Development of new analytical techniques for fingerprinting organic compounds in Archaeological, Chemical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences

Isotope analyses have the potential to unlock complex chemical and biological processes in disciplines such as chemistry and biology as well as environmental, forensic and archaeological sciences. However, there are a number of key areas within each discipline where isotope analyses are under exploited due to a lack of method development. Both sulphur and nitrogen compounds, have important environmental, archaeological, forensic, pharmaceutical and biological roles in detecting sources of compounds, and being able to understand their fractionation would allow a much greater understanding of many organic processes. In addition, for pharmaceutical, biological and chemical compound synthesis, a better understanding of isotopic fractionation in sulphur and nitrogen compounds would aid detection of fraudulently manufactured products, specific compound drug sources and have significant knock-on effects to other areas such as archaeological, forensic and environmental sciences.

The University of Reading (UoR) is now in a unique position to develop new isotope methods in these areas, using a newly acquired set of mass spectrometers based in the Chemical Analytical Facility which the studentship will use. The project will focus on developing new analytical methods for isotopic ratios of S and N in a range of organic compounds commonly found in various categories of materials common to multiple disciplines, namely: i) Waxes and oils; ii) Lipid and other organic residues, and iii) pharmaceuticals, medicines and archaeological residues.