Professors Robert A. Walker and Mary J. Cloninger of Montana State University are supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program in the Division of Chemistry to conduct research -- in collaboration with Professors Colin D. Bain and Jas Pal Badyal of the Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham, UK -- to develop new strategies for creating functionalized surfaces that can trap and subsequently release soluble organic analytes from aqueous solutions in a controlled manner. These strategies include novel applications of cold plasma chemistry and grafting dielectric surfaces with dendrimers. The kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanisms of this selective "catch and release" chemistry will be explored quantitatively in situ and in real time using a suite of complementary optical spectroscopy techniques. Information from these optical studies will provide the kinetic and thermodynamic data necessary for developing quantitative, predictive models of multi-valent association to and desorption from surfaces. Professors Colin D. Bain and Jas Pal Badyal are funded by the UK funding agency, the EPSRC.
The ability to selectively remove large quantities of contaminants from solution remains an elusive goal of researchers in separation science. If successful, the project will have a significant practical impact on activities as diverse as environmental remediation, water purification and drug delivery. This interdisciplinary research will provides broad training opportunities and an international research experience for students at Montana State with participation of students from Native Tribal Colleges.
