This module covers modern liquid and gas chromatography (LC and GC), the modes of separation, column selection, troubleshooting, an understanding of the instrumentation and data interpretation for qualitative and quantitative analysis. In addition the module provides an overview on atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma (ICP).
Chromatography
Chromatographic mechanisms, retention factor, selectivity, column efficiency, band broadening and resolution.
High Performance Liquid Chromatography: normal and reverse phase separation, selection of mobile phase and stationary phases, HPLC pumps, injectors (sample introduction) and detectors. Isocratic and gradient elution. Chromatography troubleshooting and maintenance: instrumentation, columns, carrier gases, mobile phases, sample introduction and detectors. Chromatogram interpretation and quantitative analysis. Applications of Chromatography.
Analytical Spectroscopy
Atom absorption: flames and flame temperature, electrothermal atomisation, hydride generation, cold vapour. AAS instrumentation. Interferences. Quantitative analysis, applications
Atomic emission spectrometry: flame emission, plasmas, inductively coupled argon plasma, ICP instrumentation, sample introduction, spectrometers, interferences, quantitative analysis, applications.
Molecular Emission: Photoluminescence, photophysical processes, fluorimetry and phosphorimetry, instrumentation, quantitation, interferences, applications (pharmaceutical, forensic, environmental).
Laboratory Work:
Laboratory work which complements the lecture material is sourced from the School of Chemical and BioPharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory Manual.
Delivery by means of lectures (20 hours), tutorials (4 hours), laboratory practicals (15 hours) and self-study (61 hours) to include computational problems and report writing.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |