Introduction to Environmental Science and Analytical Techniques

Introduction to Environmental Science and Analytical Techniques

1. Introduction to Environmental Science and Analytical Techniques INSTRUCTOR ZULFIQAR ALI MPhil UET Lahore University of Layyah

2. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Cource Title

3. Objectives: The course will educate the students about different types of solutions, instruments & analytical procedures and enhance their skills about practical aspects of environmental science so that knowledge becomes more productive.

4. Course Outline: Quality assurance in an Environmental Science laboratory. Purposes and designs of environmental sampling. Sample collection and preservation methods. Standard solutions and standard curves. Instrumentations: principles and procedure for Potentiometery , Conductivitymetry , pH metery , Titrimetery , Gravimetery , Spectroscopy and Chromatography. Analysis of water, wastewater and soil/solid waste samples.

5. Lab Work: S.I. and derived S.I. units. Sample collection, handling, preparation and storage. Analytical techniques for soil, water and plant analysis. Data interpretation for quality control, precision and accuracy. Preparation of Standard solutions and Standard curve. Use of Potentiometery , Conductivitymetry , Titrimetery , Gravimetery , Spectroscopy and Chromatography for the analysis of environmental samples. Determination of chemical characteristics of water and wastewater (pH, All Solids, BOD, COD, 40 Fluoride, NO3–N & NH4-N), soil (NPK and organic matter contents, salinity & sodicity ).

6. Recommended Books: 1. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry, 8th Edition. Skoog, D. A., West, D. M. and F. J. Holler. Thomson and Brooks,2004. 2. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Wastewater.21st Edition. A Greenberg (American Public Health Association), 2005. 3. Qualitative Chemical Analysis. 6th Edition. Harris, D. C., Freeman & Co., New York, 2003.

7. Grading Criteria Mid Term: 30% Final Term: 50% Labs Work/Assignments/Quiz/Presentation: 20 %

8. Lecture Outline Module 1: Introduction to Environmental Analytical Techniques Lecture 1 : Introduction to Environmental Science and Analytical Techniques Lecture 2 : Importance of Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) in Environmental Labs Lecture 3 : Environmental Sampling: Purposes, Designs, and Strategies Lecture 4 : Sample Collection, Handling, and Preservation Methods Module 2: Fundamentals of Analytical Techniques Lecture 5 : Introduction to Standard Solutions and Standard Curves Lecture 6 : Basics of Potentiometry: Principles and Applications Lecture 7 : Conductivitymetry : Principles and Environmental Applications Lecture 8 : pH Metery : Principles and Applications in Environmental Analysis Lecture 9 : Titrimetry : Acid-Base, Redox, and Complexometric Titrations Lecture 10 : Gravimetry: Principles and Applications in Environmental Analysis Module 3: Instrumental Techniques Lecture 11 : Spectroscopy: Principles and Types (UV-Vis, AAS, FTIR) Lecture 12 : Chromatography: Principles and Types (GC, HPLC) Lecture 13 : Hyphenated Techniques: GC-MS, LC-MS Lecture 14 : Emerging Techniques: Biosensors and Nanotechnology in Environmental Analysis

9. Lecture Outline Module 4: Analysis of Environmental Samples Lecture 15 : Water Analysis: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Parameters Lecture 16 : Wastewater Analysis: Key Parameters (BOD, COD, TSS, etc.) Lecture 17 : Soil Analysis: NPK, Organic Matter, Salinity, and Sodicity Lecture 18 : Solid Waste Analysis: Composition and Contaminants Lecture 19 : Analysis of Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3–N), and Ammonium-Nitrogen (NH4-N) Lecture 20 : Analysis of Heavy Metals and Trace Elements in Environmental Samples Module 5: Data Interpretation and Quality Control Lecture 21 : Data Interpretation for Environmental Analysis Lecture 22 : Precision, Accuracy, and Uncertainty in Environmental Measurements Lecture 23 : Statistical Tools for Environmental Data Analysis Lecture 24 : Reporting and Communicating Environmental Data Module 6: Applications and Case Studies Lecture 25 : Case Study 1: Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Lecture 26 : Case Study 2: Soil Health and Fertility Analysis Lecture 27 : Case Study 3: Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Analysis Lecture 28 : Future Trends in Environmental Analytical Techniques

10. Practical Lab Sessions (14) Basics of Environmental Sampling and Preparation Lab 1 : Introduction to S.I. and Derived Units Lab 2 : Sample Collection, Handling, Preparation, and Storage Preparation of Standard Solutions and Calibration Lab 3 : Preparation of Standard Solutions Lab 4 : Preparation of Standard Curves for Analytical Techniques Analytical Techniques for Water and Wastewater Analysis Lab 5 : Conductivitymetry : Measurement of Water Conductivity Lab 6 : Potentiometry: Measurement of pH in Water Samples Lab 7 : Titrimetry : Determination of Alkalinity and Acidity in Water Lab 8 : Gravimetry: Determination of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in Water Lab 9 : Spectrophotometry: Analysis of Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3–N) and Ammonium-Nitrogen (NH4-N) Lab 10 : Determination of BOD and COD in Wastewater Analytical Techniques for Soil Analysis Lab 11 : Analysis of Soil pH, Salinity, and Sodicity Lab 12 : Determination of NPK and Organic Matter in Soil Lab 13 : Chromatography: Analysis of Organic Pollutants in Soil Data Interpretation and Reporting Lab 14 : Data Interpretation for Quality Control, Precision, and Accuracy

