Florida Tech and Czech Republic Collaborate on Environmental Project

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech Chemistry Professor Virender Sharma has received $70,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to collaborate on an
environmental project with a Czech Republic research scientist. Their work will be the basis for treating emerging pollutants and toxins in diverse aquatic
systems.

The researchers, joined by a Florida Tech undergraduate and doctoral student, will seek to understand the mechanism of the electrochemical synthetic route
of sodium and potassium ferrate (VI). The compound may be used as an oxidant, disinfectant and coagulant, and for industrial “green” processes. For
example, the ferrate (VI) may be used as an oxidant for synthesizing the more environmentally benign products.

A powerful oxidant, the compound has attracted interest for applications in “green chemistry” because the byproducts of its use, iron oxides, are
environmentally safe.

Sharma’s collaborator is Karel Bouzek of the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague.

Sharma earned a doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of Miami, a master’s in technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, and
bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Delhi, India.