Department of Chemistry

Research

Environmental Studies | Health-related Studies
Chemistry Education | List of Research Projects
Theses & Dissertations | Publications

Environmental Studies
This area looks into monitoring of water and air quality, development of analytical methods and synthesis of inorganic materials with potential environmental applications. Included in this area are studies involving biosensors and bioremediation, sensors, and environmental profiling and modeling.

Modeling and profiling. The department was involved in collaborative studies with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other agencies to profile and monitor the air and water quality of the Cebu watershed areas and the Mactan Channel.

Air quality studies. Cebu's protected watershed areas were assessed for several parameters, most notably the quantity of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides in air. As well, metal particulates in Cebu City, Mandaue City and Talisay City were monitored through undergraduate researches.

Water quality studies. Baseline water parameters were assessed during the collaborative Mactan Channel project involving the Department of Biology. The quality of the surface water and sediments of the Butuanon River was also studied.

Method Development
Method development is a crucial step to translate basic knowledge into practical use. At USC, we are developing fast analytical techniques using flow injection principles. Recently, we have also made forays into forensic science.

Micro-anion exchange separations. Cobalt and nickel are conventionally separated by ion exchange chromatography, which is a tedious process. A micro-anion exchange column was developed to hasten the separation process and an online detection system using flow-injection analysis was integrated.

Drugs detection. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to develop protocols for detection and quantification of drugs. Research in the use of chloramphenicol in chicken were carried out. A more extensive study investigating the retention period of phentermine by analysis of blood, urine and hair samples was completed in 2005. read more

Detection of bromate. Government regulations restrict the use of bromate in flour. Flow-injection methods were developed to automate the detection and quantification of bromate in laboratory and real samples.

Synthesis of New Compounds
Work in this area includes the synthesis of coordination compounds using the hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)borate ligand as well as three-dimensional coordination polymers of carbohydrate derivatives.

Pyrazolylborate compounds of copper(II). Investigation of the extraction of copper(II) ions by hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate (Tp*) ligands at different pH's using four acids led us to pursue the synthesis of these compounds from the reaction of copper(II) salts with the Tp* ligand.

Coordination polymers. Acid derivatives of arabinose formed coordination polymers with copper(II), lead(II) and zinc that were able to trap small molecules like azobenzene and iodine and also lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions. For the lead(II) arabinarate polymer, this result points to an intriguing potential of removing lead(II) ions from a system by coordination and subsequent inclusion.