11. Introduction to Environmental Science and Analytical Techniques

12. Lecture Objectives Define environmental science and understand its scope. Explain the importance of analytical techniques in environmental monitoring. Identify types of environmental pollutants (chemical, biological, physical). Discuss real-world environmental issues and possible solutions.

13. Environmental science “Environmental science is an interdisciplinary science which integrates physics, biology, geology, chemistry, meteorology, and oceanography all in order to study the interactions between the physical, chemical, and biological components that make up ecosystems. The purpose of environmental science is to understand natural phenomenon and ecosystems, and how humans interact and impact the environment.”

14. Environmental Science Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field that studies how humans interact with the environment and how to manage natural resources sustainably. It combines principles from: Biology – Ecosystems, biodiversity, and species interactions. Chemistry – Chemical reactions in air, water, and soil. Geology – Earth's processes, landforms, and resources. Physics – Energy transfer, pollution control, and climate dynamics.

15. Scope of Environmental Science: Pollution control (air, water, and soil). Scope of Environmental Science: Waste management (solid waste, hazardous waste). Natural resource conservation (forests, water, minerals). Climate change studies (global warming, carbon footprint). Biodiversity protection (species conservation).

16. Importance of Analytical Techniques in Environmental Monitoring Environmental science relies on analytical techniques to study and monitor environmental changes. These techniques help in: a) Pollution Assessment: Measuring contaminants in air, water, and soil. Identifying sources of pollution and their impacts. b) Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring industries follow environmental laws and regulations. Setting water and air quality standards (e.g., WHO, EPA guidelines).

17. Importance of Analytical Techniques in Environmental Monitoring c) Ecosystem Protection: Monitoring biodiversity and soil health. Tracking changes in water bodies and forest degradation. d) Climate Change Studies: Measuring greenhouse gases like CO₂, CH₄, and NOx. Understanding temperature variations and their effects.

18. Types of Environmental Pollutants Environmental pollutants are classified into three major categories: 1. Chemical Pollutants Substances that alter the natural chemical composition of air, water, or soil. Heavy metals: Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As). Pesticides & fertilizers: Nitrates, phosphates. Industrial chemicals: Benzene, dioxins, PCBs. Gaseous pollutants: Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), Nitrogen oxides (NOx).

19. Types of Environmental Pollutants 2. Biological Pollutants Harmful microorganisms that contaminate air, water, and food. Bacteria: E. coli, Salmonella (water contamination). Viruses: Hepatitis A, Polio virus. Parasites: Giardia, Cryptosporidium (waterborne diseases). Fungi: Mold spores affecting indoor air quality. 3. Physical Pollutants Non-chemical pollutants that affect the environment. Plastic waste – Microplastics in oceans and soil. Radioactive materials – Nuclear waste from power plants. Noise pollution – Traffic, industrial, and urban noise. Thermal pollution – Discharge of hot water from industries into rivers.

20. Case Study: Industrial Pollution on Water Bodies Example: River Indus Pollution The Indus River is heavily polluted due to industrial, agricultural, and municipal waste. Main pollutants in the Indus River: Heavy metals from tanneries and factories (lead, mercury). Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural runoff. Untreated sewage containing harmful bacteria and viruses.

21. Case Study: Industrial Pollution on Water Bodies Consequences/ result or effect : Water contamination: Unsafe for drinking and irrigation. Biodiversity loss: Fish and aquatic life decline. Health risks: Waterborne diseases (diarrhea, hepatitis). Solutions: Wastewater treatment plants before industrial discharge. Stricter environmental laws and regulations. Public awareness campaigns about water conservation.

22. Interactive Activity: Group Discussion Task: Divide students into small groups . Each group will identify one major environmental issue in Layyah. Discuss possible solutions and how analytical techniques can help. Each group presents key points in 1-2 minutes. Example Discussion Topics: Agricultural pollution (excessive fertilizers and pesticides). Air pollution from traffic and brick kilns. Solid waste management (plastic and urban waste).

23. Summary Environmental science is interdisciplinary, integrating biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. Analytical techniques are crucial for pollution control, compliance, and ecosystem protection. Chemical, biological, and physical pollutants impact the environment. Case studies like Indus River pollution highlight the need for proper monitoring and solutions. Group discussions help students engage with real-world environmental issues.

24. Discussion Questions for Students What role do analytical techniques play in monitoring environmental quality? How do chemical pollutants differ from biological and physical pollutants? Can you suggest an analytical method to detect heavy metals in water? What environmental challenges does Layyah face, and how can they be addressed?