Many pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are persistent, bio-accumulative, and
toxic. These semi-volatile organic compounds (SOCs) can undergo atmospheric
transport and deposition in cold, remote ecosystems. A better understanding of their
accumulation in the fish of these ecosystems is important to better predict...
The purpose of this research was to compare four different media that were used to monitor SOC atmospheric concentrations in remote ecosystems. The accumulation of semi-volatile organic compounds, including pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), was investigated in lichen, 2-year old conifer needles, resin-based passive air sampling...
A microfluidic nanofiltration module has been designed, fabricated and applied to the continuous-flow, pressure-driven, post-synthetic purification of macromolecules and nanoparticles via diafiltration using a commercially available organic solvent resistant nanofiltration membrane, STARMEM 122. This module will readily interface with other microscale components within a
"nanofactory" for the rapid synthesis, purification...
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a separation method in which a non-uniform electric
field is used to induce a dipole moment in a suspended particle. If the polarization
of the particle is greater than that of the suspending medium, the particle will move
towards the region of higher field strength (positive DEP);...
New chemical synthesis strategies have been investigated for the preparation of acceptor-type graphite intercalation compounds (GIC's) with fluoroanions in order to obtain new materials and to develop a better understanding of the synthetic approaches and properties of the products. New GIC's containing borate chelate anion such as bis(oxalato)borate, CxB[OC(O)C(O)O]₂•δF, are...
While fluorochemicals have been detected all over the world and in wastewater
treatment plants, the effect of wastewater effluent on the receiving waters has not been
evaluated. In the first study, the mass flow of fluorochemicals emanating from
wastewater treatment plants along the Glatt River in Switzerland was evaluated. The...
The work presented here is focused on applying basic principles of solid-state chemistry to the study and development of new wide band-gap semiconductors and insulators for photovoltaic and electronic-device applications. Analysis of crystal structure, band structure, optical band gap, morphology and transport properties provides fundamental insight into materials performance as...
To determine the impact of emerging environmental contaminants on human and environmental health, quantitative analytical methods are required. Analysis of emerging contaminants is hampered by their widely varying physical-chemical properties. Therefore quantitative analytical methods must be developed to determine the behavior of emerging contaminants in environmental systems.
A quantitative analytical...
Studies toward the total syntheses of highly potent cytotoxic alkaloids
including the bromopyrrole alkaloids and indole alkaloids were conducted and are
described. Studies carried out in the course of this dissertation consist of five total syntheses of natural products that include bromopyrrole alkaloids nagelamide A, D and agelastatin D as...
The thermodynamic properties of 39 PBDEs have been calculated using Gaussian 03
on the B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The PBDE congeners' enthalpies of
formation increase with increasing number of bromines and show a strong dependence on
the bromine substitution pattern. The effects of bromine substitution pattern have been
quantitatively studied by GAM...