Equipment supporting the study of inorganic and organic sulphur-based compounds on the quality of water

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The equipment in this grant will be used to support my study involving the chemistry of low oxidation-state inorganic and organic sulphur compounds that are found in various water distribution systems. The study is ultimately intended to provide solutions to the odour problems associated with sulphur compounds in water. Most of the sulphur compounds to be studied are not available commercially and will need to be synthesized for the proposed study. Nearly all of the low oxidation-state inorganic sulphur compounds are very unstable in the presence of air and other oxidizing environments. Therefore, the analysis of these compounds ought to be carried out using an instrument capable of providing an inert environment during the analysis. An Electrochemical Analyzer (EA), one of the instruments that I am requesting funding for, has this capability. It provides qualitative and quantitative information that arises from the reduction and oxidation processes of a compound. An EA provides several electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear and pulse polarography, and chronopotentiometry. The information gathered from these electrochemical techniques will enable me to characterize the synthesized organic and inorganic sulphur compounds by utilizing the uniqueness of the many oxidation states of the sulphur element which range from -2 to +6. Also, speciation of reduced sulphur compounds found in various water systems will easily be accomplished using this equipment. A very unique feature of an EA is its ability to provide an inert atmosphere during the analysis of compounds that are prone to aerial degradation. I would also like to request funding for an Aerobic Chamber. The chamber will allow me to conduct some experiments in an air excluded environment. This will minimize the chances of sulphur compounds degrading, which they are prone to. The chamber will allow for a safe working environment by containing the commonly encountered sulphur odours. The ultimate results obtained using these requested pieces of equipment will find valuable application in the improvement of drinking water quality here in Canada and elsewhere.