Linking Molecular Scale Surface Speciation to Interfacial Fe Redox Chemistry

University Of Iowa, Iowa City IA

Investigators

Abstract

The Environmental chemical Sciences (ECS) program of the Division of Chemistry will support the collaborative research project of Prof. Michelle Scherer and Prof. Vicki Grassian of the University of Iowa, and Prof. Martin St. Clair of Coe College. The collaborating investigators and their students will study sorption dynamics of organic substances on iron oxide mineral surfaces. The study will make use of advanced spectroscopic methods and computational modeling methods to interrogate this complex and important environmental interface. Advanced surface spectroscopic methods will be used to characterize the molecular level details of the adsorbed surface complexes formed on nanoscale and microscale goethite and hematite particles. The study could significantly increase our understanding at the molecular level of redox processes on the environmentally ubiquitous iron oxide surfaces. Findings from this work will benefit society by providing insights into molecular scale reactions that are important in protecting the health of the Nation's water bodies. The study will provide excellent opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Iowa and Coe College to work on a cutting edge research project in environmental chemical sciences.