April 17,2009NASA Space GrantRodrigo LopezMentor: Dr. Eduardo SaezNASA Space Grant SymposiumApril 18, 2009

Higher abundance of fish with intersex characteristics in presence of treated wastewater

17β-estradiol (E2)

OH

C CH___

17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2)

nonylphenol

Present in birth controlMimics other EDCs

Derivatives in household products

Determine kinetics of nonylphenol through H2O2 photolysis.

Show that NP can be quickly degraded using solar light in the presence of H2O2 .

OHOHhOH 22

)( Products 2COOHNP

Batch Reactor (600 mL)

Analyze in Spectrophotometer

or GC/MS

Run reaction, Extract NP

26 mM NP

50,75,100 mM H2O2

Sunlight or UV Lamp

NP can be destroyed in a photochemical reaction with H2O2 in lab scale using UV and sun light.

Sunlight quickly degrades NP in a H2O2 photolysis reaction.

To Lab Group: Mario Rojas, Dr. Bob Arnold, Fernando Perez

Brian Barbaris for equipment, and roof access. Mentor Desiree Polson and other interns NASA Space Grant Internship Program