Project Title
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 TNT 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 experimental methodology and preliminary results of the study including the binding of the TNT in aqueous phase with the pyrrole nitrogens in the porphyrin will be presented.
Detection of Nitroaromatic Compounds Using Porphyrin-Doped Silica Sol-Gels
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 TNT 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 experimental methodology and preliminary results of the study including the binding of the TNT in aqueous phase with the pyrrole nitrogens in the porphyrin will be presented.