Environmental Analysis in the Instrumental Lab: More Than One Way...

M. Sittidech and S. Street
Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336
J. Chem. Educ., 2003, 80 (4), p 376
DOI: 10.1021/ed080p376
Publication Date (Web): April 1, 2003
History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Guided, open-ended investigations (practicals) using environmentally important unknowns allow undergraduate students in an instrumental methods course to explore more than one way to solve an analytical problem. Here we show that analysis of acrolein and acrylonitrile using SPME–GC/MS is much less problematic than the EPA method using HPLC. The availability of both methods significantly enhances the learning experience, particularly with the SPME sampling technique, which is not expensive or difficult to implement and improves both sampling selectivity and sensitivity of detection (reducing interference problems). Even where the goal is not to teach environmental chemistry, the realistic problems such analyses provide are useful in learning instrumental methods of analysis.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Analytical Chemistry

Keywords (Feature):

NSF Highlights

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Inquiry-Based / Discovery Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Chromatography
View: Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links

Tools

SciFinder Links

SciFinder subscribers: Click to sign in | Not a SciFinder subscriber? Learn more at www.cas.org

Explore by:

History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

Recommend & Share

  • Share on ACS NetworkACS Network
  • Add to FacebookFacebook
  • Tweet ThisTweet This
  • Add to CiteULikeCiteULike
  • Add to NewsvineNewsvine
  • Digg ThisDigg This
  • Add to DeliciousDelicious

Related Content