Scott W. Waite

Administrative Faculty

Director of Laboratories

B.S. (1988), University of Arizona; Ph.D. (1993), University of Utah (Joel Harris); Procter and Gamble (1993-1998); Huntsman Corporation (1998-2003); MPR Services (2003-2005).

E-mail: waites [at] unr.edu
Phone: 775-784-6041
FAX: 775-784-6804
Office: CB 213

Scott W. Waite

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Dr. Waite teaches courses in analytical chemistry and is responsible for the general physical facilities of the chemistry department including planning and operation of facilities, financial planning and budgeting, planning and coordination of renovation and maintenance of facilities, and long range planning of space needs. He prepares the class schedules for instructional and laboratory programs including the AP chemistry laboratory program. He is the Departmental Safety Officer responsible for the administration of the Chemical Hygiene Plan, Hazardous Materials Disposal Program, the Emergency Response Plan, and the Student Safety Policy, and he serves as the Departmental Emergency Coordinator. Dr. Waite also supervises the classified technical staff and stockroom supervisors.

Research Interests

The tools of analytical chemistry are used to solve questions and problems affecting the quality of life and the environment. Some examples of this are described below.

HPLC, GC/MS, and GC/Olfactive Detection were combined with sensory evaluation to develop long lasting fragrances to be used in laundry and cleaning products, deodorants, and in fine perfumes and fragrances. These long lasting fragrances are known as pro-perfumes and slowly chemically decompose over time (various mechanisms) to release fragrance to the environment. Measurements of odor detection threshold, vapor pressure and chemical kinetics were used to develop a tool that could rapidly screen pro-perfumes to determine their efficacy without having to test them on human subjects or in use cleaning applications. Bis(citronellyl) benzyl orthoacetate is an example pro-perfume that undergoes hydrolysis to produce citronellol, citronellyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, and benzyl acetate.

HPLC/MS combined with various extraction techniques was used to develop methods to measure the amount of surfactant (alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl ether sulphates, linear alkyl benzene sulphonates) found in river and lake sediments and in the water overlying these sediments. These surfactants are commonly used in cleaning products that are discharged to the municipal sewage systems or local septic systems. There is the potential of these surfactants making in through the sewage treatment system and being discharged into rivers where they will partition into sediments. The Soap and Detergent Association is using these methods to assess the levels of surfactants in water and sediment samples from numerous rivers and streams. This methodology will ultimately be used to support risk assessments of these surfactants.

Ion chromatography with electrochemical and conductivity detection, flow injection analysis, and conductometric titrations were used to study mechanisms of corrosion in petroleum refineries and natural gas processing plants. These techniques were also used to monitor the concentrations of corrosive materials and corrosion enhancers. Various technologies were developed to remove corrosive species or to convert them to non-corrosive molecules.

Selected Publications

“Assessment Of Alcohol Ethoxylate Surfactants And Fatty Alcohols Mixtures In River Sediments And Prospective Risk Assessment,” Dyer, S.D.; Sanderson, H.; Waite, S.W.; Van Compernolle, R.; Price, B.; Nielsen, A.M.; Evans, A.; Decarvalho, A.J.; Hooton, D.J; Sherren, A.J. Environ Monit Assess, 2006, 120, 45.

“Occurrence and hazard screening of alkyl sulfates and alkyl ethoxysulfates in river sediments,” Sanderson, H.; Price, B.B.; Dyer, S.D.; DeCarvalho, A.J.; Robaugh, D.; Waite, S.W.; Morrall, S.W.; Nielsen, A.M.; Cano, M.L.; Evans, K.A. Sci Tot Env, 2006, 367, 312.

“Corrosion and Corrosion Enhancers in Amine Systems,” Cummings, A.L.; Waite, S.W.; Nelson, D.K. Proceedings of the Brimstone Sulfur Conference, Banff, Alberta, 2005.

“Temperature Jump Investigation of Adsorption/Desorption Kinetics at Methylated Silica/Solution Interfaces,” Ren, F.; Waite, S.W.; Harris, J.M. Analytical Chemistry, 1995, 67, 3441.

“Laser Temperature Jump Studies of the Dielectric Liquid/Solid Interface,” Waite, S.W.; Harris, J.M.; Holzwarth, J.F. Analytical Chemistry, 1995, 67, 1390.

“Temperature Jump Investigation of Sorption/Desorption Kinetics at Reversed Phase Silica/Solution Interfaces,” Waite, S.W.; Harris, J.M.; Marshall, D.B. Analytical Chemistry, 1994, 66, 2052.

“Joule-Discharge Heating Studies of Pore Connectivity in Silica Gel: Influence of Pore Diameter, Chemical Modification and Particle Size,” Ellison, E.H.; Waite, S.W.; Marshall, D.B.; Harris, J.M. Analytical Chemistry, 1993, 65, 3622.

“Temperature Jump Relaxation Kinetics at Liquid/Solid Interfaces: Fluorescence Thermometry of Porous Silica Heated by a Joule Discharge,” Waite, S.W.; Harris, J.M.; Ellison, E.H.; Marshall, D.B. Analytical Chemistry, 1991, 63, 2365.

“Surface Chemistries and Photoelectrochemistries of Thin Film Molecular Semiconductor Materials,” Arbour, C.; Armstrong, N.R.; Brina, G.; Collins, G.; Danziger, J.; Dodelet, J.P.; Lee, P.; Nebesny, K.; Pankow, J.; Waite, S.W. Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 1990, 183, 307.

“Interactions of Chlorogallium Pthalocyanine Thin Films: Microcircuit Photoconductivity and Quartz-Crystal Microgravimetry Studies,” Waite, S.W.; Pankow, J.; Collins, G.; Lee, P.; Armstrong, N.R. Langmuir, 1989, 5, 797.

Patents

“Process for Improving the Conversion of Oxazolidones to Alkanolamines,” U.S. Patent Number 7,323,600, 2008.

“Concentrated stable, translucent or clear fabric softening compositions including chelants”, U.S. Patent Number 6,943,144, 2005.

“Process for the Preparation of Fabric Softening Actives and Products Employing the Same,” G.B. Patent Number 0.915,946, PCT Number WO 98/031618, 2000.

“Rinse Added Fabric Softening Compositions and Method of Use for the Delivery of Fragrance Precursors, ” U.S. Patent Number 6,156,710, 2000.

“Fragrance Pro-Accords,” U.S. Patent Number 6,114,302, 2000.

“Fragrance Pro-Accords,” U.S. Patent Number 6,087,322, 2000.

“Fragrance Pro-Accords,” U.S. Patent Number 6,077,821, 2000.

“Perfumes Having Odor Longevity Benefits,” U.S. Patent Number 6,013,618, 2000.

“Perfumes Having Odor Longevity Benefits,” U.S. Patent Number 5,919,752, 1999.

“Perfumes for Laundry and Cleaning Compositions,” U.S. Patent Number 5,744,435, 1998.

“Cellulase Fabric Conditioning Compositions,” U.S. Patent Number 5,721,205, 1998.

“Perfumes for Laundry and Cleaning Compositions,” U.S. Patent Number 5,721,202, 1998.

“Perfumes for Laundry and Cleaning Compositions,” U.S. Patent Number 5,652,205, 1997.

“Dryer Activated Fabric Conditioning and Antistatic Compositions with Improved Perfume Longevity,” U.S. Patent Number 5,562,847, 1996.