RUI: Elucidating interlayer chemistry for design of novel, nontoxic organoclays for contaminant remediation

有了这个奖项，化学系的环境化学科学计划资助米德尔伯里学院的Molly Constanza-Robinson教授澄清有机粘土的化学性质，并将这种理解应用于新型无毒有机粘土的设计和表征，以有效地修复污染物。在经过处理的废水、受纳河流、地下水和饮用水威尔斯井中，经常会检测到包括杀虫剂和药品在内的潜在有害化学品。使用改性粘土矿物（有机粘土）作为吸附剂代表了一种有前途的方法，从环境沃茨中去除有害污染物，但基本问题仍然存在。该研究小组使用光谱技术研究有机粘土层间化学环境的细节，以了解粘土的分子水平特性如何影响其吸附效率。除了发展基本知识和促进人类和环境健康的社会效益外，该项目通过相关的课程实验室项目，支持对跨学科环境化学研究的不同本科生群体和其他学生的培训和指导。铵阳离子表面活性剂已被广泛研究，并显示出从水中有效吸附石油烃、酚、硝基和氯取代的芳族化合物和其它有机污染物的能力。虽然很多是已知的污染物吸收到层间的有机粘土，未回答的问题阻碍优化的有机粘土用于污染物修复。此外，有机粘土中使用的常规表面活性剂的潜在毒性尚未得到解决。使用多种光谱技术，吸附等温线，和其他表征工具，该项目调查的因素，管理的有机粘土层间化学环境，包括其大小，结晶度和水合作用，以及这些属性如何影响的有机粘土的吸附效率。然后将这种见解应用于新型，有效和无毒的有机粘土的设计和表征。

With this award, the Environmental Chemical Sciences Program of the Division of Chemistry is funding Professor Molly Constanza-Robinson of Middlebury College to clarify the chemistry of organoclays and apply this understanding to the design and characterization of novel, nontoxic organoclays for effective contaminant remediation. Potentially harmful chemicals, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are routinely detected in treated wastewater, receiving streams, groundwater, and drinking water wells. Using modified clay mineral (organoclays) as an adsorbent represents a promising approach for removing harmful contaminants from environmental waters, but fundamental questions remain. This research team uses spectroscopic techniques to study the details of the organoclay interlayer chemical environment to understand how the molecular-level properties of the clay influence its sorption efficiency. In addition to developing fundamental knowledge and the societal benefit of promoting human and environmental health, this project supports the training and mentoring of a diverse group of undergraduates in interdisciplinary environmental chemical research and additional students through an associated course-based laboratory project.Montmorillonite clay modified with long-chain alkyl-ammonium cationic surfactants has been extensively studied and demonstrates the ability to effectively sorb petroleum hydrocarbons, phenols, nitro- and chloro-substituted aromatics, and other organic pollutants from water. Although much is known about contaminant uptake into the interlayer of organoclays, unanswered questions hinder optimization of the organoclays for use in contaminant remediation. Moreover, the potential toxicity of conventional surfactants used in organoclays has not been addressed. Using multiple spectroscopic techniques, sorption isotherms, and additional characterization tools, this project investigates factors that govern the organoclay interlayer chemical environment, including its size, crystallinity, and hydration, and how these properties influence the sorption efficiency of the organoclays. This insight is then applied to the design and characterization of novel, effective, and non-toxic organoclays.