Robert D. Guy 

Associate Professor

BSc (Simon Fraser), PhD (Carleton)

E-mail: robert.guy@dal.ca
Phone: (902) 494-7079
Fax: (902) 494-1310 


Research Interests: Analytical Chemistry; Environmental Science  Application of metal speciation procedures to problems in environmental and food science.

The principal research interests are the development of analytical methods for the determination of trace metals and organics in environmental and biological samples. The metals research is primarily oriented towards the study of metal speciation methods, that is the development of methods that can distinguish between different chemical forms of an element in a sample. The speciation of an element in natural waters or food sample determines the toxicity and bioavailability of metals ions. Current methods under investigation include the coupling of liquid chromatography and atomic spectroscopy methods for the determination of protein bound metals in food samples, the use of membrane separations for the speciation of trace metals in model natural waters, and the development of enzyme monitors for metal bioavailability. The organic methods research is oriented towards the development of liquid chromatographic procedures for the determination of surfactants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These analytical methods are used to investigate and model the interactions of organic substances in model natural systems, in particular, the interactions of compounds at the sediment water interface. Current problems under investigation are the adsorption and degrada tion behaviour of surfactants in fresh waters and the development of membrane methods for the passive or active sampling of organics in fresh waters and biological serum.