Schmeling, Martina

Associate Professor

Education

Diploma in Chemistry, Westfaelische Wilhelms University Muenster, Germany (1992)
PhD (Dr.rer.nat.), University of Dortmund/Institute of Spectrochemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Germany (1997)
Visiting Professor, University of Antwerp, Belgium (1997-98)
Post-doctoral researcher, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (1998-1999)
Assistant Professor, Loyola University Chicago, (1999-2005)
Associate Professor, Loyola University Chicago, since 2005
Languages: German, English and Dutch fluently; basic French and Spanish

Research Interests

Our research is focused on the analysis of heavy metals in different materials ranging from biological applications to material science. We mainly use total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry TXRF for this purpose, but also employ other methods such as atomic absorption spectrometry AAS and ion chromatography IC.

Air Pollution Studies in Chicago
Since 2002 we have investigated air pollution patterns in Chicago in relationship to lake breeze events. During two three-summer periods (2002 to 2004 and 2010 to 2012) we found that some air pollutants are elevated during lake breeze situations. The data was statistically evaluated using factor analysis and canonical correlation analysis. Our next step is moving from an observational standpoint to a modeling approach and trying to understand how pollutants evolve over time.

Analysis of biological materials
In a more recent project we are trying to understand what role heavy metals play with respect to cataract formation in eyes. For this, we analyze lens fragments obtained from patients undergoing cataract surgery and relate the heavy metal concentration to different vital and lifestyle parameters such as smoking habits and body mass index (BMI).

Analysis of NASA Genesis Mission Samples
In another recent project we investigate the efficiency of different cleaning methods on NASA Genesis samples. The NASA Genesis mission was flown between 2001 and 2004 and returned solar wind material embedded within high purity collectors to Earth. Upon return the spacecraft crashed into the Utah desert shattering the collectors into small fragments and exposing them to contamination. The efficient removal of these contamination is necessary to obtain information of the in space implanted solar wind.

Professional/Community Affiliations

Member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) since 1998
Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) since 1999
Member of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) since 2000

Courses Taught

CHEM 101 and 102 - General Chemistry
CHEM 215 - Quantitative Elemental Analysis
CHEM 310/311 - Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 312/313 - Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 395/455 - Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Climate Change
CHEM 395/455 – Metals in Health and Environment
HONR 204 - Science and Society

Publications/Research Listings

"Sample Preparation for XRF", M. Schmeling and R. Van Grieken, Handbook of X-ray Spectrometry, 2nd edition, Wiley and Sons NY, pp. 933-976, 2002.

"Atmospheric Observations of Enhanced NO2-HONO Conversion on Mineral Dust Particles", S. Wang, R. Ackermann, C.W. Spicer, J. Fast, M. Schmeling and J. Stutz, Geophysical Research Letters, 30(11), 1595, 2003.

"Seasonal variations in diurnal concentrations of trace elements in atmospheric aerosols in Chicago", M. Schmeling, Analytica Chimica Acta, 496 (1-2), 315-323, 2003.

"Characterization of Urban Air Pollution by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence", M. Schmeling, Spectrochimica Acta, B59, 1165-1171, 2004.

"Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence", M. Schmeling, Elsevier Encyclopedia of Analytical Sciences 2nd editions, pp.441-448, Elsevier Ltd, 2005.

"Aerosol Ion Concentration Dependence on Atmospheric Conditions in Chicago",T. Fosco and M. Schmeling, Atmospheric Environment, 40, 6638-6649, 2006.

“Determination of Water-Soluble Atmospheric Aerosols using Ion Chromatography”, T. Fosco and M. Schmeling, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, doi 10.1007/sl10661-006-9388-1 (2007).

“Analysis of Genesis Sample Surface Contamination by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry”, M. Schmeling,Lunar and Planetary Sciences 41, #1682, 2010.

“Surface characterization of Genesis solar wind samples by TXRF”, M. Schmeling, D.S. Burnett, A.J.G. Jurewicz, Lunar and Planetary Sciences 42, #2041, 2011

“Solar composition for the Genesis Discovery Mission”, D.S. Burnett and Genesis Science Team, Proceeding National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 108, No. 48, 19147-19151, 2011

“Steps toward accurate large area analyzes of Genesis solar wind samples: evaluation of surface cleaning methods using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry”, M. Schmeling, D.S. Burnett, A.J.G. Jurewicz, I.V. Veryovkin, Advances in X-ray Analysis, Vol 55. pp. 264-271, 2012

“Air pollution patterns in Chicago, statistical evaluation of sources and transport of pollutants”, K. Binaku, M. Schmeling and T. O’Brien, Tinamarie Fosco, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185: 7295-7308, 2013

“Application of CO2 snow jet cleaning in conjunction with laboratory based total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for Genesis solar wind samples”, M. Schmeling et al., Lunar and Planetary Sciences XXXXIV, #2465, 2013

“Heavy metal analysis in lens and aqueous humor of cataract patients by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, M. Schmeling, B.I. Gaynes, S. Tidow-Kebritchi, Advances in X-ray Analysis Vol. 57, 2014

“Differentiation of surface contaminants and implanted material on Genesis Solar wind samples using Total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence”, M. Schmeling et al. Advances in X-ray Analysis, Vol. 57. 2014

“Heavy metal analysis in lens and aqueous humor of cataract patients by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, M. Schmeling, B.I. Gaynes, S. Tidow-Kebritchi, Powder Diffraction, Vol. 29, 2014

“Analysis of Genesis Sample 60234 by Laboratory Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry and Synchrotron Grazing Incidence X-ray Fluorescence”, M. Schmeling, et al., Lunar and Planetary Sciences XXXV, # 2119, 2014.

“Grazing Incidence X-ray Fluorescence Measurements of Genesis Sample 30580 for Determination of Manganese and Nickel Fluences”, M. Schmelinget al., Lunar and Planetary Sciences XXXXVI, # 2238, 2015