Prof PBC Forbes

Tel           +27 (0)12 420-5426

Email       [email protected]

Office       NS1 Room 2-18

Position   Full Professor and Rand Water Research Chair
                  

Academic qualifications    PhD (Chemistry); Pr Sci Nat, FRSC, FSACI

NRF Rating    C1

Professor of Environmental Chemistry - Job Profile (RCS, A Future in chemistry)
 

Teaching

Analytical chemistry modules at 3^rd year and Honours level.

Environmental Chemistry and Ethics at Honours level.

Modules: CMY 383, CMY 743 and CMY 747.

Research interests

My research focuses on analytical chemistry involving the development of novel sampling and analytical methods for environmental pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, mercury and emerging chemical pollutants. Approaches employed include passive and denuder-based sampling techniques; biomonitoring; chromatography and mass spectrometry; and quantum dot-based fluorescence sensing. 

Please visit our Environmental Monitoring and Sensing research group website.

Selected Awards and Achievements

2016: Awarded the Teaching Excellence and Innovation Laureate award by the University of Pretoria.

2019: ChromSA Chromatographer of the Year award in recognition of research excellence.

2020: Fellow of the South African Chemical Institute for excellence and leadership in the areas of both the profession, education and management of chemistry, as well as volunteer service to the chemical community.

2020: Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

2021: Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (ET&C) Exceptional Reviewer of 2021. Chosen as one of 15 reviewers to receive this recognition out of over 600 ET&C reviewers based on high-quality timely reviews during 2021.

2022: Best Scientific Paper Award at the 2022 Conference of the National Association for Clean Air.

2022: SETAC Presidential Citation for my contributions as an Editorial Board Member, Reviewer and special Issue Guest Editor.

2021-2022: Top cited article award by Wiley for: Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes,Advances in water treatment technologies for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Existing concepts, emerging trends, and future prospects, Water Environment Research, 2021, 93, 343-359, DOI: 10.1002/wer.1420

2022: Publication achieved top downloaded status from Wiley during the first 12 months of publication: Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Antiretroviral Drugs in African Surface Waters: Prevalence, Analysis, and Potential Remediation, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2022, 41(2), 247-262, DOI: 10.1002/etc.5127.

2023: Finalist in the 2022/2023 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 awards in the NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) award category for contributions towards achieving sustainable water management, knowledge generation and solutions with demonstrated leadership and impact.

2022-2023: Top cited article award by Wiley for: Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Antiretroviral Drugs in African Surface Waters: Prevalence, Analysis, and Potential Remediation, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2022, 41(2), 247-262, DOI: 10.1002/etc.5127.

2024: Chairperson of the Royal Society of Chemistry Local Section South Africa North committee, which was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry 2024 Inspirational Committee Award.

2024: Best Scientific Paper Award at the 2024 Conference of the National Association for Clean Air.

2024: Listed in the top 2% of researchers in her field according to the science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators curated by Elsevier: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/7

2024: Paper received over 500 views within a year of publication: G. Geldenhuys, J. Orasche, G. Jakobi, R. Zimmermann and P.B.C. Forbes, Characterization of gaseous and particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emitted during pre-harvest burning of sugar cane in different regions of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2023, 42(4), 778-792, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5579, which was also featured on the front cover of the journal.

2025: Recognition award for being in the top 2% of Global Scientists for 2024, 1^st SACI North Section Achievers Recognition Ceremony and Plenary Lecture, 28 March 2025, University of Limpopo, Polokwane.

Publications

For all publications, please click here: Google Scholar P.B.C. Forbes
 

Recent Books and book chapters

Patricia Forbes, Leandri van der Wat and Johanna Strumpher, Chapter 2: Comparative perspectives on extraction methods for organic metabolites and pollutants from lichens, in Lichen Derived Products: Extraction and Applications, Mohd Yusuf (Ed), (2020), Wiley (Scrivener Publishing), 27-74, ISBN: 978-1-119-59171-9.

Montaseri H., Abrahamse H., Forbes P.B.C., Fluorescence Sensing with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Capped Quantum Dots, in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Methods and Protocols, part of Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2359, Antonio Martín-Esteban (Ed), (2021), Humana, New York, 183-194, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1629-1_16, Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1628-4, Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1629-1.

Patricia Forbes, Yvette Naudé, Johanna Strumpher, Chapter 8: Ongoing Use and Monitoring of DDT in South Africa, in Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Environment, Narendra Kumar and Vertika Shukla (Eds), (2021), CRC Press, https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003053170, eBook ISBN: 9781003053170.

