PH4S005 - Advanced Separation Science 01 Apr 2025 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 7

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PH4S005
Module Title: Advanced Separation Science
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Chemical and Environmental Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Chemical and Environmental Sciences
Module Leader: Susanna Kean
Module Team: Peter Miedziak, Meirion Pugh, Andrew Graham, Antony Davies
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100417 - chemistry
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 7
Valid From 01 Apr 2025
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

1. To provide students with a detailed theoretical knowledge of a range of advanced separation science methods.

2. To enable students to assess the suitability of specific separation science methods to solve an analytical problem.

3. To allow students to study applications of advanced processes and techniques in pharmaceutical analysis.

Content Summary

Overview of the fundamentals of separation techniques. Focus upon instrumentation, detectors, separation mechanisms/columns. The latest developments will be investigated.

Techniques will include GC, GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS, MS/MS and UHPLC.


Chiral Chromatography: Methods to achieve a chiral separation such as use of chiral stationary phases (their types and uses) and chiral mobile phase additives.

Advanced Electrophoretic Techniques: Capillary Zone Electrophoresis, Capillary Isoelectric Focussing, Capillary Isotachophoresis, Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography.


Ion mobility mass spectrometry: theory and practical applications, fast GC/IMS.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 30
Practical classes and workshops 4
Directed Study 80
Independent Study 80
Problem/challenge based learning 6
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Display knowledge of advanced separation mechanism, instrumentation and factors which govern resolution and separation quality.
LO2 Select methods and instrument parameters which are suitable for specific applications.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Practical Written Work 1 Submission of an assessment that covers practical instrumentation skills. 0 1000 50 No 40
Synchronous Online Assessment Time-constrained assessment (Online) 1 Students given an online tailored written assignment to complete over a period of 24 h to enable research into topics and application of knowledge 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical Written Work 1
Time-constrained assessment (Online) 1

Reading List

Hassan Y. Aboul-Enein and Imran Ali Chiral, Separations by Liquid Chromatography and Related Techniques, CRC Press 2003 , Print ISBN: 978-0-8247-4014-6, eBook ISBN: 978-0-203-91111-2

Janusz Pawlisyn (ed), Applications of Solid Phase Microextraction, RSC chromatography monographs (1999), ISBN: 0-85404-525-2, eBook ISBN: 978-1-84755-014-9

ChromAcademy – Online learning resource, Crawford Scientific. www.chromacademy.com