Hydraulic fracturing is an efficient way to recover natural gas from shale rock formations beneath the surface. However, it involves the injection of millions of gallons of pressurized freshwater into the ground, producing millions of gallons of contaminated wastewater containing extremely high levels of total dissolved solids. Previous research in our lab suggests that pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (DPA), is able to chelate to the metal (II) cations that are found in the hydraulic fracturing wastewater. Our research focuses on a structure relationship study that will compare the pKa values of DPA to DPA derivatives. By correlating the pKa values, one can compare the binding affinities among these compounds studied. This data will allow us to develop alternative small molecules with chelating capabilities.

Structure relationship study comparing binding affinities of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (DPA) with DPA derivatives to develop alternative small chelating molecules

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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