(602g) Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorescent Polymers for the Detection of Polychlorinated Biphenyls | AIChE

(602g) Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorescent Polymers for the Detection of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Authors 

Savage, D. - Presenter, University of Kentucky
Dziubla, T. D., Superfund Research Center, University of Kentucky
Hilt, J. Z., University of Kentucky
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that have accumulated in the environment due to mass production in the early- to mid-1900s, and their highly stable structures inhibit natural remediation. Current experimental capture and remediation strategies rely heavily upon antiquated sensing methods (e.g. gas chromatography) for determination of an analyte’s concentration in solution which are plagued by inaccuracy and irreproducibility. The extreme hydrophobicity of PCBs generates low sample concentrations and transfer losses that complicate traditional analyte sensing approaches. As a result, there is a significant need for a robust system that facilely detects PCB concentrations in solution to expedite capture and remediation technology advancements. One possible solution is the development of a polymeric system capable of coupling Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) with selective, analyte-responsive domains. To this end, individual fluorophore conjugates are proposed here as tools for assessing the efficacy of affinity moieties and linker structures for the selective detection of individual PCB congeners. Ideal pairs will elicit sensitized emission in the presence of individual analytes and provide a colorimetric indicator of the analyte’s concentration via fluorescence peak intensity shifts. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) will be used to evaluate the success of linker synthesis and fluorophore-linker conjugation. Fluorescence spectrometry will also be employed to analyze pair fluorescence intensity and spectra shifts in response to the introduction of various PCB congeners and competing environmental contaminants. The performance of the standalone pairs will offer insights into the system’s capability to selectively and accurately detect analytes in solution, and the pair synthesis approach will contribute a pathway to integrate the detection regime into a functional polymer system.