Dr. Wenjian Lao
Dr. Wenjian Lao is a chemist who specializes in environmental trace analysis, enantioseparation of chiral organic pollutants and chiral stationary phase synthesis, and passive environmental sampling technology. He is the Chemistry Department's Research Coordinator. His research focuses on passive sampling (SPME, PE, PMMA, and DGT) method development and application, analysis of legacy pollutants and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in the environment. Wayne began his career working on sampling and analysis of persistent organic pollutants in Beijing. He participated in many oil and gas geochemical prospecting projects as an analytical chemist and engineer in China. He developed a method for rapid analysis of free hydrocarbons by gas chromatography. He has studied the synthesis, fluorescence properties and biological activities of carbazole carboxylic acids, prepared chiral stationary phases, and developed chiral separation methods for selected organic pesticides. In SCCWRP, he established GC/MS method for analysis of pyrethroids, and fipronil in the environmental matrices. He made calibrations of passive samplers (SPME, PE, and PMMA) for POPs (PAHs, PCBs, OCPs) and CECs (PBDEs, pyrethroids, fipronil, etc.). He created models for calibration of water-unstable chemicals in seawater and for non-equilibrium exposure correction with performance reference compounds in passive sampling. He is working on analyses of CECs (pesticides and PFAS) using passive samplers and HPLC-MS/MS, and microplastics using FTIR, LDIR, and Raman spectroscopies.
He received his B.S. in chemistry from Xi'an Petroleum Institute in 1990, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in analytic chemistry from Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 1996 and 2000 respectively. He joined SCCWRP in 2006.
Education
Ph.D., analytic chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (LICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 2000
M.S., analytic chemistry, LICP, CAS, 1996
B.S., chemistry, Xi'an Petroleum Institute, P.R. China, 1990
Professional Experience
Research Coordinator, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA. 2022-present
Senior Research Technician, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA. 2006-2022
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Riverside, Department of Environmental Sciences. Riverside, CA. 2005-2006
Postdoctoral Associate, Mississippi State University, Chemistry Department. Mississippi State, MS. 2003-2005
Research Associate, Vanderbilt University, Department of Chemistry. Nashville, TN. 2003
Research Scientist, The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Beijing, P.R. China. 2001-2003
Graduate Student Researcher, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Lanzhou, P.R. China. 1995-2000
Engineer, Analytical Chemistry Division, Geochemical Crews, BGP Inc., China National Petroleum Corporation. Zhuozhou, P.R. China. 1990-2002
Honors and Awards
Principal investigator, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2001)
The Peng Yingang Science and Technology Fellowship, Chinese Academy of Science (2000)
Achievement Award of Quality Control, China National Petroleum Corporation (1995)
Professional Societies and Certifications
Board of Directors, Southern California Regional Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SoCal SETAC) (2008-2010)
Hydrology & Watershed Management Committee, American Water Resources Association
American Chemical Society
Sigma Xi
Selected Presentations and Conference Proceedings
Lao W, S. Dial, and C. S. Wong. 2023. Establishing a high efficiency and practical method for analysis of microplastics in complex matrices. SETAC North America 44th Annual Meeting. November, Louisville, KY.
Lao, W., B. Du, D. Shultz, J. Smith, C.S. Wong. Quantitatively measuring freely dissolved cyanotoxins with diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) samplers in recreational lakes of Southern California, USA. EmCon: International Conference on Emerging Contaminants. September 13-14, 2021. Via webinar.
Lao, W., A. Parks, E. Wenger, M. Maruya, B. Bay, J. Carilli, J. Leather. 2019. Characterizing freely dissolved polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in San Diego Bay (CA, USA) using polyethylene passive samplers. SETAC North America 40th Annual Meeting. November, Toronto, ON, CA.
Lao, W., G. Kim, K. Maruya. 2017. Developing passive sampling methods for bioavailable current-used pesticides in sediment. 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. San Francisco, California.
Maruya, K., W. Lao, G.B. Kim, Y. Hong, J. Gan. 2016. Extending the scope of passive sampling for contaminated sediments: standardizing ex situ methods for determination of Cfree. 7th SETAC World Congress/SETAC North America 37th Annual Meeting. November, Orlando, FL.
Flavetta, G., W. Lao, K.A. Maruya, R.M. Burgess, L. Fernandez. 2016. Temporal and spatial monitoring of persistent organic pollutants on the Palos Verdes Shelf using two passive sampling methods. 7th SETAC World Congress/SETAC North America 37th Annual Meeting. November, Orlando, FL.
Hong, Y., W. Lao, D. Tsukada, K. Maruya, J. Gan. 2015. Evaluation of various polymers for equilibrium passive sampling of moderately hydrophobic emerging pollutants in water. Platform presentation at SETAC North America 36th annual meeting. November, Salt Lake City.
