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Analysis of an Air Conditioning Coolant Solution for Metal Contamination Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. An Undergraduate Instrumental Analysis Exercise Simulating an Industrial Assignment

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Michael J. Baird

Department of Chemistry, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV 26003

J. Chem. Educ., 2004, 81 (2), p 259

DOI: 10.1021/ed081p259

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2004

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

The analysis of eight metals in an ethylene glycolywater solution by atomic absorption spectroscopy provided a real-life assignment for students in an instrumental analysis course. The University's maintenance department was considering replacing the corrosion inhibitor in the coolant solution of the air conditioning system and needed to dispose of the spent liquid. The mode of disposal would depend on the concentration of metals contaminating the solution that could have resulted from leaching from the pipes. The chemistry department was asked to analyze the solution. This request enabled the instructor, with previous industrial experience, to design the lab as a simulated industrial assignment. The instructor, acting as the supervisor, assigned this problem to his staff chemists: the students. Students worked as a group to determine if the concentration of any of the specified metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Ag, or Zn) was above the maximum allowable limit (MAL) as specified in the city's ordinance for wastewater cleanup. The results showed that only copper was above the limit. This result would require the spent solution to be sent to an industrial waste treatment facility. This laboratory exercise introduced students to (i) optimizing and operating an atomic absorption spectrometer, (ii) using Beer's law plots for determining concentrations of unknowns, and (iii) working as a group to solve a real-life analytical problem. A similar assignment could be based on the analysis of metals from samples of river water, well water, or soil samples.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Analytical Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Inquiry-Based / Discovery Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Atomic Properties / Structure

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