Environmental Process Engineering MSc

The aim of this module is to help you gain the necessary skills set for process engineering design (be it chemical, environmental or food) and project management skills for future career development.

The module is student led, under the guidance of academics who are all industrial specialists with extensive experience working for chemical, environmental and food manufacturing companies. Workshops and lectures are held by department staff in key areas. AutoCAD instruction is also provided. Regular mentoring sessions by an appointed team tutor will support your group work.

Modern engineering is not just motivated by profit and productivity. We must make decisions considering the technical, safety, economic and sustainability aspects – and these four factors will form the basis of our design. The focus of your process project is multi-disciplinary and rooted in cutting-edge research taking place around the world.

This module introduces you to the principles and practice of environmental risk assessment, with a focus on applications in groundwater and contaminated land. You will learn how to characterise risk, develop conceptual models and evaluate uncertainty. 

You will use simulation software to model the mobilisation and transport of contaminants. Outputs will be evaluated to predict human health and environmental impacts and propose risk management strategies.

This module develops the skills required to design, plan, implement and manage a research project. You will be given instruction and practice in problem definition; collection, synthesis and critical review of information from a range of traditional and electronic sources; definition of scope, aims and objectives; development of a project plan and schedule; and management of project progress.

The module places particular emphasis on quality control and quality assurance and how these underpin measurement activities. The use of statistics for the assessment of data quality in measurement is also emphasised. You will also develop your writing and practical skills through exercises and coursework.

This module develops a risk-based framework for the assessment of contaminated land, based on the characterisation and modelling of contaminant sources, pathways and receptors. You will study how this framework is applied in practice through a series of case studies that highlight typical uncertainties and approaches to risk management.

You will also study a range of physical, biological, chemical and thermal in-situ and ex-situ remediation technologies. The application of these technologies is illustrated through detailed case studies, including design-based scenarios.

The objective of this module is to give you an in-depth understanding of the physical and chemical principles behind the selection and design of various processes that may be employed to control atmospheric pollutants.

You will be introduced to the scientific and engineering principles behind the design, costing, commissioning and operation of particulate and gaseous control devices. You will study the application of these principles to the design of pollution control devices and stack designs for a range of engineering processes. 

This module will give you a detailed understanding of design considerations, current industry challenges, emerging issues, and technological solutions in water treatment. The module is delivered through case studies for you to experience and learn what water treatment engineering really means to different industries. Guest speakers will also introduce you to their challenges and solutions, including how these problems are driving investment into developing and emerging technologies.

Assessment: 30% individual coursework, 70% exam

Through this module, you will gain skills in planning, executing and reporting on an individual research study, developing your powers of analysis, independence and critical judgement.

This is a combined design and research project undertaken by a team of between 2 and 5 students, involving both group and individual work. The basic elements of the project include a critical review of the literature to provide the background to the initial design element, followed by the group design part of the project.

The design element will involve the selection of an appropriate, initial process scheme, followed by preparation of a process flowsheet with associated mass and heat balances. The design will also include control, operational, safety, environmental and economic aspects in addition to the design of important plant items.

This will then be followed by the research element, which will be based on a topic with the aim of eventually aiding the individual design process. The research segment will consist of a critical review of relevant literature and subsequent research work, which may be experimental, computational or theoretical in nature.

The final element of the project is a re-evaluation of the previous design in light of the information gleaned from the research segment.

This module introduces students to a range of knowledge and skills applicable to water and wastewater treatment. Students will gain an understanding in water availability, sources of pollution and the legislative framework for water quality from an EU perspective. Municipal water and wastewater treatment processes will be covered, focusing on key unit processes including sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. The module will also be supported by 2 site visits.

Assessment: 100% exam

This module delivers an overview of air pollution problems; a range of techniques that are available for its control; sources and effects of air pollutants of major concern; and the development of air quality criteria. You will also study the behaviour of the atmosphere and the dispersion of air pollutants .  

You will be introduced to techniques of air pollution measurement and their use in the assessment of the effects that industrial activity may have. An overview of current EU and UK environmental legislation is provided, and you’ll discuss the role of the assessment and control of air pollution in the planning application of existing and new industrial process. You’ll also cover the duties of process managers, local authorities and the Environment Agency in light of the current and proposed legislation. 

