Chemistry Commons^™

Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Method For Continuous Strain Analysis Across Heterogenous Material Interface Layers, Sierra Damon

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction method for continuous strain analysis across heterogenous material interface layers   The transfer of strain across a material interface is a relevant concept to quantify for numerous aerospace applications that involve coatings applied to substrates of different materials, particularly in the field of high temperature materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a metrology technique capable of resolving strain within an arbitrary material by quantifying the shifts of Bragg peaks with respect to an unstrained sample and has seen increased use due to the capability of XRD to perform in-situ measurements on materials in extreme environments. Since different materials have …

Isolation Of Lavender Compounds Via Steam Distillation, Emma Norris, Gwendolyn Flippin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Steam distillation was used to extract (R)- Linalool, Linalyl acetate, and Camphor from lavender during the steam distillation experiment. The compounds were extracted via a steam distillation apparatus. A 250 mL two-neck round-bottom flask, a thermometer adapter, 25 mL a thermometer, a condenser, a distillation head, a vacuum adapter, lab jacks, and clamps made up the apparatus. Then the lavender was massed out and added to a beaker with 100 mL of water. Over time, the distillate is collected in a vial to be analyzed. (R)- Linalool is a nonaromatic alcohol containing two alkenes with the chemical formula C_10 H_18 …

Chemical Profiling Of Star Anise (Illicium Verum) Via Gc–Ms: Identifying Compounds With Pharmaceutical Potential, Legacy Wilson, Yegor Bushnev

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Title: Chemical Profiling of Star Anise (Illicium verum) via GC–MS: Identifying Compounds with Pharmaceutical Potential   Abstract: Star anise (Illicium verum) has been used for both medicinal and culinary applications due to its diverse bioactive compounds. It is a primary natural source of shikimic acid (𝐶7𝐻10𝑂5), a key precursor in the synthesis of the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), used to treat influenza. Additionally, star anise has been used to treat respiratory and digestive conditions and is widely used for flavoring due to its licorice-like aroma, mainly from trans-anethole (𝐶10𝐻12𝑂) , its major component. Previous studies have also demonstrated mild central nervous …

Extracting Aromatic Compounds From Dehydrated Rose Buds, Lana Sheridan

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Eugenol (C10H12O2), methyl eugenol (C11H14O2), and 2-phenylethanol (C8H10O) are chemically aromatic, natural compounds commonly present in various botanical sources and essential oils. Structurally, eugenol is a methoxyphenol bearing an allyl side chain; its methyl ether derivative, methyl eugenol, shares a similar framework but features a methoxy group replacing the free phenolic hydroxyl group found in eugenol. 2-Phenylethanol is an aromatic alcohol comprised of a benzene ring linked to an ethanol moiety. The objective of this project was to isolate and characterize these compounds in dried rose buds using distillation followed by chromatographic and spectrometric analysis. For the experiment, a steam …

Steam Distillation Star Anise, Makayla Maso, Kiara Maso

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Star anise (Illicium verum) contains several volatile organic compounds responsible for its characteristic aroma, including trans-anethole, estragole, limonene, and linalool. These compounds differ in structure and chemical properties, which influence their behavior during isolation and analysis. Trans-anethole and estragole are classified as aromatic phenylpropene derivatives that contain benzene rings and ether functionalities. In contrast, limonene and linalool are non-aromatic terpenes, with linalool additionally possessing an alcohol functional group. These compounds are widely utilized as flavoring agents and fragrance components, while terpenes such as limonene and linalool are also commonly employed as solvents and in formulation chemistry due to their volatility …

Extraction Of Cedarwood Essential Oils Via Steam Distillation, Forrest Dohner

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Many natural materials, including pine and eucalyptus, produce distinct scents due to the presence of volatile organic compounds. In cedarwood, this aroma arises from a combination of aromatic molecules, which are organic compounds containing conjugated carbon ring systems that interact with olfactory receptors. Specifically, cedarwood contains three primary compounds responsible for its scent: cedrol, cedrene, and thujopene. The objective of this experiment was to extract these essential oils from cedarwood and identify their chemical composition. Steam distillation was used to isolate the volatile components by passing steam through the cedarwood, causing the essential oils to vaporize at temperatures below their …

