Aim
The aim of the course is to provide the students with advanced knowledge and insight in analytical chemistry with emphasis on analytical separation techniques. The course also contributes to the development of the ability of the students to independently choose, optimise and perform chemical analyses. The course thus aims to provide the conditions needed for the student to be able to assimilate a coherent overview of the subject, which will underpin his or her ability to create new techniques/methods that will be applicable in new topics arising in the industry.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

be able to explain advanced theories of gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• have knowledge about how chromatographic techniques, methods and detectors are chosen taking into consideration the properties of the analytes and the sample matrix

• be able to demonstrate familiarity with the foundations of capillary electrophoresis and be able to explain how capillary electrophoresis is used for the analysis of low molecular analytes and macromolecules respectively

• be able describe how gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry is employed and be able to demonstrate familiarity with the foundations of qualitative mass spectrometric analysis (GC-MS)

• have knowledge about different sample preparations techniques

• able to explain the meaning of concepts used in quality assessement of analytical results

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

be able to optimise chromatographic separations by means of theoretical calculations
• be able to estimate the choice of chromatographic technique and method based on the properties of the analytes and sample matrix, and be able to apply this experimentally

• be able to interpret experimentally generated mass spectra for qualitative analysis

• be able to compile experimentally generated data into concise, clearly written technical reports

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

understand how the choice of an analytical technique and method affects the quality of the analytical result

Contents
The course considers different analytical techniques and methods for the separation of analytes in gases and liquids for quantitative and qualitative analytical analysis.

Lectures: Advanced theoretical aspects in chromatographic separations including partition and adsorption equilibrium. Instrumentation and experimental techniques for high performance liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography with selective detection systems. Coupling of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Introduction to capillary electrophoresis and sample preparation and quality assurance.

Experimental work: Quantitative gas chromatography and liquid chromatography and qualitative gas chromatography – mass spectrometry experiments are carried out. These experiments represent common analytical methods that are employed within the food and pharmaceutical industries as well as in environmental analytical chemistry. Examples of applications are determination of theophyllin in human plasma and ascorbic acid in urine with liquid chromatography, and chiral separations of terbutaline enantiomers with capillary electrophoresis.

Literature
Harris, D C: Quantitative Chemical Analysis. Seventh ed. Freeman 2007. ISBN: 0-7167-7041-5.
Compendia. Div. of Technical Analytical Chemistry.
Laboratory text. Div. of Technical Analytical Chemistry.