Syllabus
ANALYTICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (11:375:310 2
credits)
INSTRUCTORS: Wednesday: Lisa Rodenburg (formerly Totten) room 348, 848-932-5774
rodenburg@envsci.rutgers.edu
Friday: Kelly Francisco room 265, kfrancisco@envsci.rutgers.edu
TEACHING ASSISTANT: Jia Guo guojia@eden.rutgers.edu
SECTION 1: Fridays 9:15 – 1:55; Room 205 ENRS Building
SECTION 2: Wednesdays 10:55-3:35; Room 205 ENRS Building
DESCRIPTION: A chemistry laboratory course covering basic chemical lab techniques for the
analysis of environmental samples with emphasis on written presentation of analytical results.
TEXT: NONE
GRADING: 3 lab write-ups; 3 homework assignment
Write ups (each is due 1 week after conclusion of lab or at final exam period)
1. A comparison of UV-vis spectroscopy and ion chromatography for measurement
of anions
2. PCBs in sediment by GC/ECD
3. Trace metals in water
4. Sorption isotherms measured by HPLC (optional)
IMPORTANT NOTICES:
No cell phones and no texting in class
You must wear shoes with closed toes, and bring your safety glasses.
Most course business will be conducted through the sakai site.
If you are registered for the class, you should be able to log on the course page on sakai
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Week
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Topic
Check-in; write-ups and citations, weighing and pipetting
Raritan sampling (meet at boat dock)
pH; sulfate by UV-vis spectroscopy
Anions in water by IC part I: sample prep
Anions in water by IC part II: ion chromatography
PCBs in sediment by GC/ECD part I: sample collection and extraction
PCBs in sediment by GC/ECD part II: “clean up"
PCBs in sediment by GC/ECD part III: GC/ECD analysis
PCBs in sediment by GC/ECD part IV: data analysis
Trace metals in water part I
Trace metals in water part II
Thanksgiving - NO CLASS
Sorption isotherms HPLC I
Sorption isotherms HPLC II
LEARNING GOALS
This class will contribute toward students’ ability to (numbers refer to ES learning goals at
http://envsci.rutgers.edu/programs/envsci_ug_learning_goals.shtml):
1. apply knowledge from the sciences and mathematics to environmental problems and
solutions;
2. use the skills and modern environmental science techniques and tools necessary for a
successful career in the field;
3. design and conduct experiments, and analyze and interpret data;
4. function effectively on multidisciplinary teams;
5. communicate technical information effectively (orally, in writing, and through electronic
media).
6. professional ethical responsibilities;
7. contemporary environmental science issues and the impact of environmental science in a
global and societal context;
ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
1. Ability to apply knowledge from the sciences and mathematics to environmental
problems and solutions
Instructional Activity:
Contaminant concentrations will be measured in water and sediment in order to assess
compliance with water quality standards and sediment quality guidelines.
Assessment Activity:
Compare measured concentrations to water quality standards and sediment quality guidelines
in lab reports (100% of assessment)
2. use the skills and modern environmental science techniques and tools necessary for
a successful career in the field;
Instructional Activity:
Ultraviolet-visible light absorption/scattering will be used to measure anions.
Chromatography (ion chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography, gas
chromatography) will be used to measure several environmental contaminants. Inductively
coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) will be used to measure trace
metals in environmental samples.
Assessment Activity:
Report measured concentrations in lab reports (100% of assessment)
3. design and conduct experiments, and analyze and interpret data;
Instructional Activity:
Concepts of blank contamination (sources, corrections) will be discussed in class and applied
to the measured concentrations. Sources of uncertainty will be identified and quantified.
Linear regressions will be performed using Microsoft Excel software.
Assessment Activity:
Use linear calibration curves to calculate and report measured concentrations in lab reports
(25% of assessment)
Perform blank corrections on measure concentrations and report the results in lab reports
(25% of assessment)
Determine and report in the lab report the uncertainty in measured concentrations (25% of
assessment)
Name possible sources of blank contamination in lab reports (25% of assessment)
4. function effectively on multidisciplinary teams;
Instructional Activity:
Students will work in teams of four to conduct laboratory exercises.
Assessment Activity:
Data that was collected as a team is reported in all lab reports (50% of assessment)
Team members give each other pass/fail evaluation (50% of assessment)
5. communicate technical information effectively (orally, in writing, and through
electronic media).
Instructional Activity:
Students will write three lab reports that report and interpret the data gathered during the
laboratory exercises. Reports will use the scientific structure (Abstract, Introduction,
Methods, Results, Discussion, References). Proper format and grammar will be taught in
lecture.
