By Madison Minvielle

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sarah Smith

Abstract

Herbicides are an important component in the growth and care of sod and agricultural fields. Glyphosate is the main ingredient in many herbicides. However, it is toxic to wildlife, specifically aquatic species, when the herbicide is present in run-off that leads to ponds. In order to accurately determine the glyphosate concentration in pond water samples, it is necessary to develop an effective method for determining glyphosate concentration through spectroscopy. Several samples of glyphosate were prepared at low concentrations and then analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy and fluorimetry. The maximum wavelength of glyphosate was determined to be 281 nm. Additionally, in preparation for separating glyphosate from pond water samples via HPLC, two different filaments were tested to determine if one would more effectively remove the herbicide from the samples. The filament would be used to 3D print a column with specific geometry inside to yield a more accurate flow and separation.