C6110 Environmental Analytical Chemistry - Inorganic Pollutants

Faculty of Science
spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Josef Komárek, DrSc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Kuta, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jana Klánová, Ph.D.
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Josef Komárek, DrSc.
Supplier department: RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 11:00–12:50 D29/252-RCX1
Prerequisites
Introductory course on Analytical Chemistry or an equivalent
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objective of the course is to obtain an overview and deeper knowledge in the field of analysis of inorganic pollutants in environmental samples (water, air, sediments, soil, biological materials) ranging from sampling of individual types of samples to final analysis of different groups of pollutants.

At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- understand the types of environmental samples and methods of inorganic analysis
- choose suitable sampling technique
- outline the parameters important for treatment of samples of water, atmosphere, soils and biological materials
- compare the performances for methods for the determination of inorganic pollutants in the environment
- propose suitable analytical procedure and method for
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- understand the types of environmental samples and methods of inorganic analysis
- choose suitable sampling technique
- outline the parameters important for treatment of samples of water, atmosphere, soils and biological materials
- compare the performances for methods for the determination of inorganic pollutants in the environment
- propose suitable analytical procedure and method for practical application
Syllabus
  • 1. Sample types, field samples, calibration standards, blanks, working standards, reference materials, precision and accuracy of analysis.
  • 2. Water - primary and secondary pollution. Sampling of river water, streams, reservoirs, lakes and ponds, oceans, wells and boreholes. Sampling of rainwater, waste water, snow and ice. Sampling containers, preservation of samples.
  • 3. The pH of water, pH measurement, carbonate balance, suspended and dissolved solids, neutralizing capacity, chemical and biochemical oxygen demand. Metals in the waters and methods of their determination (Pb, Cd, Hg, Fe, Mn, Al, Cu, Zn, Ag, Ni, Cr, V, Se, As).
  • 4. Forms of nitrogen in water and methods of determination: nitrates (ISE, ion chromatography, photometry, absorption in the UV region, capillary electrophoresis), nitrites and ammonia. Forms of phosphorus and phosphate determination.
  • 5. Sulfur forms and their determination: sulfates, sulfites, hydrogen sulfide and sulfides. Determination of fluoride. Forms of chlorine in the water and the determination of chloride and chlorine. Determination of cyanide. Oxygen in the water and its determination. Preconcentration techniques - extraction, adsorption on activated carbon, ion exchange, electrodialysis.
  • 6. Flow analysis. Segmented continuous flow analysis. Flow injection analysis (FIA), dispersion, transport and dosing units, layout, measurement of pH, ISE, photometric measurements, preconcentration on chelating sorbents, extraction preconcentration (segmentor, phase separator), precipitation techniques, membrane separation. Sequential injection analysis.
  • 7. Air - the composition of air, air pollution, chemical substances, pollution limits, sampling, measurement of emissions, extractive and direct methods of analysis, sampling equipment, samplers (fixed volume, plastic bags, gas-tight syringe), detection of gaseous components, denuders, passive samplers. Atmospheric aerosols, particulate matter, determination of particulate fractions, total dust. Cyclones, impactors, deposition of pollutants.
  • 8. The sulfur compounds in the atmosphere and their determination: SO2 - manual (photometry, titration, LC) and instrumental on-line (coulometry, fluorimetry, flame emission spectrometry) methods, SO3 (photometry, turbidimetry), hydrogen sulfide (fluorimetry, photometry, ISE). Nitrogen compounds and their determination: NOx (chemiluminescence, photometry, coulometry), HNO3 and nitrates, NH3 (photometry, chemiluminescence), CO in the atmosphere and its determination (IR spectrometry, GC, titration). Determination of O3 (photometry, chemiluminescence, coulometry). Determination of fluorine compounds (ISE, LC).
  • 9. The chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols, metals in aerosols and methods of determination, biomonitoring. Analysis on long-distance, LIDAR, measuring techniques.
  • 10. Soil - soil forming processes, soil types, soil profiles. Soil and sediment sampling equipment. Soil sampling, sample separation, crushing, milling, sample preparation. Sampling of sediments. Analytical sample. Determination of contaminants in the soil, acid digestion, microwave assisted digestion, melting of samples. Methods for the determination of total content of elements, simple extractions, sequential extraction. Inorganic contaminants (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, fluorides, cyanides). Technique of diffusive gradients in thin film. Speciation analysis of arsenic and tin.
  • 11. Biological samples - sampling of plant materials, sample preparation of plant material. Reducing sample volume, decreasing particle size of samples. Sampling of animal tissues and products, containers, treatment and homogenization, drying of samples.
  • 12. Methods of decomposition of biological materials for elemental analysis. High-temperature dry combustion (muffle furnace), determination of ash in the plant material, determination of biogenic elements in plant material, microwave muffle furnace. Low-temperature combustion (radio frequency plasma). High-temperature wet decomposition of samples, acid digestion (HNO3, H2SO4, HClO4) and H2O2, determination of elements after digestion of samples. Decomposition methods under normal pressure with conventional and microwave heating. Decomposition methods under high pressure, microwave decomposition systems. Decomposition at lower temperatures (Fenton's reagent), decomposition by UV radiation.
Literature
  • REEVE, R. N. Environmental Analysis. J. D. Barnes, Ed. Chichester: J. Wiley & Sons, 1994, 263 s. Analytical Chemistry by Open Learning (Series). ISBN 0-471-93833-5. info
  • POPL, Milan and Jan FÄHNRICH. Analytická chemie životního prostředí. 2. rozš. a přeprac. vyd. Praha: Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická, 1992, 238 s. ISBN 80-7080-165-4. info
  • FIFIELD, F. W. and P. J. HAINES. Environmental Analytical Chemistry. (Eds.). London: Blackie Academic & Professional, 1995. ISBN 0-7514-0052-1. info
Teaching methods
Education is performed as lectures with Powerpoint presentation. Understanding of sampling technique, treatment of samples of water, atmosphere, soils and biological materials, methods for the determination of inorganic pollutants and the use in practical analysis is emphasized.
Assessment methods
Final assessment (at the end of semester) is by oral examination. The exam consists in four questions, which require description and explanation of asked topic.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/1431/jaro2016/C6110/27274895/index.qwarp
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (spring 2018, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2018/C6110