You have had a spill… don’t panic, everything will be fine. Accidents happen. It is what you do next that is important. I have worked on many spills and here are what I believe are four of the most important things from a chemist’s perspective.

Court Sandau
Email: csandau@chemistry-matters.com
BY Court Sandau analytical chemistry, chemistry, chemistry matters, chemistry-matters.com, cmi, court sandau, Environmental Forensics, environmental professionals, Expert Witness and Litigation Support, Expert Witness and Litigation Support, field sampling, Legal Sampling and Defensible Sampling Design, oil spills, sampling, sampling best practices, Services, toluene
3 Real-Life Examples of How Chemists Keep the Science 'On the Rails' During an Oil Spill Response
My last blog post on the need for having a trusted chemist on your oil spill response team created a bit of a stir on LinkedIn with everyone insisting they have a more important role or a role that is of higher priority. Thank you all for the comments and the responses, this is what social media is about!
A Chemist Should Be Your First Call When Faced with an Oil Spill Emergency
When they do happen, oil spills can be nasty, and the company responsible will likely enter emergency panic mode as it responds to contain and clean up the oil.
Whether in the Lab or in the Field - It's All About Chemistry
I was recently at a lunch meeting with a client to re-engage me in a historical project that I worked on many years before but had stalled due to lack of funding. We were discussing the project once again, and it was to begin in short order . . . But, even though I stay incredibly busy with my existing workload, I...
Best Practices for Collecting Flawless Field Samples for Court Cases
A little under a year ago, Chemistry Matters provided an all-day legal sampling seminar on best practices, requirements and techniques for legal sampling.
What is Forensic Chemistry Consulting, Anyway?
I am always fascinated with the use of the latest analytical chemistry techniques in solving unique environmental, geochemical, and arson cases and projects. My interest in these techniques coincides with this also being the ‘golden age’ of analytical chemistry. Analytical chemistry has recently developed so...
Do Samples Need Ice for Storage and Transport to the Laboratory?
During my seminars on arson and legal sampling over the years, one fundamental question is asked a lot regarding the collection of samples for ignitable liquid residue (ILR) analysis for a potential arson investigation. That question is, "Do my samples really need ice for storage and transport to the laboratory?"
How does the Golden Age of Analytical Chemistry Apply to ILR Analysis?
As part of my seminars, with the latest being in April 2017 at the 2017 International Association Arson Investigations (IAAI) in Las Vegas, I routinely discuss the future of analytical chemistry, and in this case how it applies to ignitable liquid residue(ILR) analysis.
I will tell the audience that we are currently...
What Sample Container is Best for Fire Debris Analysis?
I was attending and presenting at the 2017 International Association Arson Investigations (IAAI) Conference in Las Vegas in April. My four hour presentation covered many aspects of legal sampling and chain of custody as well as providing a fundamental description of laboratory analysis of ignitable liquid residues...
2DGC: Why You Need to Know about this Niche Analytical Technique
You may have heard about an analytical technique called 2DGC or Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography. Or perhaps you have not.