Research Symposium

BIO

I am Matthew Conlan, a 4th year undergraduate student studying Environmental Science and Policy who will be graduating at the end of the Fall 2022 term. While this is only my second year in college, I seek to push for many growth opportunities that will allow myself to learn and become more. With that, it means I am interested in research that pursues connections with the environment around us, especially as a Florida native. My hope is to have the opportunity to pursue a career with Florida Fish and Wildlife, working with environmental regulation and enforcement.

Photodegradation of Rhodamine Dye in Water Under Solar Radiation

Abstract

In June of 2021 Lake Jackson suddenly found its water draining through Porter Sink and into the aquifer that feeds all of the rivers and lakes in the area. When that happened however, there was a prevailing question: Where did all of the water go?

To determine this, a team of researchers from Florida Geological Survey introduced into the sinkhole Florescence dye, a soluble eco-friendly water marker. After processing through the water column and testing at several sites, the team was unable to find any trace of the dye within water samples. As a result, the team now questioned if there were any other outliers affecting the dye such as photodegradation when exposed to sunlight.

Rhodamine Dye is one of the common substances utilized for water tracing. Its emission spectrum makes it incredibly viable for use with a fluorometer as it can be evaluated into the parts per billion. However, there are studies that indicated that Rhodamine and Fluorescein dye will degrade at a higher rate when subject to lower concentrations (Cai 2020), as what is seen in this study.

Further, exposure to solar radiation will cause Rhodamine dye to experience photochemical decay (Water Tracing), which will further reduce the fluorescence of the dye within water.

Keywords: Degradation, Rhodamine, Radiation, Lake Jackson, Photochemical