Course detail
Environmental Analysis in Practice
FCH-MA_EAPAcad. year: 2025/2026
Students will be acquainted with various procedures of organic and inorganic sample preparations, preconcentration techniques, and with methods of analyte isolation of selected substances. The course includes analysis of persistent organic pollutants, drug residues, pesticides, personal care products, petroleum substances and polymers. Inorganic part of course is devoted to basic aspects of (ultra)trace analysis, speciation, practical use of instrumental analytical techniques in the analysis of environmental samples, and in monitoring of environment quality. Course also includes forensics analysis, legislation and validation of analytical methods. Different types of sample will be discussed, such as air, water, soil. In laboratory course, students will apply the gained knowledge from the theoretical part (sampling, sample preparation, analysis and data treatment as well as data interpretation), and use AAS, SN/LA-ICP-MS, GC/ECD, GC/FID, GC/MS, HPLC/DAD, UHPLC/DAD, HPLC/MS in analysis of environmental matrices.
Language of instruction
Number of ECTS credits
Mode of study
Offered to foreign students
Entry knowledge
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
Laboratory course – 100% participation in the course, elaboration of protocols and their approval, elaboration of essay and its presentation
Attendance at the lecture is not required, only recommended.
Attendance at practices is mandatory. For the credit awards it is essential to completing all tasks.
Aims
Study aids
Prerequisites and corequisites
Basic literature
J. R. Dean: Methods for environmental trace analysis, Wiley, 2003. ISBN: 978-0-470-84422-9 (EN)
Zoltan Mester, Ralph E. Sturgeon, Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry 41, Sample Preparation for Trace Element Analysis-Elsevier Science, 2003. (EN)
Recommended reading
Classification of course in study plans
Type of course unit
Lecture
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
1. Analyte isolation (extraction), precleaning and preconcentration steps – water and solid samples with focusing on organic analysis
2. Persistent organic pollutants analysis (PAH, PCB, PBDE, PFOs, …)
3. Analysis of drug residues, pesticides in environment
4. Analysis of personal care products, petroleum substances and polymers in environment
5. Validation, SOP, EU legislation, EPA methods
6. GC/MS and MC/MS in forensic analysis of organic compounds
7. Basic methods for air analysis (NOx, SO3, CO2, volatile compounds, O3, PM10, …)
8. Introduction to inorganic analysis, aspects of (ultra)trace analysis – theory and practice
9. Mineralization of environmental samples and extraction and preconcentration techniques used in inorganic analysis
10. Instrumental analytical techniques used in inorganic analysis
11. ICP-MS in environmental analysis, speciation – applications, analysis of liquids and solids
12. Forensic applications – stable isotopes and isotopic systems of selected elements
13. Monitoring of inorganic pollutants, legislation
Laboratory course
Block 1
1. Abiotic matrices sampling using conventional procedures (soil and water)
2. Abiotic matrices sampling with new non-traditional methods – passive sampling
Block 2
1. Preanalytical treatment of collected matrices to laboratory sample (soil)
2. Isolation of selected priority pollutants based on inorganic and organic pollutants
Block 3
1. Analysis of inorganic substances in samples abiotic matrices (mercury, lead, cadmium, nitrates)
2. Analysis of organic pollutants in samples of abiotic matrices (PAHs, PCBs, pharmaceuticals, musk compounds, pesticides)
Guided consultation in combined form of studies
Teacher / Lecturer