Towards Microfluidic-Based Advanced Remote Analysis. The research under this project will establish and systematically develop Advanced Remote Analysis as a new inter-disciplinary area and establish a leadership role for Australia. By addressing pressing needs such as monitoring the environment, remote medical diagnostics, advancing Australian science and technology, or monitoring for traces of explosives, this project falls directly into all four of the National Research Priorities with applica ....Towards Microfluidic-Based Advanced Remote Analysis. The research under this project will establish and systematically develop Advanced Remote Analysis as a new inter-disciplinary area and establish a leadership role for Australia. By addressing pressing needs such as monitoring the environment, remote medical diagnostics, advancing Australian science and technology, or monitoring for traces of explosives, this project falls directly into all four of the National Research Priorities with applications addressing corresponding Priority Goals. Other areas benefiting from the outcomes of this project will be remote monitoring of agricultural production including living species, and a number of other industries such as biotechnology, mineral processing, power generation etc.Read moreRead less
Targeting organically-complexed iron species in seawater using selective solid-phase adsorbent resins. Iron limits primary productivity in 40% of the oceans. Its accurate determination is thus critical to understanding the functioning of marine ecosystems and their role in moderating Earth's climate. Recent findings indicate that serious discrepancies exist in iron concentrations obtained using different analytical methods. These discrepancies are believed to be due to the lability of organic ....Targeting organically-complexed iron species in seawater using selective solid-phase adsorbent resins. Iron limits primary productivity in 40% of the oceans. Its accurate determination is thus critical to understanding the functioning of marine ecosystems and their role in moderating Earth's climate. Recent findings indicate that serious discrepancies exist in iron concentrations obtained using different analytical methods. These discrepancies are believed to be due to the lability of organic and colloidal iron species to extraction by adsorbent preconcentration resins. This project will design and synthesise a range of functionalised resins for the selective extraction of iron species from seawater, advancing our knowledge of its bioavailability and leading to the generation of class-specific analytical methodologies.Read moreRead less
Simulation, Modelling, Prediction and Two-Dimensional Retention Database Development in Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC×GC). Quality of life is enhanced by the application of chromatography to many aspects of living. It is an existing technology made more powerful when used as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC), an advanced form of GC. This project will apply new interpretation strategies to GC×GC to improve precise chemical analysis in many areas inclu ....Simulation, Modelling, Prediction and Two-Dimensional Retention Database Development in Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC×GC). Quality of life is enhanced by the application of chromatography to many aspects of living. It is an existing technology made more powerful when used as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC), an advanced form of GC. This project will apply new interpretation strategies to GC×GC to improve precise chemical analysis in many areas including: measurement of 'good fats' in foods, sources of illicit drugs, allergens in perfumes, disease profiling through metabolite monitoring and the detection of performance enhancing drugs in sport. Based on this research, the science of chromatography will be advanced in Australia and throughout the world, using Australian technology and expertise.Read moreRead less
Linking modern biolipids and pigments to ancient biomolecules using innovative laser and hydro pyrolysis and compound specific stable isotope techniques. This project will help scientists understand recent and past climate changes and in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change and help Australia manage current threats to biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving analyses of discrete trace hydrocarbon materials will increase the ability to identify crude oil sourc ....Linking modern biolipids and pigments to ancient biomolecules using innovative laser and hydro pyrolysis and compound specific stable isotope techniques. This project will help scientists understand recent and past climate changes and in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change and help Australia manage current threats to biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving analyses of discrete trace hydrocarbon materials will increase the ability to identify crude oil sources, to the benefit of petroleum exploration in Australia and world-wide. Importantly, this project will enable students and young researchers to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for employment in geoscience industries, and raising the profile of science careers in Australia.Read moreRead less
In-line SPE-CE for the direct determination of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids based on porous polymer monoliths. A new approach is proposed for the development of novel micro- and nano-scale solid-phase adsorbent materials. These materials are based on porous polymer monoliths formed in situ within a capillary acting as a mould. The allows the material to be readily placed in a defined position, in a process similar to photo-patterning, and alleviates many of the problems usually as ....In-line SPE-CE for the direct determination of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids based on porous polymer monoliths. A new approach is proposed for the development of novel micro- and nano-scale solid-phase adsorbent materials. These materials are based on porous polymer monoliths formed in situ within a capillary acting as a mould. The allows the material to be readily placed in a defined position, in a process similar to photo-patterning, and alleviates many of the problems usually associated with fabrication and miniaturisation. A simple photo-grafting process, initiated by UV light can be used for the selective chemical modification of these materials. These tailored monoliths can then be used for the in-line coupling of biological sample handling and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the determination of drugs and related metabolites in biological fluids, thus avoiding time-consuming and costly off-line sample pre-treatment. This will lead to the development of new methods for the rapid determination of drugs, metabolites and other small molecules in clinical samples.Read moreRead less
