Course manual 2023/2024

Course content

The course comprises theory and practice of liquid and gas chromatography, and of capillary electrophoresis, including the common detection principles used with these separation techniques.

The fundamental principles of chromatography and capillary electrophoresis (e.g. retention, migration, dispersion, stationary-phase properties) and signal processing (e.g. statistical moments) will be addressed. The characteristics and differences of packed-column and open-tubular separations will be outlined. Attention will be paid to instrumental aspects, such as injection systems for gas chromatography.

For liquid chromatography, various phase systems (modes) including normal-phase, reversed-phase, and ion-exchange, will be discussed. The principles and application of gradient elution will be treated.

Other topics include an introduction to two-dimensional gas chromatography, sample preparation, and polymer separations.

As part of the course, students will give a short presentation on a scientific paper on separations.

 

Study materials

Literature

  • will be available on Canvas

Other

  • Handouts of the lectures

    Exercises for problem solving

Objectives

  • Understand and explain the principles and applications of the main separation techniques used in contemporary analytical science.
  • Understand and explain the theory and practice of modern liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.
  • Understand, explain and rationally apply performance parameters of separation methods.
  • Read, understand, summarize and present recent papers on separation science.

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Seminar
  • Presentation/symposium
  • Self-study

Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Lectures/seminars

56

Presentation incl. preparation

12

Self study

60

 

Attendance

This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).

Additional requirements for this course:

The literature presentation is a requirement. Without literature presentation no grade will be provided.

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

0.8 (100%)

Written exam

Must be ≥ 5

- The written exam, short quizzes and presentation are graded.

- The grade of the written exam (E), average grade of the short quizzes (Q), and grade for the presentation (P) result in the final grade which equals 0.8*E + 0.1*Q + 0.1*P.

- If Q < E than final grade equals 0.9*E + 0.1*P.

- The grade for the written exam should be at least 5.0.

Inspection of assessed work

Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.

Assignments

Pairs of students provide a short presentation on a scientific paper on separations. The presentation will be graded.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

wk day date room lecturer topic    
               
36 Tue 5-Sep see DataNose or time schedule on Canvas GS&BP Intro to course and chromatography 
  Wed 6-sep   BP Chromatographic parameters  
  Fri 8-Sep   BP Dispersion  
37 Tue 12-Sep   GS LC modes I  
  Wed 13-Sep     Short quiz I  
  Fri 15-Sep   BP Peaks & moments  
38 Tue 19-Sep   GS LC Modes II
  Wed 20-Sep   BP Gradients
  Fri 22-Sep   GS Sample Preparation  
39 Tue 26-Sep   GS LC detection
  Wed 27-Sep     Short quiz 2     
  Fri 29-Sep   BP Polymer Separations
40 Tue 3-Oct   GS CE I
  Wed 4-Oct   GS CE II
  Fri 6-Oct   GS CE detection/injection & MEKC
41 Tue 10-Oct   PS Open tubular chromatography
  Wed 11-Oct   PS GC & injection; Short quiz 3 
  Fri 13-Oct   PS 2D GC    
42 Tue 17-Oct     Student presentations
  Wed 18-Oct   BP/GS/PS Question hour
  Fri 20-Oct     Student presentations
43 Tue 24-Oct     Exam

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Contact information

Coordinator

  • prof. dr. Govert Somsen

Docenten

Dr. Bob Pirok (BP)

Prof. Peter Schoenmakers (PS)

Prof. Govert Somsen (GS)