Robert G. Michel
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(b.
1949)
A.A. Benedetti-Pichler Awardee of the American Microchemical
Society, 1992
Research Career Development Awardee, 1984-1989 (National
Institutes of Health)
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Strathclyde, 1976-1978
Senior Fulbright-Hays Fellow, University of Florida,
1974-1976
Ph.D., Sheffield Hallam University, 1974
B.S., Sheffield Hallam University, 1971
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Analytical Atomic
Spectroscopy
Analytical atomic spectroscopy is a
branch of applied spectroscopy and is composed of a
family of techniques that are designed to determine
the concentrations of metals in a wide variety of environmental,
biological, and agricultural samples. Examples include
the determination of lead in blood, paint, and water;
manganese in tissues; lead, copper, cadmium, tin in
air; lead, thallium, phosphorus in nickel alloys; phosphorus
in polymers, etc.
Research is based on the use of lasers
in novel analytical instrumentation to achieve extraordinarily
high sensitivity, high accuracy, and microsampling capabilities.
Cutting edge laser technology is used to achieve tunable
radiation that can be used as a probe to select particular
metals to be determined in samples. Techniques that
are used include resonant laser ablation, laser excited
atomic fluorescence spectrometry and laser enhanced
ionization spectrometry. Atom cells that are used to
vaporize samples include the laser ablation plasma,
graphite furnace, air/acetylene flame, microwave plasma,
and d.c. plasma. Publications and presentations that
illustrate the techniques studied and samples analyzed
can be accessed via our World Wide Web home page
http://chemweb.chem.uconn.edu/research/pubs2.html
Present research projects include topics
in laser ablation of samples for ultra-trace metals
determinations; multimelement analyses by use of a tunable
optical parametric oscillator laser system; improvements
in the linear dynamic range of graphite atomic absorption
measurements; extension of the ranges of elements that
can be determined by laser excited atomic fluorescence,
through instrumental improvements in optics, lasers
and detection systems, and several projects that apply
the techniques of atomic spectroscopy to the determination
of the elements in environmental, biological, metallurgical
and samples of other materials such as polymers.
Our laboratory is well-equipped with
three tunable laser systems as follows: A 500 Hz repetition
rate excimer pumped dye laser with harmonic generation
capabilities to obtain UV radiation between 210 nm and
650 nm. A 100 Hz repetition rate excimer pumped dye
laser system with tunable radiation between 220 nm and
650 nm. This last excimer laser is presently being used
for excimer laser ablation. Finally, we have a 10 Hz
repetition rate YAG pumped optical parametric oscillator
laser system that gives tunable radiation between 440
nm and 2000 nm with harmonic generation capabilities
down to 220 nm and below. In addition to these laser
systems we are equipped with standard lab. equipment
in a new laser laboratory with optical tables of various
types. We have a fully equipped class 100 trace metal
clean room that allows for the preparation of samples
for sensitive determinations of metals therein.
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