Stable Carbon and Hydrogen Isotope Signatures of Chemical Fossils to Infer Palaeoenvironmental Change. Aims are to selectively measure the stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic composition of individual chemical fossils (biomarkers) in sediments and petroleum. Biomarkers are derived from biochemicals in algae, bacteria and higher plants and their isotopic compositions reflects important information about the climate and environment under which the precursor organisms lived. Periods of palaeoenvir ....Stable Carbon and Hydrogen Isotope Signatures of Chemical Fossils to Infer Palaeoenvironmental Change. Aims are to selectively measure the stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic composition of individual chemical fossils (biomarkers) in sediments and petroleum. Biomarkers are derived from biochemicals in algae, bacteria and higher plants and their isotopic compositions reflects important information about the climate and environment under which the precursor organisms lived. Periods of palaeoenvironmental change will be established through the varied stable isotope compositions of certain biomarkers within samples sectioned from sediment profiles of different age. This information will then be used to better identify rocks in Australia offering good sources of petroleum.Read moreRead less
Coenzyme Q as a measure of environmental stress in aquatic ecosystems. Australia's marine and freshwater water resources including high profile regions such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Murray-Darling River system are under increasing threat. This project is significant as it aims to provide a rapid tool to quantify low-level impacts in aquatic systems and provide a novel and accurate early-warning-system of stress within aquatic environments. Through the innovative development of an assay ....Coenzyme Q as a measure of environmental stress in aquatic ecosystems. Australia's marine and freshwater water resources including high profile regions such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Murray-Darling River system are under increasing threat. This project is significant as it aims to provide a rapid tool to quantify low-level impacts in aquatic systems and provide a novel and accurate early-warning-system of stress within aquatic environments. Through the innovative development of an assay system from proven biomedical technologies it will be possible to deliver a significant community benefit by providing an early warning mechanism for the combined effects of urban and industrial impacts on our invaluable marine and freshwater resources.Read moreRead less
Multivariate approaches to matching spectra for environmental and forensic purposes. Apart from an increased understanding of these commonly-used analytical methods, and their extension to current problems, the outcome of the project will be programs that can be used by the Environmental Protection Agency to give the probability that an oil spill comes from an alleged source. This evidence may be laid before a court, and is more objective than present methods. The identification of illegal drugs ....Multivariate approaches to matching spectra for environmental and forensic purposes. Apart from an increased understanding of these commonly-used analytical methods, and their extension to current problems, the outcome of the project will be programs that can be used by the Environmental Protection Agency to give the probability that an oil spill comes from an alleged source. This evidence may be laid before a court, and is more objective than present methods. The identification of illegal drugs will also be made possible, including information about the country or region of origin, and the place and processes used to refine the drug.Read moreRead less
Novel approaches to the forensic identification of human remains: integration of studies of bone form and chemistry. In a global era of terrorism, crime and even natural disasters, new approaches to identify victims, and prosecute offenders, are greatly required and long overdue. The combination of new computer and chemical methods will help identify unknowns, reconstruct missing parts and separate commingled remains. Its affect on understanding bones may be like that of DNA on soft tissues. The ....Novel approaches to the forensic identification of human remains: integration of studies of bone form and chemistry. In a global era of terrorism, crime and even natural disasters, new approaches to identify victims, and prosecute offenders, are greatly required and long overdue. The combination of new computer and chemical methods will help identify unknowns, reconstruct missing parts and separate commingled remains. Its affect on understanding bones may be like that of DNA on soft tissues. The results will update our ability as forensic scientists to strengthen Australian security systems by improving our ability to manage accidents, disasters, terrorism and crime. This project will start international collaborations and train a new generation of Australian forensic experts.Read moreRead less
New Enantiomeric Separation Technologies for Natural Product, Pharmaceuticals and Environmental Pollutant Characterisation. Enantiomeric characterisation allows evaluation of drug purity for potentially harmful constituents, consumer protection against adulteration of essential oils and natural materials, and study of chemical interactions in biochemical/environmental systems. Chromatograph technologies (GC, HPLC and CE)for enantioseparation are available, however limitations prevent multicompon ....New Enantiomeric Separation Technologies for Natural Product, Pharmaceuticals and Environmental Pollutant Characterisation. Enantiomeric characterisation allows evaluation of drug purity for potentially harmful constituents, consumer protection against adulteration of essential oils and natural materials, and study of chemical interactions in biochemical/environmental systems. Chromatograph technologies (GC, HPLC and CE)for enantioseparation are available, however limitations prevent multicomponent characterisation of complete sample mixtures. Critical choices involve: choosing a chiral selector that interacts differentially upon all enantiomers; incorporation of selector into high-efficiency chromatographic systems; application to all target compounds in the sample. We will synthesise novel chiral selectors, incorporate these into new separation columns, apply ultra-high resolution 2-dimensional GCxGC to broad-spectrum chiral analysis of volatile chemical samples.Read moreRead less