Environmental Chemistry

This study presents the synthesis and functionalization of urea-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), specifically TMU18, TMU19, with a focus on their application to carbon dioxide conversion. MOFs were synthesized using urea-based organic ligands and commercially available pillaring linkers. The frameworks were then functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), taking advantage of their structural flexibility for efficient integration.

             Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of synthetic compounds widely used for their dual hydrophobic and lipophobic properties. They comprise more than 4700 CAS-registered compounds according to the OECD and have been used intentionally in nonstick, grease-and waterproof, and stain-resistant consumer products, particularly food packaging materials. PFAS are inherently persistent, and many are mobile, bio-accumulative, and toxicity to a wide array of organisms, making them emerging contaminants of concern.

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial, limited resource responsible for sustaining food supply globally. However, P-discharge from agricultural runoff and wastewater treatment plant into water bodies contributes to eutrophication and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms, substantially threatening aquatic ecosystems. Several studies have demonstrated that metal-cation-containing materials like metal oxides, hydroxides and carbonates show great potential for P-capture and are emerging as a noteworthy category suitable for commercial and industrial applications in P-recovery.

The mechanical recycling of multilayer laminated packaging films (MLPF) poses a considerable challenge due to the heterogeneity in plastic types and adhesives utilized. To address this challenge, this study uses two-step integrated chemolysis to upcycle MLPF. First, acids (acetic acids, formic acids, and succinic acids) were used to delaminate MLPF into separate layers that are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and metalized polyethylene (PE/Al).

In this work we assess water quality through physicochemical analyses while incorporating an Analytical GREEnness metric approach to evaluate the sustainability of the analytical methods employed.

Significant increases in the presence of organofluorine compounds, especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been reported in the various environmental compartments.  Many of these compounds, including their precursors and metabolites, remain challenging to detect and quantify using current analytical methods.  PFAS have the potential to undergo metabolic transformation processes under biotic conditions in the presence of suitable microbial communities and under varying environmental conditions, each with its unique metabolic pathways.  Yet microbial degrada

High levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have contributed negatively to climate change, global warming and ocean acidification. Therefore, here we provide a possible solution to help reduce these levels together with the production of CH4, a high-value chemical intended for energy purposes. The approach we utilize was invented by our group, making use of a metastable intermediate Hydrogen-bonded Metal-Organic Framework (HMOF) to synthesize, by dehydration, stable and functional phosphonate MOFs.

This work aims to study the degradation of commonly used pharmaceutical contaminants in Chile through the Heterogeneous Solar Photo-Fenton process, utilizing nanometric-sized spinel ferrites as catalysts. Specifically, manganese ferrites (MnFe₂O₄), copper ferrites (CuFe₂O₄), and cobalt ferrites (CoFe₂O₄) will be synthesized, along with graphene-supported ferrite composites. The size, chemical composition, and morphology of these nanomaterials will be characterized.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and other environmental epidemiology methods are valuable public health tools aimed to yield relevant epidemiological information for a community. This information includes lifestyle and dietary behaviors, general population health, and exposure to contaminants. There has been a significant increase in WBE’s popularity due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. From January 2021 to May 2023, I analyzed SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) RNA in wastewater from dormitories on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.