Colorful Approach to Teaching Extraction Using Azo Dyes and Comparison of Hands-On vs Distance Learning Assessment [Scholarly Article - Journal of Chemical Education, 2021]

Title:

Colorful Approach to Teaching Extraction Using Azo Dyes and Comparison of Hands-On vs Distance Learning Assessment 

 

Authors:

Marsha A. Grimminger, Matthew P. Tracey & Simeon J. Martinus 

Published:

Journal of Chemical Education, 14 October 2021

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00465

 

Abstract:

Introductory organic chemistry laboratory is often a difficult course for students in terms of translating the structural information and reactivity learned in lecture to the practical applications found in the laboratory. These concepts are even more difficult when presented through distance learning when a student cannot get hands-on experience. Students find extraction on colorless substances especially difficult on a conceptual level. Though students are introduced to acid/base properties in general chemistry, they do not carry over this understanding to organic chemistry. To improve student comprehension, we have developed a visual experiment using conjugated azo dyes to introduce students to the acid/base properties of functional groups needed to understand extraction. The experiment consists of a chemically and visually active extraction which can be presented through distance learning or a traditional hands-on experiment. Herein, both strategies will be presented and their assessments compared.

 

Technical University of Denmark - Student making tomorrow’s laundry more eco-friendly

Title:

Student making tomorrow’s laundry more eco-friendly

 

Author:

Jakob Mikael Espersen

 

Published:

Technical University of Denmark [DTU], 2 July 2021

https://www.dtu.dk/english/news/Nyhed?id={D1E7495F-7B10-413F-A099-64C7CCA3EA90}

 

From the article:

Along with Novozymes, chemistry student Simone Anika Skou Olsen has been developing new methods for measuring detergent and other residues in our clothes. This can potentially minimise skin irritation and pollution from surfactants.

 

Note from blog owner:

The chemistry student, Simone Anika Skou Olsen is registered for a MSc degree at the Technical University of Denmark. 

 

The title of her thesis is: 

“Mapping of Waste and Debris in Real Items”   

Goal of research: 

Novozymes is very interested in developing a procedure for: extracting and gravimetrically measuring the quantities of dirt and tensides in washed laundry; evaluating and characterising the extracted components; and dividing them into proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and DNA.   

 

The goal of the MSc thesis is to develop an extraction protocol and analysis protocol that, in the future, can be used for analysing dirt from two different types of laundry, namely, polyester T-shirts and cotton pillowcases.

Supervisor: 

Klaus B. Møller