Lectures and laboratory exercises on:
1. Techniques for sampling of atmospheric aerosol, sample treatment (acidic digestion, extraction) and blank check.
2. Chemical analysis by using IC, F-AAS, GF-AAS, ICP-AES, HG-AAS. Elemental composition determination by PIXE and XRF (lectures and survey of available facilities).
3. Performances of analytical methods. Certified samples.
4. Final report on the lab practice.
Attendance of lectures and lab exercises strongly recommended.
Teaching tools: videoprojector.
Type of Assessment
Final oral examination based on three questions. The final report (to be delivered at least a few days before the examination) represents one evaluation criterion.
Course program
The class is focused on detailed presentation of up-to-date analytical methods devoted to the measurements of inorganic components (ionic composition, heavy metals, speciation) and their application to the analysis of real environmental matrices.
Both lectures and laboratory practices are planned, tackling the following topics:
1. Sampling of real matrices - Representativity of a sample and related techniques. Sample conservation (protocols and materials). Procedures for minimizing contamination during sampling, storage and analysis.
2. Sample treatment - Subsampling, decontamination, selective separation of the analytes. Reduction or removal of the matrix. Digestion. Pre-concentration processes. Check of contamination during the different steps of sample treatment. Blank check.
3. Chemical analysis – Advanced analytical techniques: Ion Chromatography (IC); Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry with Flame (F-AAS) and Graphite Furnace (GF-AAS) Atomization and Hydride Generation systems (HG-AAS); Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry with Inductively Coupled Plasma and optical detection (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry detection (ICP-MS); X ray emission techniques (PIXE, XRF).
4. Assessment of the performances of an analytical method. Reproducibility, accuracy, detection limit, sensitivity, selectivity. Use reference materials Current regulations on concentration values and techniques for the analysis of environmental samples.
Laboratory practice:
1. Samplings of wet and dry depositions (e.g. atmospheric aerosol atmosferico, dust) at local scale.
2. Treatment of collected samples. Micro-wave assisted acidic digestion. Extraction of soluble and "available" components by ultrasonic bath. Resuspension and collection of insoluble aerosol.
3. Chemical analysis of extracted fractions by IC, F-AAS, GF-AAS, ICP-AES e HG-AAS
4. Assessment of analytical performances of the used method (reproducibility, sensitivity, detection limit).
5. Final report on the accomplished lab practice and achieved results on real samples.