Course detail

Environmental Analysis in Practice

FCH-MA_EAPAcad. year: 2025/2026

Students will be acquainted with various procedures of organic and inorganic sample preparations, preconcentration techniques, and with methods of analyte isolation of selected substances. The course includes analysis of persistent organic pollutants, drug residues, pesticides, personal care products, petroleum substances and polymers. Inorganic part of course is devoted to basic aspects of (ultra)trace analysis, speciation, practical use of instrumental analytical techniques in the analysis of environmental samples, and in monitoring of environment quality. Course also includes forensics analysis, legislation and validation of analytical methods. Different types of sample will be discussed, such as air, water, soil. In laboratory course, students will apply the gained knowledge from the theoretical part (sampling, sample preparation, analysis and data treatment as well as data interpretation), and use AAS, SN/LA-ICP-MS, GC/ECD, GC/FID, GC/MS, HPLC/DAD, UHPLC/DAD, HPLC/MS in analysis of environmental matrices.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Michaela Vašinová Galiová, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection (ÚCHTOŽP)

Offered to foreign students

The home faculty only

Entry knowledge

Not applicable.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Lecture – oral exam (at least 50% of questions must be answered)
Laboratory course – 100% participation in the course, elaboration of protocols and their approval, elaboration of essay and its presentation
Attendance at the lecture is not required, only recommended.
Attendance at practices is mandatory. For the credit awards it is essential to completing all tasks.

Aims

The aim of the course is to inform students about theoretical and practical knowledge of selected methods used for analysis organic and inorganic substances in the field of environmental and forensic analysis. Students will be acquainted with various sampling procedures, basic aspects of trace analysis, legislation and application of selected analytical methods in solving a specific analytical problem.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Erico Marlon Moraes Flores, Microwave-Assisted Sample Preparation for Trace Element Analysis, Elsevier B.V., 2014. (EN)
J. R. Dean: Methods for environmental trace analysis, Wiley, 2003. ISBN: 978-0-470-84422-9 (EN)
Zoltan Mester, Ralph E. Sturgeon, Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry 41, Sample Preparation for Trace Element Analysis-Elsevier Science, 2003. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme NPAP_ENVI Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme NKCP_ECHT Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme NPCP_ECHT Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Michaela Vašinová Galiová, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Lecture
1. Analyte isolation (extraction), precleaning and preconcentration steps – water and solid samples with focusing on organic analysis
2. Persistent organic pollutants analysis (PAH, PCB, PBDE, PFOs, …)
3. Analysis of drug residues, pesticides in environment
4. Analysis of personal care products, petroleum substances and polymers in environment
5. Validation, SOP, EU legislation, EPA methods
6. GC/MS and MC/MS in forensic analysis of organic compounds
7. Basic methods for air analysis (NOx, SO3, CO2, volatile compounds, O3, PM10, …)
8. Introduction to inorganic analysis, aspects of (ultra)trace analysis – theory and practice
9. Mineralization of environmental samples and extraction and preconcentration techniques used in inorganic analysis
10. Instrumental analytical techniques used in inorganic analysis
11. ICP-MS in environmental analysis, speciation – applications, analysis of liquids and solids
12. Forensic applications – stable isotopes and isotopic systems of selected elements
13. Monitoring of inorganic pollutants, legislation

Laboratory course
Block 1
1. Abiotic matrices sampling using conventional procedures (soil and water)
2. Abiotic matrices sampling with new non-traditional methods – passive sampling

Block 2
1. Preanalytical treatment of collected matrices to laboratory sample (soil)
2. Isolation of selected priority pollutants based on inorganic and organic pollutants

Block 3
1. Analysis of inorganic substances in samples abiotic matrices (mercury, lead, cadmium, nitrates)
2. Analysis of organic pollutants in samples of abiotic matrices (PAHs, PCBs, pharmaceuticals, musk compounds, pesticides)

Guided consultation in combined form of studies

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Michaela Vašinová Galiová, Ph.D.

Laboratory exercise

39 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Michaela Vašinová Galiová, Ph.D.