Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Chemistry
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Due to the increased demand in food, modern agriculture has caused the overuse of fertilizers. This overfertilization can alter many global processes including the nitrogen cycle. Of the contaminants nitrogen oxyanions are of particular interest. Nitrite in water is fatal to fish, can cause eutrophication, and can be harmful to human health. Electrocatalysis is a possible way to minimize nitrite in water. There are two different reaction pathways for the reduction of nitrite in water, the first follows the denitrification pathway that generates gaseous products including NO, N2O, and N2. The second pathway produces other products including NH2OH and NH3/NH4+. Of the reports previously, copper complexes have been used for the reduction of nitrite following the denitrification pathway and cobalt complexes have been used to follow the second pathway. The work presented in this dissertation focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemistry of both copper and cobalt complexes with nitrogen-rich ligands. Further, one copper complex is studied in more detail to understand the fundamental mechanism behind the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite.
Date
1-8-2026
Recommended Citation
Hulse, Vanessa A., "Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrite using Small Organometallic Complexes with Nitrogen-rich Ligands: Mechanistic and Ion Non-innocence Insights" (2026). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6982.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6982
Committee Chair
Elgrishi, Noémie