Polymer Degradation And Their Environmental Impact, Addison Orr, Vanessa Gilbert

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Synthetic polymer material usage has increased significantly within the last several decades due to their durability, resistance to mechanical wear, low density, and inexpensiveness. Despite these advantages, most synthetic polymers are not biodegradable and instead undergo slow degradation processes. The processes are multifaceted, involving physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms influenced by material properties and environmental conditions, such as soil, light, temperature, and moisture levels. As a result, the polymers break into microplastics and contaminate air, water, and soil, posing risks to human health and surrounding ecosystems. Additionally, polymer degradation can release harmful substances that disrupt food chains and can lead …

Production And Analysis Of Lavender Essential Oil: Extraction, Composition, And Applications, Mary Zoeller

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Steam distillation was performed to extract essential oil from lavender and analyze its chemical composition. Lavender is known to contain several compounds such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to its characteristic aroma and biological activity. The purpose of this experiment was to isolate these compounds without decomposition and identify them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Approximately 14.851 g of lavender was heated with water to generate steam, which carried the volatile compounds into a condenser where the vapor was cooled and collected. The distillate was transferred to a separatory funnel to isolate the organic layer from the …

Steam Distillation Of Jasmine, Mikayla Hulvey, Meliah Martin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This experiment aimed to isolate various components, including benzyl acetate, linalool, indole, and farnesene, from jasmine buds. The functional groups include an ester in benzyl acetate, an alcohol in linalool, an amine in indole, and alkenes in farnesene. Jasmine buds were combined with distilled water and steam distilled using a standard distillation apparatus. The distillate, containing hydrosol and trace amounts of essential oil, was then collected for extraction using methyl tert-butyl (MTBE) for a liquid-liquid extraction. The organic layer was then separated, washed using brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and then transferred for later analysis. The essential oil obtained …

Structure-Property Relationship In Low-Dimensional Cesium Metal Halides: Coordination Chemistry, Luminescent Mechanism And Optoelectronics Applications, Sheikh Jobe

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Low-dimensional metal halides are gaining popularity in optoelectronic applications owing to their interesting optical properties and structural diversity. In general, low-dimensional metal halides refer to one-dimensional and zero-dimensional structures. The main difference between the two is that one-dimensional structures have chain-like connectivity, whereas zero-dimensional structures consist of isolated units. Their optical properties are mainly determined by the B-site metal ion, which is coordinated to halide ions in trigonal, tetrahedral, or octahedral geometry. In particular, copper (I) and manganese (II) metal halides are emerging as novel materials for solid-state lighting, and anti-counterfeiting applications. The two well-known phases of cesium copper (I) …

Isolation Of Essential Oils From Oregano Leaves Via Steam Distillation And Extraction, Alyssa Brasko, Madison Fauntleroy, Sophia Bordone

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Organum vulgare, also known as Oregano, is a fragrant herb in the mint family widely used in culinary and medical applications. The essential oil of oregano contains various compounds, with carvacrol and thymol being the primary constituents responsible for the herb’s distinctive aroma and antimicrobial properties. Carvacrol, a chemical compound found in oregano oils, has a molecular formula of C₁₀H₁₄O, with carvacrol presenting a phenolic structure that contributes to its biological activity. Additionally, the compound has three double bonds giving the compound four units of unsaturation. Due to its properties, oregano oil has historically been used …

Electroanalytical Characterization And Applications Of Two Novel Cells Developed Specifically For Screen-Printed Electrodes, Issa Adeeb Waswas

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The present thesis describes the development and electroanalytical characterization of two novel cells intended to extend the use of screen-printed electrode chips (SPECs) to applications that are not readily accommodated by currently available cell designs. There are two main objectives for this thesis: first, to redesign the previously described universal batch cell (UBC) into an enhanced format with simpler operation, wider applicability, and quantitative hydrodynamic behavior comparable to that of the rotating disc electrode (RDE); and second, to construct a compact eight-channel batch cell for simultaneous voltammetric applications in unstirred solutions. To achieve these objectives, the Enhanced Universal Batch Cell …

