The photodegradation of domoic acid and the effects of metal chelation

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Adam Clair Knierim (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )

Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/

Advisor

Robert Kieber

Abstract: Domoic acid added to 0.2 µm-filtered Wrightsville Beach, NC seawater (WBSW) to a final concentration of 100 nM rapidly photodegraded to 75% of its initial concentration under simulated sunlight after ten hours of irradiation. The average first order rate constant of domoic acid photodegradation at 24ºC was 0.14 ± 0.01 h-1. When domoic acid was added to deionized water to a final concentration of 100 nM and irradiated in a fashion analogous to the WBSW experiments, there was no significant change in the rate constant (t-test, 95% confidence level) indicating components of the natural seawater matrix such as DOC, ionic strength, and pH do not affect the rate of domoic acid photodegradation. Fe(III) and Cu(II) were added to a 100 nM domoic acid sample in WBSW to a final concentration of 100 nM and irradiated in a fashion analogous to the WBSW experiments without added metals. After irradiation, no significant change in the domoic acid photodegradation rate constant was observed (t-test, 95% confidence level) in the presence of the metals suggesting that complexation of domoic acid by Fe(III) and Cu(II) does not affect the rate of photodegradation of domoic acid. Upon irradiation of domoic acid under simulated sunlight, a series of three photoproducts are formed which are believed to be geometrical isomers of domoic acid. The mechanism of photoisomerization of domoic acid most likely results from the cis-trans isomerization of the conjugated diene. Upon the absorption of a photon, a p electron is excited to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital to form a diradical intermediate (triplet excited state) or a polar zwitterion intermediate (singlet excited state). Either way, the double bonds are essentially broken allowing the molecule to twist. Upon the return of the electron to ground state, any of the three geometrical isomers of domoic acid can be formed. The efficiency of domoic acid photodegradation rapidly decreases as the irradiance wavelength increases, particularly between 280 and 315 nm. There is a slight increase in the efficiency of degradation from 315 nm to 335 nm, but beyond 335 nm the efficiency of photodegradation drops off rapidly, most likely because the energy of the incoming radiation decreases with higher wavelengths.

The photodegradation of domoic acid and the effects of metal chelation
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina, Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

Language: English

Date: 2009

Keywords

Algal blooms--Research--North Carolina--Wrightsville Beach, Cyanobacterial toxins, Water quality--North Carolina--Wrightsville Beach

Subjects

Water quality -- North Carolina -- Wrightsville Beach

Algal blooms -- Research -- North Carolina -- Wrightsville Beach

Cyanobacterial toxins

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