Emeritus Professor
Hamilton Hall 635
402.472.2703
jcarr1@unl.edu

Faculty & Research | Faculty Directory
Recent Publications | Retirement Article

Current Research

Dr. Carr's research concerns analytical chemistry of trace substances in water as well as remedial treatment of contaminated water. His students have used GC-MS to measure sub-part per billion concentrations of atrazine and other herbicides as well as their resulting degradation products in environmental samples. Special attention has been given to the Platte River, its tributaries, and the wellfield of the city of Lincoln. A major outcome of this work has been to establish the speed of the connection between ground and surface waters, allowing the city to minimize the concentration of these herbicides which enter the drinking water system.

The oxidation of aqueous solutes, such as herbicides, by ozone, hypochlorite, and ferrate(VI) are being investigated as a means to destroy objectionable substances in contaminated waters. Rates and products of these oxidation reactions are determined.

Potassium ferrate(VI), K2FeO4 , is a strong oxidizing agent which is highly water soluble and will oxidize a wide variety of aqueous solutes. The kinetics of its oxidation reactions with a wide variety of solutes have been studied. Its acid-base properties have been deduced and used to interpret its kinetic behavior. Studies of the mechanism of ferrate oxidation of dimethyl sulfide and azide ion have shown that oxidation occurs via oxygen-atom transfer and that iron(IV) is an intermediate species in these reactions.