Date of Award

Spring 5-2021

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Program

Chemistry

Department

Chemistry

Major Professor

David Podgorski

Second Advisor

Phoebe Zito

Abstract

A comprehensive understanding of the reactivity associated with organic carbon is critical for recognizing the behavior of newly formed compounds in aquatic environments. In an effort to study the reactivity of complex mixtures, understanding the different processes affiliated with them are key. Understanding the reactivity associated with organic carbon can help to improve chromatographic separation. Using a combination of light and heavy crude oil, a separation procedure was developed to obtain a complete representation of the aromatic subfraction of the crude oil sample. The crude oils were separated into four distinct fractions based on the number of condensed aromatic rings present (saturates, 1 -2 ring, 3 – 4 ring and 5+ ring). Each ring fraction was placed in thin films (30 μm) over nanopure water and photodegraded for 12 hours. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) generated from each fraction was subjected to a photodegradation time series from 0 – 96 h in 24 h increments. Each DOM degradation time series was measured using excitation emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) and statistical analysis were applied using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), to identify the underlying fluorophores present in the sample set. Small scale preparations were performed to ensure the integrity of the separation would be maintained during a bulk scale up. It was determined that a 2 % loading of sample would yield desired fractions with minimal overlap. Dissolved organic carbon and absorbance measurements collectively decreased with increasing exposure time.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

Share

COinS