Study program:

Academic level and semester:

Master, 1^st semester

ECTS credits/workload per semester:

6 / 150

Contact hours per week/contact hours per semester:

4 / 45

Type/Teaching method:

Frequency:

Lecturer:

Prof. Dr. – Ing. D. Almeida-Streitwieser, Prof. Dr. M. Gaertner, Prof. Dr.-Ing. B. Heidel

Content:

This module deepens students’ understanding of the scientific process and advanced research methods in the natural and engineering sciences, serving as a methodological foundation for all coursework and the Master’s thesis. Students learn to systematically plan, conduct, document, and present research; critically evaluate literature; and apply scientific methods to environmental and technical problem-solving.

Scientific Work

• Philosophy of science and principles of good scientific practice

• Application and critical evaluation of scientific methods

• Literature research strategies and assessment of source quality

• Basics of scientific writing and publication

• Methodological foundation for the Master’s thesis

Engineering Calculation Methods
Students study the fundamentals of mass and energy transport, material conversion, and balance calculations. They understand unit operations and the design, function, and control of process engineering systems, and can apply primary and secondary emission reduction techniques.

Main Topics

1. Introduction to Process Engineering: Units, mass and energy conservation, mass balances, block diagrams

2. Basic Operations: Chemical reactions, thermal separation, mechanical processes

3. Plant Design: Process flow diagrams, apparatus and control systems

4. Environmental and Industrial Processes: Air purification, wastewater and waste treatment, soil remediation, drinking water production, industrial chemical processes

Laboratory Work: CO₂ Capture and Air Quality
Practical exercises cover sorption and adsorption processes, gas scrubbing, and CO₂ separation. Students measure and analyze gas concentrations, assess air quality, and evaluate emission control techniques.

The module also introduces modeling, simulation, and pilot-scale process analysis to support sustainable environmental and industrial development.

Textbooks:

Klapper, D. et al. (2009): Methodik der empirischen Forschung. Ed. Sönke Albers. Vol. 3.Wiesbaden: Gabler.Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG. Sicherung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis. Denkschrift (2013). Weinheim: WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co KGaA. Abgerufen von: doi.org/10.1002/9783527679188.oth1.Behr, A., Agar D.W. & Jörissen, J. (2010). Einführung in die Technische Chemie. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag.Jess, A. & Wasserscheid, P. (2013). Chemical Technology: An Integral Textbook (1. Ausgabe). Weinheim: Wiley-VCH.Schwister, K. (2017). Taschenbuch der Verfahrenstechnik (5. Auflage). München: Hanser.Schwister, K. (2010). Taschenbuch der Umwelttechnik (2. Auflage). München: Hanser.Reynolds, J. (2002). Handbook of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Calculations (1. Edition). WileyInterscience.Hites, R. (2017). Umweltchemie: Eine Einführung mit Aufgaben und Lösungen, Weinheim: Wiley – VCH.IPCC (2021). Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge (U.K.): Cambridge Univ. Press.Baumbach, G. (2005). Luftreinhaltung. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.Görner, K., Hübner, K. (2001). Gasreinigung und Luftreinhaltung. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.Hess, D., Klumpp, M. & Dittmeyer, R. (2020). Nutzung von CO2 aus Luft als Rohstoff für synthetische Kraftstoffe und Chemikalien, Stuttgart: Studie im Auftrag des Ministeriums für Verkehr Baden-Württemberg.Fischedick, M., Görner, K. & Thomeczek, M. (2015). CO2: Abtrennung, Speicherung, Nutzung: Ganzheitliche Bewertung im Bereich von Energiewirtschaft und Industrie. Berlin: Springer-Verlag

Knowledge of scientific working methods at the Bachelor's level is required

Restrictions:

Assessment: