ORGN 711 |
| The biological pigment melanin, a self-assembling aggregate of indole oligomers, has long been known to function as a photoprotective agent, but recent work has highlighted its ability to bind and sequester harmful metal ions. We are exploiting this binding ability to develop melanin-based filtration systems for the removal of toxic heavy-metal ions from solution. Synthetic melanin is polymerized from L-dopa onto discs of poly(vinylidine difluoride), using either the enzyme tyrosinase or the chemical oxidant potassium ferricyanide. The resulting discs are immersed in lead nitrate solutions for varying amounts of time, and the bound lead is measured via atomic absorption spectroscopy. The lead bound by discs prepared using a variety of different methods has been determined. Currently, we are investigating synthetic routes to melanin-like indole oligomers and their lead-binding properties.
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Asymmetric Reactions, Combinatorial Chemistry, Molecular Recognition and Self-Assembly, Proteins, Peptides, Amino Acids and Enzyme Inhibitors
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster
Division of Organic Chemistry |