This
course evaluates how specific analytical techniques can be
used to assess the composition of solutions and materials
of environmental concern in both clean and complex
matrices. A discussion of different analytical tools
including (i) electrodes/potentiometry, (ii)
spectrophotometry, (iii) chromatography, (iv) mass
spectrometry, and (v) atomic spectroscopy will be
included. Additional
material also covers the computational and statistical
tools needed to assess analytical data. These discussion
topics culminate in an laboratory research project in
which students apply this knowledge towards developing a robust
analytical method to assess environmental contaminants
of concern.
This course will serve as an introduction to computation methods for describing physical,chemical, and microbiological processes that occur in natural and engineered aqueous systems (i.e. rivers, lakes, water treatment plants). There will be a strong emphasis on understanding and conceptualizing important processes, data analysis, algorithm development, and competency in the use of programming tools to perform model simulations.