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Dr. Barbara Hopkins

Dr. Barbara M. Hopkins, Associate Professor

304D Logan Hall, (513)-745-2063
hopkins@xavier.edu

Research Projects

Analysis of Organometallic Compounds by Liquid Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy

Two techniques available to the analytical chemist are High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The former allows for separation of the components of a mixture and the latter is widely used for the analysis of metals. Coupling of the two techniques to form a hyphenated method, HPLC-ICP, enables the chemist to maximize the advantages of each. By the coupling process, the ICP instrument acts as the detector for compounds being separated by the HPLC. Two types of analysis that can be performed are elemental speciation and separation and detection of organometallic compounds that contain the same metal ion. Both types of analysis can be applied to measurements of compounds that are potential hazards to humans.

A series of compounds that lend themselves to analysis by HPLC-ICP are organotin compounds. Such compounds have the general formula R(n)SnX(4-n) in which R is an organic group, n ranges from 1 to 4, and X is an anion. Depending on the number of R groups the compounds are classified as mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra organotins. The degree of toxicity varies among the compounds. The trisubstituted compounds in general are the most toxic followed be the di- and monoorganotins. These compounds have many practical applications that include being used as pesticides, fungicides, catalysts and stabilizers for polymers.

An HPLC-ICP method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of triphenyltin chloride has previously been developed at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This project will extend this analysis to other organotin compounds. For these compounds the chromatography conditions, the ICP conditions, and linearity studies to obtain the limits of detection (LOD) must be determined. Once these are known, a method for collecting these compounds in the workplace must be validated. This will include determination of filters to be used for collection followed by storage and recovery studies using the filters.

A student working on this project will learn how to use an ICP instrument for analysis of both inorganic and organic compounds. The project will also enable the student to become familiar with standard operating procedures used in an analytical laboratory for the development of a method that will become part of the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods.

Academic Lineage of Barbara Hopkins

  • Barbara M. Hopkins
    (Joined Xavier Faculty in 1980)
    Catholic University
    1974
  • Hao-Lin Chen
    Indiana University
    1967
  • George E. Ewing
    University of California-Berkeley
    1961
  • George C. Pimental
    University of California-Berkeley
    1949
  • Kenneth S. Pitzer
    University of California-Berkeley
    1937
  • Wendell M. Latimer
    University of California-Berkeley
    1919
  • George E. Gibson
    University of Breslau
    1911
  • Richard Abegg
    University of Berlin
    1891
  • August W. Hofmann
    University of Giessen
    1841
  • Justus Liebig
    University of Erlangen
    1822
  • Joseph L. Gay Lussac
    University of Paris
    1800
  • Claude L. Berthollet
    University of Paris
    1778
  • Jean Bucquet
    University of Paris
    1770
  • Antoine Lavoisier
    University of Paris
    1764
  • Guillaume Rouelle
    University of Paris
    1725