Chemistry Commons^™

Reaction Of Halogenated Hydrocarbons With Cysteine And Nucleotides, Brittany S. Morgan

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Our objective is to develop a simple, inexpensive model to better understand the biologically relevant reactions of halogenated hydrocarbons and characterize them by NMR spectroscopy. We currently have a model that mimics the adduct created by the reaction of ethylene dibromide (a known toxin and carcinogen) with cysteine and guanosine 5’-monophosphate. Early attempts led to side products including ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol; however, our most promising method to date reacts cysteine with 2-bromoethanol in sodium methoxide/methanol followed by reaction of the 2-hydroxyethyl adduct with HCl and later with guanosine 5’-monophosphate. By reacting other halogenated hydrocarbons through the same method, …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Metallocorrole And Metalloporphyrin Complexes For Catalytic Oxidations, Zhibo Yuan

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Macrocyclic ligand-complexed transition metal-oxo intermediates are the active oxidizing species in a variety of important biological and catalytic oxidation reactions. Many transition metal catalysts have been designed to mimic the predominant oxidation catalysts in nature, namely the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Metal porphyrin complexes have been the center of research as catalysts in this context. This study focuses on the synthesis of porphyrin and corrole macrocyclic ligands and the corresponding ruthenium and iron complexes which are fully characterized by UV-vis and NMR spectroscopies.

The catalytic oxidation reactions towards organic sulfides by these metal complexes were also studied. Two ruthenium porphyrin complexes …

The Lyme Disease Spirochete In Tick Species Collected From Warren County, Kentucky, Cheryl C. Onwu

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The overall goal of this present study was to determine the prevalence of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, in south central Kentucky. A survey of ticks collected from a single location in Warren County, Kentucky was conducted between the months of April and June, 2010. A total of 293 ticks were collected. Three species were identified: 264 (91.7 %) of the ticks were Amblyoma americanum, 18 (6.6%) were Dermacentor variabilis, and 1 (0.35%) was Ixodes scapularis. The ten remaining ticks were immature nymphs and could not be identified. After identifying the species and sex of …

On Metal Synthesis Of Some Substituted Rhenium And Manganese Complexes, Jaron Michael Thomas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Heterocyclic organic and organometallic compounds (i.e. polypyrrole), and their derivatives, have been of great interest for conductive polymers due to their novel properties and environmental stability as compared to their non-aromatic analogs (i.e. polyacetylene). Our current interest focus upon the potential role of metal ligand bound pyridazines as the next generation of electronic devices that utilize the metal ligands bound to organics as the semiconducting material. Pyridazine is a 6-membered aromatic ring with two adjacent nitrogen atoms. These are promising candidates for a variety of materials and commercial applications; but they are difficult to get a metal ligand to fuse …

Phosphorus Transport And Distribution In Kentucky Soils Prepared Using Various Biochar Types, Anvesh Reddy

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Conserving the environment is an issue that is gaining popularity day by day. Phosphorus transfer from agricultural soils is an important environmental issue that is being closely observed as the transport of phosphorous to water bodies is adversely affecting water quality due to accelerated eutrophication. It is important to establish phosphorous models that accurately account for soil test phosphorous. Standard models like SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) and EPIC (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate) were designed for serving this purpose. They are now used as the basis for developing new models that can more accurately account for the phosphorus transport, …

Preparation Of Copper-Based Oxygen Carrier Supported On Titanium Dioxide, Yaowen Cui

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Chemical-looping combustion is an indirect oxygen combustion strategy, considered to be the most cost-effective power generation technology with the CO2 inherently concentrated. In this process, a solid oxygen carrier is used to transfer oxygen from the air reactor to the fuel reactor, which completely isolates nitrogen in air to meet with fuels. The oxygen carriers in the combustion process are subjected to the severe environments, such as high temperatures, multi-cycle operations, and thermodynamic limitations. Thus, the preparation of an oxygen carrier with high durability and better kinetics under harsh environment could be an essential part of Chemical-looping combustion development. In …

Photochemical Oxidation Studies Of Porphyrin Ruthenium Complexes, Eric Vanover

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In nature, transition metal containing enzymes display many biologically important, attractive and efficient catalytic oxidation reactions. Many transition metal catalysts have been designed to mimic the predominant oxidation catalysts in nature, namely, the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Ruthenium porphyrin complexes have been the center of this research and have successfully been utilized, as catalysts, in major oxidation reactions, such as the hydroxylation of alkanes. The present work focuses on photocatalytic studies of aerobic oxidation reactions with well characterized ruthenium porphyrin complexes.

