Tadeusz Górecki

Professor

Tadeusz Gorecki From adapting passive gas sampling in polluted soils to speeding up extractions of chemicals from contaminated rock, Tadeusz Górecki has made a career of analyzing some of nature’s most complex samples. He is best known though for his patented improvements to two-dimensional chromatography, a much more sensitive, two-step version of gas chromatography that allows researchers to fully resolve analyte peaks in messy environmental and biological samples.

Tadeusz Górecki is the recipient of the 2016 Andrzej Waksmundzki Medal, awarded by the Committee on Analytical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Contact information
Office: ESC 325
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext.35374
Email: tgorecki@uwaterloo.ca
Website: Tadeusz Górecki

Expertise

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC)
High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Passive sampling
Enhanced extraction techniques
Indoor air quality analysis
Environmental analysis
Pyrolysis GC/MS

Research

Tadeusz Górecki's research focuses on analytical processes. Recent developments include the development of several new modulators for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC), studies on the fundamental aspects of GC×GC, development of efficient, green methods for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a passive sampling method that allows sampler calibration to be carried out based on the physico-chemical properties of the analytes, and extraction methods for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in low-permeability matrices that dramatically reduce the extraction time.

Teaching

Tadeusz Górecki teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Course offerings have included topics in analytical chemistry, experimental design and chemometrics, and physico-chemical aspects of natural waters.

Highlighted Publications

Recent publications include

A. Muscalu, T. Górecki, “Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography in Environmental Analysis”, TrAC – Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 106 (2018) 225-245.
F. Salim, M. Ioannidis, T. Górecki, “Experimentally Validated Mathematical Model of Analyte Uptake by Permeation Passive Samplers”, Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts, 19 (2017), 1363- 1373.
H.-Y. Chow, T. Górecki, „Temperature Programming of the Second Dimension in Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography”, Analytical Chemistry, 89 (16) (2017), 8207–8211.
G. Ntlhokwe, A.G.J. Tredoux, T. Górecki, M. Edwards, J. Vestner, M. Muller, L. Erasmus, “Analysis of honeybush tea (Cyclopia spp.) volatiles by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography using a single-stage thermal modulator”, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 409(17) (2017), 4127–4138.
J. Poerschmann, T. Górecki, “Molecular Level-based Analysis of Organosolv Wastewater”, Current Chromatography, 4(2) (2017), 140-155. (DOI: 10.2174/2213240604666170623125856)
A.L. Luiz, B. Perlatti, F.A. Marques, E. Rodrigues-Filho, E.N. Costa, Z.A. Ribeiro, W.I. Eduardo, A.L. Boiça-Júnior, M. Imatomi, T. Górecki, M.R. Forim “Efficacy of botanical extracts from Brazilian savannah against Diabrotica speciose, and associated bacteria”, Ecological Research, 32(3) (2017), 435–444.

Patents

Recent patents include

T. Górecki, M. Edwards, “Material comprising thermally modified polymeric organosilicon, method for preparing said material and the uses thereof”, Patent Application filed June 3, 2016.
T.A. McAlary, H. Groenevelt, S. Seethapathy, T. Górecki, “Low-uptake Waterloo Membrane Sampler for quantitative passive soil vapor concentration measurement”, US Patent no. 9399912, issued July 26, 2016.
T. Górecki, J. Poerschmann, “System for in-column pyrolysis”, German Patent DE 101 11 854.6, granted October 18, 2001.

Awards and Distinctions

GCxGC Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017
Andrzej Waksmundzki Medal from the Polish Academy of Sciences, 2016
Best poster award, 37th International Symposium on Chromatography and 10th GCxGC Symposium, Palm Springs, CA, USA, May 12-16, 2013
Best poster award, 36th International Symposium on Chromatography and 9th GCxGC Symposium, Riva del Garda, Italy, May 27-June 1, 2012
2011 Outstanding Performance Award
Professor of Chemical Sciences, degree conferred by the President of the Republic of Poland, 2009
Best poster award, Dalian International Symposia and Exhibition on Chromatography, Dalian, China, June 4-7, 2007
Three-month fellowship of the European Community, Ecole Nationale Superiéure de Chimie, Toulouse, France, 1993
Seven Awards of the President of the Technical University of Gdansk for outstanding research, 1982-1993
Award of the Minister of Education of Poland for outstanding Ph.D. Thesis, 1986
Medal of the Technical University of Gdansk, 1981

University of Waterloo Affiliations

Member of the Water Institute

Professional Associations and Service

Science Faculty Council, 2006-present
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, 2014-present
Member of University Appointments Review Committee, 2013-present
Cooperative Education Council, 2006-2016
Science Undergraduate Studies Committee, 2006-2016
Senate,2011-2012
Faculty of Arts task force for the Master of Public Service program, 2008-2010
Executive Committee, 2008-2009
Editorial boards
- Regional Editor, Current Chromatography
- Editorial Board Member, Separations (MDPI)