Lao, W., D. Tsukada, M. Maruya. 2014. Incorporating performance reference compounds (PRCs) for passive sampling of organic contaminants using solid phase microextraction (SPME). Poster presentation at SETAC North America 35th annual meeting. November, Vancouver.
Lao, W., D. Tsukada, M. Maruya. 2013. Correction for non-equilibrium measurement of hydrophobic organic chemicals using polyethylene passive samplers. Poster presentation at SETAC North America 34th annual meeting. November, Nashville.
Lao, W., D. Tsukada, M. Maruya. 2012. Linkage between laboratory and field exposures of low-density polyethylene film as passive sampler in seawater. Poster presentation at SETAC North America 33rd annual meeting. November, Long Beach, CA.
Pirogovsky, M., A. Joyce, W. Lao, J. Haw, R. Adams, K. Maruya. 2012. Calibrating Solid Phase Microextraction Passive Samplers for the In Situ Measurement of Contaminants in Southern California. American Chemical Society 243rd National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA.
Joyce, A., M. Pirogovsky, W. Lao, J. Haw, R. Adams, K. Maruya. 2012. Measurement of Polyethylene-Water partition Coefficients for In Situ Passive Sampling of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Los Angeles, California. American Chemical Society 243rd National Meeting & Exposition. San Diego, CA.
Lao, W., L. Tiefenthaler, D. Greenstein, K.A. Maruya, S.M. Bay, K.C. Schiff. 2011. Pyrethroids in Sediment from Southern California Coastal Environment-Bight’08 Survey. Presentation at the American Chemical Society 242nd National Meeting & Exposition. Denver, CO.
Adams, G.R, A.S. Joyce, M.S. Pirogovsky, W. Lao, J.F. Haw, K.A. Maruya. 2011. Calibration and use of Polyethylene Passive Samplers for Quantifying Legacy and Emerging Contaminants of Concern at POTW Outfalls. Presentation at the Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC). Los Angeles, CA.
Lao, W., L. Tiefenthaler, D. Greenstein, K.A. Maruya, S.M. Bay, K.C. Schiff. 2011. Pyrethroids in Sediment from Southern California Coastal Environment-Bight’08 Survey. Presentation at SoCal SETAC Annual Meeting. Huntington Beach, CA.
Publications
Journal Articles
Lao W., L. Cong, T. Hong, J. You, 2015. Spectroscopic Characterizations of Semiquinone Anion Radical Formation and Autosensitized Photooxidation for Elsinochrome A. Journal of the Chemical Society of Pakistan. 37 (1), 99-104.
Lao W., L. Cong, T. Hong, J. You. 2014. Photoinduced electron-transfer between Elsinochrome A and carbazole chemicals. Chemical Research. 25 (3), 260-263.
Lao W. 2013. Analysis of toxaphene and its eight congeners in sediment and fish tissue by gas chromatography-negative ion mass spectrometry. Chinese Journal of Chromatography. 31(7): 667-673.
Lao W. 2013. Thermodynamic and Extrathermodynamic Studies of Enantioseparation of Imidazolinone Herbicides on Chiralcel OJ Column. ISRN Chromatography. Article ID 460787, 9 pages. doi:10.1155/2013/460787.
Lao W., C. Song, J. You, Q. Ou. 2013. Fluorescence derivatization of alcohols by1.4-dimethyl-carbazole-9-yl-propionic acid. Chemical Research. 24 (1), 75-78.
Lao W., C. Song, J. You, Q. Ou. 2012. Fluorescence and ฆย-cyclodextrin inclusion properties of three carbazole-based dyes. Dyes and Pigments. 95, 619-626.
Lao W., L. Cong, T. Hong, J. You. 2012. Theoretical study on molecular configuration and intramolecular hydrogen bond of Elsinochrome A. Chemical Research. 23 (4), 85-90.
Lao W., C. Song, J. You, Q. Ou. 2012. Bifurcated hydrogen-bond in 3-Br-carbazole-9-yl-acetic acid crystal and its theoretical analysis. Chemical Research. 23 (5), 40-43.
Lao W., G. Arye, F. Ernst, Y.P. Xu, S. Bondarenko, D. Haver, J. Kabashima, D. Shibberu, and J. Gan. 2008. Reduction of Pyrethroid Runoff from A Commercial Nursery, in Synthetic Pyrethroids: Occurrence and Behavior in Aquatic Environments. American Chemical Society. ISBN: 978-0-8412-7433-4. 428-446.
Lao W., J. Gan. 2007. Hold-up volume and its application in estimating effective phase ratio and thermodynamic parameters on a polysaccharide-coated chiral stationary phase. Journal of Separation Sciences, 30, 2590-2597.
Lao W., J. Gan. 2006. Responses of enantioselective characteristics of imidazolinone herbicides and Chiralcel OJ column to temperature variations. Journal of Chromatography A. , 1131 (1-2) 74-84.
