Chemistry professor studies potential method to reduce greenhouse gases
by Rebecca Klein
Editorial assistant
News | 9/16/08
Posted online at 2:46 AM EST on 9/16/08
/ Last updated at 3:27 AM EST on 9/16/08
Prof. Oleg Ozerov (CHEM) has been working on a study that aims to help decrease the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment by lessening the harmful effects of carbon-fluorine bonds found in many commercially used products.
Ozerov first gained recognition for this study, which is funded through a grant from the Department of Energy, last August after publishing his findings in Science.
"What we're trying to do is see if we can find new ways to activate carbon-fluorine bonds," Ozerov said.
"Carbon-fluorine bonds are commonly used as refrigerants, propellants, lubricants and repellants, but they have damaging effects to the environment and are harmful to the ozone layer."
Ozerov continued, "Carbon-fluorine bonds are among the more inert functionalities in chemistry. A lot of compounds that contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds are also environmental pollutants. All these compounds with multiple fluorines in them are very potent greenhouse gases."
Activating the carbon-fluorine bon can convert them into carbon-hydrogen bonds, which are less harmful to the environment, according to Ozerov.
Ozerov said the possibility of helping to repair the environment through his research is highly motivating.
"[I have] motivation for doing C-F activation because basically what we're trying to achieve is perhaps a remediation method for something that is a known environmental pollutant."
Ozerov's research has contributed extensively to the study's progress.
"We now can convert carbon-fluorine bonds to carbon-hydrogen bonds at room temperature and compounds that contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds," he said.
Others besides Ozerov have also enjoyed watching the study grow. Graduate student Claudia Fafard has contributed to the study as well.
"[The study has been] hard but fun and interesting. I've been here the longest [out of the other undergraduate and graduate students], so you just get to work on at least eight different projects," she said.
Ozerov first gained recognition for this study, which is funded through a grant from the Department of Energy, last August after publishing his findings in Science.
"What we're trying to do is see if we can find new ways to activate carbon-fluorine bonds," Ozerov said.
"Carbon-fluorine bonds are commonly used as refrigerants, propellants, lubricants and repellants, but they have damaging effects to the environment and are harmful to the ozone layer."
Ozerov continued, "Carbon-fluorine bonds are among the more inert functionalities in chemistry. A lot of compounds that contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds are also environmental pollutants. All these compounds with multiple fluorines in them are very potent greenhouse gases."
Activating the carbon-fluorine bon can convert them into carbon-hydrogen bonds, which are less harmful to the environment, according to Ozerov.
Ozerov said the possibility of helping to repair the environment through his research is highly motivating.
"[I have] motivation for doing C-F activation because basically what we're trying to achieve is perhaps a remediation method for something that is a known environmental pollutant."
Ozerov's research has contributed extensively to the study's progress.
"We now can convert carbon-fluorine bonds to carbon-hydrogen bonds at room temperature and compounds that contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds," he said.
Others besides Ozerov have also enjoyed watching the study grow. Graduate student Claudia Fafard has contributed to the study as well.
"[The study has been] hard but fun and interesting. I've been here the longest [out of the other undergraduate and graduate students], so you just get to work on at least eight different projects," she said.
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