Dr. Chaytor and Cellulose
Click the photo to access the project site:
In the proposed project, cellulose will be functionalized and examined as an ion exchange resin for the removal of phosphates from waste water as well as water from the Saginaw Bay. Phosphates are released into water from municipal waste, faulty septic systems and fertilizer runoff, and due to rising levels these contaminants must be removed. Chemical methods to remove phosphates include ion exchange resins, but these are often very costly to use. In contrast, biomaterials such as cellulose are inexpensive and readily available, providing an attractive alternative.
Functionalizing cellulose often increases/improves its adsorbent ability. The C-6 primary hydroxyl groups can be functionalized to other organic functional groups, thus providing access to a wide variety of compounds. The modification that will be explored is the addition of an amine. The amines will be attached via a short linker (2 –5 carbons). By using a variety of linker lengths, we can determine which length of linker is optimal for phosphateremoval. Also, the type of amine (primary, secondary, and tertiary) can be varied, again allowing us to determine the most effective modification. All compounds will be tested for their ability to remove phosphates from waste water. Once this chemistry has been established with commercially-available cellulose, the project can be extended to natural biological sources of cellulose, such as algae (seen in photos below) and invasive plants. Samples of water and biological sources of cellulose will be obtained from the Saginaw Bay as part of this project
Here is a link to their site: