, characteristics for water supply
Primary water treatment: aeration, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, adsorption, chemical treatments
Hypothesis for reuse and recycle for non-drinking water
Treatment of wastewater: physical, physico-chemical, chemical, thermal operations
Generation of residuals and sludges in primary and waste waters
Principles and operating conditions for biological oxidation and nutrients removal
Generation, treatment and final destination for sludges deriving from biological operations
Formation of urban solid wastes, prevention, different collection systems, reuse and recycle
Treatment of urban solid wastes: separations, composting, anaerobic digestion, thermal utilisation, landfill
Treatment of industrial wastes, valorisation, destruction, segregation
Principles for atmospheric emissions limitation, planning solutions, scenarios for modification of processes and plants
Economic and normative tools for the realisation of limitation solutions
Clean technologies, modification of industrial processes, intervention on raw materials and on the employed resources.

During the presentation of the arguments that constitute the object of the course numerical exemplifications are introduced, in order to explain the principles and the applications of the described systems.
To these exercises it is devoted a third of the total time of the course.

In account of the quite low complexity of the arguments that are introduced during the course, and from the other side by considering the high application meaning and the constant technological evolution of the presented schemes, it doesn’t seem convenient to indicate a specific textbook, able to be a specific reference basis for the exam preparation.
In order to know more, for all the presented arguments there is a very large bibliography, with different level of deepening and different treated arguments; this bibliography can be suggested to the students for an higher comprehension or a more extended analysis of the arguments that are introduced during the lessons or the exercises.

In order to verify the apprehension of the presented arguments and the capacity to arrive to practical applications, a traditional exam in oral form is used. In general to the student two principal arguments are proposed, and as concerns these arguments some questions concerning theoretical basis for the technologies or possibilities of application are discussed, in order to verify the maturity level that from the student has been obtained.
The final evaluation is based on the apprehension capacity that has been demonstrated, on the quality of presentation, on the demonstration of the acquired capacity to apply to specific practical cases the general indications that are introduced.