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Sample Collection and Preparation

Environmental Analysis – Lake Nakuru Flamingos: Pesticides

Could toxic pesticides like DDT be responsible for the deaths of large numbers of lesser flamingos at Lake Nakuru, Kenya? While many organochlorine pesticides including DDT have been banned for decades in the US due to their adverse effects on bird populations, especially bald eagles, they are still used for mosquito control in tropical regions of…

Environmental Analysis – Lake Nakuru Flamingos: Heavy Metals

Toxic trace metals are possible culprits for the ongoing deaths of large numbers of lesser flamingos at Lake Nakuru, Kenya. In this section we explore the possible role of heavy metals in these deaths and examine instrumental methods utilized to evaluate levels of copper, zinc, lead and chromium present in Lake Nakuru sediment and suspended solid…

Sample Preparation

Introduction This module introduces students to the topic of sample preparation using a variety of real-world examples from pharmaceutical analysis to environmental analysis. Liquid-liquid extraction, solid phase extraction, QuEChERS, derivatization in chromatography and solid-phase microextraction methods are discussed in a discovery-based and contextual manner. Table of Contents Introduction to Sample Preparation (Word)…

End Creek: Spotted Frogs and Aquatic Snails in Wetlands – A Water Quality Investigation

  Introduction This module provides a context for introducing fundamental techniques used in chemical analysis (spectrophotometry, atomic absorbance spectroscopy and ion selective electrodes) along with considerations about sampling and sample preservation. Using an active learning approach, the module explores some fundamental water quality parameters such as the concentration of inorganic cations and anions that…

Effects of Acid Rain on Atlantic Salmon Populations

Introduction This module provides a real world context for introducing fundamental quantitative techniques (pH, Ion Selective Electrodes, Ion chromatography, and Titrimery) used in chemical analysis of water samples. Using active learning pedagogy, module explores sampling and analyzing the base inorganic ions and acidity parameters in freshwater samples. The module frames the study using the…

Developing an Analytical Method for the Analysis of a Medicinal Plant

Introduction This module introduces students to the process of developing an analytical method using, as a case study, the quantitative analysis of eight analytes in the medicinal plant Danshen using a combination of a microwave extraction to isolate the analytes and HPLC with UV detection to determine their concentrations. The module is divided into nine parts:…