Targeting Chemical Pollutants Through Assimilation Of Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents With Metal-Organic Frameworks, Carbon Nanotubes, And Activated Carbon, Tanner William Baughman

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Water contamination by heavy metals has a harmful human threat to the environment and to human health. This is derived from their bioaccumulation and toxicity characteristics. The study directly looks at the assimilated of lignin-derived hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) with 3 different class of materials: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), and Activated Carbon (AC). Four different HDES mixtures were assimilated into these porous materials through impregnation. Composites were evaluated by characteristic peaks through Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The morphology of the samples was assessed as well through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The colloidal stability …

Investigating The Bioactivity Of Novel Β-Diketonate Complexes, Celeste Remolina, Dylan Wolfe

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ruthenium β-diketonate complexes have emerged as promising chemotherapeutics due to their selective bioactivity against tumors. We assessed the bioactivity of novel synthesized ruthenium β-diketonate complexes on human cancer cells as well as wild-type cells. Using cell growth assays, we screened candidate ruthenium complexes and determined the IC50 value for effective candidates. Here we present a model for ruthenium-mediated growth inhibition

Using Fluorimetry And Spectroscopy For Quantitative Analysis Of Biomaterial-Derived Carbon Dots, Kahun N. Vue

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Carbon Dots (CDs) are renowned for having great quantum yield, absorption, electron transfer, and stability. Biomaterial-derived carbon dots are eco-friendly nanomaterials synthesized through the carbonization and condensation of organic surface groups. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and application of CDs derived from various biomaterial precursors, including chitosan, cellulose, β-keratin, α-keratin, and amylose derived from chitosan, corn husk, chicken feathers, human hair, and potato skin respectively. Hydrothermal and purification methods were used to develop a green, cost-effective synthesis while evaluating the eco-friendliness and sustainability of the resulting nanomaterials. The physicochemical properties of each CD were evaluated based on fluorescence intensity, …

Computational Investigation Of Ruthenium Complex Interactions With Dna For Anticancer Applications, Mikayla A. Ertz

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ruthenium complexes are being studied as potential alternatives to platinum-based cancer drugs because they are often less toxic and more selective for cancer cells. This project uses computational modeling to investigate how a ruthenium complex interacts with DNA, which is an important target for anticancer activity. All simulations were performed using the MSI Agate supercomputing system through Termius. The complex was first tested in the major groove of DNA with and without a leaving group, followed by the same set of simulations in the minor groove. Binding energies were analyzed to compare interaction strength and determine how groove position and …

Co-Precipitation Synthesis Of Magnetic Nanoparticles (Mnps) Fe3o4 And Their Photocatalytic Performance, Leo Doan, Natalie R. Chouinard, Kahun N. Vue

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and evaluated for their photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue (MB). MB is widely used in different industries and is difficult to remove from waste due to the benzene groups, so the removal of MB becomes an emergency problem. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), Fe3O4, were successfully synthesized using a co-precipitation method between FeCl3.6H2O and FeCl2.4H2O. The point of zero charge (PZC) was determined to be approximately at pH 6.37. The NPs were examined under UV light irradiation, and their catalytic activity was monitored using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The λmax of MB was determined to be approximately …

Deep Tissue Massage-Induced Muscle Damage Associated With Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms), Stress, And Rhabdomyolysis, Lily M. Ekert, Ella R. Halopka, Micah Maddio, Marisa Wood, Bailey Kerkow, Logan Murphy, Ashley Wise

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Deep tissue massage is a common treatment method used to aid in muscle recovery, reduce pain, and promote overall physical well-being. However, there is limited research explaining its biochemical effects at a cellular level, particularly in relation to muscle damage and systemic inflammation. Severe cases of muscle tissue breakdown are Rhabdomyolysis, which is discussed with an emphasis on clinical evidence rather than biochemical aspects. The goal of this study is to determine whether deep tissue massages cause cellular damage and tissue inflammation. This testing will be done through quantitative measurements of biomarkers within the bloodstream. In previous studies, four specific …

Purification And Investigation Of Bromelain Enzyme From Pineapple, Elsie J. Dahnert, Leah O. Hanson, Regan E. Stafanoni, Reyna Olson, Eion D. Hinkle, Muaj-Infinite S. Yang