Lao W., J. Gan. 2006. High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of imidazolinone herbicide enantiomers and their methyl derivatives on polysaccharide-coated chiral stationary phases. Journal of Chromatography A. , 1117 (2), 184-193.
Zhang G., R. E. Rogers, W. T. Frenca and Lao W.. 2006. Investigation of microbial influences on seafloor gas-hydrate formations. Marine Chemistry. 103 (3-4) 359-369.
Zhao R., Lao W.ฃฌX. Xu. 2004. Headspace Liquid-Phase Microextraction of Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water and Their Gas-Chromatographic Determination. Talanta. 62,751-756.
Ma L., Lao, W., X. Wang, H. Liu, S. Chu, X. Xu. 2003. Analytical method for trace semi-volatile organic compounds in the soil of Beijing suburbs. Chinese Analytical Chemistry, 31(9), 1025-1029.
Liu X., Lao W., X. Bi, X. Xu, J. Zhao. 2002. Determination of organochlorine pesticides in abalone samples from Antarctic. Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Peop. Rep. China. Chinese Analytical Chemistry 30(9), 1035-1037.
You J., Lao W.,; M. Huang, G. Wang. 2002. Study of molecular imprinted polymer as the adsorbent in the clean-up step after supercritical fluid extraction. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Peop. Rep. China. Chinese Analytical Chemistry 30(5), 518-521.
Bi Y., Lao W.,; Zhao, Suli; Li, Jubai. 2001. Synthesis and structure identification of partly hexenyl-substituted ฆย-cyclodextrin. Journal of Chemical reagents. 23(5), 284-285.
Lao W., Yu Hua Zhang, Yue Qi Liu, Qing Jin Wu, Zi Xing Huang, Qing Yu Ou, 2001.The Microwave-assisted Preparation and X-Ray Structure of 3-Bromo-9-carbazoly-N-acetic acid. Chinese Chemical Letter, 12(4) 321-324.
Lao W., J. You, H. Lu, S. Chen, X. Shen and Q. Ou, 2001.Study on the Synthesis, Properties and Biological Actitities of (9-Carbazoly)-carboxylic acids. Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 22(6) 955-957
Lao W., J. You, J. M.You, G. Wang, Q. Ou 2001.The Advances of fluorescence derivatization for alcohols and acids in high-performance liquid chromatography. Analysis and Testing Technology and Instruments. 7(1) 28-36.
You J, Lao W., G. Wang. 2001. Enantiomeric Separation of Pesticides by High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis. Analysis and Testing Technology and Instruments. 7(2) 100-104.
You J., Lao W., S. Chen, Q. Ou, 2001. Molecular Imprinted Polymer Used as An Additive for High Performance Capillary Electrophroesis. J. of Instrumental Analysis, 20(1) 19.
Zhang Y., Lao W., Y. Yin, Z. Huang, J. Wu, 2001. The Reaction of Octacarbonyldicobalt and Dipropargyl Malonate. Chinese Journal of Structure Chemistry, 20, 104
Zhang Y., J. Zhang, Lao W., Y. Yin, Z Huang and J.Wu, 2001. Synthesis, characterization and reactions of cluster complexes containing SeRuCoM (M = Mo or W) core and a functionally substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand. Journal of Organomet. Chemistry, 628(1) 123-130.
Zhang Y, Zhang J, Lao W., Y., Z. Huang and J.Wu, 2002. The reaction of octacarbonyldicobalt and dipropargyl terephthalate. Journal of coordination chemistry 2002 55(4) 373 จC380.
Zhang Y., Lao W., Y. Liu, Y. Yin, J. Wu and Z. Huang, 2001. Reaction of dipropargyl manolate, terephthalate with Co2(CO)8, Mo2Cp2(CO)4 and RuCo2(CO)11 gives the di or tetranuclear clusters. The crystal structure of [CH2(CO2CH2C2H-m)2][Co2(CO)6]2 and [p-(HC2CH2OCO)C6H4(CO2CH2C2H-m)][Co2(CO)6].Polyhedron, 20(9-10) 1107-1113.
Lao W., J.M. You, X. Sun, X. Kong, Q. Ou. 2000. Facile and Rapid Synthesis of 9H-Carbazole-9-Carboxylic Acids Under Microwave Irradiation. Synthetic Communications 30 (19) 3491.
Lao W., C. Xu, S. Ji, J.M.You, Q. Ou.. 2000. Electronic and vibrational spectra of series substituted Carbazole derivatives. Spectrochimica Acta, Part A. 56/11 2049-2060.
Lao W., Z. Yu, Y. Liu, and Q. Ou. 2000.Microwave-induced Fast Synthesis and Optical Resolution of 2-(9-Carbazoly)-Carboxylic Acids Enantiomers. Journal fจนr Praktische Chemie-Chemiker-Zeitung . 342 (6) 596.
