Course content

The course gives a detailed description of important instrumental chemical analytical techniques and sampling techniques for different types of samples (including water, sediments, soil and air). Relevant ISO / standard routines (e.g. Norsk Standard) for sampling and analysis are examined. Storage of samples, sample pretreatment and quality assurance is discussed. The course is based on basic knowledge within analytical chemistry, and provides further in-depth study of the theory and construction of apparatus with different alternatives for ion chromatography, spectrophotometry (UV / VIS and IR), different types of absorption spectrometry and molecular spectrometry (for atoms and molecules), mass spectrometry using ICP-MS, potentiometry with various ion selective electrodes and other electroanalytical methods such as potentiometric stripping analysis and different voltammetric techniques, together with relevant sensor technology. Further, the course covers application of these techniques within environmental chemistry and environmental monitoring, and sources of errors and limitations for the different techniques. Laboratory activities include interpretation of data and analysis of various important components in soil, sediment, air and water, and is especially dedicated to the natural environmental chemistry and environmental monitoring.

Learning outcome

The course covers a range of selected modern analytical methods, with a special focus on important instrumental methods for determination of chemical parameters relevant to natural environmental chemistry and environmental monitoring.
After completing the course the student should be able to:
- Perform sampling, analysis and interpretation of analytical results for important chemical parameters in soil/sediments, air, water, and vegetation samples, and have knowledge about contamination, storage/preservation of samples and quality assurance.
- Understand and explain the physical-chemical principles, the quantitative and qualitative use, and sources of errors for different types of absorption and emission spectrometry (from NMR to gamma radiation), with a special focus on IR, UV/VIS and X-ray spectroscopy.
- Understand and explain the physical-chemical principles, the quantitative and qualitative use, and sources of errors for mass spectrometry using ICP-MS, and be able to explain and describe the difference between low, medium and high resolution ICP-MS and the analytical consequences of the different resolution levels.
- Understand and explain the physical-chemical principles, applications of, and sources of errors for potentiometry with ion selective electrodes, together with construction of some selected frequently used ISE electrodes and sensors.
- Understand and explain the physical-chemical principles, applications of, and sources of errors for ion chromatography for application in environmental monitoring
- Understand and explain the physical-chemical principles, applications of, and sources of errors for other electrochemical methods like potentiometric stripping analysis, amperometric sensors, and different techniques in voltammetry.
- Understand and explain sampling techniques, including passive samplers like DGTs.
- Understand and explain the difference between multivariable statistics and multivariable data analysis, and know the most relevant use of multivariate data analysis.
- Search for relevant scientific literature for use in research reports, and be able to work in a team to produce such reports.
- Make presentations in PowerPoint or other media for oral presentations of research results.
- The HSE-lecture will give a general understanding in how to work safely in the field and in the laboratory.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures (2 hours per week), field- and laboratory work (80 hours), teamwork (20 hours). As a part of the laboratory work, there will be given a compulsory HSE-lecture before the lab exercises start up. Portfolio assessment: Final oral examination (70%), project report (30%). The evaluation of the project report will be given as percentage points. Evaluation of the portfolio is grade by letter.

Compulsory assignments

• Team work
• Approved laboratory course

Recommended previous knowledge

The course builds on basic course in analytical chemistry (like KJ2050 at NTNU or equivalent courses)

Course materials

A) Fifield F.W., Haines P.J., Environmental Analytical Chemistry 2.ed. ISBN 978-0-632-05383-4 B) Additional course material is given at the lectures and in team work group meetings. C) Theory given at the field and laboratory course.