Professor Nelson Torto received his BSc degree in Analytical Chemistry from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UK), his masters in Analytical Chemistry from University of Botswana and his Ph.D. from University of Lund (Sweden). He has published 48 papers in journals and five papers are currently in press. His work has centered on sample prep. Early contributions were in the area of microdialysis where he used that technique to achieve sampling and sample clean-up quantitatively in real time. He also showed that the different modes of microdialysis can be selected on the basis of the nature of the bioprocess. He has extended the theory of microdialysis sampling to account for the conditions where target analytes would interact with membranes and these interactions were defined by a term that was described as Andrade effects. He was also successful in applying the microdialysis as a post column switching device to quantitatively monitor saccharides that are eluted from the HPLC and detected using electrochemistry and mass spectrometry.
More recently, he has used microdialysis for the sampling of metal ions. He demonstrated enhanced recovery of metal ions by employing chelating agents that facilitate the diffusion of analytes across the dialysis membrane. Additionally, he has been developing methodologies on SFE, SPME and SPE for the detection and environmental monitoring of pesticides in water and sediments in regions of southern Africa.
In the area of mentoring and strengthening the implementation of analytical chemistry, Professor Torto was one of the key drivers and creators of the southern and eastern African network of analytical chemists (SEANAC). SEANAC’s main objective is to promote analytical chemistry through collaboration and knowledge exchange. He began this effort with workshops on sample preparation, chromatography and spectroscopy and received a grant to expand this effort in Africa. Presently he is the secretary general of SEANAC where his role it to ensure that the network has funding to cover is activities and to ensure that analytical chemists in Africa have available mentorship that will meet their needs.
