The synthesis, characterization and application of dendrimers on solid supports are described. Melamine-based dendrimers are incorporated on clay minerals and silica gel. The hybrid materials are characterized using a variety of analytical techniques including thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry (MS). The first chapter gives an overview of the two main methods, convergent and divergent, for the synthesis of dendrimers. It also describes the synthesis of melamine-based dendrimers and their advantages over conventional dendrimers. Synthetic strategies and applications of dendrimers at surfaces are discussed. The preparation of organoclay materials containing dendritic surfactants is presented in the second chapter. The morphology of these organoclays is studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XPD). A new type of morphology is observed when large dendritic surfactants are incorporated onto the clay. This new morphology is described as frustrated intercalation. The ability of the dendritic organoclay composites to recognize small organic molecules in water is presented in the third chapter. Atrazine, a commonly used herbicide, is used as a model compound. Structure-activity relationship studies were conducted in order to gain some insight on the recognition and sequestration mechanisms. In the fourth chapter, reactive resins are evaluated for the covalent sequestration of monochlorotriazines from organic and aqueous solutions. The sequestration is monitored spectrophotometrically and using liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS). 1H NMR spectroscopy and MS are used to identify the covalent adducts formed between the monochlorotriazines and the resins. The efficiency of the resin is compared to several types of charcoal using aqueous solutions of atrazine. The final chapter describes the attachment of melamine-based dendrimers onto silica gels. Dendrimers are incorporated to the silica gel surface using two synthetic strategies, the stepwise growth strategy (SGS) and the "attach-to" strategy (ATS). These composites are also evaluated for their ability to remove atrazine from aqueous solutions.

The synthesis, characterization and application of dendrimers on solid supports are described. Melamine-based dendrimers are incorporated on clay minerals and silica gel. The hybrid materials are characterized using a variety of analytical techniques including thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry (MS). The first chapter gives an overview of the two main methods, convergent and divergent, for the synthesis of dendrimers. It also describes the synthesis of melamine-based dendrimers and their advantages over conventional dendrimers. Synthetic strategies and applications of dendrimers at surfaces are discussed. The preparation of organoclay materials containing dendritic surfactants is presented in the second chapter. The morphology of these organoclays is studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XPD). A new type of morphology is observed when large dendritic surfactants are incorporated onto the clay. This new morphology is described as frustrated intercalation. The ability of the dendritic organoclay composites to recognize small organic molecules in water is presented in the third chapter. Atrazine, a commonly used herbicide, is used as a model compound. Structure-activity relationship studies were conducted in order to gain some insight on the recognition and sequestration mechanisms. In the fourth chapter, reactive resins are evaluated for the covalent sequestration of monochlorotriazines from organic and aqueous solutions. The sequestration is monitored spectrophotometrically and using liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS). 1H NMR spectroscopy and MS are used to identify the covalent adducts formed between the monochlorotriazines and the resins. The efficiency of the resin is compared to several types of charcoal using aqueous solutions of atrazine. The final chapter describes the attachment of melamine-based dendrimers onto silica gels. Dendrimers are incorporated to the silica gel surface using two synthetic strategies, the stepwise growth strategy (SGS) and the "attach-to" strategy (ATS). These composites are also evaluated for their ability to remove atrazine from aqueous solutions.