The photocatalytic studies of aerobic oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons The photocatalytic studies of aerobic oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons catalyzed by …

Removal Of Heavy Metals From Drinking Water By Adsorption Onto Limestone With A Focus On Copper And Aluminum Applications, Swarna Latha Somasani

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Elevated levels of arsenic and other heavy metals like copper, aluminum, zinc, and selenium in drinking water are found to have deleterious effects on human health. Hence, finding methods for reducing their levels is critical. Iron-coated limestone is used as an adsorption material for the removal of heavy metals from drinking water. Removal of heavy metals by native or uncoated limestone was also observed and used for comparison to and evaluation of the improvement in removal efficiency from the ironcoated material. The removal efficiency with limestone was studied for different concentrations of heavy metals. Kinetic studies were done to determine …

Mercury Transportation In Soil Using Gypsum From Flue Gas Desulphurization Unit In Coal-Fired Power Plant, Kelin Wang

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This work investigates mercury flux in soil amended by gypsum from flue gas desulphurization (FGD) units of coal-fired power plants. There are two phases of this research, including field and greenhouse studies. Previous studies indicate that FGD gypsum could increase corn yield, but may lead to more mercury uptake by corn.

Recent studies have been carried out in greenhouses to investigate mercury transport in FGD gypsum treated soil. Major aspects include uptake of mercury by plants and emission of mercury into the atmosphere based on application rates of FGD gypsum. Additional aspects include rainfall, temperature, soil, and plants types. Higher …

Monitoring Photocatalytic Degradation Of X-Ray Contrast Media With Raman Spectroscopy, Sabina Salkic

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

X-ray contrast media such as diatrizoate and iohexol have been found in wastewater and drinking water and are difficult to remove because they are resistant to water treatment processes. A removal process can be started with ultraviolet photocatalytic degradation of X-ray contrast media in the presence of titanium dioxide or other catalysts. Raman spectra of diatrizoate and iohexol were taken in an aqueous solution in the presence and absence of titanium dioxide during exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Raman intensity is directly proportional to concentration; therefore, we can measure the rate of the reaction based on changes in the Raman spectrum. …

Size Dependent Antimicrobial Properties Of Sugar Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles, Lakshmisri Manisha Vangala

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The antimicrobial properties of dextrose encapsulated gold nanoparticles (dGNPs) with average diameters of 25 nm, 60 nm, and 120 nm (± 5 nm) synthesized by green chemistry principles were investigated against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Studies were performed involving the effect of the dGNPs on the growth, morphology and the ultrastructural properties of bacteria. dGNPs were found to have significant dose dependent antibacterial activity which was directly proportional to their size and also their concentration. The microbial assays revealed the dGNPs to be bacteriostatic as well as bactericidal. The dGNPs exhibited their bactericidal action through the disruption of the …

The Reaction Of Methionine With A Non-C2-Symmetrical Platinum (Ii) Diamine Compound, Nilesh Sahi

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The research that we have conducted has allowed us to discover that the amino acids, methionine (Met) and N-acetyl methionine (N-AcMet), will react in a 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratio with platinum complexes containing bulky diamine ligands. Previous research has allowed us to gain a plethora of information on the experimentation and results of specific bulky diamine ligands such as N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and N,N-diethylethylenediamine. In the current study, we have investigated the bulky diamine ligand of N,N-dimethylethylenediamine, or Me₂en. With our focus on the bulk of the Me₂en ligand, we have been able to synthesize a platinum …

Using Two Different Approaches For The Creation Of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene)-Functionalized Siloxane Nanoparticles For Organic-Based Solar Cells, Nicholas A. Wright

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Poly(3-hexylthiophene)-functionalized silsesquioxane nanoparticles were prepared from direct hydrolysis and condensation of P3HT-silane precursor using “grafting from” and “grafting to” methods. The size, shape, and surface morphology of these polymer grafts particles were visualized using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Their compositions confirmed by FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis. The XRD analysis revealed the polymer orientation and packing pattern of the nanocomposites, indicating the highly ordered lamella stacks of P3HT polymer chains. The photovoltaic performance of the blends of P3HT-nanohybrid with the C60 derivative PCBM was evaluated upon annealation in different temperatures, ranging from 50°C to 150 °C. …

Biomass Assisted Synthesis Of Antibacterial Gold Nanoparticles And Commentary On Its Future Potential And Applications In Medicine, Chad Willis

