Robert Clough

Robert Clough

Job title: REG Researcher, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Technology)
Address: A403, Portland Square, Drake Circus,
Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA
Telephone: +441752584951
Alternative telephone: +44 (0)1752 584951
Facsimile: +44 (0)1752 584950
Email: R.Clough@plymouth.ac.uk

Qualifications & background

2004-2006, Research Fellow in Chemical Metrology with Dr Hywel Evans. Investigating isotope dilution mass spectrometry for high accuracy speciation studies. University of Plymouth.

2000-2003, PhD in Analytical Chemistry with Drs Hywel Evans and Simon Belt, University of Plymouth.

1997-2000, BSc (hons) 2:1, Environmental Science, University of Plymouth.

Professional membership
Member Royal Society Chemistry

Roles on external bodies

Chair, Western Region Analytical Division, Royal Society of Chemistry
Member Technology Advisory Group Environmental Knowledge transfer Network
Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. Analytical Methods Committee, Sub-committee on High Accuracy Analysis by Mass Spectrometry. Member 2000-2003.

Referee for various analytical chemistry journals.

Teaching interests
I currently have no teaching role.

Research interests

My main research area is analytical chemistry and combine this with the commercial nature of my role.
My research interests focus on three areas; isotope amount ratio measurements by mass spectrometry; chemical metrology, ensuring that analytical results are valid and fit for purpose, and particulate interactions with metallic, organometallic, organosulphur, organophosphorus and organohalide chemical species in the aquatic environment. recent work has focussed on high accuracy measurements of individual sulphur containing species, with a full combined uncertainty statement, by total elemental, species specific and species unspecific isotope dilution mass spectrometry. This requires the coupling of different separation techniques, such as high performance liquid chromatography, to various mass spectrometric detectors.

UoP Research group membership

Speciation and Environmental Analysis

Publications

A.Dissanayake, R.Clough, J.I.Spicer, M.BJones, Effects of hypercapnia on acid–base balance and osmo-/iono-regulation in prawns (Decapoda: Palaemonidae). Aquatic Biology 11, 2010, 27-36

C.F.Harrington, R.Clough, H.R.Hansen, S.J.Hill, J.F.Tyson, Atomic spectrometry update: Elemetal Speciation, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. 25, 2010, 1217.

S. A. Rider, S. J. Davies, A. N. Jha, R. Clough, J. W. Sweetman, Bioavailability of co-supplemented organic and inorganic zinc and selenium sources in a white fishmeal-based rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet (p), Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 94, 2010, 99.

C.F.Harrington, R.Clough, H.R.Hansen, S.J.Hill, S.A.Pergantis, J.F.Tyson, Atomic spectrometry update: Elemetal Speciation, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. 24, 2009, 999.

Marshall WA, Clough R, Gehrels WR, The isotopic record of atmospheric lead fall-out on an Icelandic salt marsh since AD 50, Science of the Total Environment, 407, 8, 2009, 2734.

RClough, P.Evans, T.Catterick, E.H.Evans, Delta ³⁴S Measurements of Sulfur by Multicollector
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Analytical Chemistry, 78, 17, 2006, 6126.

R.Clough, S.Belt, E.H.Evans, B.Fairman, T,Catterick, Uncertainty Contributions to Single and Double Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry with HPLC-CV-MC-ICP-MS for the Determination of Methylmercury in fish Tissue, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 20, 2005, 1095.

R.Clough and E.H.Evans. Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry for Speciation Analysis, VAM Bulletin, 30, Spring 2004.

R.Clough, S.Belt, E.H.Evans, B.Fairman, T,Catterick, Investigation of Equilibration and Uncertainty Contributions for the Determination of Inorganic Mercury and Methylmercury by Isotope Dilution ICP-MS, Analytica Chimica Acta, 500, 1-2, 2003, 155.

R.Clough, S.Belt, E.H.Evans, P.Sutton, B.Fairman, T,Catterick, Uncertainty Contributions to Species Specific Isotope Dilution Analysis: Part 1, Characterisation and Stability of ¹⁹⁹Hg and ¹³C Isotopically Enriched Methylmercury by ¹H NMR, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 18, 2003, 1033.

