Grantee Research Project Results
2003 Progress Report: Specialty Polymeric Materials for use in the Purification and Detection of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins: Science and Engineering
EPA Grant Number: R829424E03Title: Specialty Polymeric Materials for use in the Purification and Detection of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins: Science and Engineering
Investigators: Scrivens, W. A.
Institution: University of South Carolina at Columbia
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2003 (Extended to September 30, 2004)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003
Project Amount: $199,305
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The 2001 South Carolina U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPA/EPSCoR) Program consists of a Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) and two Science and Engineering Environmental Research (SEER) Projects. This report summarizes the activities of SEER Project #2, Specialty Polymeric Materials for Use in the Purification and Detection of Harmful Algae Bloom Toxins. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) interfere with local ecologies by displacing indigenous species, altering habitats, or depleting oxygen in the environment. A small percentage of these blooms consist of microorganisms that produce toxins that can kill marine organisms directly or can transfer throughout the food chain and effect human and animal life. Initially, the overall goal of this research project was to develop a broadly applicable methodology for the purification and detection of HAB toxins, specifically saxitoxin. After the Year 1 review of this project and in light of weapons of mass destruction issues and the Patriot Act, purification of HAB toxins is no longer a component of this project. Instead, the objective is to develop methods for new sensor and separations technologies.
Progress Summary:
A new method for making nanoscale metal patterns on a variety of substrates was discovered. These patterns have been shown to be surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active, and have the possibility of being selective sensors by coating the patterns with appropriate selective materials for complexing analytes. Methods have been developed to fill high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns with rigid open-cell foams. These foams are to be used as substrates on which swellable imprinted polymeric stationary phases will be coated.
Future Activities:
We will continue to work toward the understanding of the thin film rearrangement phenomena as outlined above. Numerous methods of exploiting these unique nanoscale patterns for use as sensors will be investigated, including conductivity, SERS, and biocatalytic techniques. These metal patterns also may have use in the oxidation of environmentally noxious materials such as trichloroethylene and polychlorinated biphenyls, and the catalytic properties of these nanoscale metal patterns will be investigated. Methods for making rigid polymer foam monoliths will be further optimized, and these materials will be coated with swellable polymeric chromatography phases. It is believed that this geometry of stationary phase will allow one to exploit highly swelling adsorbent materials that do not readily lend themselves to HPLC methods.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
harmful algal bloom, HAB, saxitoxin, imprinting, polymer, sensor, purification, marine, ecological effects, health effects, chemicals, toxics, aquatic, decisionmaking, environmental assets, environmental chemistry, analytical, algal blooms, estuarine research, South Carolina, SC, algal bloom detection, bloom dynamics, coastal ecosystems, coastal habitats, coastal resources, environmental indicators, estuaries, marine biology, marine ecosystem, polymeric material., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, estuarine research, State, Oceanography, algal blooms, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, marine ecosystem, polymeric material, bloom dynamics, coastal resources, estuaries, coastal habitats, marine biology, water quality, South Carolina (SC), coastal ecosystems, environmental indicatorsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.