Document Type

Honors Project

First Advisor

Ken Overway

Second Advisor

Barnabas Otoo

Third Advisor

Phil Spickler

Degree Award Date

Spring 5-1-2027

Keywords

chromatograpy, protoporphyrin, FPLC

Disciplines

Analytical Chemistry

Abstract

Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is the main pigment in brown eggshells, and it is embedded in the shell gland of hens during the final stages of the egg-making process. This natural dye can be used as a substitute for organic sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). One benefit of PPIX is that it is a natural resource and has a high absorption coefficient in the visible and near-infrared region (NIR). Purified PPIX is extremely helpful in dye-sensitized solar cells because it improves electron injection efficiency, can be chemically modified to improve its absorption efficiency, and can be mixed with nanomaterials such as reduced graphene oxide quantum dots to improve photo-response and exceed efficiency to over 6%. Using a Fast Protein Liquid-Chromatography (FPLC) seems to be a good method of purifying extracted PPIX because FPLC can purify proteins at a high resolution with automated, reproducible results. Successful purification of PPIX was found with methanol and isopropanol in a 50:50 ratio and a successful fractionation method was achieved to collect pure PPIX. Our FPLC instrument functionality was extended by the addition of a sample pump, which could automate the purification process.

Force Open Access

1

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