Lao W., X. Sun, J.M. You , and Q. Ou. 2000. Microwave-assisted rapid preparation of substituted carbazole-9-carboxylic acids and their absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic characteristics. Monatshefte Fจนr Chemie/Chemical Monthly. 131,803.
Lao W., X. Sun, J.M. You, Q.Ou. 2000. Microwave-assisted preparation substituted carbazole-9-acetic/propoinice acid and fluorescence spectroscopic characteristics. Heterocyclic Communications 6 (1) 81.
Lao W., J.M. You, X. Sun, X. Kong, Q. Ou. 2000.Rapid Preparation of 1.4-Dimethyl-Carbazole-9-Carboxylic acid under Microwave Irradiation. Chinese Journal of Synthetic Chemistry. 8 (1) 6.
Lao W. J.M. You, Z. Yu, Q. Ou. 2000.On the synthesis of bromine substituted carbazoles and their normal phase HPLC separation. Journal of Chemical reagents 22(5) 260.
Y. Liu, Lao W., Y. Zhang, S. Jiang, L. Chen, 2000. Direct optical resolution of the enantiomers axially chiral compounds by HPLC on Cellulose tri-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) stationary phase. Chromatographia. 52(3/4) 190.
You J., Lao W., G. Wang, 1999. Analysis of organic pollutants in sewage by supercritical fluid extraction. Chromatographia. 49(7/8) 399.
You J.M., Lao W., You J., G. Wang, 1999.Characterization and application of acridine-9-N-acetyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide as a pre-column derivatization agent for fluorimetric detection of amino acids in liquid chromatography, Analyst, 124, 1755-1760
You J.M., Lao W., X.J.Fan, Q.Y.Ou, X.L.Jia, 1999. Study on the chromatographic behavior and inclusion constants of several new fluorescence agents using cyclodextrin as additives under the conditions of steady and dynamic state equilibrium with fluorescence detection, Chromatographia, 49, 95-104.
You J.M., X.J.Sun, Lao W., Q.Y.Ou, 1999. Determination of alcohols using condensation agent carbazole-9-acetyl-benzene-disulfonate by high performance liquid chromatography with pre-column fluorescence derivatization, Chromatographia, 49, 657-665.
You J.M., Lao W., Q. Ou, Xuejun Sun, 1999. Fluorescence properties of carbazole-N-(2-methyl) acetyl chloride and determination of amino compounds via high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column fluorescence derivatization, J. Chromatogr. A, 848, 117-130.
You J.M., Lao W., X. Sun, Q. Ou, 1999. Carbazole-9-N-acetyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide (CAHS) as precolumn derivatization agent for fluorimetric detection of amino compounds with liquid chromatogrpahy, J.Liquid Chromatogr. & Related Technol. 22, 2907-2923.
X. Suo, Lao W., 1999. Study on the Geochemical Prospecting System of Near the Earth's Surface Free Hydrocarbons and Its Applied Effect. Petroleum Explorationist. 4(1) 35.
You J.M., Lao W., Q. Ou, X. Sun, 1999. A simple an d mild derivatization method for hydroxyl compounds using condensation agent carbazole-9-N-(2-methyl)-acetyl-benzene-disulfonate and its application for the determination of volatile alcohols from plasma by HPLC with fluorescence detection, Fresenius J Anal Chem , 365, 521-528.
You J.M., You J., Lao W., G. Wang, X. Jia, 1999. Fluorescence properites of carbazole-9-ylpropionic acid and its application to the determination of amines via HPLC with fluorescence detection, Analyst, 124, 281-288
You J.M., H. Sun, Lao W., Q. Ou, 1999. Fluorescence properties of carbazole-9-yl-acetyl chloride and its application for the simultaneous determination of amino acids and bigenic amines via liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, Anal. Chim.Acta, 3 2, 51.
You J.M., X. Sun, Lao W., Q. Ou, D. Jiang, 1999. Derivatization of alcohols using acridone-9-N-acetyl-benzene-disulfonate as a condensation agent and its application for the determination of volatile alcohols in human plasma by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, Anal.Chim.Acta, 391, 43-55.
You J.M., X. Fan, Lao W., Q. Ou, Q. Zhu, 1999. High performance liquid chromatographic determination of biogenic amines and amino acids, Talanta, 48, 437.
You J.M., Lao W., Q. Ou, 1998. High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of amino compounds with carbazole-9-N(2-methyl)-acetic chloride. Chinese Chem. Lett. 9(7) 657-660
Lao W., G.Wang, 1995. The rapid analysis of free hydrocarbon by gas chromatography in field for oil and gas geochemical prospecting. Analysis and Testing Technology and Instruments. 1 (3) 28.