Asst. Prof. in Chemistry
Education
B.S.
Chemistry, University of Wisconsin LaCrosse (LaCrosse, WI 1994)
Ph.D.
Analytical Chemistry, Michigan State University (1999)
Contact
Information
358 Dow Hall
Phone: (989)
774-3993
Fax: (989)-774-3883 e-mail: lecap1dj@ cmich.edu
http://www.cst.cmich.edu/units/chm/people/D_Lecaptain.htm
Research Fields
Production
and process development of the next generation of green chemicals.
Alternative fuel process and analysis development, especially biodiesel.
Analytical characterization of novel materials and material processing.
Mild
synthetic routes toward novel nanostructural growth.
Current Research Projects
The
overall objective of the LeCaptain research group is to design new and
improved processes and materials industrially useful. Interdisciplinary projects involve the following
areas of concentration:
1. Process Analytical Chemistry - Raman spectroscopy and microscopy, direct sampling mass spectrometry, Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, LC, GC, and numerous other core analytical techniques.
2. Materials Synthesis Chemistry - Green chemical synthesis, using both green chemicals and green pathways.
3. Materials Process Chemistry - Both batch and continuous reaction schemes of both nanomaterial formation and potential commodity materials.
The following projects are of current ongoing interest to the group:
Addressing the need for materials that can be made from sustainable resources. Key "green" materials we are working with include succinic acid and biodiesel. Ongoing are process development projects for both of those materials as well as designing and synthesizing new green materials from them. Examples of potential products include plasticizers, additives, and bio fuels.
Materials characterization - LIBS is a relatively new analytical technique that has potential application in many areas. We are currently exploring uses in both nanomaterial characterization and clinical applications.
Room temperature nanomaterial synthesis - using laser energy and key catalytic materials for novel carbon fiber and novel polymer synthesis. (joint with Fahlman group)
Selected Publications
Jariwal,
M.; Crawford, J.; LeCaptain, D. J.; "In Situ Raman
Spectroscopic Analysis of the Regeneration of Ammonium Hydrogen Sulfate
From Ammonium Sulfate", J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 2007, in
press
Vohs, J. K.; Raymond, J. E.; Brege, J. J.; Williams, G. L.; LeCaptain, D. L.; Roseveld, S.; Fahlman, B. D. Room-Temperature Growth of Carbon Nanofibers from Iron-Encapsulated Dendritic Catalysts" Polymer News 2005, 30, 330.
