Research Lines
The research lines are focused on the use of an analytic platform integrated with complementary instrumental techniques based on liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, atomic spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and green microextraction techniques using eutectic solvents, surfactants, molecularly imprinted polymers, ionic liquids or magnetic nanoparticles and nanocomposites.
The scientific-technological impact is very relevant since all these research lines are innovative and transformative, diverse, creative and highly dynamic, and allow to address top-level scientific challenges in the fields of health, food and environmental control, thus contributing to the generation of knowledge.The scientific contributions meet the environmental objectives for the avoidance of significant environmental damage. They contribute to the transition to circular economy, including waste prevention and recycling, efficiency in the use of solvents and favors the elimination of waste. They also contribute to pollution prevention and control and to "no significant harm", as they lead to a significant decrease in emissions of pollutants into the air, water or soil.Our research group has experienced the change in research paradigms in analytical chemistry. From a simple approach based on hypothesis testing, we have moved in the 21st century to a holistic approach through "omics" technologies, where we try to capture everything and then interpret the results to find answers. Many rules of analytical work have changed to propose new workflows and validation strategies.Research has focused on the development of targeted and non-targeted sample characterisation and pattern recognition strategies applied to metabolomics, food and environmental studies to characterise different types of samples, classify them and identify specific metabolites and metabolic pathways of interest using chemometric and bioinformatics tools.Similar strategies have been studied for the separation/preconcentration of metals and other inorganic analytes. Special attention is paid to the possibility of developing non-chromatographic procedures for the speciation of analytes such as arsenic, antimony, selenium, chromium, vanadium and mercury, among others. Selective reactions in combination with miniaturized systems as well as selective volatilization processes in electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry are being also considered.Strategies have been applied for chemical speciation studies, sample treatment procedures based on Green Analytical Chemistry, analytical applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology, environmental remediation studies, analysis and degradation of microplastics, metabolomics studies for biomarker-based disease diagnosis in clinical samples, animal models for carcinogens, fingerprinting techniques for characterisation and/or authentication of different food types in foodomics, fragmentation pattern of mycotoxins and environmental studies for authentication between unused and recycled plastic materials in circular economy.Current Projects
PID2021-123201NB-I00. Técnicas cromatográficas y espectrométricas avanzadas para caracterización y reconocimiento de patrones de muestra en estudios metabolómicos, de alimentos y medioambientales. Agencia Estatal de Investigación (2022 – 2025)
TED2021-129766B-C21. Plataforma analítica para estudios dirigidos y no dirigidos de microplásticos, plásticos, biotoxinas y productos de degradación de contaminantes emergentes. Agencia Estatal de Investigación (2022 – 2024)
OPEN CALL – THINKINAZUL. Monitorización dinámica de microplásticos, contaminantes emergentes y toxinas en los compartimentos marino-litoral y sus flujos. Universidad de Murcia (2023)
Nuevos ingredientes para reducir el riesgo asociado a carne roja y procesada: Meathealth. Productos Sur, S.A. (2022 - 2024)
Prestación de servicios para EQA certificados. EQA Certificados I+D+I, S.L.U. (2022 - 2023)
