Molecular processes at geochemical interfaces impact many environmental processes that are critical to the fate and transport of biological components in water systems. This study will help delineate molecular steps and processes involved with surface adsorption/desorption and molecular transformations. Iron oxide surfaces are ubiquitous in nature and can provide a large interface for biological molecules to interact with. As iron oxide suspensions flow with ground water, biomolecular interactions could be affected by changing environmental conditions, such as pH and ionic strength. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a commonly found biomolecules in ground water introduced from multiple sources such as cellular lysis and active secretion. Additionally, persisting genetically modified DNA in soil can leach into ground water can present a danger to surrounding areas. The fate of DNA is heavily dependent on surface interactions that could potentially preserve or prevent DNA stability. To develop an understanding of the fate and repercussions of biomolecules in the environment, it is necessary to first gain a fundamental insight into interactions with oxide surfaces. Effects of pH and ionic strength on the adsorption of DNA on hematite was investigated with Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform spectroscopy. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy was used to analyze spectroscopic changes and to elucidate adsorption/desorption mechanisms.  This study serves to gain a fundamental understanding of individual interactions with surfaces in order to build up to more complex studies that involve multi-component systems.<br/>

DNA adsorption on iron (III) oxide: Effects of pH and ionic strength on surface interactions

2019 Fall National Meeting

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