The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Paul's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

About Paul

I am a Technical Specialist and Instructor in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Plymouth. Following a degree in Environmental Science (1st Class BSc Hons.) and a PhD in Organic Geochemistry, I have spent more than two decades supporting and advancing analytical research across environmental science, petroleum geochemistry, chemistry and the geosciences.

My expertise lies in the separation, characterisation and quantification of complex organic mixtures using advanced chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques. This research has focused particularly on unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) in crude oils, naphthenic acids, high molecular weight organic compounds and the development of analytical methodologies based around high-temperature gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Throughout my career I have combined active research with technical leadership, contributing to numerous peer-reviewed publications while developing and maintaining advanced analytical facilities that support researchers from across the University and external collaborators. This work bridges traditional boundaries between technical services and academic research, helping students, researchers and industrial partners tackle challenging analytical problems through innovative applications of chromatography and mass spectrometry.

I currently manage and support a suite of analytical instrumentation including GC-FID, GC-MS, high-temperature GC-MS, flash chromatography, HPLC and uHPLC Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry systems. My role includes technical oversight of our organic wet laboratory facilities, delivering practical teaching and training, and supporting undergraduate, postgraduate and research projects across the Faculty and the Marine Research Plymouth Alliance.

My current interests include organic geochemistry, environmental forensics, petroleum characterisation, analytical method development, high-resolution mass spectrometry and the application of advanced analytical technologies to environmental and geological research.

I am closely aligned with the Organic Mass Spectrometry Suite (OMSS) for advanced separation, identification and quantification of organic compounds through chromatography and mass spectrometry. [https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/facilities/organic-mass-spectrometry-suite] which forms part of the University's internationally recognised analytical infrastructure [https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/facilities/analytical-facilities].

Contact Paul

( 626 Davy Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 584553
P.A.Sutton@plymouth.ac.uk