The Analytical Science Research Group (ASRG) at Bournemouth University provides a focus for analytical research in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, and a platform for collaborative work across the university and with industry.

Our research concentrates on the development of new analytical methods to deepen scientific understanding across three key themes:

  • Bioanalytical science
  • Environmental Analytical science
  • Forensic science

Our technical focus and capabilities include a range of extraction approaches, separation methods (solid and liquid phase), detection techniques, chromatographic techniques, spectroscopy (including accurate mass spectrometry, spectrofluorimetry, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy), and chemometric techniques for data handling and optimization.

Our research is highly collaborative in nature and we work with clinicians, materials scientists, biomedical scientists, environmental chemists, geochemists, hydrologists, psychologists, ecologists and others, across a wide variety of disciplines.

Our work supports policy development and implementation, and we have strong links with many institutions, practicing professionals, and policy makers regionally and internationally.

Our expertise

BU ASRG is the hub of analytical science at the university for both research and commercial projects, providing state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and technical expertise for sample extraction, separation, detection and characterisation. 

We pride ourselves on our ability to solve problems through analytical science. Our group offer an array of analytical techniques and services to industrial clients including contract research, routine analysis and training courses, and can provide timely answers to difficult analytical problems.

Please see our facilities page to explore the range of specialist analytical instrumentation in our laboratories.

Our Facilities 

Our research

Embarking on the frontier of innovation, ASRG delves into an array of cutting-edge research endeavors. Our current projects encompass:

1. Medical and Health Research:

  •    Rapid on-site detection of skin cancer in primary care.
  •    Cortisol measurement in alternative matrices for stress assessment in humans and animals.
  •    Cancer metabolomics studies in collaboration with University Hospitals Dorset.
  •    The investigation of second-hand exposure to psychoactive drug fumes in UK prisons.

2. Environmental Monitoring and Analysis:

  •    Determination of New Psychoactive Substances in surface water across South Wales.
  •    Wastewater based epidemiology for monitoring new psychoactive substances.
  •    Developing and utilising novel nanomaterials to detect trace amounts of toxins and medicines in a range of biological and industrial samples.
  •    Developing field-cum-lab based analytical methods for chemical characterization, from toxic pollutants such as heavy metals (e.g., arsenic, lead, selenium, cadmium) to emerging pollutants like engineered nanomaterials or nanoplastics in different environmental matrices – their speciation, toxicity, bioavailability and mobilization in the environment.
  •    Developing Safe and Sustainability by Design (SSBD) based, greener, cost-effective methods for exploring toxins and their future environmental challenges in natural resources.
  •    Developing novel advanced materials for studying the effect of emerging pollutants to test their safe and sustainable use.
  •    Developing green seaweed-based ultra-sensitive substrates to detect trace amounts of controlled drugs in aqueous samples with Raman Spectroscopy.
  •    Investigation of micro- and nanoplastics in commercial food products.
  •    Exploring the relationship between environmental contaminants with the local microniche in ecologically vulnerable sites.
  •    Emerging organic contaminants – analytical method development, mobilisation and biomagnification.

3. Materials Science and Spectroscopy:

  •    Advanced materials and spectroscopy for on-site analysis with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for selective detection of toxins.
  •    Developing and utilizing novel nanomaterials to detect trace amounts of toxins and medicines in a range of biological and industrial samples.
  •    Developing green seaweed-based ultra-sensitive substrates to detect trace amounts of controlled drugs in aqueous samples with Raman Spectroscopy.
  •    Developing fluorescence sensors to detect trace amounts of controlled and illicit drugs in various samples.
  •    Application of MOF and MXene based nanocomposites for investigating their analytical possibilities in two major future environmental challenges – global food security and carbon capture and storage.

4. Security and Policy Studies:

  •    Current and future strategies for Currency Detection Dogs and implications for international policy.
  •    The investigation of second-hand exposure to psychoactive drug fumes in UK prisons.