Jon Beves
@jonbeves.bsky.social
Supramolecular chemist at UNSW Sydney, Australia. #ozchem #ChemSky
https://bevesgroup.wordpress.com
https://bevesgroup.wordpress.com
Fantastic to see one of my chemical heroes, Richard Robson, winning the Nobel Prize for coordination frameworks (MOFs), together with Kitagawa and Yaghi. #ozchem
October 8, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Fantastic to see one of my chemical heroes, Richard Robson, winning the Nobel Prize for coordination frameworks (MOFs), together with Kitagawa and Yaghi. #ozchem
Today was Dr Isis Middleton's last day with us! It's been a lot of fun working with Isis for the past 2 years and she's done a fantastic job on a wide range of crazy projects. Wishing her all the best for her next adventures! #ozchem
August 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Today was Dr Isis Middleton's last day with us! It's been a lot of fun working with Isis for the past 2 years and she's done a fantastic job on a wide range of crazy projects. Wishing her all the best for her next adventures! #ozchem
Really proud of Him, Simona, Kavisha and Isis representing our team in Japan at @ismsc2026.bsky.social! Simona even won a poster prize for the cage catalysis work - woohoo! #OzChem #ChemSky
May 30, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Really proud of Him, Simona, Kavisha and Isis representing our team in Japan at @ismsc2026.bsky.social! Simona even won a poster prize for the cage catalysis work - woohoo! #OzChem #ChemSky
Fantastic Cavill Lecture by Wilhelm Huck about reservoir computing - inspiring concepts and amazing how these chaotic systems can be made to work for us! #ChemSky @unswchemistry.bsky.social
February 28, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Fantastic Cavill Lecture by Wilhelm Huck about reservoir computing - inspiring concepts and amazing how these chaotic systems can be made to work for us! #ChemSky @unswchemistry.bsky.social
Very proud of Dr Ray DiNardi for being awarded the RACI supramolecular thesis of the year! #ozchem @unswchemistry.bsky.social
February 11, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Very proud of Dr Ray DiNardi for being awarded the RACI supramolecular thesis of the year! #ozchem @unswchemistry.bsky.social
Lots of other interesting compounds were found like detergents, surfactants, emulsifiers, plasticisers, fatty acids and hydroxy fatty acids, along with anthelmintics and fungicides/herbicides. There were also a lot of plant-based metabolites (lots of different terpenoids), along with bile acids.
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Lots of other interesting compounds were found like detergents, surfactants, emulsifiers, plasticisers, fatty acids and hydroxy fatty acids, along with anthelmintics and fungicides/herbicides. There were also a lot of plant-based metabolites (lots of different terpenoids), along with bile acids.
Untargeted LC-MS analysis
More detailed screening found more than 25,000 different chemicals, including the herbivore faecal marker (ethylcoprostanol), unlike the Coogee beach ones as they only contained the human faecal matter biomarker.
More detailed screening found more than 25,000 different chemicals, including the herbivore faecal marker (ethylcoprostanol), unlike the Coogee beach ones as they only contained the human faecal matter biomarker.
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Untargeted LC-MS analysis
More detailed screening found more than 25,000 different chemicals, including the herbivore faecal marker (ethylcoprostanol), unlike the Coogee beach ones as they only contained the human faecal matter biomarker.
More detailed screening found more than 25,000 different chemicals, including the herbivore faecal marker (ethylcoprostanol), unlike the Coogee beach ones as they only contained the human faecal matter biomarker.
Mass spectrometry
The negative ion mass spectrometry revealed a sequence of masses separated by 28 mass units, consistent with a difference of 2 CH2 units. This is consistent with a biological source.
The negative ion mass spectrometry revealed a sequence of masses separated by 28 mass units, consistent with a difference of 2 CH2 units. This is consistent with a biological source.
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Mass spectrometry
The negative ion mass spectrometry revealed a sequence of masses separated by 28 mass units, consistent with a difference of 2 CH2 units. This is consistent with a biological source.
The negative ion mass spectrometry revealed a sequence of masses separated by 28 mass units, consistent with a difference of 2 CH2 units. This is consistent with a biological source.