Voyi, K., Ncube, E., Sekgota, K., Forbes, P., Managing Risks of COVID-19 Pandemic and Climate Change in the Delivery of Safe Drinking Water in South Africa, in SDGs in Africa and the Middle East Region. Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Regional Perspectives, Leal Filho, W., Abubakar, I.R., da Silva, I., Pretorius, R., Tarabieh, K. (Eds), (2023), Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91260-4_89-1, Print ISBN: 978-3-030-91260-4, Online ISBN: 978-3-030-91260-4.

Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Chapter 4: Advanced Nanomaterials for Removal of Emerging Organic Pollutants From Water, pp 66-77, in Novel Materials and Water Purification: Towards a Sustainable Future, Series: Chemistry in the Environment, Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos and Miltiadis G. Zamparas (Eds), (2024), Royal Society of Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1039/9781837671663,  Hardback ISBN: 978-1-83767-049-9; PDF ISBN: 978-1-83767-166-3; EPUB ISBN: 978-1-83767-167-0.

Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Chapter 9: Two-Dimensional Carbon-Based Materials for Sorption of Selected Aromatic Compounds in Water, pp 247-260, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48719-4_14, in Carbon Nanomaterials and their Composites as Adsorbents, Carbon Nanostructures, J. Tharini and S. Thomas (Eds), (2024), Springer Nature, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48719-4,  Hardback ISBN 978-3-031-48718-7; eBook ISBN 978-3-031-48719-4.

Recent Journal articles

Bakari Chaka, Aloys M. Osano, Omwoyo N. Wesley and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Preparation and application of cow dung biochar adsorbent in removal of pesticide residues and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water, Chemistry Africa, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-025-01186-3

Reinardt Cromhout, Jean-François Focant and Patricia Forbes, A novel approach to the extraction and analysis of dioxins and furans sampled onto Amberlite XAD-2 sorbent, Analytical Methods, 2024, 16, 8298-8306, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4AY01609B

Patricia Forbes, Analysis of water disinfection byproducts – advances and challenges, Preface to the special issue: Disinfection byproducts, Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2024, 180, 117982, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2024.117982

Gugu Khubeka, Adedapo O. Adeola, Ronald Ngulube, Nolwazi Nombona and Patricia B. C. Forbes, Magnetic hexadecylamine-graphene quantum dots-silver nanoparticle nanocomposite as adsorbents for the removal of phenanthrene and bacteria from aqueous solution, Discover Applied Sciences, 2024, 6, 474, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-024-06147-y

Bakari Chaka, Aloys M. Osano, Omwoyo Wesley Nyaigoti and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Investigations into the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface waters of the Narok and Bomet counties of Kenya, Royal Society Open Science, 2024, 11: 240019, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240019

Adeola, Adedapo O. and Forbes, Patricia B.C., Green carbon-based adsorbents for water treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Physical Sciences Reviews, 2024, 9(12), 3563-3577, https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2022-0200

Wilmé Putter, Sifiso Nsibande and Patricia Forbes, Preparation of polydimethylsiloxane thin films containing immobilized CdSeTe/ZnS quantum dots for water sensing applications, South African Journal of Chemistry, 2024, 78, 218-226, https://doi.org/10.17159/0379-4350/2024/v78a28

Petra van der Merwe and Patricia Forbes, Comparison of three sorbents for thin film solid phase microextraction of haloacetic acids from water, Analytical Methods, 2024, 16 (30), 5154-5265, DOI: 10.1039/d4ay00634h

Thomas J. Wenzel, Patricia B. C. Forbes, Betty C. Galarreta, Bhavik A. Patel, Martin Vogel, and Danny K. Y. Wong, Incorporation of Analytical Chemistry in the Undergraduate Curriculum: Examples from Different Regions of the World, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2024, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05360-3

Elena Hartner, Nadine Gawlitta, Thomas Gröger, Jürgen Orasche, Hendryk Czech, Genna Leigh Geldenhuys, Gert Jakobi, Petri Tiitta, Pasi Yli-Pirilä, Miika Kortelainen, Olli Sippula, Patricia Forbes, and Ralf Zimmermann, Chemical Fingerprinting of Biomass Burning Organic Aerosols from Sugarcane Combustion: Complementary Findings from Field and Laboratory Studies, ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2024, 8, 533-546 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.3c00301

Josephate O. Bosire, Aloys M. Osano, Nathan Oyaro, Justin K. Maghanga and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Characterization of Selected Solid Fuels and Their Calorifc Values in Kenya: A Case Study of Bomet, Narok, Taita‑Taveta, and Mombasa Counties, Chemistry Africa, 2024, 7, 1509-1522, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-023-00811-3

