The Water Analysis exercises (TuCaN 3214) are part of Special Modul SM9 “Hydrogeological Methods” of the MSc TropHEE and scheduled for the 1nd semester but had to be adjourned to the 2nd semester due to capacity bottlenecks in the lab. This course prepares for the HydrogeologicalField Course (TuCaN 3417) scheduled for the 2nd semester.
The Water Analysis course contains lectures and a practical part with surface water sampling, measuring water temperature, EC, pH, oxygen concentration and alkalinity in the field as well ion concentrations in the lab with AAS, IC and Photometry. A salt concentration experiment (EC = f(salt concentration)) with 2 different salts and an introduction to chromatography was also part of the exercises.
Monday we walked along the stream Darmbach with a water sampling case with multimeter, several electrical probes, plastic bottles, titrator, .... At six stations we took water samples: 2 plastic bottles per station/location - one for anion-analysis and one for cationanalysis (with 1 cubic cm of acid HCl to stabilize the sample against degradation/precipitation before being analyzed in the lab) and measured water parameters like water temperature, EC, pH and oxygen concentration. Alkalinity (HCO3+, CO32+) was measured by titration with 1.6 normal sulfuric acid (H2SO4) until the related indicator changes color (at pH 4.3).
One week later we got an introduction to chromatography and conducted an experiment dissolving increasing amounts of 2 salts and measuring the electric conductivity EC of the two solutions.
On friday we analyzed our water samples from Darmbach with lab equipment like AAS, IC and Photometry.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Field work at Darmbach (May 11)
- 2.1 Multimeter measurements
- 2.2 Titration for alkalinity
- 2.3 Results from field measurements
- 3 Chromatography & salt experiment (May 18)
- 3.1 Chromatography
- 3.2 Salt experiment
- 4 Lab analysis with AAS, IC and Photometry (May 22)
- 4.1 Atomic absorption spectroscopy - AAS
- 4.2 Ion Chromatography - IC
- 4.3 Photometry
- 5 Synopsis of measurements
- 5.1 Schoeller diagram & ion balance
- 5.2 Stiff diagrams
- 5.3 Piper diagram
- 5.4 Discussion of Darmbach water properties
- 6 References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The Water Analysis exercises (TuCaN 3214) are part of Special Modul SM9 "Hydrogeological Methods" of the MSc TropHEE and prepare for the Hydrogeological Field Course (TuCaN 3417). This course aims to equip students with practical skills in characterizing groundwater levels, flow fields, and aquifers, as well as analyzing water samples using laboratory equipment. Students develop organizational, teamwork, communication, and data presentation skills through field and laboratory work.
- Field techniques for characterizing groundwater levels, flow fields, and aquifers
- Laboratory techniques for analyzing water samples
- Interpretation and evaluation of water analysis results
- Developing organizational, teamwork, communication, and data presentation skills
- Understanding the relationship between salt concentration and electrical conductivity
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1 provides an overview of the Water Analysis exercises within the context of the MSc TropHEE curriculum. It discusses the course's objectives, its place within the broader SM9 "Hydrogeological Methods" module, and the practical components of the exercises. The chapter also outlines the structure of the course, highlighting the different stages of the practical work, including field sampling, lab analysis, and data presentation.
Chapter 2 focuses on the field work conducted at Darmbach, where water samples were collected from six different stations along the stream. The chapter describes the various water parameters measured in the field, including temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, oxygen concentration, and alkalinity. The methods used for measuring these parameters and the procedures for collecting and storing the water samples are also discussed.
Chapter 3 covers the chromatography and salt experiment conducted in the lab. The chapter introduces the principles of chromatography and describes the experiment involving dissolving increasing amounts of two salts and measuring the electrical conductivity of the resulting solutions. The experiment aimed to understand the relationship between salt concentration and electrical conductivity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key topics and themes of the course include hydrogeology, water analysis, field techniques, laboratory methods, groundwater characterization, electrical conductivity, pH, alkalinity, ion chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopy, photometry, data analysis, and data presentation. The exercises focus on the practical application of these concepts, enabling students to develop essential skills for analyzing and interpreting water quality data.
- Citation du texte
- Dipl.-Ing., MSc, Rainer Stickdorn (Auteur), 2015, Water Analysis in field and lab (chromatography, AAS, IC, photometry), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/433465
