Aquatic Geochemistry

By Prof. Soumita Boral | Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Learners enrolled: 537 | Exam registration: 66

ABOUT THE COURSE:

The focus of this course is to develop an understanding of the chemical compositions of natural waters. The physiochemical and biogeochemical processes operating in aqueous systems: equilibrium vs. kinetic controls, redox reactions, aqueous complexes, chemical weathering, etc. Moreover, the application of stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry used for fingerprinting processes that control water chemistry (rivers, oceans, groundwater) will be discussed. Simple hydrogeochemical modelling techniques will also be introduced for source apportionments, flux calculations, speciation modelling, ecological risk assessments and water quality determination.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: MS, M.Sc. & Ph.D. students working on water related research topics. Also relevant for professionals who are working in any government, private, NGO that is addressing water science & research

PREREQUISITES: B.Sc. in any discipline related to Earth Sciences, Environmental Science or B.Tech. Civil Engineering; Water Resource Management

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: All mining, paper, paints, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automobile, and textile industries

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Environmental Sciences Civil Engineering
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	19 Jan 2026
End Date :	10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends :	02 Feb 2026
Exam Registration Ends :	20 Feb 2026
Exam Date :	25 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Introduction to Hydrosphere: Water Cycle and Catchment hydrology; Global water challenges, new hydro-chemical concepts, emerging contaminants

Week 2: Composition of Natural Waters, Introduction to Sampling techniques and Instrumentation

Week 3: Basic chemistry concepts, Thermochemical Principles; Equilibrium and Kinetic concepts

Week 4: Acids and Bases; Solubility and Aqueous complexes

Week 5: Redox aqueous reactions; Adsorption desorption reactions

Week 6: Organics in natural waters

Week 7: Introduction to radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry

Week 8: Stable water isotopes and applications

Week 9: Controls on precipitation and surface water chemistry

Week 10: Controls on ocean water and groundwater chemistry

Week 11: Non-conventional isotope tracers in aquatic systems

Week 12: Hydrogeochemical modelling techniques based on Case studies.

Books and references

1.Donald Langmuir (1997), Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry. Prentice Hall.
2.Carol Kendal and Jeffrey J. McDonnell (Eds) (2006), Isotope Tracers in Catchment hydrology. Elsevier.
3.William M. White (2013), Geochemistry. Wiley-Blackwell.
4.Zachary Sharp (2007) Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Instructor bio

Prof. Soumita Boral

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Dr. Soumita Boral is an Inspire Faculty at the Interdisciplinary Centre of Water Research at IISc, Bangalore. She is an isotope geochemist interested in the hydrochemistry of freshwater systems such as glaciers, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Her research focusses on investigating the biogeochemical cycling of elements through aqueous systems and the role of regional/global perturbations from both natural and anthropogenic forcings.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: April 25, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IISc Bangalore .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

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