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Lecaptain, Dale

Professor

FACULTY

Biography

Professor Dale LeCaptain completed his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from University Wisconsin LaCrosse (1994) and his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Michigan State University in 1999. After Post-Doctoral experience at both Michigan State and Colorado State University he joined Central Michigan University in 2001. As Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry he instructs Analytical Chemistry at all levels and has instrumented the design of the Environmental Chemistry Concentration now available. Currently, his research focus is analytical techniques for fermentation and environmental technologies, which the latter has been expanded to include STEM training for teachers and middle to high school aged students.

More about Dale Lecaptain

  • Tomasik, Janice; LeCaptain, Dale; Murphy, Sarah; Martin, Mary; Knight, Rachel; Harke, Maureen; Burke, Ryan; Beck, Kara. "Island Explorations: Discovering Effects of Environmental Research-Based Lab Activities on Analytical Chemistry Students". J. Chem. Educ., 2014, 91 (11), pp 1887–1894 
  • Stuart, Amanda; LeCaptain, Dale J.; Lee, Choon Y.; Mohanty, Dillip K. Poly (2013). (Vinyl Chloride) Plasticized with Mixtures of Succinate Di- esters - Synthesis and Characterization. European Polymer Journal, 49(9), 2785-2791. 
  • Amanda Stuart, Megan M. McCallum, Daming Fan, Dale J. LeCaptain, Choon Y. Lee, and Dillip K. Mohanty (2009). Succinic acid based plasticizer synthesis and application for PVC. Polym. Bull., submitted Sept. 2009. 
  • Dale J. LeCaptain, Michael S. Todd, David S. Allan, Alissa Veeneman (2009). Optimization of a Continuous Production Process for Biodiesel Fuel from Waste Vegetable Oil Promoted by Ultrasonics. Energy and Fuels, submitted Sept. 2009. 
  • Hartmann-Thompson, C., Keeley, D., Pollock, K., Keinath, S., Dvornic, P., Dantus, M., Gunaratne, T., LeCaptain, D. J. (2008). One- and Two-photon Fluorescent Polyhedral Oligosilsesquioxane (POSS) Nanosensor Arrays for the Remote Detection of Analytes in Clouds, in Solution and on Surfaces. Chem. Mater, 20(8), 2829-2838. 
  • Jariwala, M., Crawford, J., LeCaptain, D. J. (2007). In Situ Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of the Regeneration of Ammonium Hydrogen Sulfate from Ammonium Sulfate. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 46(14), 4900-4905. 
  • LeCaptain, D. J., Todd, M. S. (2007). Segmented-Flow Direct Sampling Mass Spectrometry of Biodiesel Headspace. Applied Spectroscopy, 61(12), 1410-1412. 
  • McCallum, M. M., Fan, D., Lee, C. Y., Mohanty, D. K., LeCaptain, D. J. (2007). Bio-based plasticizers for poly-vinyl chloride. (2nd ed., vol. 48, pp. 869-870). Polymer Preprints. 
  • Raymond, J.E., Vohs, J.K., Brege, J.J., Rozeveld, S., LeCaptain, D.J., Slusher, L. E., Williams, G.L., and Fahlman, B.D., "Room-Temperature Growth of Carbon Nanofibers from Iron-Encapsulated Dendritic Catalysts", Polymer News, 30, 2005, 1-4. 
  • Amanda Stuart, Megan M. McCallum, Daming Fan, Dale J. LeCaptain, Choon Y. Lee, and Dillip K. Mohanty (2009). Succinic acid based plasticizer synthesis and application for PVC. Polym. Bull., submitt​ed Sept. 2009. 
  • Dale J. LeCaptain, Michael S. Todd, David S. Allan, Alissa Veeneman (2009). Optimization of a Continuous Production Process for Biodiesel Fuel from Waste Vegetable Oil Promoted by Ultrasonics. Energy and Fuels, submitted Sept. 20 09. 
  • Hartmann-Thompson, C., Keeley, D., Pollock, K., Keinath, S., Dvornic, P., Dantus, M., Gunaratne, T., LeCaptain, D. J. (2008). One- and Two-photon Fluorescent Polyhedral Oligosilsesquioxane (POSS) Nanosensor Arrays for the Remote Detection of Analytes in Clouds, in Solution and on Surfaces. Chem. Mater, 20(8), 2829-2838. 
  • Jariwala, M., Crawford, J., LeCaptain, D. J. (2007). In Situ Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of the Regeneration of Ammonium Hydrogen Sulfate from Ammonium Sulfate. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 46(14), 4900-4905. 
  • LeCaptain, D. J., Todd, M. S. (2007). Segmented-Flow Direct Sampling Mass Spectrometry of Biodiesel Headspace. Applied Spectroscopy, 61(12), 1410-1412. 
  • McCallum, M. M., Fan, D., Lee, C. Y., Mohanty, D. K., LeCaptain, D. J. (2007). Bio-based plasticizers for poly-vinyl chloride. (2nd ed., vol. 48, pp. 869-870). Polymer Preprints. 
  • Raymond, J.E., Vohs, J.K., Brege, J.J., Rozeveld, S., LeCaptain, D.J., Slusher, L. E., Williams, G.L., and Fahlman, B.D., "Room-Temperature Growth of Carbon Nanofibers from Iron-Encapsulated Dendritic Catalysts", Polymer News, 30, 2005, 1-4.
  • Postdoctoral, Colorado State University, 2000-2001 
  • Postdoctoral, Michigan State University, 1999-2000 
  • Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, Michigan State University, 1999 
  • B.S., Chemistry, University of Wisconsin LaCrosse - LaCrosse, WI, 1994​
  • Fermentation technologies and brewing. The fast growing craft brew industry is one example of chemical fermentation industry that is growing rapidly. This industry and the rest of fermentation chemical manufacturing have ever changing analytical needs. We are continually developing numerous novel applications of existing analysis techniques as well as developing new methods and technologies.
  • Environmental Analytical Chemistry. Coastal wetlands provide flood protection, erosion control, wildlife food & habitat, water quality, recreation, and carbon sequestration. Equally impacted is the nitrogen cycle and as atmospheric levels of CO2 change, water levels will be impacted, and change the availability of air. The research objectives are to develop novel analytical methods for gas measurements and the novel applications of existing analytical techniques.
  • STEM training enhancements. Using the practical aspects of analytical chemistry we are continually pursuing methods to enhance STEM training, especially for undergraduates and teachers. This is a joint project with the Tomasik lab innovating research laboratories and strategies across the curriculum.
  • Sustainable (green) chemistry. The proliferation of biotechnologies and the incremental push toward "greener technologies" through biocatalysis have afforded opportunities for cost competitive production of industrially useful synthetic products that are "green" from start through production to the final product. Special polymer additives and plasticizers derived from biobased carboxylic and amino acids are example chemistries we are developing. Included is the application of these materials in the development of analytical techniques.

Courses Taught

  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Spectroscopic & Chromatographic Science
  • Engineering Chemistry