G. Geldenhuys, M. Wattrus, M. Fox and P.B.C. Forbes, Investigations into the transition to sustainable alternative fuels in a South African underground platinum mine, Renewable Energy Focus, 2023, 47, 100500, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2023.100500

Napo Ntsasa, James Tshilongo, Nompumelelo Leshabane, Mudalo Jozela, Goitsemang Lekoto and Patricia Forbes, Development of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, m-xylene, p-xylene and o- xylene (BTEX) gas reference standards for air pollution monitoring in South Africa, Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 2023, 1-8, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-023-01555-w

Bakari Chaka, Aloys M. Osano, Omwoyo N. Wesley and Patricia B. C. Forbes, Seasonal variation in pesticide residue occurrences in surface waters found in Narok and Bomet Counties, Kenya, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2023, 195:1050, 1-21, https:doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11629-4

M Steyn, N Claassen and PBC Forbes, Studies into the reduction of domestic fuel burning emissions by means of facile catalytic abatement technology, Clean Air Journal, 2023, 33(1), 1-8, https://doi.org/10.17159/caj/2023/33/1.14951.

Patricia Forbes, Aloys Osano and Justin Maghanga, Gas phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in Kenyan households, Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 2023, 67, Issue Supplement_1, i34–i35, https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxac087.093

G. Geldenhuys, J. Orasche, G. Jakobi, R. Zimmermann and P.B.C. Forbes, Characterization of gaseous and particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emitted during pre-harvest burning of sugar cane in different regions of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2023, 42(4), 778-792, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5579

Josephate O. Bosire, Aloys M. Osano, Justin K. Maghanga, and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Assessment of local domestic solid fuel sources: A Kenyan case study in Kisii, Bomet and Narok Counties, Chemistry Africa, 2023, 6, 1655–1667, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-023-00601-x

Akhona Tyhali and Patricia B.C. Forbes, N-nitrosamines in surface and drinking waters: An African status report, Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 2023, 158, 116873, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2022.116873

Nadine Gawlitta, Jürgen Orasche, Genna‑Leigh Geldenhuys, Gert Jakobi, Mark Wattrus, Maximilian Jennerwein, Bernhard Michalke, Thomas Gröger, Patricia Forbes and Ralf Zimmermann, A study on the chemical profile and the derived health effects of heavy‑duty machinery aerosol with a focus on the impact of alternative fuels, Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 2023, 16, 535-551, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-022-01287-9

Gerrit Kornelius, Patricia Forbes, Theo Fischer and Malin Govender, Research brief: Tier 2 greenhouse gas emission factors for South African liquid and gaseous fuels, Clean Air Journal, 2022, 32(2), 1-2, DOI: 10.17159/caj/2022/32/2.15226

Ané Kritzinger, Andrew Forbes and Patricia Forbes, Optical trapping and fluorescence control with vectorial structured light, Scientific Reports, 2022, 12:17690, 1-12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21224-1

Gerrit Kornelius, Patricia Forbes, Theo Fischer and Malin Govender, Determination of country-specific greenhouse gas emission factors for South African liquid and gaseous fuels, Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 2022, 33 (3), 1-11 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2022/v33i3a13592

Kapambwe P. Kabwe, Sifiso A. Nsibande, Lynne A. Pilcher, and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Development of a mycolic acid-graphene quantum dot probe as a potential tuberculosis biosensor, Luminescence, 2022, 37(11), 1881-1890 DOI: 10.1002/bio.4368

Gugu Kubheka, Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B. C. Forbes, Hexadecylamine functionalised graphene quantum dots as suitable nano-adsorbents for phenanthrene removal from aqueous solution, RSC Advances, 2022, 12, 23922-23936 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra04641e

Isaac Nape, Keshaan Singh, Asher Klug, Wagner Buono, Carmelo Rosales-Guzman, Amy McWilliam, Sonja Franke-Arnold , Ané Kritzinger, Patricia Forbes, Angela Dudley and Andrew Forbes, Revealing the invariance of vectorial structured light in complex media, Nature Photonics, 2022, 16, 538-546 DOI: 10.1038/s41566-022-01023-w

Adeola, A.O., Nsibande, S.A., Osano, A.M., Maghanga, J.K., Naudé, Y. and Forbes, P.B.C., Analysis of gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions from cooking devices in selected rural and urban kitchens in Bomet and Narok counties of Kenya, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2022, 194, 435 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10062-3

Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Assessment of reusable graphene wool adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of selected 2-6 ringed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solution, Environmental Technology, 2022, 43 (8), 1255-1268, DOI:10.1080/09593330.2020.1824024

Genna-Leigh Geldenhuys, Mark Wattus and Patricia Belinda Crosby Forbes, Gas and particle phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission factors from a diesel vehicle engine: Effect of operating modes in a developing country context, Atmospheric Environment X, 2022, 13, 100158, 1-13, DOI:10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100158.

Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Antiretroviral Drugs in African Surface Waters: Prevalence, Analysis, and Potential Remediation, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2022, 41(2), 247-262, DOI: 10.1002/etc.5127.

Heiko Schoenfuss, Catherine Propper, Alan Kolok and Patricia Forbes, Terra (Aqua) Incognita: Knowledge Gaps in Global Ecotoxicology, ET&C Points of Reference, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2022, 41(2), 245-246, DOI: 10.1002/etc.5159.

Kapambwe P. Kabwe, Sifiso A. Nsibande, Yolandy Lemmer, Lynne A. Pilcher, and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Synthesis and characterisation of quantum dots coupled to mycolic acids as a water-soluble fluorescent probe for potential lateral flow detection of antibodies and diagnosis of tuberculosis, Luminescence, 2022, 37, 278-289, DOI: 10.1002/bio.4170.

V. Geitner, J. Orasche, G.C. Dragan, G. Jakobi, J. Schnelle-Kreis, G.-L. Geldenhuys, P.B.C. Forbes, E.W. Karg, D. Breuer, and R. Zimmermann, Feasibility study of portable sampling techniques for combustion related airborne particulates in a platinum mine, Gefahrstoffe, 2021, 81 (9-10), 386-396.

G.J. Brown, P.B.C. Forbes, J.G. Myburgh and J.O. Nöthling, A comparison of calcium and phosphorus in components of fertile and size-matched unbanded Nile crocodile eggs, African Journal of Herpetology, 2021, 70 (2), 139-154, DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.1980119.

Adedapo O. Adeola, Gugu Kubheka, Evans M. N. Chirwa and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Facile synthesis of graphene wool doped with oleylamine-capped silver nanoparticles (GW-αAgNPs) for water treatment applications, Applied Water Science, 2021, 11:172, DOI:10.1007/s13201-021-01493-3 also available at https://rdcu.be/cza23

Genna-Leigh Geldenhuys, Yvonne Mason, George Dragan, Ralf Zimmermann, and Patricia Forbes, A novel graphene wool gas adsorbent for volatile and semi volatile organic compounds, ACS Omega, 2021, 6, 24765-24776, DOI:10.1021/acsomega.1c03595.

Adedapo Adeola, Jurgens de Lange and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Adsorption of antiretroviral drugs, efavirenz and nevirapine from aqueous solution by graphene wool: kinetic, equilibrium, thermodynamic and computational studies, Applied Surface Science Advances, 2021, 6: 100157, DOI:10.1016/j.apsadv.2021.100157  

Paul Myburgh, Gerdus Kemp and Patricia Forbes, Selective solid-phase extraction using molecularly imprinted polymers for the analysis of target pesticides in cannabis bud, South African Journal of Chemistry, 2021, 75, 142-149. DOI: 10.17159/0379-4350/2021/v75a17

Patricia Forbes, Green sample preparation methods in the environmental monitoring of aquatic organic pollutants, Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 2021, 31: 100500, DOI: 10.1016/j.cogsc.2021.100500

Oluwasesan Adegoke, Hanieh Montaseri, Sifiso Nsibande and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Organometallic synthesis, structural and optical properties of CdSe quantum dots passivated with ternary AgZnS alloyed shell, Journal of Luminescence, 2021, 235, 118049, DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2021.118049

Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Influence of natural organic matter fractions on PAH sorption by stream sediments and a synthetic graphene wool adsorbent, Environmental Technology and Innovation, 2021, 21, 101202, 1-15, DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2020.101202

Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Advances in water treatment technologies for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Existing concepts, emerging trends, and future prospects, Water Environment Research, 2021, 93, 343-359, DOI: 10.1002/wer.1420

George Dragan, Vesta Kohlmeier, Juergen Orasche, Juergen Schnelle-Kreis, Patricia Forbes, Dietmar Breuer, Ralf Zimmermann, Development of a personal aerosol sampler for monitoring the particle-vapour fractionation of SVOCs in workplaces, Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 2020, 64:8, 903-908, DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa059

