Objectives of general skills

• Implement an engineering approach dealing with a set problem taking into account technical, economic and environmental constraints
• Identify and describe the problem to be solved and the functional need (of prospective clients) to be met considering the state of technology
• Communicate the approach, results and prospects to a client or a board
• Identify and acquire the information and skills needed to solve the problem
• Understand the theoretical and methodological fundamentals in science and engineering to solve problems involving these disciplines
• Identify, describe and explain basic scientific and mathematical principles
• Identify, describe and explain the basic principles of engineering particularly in their specialising field
• Understand laboratory techniques: testing, measuring, monitoring protocol, and security
• Select and rigorously apply knowledge, tools and methods in sciences and engineering to solve problems involving these disciplines
• Communicate in a structured way - both orally and in writing, in French and English - giving clear, accurate, reasoned information
• Use several methods of written and graphic communication: text, tables, equations, sketches, maps, graphs, etc.
• Present analysis or experiment results in laboratory reports
• Demonstrate thoroughness and independence throughout their studies
• Develop their scientific curiosity and open-mindedness
• Learn to use various resources made available to inform and train independently

UE's Learning outcomes

The aim of the analytical chemistry and chemometrics course is to enable students to: - Conduct quantitative analyses based on protocol - Exploit appropriate statistical tools for data processing, be able to present analytical results and be critiqued. - Understand the chemical equilibrium of water and apply this to natural water. - Understand the steps of sample preparation and the stages of instrumental analysis. - Understand the physical principle and operation of elemental analysis techniques and UV-visible spectroscopy and understand their limitations and potential.

UE Content

As quantitative analysis plays a major role in many fields of engineering sciences, basic statistical tools for the presentation and validation of the results will be taught. The calibration methods for quantification when using relative methods are the subject of a specific part of this course, which is necessary to understand matrix effects and errors associated with different instrumental analytical techniques. Some methods of sample preparation / concentration are integral to the teaching. This analytical chemistry course is primarily based on the chemistry of aqueous media. A rapid review of the main balances and kinetic aspects of chemical reactions is the basis for the presentation of calco-carbonic equilibrium and complexation reactions (study of complexes present in natural water and complexation reactions for analysis of things, such as different hardnesses). The molecular spectrometric techniques (UV-visible) will complete this part. Both for liquid and solid samples, elemental analyses by atomic emission and absorption spectrometries (flame photometry, ICP, atomic absorption) will be studied on the basis of principles of analysis, instruments, their particularities and various configurations (hydride generation, graphite furnace, ICP-MS, etc.) and possible difficulties for each technique will be discussed (interference, sensitivity, linearity, etc.). In addition, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction will be discussed for the comparison for solid samples analysis. A final part of the course is dedicated to the introduction of gas and liquid chromatographic methods coupled with universal or specific detectors as part of environmental applications such as quantification of PAH or chlorinated solvents in water or soil.

Prior experience

Knowledge of basic chemical reaction, chemical equilibrium conditions and expressions of equilibrium constants and the notions of thermochemistry are required to follow this teaching unit. Optical notions and statistical calculations are also required.