• Application of chromatographic and spectroscopic instrumentation for agricultural, bioanalytical, environmental, materials, and forensic analysis
• Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of amines and Raman microscopy of hydrogen-bonded melamine complexes as kidney stone precursors
• Using mass spectrometry for monitoring human exposure to toxicants and early stage disease diagnostics via exhaled breath analysis
• Degradation of harmful chemicals via oxidative reactions of chlorine dioxide and ozone and photocatalytic conversion via hydroxy radicals
• Studies of atmospheric pollution, indoor air quality, toxicity of tobacco smoke and electronic cigarettes, and wildfire emission of contaminants
• Extraction of phytochemicals for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients and development of biomass-derived fuels and fuel additives

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Ngee Sing Chong is a Professor of Chemistry at MTSU and the Director of the MTSU Interdisciplinary Microanalysis and Imaging Center. From 2004 to 2008, he served on the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Board to address air quality issues in Tennessee and help formulate strategies for pollution control. Prior to coming to MTSU, he worked for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality monitoring air pollutants at various industrial sites in Texas after receiving his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Georgia. He teaches introductory and general chemistry, instrumental analysis, intermediate analytical chemistry, vibrational spectroscopy, environmental chemistry, and atmospheric chemistry. He has provided research mentoring to students from high school to doctorate levels via projects funded by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, National Science Foundation, Department of Homeland Security, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Energy.

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Selected Recent Publications

D. N. B Chandra Siri, S. L. Ng, N. S. Chong, P. J. Marriott, Y. F. Wong, “Evaluation of portable atmospheric-pressure solids analysis probe-quadrupole mass spectrometry and UPLC-MS for the rapid screening of illicit substances in human urine” Journal of Chromatography A, 2026, 1770, 466720. 

A. Fu, Zhao, J. C. Nwanaji-Enwerem, N. S. Chong, D. Bartelli, C. Jia, “Organic chemical contamination of the indoor air in outpatient clinics: spatiotemporal variation and health risks”, Int. J. Environ. Health Res. 2025, 1–13.

D. N. B. Chandra Siri, S. Y. Goh, N. S. Chong, P. J. Marriott, Y. F. Wong, “Rapid Determination of Methamphetamine, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Methadone, Ketamine, Cocaine, and New Psychoactive Substances in Urine Samples Using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography”, Metabolites 2024, 14, 643. 

N. S. Chong, I. Nwobodo, M. Strait, D. Cook, S. Abdulramoni, B. G. Ooi, “Preparation and Characterization of Shell-Based CaO Catalysts for Ultrasonication-Assisted Production of Biodiesel to Reduce Toxicants in Diesel Generator Emissions”, Energies, 2023, 16, 5408.

J. Hwang, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang, R. J. Agnew, C. Xu, Z. Li, X. Xu, “Face-to-face with scorching wildfire: potential toxicant exposure and the health risks of smoke for wildland firefighters at the wildland-urban interface”, Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 21, 2023, 100482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2023.100482.

S. Perna, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang, “Recovery and detection of ignitable liquid residues from the substrates by solid phase microextraction – direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry” Forensic Chemistry, 41, 2024, 100611.

S. Perna, B. M. Dedicatoria, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang, “GC/MS and DART-MS as complementary methods for investigating the effects of weathering on chemical profiles of ignitable liquids: A case study for paint thinner” Forensic Chemistry, 33, 2023, 100478.

V.L. Benefield, S. Perna, S. Pham, N. S. Chong, Z. Li, M. Zhang. “Evaluation of Mass Spectrometric Methods for Screening Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Particulate Phase of Wildfire/Biomass Smoke” Fire Technol. 2022, 61, 135–154.

N. N. Hassan, F. Cacciola, N. S. Chong, K. Arena, P. J. Marriott, Y. F. Wong, “An updated review of extraction and liquid chromatography techniques for analysis of phenolic compounds in honey” J. Food Compost. Anal., 114, 2022, 104751.

M. Poplawska, D. Dutta, M. Jayaram, M. Salifu, N. S. Chong, S. H. Lim. “Intestinal pathophysiological abnormalities in steady state and after vaso-occlusive crisis in murine sickle cell disease” Br. J. Haematol. 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.17889

N. S. Chong, F. U. Okejiri, S. Abdulramoni, S. Perna, B.G. Ooi. Evaluation of Shell-Derived Calcium Oxide Catalysts for the Production of Biodiesel Esters from Cooking Oils Acad. J. Chem.6 (1)20-27, 2021.

D. Dutta, B. G. Ooi, N. S. Chong. Major harmful effects of chemicals found in e-cigarette emissions. In E-Cigarettes: Perspectives, Regulation and Health Effects; Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, USA. 2020.

L. Jian, J. Frazier, V. Benefield, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang “Forensic fiber analysis by thermal desorption/pyrolysis-direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry” ACS Anal. Chem. 92, 1925-1933, 2020.  DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04167

N. S. Chong, D. Dutta, B.G. Ooi. Formation of melamine-derived particles in aqueous and biological matrices. In An Introduction to Melamine; A. Harris Ed.; Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, USA. 2020. ISBN:978-1-53617-136-5

N. S. Chong, S. Abdulramoni, D. Patterson, H. Brown “Releases of fire-derived contaminants from polymer pipes made of polyvinyl chloride” Toxics, 7(4), 57, 2019.  https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics7040057.

B. G. Ooi, D. Dutta, K. Kazipeta, N. S. Chong “Influence of the E-Cigarette Emission Profile by the Ratio of Glycerol to Propylene Glycol in E-Liquid Composition” ACS Omega, 4 (8), 13338-13348, 2019, DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b01504.

Oladipupo, O.A., Dutta, D. & Chong, N.S. “Analysis of chemical constituents in mainstream bidi smoke” BMC Chemistry, 13, 93, 2019, DOI:10.1186/s13065-019-0614-7.

N. S. Chong, D. Dutta and B. G. Ooi, “Chapter 5: Formation of Melamine-Derived Particles in Aqueous and Biological Matrices’, An Introduction to Melamine; Nova Science Publishers, 2019.

D. Dutta, N. S. Chong, S. H. Lim “Endogenous volatile organic compounds in acute myeloid leukemia: Origins and clinical applications” Journal of Breath Research, 2018, 12, 034002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/aab108.

N. S. Chong, K. Donthula, R. Davies, W. Ilsley & B. G. Ooi, “Significance of Chemical Enhancement Effects in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Signals of Aniline and Aminobiphenyl Isomers”; Vibrational Spectroscopy, 2015, 81, 22-31.

N. S. Chong, K. Smith, S. Setti, B. G. Ooi. “Application of Gold and Silver Colloidal Nanoparticles for the Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectrometric Analysis of Melamine and
4-Aminobiphenyl.” International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management 2013, 16 (1/2), 3-20.

B. G. Ooi, L. Zhao, and N. S. Chong. “A Versatile Substrate Coated with Silver Nanoparticles for Surface-Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy” Am. Lab. 2009, 41(7), 36-38.

N. S. Chong, B. M. Naah, C. Liang, “Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Mesoporous Carbon Acid Catalyst for Biodiesel Production”; Preprints of Symposia-American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry 2009, 54(1), 171-172.

N.S. Chong, N.T. Sun, H.Y. Hsu, T.L. Chou and H.Y. Tang. “Electrocrystallization and Characterization of Polymorphic Forms of Barium Metaplumbate”; Crystal Growth & Design, 2008, 8(5), 1779-1782.

B. G. Ooi; L. E. Wanamaker; B. M. Markuszewski; N. S. Chong, “Genetic and Enological Analysis of Selected Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Strains for Wine Production”; International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2008, 43(6), 1111-1120.