Adedapo O. Adeola and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Assessment of reusable graphene wool adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of selected 2-6 ringed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solution, Environmental Technology, 2020, 1-14, DOI:10.1080/09593330.2020.1824024

Loreley K. Cairns and Patricia B.C. Forbes, Insights into the yellowing of drying oils using fluorescence spectroscopy, Heritage Science, 2020, 8:59, 1-11, DOI: 10.1186/s40494-020-00403-1

Yvonne C. Mason, Genna-Leigh Schoonraad, Jürgen Orasche, Christoph Bisig, Gert Jakobi, Ralf Zimmermann, Patricia B.C. Forbes, Comparative sampling of gas phase volatile and semi-volatile organic fuel emissions from a combustion aerosol standard system, Environmental Technology and Innovation, 2020, 19, 100945, 1-12, DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2020.100945

Brown G.J., Forbes P.B.C., Myburgh J.G., Nöthling J.O., Calcium and phosphorus in unbanded eggs of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), Aquaculture Research, 2020, 51 (8), 3403-3411, DOI: 10.1111/are.14675

Amanda Mahlangu, Paul Schaberg, Mark Wattrus, Patricia Forbes, Characterisation of semi-volatile hydrocarbon emissions from diesel engines, Clean Air Journal, 2020, 30(1), 1-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/caj/2020/30/1.7672

Sifiso Nsibande and Patricia Forbes, Development of a turn-on graphene quantum dot-based fluorescence probe for sensing of pyrene in water, RSC Advances, 2020, 10, 12119-12128, DOI: 10.1039/c9ra10153e

E.M. Kroukamp, T.W. Godeto, P.B.C. Forbes, Distribution patterns of arsenic species in a lichen biomonitor, Chemosphere, 2020, 250, 126199 (pp 1-9), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126199

Chiedza F. Munyeza, Aloys M. Osano, Justin K. Maghanga, Patricia B.C Forbes, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon gaseous emissions from household cooking devices: A Kenyan case study, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2020, 39 (3), 538-547, DOI: 10.1002/etc.4648

Osano, A.; Maghanga, J.; Munyeza, C.F; Chaka, B.; Olal, W. and Forbes, P.B.C., Insights into household fuel use in Kenyan communities, Sustainable Cities and Societies, 2020, 55, 102039 (pp 1-10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102039.

P.B.C. Forbes, Atmospheric Chemistry Analysis: A Review, Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92, 455-472, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04623.

B.K. Munjanja, Y. Naudé and P.B.C. Forbes, A review of sampling approaches to off-target pesticide deposition, Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 25, e00075, 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teac.2019.e00075

Genna-Leigh Schoonraad, Moshawe Jack Madito, Ncholu Manyala and Patricia Forbes, Synthesis and optimisation of a novel graphene wool material by atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition, Journal of Materials Science, 2020, 55, 545-564  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03948-0

Recent Conference proceedings

Invited lectures

Invited talk: Patricia Forbes, Oluwasesan Adegoke, Sifiso Nsibande and Hanieh Montaseri, “Novel nanomaterial-based fluorescence sensors for aquatic pollutants", Analytical and Bioanalytical Methods Conference (Analyticon 2020), 5-7 November 2020, San Francisco, USA (online conference).

Guest panel member at the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast 2021 on “Empowering diversity in science”, 9 February 2021, online.

Guest lecture: Patricia Forbes, A decade of denuders: How chromatography can assist in reducing human health impacts of pollution, ChromSA Chromatographer of the Year 2019 event, 12 March 2021, online.

Keynote lecture: Patricia Forbes, Adapting to the new normal in the academic environment, 6th Maasai Mara University International Conference, 28-30 June 2021, online.

Inaugural address: Patricia Forbes, Understanding our environment one molecule at a time, University of Pretoria, 22 September 2021, online and available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YUEpks0320

Guest lecture: Patricia Forbes, “The future of fluorescence sensors is bright”, invited seminar as part of the centenary celebrations of the Department of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, 13 July 2022.

Invited talk: Patricia Forbes, “Turning green – Sustainable approaches to environmental sample preparation”, 44^th SACI National Convention, 8-13 January 2023, Stellenbosch.

Guest lecture: Patricia Forbes, “Understanding our environment one molecule at a time”, University of the 3^rd Age (U3A), 3 May 2023, Waterfall Hills Estate, Johannesburg.

Invited talk: Patricia Forbes, “Materials, energy & nanomaterials research at UP”, African Research Universities Alliance Capacity Building Workshop, 31 July 2023, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Invited lecture: Patricia Forbes, “Probing the environment”, 10^th Royal Society of Chemistry Physical Chemistry Lecture, a prestigious, invited, biennial lecture hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry, South Africa (South) Local Section, 4 October 2023, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.