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Xylose is a natural monosaccharide found in biomass such as straw, pecan shells, cottonseed hulls, and corncobs. Using this monosaccharide, we report the green synthesis and characterization of biocompatible, biodegradable xylose encapsulated gold nanoparticles (Xyl-GNPs) with potential antibacterial activity. GNPs were synthesized using the bioreduction property of xylose on the chloroaurate anions in an aqueous solution at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure. The characterization of synthesized GNPs was examined by UV-vis spectroscopy; transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results indicate that the particles were stable; near spherical in shape with an …

Oxaliplatin And Oxaliplatin Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, And Reactivity With Biologically Relevant Ligands, Amy Poynter

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Oxaliplatin is a third generation anticancer drug that has proven to be successful in fighting ovarian and testicular cancer. We are interested in determining how oxaliplatin and oxaliplatin derivatives interact with proteins, as well as how that interaction is affected by the size and shape of these platinum compounds. We have synthesized oxaliplatin as it is used in cancer treatment, as well as similar platinum compounds with the same diaminocyclohexane ligand as oxaliplatin but with additional bulk added to the nitrogen atoms. We are reacting oxaliplatin with key amino acids, including methionine, and will be comparing the kinetics of this …

Racemization Of Amino Acids In Teeth For The Determination Of Age, Andrea Lee Toll

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Instrumental to forensic investigations is the ability to identify unknown human remains providing key evidence to criminal cases, resolution to missing persons, and assistance in mass or natural disasters. Identification of remains in an effort to determine age is an area of forensics that has received considerable attention. Traditional methods in age determination such as morphology are often biased, antiquated, and frequently result in a large margin of error. Conversely, the emergence of new forensic techniques provide promise to reduce the margin of error in determining age. One such technique has focused on relating the extent of amino acid racemization …

Reducing Lead And Selenium From Drinking Water Using Limestone-Based Material, Sindhu Tumati

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Contamination of drinking water with metals is a major problem facing many areas of United States and the World. There is a need for an inexpensive remediation technology for the removal of metals in drinking water that can be applied to small rural water systems. This research will focus on the development of a process for removal of select metals from drinking water by limestone-based material. Metals in drinking water considered for this research include lead and selenium. Limestone-based material has demonstrated the potential to reduce select metals (lead, cadmium and arsenic) in drinking water, with the additional benefit of …

Hydro/Solvothermal Synthesis, Structures And Properties Of Metal-Organic Frameworks Based On S-Block Metals, Raj Kishore Vakiti

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Carbon dioxide removal from flue gases of power plants is critical for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions implicated in global warming. Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) promising potential applications in carbon dioxide capture due to their unique structural properties such as high porosity and high thermal stability. These MOFs have application in separation processes and gas storage. By the assembly of the organic ligands and metal oxide clusters, porous MOFs can be synthesized. The use of s-block metals such as calcium, magnesium and rubidium in porous materials is appealing because their ionic binding characters with organic ligands will general flexible MOFs. …

Synthesis, Structure, And Characterization Of Hybrid Solids Containing Polyoxometalates And Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes, Yanfen Ll

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Polyoxometalates (POMs), which are inorganic metal oxide cluster anions with discrete structures, have been extensively studied in recent years due to their large variety of applications such as medicine, biology, catalysis, material sciences and chemical analysis. Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes have been extensively studied for their applications as photosensitizers in solar energy conversion and photoelectronic materials. Recently, ruthenium heterocyclic ligand complex-based building blocks have been used for the synthesis of hybrid organic-inorganic solids through the self-assembly. We are interested in the synthesis of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes and polyoxometalate anions through different ways such as coordination bonds, hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds …

Removal Of Heavy Metals Using Modified Limestone Media: Zinc And Cadmium, Keerthy Mandadi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Heavy metal contamination is a serious concern throughout the world. Increased concentrations in drinking water have many negative impacts on human health. Limestone is an inexpensive and simple media for removing high concentrations of heavy metals from drinking water supplies. Ferric based media is commonly used to remove zinc, cadmium, lead, arsenic and other heavy metals. The drinking water standards set by the US EPA for cadmium, zinc and arsenic are 0.005 mg/L, 5 mg/L and 0.010 mg/L respectively. Bangladesh, parts of India, China and the United States have high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water. Although many technologies exist …

Ua94/6/10 Student / Alumni Personal Papers Wku Carl Ellis, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Scientific notebooks used by Carl Ellis during his years at WKU.

Ua94/6/11 Student / Alumni Personal Papers Wku Darwin Newton, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Notebooks, notes and papers written by Darwin Newton during his time as a student at WKU.