Date of Award
12-2007
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Dr. Sherine O. Obare
Second Advisor
Dr. Subra Muralidharan
Third Advisor
Dr. Yirong Mo
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
For decades, organohalide (RX) compounds have been heavily used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and in agriculture as pesticides. Improper disposal of organohalides has resulted in their presence in the environment as pollutants, and they have therefore presented serious environmental and toxicological concerns. These organohalides have been associated with various health and environmental problems. Therefore, effective methods for their remediation are required. We have developed a multi-electron transfer (MET) catalyst consisting of flavin mononucleotide anchored to nanocrystalline mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films, and examined its reactivity toward the organohalide pollutant trichloroethylene (TCE). Various environmental factors were used to control the reactivity of the catalytic system. The results indicated that the reactivity of reduced FMN increased significantly when anchored to nanocrystalline TiO2 . Spectroelectrochemical data suggested that the increased reactivity is due in part to a substantial negative shift in the FMN/FMNH2 reduction potentials induced when FMN is anchored to the TiO2 surface. The reactivity of the FMN/TiO2 towards TCE was examined both in aqueous and methanol solvent.
Recommended Citation
Ciptadjaya, Christopher Gerard Eman, "Design of Multi-Electron Transfer Catalysts for the Reduction of Trichloroethylene" (2007). Masters Theses. 4327.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4327