Administrator: A Life of Chemical Science

PeterBaughHS2

 

The Administrator details are as follows:

  1. Peter J Baugh
  2. Address: 10, Landswood Park, Hartford, Northwich Cheshire, CW8 1NF, UK
  3. e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  4. Mob: 07854743276 
  5. website: www.analyticalmethodologycentre.com 
  6. CV PJBAUGHCVJanuary2018.pdf
  7. Recent references
  1. P. J. Baugh, S. M. Hutchinson. M. Lui et al., Current Trends Anal Bioanal Chem, 2018, 2, 64-73
  2. P. J. Baugh, Current Trends Anal Bioanal Chem, 2019, 3, 125-144
  3. P. J. Baugh, J. Anal Bioanal Chem, 2022, 13, 483
  4. P. J. Baugh, in Contemporary Perspective on Science Technology and Research, D J Jakobczak, Ed., 2024, Vol 5, Ch 7, pp 102-125,

Peter J Baugh FRSC reflects on a life of Chemical Science, 1950-2026

Ever since my parents purchased a chemistry set for me at Christmas 1950, I have had an interest in science and in particular in Chemistry. The back kitchen of a terraced house in Colwyn Bay was my lab with a bunsen burner attached to a gas tap on the cooker. I carried some investigations into gas evolution from iron sulphate heated with an organic acid, such as tartaric acid, because the local pharmacist would not supply me with mineral acids. I also carried out some elementary glass blowing by focusing the bunsen flame on the side of a small test tube and blowing a hole in the side of the tube.  I proceeded to burn coal in the base of the tube to generate a gas which produced a flame at the hole when ignited. There were no safety or risk assessments and I cannot recall whether safety glasses were supplied with the chemistry set.

In 1955 I took chemistry at O level and it was not my best subject but in 1957, I proceeded to study maths, physics and chemistry at A Level, unfortunately failing maths.  The chemistry result was satisfactory, 60% equivalent to a grade B, but I just about scraped through physics.  I was accepted to study chemistry at the University of South Wales and Monthmouthshire in Cardiff in August of 1957. In early October I travelled to Cardiff to take up lodgings in Church Road, Llanishen and visited the university college to register for the final 1 course in chemistry.  Unfortunately, the staff member registering students was a maths lecturer; he would not allow me to take the final 1 course and entered me on the intermediate course in maths, physics and chemistry. I objected to taking the intermediate course in chemistry as I considered that the marks I had achieved were of a higher standard. As a result I was allowed to take a subsidiary course in Medicinal Chemistry, which the medics were taking as part of the 1st MB.

I passed intermediate exams in maths and physics and subsidiary exams in medicinal chemistry in June 1958 and entered the final 1 programme in October 1958 in chemistry, maths and subsidiary physics. I passed all the exams at Christmas, Easter and in June, 1959. I took the final 2 programme in chemistry and maths, commencing in October 1959 and was successful in the examinations in chemistry and maths during the year and in June 1960.  The final 2 results in cemistry were good enough for me to enter the honours programme in October 1960 without requiring an interview. The honours course was completed in June 1961 and I qualified with a upper second class honours degree.

I had initially decided not to take a higher degree but after several interviews and job offers, which I considered were not satisfactory, I went for an interview with the Head of Department to ask about pursuing a higher degree.  I was directed to a supervisor, Dr Glyn O Phillips, to carry out research into the radiation chemistry of carbohydrates, commencing in late September 1961.

 A Lifetime of Chemical Science

Abstract submitted for presentation at ENVCHEM2026, University of Warwick, July 2-3, 2026

Presenting author: Peter J Baugh, FRSC, Co Leader EFASIG, 10 Landswood Park, Hartford, Northwich CW8 1NF Cheshire

Baugh, Peter J

Themes: Climate and Environmental Processes in Soil, Water and Air, Emerging Contaminants and Novel Techniques, The Food–Environment–Climate Nexus, Atmospheric Chemistry, Ecotoxicology and Planetary Health, Data-Driven Environmental Chemistry*

Introduction

Peter Baugh reviews his life in chemical science since receiving a chemistry set from his parents for Christmas, circa 1950, followed by being educated at Colwyn Bay GS to A level, to honours degree and PhD level at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire (University of Wales constituent college), from 1957 to 1964. Following graduating with a PhD, his early career research began by being awarded a postdoctoral research associate position through the National Research Foundation Scheme, Washington DC.

The Review

The review follows his PhD research in investigating the solid state radiation chemistry of carbohydrate systems1, the research work undertaken at the Southern Regional Research Laboratory, USDA, in New Orleans, involving radiation-induced reactions in cellulose2, and his subsequent career as an academic in the Department of Chemistry and Applied, University of Salford, where he conducted teaching in inorganic and analytical chemistry and research in a range of subject areas, commencing with photochemical reactions in dyed cellulose materials, free radical trapping in carbohydrate glasses at 77K using ESR spectroscopy3 lyoluminescence exhibited by irradiated carbohydrates on dissolution, applications of GC/MS to product identification in irradiated carbohydrates4, pesticide and organic pollutant monitoring in river systems5,6 (with GC/TSQ also) and mosquito vectors in bed nets (UK, Africa and China) involving also ELISA GC/MS correlation studies7 in fish. During this period, unique analytical pyrolysis studies were also undertaken on extracts from the Macauba fruit (Minas Gerais, Brasil)8.

Since retiring and not being research active he has devoted time to writing reviews in several areas, one of which resulted from his postgraduate GC/MS practical teaching in the 1990s9, and during which time he was the MSc in Analytical Chemistry Course Tutor for 10 years.

References

  1. G. O. Phillips, P. Baugh, Nature, 1963, 198, 282
  2. P. J. Baugh, O. Hinojosa, J. C. Arthur, Jr., T. Mares, J. Appl. Polymer Sci., 1968, 12, 249
  3. J. Bardsley, P. J. Baugh, J. I. Goodall. G. O. Phillips, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm., 1974, 890
  4. P J Baugh, I. Goodall, G. O. Phillips, C. von Sonntag, M. Dizdaroglu, Carbohydr. Res., 1976, 49, 315
  5. P. M. Hancock, M. Yasin, P. J. Baugh, G. A. Bonwick, D. H. Davies, Intern. J. Environ. Anal. Chem., 1997, 67, 81
  6. M. Liu, P. J. Baugh, S. M. Hutchinson, L Yu and S. Xu, Environmental Pollution, 2000, 110, 357
  7. G, A. Bonwick, M.Yasin, P. Hancock, P. J. Baugh, J. H. H. Williams, C. J. Smith, R. A. Armitage, D. H. Davies, Food and Agricultural Immunology, 8, 1996, 185
  8. I. C. P. Fortes and P. J. Baugh, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis, 1994, 29, 153
  9. P. J. Baugh, J. Anal. Bioanal. Tech., 2022, 13, 483

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