Chemical assays of bioactive molecules (in urine, plasma, saliva, etc.). Added value In vitro estimation of ADME/TOX indicators.
Chemical assays of relevant compounds in environmental samples (water, sludge, soil, etc.). Added value: In vitro estimation of ecotoxicological parameters.
Analytical applications of capillary electrophoresis and related techniques, including other capillary electroseparation techniques such as capillary electrokinetic chromatography, capillary electrophoresis on ice and capillary electrochromatography (CIEGO).
Development and tune-up of analysis methods based on the use of ion mobility spectroscopy for detection and quantification of substances of interest.
Applications of analytical techniques to the study of archaeological and of historical interest samples.
Development of analytical methods based on flow analysis (FA), sequential injection analysis (SIA), multicommutation and the use of mini pumps, aiming to improve the analytical characteristics and safeguard the operator and the environment.
Classical methods to characterise chromatographic columns are based on the measure of retention and the use of a selected group of compounds. The validity of these approaches is investigated and new, more reliable strategies based on retention, selectivity and peak shape are proposed.
The combination of HPLC separation mechanisms allows unreachable selectivities with individual columns to be obtained. Several strategies are proposed, including the use of parallel columns, sequential column coupling and two-dimensional HPLC.
The addition of additives to the mobile phase allows the volume of organic solvent to be reduced in conventional reversed-phase HPLC. When the additive is biodegradable, a clean method (classified as Green Chemistry) is achieved. In particular, by using microemulsions, water and soap separations are developed.
The research line covers all stages involved in the development of an immunoassay, design and synthesis of target analyte analogues (haptens), preparation of immunisation and assay conjugates, production of antibodies, development and validation of the immunoassay.
Development of monolithic stationary phases through capillary liquid chromatography, nano and electrochromatography.
Due to the increasing number of analyses performed in laboratories, there is an interest in reducing the analysis time. For this purpose, instrumental techniques and rapid columns, as well as direct injection strategies of the analysed samples, are used.
Treatment of the samples and development of highly sensitive and selective methods to establish the concentration of species found at trace levels, by joining liquid chromatography and atomic fluorescence or using non-chromatographic methods.
Study of the presence, transport, fate and bioavailability of emerging and priority pollutants in environmental compartments. Environmental risk assessment. Development of methods for environmental forensics and sewage epidemiology.
Advanced chemical analysis. Characterisation of food quality and safety within the framework of food legislation. Foodomics: profiling and fingerprinting techniques for food characterisation, authenticity and origin characterisation.
Tune-up of sustainable analysis methods for developing a green analytical chemistry. These developments are based on direct measures, new samples preparation strategies, automation and miniaturisation, as well as the minimisation in waste creation.
Based on the fundamental advances in HPLC made by the research group, analytical methods for several samples in the pharmaceutical, clinical and food fields are designed. Method development is accompanied by an extensive validation.
Reliable optimisation of chromatographic separation conditions requires tools that use retention and peak shape models. Diverse tools and new strategies for the analysis of complex samples are developed, which consider one to three experimental factors.
Development and tune-up of sampling strategies based on the use of biomimetic systems, for the preconcentration of the analyte in aqueous or gaseous environments, the sample treatment for the extraction of analytes, its chromatographic separation and waste reduction.
Development and application of analytical techniques aimed at the identification, detection, characterisation, quantification and behaviour of micropollutants in the water and sludge lines of current WWTPs, as well as in the new processes for the removal of organic matter (membrane reactors) and nutrients (microalgae cultivation). The presence of these micropollutants in the receiving natural environment is also studied, for which not only water samples are analysed, but also sediments and biota in contact with them. In this way, it is possible to monitor these substances in the receiving environment in order to evaluate the impact that their discharge causes in the aquatic environment.
ISO 17205 Standard. Development of ad hoc metrological tools, technical protocols, acceptance criteria, validation, quality assurance, control charts, uncertainty, including supporting software. Design of experiments, optimisation, simulation of future results.
Research and development of high-throughput (bio)analysis methods (Liquid chromatography, Capillary electrophoresis, Mass spectrometry) for the separation and determination of molecules (including chiral) with analytical and bioanalytical applications. (Bio)sensors.
Fundamental studies are carried out to explain the shape of chromatographic peaks which continue or question historical studies by other authors on this subject. Peak models and peak prediction strategies are developed to optimise separation conditions.
Many compounds of pharmaceutical interest have an acid-base character, therefore the nature and concentration of the dominant species depend on pH. Models of mobile phase behaviour are developed in the absence and presence of additives, and with conventional or extended pH columns.
Commercially available RPLC columns do not allow the analysis of charged or highly polar compounds. A line is developed to improve chromatographic performance using secondary equilibria, with special emphasis on the addition of surfactants and ionic liquids to the mobile phase.
Development of all types of applications for quantitative analysis by using near-infrared spectrometry (NIR) and, especially, mid-infrared (MIR), as well as Raman spectometry, all based on fast calibration strategies and direct analysis.
Characterisation of wastewater from different sources, as well as the different flows that define a WWTP (influent, effluent, sludge, recirculations, etc.), analysing both conventional pollutants (COD, BOD, ammonium, etc.) and micropollutants (pesticides, herbicides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, volatile organic compounds, TBT, etc.). Development of new measurement techniques, fine-tuning of measurement methodologies and development of procedures and protocols for the evaluation of data quality, guaranteeing the quality, repeatability and reproducibility of each measurement.
