ULKU S. RAMELOW
Associate Professor

uramelow@mail.mcneese.edu
Office: 318-475-5791
Fax: 318-475-5950

POLYMER CHEMISTRY

Conductive polymers

EDUCATION

• B. S., Middle East Technical University, 1966, Chemistry
• M. S., Middle East Technical University, 1969, Chemistry (Physical & Radiation)
• Ph.D. , Middle East Technical University, 1978, Chemistry (Polymer)
• Postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University

EXPERIENCE

• Associate Professor, McNeese State University, Chemistry Department, 1994-present.
• Assistant Professor, McNeese State University, Chemistry Department, 1991-1994.
• Instructor, McNeese State University, Chemistry Department, 1987-1991.
• Adjunct Professor, McNeese State University, Chemistry Department, 1982-1987.
• Associate Professor, Middle East Technical University, Chemistry Dept., 1985.
• Assistant Professor, Middle East Technical University, Chemistry Department, 1981-1982.
• Visiting Lecturer, Texas A&M University, Chemistry Department, 1981.
• Instructor, Middle East Technical University, Chemistry Department, 1971-1979.
• Researcher, Rutgers University, Physiology Department, 1970-1971.
• Teaching Assistant, Middle East Technical University, Chemistry Department, 1966-1969.
• Student worker (work/study program), Turkish Fertilizer Industries, Kutahya plant, summers 1963 and 1964.

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

1. Characterization and improvement of some polymeric materials.
2. Preparation of electrically conducting polymeric films and investigation of the effect of temperature and solvent change on the conductivity of polymer- coated electrodes.
3. Study of the effect of additives on grafting and curing reactions of polymers (Synergistic effect).
4. Piezoelectric adsorption of gases on polymer surfaces.
5. Permeability of gases on polymer surfaces.
6. Performance characterization of diffusion gradients in thin polymer films for the in situ measurement of trace metals in aqueous solutions.

SUPERVISED GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

• Scott Esslinger, 'Preparation of electrically conducting polymeric films and investigation of the effect of temperature and solvent change on the conductivity of polymer-coated electrodes," M. S. graduate research in progress.
• Paul Mureiko, "Performance characteristics of diffusion gradients in thin polymer films for the in situ measurement of trace metal ions in aqueous solutions," M. S. graduate research in progress.
• Qui Qing Hua, "Monomer reactivity ratios in UV-initiated free-radical copolymerization reactions," M. S. awarded May 1994.
• Junhai Ma, "Electrical conductivities of polyvinylketones an polypyrrole reacted with dopant solutions," M. S. awarded May 1996.
• Chungkai Tong, "Evaluation of polymeric supports for immobilizing biomass to prepare biosorbents for metal ions," graduate research, 1992-1993.
• C. Neil Guidry and Steven Fisk, A kinetic study of metal ion binding by biomass immobilized in polymers.undergraduate research, 1994.
• C. Neil Guidry, " Correlation between differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy for copolymer analysis of ethylene/vinyl acetate," undergraduate research, 1994.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

• Junhui Ma and Ulku S. Ramelow (1997). Electrical conductivities of polypyrrole. Submitted to Polymer.
• Junhui Ma and Ulku S. Ramelow (1997). Electrical conductivities of polyethyl and polymethylketones reacted with dopant solution. Accepted as invited paper by Turkish Journal of Chemistry, Special Issue in honor of Prof. B. Baysal.
• Ulku S. Ramelow, C. Neil Guidry, and Steven D. Fisk. (1996). A kinetic study of metal ion binding by biomass immobilized in polymers. J. Hazardous Materials, 46, 37-55.
• Junhui Ma, J. David Tauber, and Ulku S. Ramelow (1996). Electrical conductivities of polyvinylketones reacted with dopants. Submitted to J. Appl. Poly. Sci..
• Ulku S. Ramelow and Qing Hua Qiu. (1995). Monomer reactivity ratios in UV-initiated free radical copolymerization reactions. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 57, 911-920.
• Chungkai Tong, Ulku S. Ramelow, and Gerald J. Ramelow. (1994). Evaluation of polymeric supports for immobilizing biomass to prepare biosorbents for metals. Intern. J. Environ. Anal. Chem., 56, 175-191.
• Ulku Ramelow and C. Neil Guidry. (1994). Correlations between differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy for copolymer analysis of ethylene/vinyl acetate. Microchemical Journal, 50, 57-67.
• Ulku S. Ramelow (1991). Surface modification of polymers by photografting and photochlorination processes. Research Trends in Inorganic Chemistry, 2, 159-170.

RECENT PRESENTATIONS

• U. S. Ramelow (1997), Conductivity of polyvinylketones reacted with dopant solutions. Presented at 71st Annual Meeting of Lousiana Academy of Sciences, Alexandria, Louisiana.
• U. S. Ramelow and Junhai Ma (1996). Conductivities of polyvinylketones and polypyrrole reacted with dopant solutions. Presented at 70th Annual Meeting of Louisiana Academy of Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana.
• U. S. Ramelow and Qing Hua Qiu (1995). Monomer reactivity ratios in UV-initiated free radical copolymerizations. Presented at the Pittsburgh Conference, New Orleans.
• U. S. Ramelow and S. D. Fisk (1993). A kinetic study of metal binding by biomass immobilized in polymers. Presented at Southwest Regional ACS Meeting, Austin, Texas.
• U. S. Ramelow and C. N. Guidry (1993). Correlations between differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy for copolymer analysis of ethylene/vinyl acetate. Presented at Southwest Regional ACS Meeting, Austin, Texas.
• U. Ramelow (1990). Surface modification of polymers by photografting and photochlorination processes. Presented at combined southeast/southwest meeting of American Chemical Society, New Orleans, Louisiana. (Also chaired a session on polymer chemistry.)

HONORS AND GRANTS

• Electrochemical and photochemical synthesis of conductive polymers and development of methods to increase their conductivities. Three-year Miller Academic Endowed Profesorship grant proposal submitted February 1997.
• Electrochemical and photochemical synthesis of conducting polymers. One-Year Shearman Endowed Professorship and Players Riverboat Casino Endowed Professorship grant proposal submitted March 1997. (Special research award funded) American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund grant proposal submitted January 1997.
• Conductive polymer polypyrrole. Endowed professorship special award, 1996.
• Electrochemical and photochemical synthesis of conducting polymer blends of polypyrrole, polythiophene sulfide. LEQSF grant proposal submitted October 1996.
• Electrochemical synthesis of conductive polymers. Research Corporation Cottrel Grant proposal submitted October 1996.
• Conductive polymers: Electric conductivities of polymers reacted with dopent solutions, submitted to Shearman Research Initiative Fund, March 1995.
• Conductive polymers: Electric conductivities of polymers reacted with dopent solutions, Endowed Professorship proposal, McNeese State University, March 1995.
• Shearman Research Fellow, McNeese State University, 1993: "Free radical copolymerization of styrene-MMA initiated with UV radiation and development of a new method for the determination of monomer reactivity ratios."
• A kinetic study of metal binding by biomass immobilized in polymers, submitted to Eppley Foundation, April 1993.
• Free radicalic copolymerization and development of a new method for determination of monomer reactivity ratios, Shearman Research Initiative Grant, $2493, 1993.