Chemistry Research at Truman College

Undergraduates at Truman College can participate in independent research, taking advantage of advanced instrumentation available in the department.​​​ Students confer with an instructor about a project and then register for Chem 295, Independent Research.

Occasionally, high school students can partner with a professor through the Mentor Matching Engine or in collaboration with their high school teacher. Examples of their research are listed below as well.

The instruments available for research are:

GC-MS – Separates volatile compounds, identifies and quantifies them.
NMR – Determines chemical structures and quantifies some elements. 1H, 13C, 31P, 19F and many others.
IR – Identify chemical structures and polymers, very wide range of sample types
UV – Quantify protein, DNA, and other ultraviolet absorbing chemicals, obtain spectra with fiber optic cable
AA – Quantify many elements to ppm levels
GFAA – Quantify many elements to ppb levels
MP-AES – Quantify many elements to ppm levels
MelloEx (on loan, not always available) – Liquid CO2 extraction of natural products under mild conditions, edible grade products.
MRI (on loan, not always available) – Magnetic resonance imaging of  5-10 mm3 samples using a benchtop instrument.
3D Printer – Dual filament, allows rapid production of complex objects
mp – Determine melting points of solids with video recording
PASCO – Continuously measure pH, pressure, temperature, conductivity, and other parameters
Organic lab equipment: rotary evaporator, vacuum line, microscale glassware
Microscope – dissection microscope, stereoscopic view.

Examples of research projects and the instruments they involved:

Organic Chemistry

  • Synthesis of 4-oxo-2-hexenal in the undergraduate laboratory (Organic, NMR, IR, GC-MS)

 

Entomology

  • Low cost electroantennography at the undergraduate level (Microscope, PASCO)
  • Electroantennography of spined soldier bug nymphs and adults in the undergraduate laboratory: Design of apparatus (Microscope, PASCO)
  • Advancing inexpensive electroantennography (Microscope, PASCO)
  • Dissection of spined soldier bug adults and instars for analysis of their semiochemicals (GC-MS)
  • What are pheromones? Development of an environmental biology experiment for undergraduates partnering with middle school students (GC-MS)
  • Deuterium labelling study in an insect: An undergraduate experiment (GC-MS)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging of insects with contrast agent: an undergraduate experiment (MRI, NMR)

 

Instrument Design / 3D Printing

  • Design of a large scale novel liquid CO2 extraction Soxhlet using a 3D printer (3D, MelloEx)
  • Design of a microscope camera mount to facilitate insect dissection and videography (3D)

 

Analytical chemistry

  • Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) – Development of an undergraduate laboratory simulating urinalysis of infants (GC-MS)
  • Heavy metal analysis of tattoo ink using atomic absorption spectrometry (AA)​
  • Comparison of concentration measurements of Ca and Mg in a salt-water fish tank by titration, AA, and MP-AES (AA, MP-AES)
  • Introducing Atomic Absorption Spectrometry to middle school and high school students for research papers (AA, GFAA)
  • Analysis of liquid CO2 extracts of hemp flower by GC-MS (MelloEx, GC-MS)
  • Comparison of liquid CO2 vs. organic solvent extraction of ground cumin by GC-MS (MelloEx, GC-MS)

High School projects

  • ​Saving Skin: A model of optimal sunscreen reapplication time, integrated into a pre-existing mobile application (UV)
  • Disinfection byproducts: A correlational study on trihalomethanes and swimmer lung health (GC-MS)
  • Extraction and identification of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants (GC-MS)
  • What is the effect of varying concentrations of Cu2+ on the effectiveness of phytoremediation of Pistia stratiotest L.? (AA)
  • The impact of decreasing pH levels of water drops on the levels of splash erosion (AA)
  • Effects of copper sulfate on snails (AA)