Students

ENGG8405 – Industrial Processes and Pollution Prevention

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Doudou Zhang
doudou.zhang@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The objective of this unit is to provide an understanding of pollution prevention fundamentals, featuring examples and case studies from different industries. It includes methods of waste minimization, energy and water conservation, and green engineering. The units include topics of contaminant sources identification and assessment, waste characterization, process intensification, process and product life cycle assessment, control of fugitive emissions, and environmental risk assessment and management.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Articulate the critical nature of pollution prevention, and provide an advanced review of what pollution prevention is and how it is implemented.
  • ULO2: Model and analyse the environmental impacts of process and product using a life cycle approach.
  • ULO3: Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for waste minimization.
  • ULO4: Develop and review appropriate environmental risk management strategies.
  • ULO5: Research and proficiently communicate technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

General Assessment Information

Grading and passing requirement for unit

In order to pass this unit a student must obtain a mark of 50 or more for the unit (i.e. obtain a passing grade P/CR/D/HD) and pass the final examination. 

For further details about grading, please refer below in the policies and procedures section.

No Hurdle Requirements

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

From 1 July 2022, Students enrolled in Session based units with written assessments will have the following university standard late penalty applied. Please see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/assessments for more information. 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.  

Assessments

Your assessments are a key element in your learning process. Find out about the types of assessments you may need to complete at Macquarie University.

 

Individual reflective on the real-world industry pollution case

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis

Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours

Due: 15/10/2025

Weighting: 30%

Groupwork/Individual: Individual oral presentation

Short extension 3: No

AI Approach: Only for language polishing

This is an individual project. On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate the critical nature of pollution prevention, and provide an advanced prospetive of what pollution prevention is and how it is implemented.
  • Model and analyse the environmental impacts of process and product using a life cycle approach.
  • Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for waste minimization.
  • Develop and review appropriate environmental risk management strategies.
  • Research and proficiently communicate technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Group term project

Assessment Type 1: Project assessment

Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours

Due: 05/11/2025

Weighting: 20%

Groupwork/Individual: Groupwork

Short extension 3: No

AI Approach: Only for language polishing

 

This is a group term project where groups work on aspects relating to industrial processes and pollution prevention based on the reference reources provided, with a focus on a particular industry (e.g. oil and gas, mining, cement, etc.). Students will receive feedback on their progress to achieve each learning outcome during the semester. This will happen by breaking the project to different tasks and assessing the project based on achieving the leaning outcomes individually.

 

On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate the critical nature of pollution prevention, and provide an advanced review of what pollution prevention is and how it is implemented.
  • Model and analyse the environmental impacts of process and product using a life cycle approach.
  • Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for waste minimization.
  • Develop and review appropriate environmental risk management strategies.
  • Research and proficiently communicate technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination

Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours

Due: 30/11/2025

Weighting: 50%

Groupwork/Individual: Individual 

Short extension 3: No

AI Approach: Not allowed

 

On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate the critical nature of pollution prevention, and provide an advanced review of what pollution prevention is and how it is implemented.
  • Model and analyse the environmental impacts of process and product using a life cycle approach.
  • Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for waste minimization.
  • Develop and review appropriate environmental risk management strategies.
  • Research and proficiently communicate technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Final Exam 50% No Examination Period Individual No Observed
Individual reflective on the real-world industry pollution case 30% No 15/10/2026 Individual Yes Open
Group term project 20% No 05/11/2026 Individual and Group No Open

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Examination Period
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

You will undertake a final examination during the formal examination period.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate the critical nature of pollution prevention, and provide an advanced review of what pollution prevention is and how it is implemented.
  • Model and analyse the environmental impacts of process and product using a life cycle approach.
  • Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for waste minimization.
  • Develop and review appropriate environmental risk management strategies.
  • Research and proficiently communicate technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Individual reflective on the real-world industry pollution case

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 15/10/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

You will complete an individual reflective task that references real-world datasets and how this approach can be applied in engineering practice.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate the critical nature of pollution prevention, and provide an advanced review of what pollution prevention is and how it is implemented.
  • Model and analyse the environmental impacts of process and product using a life cycle approach.
  • Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for waste minimization.
  • Develop and review appropriate environmental risk management strategies.
  • Research and proficiently communicate technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Group term project

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 05/11/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

You will complete a group-based project on industrial processes and pollution prevention. You will individually complete specific tasks within the group project and be marked for your individual delivery of those tasks. The group will also receive a mark for the group component that will be clearly described in the unit guide and matrix
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate the critical nature of pollution prevention, and provide an advanced review of what pollution prevention is and how it is implemented.
  • Model and analyse the environmental impacts of process and product using a life cycle approach.
  • Evaluate and improve manufacturing processes for waste minimization.
  • Develop and review appropriate environmental risk management strategies.
  • Research and proficiently communicate technical information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Slides, notes, and journal papers presenting during the Lectures. 

Unit Schedule

Unit schedule:

Week

Lecture /Content / Topic

Chapter Ref

STGA: HBR Case Study

1

 Fundamentals of Environment and Sustainability

Part 1

Q & A

Discuss

2

Pollution and Prevention

 Part 2

Q & A

Discuss

3

 Reuse Part 3

Q & A

Discuss

4

 Recycling Part 4

Q & A

Discuss

 

5

 Treatment

Part 5

 

Q & A

Discuss

6

 Treatment Part 6

Lab experiments observation

7

Individual reflective on the real-world industry pollution case

  

Q & A

Discuss

8

 Life Cycle Assessment Part 7

Q & A

Discuss

9

 Environmental Impact Assessment Part 8

Q & A

Discuss

10

 Process Fundamentals Part 9

Q & A

Discuss

11

 Standards and Environmental Management Part 10

Q & A

Discuss

12

 Invited Lecture Environmental management experience sharing from industry & Research sharing from university

 

13-14

Group term project

 Part 11  

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

New Unit

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook