b'Evaluation of Biocatalysis in Non-Aqueous Solvent Media Using Engineered Myoglobin NanocontructsSarah Youngblood and Thomas FalkenhausenSponsor: Dr. Gopeekrishnan Sreenilayam, Department of ChemistryBiocatalysis is the use of enzymes and proteins to perform chemical transformations. Enzymes and proteins are increasingly used in organic reactions due to excellent chemo-, regio- and stereo- selectivity, environmental sustainability, milder reaction conditions, improved productivity, simplified work-streams and greater economical saving potential. Currently, the majority of biocatalytic reactions use aqueous buffer solutions so that enzymes/proteins can exist in their biologically active form. However, there are a few disadvantages to using these aqueous solvents such as low solubility of organic compounds in aqueous medium, low turnover numbers, and solvent reagent incompatibility. In this experiment, we will evaluate the effect of non- aqueous solvent media (ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents) in enzyme/protein mediated organic transformations. In order to improve the efficiency of biocatalysis in non-aqueous media and to ensure the miscibility of the catalyst and the solvent, the engineered catalyst (Mb H64V V68A) was transformed to protein-polymer nanoconstructs.Characterization of Cherry Pigment Extract and its Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsJamie L. GradySponsor: Dr. Linda de la Garza, Department of ChemistrySolar cells gather energy from the sun and convert it to electrical energy. A dye-sensitized solar cell uses molecules with strong absorption characteristics in the visible range to broaden the absorption spectrum of semiconductors like TiO2, which only absorb in the ultraviolet range. Some natural fruits, like cherries, are known to contain anthocyanin pigments which absorb light between 500 and 600 nm. An extraction procedure using ethanol was followed to obtain cherry (Prunus avium) pigments. A deep red color solution was obtained after filtration of the extract. The solution was characterized using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer, an absorption peak was found at 535 nm. The efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells modified by the cherry pigment extract will be investigated.32'