INFEWS N/P/H2O (SusChEM): MEMBRANE-SUPPORTED METAL COMPLEXES FOR CATCH-AND-RELEASE OF PHOSPHATES

磷是存在于DNA中的元素之一，DNA是植物和动物生命的遗传物质。 磷离子是农民用来促进植物生长的肥料的重要成分。 然而，来自农场的过量磷酸盐离子污染水流并具有有害的环境影响。Valerie C教授明尼苏达大学双城分校化学系的皮埃尔进行了一项研究，旨在开发一种方法，从污染的湖泊和河流中选择性地去除磷酸根离子，然后以肥料的形式将这些离子随意释放到农田中。 该研究计划涉及研究生和本科生，包括代表性不足的少数民族，在跨学科的研究和教育。 教育活动包括向附近公立学校的小学生讲授科学方法和环境科学。皮埃尔教授与拉姆齐县的塔马拉克自然中心合作，教孩子们如何监测湖泊和池塘中的磷酸盐水平，并在此过程中向他们介绍基本的科学概念和实验技能。此外，在皮埃尔教授的研究小组工作的学生预计将通过参加区域和国家会议向更广泛的科学界介绍他们的研究。 NSF化学部的大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目支持Pierre教授的研究小组开发和推广新型金属基超分子自组装，用于从水溶液体系中可逆和选择性捕获磷酸根离子。 该方法采用具有开放配位位点的硬金属离子的配位化学。 该研究还强调了超分子原理，如形状互补性和氢键选择性螯合磷酸盐超过其他含氧阴离子。 最终目标是生产出多孔膜，可以选择性地从污染的湖泊和河流中去除磷酸根离子，并以肥料的形式重新利用它们。 这项工作通过研究金属基超分子组装体的结构参数来推动超分子化学领域的发展，这些结构参数决定了含氧阴离子结合的选择性和可逆性。 这项跨学科的研究是在食物，水和能源系统的联系。

Phosphorus is one of the elements present in DNA, the genetic material of plant and animal life. Phosphate ions are important components of fertilizers used by farmers to enhance plant growth. However, excess phosphate ions from farms contaminate water streams and have harmful environmental effects. Professor Valerie C. Pierre of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities conducts research to develop approaches to selectively remove phosphate ions from polluted lakes and rivers and later release these ions, at will, on farmlands in the form of fertilizers. The research program involves graduate and undergraduate students, including underrepresented minorities, in interdisciplinary research and education. The education activities includes teaching elementary school children from nearby public schools about scientific methodology and environmental science. In collaboration with the Tamarack Nature Center of Ramsey County, Professor Pierre teaches children how to monitor phosphate levels in lakes and ponds, and in doing so, introduces them to basic scientific concepts and experimental skills. Moreover, students working in the research group of Professor Pierre are expected to present their research to the broader scientific community through participation in regional and national meetings. They also publish results in journals.The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program of the NSF Chemistry Division supports Professor Pierre's research group to develop and promulgate novel metal-based supramolecular self-assemblies for the reversible and selective capture of phosphate ions from aqueous systems. The approach employs the coordination chemistry of hard metal ions with open coordination sites. The research also emphasizes supramolecular principles such as complementarity in shape and hydrogen-bonding for selective sequestering of phosphate over other oxyanions. The ultimate goal is to produce porous membranes that can selectively remove phosphate ions from polluted lakes and rivers and reuse them in the form of fertilizer. This work advances the field of supramolecular chemistry by investigating the structural parameters of metal-based supramolecular assemblies that govern selectivity and reversibility in binding of oxyanions. This interdisciplinary research is at the nexus of food, water and energy systems.