1:30 p.m.           Welcome

 

Professor Justyna Widera-Kalinowska,   2019 Chair, ACS New York Section, Adelphi University

1:35 p.m.           Opening of the Distinguished Symposium

Professor Ruben M. Savizky,   2019 Chair-Elect, ACS New York Section, The Cooper Union

1:45 p.m.           Sunlight Driven Chemistry in Aqueous Environments: Implications for Planetary Atmospheres

Professor Veronica Vaida   University of Colorado, Boulder

Atmospheric aerosols on the contemporary and ancient Earth provide unique chemical environments for the abiotic synthesis of biomolecules needed for life. In this presentation, results on the multiphase organic chemistry of oaxoacids will be presented to highlight building molecular complexity in the natural environment.

 

2:30 p.m.           Porous Nanomaterials: From Greener Synthesis to Interactions with Environmental and Systems

Professor Sarah Larsen   University of Houston

Porous nanomaterials, such as zeolites and mesoporous silica, are used for applications in catalysis, adsorption, separations and biomedicine. Greener, more sustainable methods for the synthesis of these porous nanomaterials have been developed to reduce the environmental impact of producing large quantities. After synthesis and use in applications, these nanomaterials inevitably make their way into the environment and into biological systems. However, relatively little is known about the molecular level details of the surface chemistry of zeolites and mesoporous silica when exposed to biological and environmental complexes. The insights gleaned from studies of the surface chemistry of mesoporous silica nanomaterials after exposure to natural organic matter and proteins will be presented.

 

3:15 p.m.           Coffee Break

3:45 p.m.           Pore Scale Changes in Shales after Reaction with CO₂ and Fluids

Dr. Angela Goodman   National Energy Technology Laboratory

It is becoming increasingly important to expand the fundamental understanding of geochemical interactions between CO₂, fluids, and shale. These interactions will significantly impact the processes of 1) storing CO₂ in hydraulically fractured shale formations, 2) using CO₂ as a fracturing agent, and 3) enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in shales via CO₂ flooding. In each scenario, CO₂ will be injected into shale formations where it will interact with shale surfaces (i.e. clays, organic matter), in-situ fluids (i.e. natural brines), and previously injected fracturing liquid. The reactions that occur between CO₂, fluids and shale may alter the petrophysical properties such as porosity and permeability that may alter flow pathways potentially impacting the storage permeance of CO₂ and the effectiveness of CO₂ to behave as a fracturing agent to mobilize hydrocarbons. In this work, we use in-situ Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, feature relocation scanning electron microscopy, and surface area and pore size analysis using volumetric gas sorption and density functional theory methods to characterize and quantify the reactions that occur between CO₂, fluids and shale.

 

4:30 p.m.           Physical Chemistry of Environmental Interfaces

Professor Vicki H. Grassian,   University of California - San Diego

Nichols Medalist

The focus of this award talk is on environmental interfaces that are defined as any surface in equilibrium with its surrounding environment. From this broad definition, there are a myriad of different types of environmental interfaces that include atmospheric aerosols, nanomaterials and indoor surfaces. The physical chemistry of environmental interfaces puts an emphasis on molecular and nanoscale level interactions that occur in these inherently complex systems. Examples of the complexity of these interfaces and how a deeper understanding can be obtained through molecular-based approaches are highlighted.

 

5:45 p.m.           Social Hour

6:45 p.m.           William H. Nichols Medal Award Dinner
                Professor Sarah C. Larsen of the University of Houston will introduce the 2019 Medalist