CAREER: A Bottom Up pAproach Toward Understanding the Sunlight Driven Mechanisms and Pathways for the Release of Metals from Petroleum.

在化学部环境化学科学计划和刺激竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）的支持下，新奥尔良大学化学系的Phoebe Zito将研究阳光如何改变石油结合金属及其对生态系统健康的影响。 由于太阳的能量，地球表面的污染物可以被分解。即使石油是无形的，一旦它被清理，它仍然可以对水生健康产生不利影响。晒伤的油产生水溶性的化合物，可以通过水移动。这些化合物中有几种含有石油混合物中常见的重金属。有必要研究重金属的反应性和归宿，以及重金属对水生生物的影响。 太阳光中的能量可以分解石油，但人们对由此产生的材料知之甚少。 项目数据将显示阳光如何帮助石油中的金属释放，以及它们的转化如何影响自然地球化学循环。这项研究将辅之以针对不同学生的教育和外联活动。活动将向学生介绍潜在的STEM（科学，技术，工程和数学）职业，包括工业。这将通过与当地一家非营利组织的合作来实现。在这个奖项下，石油卟啉将暴露在模拟阳光下。 实验将评估发生的物理和化学变化。 将使用电感耦合等离子体三重四极杆质谱法（ICP-MS）测定金属浓度。 利用电子顺磁光谱和化学探针方法，将在石油卟啉和水层中确定光转化途径。在腐殖酸和富里酸的存在下，将进行研究，以评估石油结合金属（PBMs）对胶体稳定性，络合作用及其在地球化学循环中的作用的影响。PBM-土壤相互作用的光氧化还原转化将决定其在水生环境中的生物利用度。金属的尺寸将使用单颗粒ICP-MS，动态光散射分光光度计和电子显微镜来确定。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Environmental Chemical Sciences Program in the Division of Chemistry and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Phoebe Zito in the Department of Chemistry at the University of New Orleans will study how sunlight changes petroleum-bound metals and their impact on ecosystem health. As a result of the sun's energy, pollutants on the surface of the earth can be broken down. Even though the oil is invisible once it has been cleaned up, it can still have detrimental effects on aquatic health. Sunburned oil produces compounds that are water-soluble and can mobilize through the water. Several of these compounds contain heavy metals which are frequently found in petroleum mixtures. Research is necessary on heavy metal reactivity and fate, as well as heavy metal effects on aquatic life. The energy in sunlight can break down petroleum, but very little is known about the resulting materials. Project data will show how sunlight helps release the metals from the petroleum and how their transformations affect the natural biogeochemical cycle. The research will be complemented by education and outreach activities aimed at diverse students. Activities will introduce students to potential STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, including in industry. This will be accomplished through a collaboration with a local nonprofit organization.Under this award, petroporphyrins will be exposed to simulated sunlight. Experiments will assess both physical and chemical changes that occur. Metal concentrations will be determined using inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Phototransformation pathways will be determined in the petroporphyrin and water layer using electron paramagnetic spectroscopy and chemical probe methods. Studies in the presence of humic and fulvic acids will be undertaken to evaluate the impacts of petroleum bound metals (PBMs) on colloidal stability, complexation and their role in biogeochemical cycling. Photoredox transformations of PBM-soil interactions will dictate their bioavailability in aquatic environments. The size of metals will be determined using single particle ICP-MS, dynamic light scattering spectrophotometer and electron microscopy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.