2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Frontiers of Environmental Chemistry
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Hideyoshi Yoshioka
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Intensive
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CAP.I681
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 1-2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
[Summary of the course] It is important to understand the microbial activities of subsurface for the effective development of fuel resources, and the conservation and wise use of the geosphere. In this course, the geochemical techniques such as isotope analysis and lipid analysis and microbiological techniques such as tracer experiments, culture experiments, and genetic analysis, for understanding the microbial activities of subsurface are introduced. In addition, the course covers the latest topics on natural gas resource derived from microbial activities.
[Aim of the course] The main purpose of this course is to understand the relationship between global environmental problems and the microbial activities of subsurface. It is important for students in applied chemistry to understand the importance of the microbial activities of subsurface to global environmental problems. In addition, learning analytical techniques such as isotope analysis, lipid analysis, and genetic analysis will be useful to students in applied chemistry.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will have following knowledge and capabilities.
1) Understand the significance of biogeochemical perspectives when tackling environmental problems
2) Explain the material cycle process related to methane and the role of the microbial activities in subsurface biosphere.
3) Acquire the knowledge on the latest results of subsurface microbial research.
Keywords
Subsurface biosphere, methane, methanogen, methane hydrate, natural gas
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures will be conducted using power point slides or blackboards.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Followings are theme of lecture 1. Origin of methane in the environment (pyrolysis, microorganisms) 2. Methane production process by microorganisms (diversity, activity, isotope fractionation) 3. Distribution and origin of methane hydrate 4. Distribution and origin of natural gas deposits 5. Anaerobic methane oxidation | 1. Explain the origin of methane in the environment. 2. Explain the methane production process by microorganisms. 3. Explain the distribution and origin of methane hydrate. 4. Explain the distribution and origin of natural gas deposits. 5. Explain the anaerobic methane oxidation. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
None required.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Attendance is taken in every class. Full attendance is compulsory. Report on the relation between their own doctoral research projects and environmental problems/analytical techniques is assessed.
Related courses
- CAP.I481 ： Introduction to the Frontiers of Environmental Chemistry I
Prerequisites
No prerequisites