Description:

Chris Palmer received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Arizona in 1991. He carried out postdoctoral research at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University from 1991 to 1992, at Unilever Research Laboratory in The Netherlands from 1993 to 1994, and at Himeji Institute of Technology in Japan from 1994 to 1995. He was Assistant Professor of Chemistry at New Mexico Insitute of Mining and Technology from 1995 to 1999 and Associate Professor from 1999-2001. Chris joined UM in 2001. He spent a year as Honorary Research Associate at the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS) at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.  Chris is an analytical chemist specializing in the development of novel polymeric materials for application in microscale liquid phase separations and in the application of separations methods to environmental analysis.

Office Hours:

Monday 2-3 and Tuesday 2-3 PM

Research Interests:

Chris and his research group are interested in the development of new separations methodologies that will have a broad range of application and analytical interest in the fields of pharmaceutical, environmental and biochemical analysis. Interests also include characterization of the nature of chemical interactions observed between solutes and solvent phases, and how this is affected by the structure and chemistry of the solvent phase. Most recent work has concentrated on the development, characterization and application of novel amphophilic ionic polymers and polymeric nanoparticles as pseudo-stationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography. Electrokinetic chromatography is a micro-scale analytical technique that can be carried out in capillaries or on microchip devices. Nonionic compounds are separated via differential interaction with an ionic pseudo-stationary phase in an electric field. The polymeric materials that are being developed in the laboratory have several significant advantages over commonly used micellar phases. These advantages stem from the stability of the structures, which leads to applicability for the separation of hydrophobic compounds, the ability to design and synthesize phases with unique chemical selectivity, and compatibility with mass spectrometric detection.

Chris is also involved in collaborative work in which separations technologies are developed and applied to environmental analytical problems.  Most recently, the group has developed and applied GC-MS methods for the determination of chemical markers for wood smoke in particulate matter and in urine.  Application of these methods has supported the evaluation of a wood stove replacement program in Libby, MT and the characterization of levoglucosan as a potential chemical marker of exposure to woodsmoke.  The research team continues to work on issues related to residential wood smoke and wood smoke exposure.

Courses:

CHMY 341:  Analytical Chemistry:  Quantitative Analysis

CHMY 489:  Forensic Chemistry Seminar

Education:

Juniata College, Huntingdon PA.  BS in Chemistry, 1985

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.  PhD in Analytical Chemistry, 1991

International Experience:

The Netherlands:  Unilever Research Laboratorium, Vlaardingen.  1992-1994. Postdoctoral Res. Assoc.

Japan:  Himeji Institute of Technology (now Kyogo Prefecture University).  1994-1995.  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellow.

Belgium:  Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve.  2000.  Visiting Scientist and Lecturer

Australia:  Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania.  2007-2008.  Honorary Research Associate.

Selected Publications:

“Residential indoor PM2.5 in wood stove homes:  follow-up of the Libby changeout program,” C.W. Noonan, W. Navidi, L. Sheppard, C.P. Palmer, M. Bergauff, K. Hooper, T.J. Ward, (2012) Indoor Air, in press, Link

 “Organic/elemental carbon and woodsmoke tracer concentrations following a community wide woodstove changeout program,” T.J Ward, C.P. Palmer, M. Bergauff, R.K.M. Jayanty, C.W. Noonan, (2011) Atmospheric Environment, 45, 5554-5560. Link

 “Retention Behavior and Selectivity of a Latex Nanoparticle Pseudostationary Phase for Electrokinetic Chromatography,” Christopher P. Palmer, Allison Keefer, Emily F.Hilder, Paul R. Haddad, (2011) Electrophoresis, 32, 588-594. Link

"Fine particulate matter source apportionment following a large woodstove changeout program in Libby, Montana,” Tony J. Ward, Christopher P. Palmer, Curtis W. Noonan, (2010) Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association,  60(6),  688-693. Link

“Electrokinetic Chromatography and Mass Spectrometric Detection Using Latex Nanoparticles as a Pseudostationary Phase,” Christopher P. Palmer, Emily F. Hilder, Joselito P. Quirino and Paul R. Haddad, (2010) Analytical Chemistry, 82(10), 4046-4054 Link

“Urinary Levoglucosan as a Biomarker for Wood Smoke: Results of Human Exposure Studies,” Megan A. Bergauff, Tony J. Ward, Curtis W. Noonan, Christopher T. Migliaccio, Christopher D. Simpson, Ashley R. Evanoski, and Christopher P. Palmer, (2010) Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 20, 385-392. Link

“Community Woodstove Changeout and Impact on Ambient Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Phenolics,” Tony J. Ward, Christopher P. Palmer, James E. Houck, William C. Navidi, Steve Geinitz, Curtis W. Noonan, (2009) Environmental Science & Technology, 43(14), 5345-5350. Link

“The effect of a woodstove changeout on ambient levels of PM2.5 and chemical tracers for woodsmoke in Libby, Montana,” Megan A. Bergauff, Tony J. Ward, Curtis W. Noonan and Christopher P. Palmer, (2009) Atmospheric Environment, 43(18), 2938-2943  Link

For a full list of publications, please view Palmer Publications.