Associate Professor

Research by Ted Dibble

Theodore Dibble is interested in the degradation pathways of organic compounds important in the environment. One aspect of his work is to use lasers and computers as tools to address questions such as: what are the degradation pathways of organic compounds in the polluted atmosphere? To what extent do particular compounds contribute to the formation of ozone, other air toxics, and particulates?

A new focus is peroxy radicals (ROO·) formed from biogenic compounds, especially isoprene. For a probe, we are turning to cavity ringdown spectroscopy of their electronic transitions in the near-IR. They may undergo a variety of reactions in relatively unpolluted areas where most isoprene is produced:

A recent focus has been those alkoxy and peroxy radicals containing intramolecular hydrogen bonds to their radical centers, because the hydrogen bonds can promote unusual chemistry, such as the double H-atom transfer. 

We are beginning to investigate the degradation of organic compounds by non-thermal plasmas, particularly electron beams. The organic compounds of interest are ordinary pollutants or chemical warfare agents (we use safer analogues in our laboratory). Here we are asking basic questions about effectiveness and reaction mechanism, which will be answered by determining destruction rate and product yields versus beam power, flow rate, humidity, etc. 

Students interested in doing research with Dr. Dibble are
encouraged to contact him directly. 

Selected Publications (Complete Listing Here)

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding and Double H-Atom Transfer in Peroxy and Alkoxy Radicals from Isoprene, T.S. Dibble, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2004, 108, 2199. [overview] 

Do aerosols act as catalysts in the OH radical initiated atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds? M. Sorensen, M. D. Hurley, T. J. Wallington, T. S. Dibble, and O. J. Nielsen, Atmos. Environ., 2002, 36, 5947. 

Reactions of the Alkoxy Radicals Formed Following OH-addition to a-pinene and b-pinene. C-C Bond Scission Reactions. T. S. Dibble, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2001, 123, 4228. 
 
 

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