RUI: Electrically Controlled Formation and Release of Admicelles for Solid Phase Extraction

在化学学部化学测量与成像项目的支持下，西肯塔基大学的Eric Conte和Stuart Burris及其团队正在研究影响表面活性剂在各种导电金属表面上的电气控制吸附的化学物质。当表面活性剂保持在导电表面时，该系统将被设计为有机物质预浓缩的替代方法，其中表面活性剂作为吸附相。然后，通过改变电场，表面活性剂和被捕获的物质一起被释放出来。如果通过电气控制释放证明是有效的，则不需要在传统的预浓缩程序中使用有机溶剂，使该程序对环境有利。从某种意义上说，这是一个本质上“绿色”的化学项目，它可能提供一种有效的方法来减少有毒溶剂的使用。这项工作具有额外的影响，因为它需要对硕士和本科生进行多学科培训，特别是那些来自肯塔基州代表性不足的群体（少数民族和阿巴拉契亚地区）的学生。学生将在电化学阻抗谱、原子力显微镜和高效液相色谱等方面获得宝贵的实践经验。这项工作与孔蒂博士的台湾学生交流与合作是协同的，由国际科学与工程办公室单独支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Chemistry Division, Profs. Eric Conte and Stuart Burris and their groups at Western Kentucky University are studying the chemistry affecting electrically-controlled adsorption of surfactants on various conductive metal surfaces. Under conditions when the surfactant is held onto the conductive surface, the system will be devised to serve as an alternative approach to preconcentration for organic substances, whereby the surfactant acts as an adsorbing phase. The surfactant, together with the trapped material, will then be released by changing the electric field. If release by electrical control proves efficient, the organic solvents used in conventional preconcentration procedures will not be required, making this procedure environmentally advantageous. This is an intrinsically "green" chemistry program, in the sense that it may provide an effective way to reduce the use of toxic solvents. The work has additional impact in that it entails multidisciplinary training for Masters and undergraduate students, particularly those from underrepresented groups (minorities and Appalachia) in Kentucky. Students will gain valuable hands-on experience in Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The work is synergistic with Dr. Conte's Taiwanese student exchange and collaboration, supported separately by the Office of International Science and Engineering.