email: zofia.kowalewska@pw.edu.pl
Profile
An analytical chemist specializing in elemental spectrometric analysis.
Her research focuses on the development of analytical methods for materials from the petroleum industry, including crude oil and petroleum products, refinery catalysts, and environmental samples, using atomic spectrometry techniques such as graphite furnace and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF). His principal analytes include Ni, V, S, Pb, Cu, and As.
The analytical methods he has developed have been applied to monitor catalytic petroleum refining processes, including catalytic cracking, reforming, hydrodesulfurization of diesel fuels, and hydrodesulfurization of vacuum residue, as well as to identify operational disturbances in refinery installations and assess metal contamination in areas affected by refinery activities.
More recently, her research has focused on exploiting the unique capabilities of high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) with graphite furnace and flame atomization. The generation of molecules within the measurement system has enabled the indirect determination of non-metals, including sulfur in petroleum products, fluorine in gasoline, fluorine in food, and fluorine in extracts from dental filling materials. High-resolution atomic spectrometry has also enabled the identification of analytical interferences and the development of reliable methods for determining lead in gasoline and precious metals in automotive catalysts and electronic waste.
Research area: determination of extractable organofluorine in river sediments; methodological studies on the determination of fluorine in organic solutions using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GF MAS) with various molecular species; investigation of analyte form effects in the determination of organofluorine, including different per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); multidisciplinary studies of organofluorine using innovative instrumental solutions (in collaboration with the University of Graz); ongoing research on the determination of various elements by molecular emission measurements using microwave-sustained atmospheric pressure nitrogen plasma (in collaboration with the University of Alicante), as well as the determination of fluorine in liquid organic samples using laser-induced emission spectrometry (in collaboration with the University of Oviedo).
Scientific achievements:
https://orcid.org/000-0003-2093-4161
https://repo.pw.edu.pl/info.seam?id=WUT239e6fe6cb3444f3ac99e19ed80d2e2b&affil=&lang=pl