Week 3 – The Week of Redemption

We are finally bearing the fruits of our labor.  Our week began a bit shaky but, in the end, we finally have data.  The Instrument Gods blessed us with several days of remarkable work.

This week we continued our quest in trying to conceive a method for detecting nano-TiO2 in water.  Our foundation is based on finding an organic chelate (molecular magnet) that will latch onto nano-TiO2 and keep it in suspension in order to examine the water sample in a UV-Vis Spectrometer.  The chelate and the nano-TiO2 form a coordination complex. The close coordination between the two molecules allows for a charge to transfer back and forth from the chelate to the TiO2 and back when excited by light (electrons). This transfer results in a fluorescence signal that we will use to detect TiO2 in water.  This measurement will be key to detecting nano-TiO2 in different types of water samples.

We finally have found promise in one of the 40 chelates we have tested.  2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) has proven its weight in Titanium.  It has kept nano-TiO2 in suspension.  Has produced significant zeta potential numbers.

The zeta potential is the electric charge between the chelate-nanoparticle complex and the solution it is in (for now we are using DI Water).  The higher the zeta potential, especially in the range of +/- 30-40mV, then signifies the chelate-nanoparticle complex will remain in suspension.  This will then allow us to possibly attain a measurement via the UV-Vis Spectrometer, which will be the center for further studies.

So relieved that we were able to move forward and get a step closer to our final goal.  Let’s see what this week has in store!!!!  Happy Fourth of July everyone.