Chemistry and Materials Science Seminar: Thesis Proposals

Chemistry and Materials Science Seminar: 2 Thesis Proposals

PROPOSAL 1
Nicotine Retention in Electronic Cigarette Users

Chamodhi R. Polgampola
Chemistry MS Candidate
School of Chemistry and Materials Science, RIT

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This seminar may be attended in person in 2305 Gosnell Hall or online via Zoom.

Ms. Polgampola will present on methods to assess nicotine retention in the respiratory tracts of e-cigarette users, via breath analysis, focusing on the impact of inhalation flow rate and breath hold duration.

Abstract:
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were introduced as a low health risk alternative to conventional cigarettes. But recently respiratory complications related to e-cigarette use have been observed. E-cigarettes produce heat from a battery powered device to transform a nicotine containing e-liquid into an inhalable aerosol. E-cigarette aerosol is a suspension of particles and gas phase vapor. These particles can be deposited in the human respiratory tract contributing to adverse health effects. Nicotine is a significant compound which results in addiction in e-cigarette users. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are trying to investigate more about these severe respiratory illnesses due to vaping products to enforce necessary regulations. Therefore, there is an adequate need in research about the effect of e-cigarettes. The best approach to identify the adverse effects of using e-cigarettes is to study aerosol particle deposition in the respiratory tract. Percentage of particle deposition can be affected by user behaviors such as puff flow rate and breath hold duration during inhalation. The methods utilized in the previous studies to determine aerosol particle deposition are computational models and breath analysis methods. There’s only a very limited number of studies available on retention of e-cigarette particles. These studies have reported more than 95% of the particles inhaled are deposited in the respiratory tract. But studies on lung deposition have reported much smaller percentage values for deposition. Inconsistencies of results among these studies warrant for more research on the subject. My research in collaboration with the Respiratory Technology Laboratory (RTL) will focus on determining the retention of nicotine in respiratory tract of e-cigarette users via breath analysis and identifying the relationship of user inhalation flow rate and breath hold duration to nicotine retention. Having accurate data on nicotine retention will be beneficial for the development of lung deposition models in order for FDA to create regulations on e-cigarette manufacturing.

Speaker Bio:
Chamodhi received her B.Sc. (Honors) Degree in Biochemistry from University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Her undergraduate research was a collaboration with the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka to investigate a fungal disease in tea plants. At RIT, Chamodhi is working with Dr. Eddingsaas in a collaborative project with the Respiratory Technology Laboratory.
 

PROPOSAL 2
Selective Dissolution of Platinum from a Pt/Ru Alloy

Tim Zembryski
Chemistry MS Candidate
School of Chemistry and Materials Science, RIT

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This seminar may be attended in person in 2305 Gosnell Hall or online via Zoom.

Mr. Zembryski will present on methods to recover and recycle platinum from a platinum-ruthenium alloy.

Abstract:
Platinum is an important metal for many industries and is a finite resource. Recycling platinum is essential for supplying these industries. Sabin Metal, a precious metal refiner, has a large inventory of a high grade platinum/ruthenium alloy that has proven difficult to process. The alloy has not been studied in literature before. The elemental composition and variability between material lots provides a unique challenge. Previous attempts at acid leaching have dissolved too much Ru. Pt is difficult to separate from Ru due to their chemical similarities. A method will need to be optimized to selectively dissolved Pt from the alloy. When a dissolution method is determined, representative samples from material lots will be tested to examine the effect of alloy composition on the ability to selectively dissolve platinum. This information will be used to identify lots of material that can be dissolved with 90% Pt recovery and 100:1 Pt:Ru in solution.

Speaker Bio:
Tim received his BS in Biochemistry from SUNY Fredonia where he studied NMR structures of drug-complexed RNA molecules. He has been employed as a chemist at Sabin Metal Corp for two years where he analyzes precious metals. He is pursuing a Chemistry MS at RIT.

Intended Audience:
Undergraduates, graduates, experts. Those with interest in the topic.

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