Also a pretty good match to the spectrum predicted by MNova
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Also a pretty good match to the spectrum predicted by MNova
In the 13C NMR we observe a single peak at 174 ppm, consistent with a carboxylic acid carbonyl carbon. Then a signal at 33.7 ppm consistent with a CH2 adjacent to a carbonyl group, and a series of CH2 signals (confirmed by 1H-13C HSQC) between 31 and 21 ppm, and finally a CH3 group down at 14 ppm.
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
In the 13C NMR we observe a single peak at 174 ppm, consistent with a carboxylic acid carbonyl carbon. Then a signal at 33.7 ppm consistent with a CH2 adjacent to a carbonyl group, and a series of CH2 signals (confirmed by 1H-13C HSQC) between 31 and 21 ppm, and finally a CH3 group down at 14 ppm.
Both the 1H and 13C NMR (and some 2D spectra like HSQC and TOCSY) confirm the sample that dissolves in DMSO is mostly a saturated aliphatic fatty acid. In the 1H we can see a series of signals, including an exchangeable proton likely to be an OH group of a carboxylic acid...
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Both the 1H and 13C NMR (and some 2D spectra like HSQC and TOCSY) confirm the sample that dissolves in DMSO is mostly a saturated aliphatic fatty acid. In the 1H we can see a series of signals, including an exchangeable proton likely to be an OH group of a carboxylic acid...
NMR
Small samples of the untreated balls, and of the DCM extract, were dissolved in DMSO-d6 for NMR analysis. MOST of it dissolves...
Small samples of the untreated balls, and of the DCM extract, were dissolved in DMSO-d6 for NMR analysis. MOST of it dissolves...
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
NMR
Small samples of the untreated balls, and of the DCM extract, were dissolved in DMSO-d6 for NMR analysis. MOST of it dissolves...
Small samples of the untreated balls, and of the DCM extract, were dissolved in DMSO-d6 for NMR analysis. MOST of it dissolves...
FTIR
Next we did some FTIR on some of the extracts and found signals that correspond to C-H groups, and C=O groups. From the DCM and hexane extracts contain more free COOH than the residue after washing, which looks like just salts of fatty acids.
Next we did some FTIR on some of the extracts and found signals that correspond to C-H groups, and C=O groups. From the DCM and hexane extracts contain more free COOH than the residue after washing, which looks like just salts of fatty acids.
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
FTIR
Next we did some FTIR on some of the extracts and found signals that correspond to C-H groups, and C=O groups. From the DCM and hexane extracts contain more free COOH than the residue after washing, which looks like just salts of fatty acids.
Next we did some FTIR on some of the extracts and found signals that correspond to C-H groups, and C=O groups. From the DCM and hexane extracts contain more free COOH than the residue after washing, which looks like just salts of fatty acids.
XRF
Using X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy we could detect elements heavier than sodium in the sample. We found minimal sodium, but a lot of calcium, and some phosphorus and iron. These are relative %, not the total composition.
Using X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy we could detect elements heavier than sodium in the sample. We found minimal sodium, but a lot of calcium, and some phosphorus and iron. These are relative %, not the total composition.
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
XRF
Using X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy we could detect elements heavier than sodium in the sample. We found minimal sodium, but a lot of calcium, and some phosphorus and iron. These are relative %, not the total composition.
Using X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy we could detect elements heavier than sodium in the sample. We found minimal sodium, but a lot of calcium, and some phosphorus and iron. These are relative %, not the total composition.
Elemental Analysis
We took the balls and tried to dissolve them in organic solvents (DCM and hexane), and removed the water-soluble fraction. We then analysed the samples either as the raw balls from the beach (raw), the DCM extract, and the residue after washing with DCM then hexane (hex).
We took the balls and tried to dissolve them in organic solvents (DCM and hexane), and removed the water-soluble fraction. We then analysed the samples either as the raw balls from the beach (raw), the DCM extract, and the residue after washing with DCM then hexane (hex).
