Department of ChemistryRyan E. Sours
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Assistant Professor Analytical Chemistry Office: 567 Smith Phone: (410)704-2669 E-mail: rsours@towson.edu Website: http://pages.towson.edu/rsours |
| Education | B.S. Chemistry (1998) University of Buffalo, magna cum laude Ph.D. Chemistry (2004) Georgetown University, with Distinction Postdoctoral Associate (2004-2006) University of Washington |
| Teaching |
General Chemistry Lab (110/111) Introduction to Analytical Chemistry Lab (210) Instrumentation in Analytical Chemistry (310) |
| Research |
My research group is interested in the mechanisms by which trace solution impurities modify the growth of crystals, particularly biominerals. We are currently using HPLC to investigate impurity-crystal interaction kinetics. During a chromatographic separation, the retention time for a molecule is determined by the relative amount of time spent adsorbed onto the stationary phase. During crystal growth, the extent of growth modification caused by an impurity is likely related to the lifetime of that impurity on the crystal surface. Thus, if biomineral crystals are used as the chromatographic stationary phase, the relative retention time for an impurity molecule should correlate with its effectiveness as a growth modifier for that particular crystal. Molecules with longer retention times (longer surface lifetimes) should be better growth modifiers than those with short retention times. Our efforts are currently focused on various known and model growth inhibitors for calcite (calcium carbonate) and whewellite (calcium oxalate monohydrate) crystals. Based on relative retention times, peak shapes, and modeling calculations, adsorption kinetics for the impurities are being determined and compared to previously measured efficacies for crystal growth modification. |
| Selected Publications |
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Faculty & Staff
Department of Chemistry
Smith Hall 543
Towson University
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252