Detection of Nitroaromatic Compounds using Porphyrin-Doped Silica Sol-Gels
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Dr. Catrena Lisse
Abstract
The development of a reproducible and reusable method for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and other nitroaromatic explosive precursors in aqueous and vapor phase systems is of great significance in forensic science. Porphyrins immobilized within silica sol-gels were synthesized and used to study the binding of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) to the porphyrin. Silica sol-gels were doped with free-base meso-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin, H2TCPP, during the polycondensation process. The interaction of the porphyrin with nitroaromatics, the porphyrin functionality, and the structural integrity of the doped sol-gel were examined using thermogravimetric analysis, fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The porphyrin retained its structure when exposed to the DNP and TNP and clear fluorescent quenching was seen. This indicated the silica sol gel works as a sensor for DNP and TNP. Future work includes the study of different nitro-aromatics and their interactions with the silica sol-gels, the reusability of the silica sol-gels, and determining if there is any difference in the fluorescent quenching based on which nitroaromatic the sol-gel is exposed to.
Start Date
27-3-2024 11:10 AM
End Date
27-3-2024 11:18 AM
Location
Arts and Sciences 2-70
Detection of Nitroaromatic Compounds using Porphyrin-Doped Silica Sol-Gels
Arts and Sciences 2-70
The development of a reproducible and reusable method for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and other nitroaromatic explosive precursors in aqueous and vapor phase systems is of great significance in forensic science. Porphyrins immobilized within silica sol-gels were synthesized and used to study the binding of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) to the porphyrin. Silica sol-gels were doped with free-base meso-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin, H2TCPP, during the polycondensation process. The interaction of the porphyrin with nitroaromatics, the porphyrin functionality, and the structural integrity of the doped sol-gel were examined using thermogravimetric analysis, fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The porphyrin retained its structure when exposed to the DNP and TNP and clear fluorescent quenching was seen. This indicated the silica sol gel works as a sensor for DNP and TNP. Future work includes the study of different nitro-aromatics and their interactions with the silica sol-gels, the reusability of the silica sol-gels, and determining if there is any difference in the fluorescent quenching based on which nitroaromatic the sol-gel is exposed to.