Dr Laura McGregor

SepSolve Analytical

Biography:

Laura's background is in analytical forensic science, and her Ph.D. (at the University of Strathclyde, UK) focused on the chemical fingerprinting of environmental contamination using GCxGC-TOF MS. Following roles in application support and product marketing for Markes International's TOF MS and software portfolios, she joined SepSolve in October 2017, where she oversees marketing activities across the full product range, with a particular focus on GCxGC.

Short description about presentation:

Current spot checks are no longer satisfactory to avoid the potential for high-level contamination of rivers or estuaries from industrial waste. Governing environmental bodies can impose heavy fines on companies that routinely exceed the set limits, and even reserve the right to shut down the liable plant.

This produces a requirement for online monitoring of multiple outlet streams from the plant, before and after potential dilution points. Monitoring the river for contamination from other sources is also required to protect against false liability claims.

Here, we utilise a flow-through cell for online effluent sampling, with time-saving robotic tool change for sampling, standard addition and headspace analysis on a single, fully-automated platform. The use of GC-FID for analysis enables remote, continuous monitoring for rapid response to contamination events, while GC-TOF MS provides confirmatory analysis and identification of unknowns or compounds of emerging concern.