SOQ-33806 Environmental Analytical Techniques

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Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

PCC-12303 General Chemistry I and PCC-12403 General Chemistry 2

Continuation courses:

Thesis research involving chemical analysis of natural materials

Contents:

The lectures give an introduction into environmental analytical techniques with emphasis on spectrometry, spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemistry and quantitative analysis. The various methods available are compared with respect to their field of application, limits of detection, selectivity, accuracy, precision, throughput and robustness. Selection of a particular method is exemplified by real-world problems in soil and water chemistry, environmental chemistry and technology, etc. In the practical course students determine traces of (heavy metals) metals in ground water, soil, and plant material with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and mass spectrometry, benzene in petrol with gas chromatography and heavy metals in surface waters with voltammetry and elucidate the structure of unknown organic constituents in a reactor by means of mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the course students are able to:
- demonstrate insight into the ways of tackling practical analytical chemical problems;
- demonstrate understanding of the basic theory and relevant parameters in analytical chemistry;
- apply methods of instrumental chemical analysis based on spectrometry, spectroscopy, electrochemistry and chromatography;
- prepare reports on the basis of experimental results and to draw correct conclusions;
- demonstrate awareness of the limitations of the various methods;
- select the proper technique.

Activities:

- attending the introductory, topic-specific and integrating lectures;
- reading and learning various chapters in the obligatory book on analytical chemistry;
- carrying out twenty different practical experiments with sufficient result;
- studying a real-life problem in analytical chemistry with 2-3 other students and giving as a group a short oral presentation on solutions for dealing with this problem;
- preparing for the final examination, which is an 'open-book' exam.

Examination:

Obtaining sufficient results and generation of reports for all practical experiments, attending the problem-oriented meetings, obtaining sufficient score for the written 'open-book' examination.

Literature:

Practical manual Environmental Analytical Techniques. Undergtraduate Instrumental Analysis, J.W. Robinson, E.M. Skelly Frame; G.M. Frame