This module gives knowledge and understanding of:

• Air pollution problems, including a categorisation of the types of natural and anthropogenic air pollution sources, sinks, and the effects that air pollutants may produce within natural and manmade environments.

• Physiological effects and HSE aspects of air pollution.

• National and international standards of permitted emission release and exposure levels of pollution.

• The processes of selection and design of pollutant monitoring and control technologies that may be applied to control atmospheric emissions from industrial processes. 

This module introduces you to a range of knowledge and skills applicable to water and wastewater treatment. You will gain an understanding in water availability, sources of pollution and the legislative framework for water quality from an EU perspective. Municipal water and wastewater treatment processes will be covered, focusing on key unit processes including sedimentation, filtration and disinfection.

Example sheets and case studies on unit operations and processes will support the lecture delivery and provide an appreciation of the benefits of different plant specifications. The module will also be supported by site visit and guest speakers.

This module provides a foundation in the core principles of industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing technologies. You will study the structure, function and kinetics of microorganisms, gaining insight into how their metabolic pathways and biomolecules can be harnessed for industrial applications.

You will also study microbial technologies, including industrial biosafety practices and bioreactor systems that are essential to large-scale biological production. In addition, you will explore enzyme-based biocatalyst technologies, examining their roles and applications in industrial processes.

Through this module, you will develop the fundamental knowledge and skills required to utilise living systems and their components for biomanufacturing and bioconversion. Emphasis will also be placed on the basics of bioprocess safety, helping you understand the regulatory and operational considerations in industrial biochemical engineering.

In this module, you will study how physical and chemical principles influence the safe and efficient design of industrial processes. You will explore the handling of hazardous materials, scale-up effects and the impact of material and process characteristics on equipment selection and control strategies.

You will also evaluate novel technologies such as green chemistry and process intensification, and assess how process economics, life-cycle thinking and environmental and societal factors shape design decisions.

Using real-world case studies and a top-down, forensic approach, you will analyse existing plant designs to understand the trade-offs and choices made in industrial process engineering.

On this module, you will cover material that falls into two broad areas.

First, you will study the fundamentals of food process engineering, including an introduction to the complex nature of food materials – their physicochemical, structural, nutritional and functional characteristics. You will also explore food safety in the processing environment, covering topics such as hygienic factory design and large-scale packaging of finished products.

Secondly, you will study the principles and applications of key unit operations currently used in food manufacturing. These include both thermal and non-thermal processes, as well as freezing, dehydration, separation, fermentation and packaging technologies. For each, you will examine the underlying theory, industry practices, benefits and limitations.

Throughout the module, you will consider the impact of processing conditions on food quality, the integration of AI in food processing, and the broader environmental and sustainability implications of different technologies.

Energy storage is emerging as one of the most important and most exciting of modern engineering activities. This module begins with an overview of why energy storage is becoming so important and reviews the main options available. Then it addresses thermo-mechanical solutions (springs, flywheels, pumped hydro, compressed air and pumped thermal), electro-chemical solutions (batteries, supercapacitors and flow-batteries) & fossil fuel storage (gas, oil & coal).

Assessment: 100% exam

Content to be confirmed.

In this module, you will study how to make informed decisions under uncertainty, with a focus on the risks and challenges involved in large-scale engineering projects.

You will explore frameworks for balancing risk and benefit, particularly in contexts involving safety, environmental impact and financial or technological uncertainty. Through real-world case studies on plastics, metals, industrial minerals and energy, you will examine how innovation drives sustainable and responsible engineering solutions.

This module focuses on the generation of renewable energy from a variety of waste streams. You will study the potential of waste materials from industrial, domestic and agricultural sources as renewable energy inputs, along with the combustion and conversion technologies used to harness this energy effectively.

With a strong international focus, particularly on small- to medium-scale renewable energy schemes in developing countries, you will explore real-world applications and challenges across global contexts. You will also study the characterisation of indigenous fuels from around the world and examine supply chains that support the energy sector.

Throughout the module, you will engage with a broad range of topics including small-scale energy production, emerging and alternative fuel technologies, and future energy sources. You will also study the ethical and engineering considerations in waste management, along with frameworks for life cycle assessment.

The module will also have dedicated socio-cultural, socio-economic, policy and guidance and techno-economic seminars to introduce you to the interdisciplinary nature of the subject.