Development of Environmental-Problem Solving Curriculum: Acquisition of GC/MS and Sample Preparation Equipment

该项目使现代环境化学分析在该大学的环境化学重点领域得以实施，这是学士化学学位课程的一个选择。该计划的目标是通过教授美国环境保护署（USEPA）的环境分析和评估方法，为学生从事环境监测、评估和工业生态研究与发展的职业做好准备。这是通过两个讲座/实验课程和一个必要的独立研究项目来完成的。学生通过小组合作学习环境评估技术，根据国家环境政策法案（1970）的指导方针准备环境影响报告书（EIS）。样本被收集和分析，以获得支持环境影响评估的数据。唯一未测量的无机优先污染物是汞，因此本项目提供了一个蒸汽发生器附件，用于现有的原子吸收系统。该项目还提供气相色谱质谱计，以测量特定的有机化合物，包括氯化农药，多氯联苯，多环芳烃和石油碳氢化合物。其他新设备升级了样品制备程序，以提高安全性，效率和分析物收率，并减少分析本身对环境的影响。该设备包括微波辅助消化器、研磨机、组织均质器、冷冻干燥器、声波分解器、固相萃取装置以及从库德纳-丹麦蒸发器中加热和回收溶剂的设备。新的实验室经验可以添加到该大学的环境化学实验室手册中，该手册正在其他机构使用。没有其他的本科教学手册可用于教授USEPA方法。新设备还可以用于强制性的学生研究项目，这些项目的结果传统上是在校外展示的。＊

This project enables the implementation of modern environmental chemical analyses in the university's area of emphasis in environmental chemistry, which is offered as an option within the bachelor's chemistry degree program. The program's goal is to prepare students for careers in environmental monitoring, assessment, and industrial ecology research and development by teaching them U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) methods of environmental analysis and assessment. This is done in two lecture/laboratory courses and a required independent research project. Students learn environmental assessment techniques by working as a group to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) using National Environmental Policy Act (1970) guidelines. Samples are collected and analyzed to obtain data in support of the EIS. The only inorganic priority pollutant that had not been measured is Hg, and hence this project provides a vapor generator accessory to be used on an existing AAS. The project also provides a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer to enable measurement of specific organic compounds including chlorinated pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, and petroleum hydrocarbons. Other new equipment upgrades sample preparation procedures to improve safety, efficiency, and analyte yield and reduce the environmental impact of the analysis itself. This equipment includes a microwave-assisted digestor, a grinding mill, a tissue homogenizer, a freeze drier, a sonic dismembrator, solid-phase extraction units, and equipment to heat and recover solvents from Kuderna-Danish evaporators. The new laboratory experiences can be added to the university's Environmental Chemistry Laboratory manual, which is in use at other institutions. No other undergraduate teaching manual is available for teaching USEPA methods. The new equipment can also be used in mandatory student research projects, whose results are traditionally presented off campus. *