Dr. Robbie Goodhue

  Ecology, Ecosystems   Field mapping   Geochemistry   Mineralogy and crystallography   Organic chemistry   Paleontology, Paleoecology

My research is in several areas which I integrate: I am interested in the behaviour of organic matter and clay minerals in sedimentary rocks during thermal maturation. I research the organic components using vitrinite reflectance, colour change in microfossils and stable isotopes of nitrogen (ä15N) and also carbon (ä13C). In collaboration with a colleague, I have developed a optical new method of quantifying themal maturation, termed the Palynomorph Darkness Index. I use crystallinity (illite and chlorite) measured by Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD) to study the thermal maturation of clay minerals. My work with our Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) has provided involvement in many interesting projects including waste-water treatment, graphene production, dietary habits of badgers and carbonate chemostratigraphy of pre-Cambrian limestones. In summer 2013 with a PhD student we built an interface for the IRMS that can measure nanograms of nitrogen - we believe this is the 2nd of its kind in the world and the most sensitive. We now intend to explore trophic structures of extinct fossil communities. Since 2005 I have been involved in a research project which looks at the environment in the Old Library Building, Trinity College. Along with a collegue in Conservation and a PhD student, we are assessing the accumulation rate, distribution, type and size of dust in addition to gaseous compounds (VOC's, NO2, SO2) and their impact on the collection. This is an important cross-discipline project that will have significant input on policy. I am involved in research for the construction industry into failure of building materials (aggregate, concrete, slates) and in aspects of building conservation and repair, including efflorescence in brick, and identification of mortar types from conservation projects. I have worked on various R&D and QC projects with pharmaceutical companies. The research uses PXRD to acquire phase data which is then processed in various means to quantify polymorphs. This is particularly challenging where the active component in a drug has been mixed with excipients and tableted. Since 2012 I have been heavily involved in the establishment of the new TCD Geochemistry facilities in the TCD Enterprise Centre. This growing facility has a laser ablation front-end for a high sensitivity Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer; the IRMS with nano-EA; a fully quantitative PXRD system (Due Sept 2013); HF clean lab; preparation lab. We anticipate the addition of a ICP-OES, a new ED-XRF, a hand-held ED-XRF and a Total Sulphur EA over the coming months.