The hydrolysis of 4-Nitrophenylphosphate (NPP) as model substrate in the presence of
several cobalt (III) amine [N4Co(OH)(H2O)]2+ and copper bipyridyl [Cu(bpy)(H2O)2]2+
complexes in oil in water microemulsion media was investigated. The reaction was
monitored by measuring the absorbance of the nitrophenolate ion produced in the
reaction aliquots with time under the experimental conditions. The order of effectiveness
of the microemulsion systems towards the hydrolysis of NPP in the presence of
these metal ions were found to be cationic > anionic > aqueous at neutral pH. The
results of the present investigation exhibits stoichiometric turnovers for the 1:1, 2:1 and
3:1 cobalt to NPP ratio and catalytic turnovers for the [Cu(bpy)2+ to NPP ratio of 1:20.
Catalysis in the microemulsion mediated reaction solutions was evident even in low
concentrations of the metal ions in 1:2000 metal to NPP ratio. An explanation for the
enhanced catalytic activity of the [Cu(bpy)(OH)(H2O)]2+ complex for the hydrolysis of
NPP is afforded and the application of the above model systems for possible
environmental decontamination of toxic organophosphates is anticipated. / Chemistry / M.Sc. (Chemistry)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/2308 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Eguzozie, Kennedy Uchenna |
| Contributors | Tafesse, F. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | 1 online resource (xi, 56 leaves) |
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