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The Effect Of Solvent Identity And Hydride-Donor On The Reduction Of Co2 Into Useful Fuels, Abigail Mcentire Jan 2024

The Effect Of Solvent Identity And Hydride-Donor On The Reduction Of Co2 Into Useful Fuels, Abigail Mcentire

Honors Theses

One possible strategy for decreasing CO2 emissions is through electrocatalytic reduction reactions to convert the CO2 back into combustible fuels , such as methane or methanol. However, it can be challenging to control the reaction to select one of these useful fuels as opposed to carbon monoxide or formate. Our strategy is to investigate a specific hydride donor and solvent combinations for which the reaction favors conversion to methanol. It was found that in acetonitrile , several hydride donors were capable of selective reduction of CO2 to the methanol oxidation state.


Modeling Surface Structures For The Capture Of Carbon Dioxide, Paige Freyre May 2023

Modeling Surface Structures For The Capture Of Carbon Dioxide, Paige Freyre

Honors Theses

Our research utilized a modified graphene surface model to simulate capture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas based on van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. We completed an extensive review of the literature for model and experimental surfaces used to trap carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas into structures and pores with varying functional groups, pore sizes, and pore structures. We replicated the design of selected published models and compared their and our calculated binding energies. We used Scigress (Fujitsu) software with the Molecular Mechanics MM3 parameter set to perform calculations to analyze a proposed graphene surface pore lined with …


Investigations Involving Mononuclear And Dinuclear Transition Metal Catalysts For Photochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction, Ansu Edwards May 2021

Investigations Involving Mononuclear And Dinuclear Transition Metal Catalysts For Photochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction, Ansu Edwards

Honors Theses

There is currently a global energy crisis, which is in desperate need of solutions. New energy sources are required that will not pollute as much as our longstanding reliance on nonrenewable fossil fuels as an energy source. This pollution involves large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, predominantly carbon dioxide (CO2), that contribute to environmental problems such as climate change. In this context, a fairly recent research direction to address this problem is the development of transition metal catalysts that can convert CO2 into reduced carbon products that can serve as chemical fuels. This work focuses on the …


How Does Climate Change Affect Coral Reefs?, Rachel Goff Dec 2013

How Does Climate Change Affect Coral Reefs?, Rachel Goff

Honors Theses

Climate change is a very real phenomenon that currently affects many of the ecosystems on Earth. Climate change occurs on a global scale and can be very detrimental to different environments. This occurrence can cause ocean warming, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and increased storm intensity. According to the EPA, the ocean's temperature has increased 1.4°F over the past century, and sea levels have risen 3.2 millimeters through the past 20 years. These changes to the oceans can greatly affect many of the ecosystems that reside in them. One of the main ecosystems that are being affected by climate change …


An Analysis Of The Effect Of Carbon Dioxide On The Decay Rates Of Superoxide, Michael Jay Walsh Jan 2005

An Analysis Of The Effect Of Carbon Dioxide On The Decay Rates Of Superoxide, Michael Jay Walsh

Honors Theses

The radical dioxygen anion, superoxide has been shown to react with carbon dioxide in nonprotic and aqueous systems. Indirect evidence suggests that superoxide also reacts with carbon dioxide and carbonate species dissolved in water. This study involved conducting experiments to determine the decay rate of superoxide in the presence of carbon dioxide and carbonate species. Experiments were conducted by sparging an alkaline bicarbonate buffer with carbon dioxide and measuring the decay rate of superoxide added to the solution. Although the specific reaction mechanism and rates have not been determined first order superoxide decay rates as high as 3.8x10-2s-1 were obtained …


Study Of The Effects Of Co2(G) On The Fe(Ii)-Luminol Chemiluminescence System: Application To Ultra-Trace Analysis Of Fe(Ii), Sara Beth Lovitz Jan 2001

Study Of The Effects Of Co2(G) On The Fe(Ii)-Luminol Chemiluminescence System: Application To Ultra-Trace Analysis Of Fe(Ii), Sara Beth Lovitz

Honors Theses

The Fe(II)-catalyzed oxidation of luminol has been a well-accepted chemiluminescence method for the trace and ultra-trace analysis of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in natural waters. Investigation into this chemiluminescence system has shown that COlg) is essential to Fe-catalyzed luminol chemiluminescence. In absence of CO2(g) there is no chemiluminescent signal. These reactions worked well in the past because CO2 is present in most laboratory H20 supplies. Intentional saturation of CO2 results in a 5-fold increase for this conventional system. We propose a mechanism for CO 2(g) enhancement that includes formation of a CO2-superoxide intermediate, which serves as the oxidant of luminol to …