Our studies are designed to understand how alum functions as an agent for phosphorus removal. We are particularly interested in studying the nature of the solids that precipitate out of solution under various conditions. As tools for this purpose, we use a spectrophotometric-kinetic procedure, NMR and IR spectroscopy and surface microscopy procedures. With a better understanding, it may be possible to design conditions which are more efficient so that there will be a smaller amount of residual phosphorus discharged after treatment. The second type of project is a study of the environmental behaviour of particular pesticides and other small organic molecules in soil and water.
Pesticides are, by nature, toxic to some living organisms.
The ideal pesticide will eliminate the plant or animal pest, but will not affect other non-target organisms. Therefore, it is essential that we understand how the pesticide degrades as well as how it and its degradation products move about in soil and water. We are developing methods, mostly using liquid chromatography as a tool, which enable simultaneous study of both these factors. In particular, we are examining how pesticides interact with different types of soil, and the way in which the interactions determine their mobility and stability. Being relatively benign natural products, CDs have the potential of replacing some surfactants in the role of enhancing movement of organic compounds by increasing their solubility in groundwater.