Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Edward PC Lai

Edward PC Lai
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Carleton University, Canada

Biography

Ed Lai obtained his Ph.D. degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Florida (U.S.A.) in 1982.  He is a Full Professor at Carleton University (since 1999) who has accumulated 29 years of research experience and knowledge in bio-organic and environmental analytical chemistry.  He is a fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada (since 2004), has published 110 scientific papers, and presented 116 talks/posters at conferences.  His research interests are instrumental analysis of biochemical and environmental samples, using new photochemical, electrochemical, chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques to develop new analytical methods for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity.  He has a wealth of experience in synthesizing highly functional molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for specific recognition of pharmaceuticals, mycotoxins, and endocrine disrupting compounds in water. He is also a member of the Environmental Science Council at Carleton University.

Research Interest

Instrumental analysis of biochemical and environmental samples for public health, using nanosecond laser spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).  New photochemical, electrochemical and optical phenomena are developed into analytical methods for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity:  (a) SPR immunosensor for the detection of fumonisin B1 and peanut allergenic proteins in agricultural crops and food extracts;  (b) molecularly imprinted polymers for the selective determination of therapeutic drugs in serum, ochratoxin A in red wine, and estrogenic compounds in wastewater treatment by solid-phase extraction with differential pulsed elution;  (c) laser desorption ionization for the TOFMS analysis of bioorganic molecules on polypyrrole-coated nanospheres;  (d) self-assembled monolayers and electropolymerized thin films for adsorption of toxic metals (Hg2+, Ag+), radioactive nuclides (Sr-90, Y-90), and biomolecules (mycotoxins, peptides, proteins); (e)  bioconjugation of quantum dots with proteins, antibodies and synthetic receptors; and (f)  functionalization of superparamagnetic nanoparticles for removal of E. coli in environmental water.