INTRODUCTION

- Determine if the canola-based polymer will bind to sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and sodium selenate (Na2SeO4). (Fig. B) - Examine the changes observed when mercury chloride was exposed to the sulfur-limonene polysulfide and the canola-based polymer.

PROCEDURE ANALYSIS

CONCLUSION

FUTURE RESEARCH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

- Run Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) to discover the type of atoms that selenium is directly bonded to. - Research the ability of the canola-based polymer on the terrestrial environment in extracting heavy metal pollutants from the soil. - Investigate other organic compounds that can be utilized to create new polymers and test its extraction potential. - Design a procedure that can be used to effectively remove selenium from uranium mining.

- We are suggesting that a chemical reaction occurred between selenium and the canola-based polymer.- The selenite compound is not SeO2 or SeS2, but could be a combination of our Se standards.- The mercury compound is not HgO, it could be a combination of HgCl2 and HgS-black.

SeO2

SeO2

SeO2

- Argon (Ar) and Iron (Fe) were present in the beamline environment. Sulfur (S) was present in both the control (canola-based) polymer and the polymer after exposure to Selenium (Se). Se was present in the selenite sample after the experiment. (Fig. 1) - XANES data shows that the structure of selenite compound is very different from the structure of Na2SeO3 and Na2SeO4. (Fig. 2) - There was an energy shift in the selenite sample compared to the Na2SeO3 standard. (Fig. 3)

- The canola-based polymer and sulfur-limonene polysulfide were prepared in mercury chloride by Dr. Chalker and analyzed through XANES on the Biological X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Main beamline (BioXAS).

- Approximately 0.6 g portions of the canola-based polymer were placed into three diluted solutions of Na2SeO3 and Na2SeO4 (10 mM, 100 mM, and 150 mM). (Fig. C and Fig. D)- The polymer was left in the solution for 24 hours and washed with 1 mL of distilled water. - The polymer was left to dry and its surface was scraped and crushed. (Fig. E and Fig. F)- X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) was used on the Industry Development Education Applications Students beamline (IDEAS) to determine what elements were present within our samples. (Fig. G)- X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) was used on the IDEAS beamline as well to determine the oxidation state and the speciation of the elements.

- We would like to thank the CLS users office and EHCI SRC.

Fig. A Fig. B

Fig. C Fig. D Fig. E

Fig. F Fig. G

Fig. 1 XRF Se treated Canola-Based Polymer at 150 mM compared to the air and Control Polymer Standard

Fig. 3 XANES Se K-edge of Se-treated sample 10 mM Selenite compared to Selenite Standard

Fig. 2 XANES Canola-Based Polymer treated with 10 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM Selenite compared to Selenite Standards

Fig. 5 XANES Hg L3-edge Limonene and Canola-Based Polymer treated with HgCl2 compared to Hg L3-edge Standards

Fig. 4 XANES Hg L3-edge of Canola-Based Polymer treated with HgCl2 compared to HgS-black Standard

- Chalker Research Lab from Flinders University determined that a chemical change occurred after exposing polysulfide polymers to mercury chloride (HgCl2). - The original polymer, sulfur-limonene polysulfide, sparked our interest as it had the ability to bind with mercury (Hg).- A revised version of this polymer was made from elemental sulfur and canola oil. (Fig. A)- The high sulfur content in the polymers are intended to bond to metal pollutants such as mercury.

International Collaboration

Relevance to Saskatchewan

Our Project

OBJECTIVES

Selenium:

Mercury: - Selenium is a common pollutant in Saskatchewan due to its presence in uranium and coal mining.

- In collaboration with Dr. Chalker, we designed an experiment to test the canola-based polymer's ability to bind with selenium.- We chose to analyze mercury bound to both polymers from samples provided by Dr. Chalker to gather information about the chemical changes that occurred.

Selenium:

Mercury: - The Hg-bound polymer could be a mixture of HgCl2 and HgS-black.(Fig. 4) - The structure of the mercury compound does not resemble the structure of HgO. (Fig. 5)

Ways Waste Can Clean up Waste: An Examination of the Extraction Potential of Polysulfide Polymers

J. Chen, R. Elgalad, K. Emisch, T. Jaisee, J. Maduro, S. Mao, C. Ming, M. Song, P. Zhai, J. Kimberley, T. Rioux - Evan Hardy Collegiate, Saskatoon, SK R. Blyth, A. Boechler, G. Korbas, D. Muir - Canadian Light Source Inc., Saskatoon, SK J. Chalker - Chalker Research Lab, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia