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Interaction Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons With Dissolved And Sediment Associated Humic Materials (Nmr, Fluorescence), Thomas Donald Gauthier

Doctoral Dissertations

A fluorescence quenching method was developed for determining association constants of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)s with dissolved and sediment bound humic materials. The technique is based upon the observation that PAH fluorescence in aqueous solution is quenched upon association with humic material. Association constants are derived from the fractional decrease in fluorescence intensity as a function of added humic material using Stern-Volmer plots. No separation is required and since the technique involves a ratio measurement the exact concentration of pollutant is not required. Anthracene-humic acid association constants normalized to the fraction of organic carbon in the sorbent (K(,oc)), determined by …

An Investigation Into The Analytical Utility Of Changes In Polarization Accompanying Analytical Derivatization Reactions (Fluorescence), Christopher P. Hallen

Doctoral Dissertations

Derivatization reactions between amines, alcohols and carbonyl groups with various reagents were studied. The goal of the work discussed in this dissertation was to generate basic data to know whether and in what context changes in fluorescence polarization are useful for following analytical derivatization reactions.

Reactions between primary amines and fluorescein isothiocyanate were initially studied. Changes in polarization were observed upon conjugation for many of the amines primarily due to changes in fluorescence lifetime. This reaction was also studied in varying amounts of glycerol to judge the effect of glycerol on the reaction rate. Optimum percentages of glycerol were determined. …