Chemistry: Advanced Analytical Chemistry

KEMM76. The course aims to give in-depth knowledge of analytical techniques and methods, as well as their applications within for example food, pharmaceutics and environmental analysis. Furthermore, the course aims to enable students to develop their ability to use and optimise current analytical methods, as well as critically discuss and evaluate environmental sustainability and its relevance for society as a whole. 

The course contains instrumentation and experimental techniques for different high resolution separation techniques, such as gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, supercritical chromatography, mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis and field flow fractionation, multivariate experimental design and different statistical tools (variance analysis, principal component analysis and least squares method), as well as principles for green analytical chemistry and new research within this field. 

The course will give in-depth theoretical and practical insights into commonly used modern separation techniques, such as chromatographic, mass spectrometric and capillary electrophoretic techniques. In addition, the students are trained to independently select and optimize appropriate separation technique/method and to provide a coherent overall view of the subject.

Course content

Lectures and exercises: In-depth theoretical treatment of chromatographic separation and underlying distribution and adsorption equilibrium. Instrumentation and experimental technique for high-resolution chromatography and coupling of chromatography with mass spectrometry and its applications in food, pharmaceutical and environmental analysis areas. Basic orientation in capillary electrophoresis and field flow fractionation. Review of principles of green analytical chemistry and new research in this field. Critical discussions about environmental sustainability of analytical methods and its relevance to society at large. Multivariate design of experiments and various statistical analysis tools (variance analysis, principal component analysis and the least squares method).

Laboratory work: Experimental technique for high-resolution chromatography. Optimization of HPLC systems with different combinations of mobile and stationary phases. Gas chromatography with capillary columns and different injection techniques. Mass spectrometric detection for quantitative and qualitative analysis linked to both gas and liquid chromatography. Computer labs in design of experiments and multivariate statistics. Seminar with oral presentation and discussion of laboratory results.