Colin F. Poole Title Professor Division Analytical Education B. Sc. , University of Leeds (United Kingdom), 1971 M. Sc. University of Bristol (United Kingdom), 1972 Ph. D. University of Keele (United Kingdom), 1975 D. Sc. University of Leeds (United Kingdom) 1997 Office 363 LS Phone (313)577-2881 E-Mail

Our research interests are in the field of separation science, trace organic analysis, and computer- aided approaches to data analysis. In particular the application of gas, liquid, supercritical fluid, and thin layer chromatographic techniques to problems of an environmental, industrial and biomedical nature.

To support these areas we design and synthesize novel stationary phases; evaluate and formulate solvent interactions using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; construct models and optimize separations by computer-aided simulations; and design and construct small devices to be added to existing equipment to enhance their analytical utility. Graduate students in my group are exposed to a wide range of modern instrumental and chemical techniques on a frequently changing basis.

A significant proportion of our recent work has employed the solvation parameter model to study solvent-dependent behavior in chromatography. Initially the model was used to characterize the solvent properties of gas chromatographic stationary phases and more recently to predict breakthrough volumes in solid-phase extraction, to model retention in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and to characterize surfactant properties in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. The same approach was found successful in explaining the aquatic non-specific toxicity of organic compounds to fish and bacteria and the uptake of organic compounds from water by soil. These studies provide a bridge between biopartitioning and surrogate chromatographic models suitable for their emulation.

As liquid chromatographic methods have matured, most of our research in this area has moved from instrumental development to methods development. A structure-driven approach to methods development is being pioneered and has been successfully applied to solvent optimization in thin layer and column liquid chromatography using computer generated retention maps. Of fundamental significance, this approach has lead to new insight into the retention process and has replaced a number of empirical observations with a theoretical framework.

Chromatographic data can be very complex and difficult to interpret. Various computer-aided chemometric methods are being used for data analysis and the design of experiments using statistical techniques. These methods are incorporated into our on-going research using real samples for the identification of accelerants in suspect fires, to determine the botanical origin of flavors, and in the determination of polar pesticides in foods.

C. F. Poole, The Essence of Chromatography, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2003

C. F. Poole. Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Methods for the Determination of Solvent Properties of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids. J. Chromatogr. A 1037 (2004) 49-82.

S. K. Poole, S. Patel, K. Dehring, H. Workman and C. F. Poole. Determination of Acid Dissociation Constants by Capillary Electrophoresis, J. Chromatogr. A 1037 (2004) 445-454.

W. Kiridena, C. F. Poole and W. W. Koziol. The Effect of Solvent Strength and Temperature on Retention for a Polar-Endcapped, Octadecylsiloxane-bonded Silica Stationary Phase with Methanol-Water Mobile Phases. J. Chromatogr. A 1060 (2004) 177-185.

C. F. Poole, H. Ahmed, W. Kiridena, C. DeKay and W. W. Koziol. Contribution of Steric Repulsion to Retention of an Octadecylsiloxane- Bonded Silica Dtationary Phase in Reversed- Phase Liquid Chromatography. Chromatographia 62 (2005) 553-561.

C. F. Poole, H. Ahmed, W. Kiridena, C. C. Patchett and W. W. Koziol. Revised Solute Descriptors for Characterizing Retention Properties of Open-Tubular Columns in Gas Chromatography and their Application to a Carborane-Siloxane Copolymer Stationary Phase. J. Chromatogr. A 1104 (2006) 299-312.