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Faculty Profile
Theodore Dibble

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Theodore  Dibble

Professor

Department of Chemistry
421 Jahn Lab

tsdibble@esf.edu
315-470-6596

Education

Ph.D., 1992, University of Michigan.

Postdoctoral, Wayne State (1992-1994), Purdue (1994-1995), and Caltech (1995-1996).

 

Research Overview

The Dibble Group uses computational chemistry to investigate the mechanisms and kinetics of reactions important for energy and the environment. The current focus is redox chemistry of mercury in the atmosphere. Other major interests include aerosols (nucleation, surface reactions, and bulk chemistry), dissolved organic matter in aquatic/marine systems, and organic chemistry in the atmosphere. We work with experimentalists to test our results and we work with atmospheric modelers to determine how our predictions influence our understanding of global and regional processes.

Atmospheric Mercury Chemistry

Mercury is a neurotoxin. It is transferred from the atmosphere to ecosystems upon oxidation from Hg(0) to Hg(II). Oxidation is initiated by Br or OH radicals:

       HO + Hg → HOHg

Some models still assume that the OH + Hg reaction produces stable Hg(II) compounds. In 2020 we showed that HOHg fell apart so fast (see the Figure, below) that it only contributed 1% to global Hg oxidation. But we later discovered that Hg(I) radicals (both HOHg and BrHg) reacted with ozone, e.g.:

       HOHg + O3 → HOHgO•   + O2

This may enable OH to initiate about 1/3 of total oxidation of atomic mercury to Hg(II). HOHgO is pretty reactive, and we are still investigating its influence of atmospheric mecury cycling. .

word map showing O H unimportant in oxidizing H g (0) to H g II

 

Atmospheric Organic Chemistry

We have investigated the chemistry of alkyl, alkoxy, and peroxy radicals (R•, RO•, and ROO•, respectively). We maintain an interest in isoprene chemistry and the unknown mechanism by which ROO• + NO makes RONO2. Atmospheric organic chemistry also brings up fundamental issues in chemistry, such how intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds involving radical centers affect reactivity and enable new chemistry. With computational chemistry we can investigate a wide range of these problems!

 

More Information

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Follow this link for Information on Graduate Admissions in Chemistry. Follow this link to learn more our M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Environmental Chemistry.

 

Selected Publications

Complete Listing (Google Scholar)

 

Current Graduate Advisees

Weiyao GuWeiyao Gu
wgu100@syr.edu

  • Degree Sought: PHD
  • Graduate Advisor(s): Dibble
  • Area of Study: FCH Environmental Chemistry

Darshi Hewa EdirappuligeDarshi Hewa Edirappulige
dthewaed@syr.edu

  • Degree Sought: PHD
  • Graduate Advisor(s): Dibble
  • Area of Study: FCH Environmental Chemistry