ENVB40510 Analyses for Environmental Investigations

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module will provide students with practical experience in the chemical analysis of various materials, data analysis and interpretation for environmental investigations. Students will be introduced to the chemical composition of a range of environmnetal materials, analyses used in environmnetal investigations and will be instructed in the selection of appropriate materials and determinands to answer different questions using case study examples. Analyses of water, including wastewater, will cover a large suite of determinands used in water quality/contamination assessment. Students will also analyse soil and plant material. They will be instructed in the preparation of plant and animal tissue samples for analysis including samples for stable isotope analysis, and subsequent analyses of those data. Finally students will also be introduced to current development in the use of eDNA for various environmental and other investigations. Assessment will be based mainly on continuous assessment of the practical work and assignments. A number of open-book written exams will be held during the semester.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- describe the chemical composition of a range of environmental media including freshwater, marine water, soils, plant material and air
- identify the suite of chemical analyses required for various environmental investigations
- appreciate and demonstrate an understanding of the methodologies and instrumentation used for a range of chemical analyses
- undertake a range of chemical analyses of various materials
- identify and deal with potential sources of error
- prepare plant and animal tissues for analysis
- prepare samples for stable isotope analysis
- analyse chemical data with respect to thresholds and other environmental standards or regulations
- interpret chemical and other environmental data
- write a scientific report and non-technical summary
- hone group work and communication skills, both written and oral

Indicative Module Content:

Planning - what to analyse
Induction, sds, risk assessment etc
Composition water/sampling water for various determinands
Microbial analysis
Microbial analysis practical
Preparing animal tissue for analysis (Practical)
Ion chromatography (Dionex);
Weighing/pipetting solutions
Spectrophotometry (incl. Lachet)
Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)
Making standards
Alkalinity/field probes
Interpreting data from freshwaters
DNA for environmental investigations
DNA for environmental investigations
Spectrophotometry- Nitrite
Stable isotopes
Stable isotopes
Phosphorus (SRP)and Ammonia(Lachat)
Soil sampling /what and how
Soil analysis
Air quality monitoring
Cations & anions - Dionex (ion chromatography)
Heavy metals - AA/Graphite Furnace
Trip to EPA lab.
Interpreting freshwater data generated

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

10
Practical

36
Specified Learning Activities

16
Autonomous Student Learning

63
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module has a high practical component comprising field sampling and laboratory analyses plus reporting. The theory is provided in face-to-face lectures supplemented with online lecture content. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

General Chemistry


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: < Description > Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

30
Examination: < Description >Open-book exam in final week of the trimester Week 12 Yes Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

40
Assignment: < Description > Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

30

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided on the individual continuous assessment components within 20 days of their submission.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Jens Carlsson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Elizabeth Conroy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Grace Cott Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Elke Eichelmann Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Grace Hoysted Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Olaf Schmidt Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sean Storey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Cesar Scrochi Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26 Mon 14:00 - 14:50
Workshop Offering 1 Week(s) - 25, 26, 29, 31, 32 Mon 15:00 - 16:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 33 Fri 12:00 - 13:50
Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 30 Fri 12:00 - 13:50
Laboratory Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 33 Tues 09:30 - 11:30
Spring