High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has become the most widely used analytical separation technique. To respond to this trend, the university is purchasing two HPLCs for use in engineering and environmental chemistry courses, including organic chemistry and environmental chemistry labs, materials characterization and adhesives labs for engineers, and automotive engineering labs. Approximately 700 students utilize the equipment in these courses and labs. An autosampler enables handling large numbers of samples on either it or the HPLC. New experiments include analysis of nitrophenols and polymer additives; characterization of polymers; analysis of plasticizers and surface contaminants; analysis of trivalent and hexavalent chromium species and of mono- and divalent cations by ion chromatography; determination of ammonia in workplace atmospheres and of EPA Water Matrix anions; analyses of carbonyl compounds, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and, herbicides; and analysis of automotive exhausts for carbonyl compounds.
