The Division of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry of the Department of Chemistry has strong research activities with participation in international and national competitive programs and close international cooperation. The Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (ECPL) conducts scientific research on environmental issues of the atmospheric chemistry, ecotoxicology, environmental geochemistry, oceanographic chemistry, the biogeochemical cycles, climate change, and aquatic chemistry. The Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry (LAC) is specialized in developing chemical sensors and biosensors and protocol analysis with chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, the LAC is accredited to EN ISO 17025:2005 for food analysis. The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy Laboratory is focused on the development of novel analytical NMR methodologies for food analysis, quality control, metabolomics, and cultural heritage materials analysis. The newest member of the division, just appointed on 10/2022 as Assist. Prof. is Anastasia-Chrysovalantou Chatziioannou, who specializes in analytical chemistry, metabolomics and proteomics (https://www.iarc.who.int/staff_member/anastasia-chrysovalantou-chatziioannou/).
The teaching activities of the Division of Environment and Analytical Chemistry of the Chemistry Department, cover training of undergraduate students on Environmental Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry, and holistic teaching and training of graduate students on analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry (atmospheric and water), computational environmental chemistry, climate change and sustainable development.
The division consists of three statutory laboratories: the Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (http://ecpl.chemistry.uoc.gr), the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy Laboratory (http://www.chemistry.uoc.gr/aspyros/spyweb/amrl.html). ECPL has three (3) experimental groups, one (1) theoretical group on environmental numerical simulations and also operates the atmospheric monitoring station at Finokalia, Lassithi, Crete ( http://finokalia.chemistry.uoc.gr ).
Main experimental activities concern modern analytical techniques (mass spectrometry, ICP-MS, ion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), etc., with applications in environment, analysis of art and quality of materials and food; and the development of chemical sensors and biosensors with applications in food chemistry, medicine, etc.
The theoretical group collaborates with the experimental groups offering forecasts of air pollutants levels and other environmental variables for the planning of field campaigns but also compiling and analyzing environmental observations. It performs global and mesoscale chemistry-transport modeling of environmental pollution and climate impacts.
The scientific staff ECPL teaches on invitation to other Greek and foreign universities as part of their undergraduate and graduate programs as well as international summer schools.
Research teams in the field
1. ECPL / Laboratory of Environmental Organic Chemistry (Prof. Evripides Stephanou)
2. ECPL/ Laboratory of Chemistry and Physics of the Atmosphere (Prof. Nikos Mihalopoulos)
( http://finokalia.chemistry.uoc.gr)
3. ECPL/ Laboratory of Speciation Analysis of Elements (Prof. Spyros Pergantis)
http://www.chemistry.uoc.gr/spergantis
4. ECPL/ Laboratory of /Numerical Simulations of Environmental Chemistry and Climate (Prof. Maria Kanakidou)
http://ecpl.chemistry.uoc.gr/kanakidou
6. NMR Spectroscopy Laboratory (Assistant Professor Apostolos Spyros)
http://www.chemistry.uoc.gr/aspyros
