55006 - Chemical Toxicological Analysis I

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has the basic theoretical and practical knowledge to perform chemical-toxicological analysis. In particular, the student will be able to: - know the analytical characteristics of pollutants with particular reference to water and soil pollutants - understand the main methods of analysis of pollutants by current legislation - apply specific methodologies and analytical techniques through laboratory pratice in single place.

Course contents

MODULE 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS IN THE WATER MATRIX

4 ECTS, 40 hours (2 ECTS frontal lessons, 16 hours; 2 ECTS laboratory exercises, 24 hours)

General aspects of the chemical toxicological analysis of the water matrix: reference legislation; type of water (classification based on origin, use and destination); classification of the main water contaminants.

Water sampling procedures and storage methods.

Sample preparation methods: liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE), micro-extraction (SPME) in solid phase, stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE).

Instrumental analytical methods for the determination of contaminants in the water matrix:

• Atomic absorption spectroscopy: principles of the technique. instrumentation. Applications in water analysis.
• UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy: summary of the principles of the technique. Lambert's law Beer and quantitative analysis. Lambert Beer deviations. Instrumentation. Quantitative analysis by derivative spectroscopy. Application to chemical-toxicological analysis. Characteristics and limits of the technique.
  
• Chromatographic techniques: Definition of chromatographic parameters. Van Dempter equation. Liquid chromatography: instrumentation, separative approaches, types of elution (isocratic, gradient), types of detectors, qualitative and quantitative analysis. Gas chromatography: instrumentation, types of elution, detector types. Environmental applications.

MODULE 2 - ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS IN AIR AND SOIL MATRICES

4 ECTS, 40 hours (2 ECTS frontal lessons, 16 hours; 2 ECTS laboratory exercises, 24 hours)

General aspects of the chemical toxicology analysis of the air matrix: outline of the main legislative references on the monitoring of air and soil quality.

Air matrix

Air quality monitoring and air quality index. Outdoor pollution: main pollutants. Indoor pollution: main pollutants and their sources. Atmospheric monitoring: sampling strategies, sampling locations, time of sampling, type of sample, sample size. Sampling of aeriforms: samplers (glass containers, plastic bags, canisters). Pollutant sampling: absorption sampling (impregnated filters, denuders, detecting vials and diffusion tube); adsorption sampling (adsorbent tubes and vials, diffusion samplers, SPME); condensation at low temperatures. Direct reading devices. Sampling efficiency. Erosol sampling: HI-VOL sampler; inverted sampler and impactors.

Soil matrix

Main soil components; soil types, soil properties. Sampling: purpose of the sampling, choice of the area to be sampled, number of samples to be taken, location of the sampling. Types of sampler: shirt samplers, ring samplers, core samplers and Beeker sampler.

Methods for the preparation of the sample for the soil matrix: extraction with solvent, accelerated extraction with solvent (ASE and PSE), extraction with supercritical fluid (SFE), solid phase extraction (SPE), Molecularly Imprinted Solid-phase Extraction (MISPE).

Instrumental analytical methods for the determination of contaminants in the air matrix and in the soil matrix (in addition to those already included in module I of the course):

• Molecular fluorescence spectroscopy: summary of the principles of the technique, quantum yield, Stokes Shift, instrumentation, quantitative analysis, excimer formation, derivatization.
• Infrared spectroscopy: principles, instrumentation and interpretation of a spectrum.
• Chromatographic techniques. Thin layer chromatography (TLC): instrumentation, detection, qualitative and quantitative analysis, two-dimensional TLC. Gas chromatography: instrumentation, types of elution, detector types. Environmental applications.
• Mass spectrometry: ionization techniques, types of sources, mass analyzers and acquisition modes (SRM, MRM). Applications to the qualitative and quantitative analysis of environmental samples of various origins.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides

Teaching methods

The course is divided into 16+16 hours (4+4 CFU) of lectures in which the main instrumental techniques applied to the analysis of environmental samples will be discussed. The course will be accompanied by 24+24 hours (4+4 CFU) of laboratory exercises during which the student will compile a laboratory book. The exercises are intended to provide each student with the possibility of applying analytical methods for the identification and determination in environmental matrices and to personally use the instrumentation necessary for the execution of such analyses.

 

Attendance at lectures and laboratories will be monitored through the collection of attendance signatures. Considering the activities and teaching methods adopted in this course, attending it requires the students (including all the international incoming exchange students, i.e. ERASMUS+) to have already completed modules 1 and 2 (in e-learning mode at this web address [https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it/?lang=en], as well as module 3 (in person) of the specific "Health and Safety in places of study" course. An updated schedule and the manner of attending module 3 are available in the corresponding section of the Graduation Programme webpage [https://corsi.unibo.it/laurea/ScienzeFarmaceutiche/corsi-formazione-sicurezza] .

Assessment methods

The assessment of learning outcomes is aimed at evaluating the theoretical and practical skills acquired by students through attendance at lectures and laboratory sessions. In particular, the following competences will be assessed:

• Command of instrumental analytical terminology and of the theoretical foundations of the topics covered in the course
• Ability to carry out routine qualitative and quantitative chemical-toxicological laboratory analyses
• Specific knowledge of the uses, reactions, toxicity, and analytical procedures relating to the compounds examined
• Critical ability to evaluate and interpret laboratory analytical results

The assessment consists of an oral examination comprising several questions concerning both the theoretical content and the practical laboratory activities. During the laboratory sessions, students are required to carry out practical tests, the results of which must be recorded in their own laboratory notebook. The laboratory notebook forms an integral part of the final assessment.

Students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the relevant University Office well in advance: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en . The Office will propose any appropriate accommodations, which must in any case be submitted to the lecturer for approval at least 15 days in advance. The lecturer will assess their suitability, also in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

The examination will normally be held in person, except in the event of public health emergencies or flooding affecting the student’s country, residence in areas classified as being at risk under the new regulations, and/or student vulnerability, as assessed by the SLD and Disability Service. Each case will be evaluated individually and, where the relevant requirements are met, the examination may be taken via Microsoft Teams.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

The use of AI is prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be conducted with the support of electronic media (PCs, tablets and connected devices). The practice will be carried out in specially equipped educational laboratories where students will have a single work place, the instrumentation and materials necessary for environmental chemical-toxicological analysis.

Office hours

See the website of Marina Naldi