Title:

Oxidative Studies for the Degradation of Organic Dyes

Organic dyes such as methyl orange are found in wastewater from textile, food, and medicinal sectors, and will discolor bodies of water, filter sunlight, and damage marine flora and fauna, due to their lack of biodegradability, which allows for long periods of persistence. We are studying the oxidative degradation of dyes as a route to remediation of natural waters. We pursue Fenton chemistry because of its versatility for degradation of organic molecules by the production of hydroxyl radical (Figure). A ligand would be considered an antioxidant and stop this process if it chelates to Fe(III) in a completely hexadentate fashion, such that it cannot be reduced to Fe(II) to begin radical formation. This research aims to find prooxidant iron complexes to catalyze dye degradation, and then analyze the rate and efficiency of degradation. We will describe Fenton chemistry of iron complexes with heterocyclic ligands, including [Fe(III)(propyl-7-carboxamide-8-hydroxyquinoline)3], using the 2-deoxyribose degradation assay to screen for oxidative activity. Various other prooxidant complexes will be tested for their chelation stability constant, and their ability to aid in the degradation of dyes.

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