e-Guest Lecture: Priscilla Baker

Electroanalytical protocols as early warning systems and profiling tools in the context of emerging contaminants “two steps forward… one step back”

Priscilla Baker, Professor of Chemistry at the University of the Western Cape, is currently fellow-in-residence at CY AS, invited by laboratory LPPI

Electroanalysis and electrocatalysis are electrochemically driven analytical protocols for measurement and monitoring of a wide range of environmental pollutants, depending on the chemical transformations that give rise to the pollution effect. These chemical transformations include highly specific binding reactions, electrolysis, energy efficient catalytic conversion of chemical reactants, adsorption reactions, diffusion controlled reactions and coupled chemical reactions. Each environmental problem requires careful analysis of the chemical nature of the problem before the best suited methods for analysis and monitoring may be developed. The research undertaken seeks to develop selective and sensitive electrochemically driven sensors for the detection and profiling of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals, in aqueous systems, within the broader context of profiling emerging contaminants  - a critical task identified by global  environmental watchdogs.  Electroanalysis may be employed as an early warning technology for the identification of emerging threats from waterborne sources, but also as a highly sensitive and selective quantitative tool.  In both cases, a well resolved and unequivocal analytical reporting signal is critical. The presentation will showcase some of the sensing strategies we have developed  in order to  address the various chemical transformations that yield viable transduction for quantitative analysis.  The latest trends and protocols in the context of emerging contaminants will be addressed, with a focus on preliminary work on antibiotic screening, focusing on sulphonamide detection as a case study.

Download her CV

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2020 from 17:00 to 18:00

The video is online on the CY AS YouTube channel.