Green Chemistry: Research in the "Big Easy"
Perspectives of an Undergraduate Research
Christopher R. Riley
Georgia Southern University
Undergraduate research is one of the most positive life changing events one can experience. As a chemistry major, I have found that conducting scientific research at Georgia Southern University opens doors to other opportunities, such as the opportunity to apply for summer research programs and meet life-long friends. Last summer, I joined the Davis Research Group in the GSU Chemistry Department to learn more about research--what it is, what it isn’t, and to satisfy my curiosity about the use of scientific instrumentation.
Here goes:
The production of adipic acid, a precursor to Nylon-6,6 which is found in carpets, clothes, and plastic computer components, involves the oxidation of cyclohexane in a two-step process which produces a large amount of waste and greenhouse gases. One way to overcome these problems would be to produce adipic acid in one-step, preferably from the commodity chemical cyclohexane. Developing a green chemistry approach to the production of adipic acid is one of the goals of the Davis Research Group. The focus of my specific research project is to determine the efficacy of a series of copper-encapsulated zeolite catalysts with hydrogen peroxide for the single step production of adipic acid from cyclohexane.
Some day, your fancy soft-shell jacket could be made by the deep blue liquid in this flask.
I had the opportunity to present current results of my research project at the 235th American Chemistry Society (ACS) National Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, LA in early April. I had an excellent time enjoying the outstanding technical programming and poster presentations. The atmosphere of the meeting was one of scholarly research and the latest advancements in chemistry. The conference was attended by over 15,000 chemists from all over the world, presenting their research covering all of the fields of chemistry. Another aspect of the conference was the Exposition. The Expo displayed hundreds of companies trying to sell products that would help improve R&D, classroom, and laboratory operations, etc.
One of the major highlights of the conference for me was the presentation of my poster. With valued sponsorship of the Chemistry Department at GSU, the University Honors Program, GSU SGA, Dr. Shannon Davis (my research mentor), and many other supporters, I presented a colorful, well-organized, professionally designed research poster. The presentation attracted several prominent interested individuals who were very interested in our research. One such person was a highly ranked scientist with the largest producer of adipic acid, a company called Invista. Another was a representative from the well known magazine Wired. Surprisingly, within a few days after the conference, Wired featured my research in their magazine as one of the “Top 5 Amazing Chemistry Projects of the Year.” Overall, I have concluded that this conference was a huge success for me, and our research group.
I am convinced that this experience contributes to the expanding legacy of academic excellence at Georgia Southern University!
For over sixty years, the chemical parent of nylon has been made by a two-step process that generates tons of waste. To remedy that problem, Shannon Davis and her students at Georgia Southern University have been testing a smorgasbord of methods to produce adipic acid in an earth-friendly manner. By using catalysts, enzymes, or copper on spongy ceramics called zeolites, she hopes to replace the industrial reaction with something cleaner and more efficient. That’s called green chemistry, and luckily it’s a huge trend. In this case, Davis and her student Christopher Riley made a brew of cyclohexane, hydrogen peroxide, and a copper catalyst to produce the chemical precursor to nylon.