Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Chemistry (not Biochemistry)
Session: 4
Room: Park Tower 8212
Shafarah Dixon - Claflin University
Co-Author(s): Kaylen Barnes, Claflin University, SC; Ganapathi Raja, Claflin University, SC
Re-crystallization of liquids is fairly simple. Recrystallization of solids to liquids to solids can be challenging. Lanthanides are used for biomarking, which is an indicator substance that can be used in determination of the severity or stage of a disease, environmental exposure and infection. The compound can be used for bioremediation in local rivers and as a decontaminant. Since lanthanides? properties (non- radioactive) are related to actinide properties (radioactive), it is simple to study the effects of crystallizing lanthanides to as it may relate to the effects of actinides. The hypothesis was tested if lanthanides can be crystallized, actinides would also have the qualities of recrystallization. Lanthanum was recrystallized a liquid at room temperature into a solid to yield a Lanthanum crystalline structure and synthesize new organic ligands. Lanthanum is a lanthanide and is closely related to the actinides of the periodic table due to its fluorescent, luminescent properties. Using under a gram for both diacetyl pyridine and Lanthanum, crystals were able to form. Approximately 2 mL (3 mL) of acetone nitrile was added to the mixture to help the mixture to dissolve and settle by gently swirling the vial. (If the solution was cloudy, then 1 mL more of solvent was added.) Diethyl ether (20 mL) was extracted to layer the solution. The vial was reclosed and set under the fume hood to sit for almost 24 hours to crystallize. To obtain the results, single crystal diffraction method was used to isolate the crystals. Single crystal diffraction method helps to determine the exact structure of a crystalline structure by taking an x-ray of the crystal. It helps prove the purity and examine the components of the crystal. Polymer chain is a chain made up of tons of monomers. Lanthanum III triflate crystal structure made a polymer chain. Lanthanum trifluoromethanesulfonate compound [La(C9H9NO2)(H2O)2(SO3CF3)2](SO3CF3)] is nine- coordinated, which was never recorded in the journal world. The crystal structure was stable and took some time to disform when exposed to heat. Future research involves find a method to safely crystallize actinides that may have been with local environmental systems, for bioremedial purposes.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF; HBCU- UP; SC INBRE; SC EPSCoR
Faculty Advisor: Muthukrishna Raja, mraja@claflin.edu
Role: The part of the research I have participated in was to prepare, record and take account of the whole lab. I was left in charge of measurements, the materials and analyzing the results.