Volume 1, No. 1, 2015
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Acta Spartae is the undergraduate journal of sciences and mathematics at The University of Tampa, and is designed to recognize and promote the vibrant undergraduate research community at UT by providing a forum for the dissemination of research and ideas produced at the University.
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Browsing Volume 1, No. 1, 2015 by Subject "Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics"
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Item Lanthanide Extraction and Luminescence Properties of Multipodal CMPO Ligands(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Michael G. Patterson, David A. Hardy, and Hope T. Sartain, Julie A. Stoscup, Shannon M. Biros, and Eric J. WernerToxic waste streams containing lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) metals are byproducts of nuclear power generation. While these metals are considered waste by nuclear energy manufacturers, they may serve many purposes if selectively extracted. Liquid-liquid separation of these metals can be readily achieved using carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) ligand derivatives dissolved in organic solvents and mixed with aqueous waste streams. While An selectivity is currently achieved by CMPO-based ligands, efficient extraction of the valuable Ln ions presents a challenge. Therefore, new ligands are being investigated in attempts to successfully target selective Ln extraction. In this study, the tripodal TREN-CMPO-OEt ligand was explored for its efficiency in Ln ion extraction. By way of ICP-AES analysis, an extraction percentage of 23.0% was determined for Tb(III), an unprecedented four to five times greater than that of any other Ln ion in the study. Further, a fluorimetric study conducted to probe the effect of solvent on luminescence showed a strong correlation between acetonitrile and increased metal-centered emissions of Tb(III) or Eu(III) ions when complexed with an uncapped CMPO-diOEt ligand.Item The Search for a Model Organism for Panspermia: Examining the Effects of Vacuum and Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure on Differently Encysted Artemia Embryos(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Corinne Speight; Ethan DeneaultPanspermia, or the idea that sources of life are distributed throughout the Universe via transportational units such as meteoroids, has become a tantalizing possibility throughout the realm of astrobiology. In this experiment, Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp a.k.a. Sea Monkey) embryos under different encystment states (dehydrated, hydrated-capsulated, and hydrated-decapsulated) were exposed to extreme vacuum and ultraviolet radiation conditions similar to those found in space in order to determine whether or not they could be a prototypical organism for this theory. Quantitative analyses were done by calculating Artemia hatch rates for umbrella, naupliar, and both umbrella & naupliar stages following treatments. Although hatch rates varied, exposure to these extreme space-like conditions did not completely impede the viability of the encysted Artemia studied. This suggests that encysted Artemia franciscana may be a model organism supporting the theory of panspermia, although the effects of encystment state during exposure to other space-like conditions besides extreme vacuum and UV radiation warrants further investigation.