SCV0542 - ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

courses

ID:

SCV0542

Duration (hours):

48

CFU:

SSD:

CHIMICA ANALITICA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 29/05/2026)

Course Objectives

The Environmental Analytical Chemistry course will provide the student an integrated approach to the principles and evaluation of modern analytical chemical methods. This approach will be focused on all environmental, as well as natural, compartments.
At the end of the course, the student will become familiar with :
- the theoretical and practical aspects of the modern instrumental analysis in the environmental field, as well as the statistical approach to data analysis.
- the choice and the application of such methods to sampling and analysis of solid and liquid samples.
- the critical evaluation of the obtained analytical data, as well as its statistical treatments, towards a multidisciplinary approach, particularly for toxicological and mineralogical aspects, to the multifaceted view of the environment in its widest context.

Course Prerequisites

The preliminary knowledge of the basis of General and Inorganic Chemistry, as well as Organic Chemistry, is required.

Teaching Methods

The course consists in lessons held in the classroom with projected material and powerpoint presentations (48 hours)

Assessment Methods

The exam will consist in 4 questions, in written form, in order to evaluate final preparation of the student on all topics presented during the course. The exam will last approx. 1 hour.
Each question will have a score of 7.5 point. The score will be in thirtieth (/30), for a final score of 30/30.
For the “cum laude”, the students will have to demonsttrate their ability, scientific competence and critical competence to answer the questions.
A database of possible questions for the exam will be available on e-learning website.

The student will learn the theoretical basis and the applications of modern instrumental analytical techniques. Particular emphasis will be given to the application of these techniques to the environmental analysis. - Introduction: Calibration; Linear regression, standard addition, external standard. Statistics of calibration : LOD, LOQ,LOL. (6h) - Sampling: sampling strategies, sample stabilization, sample pretreatment. Automatized sample dissolution (6h) - Elemental and Speciation analysis: Selected aspects of speciation in environment. Combustion Elemental analysis. (6h) - Electroanalytical techniques : Amperometry, voltammetry, stripping analysis. (2h) - Spectrometry and spectrophotometry : molecular spectroscopy (UV-vis, NDIR, DOAS); atomic spectroscopy (AAS, ICP) Lambert-Beer quantitation, elemental and molecular analysis, environmental applications. (8h) - Cromatography: general aspects, GC, HPLC, detector selection, practical aspects of selected environmental analysis. (8h) - Mass spectrometry: dating ((14C, 210Pb,K/Ar, U/Th ecc.), isotope analysis, molecular recognition, hyphenation with cromatography. (8h) - Selected applications: analysis of organic compounds (pesticides, POP’s, VOC’s, etc.). Inorganic analysis. Water, Ice, food analysis. (4h)