Quantitation of Metal Ions in Surface Waters — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Instructions

Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
A clear description of the methods used to achieve the purpose or goals for the work.
A statement of the conclusions, results, outcomes, or recommendations, or if the work is still in progress, the results you expect to report at the event.

Presenter photographs should be head and shoulder shots comparable to passport photos.

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Quantitation of Metal Ions in Surface Waters

Name: Leah Hall
Major: Chemistry
Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL
Faculty Sponsor: Christine Blaine
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: SURE
Funding: Noyce Grant, Sure

Abstract

The use of common road salts, NaCl and CaCl₂, in the winter results in melting snow and spring rains washing these ions off impervious pavements into surrounding surface waters. High concentrations of sodium and chloride ions in these waters are known to be hazardous to aquatic life. Since 2007, chloride ion concentrations have been quantified in the Pike River and more recently in Lake Michigan and the surrounding watershed. Data supports an increase in chloride ion concentration from fall to spring months. The purpose of this study was to develop instrumental methods for quantitation of Na⁺_(aq), Mg²⁺_(aq), and Ca²⁺_(aq) ions by Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES). Multiple ion standard mixtures were analyzed for interferences. From these methods, baseline metal ion concentrations were measured in the Pike River, Pike Creek and Lake Michigan. Preliminary data from Pike River samples collected on 8/8/2017 measured mean concentrations of [Na⁺] = 43.7±1.4 ppm, [Mg²⁺] = 25.9±0.8 ppm and [Ca²⁺] = 62.6±1.2 ppm. Seasonal monitoring will determine whether increases in these metal ion concentrations are seen from road salt runoff into the Pike River Watershed.

Poster file