The first week is down and not let the fun begin.  It just happened that my mentor was out for most of the week.  I was tasked to read several articles to get a grasp of what we will do these next few weeks and see how I will apply this to my lesson.

We will be attempting to develop a novel Titanium Dioxide detection protocol.  This analytical technique uses organic ligands/chelates, which will associate with Nano-TiO2 in solution to form a molecular chelate complex.  The formation of this chelate complex should display a shift or change in absorbance/fluorescence.  This change will then be measured by the following instrument.  This is a CUV-ALL-UV spectrometer and will be my best friend for the upcoming two weeks.

Once the organic chelate with best suspension stability is found then different manufactured water samples (brackish, freshwater, groundwater, oil and gas water, etc.) will be utilized to test the validity of this novel method.

Additionally, (time permitting of course)  we will apply the new method with two different types of  TiO2 nanoparticles:  18nm rutile and 30nm anatase.  Although the plan for this model is in its early stages it is beginning to display great promise based on last year’s research.  However, we all know that things in the lab are unpredictable, so with an open heart and an open mind, I enter our great adventure willing and ready to rock this summer.