Humic acids and the environment topic of next colloquium

Chemistry professor examines humic acids and the environment for colloquium on Feb. 23

News contact: Laura Hancock | University Advancement
541-962-3585 | lhancock@eou.edu

February 22, 2012
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – Jeremy Riggle, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, examines the role of humic acids in environmental processes for the next colloquium at EOU Thursday, Feb. 23.

Riggle’s presentation, “Environmental Chemistry: From Humic Acids to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons,” begins at 4 p.m. in Ackerman Hall, Room 210. A reception with question and answer session will follow.

Humic acids are the byproducts from the degradation of the total biota in the environment and are ubiquitous in all natural systems. In order to elucidate their chemical characteristics and further understand the role of these large, complex molecules in the environment, Riggle will present a number of novel characterization methods.

The extraction and quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), combustion byproducts that have been characterized by the EPA as “priority pollutants” from environmental and food matrices will also be explored, as well as the environmental chemistry of atmospheric particulate matter, specifically humic-like substances (HULIS).

A list of related resources provided by EOU’s Pierce Library is available for more in-depth information on this topic. Visit http://library.eou.edu/colloquium. To be added to the colloquium mailing list call 541-962-3508.