shaheenchemistry-blog-blog

[shaheenchemistry-blog-blog]

After I submitted my research proposal and presentation, I really started thinking deeply about the second part of my project.  I've had a bunch of criticism relating to how I'll apply these nitrate sensing molecules to my microfluidic analytical paper devices.  The truth is, I haven't exactly thought too far in advance; I've mainly focused my limited time on how I'll perform the synthesis.   However...

Now that I've had a solid breather from exams, papers, and presentations, my mind has been going absolutely crazy with ideas.  To sense minute changes in indicator, clearly I'm going to need specialized equipment, but it needs to be at a limited cost.  So after some googling, I managed to find an amazing website for citizen scientists. http://publiclab.org/ Here, I was able to find a possible solution for mobile, cheap nitrate detection.  Apparently, they've designed some cheap spectroscopy kits, using slices of DVDs as diffraction gratings and small HD cameras.  I went ahead and ordered one of the pre-made kits; at this point, I don't even care if it works for my experiment, because this thing looks cool as hell.  I feel like MacGyver would be proud.

So I'm hoping with this device, which only costs around 40 bucks on their website, I can hopefully jerry-rig a micro-PAD to the spectrometer, and fairly accurately detect nitrate levels.  It's worth a shot right?! If you're interested in this type of thing, you ought to check out their website, they even have spectrometer attachments that hook to your smartphone!

[shaheenchemistry-blog-blog]

A molecular cage model I made for my research proposal

[shaheenchemistry-blog-blog]

[shaheenchemistry-blog-blog]

Trapped in a (molecular) cage

So I've decided to move forward in my work, focusing primarily on the subject of molecular cages.  Here is a picture of the molecular cage chemo-sensor that we're trying to synthesize.

You're probably looking at this thinking, "Good god, where do you start first?!".  Well, good question.  It turns out that we are going to try to create the "floor and ceiling" of this cage out of 1,3,5-Tris(aminomethyl)-2,4,6-Triethyl benzene, shown below:

The problem is, this awesome-looking compound is pretty dang pricey; sigma aldrich is selling 100 mg for 92 dollars!  So I'm going to have to start from the ground up and try to synthesize this sucker.

On another note: Thanks to Jenn Hilmer for her amazing paper, which I am currently basing my research on.  I would also like to thank Dr. An-Phong Le for his guidance so far.  I would also like to thank the two followers of this page. I thought these posts would go unheard; thanks for the support!

[shaheenchemistry-blog-blog]

Made this .gif on my other blog.  Thought it belonged here too. :)

[shaheenchemistry-blog-blog]

The first of many posts (hopefully):

Hey there!  My name is Michael Shaheen and I am a chemistry student at Florida Southern College.  I've decided to post my progress of my research through this tumblr page.  I figure that this'll give me interesting platform to post my thoughts, queries, and accomplishments relating to my chemistry research. Currently, my research deals with creating a cheaper, easier, and more reliable method of Nitrate detection.  My professor and I currently haven't found a specific method of detection yet, but we are aiming for a semi-quantitative colorimetric form of detection.  As of now, we're planning on printing the materials directly onto paper where the analyte can creep through the reactants to produce a nitrate sensitive assay.  We are currently considering three forms of detection:

Pairing a nitrate reductase enzyme with a griess reagent

Using some metallic substance (possibly zinc) to reduce nitrate to nitrite, which reacts with the griess reagent.

Experimenting with, "Molecular cages", which exchange nitrates for dyes, which can be colorimetrically detected.

Obviously, we have a boatload of work ahead of us to choose what option will make for the most reliable test.  While nitrates aren't necessarily the most toxic substances out there, their movement through our hydrological systems must be accurately tracked to maintain the health of both natural and societal water sources.  I look forward to working on this project and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!