Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students should be able to:
- describe the chemical composition of a range of environmental media including freshwater, marine water, soils, plant material and air
- identify the suite of chemical analyses required for various environmental investigations
- appreciate and demonstrate an understanding of the methodologies and instrumentation used for a range of chemical analyses
- undertake a range of chemical analyses of various materials
- identify and deal with potential sources of error
- prepare plant and animal tissues for analysis
- prepare samples for stable isotope analysis
- analyse chemical data with respect to thresholds and other environmental standards or regulations
- interpret chemical and other environmental data
- write a scientific report and non-technical summary
- hone group work and communication skills, both written and oral
Indicative Module Content:
Planning - what to analyse
Induction, sds, risk assessment etc
Composition water/sampling water for various determinands
Microbial analysis
Microbial analysis practical
Preparing animal tissue for analysis (Practical)
Ion chromatography (Dionex);
Weighing/pipetting solutions
Spectrophotometry (incl. Lachet)
Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)
Making standards
Alkalinity/field probes
Interpreting data from freshwaters
DNA for environmental investigations
DNA for environmental investigations
Spectrophotometry- Nitrite
Stable isotopes
Stable isotopes
Phosphorus (SRP)and Ammonia(Lachat)
Soil sampling /what and how
Soil analysis
Air quality monitoring
Cations & anions - Dionex (ion chromatography)
Heavy metals - AA/Graphite Furnace
Trip to EPA lab.
Interpreting freshwater data generated