Gavin KirtonGavin F. Kirton

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
NMR and Chemical Instrument Director
Ph.D.: Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
B.Sc.(Honours I): Chemistry, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
B.Sc.: Chemistry & Physics, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
Bair Science Center 101-F
406.238.7377
gavin.kirton@rocky.edu

Biography

I am originally from the land down under (Australia). After post-doctoral research and lecturing chemistry courses in the Midwest (several years at IUPUI, downtown Indianapolis; a year at Bowling Green State University, Ohio), I started teaching at RMC in Fall 2007. My specialty is physical chemistry, and I continue to research in the field of colloid and surface chemistry. I am in charge of the analytical and instrumental courses, as well as much of the general chemistry course delivery. Recently, I have taken on responsibility for maintenance and training on the departmental instrumentation, especially the 300 MHz Bruker nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer in the Keck laboratory.

Research Interests

My current research is characterizing the structure and electrostatics involved with assemblies of surfactant molecules called micelles. Surfactants are molecules that have two natures – a hydrophilic (water-loving) head and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) tail. You will find surfactants in soaps, detergents, shampoos, cleansers, toothpastes, lotions and cosmetics. When surfactants are in a high enough concentration, they group together with about 50 to 200 molecules into ball-like micelles, where the tails group together to make an “oily” interior, and the heads stick out on the outside into the watery medium. These micelles are only a few to tens of nanometers in diameter, so they are examples of nanoparticles.

If a mixture is made with two kinds of surfactant, one having an ionic charge, and another being neutral, then mixed micelles can be formed. The effects of mixing surfactants is often more advantageous in applications than pure surfactants (for example – cleansing ability, oil solubilization, stability) and understanding the effects of mixing is of great interest for formulators. Increasing the ratio of ionic surfactant can be expected to increase charge density on the micelle surface, but in what way? How does the ion environment change around these micelles?

To answer these questions, I use methods including zeta potential measurements and pH electrode (potentiometric) titrations, and also looking at the feasibility of indicator dyes to measure micelle surface potentials. The voltage of the micelle surface (surface potential) due to the charged ionic-surfactant heads is measured by titrating long-chain fatty acids that insert themselves into the micelle, because the acidity is affected by the local voltage. When micelles move in solution (eg. by applying an electric field), they drag a layer of water and ions with them, and the voltage at this layer, called the zeta potential, is another way to measure the micelle charges. This is measured by a ZetaPALS instrument (Brookhaven Instruments Corp.) by laser light scattering from particles forced to move in applied electric fields in solution.

If you are a student who is intrigued, eager to get into nanoparticle research and exploring chemistry beyond the classroom, don’t hesitate to drop by my office or contact me.

Courses taught

  • Chemistry of Everyday Life – CHM100 (summers)
  • General Chemistry I and II – CHM101/102
  • Chemical Analysis – CHM3xx (formerly CHM201)
  • Instrumental Analysis – CHM3xx (formerly CHM311)
  • Chemical Thermodynamics and Quantum Chemistry - CHM401/402 (formerly Physical Chemistry I and II)
  • Chemistry of the Environment – AES302 (distance learning for tribal colleges)
  • Polymer Chemistry (Seminar Topic) – CHM490 (team taught with Dr. Jose)

New course for Fall 2011

  • Chemical Magic – CHM105

What differentiates Rocky Mountain College from other schools?

Professors are able to pay attention to the individual needs of the students because of the small class settings. In this way, the professors at RMC can effectively assist students to solve problems with their academic progress. We are also the only college in the local area to have a 300 MHz NMR instrument and a ZetaPALS (zeta potential measurement of nanoparticles)!

How can students get interested in chemistry?

Chemistry is seen as a “hard” subject for many students.
But take a good look at the materials all around you, and the activities you do in your daily life – cooking, washing, driving – and you will find chemicals and chemical reactions. Actually, chemical reactions are wonderful and amazing. I have organized a team by students for chemical magic shows to demonstrate how chemicals are reacted and how the reaction is useful. This experience inspires learning chemistry to the students in the team and also the audience.

 
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