Wastewater Treatment Course: Physico-chemical Processes | IIT Roorkee
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 622 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Chemical Engineering, Energy, Climate and Sustainability, Energy and Environment |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 19 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Mastering Wastewater Treatment: An In-Depth Look at Physico-chemical Processes
In an era of stringent environmental regulations and growing water scarcity, effective wastewater treatment is not just a regulatory necessity but a cornerstone of sustainable industrial practice. For engineers and environmental scientists, a deep understanding of the physico-chemical processes that purify water is essential. This comprehensive 12-week course, designed and instructed by a leading expert from IIT Roorkee, provides a rigorous foundation in these critical technologies.
Course Overview and Instructor Profile
This advanced course is structured to bridge the gap between academic theory and industrial application. Over 12 weeks, participants will delve into the core principles and unit operations that form the backbone of modern wastewater treatment systems. The curriculum is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as PhD scholars in Environmental, Chemical, and Civil Engineering.
The course is led by Prof. Vimal Chandra Srivastava, a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Roorkee. With a prolific research career focused on Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Prof. Srivastava brings immense expertise to the subject. His credentials include:
- Author of >210 papers in peer-reviewed journals and >10 book chapters.
- >11,050 citations and an h-index of 50, underscoring the global impact of his work.
- Supervision of 16 completed PhD theses and guidance for over 50 M.Tech. dissertations.
- Recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the NASI-Scopus Award 2018, INSA Young Scientist Medal 2012, and the Hindustan Lever Award for Outstanding Chemical Engineer of the Year 2020.
- Leadership in sponsored research and consultancy projects worth over ₹6 crores.
Prof. Srivastava's extensive experience ensures the course content is both cutting-edge and highly relevant to current industry challenges.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
The course is meticulously planned to build knowledge from fundamental concepts to advanced applications, culminating in real-world case studies.
| Week | Topic | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Water Pollution and Control | Regulatory framework, pollution parameters, treatment objectives. |
| 2 | Pre-treatment & Physical Treatment: Flow Equalization & Aeration | Balancing wastewater flow, oxygen transfer fundamentals. |
| 3 | Pre-treatment & Physical Treatment: Coagulation and Flocculation | Destabilization of colloids, floc formation, chemical dosing. |
| 4 | Setting and Sedimentation & Settling Chamber Design | Gravity separation principles, design calculations for clarifiers. |
| 5 | Filtration & Filtration System Design | Granular media filtration, membrane pre-treatment, design parameters. |
| 6 | Wastewater Treatment by Adsorption & Ion Exchange | Activated carbon, isotherms, regeneration, ion-exchange resins. |
| 7 | Wastewater Treatment by Membrane Based Technologies | Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, Reverse Osmosis. |
| 8 | Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): Introduction | Hydroxyl radical generation, concept of oxidative destruction. |
| 9 | AOPs: Fenton and Catalytic Treatment | Homogeneous & heterogeneous Fenton processes, catalyst design. |
| 10 | AOPs: Photo-induced Processes | UV/H2O2, photocatalysis (e.g., TiO2), solar-driven AOPs. |
| 11 | AOPs: Sono- and Electro-chemical Treatment | Ultrasonic cavitation, electrochemical oxidation/reduction. |
| 12 | Case Studies | Integrated treatment approaches for chemical, textile, pharmaceutical industries. |
Who Should Enroll and Learning Outcomes
This course is ideally suited for:
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students in Environmental, Chemical, and Civil Engineering.
- PhD scholars researching water treatment technologies.
- Industry professionals seeking to deepen their technical knowledge for pollution control compliance and process optimization.
Participants will gain the ability to:
- Understand the scientific principles behind major physico-chemical treatment units.
- Perform fundamental design calculations for settlers, filters, and reactors.
- Select appropriate treatment trains for different industrial wastewater streams.
- Appreciate the application of advanced technologies like AOPs and membrane systems for recalcitrant pollutants.
Essential Reference Books
The course curriculum is supported by a robust list of textbooks, enabling deeper exploration of topics:
- Weber, W.J., “Physico-chemical Processes”, Wiley Interscience, 1983.
- Eckenfelder W.W., “Industrial Water Pollution Control”, 2nd Ed., McGraw Hill, 1999.
- Tchobanoglous G., et al., “Metcalf and Eddy Inc.- Waste Water Engineering Treatment and Reuse”, Tata McGraw-Hill, 2017.
- Arceivala S.J. and Asolekar S.R., “Wastewater Treatment for Pollution Control and Reuse”, 3rd Ed., Tata McGraw Hill, 2007.
- Sincero A.P. and Sincero G.A., “Environmental Engineering – A Design Approach”, Prentice-Hall, 1996.
- Droste, R.L., “Theory and Practice of Water and Wastewater Treatment”, John Wiley, 1997.
- Vigneswaran S. and Visvanathan C., “Water Treatment Processes: Simple Options”, CRC Press, 1995.
Conclusion: Building Expertise for a Sustainable Future
This course on Physico-chemical Processes for Wastewater Treatment offers a unique opportunity to learn from a leading authority in the field. By combining theoretical principles with numerical problem-solving and real-world case studies, it equips the next generation of engineers with the tools needed to tackle one of the most pressing global challenges: water pollution. Whether aiming for a career in industry, consulting, or research, the knowledge gained from this program is invaluable for designing efficient, compliant, and sustainable water management solutions.
For more information, you can contact Prof. Vimal Chandra Srivastava at: vimal.srivastava@ch.iitr.ac.in or vimalcsr@yahoo.co.in.
Enroll Now →