Development of a novel molecular recognition probe for the detection of phosphite in natural waters

CHED 258

Alex Carlton, andracar@qmail.com1, John A. Moss, j.moss@oak-crest.org2, Marc M. Baum, m.baum@oak-crest.org2, and Grady Hanrahan, ghanrah@calstatela.edu3. (1) Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90032, (2) Oak Crest Institute of Science, 2275 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107, (3) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
It is possible that reduced P compounds such as phosphite [H3PO3, P(III)], are important in the cycling of P, but that their lifetimes are too short to measure significant concentrations hours or even days after removing the samples from their natural environments for laboratory analysis. It is thus important to develop sensitive in situ analytical methods for detection of reduced P to help elucidate their role in natural systems. This poster describes the development of a novel chemical probe based on molecular recognition for the in situ determination of phosphite in natural waters. Reduced P compounds, such as phosphite, react with amines in the presence of formaldehyde to give an aminophosphonic acid. The aminophosphonic acid is an efficient ligand for terbium leading to a fluorescent complex, which may be used as a sensitive probe for the reduced P compounds.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006