Ralph N.Mead
Organic Geochemistry/Environmental Mass Spectrometry
Organic Geochemistry
I am interested in the origin, fate and transport of naturally derived organic matter in estuarine and coastal zones and how organic carbon is preserved over broad geological time scales. I use a variety of molecular markers in conjunction with stable carbon (bulk and compound specific) isotopes as a tool to characterize carbon cycling within the coastal zone.
Emerging Contaminates
Emerging contaminates describes organic chemicals that can be found in the enviornment and can be anthropogenic (e.g. Sucralose or PFAS) or naturally derived (e.g. brevetoxins and microcystin). I am interested in the discovery of new contaminates through mass spectrometry and understanding their environmental fate.
Current research is focused on characterizing and quantifying per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in various environmental matrices. These include wet/dry deposition and sediments. Tools used include low resolution triple quadrupole LC/MS and high resolution LC/QTOF mass spectrometers.
Method Development
While I typical use "off the shelf methodology for my research I do method development when there is not one available. Examples include developing a GC-MS/MS method for the rapid separation and detection of small molecular weight alcohols (e.g. ethanol, n-butanopl and iso-butanol) in aqueous matrices at low nM concentrations. A second is the development of a method to detect the artificial sweetener Sucralose in aqueous matrices. This work lead to the first reported occurrence of this compound in the United States.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
910 962 2447
Center for Marine Science
CREST Campus MARBIONC – RM 2018
5600 Marvin K Moss Lane
Wilmington, NC 28409