Reactions at iron-enriched mineral interfaces and implications for catalytic oxidation of aqueous contaminants

国家科学基金会化学部的环境化学科学项目支持Weile Yan和Moira K.他们将研究富含铁的二氧化硅和氧化铝表面的表面化学及其对水中模型污染物的催化反应性。研究人员将采取多管齐下的方法，使用一套表面和固体表征技术，包括HR-XPS，ATR-FTIR，TEM，AFM和XRD，检查富铁矿物表面的表面和材料化学。此外，还将进行固溶体电位滴定和表面络合建模（SCM）。这种结合将建立一个理解的表面覆盖率，分散的性质，化学状态，并附着在氧化铝和二氧化硅表面的铁的协调环境。将研究由这些富铁表面介导的模型污染物的氧化转化。这项研究的发现将为铁浸渍氧化铝和二氧化硅表面的表面化学和反应性之间的关系以及这些反应界面在污染物降解和氧化还原循环中的作用提供基本见解。该团队将整合两个密切相关学科的研究和教育，环境工程和地球科学，通过让学生参与跨学科的研究，并通过在正式课程中引入界面水地球化学的主题。学生将接受实验和计算技术的培训，从而建立下一代环境专业人员和教育工作者迫切需要的全面基础。此外，外联活动还将扩大到支持大学主办的五至十一年级女生科学夏令营，并为安杰洛州立大学（亚利桑那州立大学）的学生提供早期接触ENVE和地球科学培训的机会，该大学是TTU系统中为少数民族服务的机构。

The Environmental Chemical Sciences Program in the Chemistry Division at the National Science Foundation supports the research of Professors Weile Yan and Moira K. Ridley both at Texas Tech University who will investigate the surface chemistry of iron-enriched silica and alumina surfaces and their catalytic reactivity towards model contaminants in water. The researchers will take a multi-pronged approach to examine the surface and material chemistry of iron-enriched mineral surfaces using a suite of surface and solid characterization techniques, including HR-XPS, ATR-FTIR, TEM, AFM, and XRD. Additionally, solid-solution potentiometric titrations and surface complexation modeling (SCM) will be performed. This combination will establish an understanding of the surface coverage, nature of dispersion, chemical state, and coordination environment of iron attached to alumina and silica surfaces. Oxidative transformations of model contaminants mediated by these iron-enriched surfaces will be investigated. Findings from this study will provide fundamental insights into the relationship between surface chemistry and the reactivity of iron-impregnated alumina and silica surfaces and the role of these reactive interfaces in contaminant degradation and redox cycling.The team will integrate research and education in two closely related disciplines, Environmental Engineering and Geosciences, by involving students in cross-disciplinary research and by introducing the topic of interfacial aqueous geochemistry in formal courses. Students will be trained in both experimental and computational techniques, thereby building a well-rounded foundation critically needed by the next generation of environmental professionals and educators. Additionally, outreach activities will extend to supporting university-sponsored summer science camps for girls in 5th through 11th grades, and providing students at Angelo State University (ASU), a minority-serving institution in the TTU system, an early exposure to ENVE and Geosciences trainings.