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High Impact Practices Ambassador in Undergraduate Research, Tennessee Board of Regents in 2025-2026
American Chemical Society Local Section award for outreach activities at Murfreesboro Discovery Center and Earth Day Celebration in 2025-2026
Fulbright Foundation award for hosting a Scholar-In-Residence from Universiti Science Malaysia in 2025
MTSU Distinguished Research Award, 2013-2014
Appointment to the Tennessee Air Pollution Control Board, 2004-2008
NSF Summer Faculty Research Fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2004.
NRC Summer Faculty Research Fellowship at Tyndall Air Force Research Laboratory, 2002.
MTSU Distinguished Research Award, 2000-2001

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Selected Conference Abstracts and Publications

D. N. B Chandra Siri, S. L. Ng, N. S. Chong, P. J. Marriott, Y. F. Wong, “Evaluation of portable atmospheric-pressure solids analysis probe-quadrupole mass spectrometry and UPLC-MS for the rapid screening of illicit substances in human urine” Journal of Chromatography A, 2026, 1770, 466720. 

A. Fu, Zhao, J. C. Nwanaji-Enwerem, N. S. Chong, D. Bartelli, C. Jia, “Organic chemical contamination of the indoor air in outpatient clinics: spatiotemporal variation and health risks”, Int. J. Environ. Health Res. 2025, 1–13.

D. N. B. Chandra Siri, S. Y. Goh, N. S. Chong, P. J. Marriott, Y. F. Wong, “Rapid Determination of Methamphetamine, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Methadone, Ketamine, Cocaine, and New Psychoactive Substances in Urine Samples Using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography”, Metabolites 2024, 14, 643. 

N. S. Chong, I. Nwobodo, M. Strait, D. Cook, S. Abdulramoni, B. G. Ooi, “Preparation and Characterization of Shell-Based CaO Catalysts for Ultrasonication-Assisted Production of Biodiesel to Reduce Toxicants in Diesel Generator Emissions”, Energies, 2023, 16, 5408.

J. Hwang, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang, R. J. Agnew, C. Xu, Z. Li, X. Xu, “Face-to-face with scorching wildfire: potential toxicant exposure and the health risks of smoke for wildland firefighters at the wildland-urban interface”, Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 21, 2023, 100482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2023.100482.

S. Perna, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang, “Recovery and detection of ignitable liquid residues from the substrates by solid phase microextraction – direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry” Forensic Chemistry, 41, 2024, 100611.

S. Perna, B. M. Dedicatoria, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang, “GC/MS and DART-MS as complementary methods for investigating the effects of weathering on chemical profiles of ignitable liquids: A case study for paint thinner” Forensic Chemistry, 33, 2023, 100478.

V.L. Benefield, S. Perna, S. Pham, N. S. Chong, Z. Li, M. Zhang. “Evaluation of Mass Spectrometric Methods for Screening Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Particulate Phase of Wildfire/Biomass Smoke” Fire Technol. 2022, 61, 135–154.

N. N. Hassan, F. Cacciola, N. S. Chong, K. Arena, P. J. Marriott, Y. F. Wong, “An updated review of extraction and liquid chromatography techniques for analysis of phenolic compounds in honey” J. Food Compost. Anal., 114, 2022, 104751.

M. Poplawska, D. Dutta, M. Jayaram, M. Salifu, N. S. Chong, S. H. Lim. “Intestinal pathophysiological abnormalities in steady state and after vaso-occlusive crisis in murine sickle cell disease” Br. J. Haematol. 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.17889

N. S. Chong, F. U. Okejiri, S. Abdulramoni, S. Perna, B.G. Ooi. Evaluation of Shell-Derived Calcium Oxide Catalysts for the Production of Biodiesel Esters from Cooking Oils Acad. J. Chem.6 (1)20-27, 2021.

D. Dutta, B. G. Ooi, N. S. Chong. Major harmful effects of chemicals found in e-cigarette emissions. In E-Cigarettes: Perspectives, Regulation and Health Effects; Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, USA. 2020.