R.Clough, S.Belt, E.H.Evans, B.Fairman, T,Catterick, Uncertainty Contributions to Species Specific Isotope Dilution Analysis: Part 2, Determination of Methylmercury by HPLC Coupled with Quadrupole and Multicollector ICP-MS, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 18, 2003, 1039.

R.Clough, S.Belt, E.H.Evans, B.Fairman, T,Catterick, Isotope Dilution ICP-MS for Speciation Studies, Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 38, 2003, 101.

E.H.Evans, R.Clough, Isotope Dilution Analysis, in Encyclopaedia of Analytical Science, 2nd Edition, Ed by P.Worsfold, A.Townshend and C.Poole, Academic Press, 2004.

Reports & invited lectures

Invited Lectures

“Application of HAAMS IDMS Method”, R.Clough, E.H.Evans, RSC Analytical Methods Committee, Sub committee on High Accuracy Analysis by Mass Spectrometry, 16th December 2002, Society of Chemical Industry, London, UK.

“Experiences With The HAAMS Approximate Matching IDMS Method”, R.Clough, E.H.Evans, RSC Analytical Methods Committee, Sub committee on High Accuracy Analysis by Mass Spectrometry, 16th December 2002, Society of Chemical Industry, London, UK.

“Factors Affecting The Accuracy And Precision of Isotope Dilution Analysis ICP-MS For Speciation Studies”, R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. Paper presented at the Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Division Atomic Spectroscopy Group AGM. 27th February 2002, Teddington, UK.

Workshops

"Speciation using element-selective detection" E.H.Evans (Chair), J.A.Caruso, R.Clough, R.Wahlen,16th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, September 1-5, 2003, Edinburgh, UK

Contributed Lectures

"Heterogenous Chemical Reactivity of Stable Isotopes with Sewage Effluent" R.Clough, 13th Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium, 10th-12th July, Glasgow, UK.
"Isotopic Measurements by ICP-MS: Their Uses and Future Challenges" R.Clough, British Mass Spectrometry Society Annual Meeting, 4th-7th September 2005,York, UK.

"The Analysis of Pharmaceuticals By ICP-MS: A Stiff Challenge". R.Clough, P.Evans, E.H.Evans, European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, 30th January to 3rd February, 2005, Budapest, Hungary.

“Isotope Dilution Analysis for Speciation Studies: The Stability of Methyl Mercury by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance”, R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt, 11th Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium. 8th-10th July 2002, Loughborough, UK.
Posters

"New Techniques for Delta ³⁴S Measurements", R.Clough,P.Evans, T.Catterick, E.H.Evans, Analytical Research Forum, 18th-20th July 2005, Plymouth, UK.

"Measurement Uncertainty: What Can It Tell Us?".

R.Clough, E.H.Evans, P.Evans and T.Catterick, 12th Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium, 12-14 July, 2004, Plymouth, UK.

“Isotope Dilution for Mercury Speciation” R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. 16th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, Edinburgh, 1-5 Sept, 2003.

“Mercury Speciation by Isotope Dilution” R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. 3rd Analytical Research Forum, 21st-23rd July, 2003, Sunderland University, UK.

“Uncertainty Contributions to Isotope Dilution Analysis ICP-MS for Mercury Speciation” R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, 12th-17th January, 2003, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

“Monitoring Ligand Exchange Reactions of Methylmercury by Multinuclear NMR” R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. 2nd Analytical Research Forum. 15th-17th July, 2002, Kingston University, UK.

“Adsorption and Desorption Rates of Particulate Mercury and Dissolved Isotopically Enriched Mercury Determined by MC-SF-ICP-MS” R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. 11th Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium. 8-10 July, 2002, Loughborough, UK.

“Uncertainty Contributions for Isotope Dilution Analysis of Organomercury Compounds” R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. 1st Analytical Research Forum. 16th-18th July, 2001, University of East Anglia, UK.

“Uncertainty Contributions In Isotope Dilution Analysis of Mercury” R.Clough, E.H.Evans, S.T.Belt and B.Fairman. 6th International Symposium-Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry. 21st June, 2001, Cardiff University, UK.

Links

University of Plymouth Consolidated Radioisotope Facility (CORiF)

University of Plymouth Analytical Research Facility (ARF)

Science Research and Innovation Centre

Speciation and Environmental Analysis (SEA) Research Group