The lectures discuss basic principles of different separation techniques and give a summary of a few of the most important methods like capillary gas chromatography, HPLC, capillary electrophoresis and combinations of these with mass spectrometry. In this connection, specific instrumental aspects, sample workup methods, optimizing of separations and problem solving, are discussed. When relevant the different methods, techniques and applications are also discussed regarding environmental and sustainability issues.

The laboratory course includes a group assignment or minor project, which is often related to an ongoing research project or a relevant industrial project.

After completion of the course the student will be able to:

• Explain the basic principles for gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, describe the different methods, which are used in each technique respectively and the instrumental variants that exist.
• Suggest and explain how the method development and the optimization can be accomplished for the different techniques.
• Participate actively in the demonstration laboratory exercises.
• Define and compare the different methods, choose technique/method for specific analysis problems and motivate the choices also with respect to environmental and sustainability aspects.
• Plan, perform and evaluate a laboration project in a group, present the lab project in a written report and an oral presentation for the other students in the course.

Lectures 

During the course, lectures about among other things liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis will be given. Furthermore, sample preparation, trace analysis, hyphenated techniques, biomolecule separation etc. will be discussed. For details see the course schedule.

Exercises 

During the exercises, demonstration labs in chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry will be performed. A video about capillary electrophoresis will be shown in Zoom. More details will be given in Canvas.

During a tutorial session, several different real-life analysis problems will be presented and discussed.

At the end of the course the students will present their lab projects orally. For details see the course schedule.

A study visit to a company will be performed. Detailed information about this will be available later.

Lab project 

The lab exercises are divided into 6 occasions of 6 hours each and are performed in groups of about 4 students. Before the lab project begins, a literature search, and a risk assessment will be performed.

The projects are most often parts of research projects in the division. This means that the students will be working in a way similar to real research and not with prepared lab tasks. The lab project is accounted for in a written report, and orally presented for the rest of the students at the end of the course.

Recommended prior knowledge:
KD1280/KD1290 Chemical Analysis or corresponding knowledge.

Quantitative Chemical Analysis, D.C. Harris, C.A. Lucy, 10ed ISBN: 978-1-319-32450-6.

Material distributed during lectures and exercises is also included. Most of this material will be collected in Canvas.

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• LAB1 - Laboratory Work, 4.5 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Oral exam, 3.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Final grade for the complete course is based on the grade of TEN1.

E - the student should be able to fulfill all parts of the first four Course objectives on a general and basic level, and fulfill the fifth Course objective

C - the student should be able to fulfill all parts of the first four Course objectives on both a general and basic level and on a more detailed level, and with both more width and depth, and fulfill the fifth Course objective

A - the student should be able to fulfill all parts of the first four Course objectives on both a general and basic level and on a detailed level and with both width and depth, and be able to use this knowledge to solve and discuss new separation problems, and fulfill the fifth Course objective

At the end of the course an oral exam is performed at a date individually decided together with the examiner. The grade obtained in this exam will be the final grade (A - F). The grades A-E means passing the course and the grade Fx gives the possibility for complementing, while the grade F is the same as failing.

To obtain the final grade, presence during the demonstration labs at Campus, completed tasks for digital demonstration lab, participation at the company visit, as well as the lab project must be approved.

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.