Invited talk: Patricia Forbes, “Atmospheric modelling of pesticide spray drift: AGDISP & AGDrift”, Exposure Assessment Modelling Workshop, 20-22 November 2023, Misty Hills, Muldersdrift.

Invited talk: Patricia Forbes and Sifiso Nsibande, “Validation of AGDISP: The in-field determination of pesticide spray drift”, Exposure Assessment Modelling Workshop, 20-22 November 2023, Misty Hills, Muldersdrift.

Invited talk: Patricia Forbes, “The other side of energy provision”, American Chemical Society A Chemyst In The City lecture series, 10 October 2024, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Invited talk: Patricia Forbes, “The life and times of a professional chemist”, ChromSA Postgraduate Student Workshop, 23 October 2024, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg.

Plenary talk: Patricia Forbes, “Chemistry lights the way to sustainable energy provision", 1^st SACI North Section Achievers Recognition Ceremony and Plenary Lecture, 28 March 2025, University of Limpopo, Polokwane.

Oral presentations

A. Kritzinger, V. Rodríguez-Fajardo, S.A. Nsibande, A. Forbes and P.B.C. Forbes, “Trapping quantum dot-tagged beads with an optical tweezer”, Flash talk at The Royal Society of Chemistry and The South African Chemical Institute's Young Chemists’ Symposium 2021, 8-9 July 2021, online.Ané won second prize for the best flash talk in the MSc category.

A. Kritzinger, V. Rodríguez-Fajardo, S.A. Nsibande, A. Forbes and P.B.C. Forbes, “Fluorescence spectroscopy of quantum dots in an optical tweezer”, 2021 annual conference of the South African Institute of Physics, 26-30 July 2021, online.Ané won the prize for the best MSc presentation in the Photonics Division.

Patricia Forbes, “Adapting to the new normal in the academic environment: Through the lens of undergraduate analytical chemistry”, 7^th Flexible Futures Conference 2021, 26 & 27 August 2021, online.

A. Kritzinger, V. Rodríguez-Fajardo, P.B.C. Forbes and A. Forbes, “Vectorial flat-top beams for optical trapping”, 2021 OSA-SA Photonics Conference, 19-21 September 2021, Stellenbosch.

Adedapo O. Adeola, Gugu Kubheka, Evans M. N. Chirwa, Patricia B. C. Forbes, “Graphene wool-silver nanoparticle composite as an adsorbent and antibacterial agent for water treatment applications”, 2nd Postdoctoral Research Conference of Southern Africa, 10-12 November 2021, Stellenbosch University, online.

Ané Kritzinger, Valeria Rodríguez-Fajardo, Sifiso A Nsibande, Andrew Forbes and Patricia BC Forbes, “A vectorial structured light holographic optical trap for control of fluorescent particles”, SPIE Photonics Europe 2022, 3-7 April 2022, Strasbourg, France. Proc. SPIE 12152, Mesophotonics: Physics and Systems at Mesoscale, 121520A DOI: 10.1117/12.2626569.

Adedapo Adeola and Patricia Forbes, “Adsorption of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated water using regenerable graphene wool”, SETAC Europe 32^nd Annual Meeting, 15-19 May 2022, online.

Aritondaho H. Makhari, Robyn Brown, Jocelyne Abreu, Patricia B.C. Forbes, “How rheological and particle size analysis may influence the stability test of oil-in-water cosmetic emulsion”, The Society of Cosmetic Chemists of South Africa (Coschem) Annual Scientific Conference, 7-8 September 2022, online.

Gerrit Kornelius, Patricia Forbes, Theo Fischer and Malin Govender, “Tier 2 greenhouse gas emission factors for South African liquid and gaseous fuels”, 2022 Conference of the National Association for Clean Air, 5-7 October 2022, Kempton Park, South Africa. Conference proceedings ISBN:978-0-6397-1934-4.

Patricia Forbes, Aloys Osano, Justin Maghanga, Chiedza Munyeza, Bakari Chaka, Adedapo Adeola and Sifiso Nsibande, “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions arising from domestic combustion: a Kenyan case study”, 2022 Conference of the National Association for Clean Air, 5-7 October 2022, Kempton Park, South Africa. Conference proceedings ISBN:978-0-6397-1934-4.This presentation received the Best Scientific Paper award at the conference.