Assessment Activity:
Communication of data and interpretation via lab reports (100% of assessment)
6. professional ethical responsibilities
Instructional Activity:
Students will receive a lecture on ethics regarding proper production and use of scientific
data and regarding plagiarism.
Assessment Activity:
Lab reports will be evaluated for proper citation of references without plagiarism. (100% of
assessment)
7. contemporary environmental science issues and the impact of environmental science
in a global and societal context
Instructional Activity:
By focusing on the Raritan River, students will explore the societal context of water quality
and will consider the legal and regulatory context of their data (i.e. do the measured
parameters exceed water quality standards?), as well as the social context (what are the
sources of pollution? How are these sources being addressed through the TMDL process?)
Assessment Activity:
The final homework assignment will ask students to place their results in the regulatory and
social context of the Raritan River. (100% of assessment)
Performance Target Criteria
Unsatisfactory (D or F)
Satisfactory (C)
Good (B)
Outstanding (A)
1. Ability to apply
knowledge from the
sciences and
mathematics to
environmental
problems and
solutions
Does not attempt to
compare water quality
standards or sediment
quality guidelines with
measured values.
Attempts to compare
water quality standards
or sediment quality
guidelines with measured
values but used wrong
criteria or inaccurate
comparison
Successfully compares
water quality standards
or sediment quality
guidelines with measured
values with only minor
errors.
Successfully compares
water quality standards
or sediment quality
guidelines with measured
values and discusses
implications.
2. Ability to use the skills
and modern
environmental
science techniques
and tools necessary
for a successful
career in the field
Is not able to report
measured data due to a
lack of understanding of
methods.
Reports measured
concentrations, but
makes significant math or
methodology errors.
Reports measured
concentrations, with only
minor math or
methodology errors.
Reports measured
concentrations, with no
errors, correct number of
significant figures, and
gives context about the
meaning of the results.
3. Ability to design and
conduct experiments,
and analyze and
interpret data
Cannot perform a linear
regression to obtain
concentrations for lab
reports, does not
mention blank
contamination or correct
for it.
Derives measured results
using a linear calibration
curve, mentions blank
contamination and
corrects for it if
necessary, but may have
significant errors in math
or understanding.
Derives measured results
using a linear calibration
curve, mentions blank
contamination and
corrects for it if
necessary, and has only
minor errors in math or
understanding.
Derives measured results
using a linear calibration
curve, mentions blank
contamination and
corrects for it if
necessary, and has no
significant errors in math
or understanding.
4. Functions effectively
on multidisciplinary
Does not show up for
class, does not participate
Shows up for class,
contributes to the
Shows leadership in
conducting lab exercises,
Shows leadership inside
and outside of class,
in the lab exercise, all
team members rate
conduct as “not
satisfactory”.
laboratory exercises,
most team members rate
conduct as “satisfactory”.
speaks on behalf of team
during class, all team
members rate conduct as
“satisfactory”.
speaks on behalf of team,
helps team members
outside of class, all team
members rate conduct as
“satisfactory”.
5. Communicate technical
information
effectively (orally, in
writing, and through
electronic media)
Does not complete a lab
report, or completes a lab
report that has major
flaws such as no cited
references, missing data,
or unreadable grammar
and spelling.
Completes a lab report
that contains all relevant
data, cites multiple
references, and is
readable, but has
significant errors.
Completes a lab report
that contains all relevant
data, cites multiple
references, is readable,
and has only minor
errors.
Completes a lab report
that contains all relevant
data, cites multiple
references, is readable,
and has virtually no
errors.
6. professional ethical
responsibilities
Plagiarized multiple
references in lab reports,
copies other students’
work, uses web resources
to generate a lab report
that is not substantially
independent work.
Unintentionally
plagiarizes references by
not citing them properly
in the lab reports
Makes only small errors
in citing other’s work.
Cites the work of others
correctly at all times.
7. contemporary
environmental
science issues and the
impact of
environmental
science in a global
and societal context
Does not recognize that
the measurements
performed in class relate
to the Raritan River,
cannot relate them to
applicable regulatory
standards, cannot name
possible sources of
Articulates a link between
the Raritan River and the
measured parameters,
but displays confusion
about which standards
apply to the Raritan River,
or cannot name sources.
Correctly relates the
measured parameters to
the applicable regulatory
limits and can name
sources, but does not
describe what activities
can be taken to reduce
pollution.
Correctly relates the
measured parameters to
the applicable regulatory
limits, can name sources,
and describes several
activities that can be
taken to reduce pollution.
teams
pollution