The Science Department is purchasing a automatic purge and trap/dynamic headspace sampler to add to its existing gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer system. This equipment allows for the introduction of Environmental Protection Agency protocols into appropriate areas of the science curriculum. These protocols call for the measurement of volatiles and semi- volatiles in complex matrices while avoiding costly, time- consuming extraction and cleanup. Students are first introduced to the equipment in a special course in instrumental analysis where they perform experiments involving the analysis of air samples, petroleum products, plastics, foods and drugs. In the organic chemistry course, students separate volatiles from a synthetic preparations. Other courses in which the instrument is used include toxicology, biochemistry, and engineering hydrology.