L. Jian, J. Frazier, V. Benefield, N. S. Chong, M. Zhang “Forensic fiber analysis by thermal desorption/pyrolysis-direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry” ACS Anal. Chem. 92, 1925-1933, 2020.  DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04167

N. S. Chong, D. Dutta, B.G. Ooi. Formation of melamine-derived particles in aqueous and biological matrices. In An Introduction to Melamine; A. Harris Ed.; Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, USA. 2020. ISBN:978-1-53617-136-5

N. S. Chong, S. Abdulramoni, D. Patterson, H. Brown “Releases of fire-derived contaminants from polymer pipes made of polyvinyl chloride” Toxics, 7(4), 57, 2019.  https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics7040057.

B. G. Ooi, D. Dutta, K. Kazipeta, N. S. Chong “Influence of the E-Cigarette Emission Profile by the Ratio of Glycerol to Propylene Glycol in E-Liquid Composition” ACS Omega, 4 (8), 13338-13348, 2019, DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b01504.

Oladipupo, O.A., Dutta, D. & Chong, N.S. “Analysis of chemical constituents in mainstream bidi smoke” BMC Chemistry, 13, 93, 2019, DOI:10.1186/s13065-019-0614-7.

N. S. Chong, D. Dutta and B. G. Ooi, “Chapter 5: Formation of Melamine-Derived Particles in Aqueous and Biological Matrices’, An Introduction to Melamine; Nova Science Publishers, 2019.

D. Dutta, N. S. Chong, S. H. Lim “Endogenous volatile organic compounds in acute myeloid leukemia: Origins and clinical applications” Journal of Breath Research, 2018, 12, 034002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1752-7163/aab108.

N. S. Chong, K. Donthula, R. Davies, W. Ilsley & B. G. Ooi, “Significance of Chemical Enhancement Effects in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Signals of Aniline and Aminobiphenyl Isomers”; Vibrational Spectroscopy, 2015, 81, 22-31.

N. S. Chong, K. Smith, S. Setti, B. G. Ooi. “Application of Gold and Silver Colloidal Nanoparticles for the Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectrometric Analysis of Melamine and
4-Aminobiphenyl.” International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management 2013, 16 (1/2), 3-20.

B. G. Ooi, L. Zhao, and N. S. Chong. “A Versatile Substrate Coated with Silver Nanoparticles for Surface-Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy” Am. Lab. 2009, 41(7), 36-38.

N. S. Chong, B. M. Naah, C. Liang, “Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Mesoporous Carbon Acid Catalyst for Biodiesel Production”; Preprints of Symposia-American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry 2009, 54(1), 171-172.

N.S. Chong, N.T. Sun, H.Y. Hsu, T.L. Chou and H.Y. Tang. “Electrocrystallization and Characterization of Polymorphic Forms of Barium Metaplumbate”; Crystal Growth & Design, 2008, 8(5), 1779-1782.

B. G. Ooi; L. E. Wanamaker; B. M. Markuszewski; N. S. Chong, “Genetic and Enological Analysis of Selected Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Strains for Wine Production”; International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2008, 43(6), 1111-1120.

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Introductory General Chemistry I with Lab - CHEM 1010
Introductory Chemistry for Consumers -CHEM 1030
General Chemistry I & II with Lab - CHEM 1110/1120
Physical Science with Lab - PSCI 1030
Instrumental Analysis with Lab– CHEM 4230/4231
Forensic Instrumental Analysis with Lab – FSCH 4230/4231
Detection of Chemical Pollutants with Lab - CHEM 4630/4631
Intermediate Analytical Chemistry with Lab - CHEM 6230/6231
Special Topics in Electron Microscopy- IMIC 4820/5820
Chemical Informatics and Statistics – CHEM 6210
Topics in Applied Chemistry: Atmospheric Chemistry - CHEM 6220/7710
Topics in Analytical Chemistry: Molecular Spectroscopy - CHEM 6200/7220
Environmental Chemistry-CHEM 4610/6610

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