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102-0337-00L 3 Credits MSC D-BAUG
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Landfilling, Contaminated Sites and Radioactive Waste Repositories

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Michael Plötze, Dr. Wolfgang Hummel
Only for Environmental Engineering MSc.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:47:31

Abstract

Practices of landfilling and remediation of contaminated sites and disposal of radioactive waste are based on the same concepts that aim to protect the environment. The assessment of contaminants that may leach into the environment as a function of time and how to reduce the rate of their release is key to the design of chemical, technical and geological barriers.

Objective

Upon successful completion of this course students are able to: - assess the risk posed to the environment of landfills, contaminated sites and radioactive waste repositories in terms of fate and transport of contaminants - describe technologies available to minimize environmental contamination - describe the principles in handling of contaminated sites and to propose and evaluate suitable remediation techniques - explain the concepts that underlie radioactive waste disposal practices

Content

This lecture course comprises of lectures with exercises and guided case studies. - A short overview of the principles of environmental protection in waste management and how this is applied in legislation. - A overview of the chemistry underlying the release and transport of contaminants from the landfilled/contaminated material/radioactive waste repository focusing on processes that control redox state and pH buffer capacity; mobility of heavy metals and organic compounds - Technical barrier design and function. Clay as a barrier. - Contaminated site remediation: Site evaluation, remediation technologies - Concepts and safety in radioactive waste management - Role of the geological and engineered barriers and radionuclide transport in geological media.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Short script plus copies of overheads

Literature

Literature will be made available.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
oral 30 minutes
The case study, which will be carried out in the last four weeks of the course is a compulsory continuous performance assessment task and contributes 25% and the oral examination 75% to the final grade. Not completing or failing to pass this compulsory continuous performance assessment task means that the course unit cannot be passed. Successful participation in 5 non-compulsory learning tasks improves the total course unit grade by up to 0.25 grade points. Students can still achieve the maximum grade of 6 in the course unit even if they only sit the final examination together with the compulsory continuous performance assessment.

Registration & Places

Priority: Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Landfilling, Contaminated Sites and Radioactive Waste Repositories
Permission from lecturers required for all students.
  • Wed 13:45-15:30 (HIL E 6)
2 h weekly

Offered In

  • Environmental Engineering Master
    • Majors
      • Major Environmental Technologies
        • Waste Management (Remark: 102-0337-00 Landfilling, Contaminated Sites and Radioactive Waste Repositories only for those students also taking module "System Analysis in Urban Water Management" as replacement of 102-0217-00 Process Engineering Ia in module "Waste Management".)
      • Major Resource Management
        • Waste Management (Remark: 102-0337-00 Landfilling, Contaminated Sites and Radioactive Waste Repositories only for those students also taking module "System Analysis in Urban Water Management" as replacement of 102-0217-00 Process Engineering Ia in module "Waste Management".)
    • Elective Modules (For all majors.)
      • EM: Waste Management (Elective Module for Majors "River and Hydraulic Engineering" "Urban Water Management" and "Water Resources Management". Remark: 102-0337-00 Landfilling, Contaminated Sites and Radioactive Waste Repositories only for those students also taking module "System Analysis in Urban Water Management" as replacement of 102-0217-00 Process Engineering Ia in module "Waste Management".)