Course for international guest/part time students

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Organization

TTK Department of Analytical Chemistry

Code

advanalk20em

Title

Modern Methods in Analytical Chemistry

Usual semester

Spring

Published semester

2025/26/2, 2026/27/1

ECTS

4

Language

en

Learning outcomes

The goal of this course is to give a comprehensive view about modern and state-of-the-art instrumental methods applicable in academic research and industry. The achieved knowledge must contain skills such as: choosing the best and most proper investigation method for any given investigation question, that the given sample (e.g. drug candidate, food, oil industry product, etc) can be analyzed with highest sensitivity in the shortest possible time. It is also a goal, that one can efficiently find the way in the vast amount of scientific information. A deep scientific knowledge that enables the student to make self-sufficient decisions regarding which method to choose, being able to critically analyze the limits of the technique. For example: in what concentration range can be a given method used, what types of global and local parameters are possible to be determined and which are the influencing factors. On the other hand, the synergy of which methods is applicable to reach the desired goal. We particularly emphasize developing skills that are important both in scientific co-operations, and in industrial work: the ability to formulate questions and to lead scientific conversations in a clear, precise and focused way; to be up-to-date in the scientific literature, and based on this to be able to distinguish between real and unreal results. It is of utmost importance to communicate and to interpret the scientific achievements towards the general public. The student has to achieve a view to be open towards new technologies, to novel environmental tasks and to be capable to be enrolled in scientific co-operations and to accumulate new knowledge. To gain a responsible attitude towards own scientifical statements, and take the consequences, too. The students have to learn to be responsible in leading chemical laboratories, managing instruments, and/or being able to lead the personnel managing the instrumentation.

Course content

We give a comprehensive presentation of modern instrumental techniques, emphasizing methods that are not presented in other courses; however, they are important in the everyday investigations both in academic research and industry. Topics include strategies of modern sample preparation - this step being the bottleneck of all investigations. We focus on novel innovative solutions, such as miniaturization possibilities, „lab-on-a-chip” methods, chemical sensors.  To characterize by local and/or global parameters a given system we discuss several aspects of analytical and q-NMR methods, CD spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), mass spectrometry; biotechnological methods, imaging techniques.

Assessment method

Independent home-work is given after each lecture that contains various tasks. The students have to perform literature search and elaborate a given topic, by learning to use and interpret scientific texts. Problem solving abilities: to elaborate a method for a given determination. Developing skills how to use data-bases, solving various mathematical problems, and how to analyze spectra.

Bibliography

P.J.Hore: NMR spectroscopy J. Lambert et al: NMR spectroscopy: An introduction to principles, applications, and experimental methods U. Holzgrabe (ed): NMR spectroscopy in pharmaceutical analysis (q-NMR) J. Janata: Principles of chemical sensors R.E. OOsterbroaek (ed): Lab-on-a-chip J. Pawliszyn (ed): Handbook of sample preparation

Programmes of the course