Year No. Offer Mode Description Cred. Pts 97 61621 S2 D CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONME 1.00
61613
This unit establishes the study of sampling and analysis of substances in the natural environment both at macro levels and trace levels with particular emphasis on environmental systems.
Topics include sampling theory, sample preparation, separation analysis, volumetric analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, flame photometry, radiochemistry and tracers, trace analysis, automated methods, water analysis, soil analysis, air and gas analysis and nitrogen and phosphate determination in biological specimens. A study of pollution of air, soil and water including toxicology will be undertaken to allow the student to identify and measure pollutants. The importance of colloids and surface properties in the environment will be studied.
On completion of this unit students will be able to:
Description Weighting(%)
- Water chemistry, water pollution, water sampling, 10.00 in situ monitoring, sample preservation, sample extraction.
- Atmospheric chemistry - air pollution, sampling 10.00 automatic monitoring, particulates and aerosols.
- Soil chemistry, soil sampling, soil pollution, extraction 10.00 procedures, degradation of organic pollutants.
- Nuclear and radiation chemistry, measurement of 10.00 radioactive particles isotope identification, tracers, radioactive labelling and radioactive clocks.
- Low level detection (trace analysis), sampling theory, 25.00 chromatographic techniques of separation, GLC, HPLC, ion chromatography, flame spectrophometry, emission, atomic absorption, furnace techniques. Colorimetry, metal complexes, extraction. Clean laboratory requirements. Environmental Analysis: Sampling, reagent purity, special laboratory requirements and glassware. Gas/liquid chromatography for pesticide analysis. Water Analysis: Common pollutants, dissolved oxygen measurements, oxygen demand (chemical and biological), water hardness and treatment, toxic metals. Ion chromatography for anion measurement. Soil Analysis: Cation exchange capacity, exchange acidity, base saturation, soil organic matter and C/N ratios, soil gases, soil pollution, nutrient retention by clays. Air and Gas Analysis: Analysis of particulate matter and noxious gases in the atmosphere. Nitrogen and Phosphate Determinations.
- Ecotoxicology and laboratory procedures, definition 14.00 of LC 50, LD 50, and LOEC, environmental modelling and biological indicators.
- Surface properties of colloids, classification of 21.00 colloids, stability of hydophobic and hydophilic systems clay chemistry. Surfactants micelles, wetting and penetration, detergency and flotation.
- PRACTICALS
- Weak Acid Titrations - determination of amino 10.00 acids and boric acid by alkalimetry, modification of Ka values by chemical addition, speciation of organic acids.
- Alkalinity of Water - carbonate/bicarbonate 10.00 bases of the weak carbonic acid system, pH determination during neutralisation with standard acid, buffer systems.
- Flame spectroscopy - determination of Ca and 10.00 Mg by atomic absorption methods, influence of chemical matrix, radiation and ionisation buffering, calibration curves.
- Hardness of Water - EDTA compleximetric 10.00 titration use of metal indicators, selective titration of metal ions.
- Dissolved Oxygen - dissolved oxygen meter and 25.00 "in situ" measurement. Comparison of titrimetric method of Winkler, concentration stratification in water bodies.
- Chlorine Determination - residual chlorine in 14.00 treated water, iodometric titration.
- Project - sample collection and preservation, "in situ" measurements, methodology of selected parameters, seminar presentation and report.
- Soil Organic Matter - soil sampling and digestion of O.M., redox titration, segregation of particulate matter.
- Colorimetric determination of phosphate - water and fertiliser analysis, sample digestion, methodology, wavelength selection and calibration curves.
- Chloride determination using absorption indicators
- Preparation and properties of colloid systems.
- Analysis of a detergent in water.
61621 - Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Guide, USQ.
Black, C.A. ed, 1965, Methods of Soil Analysis, Agronomy No. 9,
American Society of Agronomy Inc.
Christian, G.D. 1994, Analytical Chemistry, 5th edn, Wiley.
Connell, D.W. & Miller,G.J. 1984, Chemistry and Ecotoxicology of Pollution,
Wiley.
Everett, D.H. 1988, Basic Principles of Colloid Science, Royal Society
of Chemistry.
Keith, L.H. 1991, Environmental Sampling and Analysis, Lewis.
KrausKopf, K. B. 1979, Introduction to Geochemistry, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill.
Manahan, S.E. 1991, Environmental Chemistry, Lewis.
Paasivirta, J. 1991, Chemical Ecotoxicology, Lewis.
Parfitt, G.D. Principles of the Colloidal State, Royal Society of Chemistry.
Shaw, D.J. 1992, Introduction of Colloid and Surface Chemistry,
Butterworths.
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water,APHA/AWWA/WPCF,
1985.
ACTIVITY HOURS Lectures 28 Tutorials/Workshops 12 Laboratory or Practical Classes 39 Field Trips 3 Report Writing 35 Private Study 50 Examinations 3
No *F/S Marks Due Description Wtg(%) LBL 1 S END S2 3HR THEORY EXAMINATION (CLSD BK) 50.00 N 2 S WEEKLY PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENTS 30.00 N 3 S END SEM FIELD PROJECT SEMINAR AND REPORTS 20.00 N
Students are required to participate actively in at
least 80% of the practical/tutorial classes in this
unit.
All students must present an oral dissertation of Field
Project as well as written reports.
In accordance with University Policy and Guidelines,
i an Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an
assignment in extenuating circumstances;
ii no assignments will be accepted for assessment purposes
after assignments or model solutions have been released
except in extenuating circumstances;
iii assignments submitted after the due date without any
extenuating circumstances will attract a penalty of at
most 20% of the assigned mark for each working day late;
iv students who submit an assignment after the due date and
wish to claim extenuating circumstances, must provide
documentary evidence with the assignment explaining the
circumstances;
v the unit examiner shall consider a claim for extenuating
circumstances and decide on the outcome;
vi the decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute
that may arise in the implementation of these guidelines.