Probing the Redox Reactivity of Mycogenic Manganese Oxides with Substituted Quinones.

Due to the myriad valence states of Manganese (Mn) in the environment, as well as the diverse arrangements of MnO₆octahedra, more that 30 differentc Mn oxide minerals exist. These Mn oxides are known to be strong sorbents of metals with metals binding to the oxides’ edge, binding above vacancies within the oxides, and substituting Mn within the mineral structures. This binding process can be very useful in bioremediation techniques because Mn oxides may oxidize metals, as well as a wide variety of organic contaminants. The broad reactivity by the oxides has raised interest in the use of Mn oxides in water treatment and remediation systems  which could prove both useful and economical.To that end, we will probe the dissolution kinetics of mycogenic Mn oxides as promoted by subsituted quinones to better understand how structure influences intrinisic redox reactivity.