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Bromelain proteins are a group of digestive protease enzymes that act as a chemical defense to prevent grazing. Bromelain is often taken as a dietary supplement in an attempt to support digestion, and it is used as a meat tenderizer in the restaurant industry. Extracting Bromelain from pineapple, especially the skin, leaves, and stem of the plant, can create a value-added product from what is widely considered to be agricultural waste. In this research, we examined the difference in Bromelain concentrations between the flesh of the pineapple and the skin, leaves, and stem of the pineapple, and the efficacy of …

A Sticky Situation: Mannose Glycosides, Morgan Romanski, Scott Hasty

2026 Student Academic Showcase

Mannose chemistry is notoriously difficult due to the electronic structure of the molecule. The dipole moments on the molecule provide stability, meaning adding and removing substituents come with many obstacles. This results in numerous byproducts, prevents reactions from going quickly, or prevents the reaction from occurring at all. In this project, the issue of producing a mannose molecule with the desired leaving group for glycosylations is investigated using two different methods of synthesis of attaching 2-mercaptopyridimine to a benzylated mannose on carbon 1. These two methods investigate and aim to solve the issue of epoxide formation and the mannose molecule …

Complete Synthesis Of A Beta-Linked Disaccharide, Abby Dunn

2026 Student Academic Showcase

The continual need to develop strategies and methods for oligosaccharide synthesis drives carbohydrate chemists to discover new glycosides. This push has led to the discovery of an attractive 6-methylpyrid-2-yl leaving group for chemical glycosylation. Presented are three syntheses of the molecules 2-mercapto-6-methylpyridine, glycosyl donor 6-methylpyrid-2-yl-2,3,4,6-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside, and glycosyl acceptor methyl-2,3,4-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranoside. The 2-mercapto-6-methylpyridine molecule was affixed to the requisite sugar to produce the glycosyl donor, 6-methylpyrid-2-yl-2,3,4,6-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside. This sugar was then coupled with methyl-2,3,4-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranoside using silver triflate (AgOTf) to obtain the targeted disaccharide.

Robust Thermodynamic Analysis Of Flexible Protein-Ligand Binding Using Statistical Mechanics, Mitchell Dulaney

Create@State

Understanding how proteins bind small molecules is essential for accurate computational modeling of biological systems. However, calculating binding free energy (delta G), enthalpy (delta H), and entropy (delta S) becomes unreliable when proteins are flexible, and ligands are between multiple binding positions. This motion causes traditional computational methods to produce inconsistent thermodynamic values.

A computational workflow was implemented that included docking to predict likely binding positions, molecular dynamics simulations to sample how the protein and ligand move over time, and statistical mechanics analysis to calculate thermodynamic quantities. A new theoretical framework was developed and implemented in a custom program to …

Synthesizing Fluorescent 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2(1h)-Ones Using A One-Pot Synthesis Reaction, John R. Griggs

Create@State

In medical and pharmaceutical practices, Biginelli (3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones) products have a number of potential uses due to their anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties.  In addition, they are a possible treatment for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These compounds can be further modified to exhibit fluorescent properties. However, before using them in medicinal studies, it is useful to establish a procedure that can easily be modified and is synthetically accessible to allow for further optimization. The experiment was performed using the Biginelli compounds as a substrate, along with a variety of aromatic aldehydes and acids. After obtaining the products and purifying them with vacuum …

Laser Ablation-Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Of Yttrium Plasma, Dawn Gipson

Create@State

Laser ablation is a widely used sampling method for elemental chemical analysis. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation inductively-coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are the two most common implementations. Application of these techniques is found throughout the sciences, including analysis in archaeological settings, geology, and medical analysis of hard tissue such as teeth or bone. Many applications benefit from the microdestructive nature of the technique. However, the relationship between the laser-ablation crater and the analytical signal is poorly understood. Laser ablation-atomic absorption spectroscopy (LA-AAS) is used in our laboratory to determine the mass of material incorporated into the plasmas in …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Thiazole Derivatives As Potential Antitumor Agents, Kaylee Leddy

