Title
Toward effective molecular catalysts for the biomimetic remediation of methane and carbon dioxide
Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Chemistry
Committee Chair
Anusree Mukherjee
Committee Member
Bernhard Vogler
Committee Member
Carmen Scholz
Subject(s)
Biomimetic materials., Carbon sequestration., Catalysts.
Abstract
Interest in the development of new technologies for the remediation of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide has increased in response to concerns of a changing climate. However, methane and carbon dioxide are not only greenhouse gasses but also play interesting roles in biology, being used as sources of both energy and carbon. The study of enzymes that utilize these small molecules for biological function may provide valuable insight into developing practical solutions for carbon sequestration and utilizing them as alternative sources of energy. Learning from these enzymes, synthetic systems may be developed to address this challenging issue. The design of synthetic copper complexes that mimic the reactivity of enzymes such as particulate methane monooxygenase may represent a viable solution for the remediation of methane, as enzyme catalysis on an industrial scale can be cost prohibitive. Similarly, the hydration of carbon dioxide to form bicarbonate is catalyzed by enzymes known as carbonic anhydrases (CAs). Synthetic catalysts based on the zinc binding site of CA may be a promising solution for remediation of carbon dioxide. With this in mind, this thesis discusses the synthesis and characterization of a series of copper and zinc complexes in the context of carbon sequestration. Using ligands from the bispicen family, we synthesized four copper and zinc complexes and studied structure-function relationships relevant to hydrocarbon functionalization and carbon dioxide hydration. Being water-soluble, these model complexes may allow us to ultimately design more environmentally friendly processes.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Thomas Michael, "Toward effective molecular catalysts for the biomimetic remediation of methane and carbon dioxide" (2020). Theses. 319.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/319