Aloys Osano, Patricia Forbes, Justin Maghanga, Bakari Chaka, "Insights into household fuel use in Southern Rift Valley, Kenya“, 3rd GDR Rift Scientific Colloquium, 22-24th November 2022, Lyon, France.

Petra van der Merwe, Sibusiso Mnguni and Patricia Forbes, “Comparison of GC-MS versus GC-ECD detection and derivatization methods for the analysis of haloacetic acids in drinking water”, 44th SACI National Convention, 8-13 January 2023, Stellenbosch.

Napo Ntsasa, James Tshilongo, Patricia Forbes, Nompumelelo Leshabane and Mudalo Jozela, “Development of traceable volatile organic compounds gas reference standards for air pollution monitoring in South Africa”, 2023 Conference of the National Association for Clean Air, 6-8 September 2023, Polokwane, South Africa. Conference proceedings ISBN: 978-0-7961-0569-1.

Geyan Kempkes, Lynwill Martin and Patricia Forbes, “Development of a novel graphene-based passive air sampler towards bridging mercury monitoring gaps in South Africa”, Atmospheric Reactive Mercury Workshop, 11-13 October 2023, Reno, Nevada, USA.

Reinardt Cromhout, Jean-François Focant and Patricia Forbes, “A novel approach to the extraction and analysis of dioxins and furans sampled onto Amberlite XAD-2 sorbent”, Analitika Conference 2024, 10-14 March 2024, Drakensberg, South Africa.

Moses Leakwe, Werner Welthagen and Patricia Forbes, “Development of passive air sampling strategies for airborne volatile organic compounds at Sasol’s water treatment plant”, Analitika Conference 2024, 10-14 March 2024, Drakensberg, South Africa.

Boitumelo Nokeri, Savia Marais and Patricia Forbes, “Advancing the analytical characterization of aquatic natural organic matter”, Analitika Conference 2024, 10-14 March 2024, Drakensberg, South Africa.Boitumelo won the third place student prize for this presentation awarded by SAAMS (the Mass Spectrometry Division of the South African Chemical Institute).Serena Joubert, Sandra de Vos and Patricia Forbes, “Comprehensive indoor air quality monitoring in households employing different combustion devices”, Analitika Conference 2024, 10-14 March 2024, Drakensberg, South Africa.Serena won the second place student prize for this presentation awarded by SAAMS (the Mass Spectrometry Division of the South African Chemical Institute).

Patricia Forbes, Genna-Leigh Geldenhuys, Elena Hartner, Jürgen Orasche, Thomas Gröger, Nadine Gawlitta and Ralf Zimmermann, “Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Emissions from Sugar Cane Pre-harvest Combustion”, SETAC Europe 34^th Annual Meeting, 5-9 May 2024, Seville, Spain.

Geyan Kempkes, Lynwill Martin and Patricia Forbes, “Development of a novel graphene-based passive air sampler to bridge gaps in airborne mercury data in South Africa”, International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) Conference 2024, 21-26 July 2024, Cape Town, South Africa.

Gerrit Kornelius, Patricia Forbes and Rebecca Garland, “Tier 2 greenhouse gas emission factors for South African solid fuels”, 2024 Conference of the National Association for Clean Air, 4-6 September 2024, Mintek, Johannesburg. Conference proceedings ISBN:978-1-0370-5300-9.This presentation received the Best Scientific Paper award at the conference.

Elena Hartner, Thomas Gröger, Nadine Gawlitta, Sandra Piel, Hendryk Czech, Genna-Leigh Geldenhuys, Jürgen Orasche, Petri Tiitta, Pasi Yli-Pirilä, Miika Kortelainen, Patricia Forbes, Olli Sippula, Thomas Adam, Ralf Zimmermann, “Comparative Assessment of Organic Aerosols from Biomass Combustion Based on Controlled Laboratory Studies vs Field Studies Using the Example of Sugar Cane Combustion”, American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) 42nd Annual Conference, 21-25 October 2024, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Patricia Forbes, Serena Joubert and Genna-Leigh Geldenhuys, “Multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the elucidation of indoor air quality improvements arising from planned interventions”, Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop, 3-5 February 2025, Liège, Belgium.

Poster presentations

Jürgen Orasche, P. Tiitta, G. Jakobi, P. Yli-Pirilä, M. Kortelainen, R. Zimmermann, P. Forbes and O. Sippula, “Formation of secondary aerosols related to sugar cane harvesting using field fires“, European Aerosol Conference 2020, 31 August – 4 September 2020, Aachen, Germany.

