Including Non-Traditional Instrumentation in Undergraduate Environmental Chemistry Courses

Abstract

Georgia Southern University requires all students to take a course in environmental science through the chemistry, geology, biology or physics departments. This policy, implemented in 1999 and supported by the National Science Foundation, is aimed at improving scientific literacy and awareness. Implementation required laboratory experiences appropriate for students with minimal science background. We also offer an upper level environmental chemistry course for our majors, and sought to expand its experimental resources. In this work, we report on the successful incorporation of a direct mercury analyzer into the laboratory for both non-majors and majors.

Rapid Determination of Mercury in Seafood in an Introductory Environmental Science Class

“…Interference from other species is not an issue as (a) nonmercury species remain in the catalyst tube and (b) a key advantage to atomic absorbance is its specificity (i.e., using a mercury lamp as the excitation source excludes species that do not absorb at that specific wavelength). 1 This instrument is cost-effective and has a small footprint. The system software is user-friendly, allowing for rapid student training.…”

“…All students at Georgia Southern University are required to take a core-curriculum course in environmental science through the chemistry, geology, biology, or physics departments. We have previously reported on the need for laboratory experiences appropriate for nonmajor students, the educational impact of regional relevance, and the suitability of direct mercury analysis for this target group (1). Traditional mercury-determination methods of sample digestion in concentrated acids followed by atomic absorption and cold vapor deposition are not appropriate for students with minimal laboratory skills.…”

Food and More for Thought

“…Fortineau (5) addresses many issues about perfumes, and Mabrouk (6) explains the chemistry behind making lotions. Use of environmental issues is most important when bringing chemistry into the classroom (7). (Don't forget that the next issue-February 2004-will prepare us for doing classroom activities in support of the upcoming Earth Day!)…”

Mercury in Environmental and Biological Samples Using Online Combustion with Sequential Atomic Absorption and Fluorescence Measurements: A Direct Comparison of Two Fundamental Techniques in Spectrometry

“…An increasing number of chemistry and biochemistry departments are utilizing nontraditional instrumentation in their analytical and environmental chemistry courses . One class of instruments that have been shown to generate student enthusiasm and provide a number of learning opportunities is mercury analyzers based on sample combustion, amalgamation with gold, and AAS .The technique, also called thermal decomposition-AAS, is commonly used to measure mercury in environmental and biological samples − ; it is rapid, requires no sample pretreatment (e.g., no acid digestions), and is available in instrumentation by multiple manufacturers 2.…”