The Wizards of Oz - This feature highlights some of the current analytical research being undertaken across Australia by focusing on the work of a number of research groups at academic institutions. -
This feature highlights some of the current analytical research being undertaken across Australia by focusing on the work of a number of research groups at academic institutions.
Chromatography at the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), University of Tasmania
ACROSS is a national research centre with nodes at the University of Tasmania and RMIT University. It comprises some 50 staff
and students in total (with 30 of these in Tasmania) working in a range of structured research programmes based in the following
areas: new separation media and materials; multidimensional and hyphenated systems; microfluidics and miniaturized separation
technologies; detection and identification technologies; trace analysis and speciation; macromolecules and particles; theory,
optimization and simulation of separation processes; and applications. Of these areas, the research on multidimensional separations
is based largely at RMIT University (see report by Philip Marriott), so the following overview focuses on the remaining programmes.
Full details on the structure, research programmes, performance, publications and job opportunities in ACROSS can be accessed
from the website and copies of our annual reports can be downloaded.
Current research on stationary phases emphasizes the development of polymeric monolithic phases for use in microchips, capillaries
and conventional HPLC and CEC columns. Many of these phases are ion-exchangers designed for ion chromatography (IC) and are
synthesized by a patented approach of forming a functionalized template monolith and coating it with functionalized ion-exchange
nanoparticles. Extensive research is also undertaken on modelling of retention behaviour and optimization of separation conditions.
This has led to the development of commercial software for optimization of eluent composition in IC. Counter-terrorism research
is another major feature of our activities. This involves the development of portable and field-deployable instrumentation
for rapid pre- and postblast identification of homemade explosives for forensic and routine screening applications. Miniaturized
detection systems form an important part of these studies. In the area of microfluidics, ACROSS researchers are designing
chip-based systems for application in organic synthesis and analytical chemistry. Microreactors are applied for small-scale
catalysis and sample clean-up and preconcentration are combined with separation and detection to form miniaturized total analysis
systems (μTAS) with applications in both forensics and life sciences. Another of our programmes examines separation science
as a means to speciate elements in open ocean waters, with the results making an important contribution to understanding climate
change. Numerous applications of separation science are under development, ranging from methods for the analysis of gold thiosulphate
leach solutions, to monitoring oil spills in Antarctica. Finally, a recent major expansion of ACROSS has occurred through
a collaboration with Pfizer. This has resulted in the formation of the Pfizer Analytical Research Centre (PARC), which will
investigate a wide range of projects involving the role of separation science in the pharmaceutical industry
ACROSS in Tasmania is very fortunate to have access to excellent modern laboratories (including a microfabrication facility),
housing a wide range of state-of-the-art instrumentation, including HPLC, nano-HPLC, LC–MS, CE, CE–MS, IC, GC and GC–MS.
Chromatography at the Australian Wine Research Institute
Wine is a complex matrix. It is mostly water, followed by 10 –15% ethanol (typically) and up to 1% glycerol. However, the
remaining fraction (< 0.1%) contains thousands of compounds, the minority of which are responsible for colour, aroma and flavour
differences between wines. Some of the most important compounds are present only at trace levels. For example, 2 furanmethanethiol
(common to red wines aged in toasted oak barrels) exhibits roast coffee aroma above a perception threshold of 0.4 ng/L (ppt).
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