Inorganic and analytic chemistry

The research work in the line of inorganic and analytical chemistry is carried out in collaboration with several universities both in Finland and abroad.

Main Group Chemistry

Organic sulfur-, selenium-, and tellurium-containing compounds and chalcogen-nitrogen species show exceptional features in their structures, bonding, and reactivity. In recent years they have increasingly been applied in the preparation of novel reagents in organic chemistry as well as in the production of new electronic and catalytic materials. We are carrying out a systematic research program for main group chalcogen compounds that can be divided in five parts:

(1) Chalcogen-nitrogen chemistry
(2) Organotellurium and –selenium compounds and their ligand chemistry
(3) Homo- and heteronuclear chalcogen molecules and ions
(4) Precursors for exhaust gas catalysts
(5) Polysulfides in oil field industry.

The basic goal is to design synthetic strategies to prepare new raw-materials for the production of binary transition metal chalcogenides and chalcogen nitride polymers, as well as to understand the properties of chalcogen-chalcogen bonds.

Homepage: http://cc.oulu.fi/~chalcog

Inorganic Analytical Chemistry

The main research interest in inorganic analytical chemistry is the instrumental methods of analysis. Various atomic adsorption, atomic emission and atomic fluorescence techniques are applied in the method development for the trace element determinations. The methods developed are widely used in the different fields of research work, such as in environmental studies. In the method development special attention is paid to sample introduction into spectroscopic sources to improve detection limits and to remove interferences. Techniques such as hydride generation, solid sampling, slurry sample introduction, probe atomisation in graphite furnace work and molecular absorption spectrometry (MAS) are employed. Hybrid techniques, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to atomic spectroscopic sources for element speciation, are also a significant field of study.  
Inorganic and analytical chemistry website (available only  within the Oulu University network. Outside the Oulu University network use off-campus access or Portti.)

Solution Chemistry

The stabilities of metal complexes in aqueous solutions and solvent mixtures, the thermodynamics of protonation of various ligands, solvent-solvent extraction, and the heterogeneous equilibria between liquid and solid phases have been studied using potentiometric and calorimetric methods, as well as NMR spectroscopy and UV-VIS spectrophotometry.  

Problematic behaviour of fuel ash in energy production

Combustion of solid fuels (coal, peat, biomass, waste) is a common way to produce power and heat. The generalisation of fluidised bed (FB) combustion has enabled the utilisation of fuels of lower heat value (other than coal), and Finland is in the frontline of this progress. This aligns well with the bid for cutting down the coal consumption in energy production.

The fuel ash causes several operational problems during the combustion. The ash derives from the inorganic material in the fuel, and depending on the properties of the ash, it may deposit on the heat exchange surfaces, and cause the agglomeration of the bed material in the FB boiler. In order to understand and predict the behaviour of the fuel ash, the composition, formation, and mechanisms of deposition and agglomeration must be known.

The properties and behaviour of ashes of different fuel types have been studied in our department from the beginning of the 90’s. The main methods, additional to the conventional analytical (with help from trace element laboratory), have been scanning electron microscope combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD).

 

Viimeksi päivitetty: 05.02.2008