The Use of an Automated Ion Analyzer in an Environmental Science Curriculum

当今世界面临的许多环境问题涉及无机污染物(重金属、酸雨、酸性矿山排水、农业污染物)。环境科学的本科教学必须为研究这些问题提供一种手段。在环境实验室课程和学生研究项目中使用自动离子分析仪，使学生能够提出他们以前的分析技术无法探索的问题。Lachat流动注射自动离子分析仪能够分析不同介质中的样品，包括阳离子和阴离子，并可扩展以满足学生研究兴趣的需求。这种设备在私营和公共部门广泛使用，为学生提供关于他们毕业后可能会遇到的设备的重要培训。此外，学生研究项目的数量和质量都在提高，及时研究适合宾夕法尼亚州大学环境的环境问题。学生们可以接触到受农业和工业影响的溪流、接受酸性沉积和过量营养物质负荷的湖泊，以及酸性矿山排水场地。学生研究机会的增加可以帮助他们完成毕业后的计划，无论他们是在环境相关的工作中，还是在研究生课程中。

Many of the environmental problems facing the world today involve inorganic contaminants (heavy metals, acid rain, acid mine drainage, agricultural pollutants). Undergraduate instruction in environmental science must provide a means for investigating these problems. The use of an automated ion analyzer in environmental laboratory courses and in student research projects enables students to pursue questions that they were unable to investigate with previous analytical techniques. The LACHAT flow injection automated ion analyzer has the capability to analyze samples from different media for both cations and anions, and is expandable to meet the needs of student research interests. The equipment is widely used in the private and public sectors and provides students with important training on equipment they will likely encounter upon graduation. In addition, the quantity and quality of student research projects is improving, with timely studies of environmental problems appropriate to the college setting in Pennsylvania. The students have access to agriculturally and industrially impacted streams, lakes receiving acidic deposition and excess nutrient loading, and acidic mine drainage sites. The increase in research opportunities for students can help them in their postgraduation plans, whether they be in environmentally related employment, or in graduate programs.