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Elemental Analysis
We took the balls and tried to dissolve them in organic solvents (DCM and hexane), and removed the water-soluble fraction. We then analysed the samples either as the raw balls from the beach (raw), the DCM extract, and the residue after washing with DCM then hexane (hex).
We took the balls and tried to dissolve them in organic solvents (DCM and hexane), and removed the water-soluble fraction. We then analysed the samples either as the raw balls from the beach (raw), the DCM extract, and the residue after washing with DCM then hexane (hex).
Melting Point
We also measured the melting point of the untreated balls, and found they have a melting point of around 50 degrees, and the sample is completely melted by 83 degrees:
We also measured the melting point of the untreated balls, and found they have a melting point of around 50 degrees, and the sample is completely melted by 83 degrees:
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Melting Point
We also measured the melting point of the untreated balls, and found they have a melting point of around 50 degrees, and the sample is completely melted by 83 degrees:
We also measured the melting point of the untreated balls, and found they have a melting point of around 50 degrees, and the sample is completely melted by 83 degrees:
Here is an extraction with DCM, drying over MgSO4, and evaporated to give an oil that solidified on cooling
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Here is an extraction with DCM, drying over MgSO4, and evaporated to give an oil that solidified on cooling
The balls are mostly around the diameter of a 5c coin. They float on water, and the organic solvents we sonicated then extracted them with (DCM and hexane)
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The balls are mostly around the diameter of a 5c coin. They float on water, and the organic solvents we sonicated then extracted them with (DCM and hexane)
Sydney North Shore beach balls -
@unswchemistry.bsky.social
analysed them! TL,DR: filthy soap scum. Details below! #tarballs #grimeballs #ozchem
@unswchemistry.bsky.social
analysed them! TL,DR: filthy soap scum. Details below! #tarballs #grimeballs #ozchem
January 29, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Sydney North Shore beach balls -
@unswchemistry.bsky.social
analysed them! TL,DR: filthy soap scum. Details below! #tarballs #grimeballs #ozchem
@unswchemistry.bsky.social
analysed them! TL,DR: filthy soap scum. Details below! #tarballs #grimeballs #ozchem
Mass spectrometry - The negative ion mass spectrometry revealed a sequence of masses separated by 28 mass units, consistent with a difference of 2 CH2 units, consistent with a biological source.
The exact mass reveals the largest peak at 255.24 - the palmitate anion, derived from palmitic acid
The exact mass reveals the largest peak at 255.24 - the palmitate anion, derived from palmitic acid
January 29, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Mass spectrometry - The negative ion mass spectrometry revealed a sequence of masses separated by 28 mass units, consistent with a difference of 2 CH2 units, consistent with a biological source.
The exact mass reveals the largest peak at 255.24 - the palmitate anion, derived from palmitic acid
The exact mass reveals the largest peak at 255.24 - the palmitate anion, derived from palmitic acid
Both the 1H and 13C NMR (and some 2D spectra like HSQC and TOCSY) confirm the sample that dissolves in DMSO is mostly a saturated aliphatic fatty acid. In the 1H we can see a series of signals, including an exchangeable proton likely to be an OH group of a carboxylic acid.
January 29, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Both the 1H and 13C NMR (and some 2D spectra like HSQC and TOCSY) confirm the sample that dissolves in DMSO is mostly a saturated aliphatic fatty acid. In the 1H we can see a series of signals, including an exchangeable proton likely to be an OH group of a carboxylic acid.
I grew up with bushfires in the Blue Mountains (Australia), and today's news reminds me of the horrors we faced locally in 2013, then all over Australia in 2019-20 -- a fire season that made all previous ones look insignificant.
I cannot believe we are still 'arguing' about climate change...
I cannot believe we are still 'arguing' about climate change...
January 9, 2025 at 6:17 AM
I grew up with bushfires in the Blue Mountains (Australia), and today's news reminds me of the horrors we faced locally in 2013, then all over Australia in 2019-20 -- a fire season that made all previous ones look insignificant.
I cannot believe we are still 'arguing' about climate change...
I cannot believe we are still 'arguing' about climate change...