Kritzinger A., Rodríguez-Fajardo V., Nsibande S.A., Forbes A. and Forbes P.B.C., “Fluorescence spectroscopy of CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots in an optical tweezer”, Royal Society of Chemistry Chemical Nanosciences and Nanotechnology Early Career Virtual Poster Symposium, 24 March 2021.

Tyhali A., Forbes P.B.C., "Comparison of extraction techniques for the analysis of N-nitrosamines in South African waters", Green Chemistry Postgraduate Summer School, 5-9 July 2021, online.

Adedapo O. Adeola, Patricia B.C. Forbes, “Regenerable graphene wool for the removal of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated water”, 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Posters - Building Networks to Address the Goals, 30 September - 1 October 2021, United Kingdom, online. Adedapo Adeola was awarded the best poster prize in the Water and Environmental Chemistry theme.

K.C. Sekgota, E.J. Ncube, K. Voyi and P.B.C. Forbes, “Synthesis of cationic organic polymers as potential coagulants for treatment of surface water to potable standards“, IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition, 11-15 September 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark, online.

Patricia Forbes, Aloys Osano and Justin Maghanga, “Gas phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in Kenyan households“, Airmon 10: The 10th International Symposium on Modern Principles of Air Monitoring and Biomonitoring, 7-10 November 2022, Bristol, UK.

Aloys Osano, Patricia Forbes, Justin Maghanga, Bakari Chaka, "Insights into household fuel use in Southern Rift Valley, Kenya“, 3rd GDR Rift Scientific Colloquium, 22-24th November 2022, Lyon, France.

Geyan Kempkes, Lynwill Martin and Patricia B.C. Forbes, "Development of a novel graphene-based passive air sampler for mercury monitoring“, 44th SACI National Convention, 8-13 January 2023, Stellenbosch. Geyan won a best student poster award for this presentation.

Akhona Tyhali and Patricia B.C. Forbes, "A novel molecularly imprinted polymer for N-nitrosodimethylamine extraction from drinking water“, 44th SACI National Convention, 8-13 January 2023, Stellenbosch.

Boitumelo K. Nokeri, Savia S. Marais and Patricia B.C. Forbes, "Comparison of analytical methods to characterize natural organic matter in water“, 44th SACI National Convention, 8-13 January 2023, Stellenbosch.

Nhlapo, S.P., Garland, R.M., Gonzalez, M.E., Sepuru, T.K., Hellén ,H., Tykkä, T., Roberts, H.R., Ashworth, K., Forbes, P.B.C., Jaars, K. and G. Feig, "Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds concentrations at Spioenkop Nature Reserve“, 2023 Conference of the National Association for Clean Air, 6-8 September 2023, Polokwane, South Africa. Conference proceedings ISBN: 978-0-7961-0569-1.

Petra van der Merwe and Patricia Forbes, "Analysis of Haloacetic Acid Water Disinfection Byproducts: What can we do differently?“, Royal Society of Chemistry LinkedIn Poster Event #RSCPoster 2024, 5 March 2024, Online. Petra won an award for the Best Poster Pitch at this international event.

Patricia Forbes, Genna-Leigh Geldenhuys, Elena Hartner, Jürgen Orasche, Thomas Gröger, Nadine Gawlitta and Ralf Zimmermann, “Let It Burn – Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Emissions from Sugar Cane Pre-harvest Combustion”, SETAC Europe 34th Annual Meeting, 5-9 May 2024, Seville, Spain.

Bakari Chaka, Aloys Osano, Wesley Omwoyo and Patricia Forbes, “Seasonal Variation in Pesticide Residue Occurrences in Surface Waters found in Narok and Bomet Counties, Kenya“, Pan Africa Chemistry Network Congress 2024, 29 – 31 October 2024, Nairobi, Kenya. Bakari won a Royal Society of Chemistry poster prize for this presentation.

Amogelang Booysen and Patricia Forbes, “Prioritization of emerging organic contaminants in South African drinking water“, International Student Symposium on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Implications for People and the Planet, 18-19 November 2024, Pretoria, South Africa. Amogelang won the award for the best poster presentation.

Collaborations

Other research institutions (national and international)

• Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen & University of Rostock, Germany
• Maasai Mara University, Kenya
• Rhodes University, South Africa
• University of Johannesburg, South Africa
• CSIR, South Africa

Industry and Government

• Rand Water
• South African Weather Service
• Mine Health and Safety Council
• Platmines, South Africa
• Impala Platinum (Pty) Ltd
• Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation
• Department of Environmental Affairs
• Sasol
• Agricultural Research Council
• South African Sugar Research Institute
• Water Research Commission
• Freshwater Research Centre