Create@State

Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in both men and women in the USA. It originates in melanocytes, which make the melanin pigment that gives skin its color. While treatable in early stages, melanoma becomes nearly incurable once metastasized. Thiazole derivatives have been recognized in many pharmaceutical classes including anticancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-tuberculosis, and diuretics. They have long been researched for their natural pharmacological properties and have shown potential to inhibit melanoma cell growth. In this study, catechol-substituted thiazole derivatives were synthesized using the Hantzsch-Thiazole synthesis. A total of 13 novel compounds were made using 2-chlorodihydroxyacetophenone with various catechol-substituted …

Czts Nanoparticles As Cost Efficient Catalysts For Producing Green Hydrogen, Aidan Hau

Undergraduate Research Symposium (2026- )

Hydrogen gas is produced to be used as feedstock, fertilizer, and fuel. Traditional hydrogen production produces “gray hydrogen” in a process that uses and releases fossil fuels into the atmosphere. One way to produce “green” hydrogen is with renewable energy technologies that produce hydrogen gas using electrolysis without emitting fossil fuels. In electrolysis, the hydrogen atoms bonded to oxygen in a water molecule are split to produce hydrogen. A typical catalyst for this process would be a precious metal like palladium, which can be costly. In order to make green hydrogen production more affordable, an alternative catalyst composed of CZTS …

Uhplc-Ms/Ms-Based Method Development And Validation For Multiclass Pesticide Residues In Food: Risk Assessment And Water Remediation, Muhammad Usman

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The increasing use of pesticides in agriculture necessitates the development of sensitive and reliable analytical methods for accurate detection, risk assessment, and remediation. This dissertation focuses on the development and validation of advanced UHPLC-MS/MS-based methodologies for the determination of multiclass pesticide residues and their metabolites in complex food matrices, along with the remediation of organophosphorus pesticides in aqueous systems. Efficient sample preparation techniques, including liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and QuEChERS-based dispersive solid-phase extraction, were optimized to reduce matrix interferences and enhance analytical performance. The developed methods were validated according to international guidelines (SANTE/11312/2021) and demonstrated excellent performance. Recoveries ranged between 70–120%, …

Non-Markovian Quantum State Diffusion For Electron Transfer In The Biological Complexes, Muhammad Waqas Haseeb

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The emerging field of quantum biology explores whether non-trivial quantum effects such as entanglement, tunnelling, and environmentally induced memory can contribute meaningfully to biological function alongside classical mechanisms. While such effects have been explored in photosynthesis, enzyme catalysis, and olfaction, their potential relevance to virology remains largely unexplored. Viruses, which straddle the boundary between living and non-living matter, provide a particularly compelling testbed for this inquiry. This thesis investigates a quantum-dynamical paradigm for viral entry, proposing that the earliest stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection may involve vibrationally assisted electron transfer (VA-ET) between the viral Spike protein and the host cell's angiotensin-converting …

Synthesis And Catalytic Activity Testing Of Coke-Resistant Nickel-Based Catalysts For Methane Reforming And Hydrogen Production, Abdulmuizz Adamson

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Ni-based catalysts are widely used in methane reforming and hydrogen production, but their industrial application is limited by deactivation caused by carbon deposition (coking). This dissertation examines the role of iron as a dopant in improving catalytic performance and coking resistance, with emphasis on its incorporation method and impact on coke oxidation during different methane reforming reactions.

The results show that dispersing iron ions within the γ-Al₂O₃ support significantly enhances catalyst coking resistance and hence catalyst performance under partial oxidation and combined partial oxidation-dry reforming conditions. This improvement is attributed, mainly, to the redox function of Fe and the enhanced …

Kinetic Analysis Of 2-Methylpentan-2-Ol*, Nicole Seheult

Campus Research Month

This experiment investigated the kinetics of 2-methylpentan-2-ol using UV-visible spectroscopy under strongly acidic conditions (96% sulfuric acid). The dehydration of the tert-amyl alcohol produced a carbocation intermediate whose absorbance at 300 nm was evaluated at various temperatures. An Arrhenius plot of ln(k) versus 1/T produced a linear relationship with a calculated activation energy of 90.0 kJ/mol. This value is consistent with literature expectations for tertiary carbocation formation and supports the acid-catalyzed dehydration mechanism predicted for this molecule.