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The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Course Examination 1st Term, 2015-2016
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Course Code & Title : ..,;C~HEM!.!!i:~4~4~40~F~oo~d~'I1:.,:e:;,::sti::.'n:!lg..,;&=-:E.::n:..:VI.::·ro~mn~en=.:t:;;:;al::..:An=a_.ly_s_is______~':":--
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Time allowed: 3 hours _______o______ minutes
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Student I.D. No.: Seat No.:

Important Note:
1. Attempt all questions.
2. Write your student I.D. No. and Seat No. on the question book, on all answer books
and on all submitted attachments.
3. Write answers in the answer book, clearly marking which question and its parts
your answer corresponds to.
4. Answer in English.

Question 1
a) Name 2 organic & 2 inorganic analytes in air. (4 marks)
b) List 4 of the factors which have to be considered in choosing analytical methods.
(4 marks)
c) Give 2 reasons why we need to refer to their respective regulations for our food
and environmental analysis. (4 marks)
d) Which of the following regulations (Cap 133, Cap 132, Cap 311, Cap 358) are
used for monitoring
L pesticide in food?
ii. pesticide in waste effluent?
(2marks)

Question2
a) Addition of dilute H2SO4 to pH <2 are sometimes used in the preservation of
analytes in water samples. Which of the following analytes are suitable for such
preservation procedure:
N'HJ, CN', TOC (total orpnic carbon), S2- and Pb2+?
(J marks)
 Course Code :
- . .CHEM
. . -=--------------
4440 • Page 2 of 4

Question 2 (Cont'd)
b) Given the following 5 reagents/reagent mixtures
-sulfanilamide and N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride
-alkaline phenol and sodium hypochlorite
-methylene blue
-N,N-dimethylphenylenediamine hydrochloride and FeCh
-ammonium molybdate and then, ascorbic acid

Which of them are used for the colorimetric analysis of

(5 marks)

c) Name the final coloured product in the above colorimetric analyses of

i) ammonia
ii) sulphide
iii) phosphate
(3 marks)

Question 3
a) Given 4 techniques for metal analysis:
ASV, XRF, flame-AAS, ICPMS
Which of these techniques will be more appropriate for the assay of:
i) a waste sludge sample giving rise to 10 ppm Pb in the fmal assay solution
ii) a HiVol fdter sample giving rise to 0.01 ppb Pb in thermal assay solution?
(2 marks)
b) Briefly list two situations when standard addition technique is used in assay. (2
marks)
c) In an analysis of Pb in river water using standard addition, the ICPMS signals
from the river water samples with 0, 10, 20 and 30 ppb of ~dded Pb were 0.3, 0.4,
0.5 and 0.6 units respectively. What is the Pb concentration in this river water
sample? (6 marks)
d) Recovery is one of the QC parameters to be monitored in environmental and food
analysis. Suggest 3 possible causes for having the recovery result below the
lower warning level in an analysis. (6 marks)
Course Code :
----=------.. . .---------
CHEM 4440 Page 3 of 4

Question 4
a) Classify the following analytes according to one or more of these 4 different
classes of chemical nature: inorganic, organic, ionic (when in acid/base) and
non-polar:
i) Ammonia
ii) nitrogen dioxide
iii) phenol
iv) PAH
(4 marks)
b) For each of the following 6 sorbent material, state whether it is 'inorganic,
organic, ionic and/or non-polar':
i) Phosphoric acid
ii) Tenax-GC®
iii) Triethanolamine solution
iv) C18 SepPak® material
(8 marks)
c) For each of the analytes in a), name one sorbent material from b) which can be
used to extract or absorb the analyte from the environment.
(4 marks)

Question 5
a) In the analysis of melamine in dairy products, the sample extraction steps are as
follows:
1) The sample is shaken with 1:1 acetonitrile:water, with a small amount of N
HCI added.
2) The mixture from above is centrifuged and the upper liquid layer is
transferred to another centrifuge tube T.
3) Dichloromethane is added to the liquid in tube T. The content of tube T is
shaken and centrifuged and the upper aqueous layer is transferred to a
volumetric flask V.
4) Water is added to the remaining dichloromethane mixture in tube T. The
content of T is shaken and centrifuged and the upper aqueous layer is
transferred to the volumetric flask V.
Course Code : -----==
CHEM . 4440
. . . . . . . _______ Page 4 of 4

Question 5 (cont'd)
Explain the following:
i. Why is N HCl added in step l)?
ii. In step 2), will the melamine be present in the upper liquid layer? Give reasons.
iii. In step 3), what is the purpose of adding dichloromethane to tube T?
iv. In step 3), is melamine mainly found in the aqueous layer or in the
dichloromethane layer in tube T? Give reasons.
v. In step 4), what is the purpose of adding water to the remaining dichloromethane
mixture?
(5 marks)

b) Outline the chemical procedure for the Nitrogen analysis in protein by HCI
titration.
(8 marks)

c) Why is it possible to substitute melamine for protein when protein content of

dairy products is assayed with the HCl titration method above?
(2 marks)
-End of Examination Paper-