Instrumental Techniques in Environment

This course is part of the programme
Master’s study programme Environment (second cycle)

Objectives and competences

The aim of the course is to deepen the students’ knowledge of and acquire practical experience in instrumental methods of chemical analysis and to acquaint students with practical work on actual complex problems and with the equipment and its optimization that is essential for determining the state of the environment and in contemporary research of environmental phenomena.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite adequate knowledge of chemistry, environmental chemistry and physics, as well as of certain chapters of mathematics, above all of functions and derivatives, and statistics. Completed exam in Instrumental Methods of Analysis at 1 st. cycle program Environment, or equivalent exam elsewhere.

Content

• Sample preparation: methods of sample preparation, pre-concentration, extractions
• Measurement uncertainties, statistical analysis: statisticl comporison of methods and results, detecting errors
• Spectroscopic methods:
- Absorption spectrometry (UV-Vis, NIR and FTIR spectrometry, AAS, ET-AAS)
- Emission spectrometry (fluorescence, luminescence, XRF)
- Mass spectrometry, quadrupolle detectors, ion trap
• Electrochemical methods:
- Microelectrodes
- Voltametric methods (stripping polarography, cyclic voltametry)
• Separation methods:
- Gas and liquid chromatography (optimization of separation conditions)
- Hyphenated techniques (HLC-MS, GC-MS, MSn techniques)
- Capillary electrophoresis
• Radioanalytical methods: neutron activation analysis
• Biochemical methods: radioimmunological tests, biosensors
• Automated methods for continuous measurements:
- Automatic sampling
- Flow injection analysis
- Continuous and semi-continuous methods for measurements of pollutants in the atmosphere
• Instrumentation for fields measurements

TUTORIAL
• Spectrofotometric determination of pharmaceuticals with derivative spectrometry,
• Determination of metals in soil by ET-AAS
• Determination of metals by stripping polarography
• Determination of anions and cations in water by ion chromatography,
• Determination of organochlorine compounds by GC-MS
• HPLC analysis with DAD and fluorescence detection
• Determination of toxicity of organophosphate pesticides by biosensors and flow-injection analysis
• Analysis of aerosols by scanning electron microscopy
• Semicontinuous measurements of NO2 concentrations in air

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

Students will be able to use adequate equipment and determine the state of pollution in the environment, they will be able to correctly perform sampling and prepare the samples, as well as to adequately use instrumental methods of chemical analysis and interpret the results.

Readings

Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, and Stanley R. Crouch, 2006: Principles of instrumental Analysis, 6. ed., Thomson Brooks/Cole, ISBN: 0495012017 Catalogue

Assessment

Tutorial test (50%), Written examination (25%) and Oral examination (25%) • Successfully completed exercises and passing the test are a prerequisite for sitting for the examination.

Lecturer's references

Assistant Professor for field of Materials at University of Nova Gorica.

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