ADVANCES IN ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTATION - 2025/6

Module Overview

Enhancing a knowledge and application of analytical chemistry including an awareness of the operation of modern instruments in research and industrial environments.

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

CREAN Carol (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• understand the fundamentals of quality assurance and control in analytical chemistry; inter-laboratory comparisons, proficiency testing, spike recoveries, matrix-matching; atomic absorption/emission spectroscopy; basic instrumentation, calibration, matrix-matching, flame and electrothermal (ETV or GF) devices, interferences, background correction, hydride generation, cold vapour, microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometers and applications;


• review basic calculations in electrochemistry, understand the principles of potentiometric biosensors, cyclic voltammetry, amperometry, amperometric biosensors, and sensor applications;


• review separation science (GC and HPLC); solid phase extraction for purification and preconcentration; critical fluid extraction;


• develop the use of statistical analysis and data handling; including F and T tests (Student and Paired), y = m x + c calibration curves; calculation of the limit of detection and quantification, applications in spectroscopy.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

For the laboratory exercises an alternative written assessment can be set. This is based on analysing or explaining experimental data, or detailing experimental techniques.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate: 

• 
  experimental, analysis and quantitative skills (practicals) 
  


• 
  understanding, analysis and recall (examination) 
  

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of: 

• 
  Examination - 2 hours (70%) – Learning outcomes 1 & 3. 
  


• 
  Laboratory exercises (30% total) - Learning outcomes 2, 3 & 4. 
  

Formative assessment 

• 
  Pre- and in-laboratory proforma questions 
  


• 
  Tutorial questions  
  


• 
  Workshop presentations 
  

 

Feedback 

General feedback is provided to all the students during the pre-laboratory sessions, workshops and tutorials. Detailed and individualised feedback is given on the marked assignments within the time allowed for marking coursework, where this does not compromise the release of marked work to those with otherwise unsubmitted summative work. 

Module aims

• To describe and evaluate the fundamentals of modern instrumental methods, including GC and HPLC, FAAS, GFAAS and MP-AES
• To further develop awareness of health and safety issues, including in the practical laboratory
• To describe and evaluate the principles, instrumentation, problem solving and practical aspects of atomic spectroscopy and chromatography
• To improve student awareness of quality control in analytical chemistry
• To improve student awareness of measurement, data handling, 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 4 (CHE1044 Principles of Analytical Chemistry) and to prepare students for content delivered in FHEQ 6:

1. develop a knowledge of the fundamentals and operation of modern analytical instruments;


2. develop a practical approach to good laboratory practice, quality control, health and safety awareness in the laboratory;


3. enhance data handling, statistical analysis and practical analytical report writing; and


4. develop communication skills in individual and group practicals and in group presentations.

The learning and teaching methods include:

Combination of lectures, workshops, practical sessions and tutorials

• individual and group practical sessions;


• instrumental operation (chromatography, atomic spectroscopy, molecular spectroscopy); and


• data handling, statistical analysis and analytical report writing.

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: CHE2035

Other information

Employability 

Throughout the module, students are equipped with knowledge on: 

• A range of skills in analytical instrumentation including the use of HPLC, GC and spectroscopies used in the chemical industry. 

• Analytical problem solving by developing analytical solutions to real world case studies, like those used in assessment centres for placements/graduate roles. 

 

Students develop tools that are key to the role of a scientist in a wide variety of professions, in terms of mathematical skills, knowledge of analytical chemistry, separation chemistry and analytical applications of spectroscopy. The laboratory sessions undertaken during the module are designed to develop critical thinking and technical skills that are fundamental for their future career.  

 

Laboratory work forms a significant part of this module, aligning with Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) accreditation of the degree programmes. Lab will be carried out either individually or in some instances in pairs and are designed to enhance students’ awareness of Health & Safety practices and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of instruments in the lab; these relate both to Employability skills for graduate chemists and their Resourcefulness & Resilience. 

 

Teamwork and discussion are required during tutorials and workshops and students are challenged to develop their analytical chemistry problem-solving skills as well as apply critical thinking when providing solutions to analytical case study scenarios. This requires them to use knowledge gained not only on instrumentation capability, but also makes them consider resource allocations in laboratories, while maintaining QA and QC. By encouraging critical self-evaluation of solutions to analytical case study scenarios, we nurture Resourcefulness & Resilience in our students, preparing them to be competent professionals.¿¿ 

 

 

Sustainability 

Students are continually encouraged to think about the types and volumes of chemicals used in the laboratory. They are taught in laboratory practical sessions to evaluate the most sustainable scale at which to carry out their work. Students are equipped with instrumental knowledge that enables them to make the most sustainable choice in terms of analytical methodologies, e.g. which analysis is adequate for a particular result without wasting valuable resources.  

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 2025/6 academic year.