Advanced topics in Environmental Chemistry

Course Information:

Course ID: A-101
Type of Course: Required
Semester: Fall
ΕCTS: 9

Instructor: Professor E.Psillakis

Recommended Reading:

  • Quantitative Chemical Analysis, HARRIS DANIEL C. W. H. Freeman and Company, 2016
  • Environmental analytical chemistry / edited by F.W. Fifield and P.J.Haines, London :, New York :Blackie Academic & Professional, 1995
  • ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Second Edition, Rene P. Schwarzenbach, Philip M. Gschwend and Dieter M. Imboden, JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC., 2003
  • Quantitative analytical chemistry / James S. Fritz, George H. Schenk, Boston :Allyn and Bacon, c1987
  • Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry: a practical guide, Kitson, Fulton G. - c1996
  • Environmental analytical chemistry (Wilson & Wilson's comprehensive analytical chemistry, v. 32) Perez Bendito, D. – 1999
  • Statistics and chemometrics for analytical chemistry Miller, J. N – 2005

Eclass:

  • Registration required

Course objectives:

This module will focus on the fate and behavior of organic pollutants in the environment, considering fundamental principles and processes, which control their fate in environment systems. The material delivered in this module will be supported by detailed case studies, taken from the peer-reviewed sources. This module aims to provide understanding of the fundamental principles relating to the fate and behavior of contaminants in environmental media for scientists with relevant degrees. The course will also cover the latest advancements in analytical methods such as liquid chromatography (LC), gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Special focus will be made on how these methods, and others, can be used to solve different problems of environmental chemical nature. Current trends in sample preparation techniques in a variety of samples will be duly covered. During the course the students will practice to independently evaluate and select between different analysis and sampling methods. Students will also practice to collaborate and solve problems in group using “problem based learning” methods. The experimental work during the course will be examined through carefully prepared scientific reports.

Syllabus:

1st Week Introduction to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Emerging organic pollutants
2nd Week: Physico-chemical properties, fate and occurrence in natural and engineered environments
3rd Week Sampling techniques for environmental samples. Introduction to chemometrics
4th Week Advanced sample preparation methods
5th Week Optimization of new analytical methods
6th Week: Recent advances in liquid and gas chromatography
7th Week: Recent advances in mass spectrometry
8th Week: Laboratory 1: Laboratory determination of octanol-water partition coefficients
9th Week: Laboratory 2: Determination of geosmin and 2-MIB in water using SPME-GC/MS
10th Week: Laboratory 3: Determination of PAHs in soil using SBSE –HPLC-FL
11th Week: Laboratory 4: Photolysis of PCBs in water. Analytical method SPME-GC/MS/MS
12th Week: Laboratory 5: Determination of bisphenol-A and nonylphenol in water using VALLME-HPLC-UV
13th Week: Laboratory 6: Experimental optimization of new analytical methods

Work Load:

Six lab exercises - reports

Assessment method:

  • Lab reports (40%)
  • Final exam (60%)

Last modification: 09-10-2018