Proposal for 2009 Research Work

As an overview, I will describe some of the work done last semester. The research was focused on the synthesis and characterization of a mesoporous material called MCM-41. The material was synthesized for the study of its adsorption efficiency on TNT. I have done few trials regarding to the adsorption of TNT on MCM-41 . Consequently I have set as the following goals for this semester: finishing the experiments regarding to the adsorption efficiency of MCM-41, to prepare more activated carbon in order to enhance its surface area, to evaluate other compounds such as the explosive RDX and some chemicals warfare agents’ simulants in terms of its removal from aqueous solution using our rubber-based activated carbon as adsorbent. These compounds are described to be dangerous to human health and nature. Finally, another project in mind is to study the interaction adsorbate-adsorbent energy by means of Thermo Gravimetric Analysis.

The work I will be doing this semester is similar to that of the last semester, in the sense that we still concern in environmental issues, as it is in the removal of threat materials from water.