Environmental Analysis
Environmental Analysis
Environmental Analysis
Pollution:
The addition of a substance by human activity to the
environment which can cause injury to human health
or damage to natural ecosystem
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Aims:
Pollution Monitoring
Evaluation:
• Investigate trends in pollution and identity future
problems
• Develop computer models which simulate
environmental process
• Inform the quality of environment
• etc
ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
Sampling: is process by which a sample is
obtained
Aims:
To convert the sample and analyte into a form
suitable for analysis by the chosen method
To eliminate interfering substances
To concentrate the sample
A variety of sample treatment methods depend on:
Type of sample
The analyte to be determined
The kind of analytical method to be used
Selectivity
Expected concentration of analyte in the sample
Number of samples to be analyzed
Analysis time
Cost of the analysis
Classified as specific, selective or universal.
Analysis Methods
• Blanko
Accuracy
(x
2
Standard deviation : x)
s
i
n 1
RSD (relative standard deviation) :
RSD% ( s x) 100%
Bias and variance
Cu by AAS
10.4
A solution containing copper was
Cu in ppm
10.2
analysed 10 times using atomic 10
absorption spectroscopy. 9.8
9.6
The results obtained in ppm were: 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
10.08, 9.80, 10.10, 10.21, 10.14, Replicate sample
9.88, 10.02, 10.12, 10.11, 10.09
Bias = Mean value - true value
We can now calculate the precision
= 10.06 - 10.00
of the data as standard deviation
= 0.06 ppm
If the true value is known to be
10.00 ppm, we can also calculate Standard deviation (SD) = 0.12(4)
the bias
Relative SD = 100 X SD/10.00 = 1.2%
Conclusion - the method gives both good accuracy (low bias) and
acceptable precision (RSD of 1.2%)
Repeatability &
Reproducibility
Repeatability — is determined by analyzing replicate
samples on the same day under the same condition
(using the same instrument and operator, and
repeating during a short time period)
Reproducibility — is determined by analyzing
replicate samples under the condition may vary
(different instruments and operators, and over longer
time periods)
Reference Materials
Actual samples (e.g. river water, sediment, soil) which they can analysed
by government lab.
CRM (certifed reference materials) and can be purchased from
government. LGC in UK, BCR in USA.
The refernce material can be then be analysed and the determined coc
compared with that quoted on the certified accompanying the material to
get analytical error.
Concentration Unit
Problems of Environmental Analysis
Low concentration of analyte; below the detection limit of
many analytical methods.
Speciation, since a substance (e.g. Heavy metal) may be pty of the present
in different forms, and toxicity of sbstance may depend on its form.