Analytical chemistry
Photo Karl BookshKarl S. Booksh, Professor

(302) 831-2561 • kbooksh@udel.edu • http://www.udel.edu/chem/booksh/

B.S., 1990, University of Alaska - Fairbanks; Ph.D., 1994, University of Washington - Seattle

Current Research
Our research interest is the development of in-situ chemical sensors for environmental, biomedical, and industrial process monitoring. Specifically, the research group has been concentrating on advancement of fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) Raman, and fluorescence sensors. In developing these sensors we meld instrumental design with advanced data analysis (Chemometrics) methods to achieve optimal instrumental performance. This research is driven by the realization that many measurement challenges – particularly problems involving analyte selectivity and sensitivity – are not best addressed by solely applying chemistry or physics solutions. These ‘physical’ solutions are often time, labor, and capital expensive. Instead, instrumental selectivity and sensitivity (and robustness) can often be enhanced by incorporating mathematical and statistical analysis of the collected data into the instrumental design.
 

With the SPR sensors we have two goals.

We are investigating the utility of the fiber optic sensors for in-vitro and in-vivo determination of proteins indicative of disease diagnoses, wound healing, and proteomic screening. We are also combining the SPR sensors with molecular imprinted polymers to detect small molecules with applications in homeland defense and monitoring air quality.

Laurel Kegel, Graduate Student
Laurel Kegel, Graduate Student

The fiber optic Raman and fluorescence sensors are targeted at environmental process monitoring. The ultimate goal is deployment of spectroscopic systems to monitor the chemistry of deep sea hydrothermal vent systems. However, the fluorescence sensors are also being used for tracking the distribution and fate of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment. The Raman sensor is being employed for determining the bioavailability of nutrients in the environment and to study chemical reactions in hydrothermal reactors.

 
Representative Publications