Course aims:

Acquiring and understanding the basics of instrumental analysis in order to apply them in environmental issues.
Developing the students’ scientific thinking and cognitive skills in order to find correct solution to specific problems related to environmental engineering.
Use of appropriate methods of analysis to characterize environmental factors

Course Entry Requirements:

Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry

Course contents:

COURSE 1. Introduction to instrumental analysis. Methods of instrumental analysis. Classification. Benefits. Limitations 2. Principles of instrumental analysis. Calibration curve. Analytical sample, standard and reference samples. Statistical evaluation. 3. Spectrometric methods. Properties of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic spectrum. Types of interactions of electromagnetic radiation with the substance. 4. Classification of spectrometric methods. Emission, absorption and fluorescence 5. UV and VIS molecular absorption spectrometry. Origin and characteristics of the molecular spectrum in UV-Vis. Lambert-Beer Law. 6. Instrumentation in UV-Vis. Single beam, double beam and diode array spectrometers. Quantitative analysis. Applications in the environmental field. 7-8. Introduction to atomic spectrometry. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Principles. Instrumentation. Applications in the environmental field 9-10. Flame emission spectrometry and ICP-MS. Specific instrumentation in atomic emission spectrometry in flame and ICP-MS. Sequential spectrometers and simultaneous spectrometers. Applications in the environmental field. 11-12. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Principles. Applications of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the environmental field. 13-14. Potentiometry. Standard electrode potential. Potentiometric cell. Reference electrodes. Metal indicator electrodes (redox, species I, species II a and with selective ion membrane). Potentiometric titration.

Teaching methods:

Lecture, conversation, exemplification, laboratory work.

Learning outcomes:

1. Characterization and interpretation of environmental factors by analysing physico-chemical and biotic characteristics. - Description of environmental factors and their interaction with natural phenomena and man-made that affect the quality - Interpretation of the mechanisms by which natural and anthropogenic factors leads to environmental deterioration - Configuring methodologies that enable completion of a full investigation process environmental samples - Using appropriate methods of analysis to characterize the environmental factors.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

A one-hour written examination (60% of the final grade). The examination of the practical abilities acquired in the laboratory (40% of the final grade).

Recommended reading:

S. Petrozzi, Practical Instrumental Analysis: Methods, Quality Assurance and Laboratory Management, Wiley, 2012, Wiley, -, 2012,
D. A. Skoog, F. J. Holler, S. R. Crouch, Principles of Instrumental Analysis, Cengage Learning; 7 edition, -, 2018,
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