COMSTECH Training Course on “Advanced Analytical Chemistry”

Under the COMSTECH Expert Service Program

Date: November 16–18, 2026  
Time: 09:30 – 13:45 (PKT)
Venue: OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad   
Mode: Hybrid – Physical and Virtual

Introduction:

Chemical equilibria sit at the heart of analytical chemistry. Almost every classical and modern analytical method – from titrations and gravimetric analysis to separations, sensors and environmental speciation – depends on how acid-base, solubility, redox and complexation equilibria behave on their own and how they influence one another in real samples. The OIC-COMSTECH is organizing a three-day training course on “Advanced Analytical Chemistry” to give researchers, faculty members and postgraduate students from OIC Member and Observer States a rigorous, calculation-oriented command of these equilibria and of the coupled systems they form. Through worked calculations, species distribution (log C/pH and log C/pM) diagrams and Eh/pH diagrams, the course builds the reasoning skills that underpin method development and quality control, and contributes to strengthening analytical chemistry capacity.

Course Content:

1. Introduction: The Philosophy of Analytical Chemistry, Introduction to Chemical Equilibria, Equilibrium Constant, Relationship with Thermodynamic Parameters (Free Energy) and Le Chatelier’s Principle
2. Acid-Base (Neutralization) Equilibria
   • Basic definitions and historical background; approximate pH calculation of various acid-base systems
   • Calculations involving mono- and poly-basic acids and bases
   • Calculations involving acid-base titrations of single species and their mixtures
   • Indicator selection and indicator errors
   • Strengthening of acidity/basicity to titratable level through thermodynamic coupling
   • Detailed pH calculation of complex systems incorporating dissociation constants, material balances, proton condition and electro neutrality principle
   • Buffer index and end-point sharpness index
   • Acid-base species distribution diagrams of Log C (species concentration) versus pH, and solution of complex analytical problems with the aid of Log C/pH diagrams
3. Solubility and Precipitation of Sparingly Soluble Salts
   • Analysis of factors affecting solubility of sparingly soluble salts
   • Coupling of solubility with acid-base equilibria
   • Coupling of solubility with complexation equilibria
   • Inert electrolyte effect (activity versus concentration) and common ion effect
4. Redox Equilibria and Redox Titrations
   • Relationship with thermodynamic parameters, half-cell reactions, standard and actual redox potentials, and the Nernst Equation
   • Calculations in redox titrations
   • Indicator selection, indicator error and its compensation
   • Redox equilibria coupled to pH changes and complexation
   • Eh/pH diagrams: construction, evaluation, and geophysical/environmental reflections
5. Complexometric Equilibria and EDTA Titrations
   • Lewis acid-base concept, introduction to coordination chemistry and origin of metal-ligand complex stability
   • The conditional stability constant; calculation of free metal concentration at various stages of the metal ion-EDTA titration curve
   • Metallochromic indicators and titration errors
   • EDTA titration of single metal ions and their mixtures; pH and masking agent control
   • Free metal and metal-complex distribution diagrams of Log C (species concentration) versus negative logarithm of free metal concentration (pM)
6. Precipitation Titrations (exemplified with argentometric titration) and Indicator Error
7. Introduction to Basic Equilibria Involving Solvent Extraction
8. Introduction to Basic Equilibria Involving Adsorption/Solid-Phase Extraction

Course Schedule:

Pre-requisites:

Applicants should hold a minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Applied/Industrial Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Environmental Sciences, Food Science, or a closely related discipline, with a working knowledge of general and analytical chemistry.

Who Can Apply:

Researchers, faculty members and postgraduate (MS/MPhil/PhD) students from universities and research institutions across OIC Member and Observer States are encouraged to apply.

Registration:

Speaker Profile:

This training course will be delivered by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Reşat Apak, Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Türkiye. His research spans analytical and environmental chemistry, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, separation techniques, and colorimetric sensors and Nano sensors. He has more than 400 Web of Science-indexed publications, over 26,000 Google Scholar citations and an h-index of 73.

Detailed profile of Prof. Dr. Mustafa Reşat Apak can be accessed at: https://avesis.iuc.edu.tr/rapak

Workshop Coordinator:

Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad
Program Officer
OIC-COMSTECH
Haseeb.ahmad@comstech.org