CODE: UGA:02 INSTITUTE: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Makerere University, P O Box 7062, KAMPALA, Uganda Telefax: +256-41-531061 Web site: www.makerere.ac.ug RESEARCH GROUP: Fundamental studies on environmental NPS derivatives LEADER: Prof Henry Ssekaalo Phone (inst): +256-41-540992 E-mail: ssekaalo@chemistry.mak.ac.ug Staff Academic Academic TechPhD Other nicians 3 Awarded degrees S=Sandwich; L=Local PhD MSc/MPhil/Licentiate Publications International journals National journals Conference reports 96/02 S L 96/02 2008 Sandwich PhD 1 2003 S L 2003 2004 S L 2004 2005 S L 2006 S L Local MSc/MPhil 3 2007 S L 2008 S L 1 4 2005 2006 2007 1 4 3 2008 2 1 Arrangement of workshops/symposia/conf. Visits by IPICS staff/ Swedish scientists Students Local Sandwich PhD MSc/MPhil 2/ 3/2 No. of participants trained in IPICS prog. Sweden or other country in Europe 1 IPICS funding (total for the specified period) Period of funding 1/ 1 1/ 2/ 1/1 Regional laboratory Fellowship Training months costs (total no.) (k-SEK) 2003-2008 15 355 Other costs (k-SEK) 1712 Total (k-SEK) 2067 Cooperation initiated 2002 SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH GROUP: UGA:02 Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur derivatives occur as very important compounds in the environment and the living body systems. Presence of these compounds in surface waters is of environmental interest, as they are known to cause eutrophication and algal blooms. Such blooms can produce highly potent toxins, which may cause liver damage to humans. They also produce unpleasant muddy odours. Among important derivatives of these elements in water are NH3, NH4+, NO3 -, NO2- for nitrogen; PO32-, PO43 - for phosphorus; and H2S, HS -, S 2 -, SO3 2 -, SO4 2 for sulphur. In drinking water, excessive amounts of nitrate and nitrite may cause infertile methaemoglobinaemia and cancer. The importance of these derivatives in natural waters calls for their constant monitor and quantification. The current methods of quantification of these species are lengthy and cumbersome besides interference from other anionic species. The proposed project is intended to circumvent problems associated with the current methods and to develop new and possibly more accurate methods of quantification based on fundamental chemical principles and the studies thereof also intended to strengthen coordination chemistry research in the Department of Chemistry. Surveys of the various laboratories that are involved in water and wastewater analysis in Uganda will be carried out. The most commonly used methods of quantification of these species will be identified and problems associated with each compiled. The identified methods will be reviewed in the laboratory. Water samples will be analysed using these methods. Extensive literature searches will be done on the identified methods and attempts will be made to improve on them. Various metal complex species will be synthesized in the laboratory and interacted with the derivatives of the elements. The reactions for the formation of the metal complexes and the interactions involving the metal complexes and the derivatives will be studied in detail in terms of mechanisms involved, stoichiometry, stability of the various products formed and other aspects thereof. The products of the interactions will be studied spectrophotometrically and the relationship between the colour intensity and concentration of the species of interest established. In addition, the electroactive derivatives will be determined using voltammetry. Voltammetry being a rapid, specific and accurate method of quantification will be used to check on the efficiency of the improved and proposed methods. Sampling points will be identified on Lake Victoria, wetlands, waste disposal sites and other selected sites. Samples will be taken and analysed using the improved and new methods. The methodologies of the improved/new and existing methods will be compared in terms of cumbersomeness, easy to follow steps, costs involved, accuracy, precision, reproducibility and other aspects thereof. In addition, as a way of building capacity in coordination chemistry research in the Department, the project will undertake the training of students. Students will be instructed in project writing and required to formulate projects out of the objectives of this proposed project. Keywords: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Derivatives, Metallic species, Interactions Training, research visits: Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 Participant (months) Research host Emmanuel Tebandeke (4) O Wendt, LU, Sweden Emmanuel Tebandeke (4) O Wendt, LU, Sweden Emmanuel Tebandeke (4) O Wendt, LU, Sweden Emmanuel Tebandeke (3) O Wendt, LU, Sweden Visit to Sweden: Henry Ssekaalo Emmanuel Tebandeke Research field Water Quality Water Quality Water Quality Water Quality 2005 2007 Visits by IPICS staff/reference groups: M Åkerblom 2002,2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 H Aminaey 2003 T Solomon (ref. group) 2002, 2003 Lars-Ivar Elding (ref. group) 2003 Afaf Kemal-Eldin (ref. group) 2003 P Sundin 2006, 2007 O Wendt 2007 Funding: (k-SEK) Years Training/ Exchange 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total 73 66 106 110 355 Other project costs (equipment etc.) 329 248 328 228 233 354 1712 Total 329 248 393 294 339 464 2067