ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

The course Environmental Analytical Chemistry is part of the related/integrative educational activities within the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Engineering for the Ecological Transition. It contributes to the training of professionals able to understand, use, and critically evaluate analytical data employed in the study, monitoring, and control of environmental matrices. The course provides knowledge and methodological tools related to the principles of analytical measurement, data quality, sampling, sample preparation, and the main classical and instrumental analytical techniques applied to matrices such as air, water, soil, and waste. In this way, the course contributes to the educational objectives of the degree programme by preparing students to formulate analytical questions correctly, to interact knowingly with analytical laboratories, and to interpret results in relation to monitoring, compliance, risk assessment, and environmental remediation problems. The course also represents the natural applied continuation of Environmental Chemistry.

At the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the fundamental principles of analytical chemistry applied to environmental contexts, the statistical nature of analytical data, the main parameters of measurement quality, the principles of method validation and quality control, sampling and sample-preparation strategies, and the theoretical and instrumental foundations of the main classical and instrumental analytical techniques used for the chemical characterisation of environmental matrices.

Students will be able to:
- understand the role of analytical data in environmental monitoring, control, and decision-making processes;
- correctly use scientific terminology related to analytical methods, instruments, and data-quality parameters;
- critically evaluate the suitability of a technique or method according to the matrix, analyte, and objective of the investigation;
- understand the basic principles of a sampling plan and of the main sample-preparation strategies;
- interpret analytical results taking into account accuracy, precision, sensitivity, detection limits, uncertainty, and quality control;
- relate the theoretical principles of analytical techniques to the main application fields of environmental monitoring.

The course will also develop the ability to critically discuss the strengths and limitations of analytical data and to use this knowledge to address environmental problems in a methodologically informed way.

Basic knowledge of general chemistry and stoichiometry, of the fundamental contents of Environmental Chemistry and mathematics is required.

The course addresses the principles and applications of environmental analytical chemistry, with particular reference to the role of analytical data in environmental monitoring, control, and decision-support processes. The contents include the fundamentals of analytical measurement, the statistical nature of analytical data, types of error, measurement uncertainty, statistical treatment of results, and the basic principles of statistical significance; method validation and quality control, including figures of merit, reference materials, interlaboratory tests, control charts, the concept of reliable measurement, and the principles of experimental design.

The course also covers sampling and sample preparation for environmental matrices, with reference to in-situ and ex-situ, discrete and continuous measurement strategies, sampling plans and strategies, representativeness, preservation, transport, contamination, QA/QC, sampling devices, and the main preparative techniques, including classical and assisted extraction methods, SPE, QuEChERS, microextraction, and digestion for elemental analysis.

The course then addresses the fundamentals of chemical equilibria in aqueous solution and volumetric methods, with particular reference to acid-base, complexation, solubility, and redox equilibria, titration curves, and environmental applications; the main electroanalytical techniques, with particular reference to potentiometry, ion-selective electrodes, voltammetry, stripping voltammetry, amperometry, and conductometry; molecular spectroscopic techniques, with reference to UV-Vis, fluorescence, IR, and Raman; atomic spectroscopic techniques, with reference to AAS, ICP-OES, and AFS; chromatographic techniques, with particular reference to GC and HPLC, retention, efficiency, selectivity, and resolution parameters, and the main detectors used in environmental analysis. An optional introduction to mass spectrometry and hyphenated techniques is also provided.

Topics are also developed through application examples related to the monitoring and characterisation of environmental matrices, which are an integral part of the course and are used to connect analytical principles with real problems of compliance, speciation, screening, monitoring, and control.

Required study materials: slides and teaching materials presented and discussed during lectures, made available by the lecturer through the course Moodle platform.

Intagrative (optional) reference texts:
Sabbatini, Malitesta, Pastore, Chimica Analitica, Edises, 2025.
Christian, Dasgupta, Schug, Chimica analitica, Piccin, 2024.
For specific further reading on environmental sampling: Zhang, Fundamentals of Environmental Sampling and Analysis, Wiley-Interscience, 2007.
Other optional materials: any additional materials, papers, reports, or further bibliographic references uploaded or suggested during the course.

Assessment is based on an oral examination. The examination is aimed at assessing: knowledge of the theoretical principles of environmental analytical chemistry and of the main analytical techniques covered in the course; the ability to correctly frame analytical problems related to environmental matrices; the ability to critically interpret analytical data and results, taking into account data quality, uncertainty, method limitations, and fitness for purpose; and the correct use of technical and scientific terminology. The examination covers the contents included in the course slides; any additional materials are to be considered optional.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Assessment criteria:
27–30: Full mastery of the topics covered in the course; ability to independently reorganise acquired knowledge in order to adapt analytical strategies to specific applications; appropriate use of technical terminology.
23–26: Good knowledge of the course topics; fair ability to organise information and effectively present analytical solutions discussed during the course; general familiarity with technical terminology.
18–22: Superficial knowledge of the topics covered; partially structured oral presentation with occasional need for guidance; use of technical terminology not always accurate.
Honours (cum laude) will be awarded in cases where the student demonstrates the ability to reinterpret analytical solutions presented in the course in a personal, original, and critical way.

The course is delivered through in-person lectures. Teaching activities are aimed at developing the understanding of the theoretical principles of environmental analytical chemistry and of the main analytical techniques applied to environmental matrices. Topics are also developed through application examples, which are an integral part of the learning path and allow students to connect theoretical contents with real monitoring and environmental control problems.