METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATIONS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY - 2020/1

Module Overview

Enhancing the knowledge and application of specialist topics in analytical chemistry including awareness of the operation of advanced modern instruments with particular attention to the principles, practical aspects and problem solving/application aspects of advanced atomic spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemistry, neutron activation analysis and mass spectrometry.

Module provider

Chemistry

Module Leader

AL SID CHEIKH Maya (Chemistry)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

1- review of recent advances in modern analytical techniques; inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES); inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) - principles, instrumentation, interferences and operation, laser ablation, electrothermal vaporisation; speciation analysis using hyphenated-mass spectrometry techniques (applications for As and Hg speciation); instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA);

2- the use of electrochemistry for (bio)analytical chemistry;

3- review X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF);

4 statistical analysis of data relating to the elemental analysis of real environmental samples; application of calibration curves (including use of dilution factors), and production of an analytical report; and

5 review of separation science (GC and HPLC); method development, optimisation, choice of method; preparative chromatography, supercritical fluid (SFC), counter-current, hydrophilic interaction (HILIC), chiral separations, role of HPLC/GC in pharmaceutical, biomedical and environmental analysis.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Failure of the coursework unit of assessment will require the candidate to complete a data handling and publication coursework activity.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate sufficient theoretical and applied practical skills of the above.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• data handling and analytical report 20% (learning outcomes 2, 3, 4 & 5)

• examination 80% (learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 & 4).

 

Formative assessment

Commentary and feedback on coursework and an informal tutorial (pre-examination).

 

Feedback

Verbal throughout the Excel data handling session, and subsequent written feedback on the submitted Excel data file and analytical report (coursework).

Module aims

• 1- describe and evaluate the fundamentals of instrumental methods, with particular emphasis on recent developments;
• 2- describe and evaluate the instrumentation, problem solving and operational aspects of advanced atomic spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemistry, nuclear analysis and mass spectrometry;
• 3- review and improve student awareness of advanced quality control in analytical chemistry;
• 4- improve student awareness of practical aspects of analytical measurement and the use of statistics and calculations for quantitative analysis.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to build on skills gained in FHEQ 5 (especially Advances in Analytical Instrumentation) in order to:

• develop knowledge of the fundamentals and operation of advanced modern analytical instruments;

• develop a practical approach to good laboratory practice and quality control/validation in the research laboratory; and

• enhance skills in data handling, statistical analysis and analytical report writing.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

Combination of lectures (22 hours), a computer-based session (3 hours):

• individual data handling and analytical report (coursework);

• instrumental operation and problem solving/applied research (chromatography, atomic spectroscopy, nuclear analysis, and electrochemistry).

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: CHE3066

Other information

None.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.