Pt-group metals were some of the first metals to be studied as catalysts for industrial use. The goal of these studies was to ascertain a fundamental understanding of CO oxidation and acetylene cyclotrimerization reactions on Ptgroup metals. A further goal was to determine the optimal conditions for each reaction. CO oxidation on Rh(111),Pt(100), and Pd(100) was scrutinized on various oxide surfaces from chemisorbed to bulk metal oxides. Low pressure reactions on Rh(111) reveal the highest activity was a CO uninhibited surface with <1ML of chemisorbed oxygen. Pt(100) high pressure oxidation revealed that only <1ML oxygen is formed during high pressures reactions. High pressure CO oxidation reactions on Pd(100) show oxygen penetration after CO has been consumed; however, during the highest activity XPS found only chemisorbed species. The cyclotrimerization of acetylene to benzene is another reaction found in industry typically carried out on Pd. The active site is considered to be a 7 atom configuration with 6 atoms surrounding a central atom. By adding relatively catalytically inert Au atoms to the active Pd(111) surface the acetylene coupling activity is enhanced. Cyclization activity is a function of the surface composition and the surface structure. A single Pd atom surrounded by six Au atoms is found to have the highest activity at 300K for acetylene cyclotrimerization.

Zeolite structure can profoundly promote the activity of supported platinum. In addition, catalytic performances of Pt/ZSM-12 catalysts vary dramatically with platinum deposition procedure, namely ion exchange (IE) and impregnation procedure (IMP). Supported platinum prepared by IMP is more active than the Pt prepared by IE. The MCP/MCH ratio in benzene hydrogenation as an indication of bifunctional catalysis is significantly higher for IE Pt than IMP Pt. IE preparing platinum is located inside ZSM-12 pore and IMP preparing platinum is deposited on the external surface of ZSM-12. After steam treatment, it is found that Pt-atom perfectly migrates from internal channel to external surface and agglomerates into larger particle size for Pt(IE,0.100%,c) and Pt(IMP,0.123,a) catalysts. In contrast to the results of pure benzene hydrogenation at lower temperature (210¢J/240¢J), they are found that if all prepared various Pt/ZSM-12 catalysts were above the inversion temperature (Ti) then the benzene hydrogenation conversion over Pt(IE,0.100%,c) sample is higher than over Pt(IMP,0.123%,a) sample owing to latter provides less Pt-H+ active sites, as well as Pt(IMP,0.123%,a) sample is the most effective catalyst for toluene disproportionation and transalkylation with 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. Owing to transformation generally is performed at higher temperature, such as above 400¢J, their operation temperatures are indeed above the inversion temperature (Ti) for all Pt/ZSM-12 catalysts. In situ comparing their benzene hydrogenation in transformation, including disproportionation and transalkylation, is suitable and valuable for understanding and determinating the characteristics of Pt/ZSM-12 zeolite catalysts. Relative conversion of benzene hydrogenation in transformation is the probe of characterizing the Pt-location onto ZSM-12 zeolite.

The temperature and pressure dependences of the Raman frequencies of some lattice and internal modes are calculated using the volume data from the literature through the mode Gr&uuml / neisen parameters. This calculation is performed in different phases of solid nitrogen and benzene. Calculated Raman frequencies are compared with the experimentally measured frequencies for those crystalline systems studied.

Dynamic models of a reactive distillation column have been developed and implemented in this work. A model describing the steady state behavior of the system has been built in a first step. The results from this steady state model have been compared to data provided from an industrial collaborator and the reconciled model formed the basis for the development of a dynamic model. Four controlled and four manipulated variables have been determined in a subsequent step and step tests for the manipulated variables were simulated. The data generated by the step responses was used for fitting transfer functions between the manipulated and the controlled variables. RGA analysis was performed to find the optimal pairing for controller design. Feedback controllers of PID type were designed between the paired variables found from RGA and the controllers were implemented on the column model. Both servo and regulatory problems have been considered and tested.

<p>NMR methods have been designed and employed in studying ofcomplex liquids and solids formed by surfactants. PGSE NMRexperiments are easily biased by convection; this artifact canbe avoided by changing the sample holder and by usingconvection-compensated pulse sequences. The temperaturedistribution within samples was controlled using thetemperature dependent order parameter for CBr₂H₂dissolved in a thermotropic nematic solvent.Electronic ringing that often spoils accurate NMR experimentsfor broad lines was removed by the using composite pulses andquadrupole echo sequences with appropriate phase cycles.</p><p>Field-dependent⁸¹Br and³⁵Cl NMR relaxation studies in micellar solutions ofC₁₆TAX surfactants showed that the structure ordynamics of the hydration shell is more influenced by thesurfactant cation for bromide than for chloride, in agreementwith their position in the Hoffmeister series. The presence ofa small but significant frequency-dependent relaxation showedthat the lateral self diffusion of the anions may be reduced ascompared to its bulk value in diluted solutions but only with afactor of 1.0 - 2.5. The ions are clearly not "bound" to thesurface. A field-dependent²H NMR relaxation study on the CTABr-α-<i>d</i><i>2</i>and benzene-<i>d</i><i>6</i>showed an initial one-dimensional micellargrowth followed by the appearance of microemulsion droplets onaddition of benzene. The local mobility of the benzene wasreduced when solubilized in small amounts, consistent with aninitial average location of benzene at the micellar interface.The surfactant diffusion coefficients fromconvection-compensated PGSE NMR experiments in the C₁₂E₈-D₂O system showed monotonous growth of the micellesupon increasing temperature. Emulsion droplets in the C₁₂E₅-decane-D₂O system where shown to coarsen according to theOstwald ripening theory after being brought out of equilibriumby a temperature drop. X-ray scattering and²H NMR line-shape and relaxation experimentssuggested that complex solids formed by a partly-sulfatedpolysaccharide and C_nTAB exhibit regular ordering at both microscopicand mesoscopic length scales.</p><p><b>Keywords</b>: CTAB, CTAC, C₁₂E₈, C₁₂E₅, decane, benzene, CBr₂H₂, polysaccharide, micelle, microemulsion, emulsion,Ostwald ripening, NMR,⁸¹Br,³⁵Cl,²H, field- dependent spin relaxation, PGSE, selfdiffusion, convection, ringing, thermometer, generalized Blochequations, EXORCYCLE, quadrupole echo, SAXS, WAXS, cryo-TEM.</p>

Univ., Diss.--Göteborg, 2007. / Enth. außerdem 5 Zeitschriftenaufsätze.

The modification of proteins by xenobiotic and endogenous electrophilic species produced in cells undergoing oxidative stress contributes to cellular toxicity and disease processes. Many xenobiotics are themselves reactive electrophiles; however non-reactive compounds may become reactive towards proteins and DNA following metabolism. Identifying actual sites of adduction on target proteins is critical for determining the structural and functional consequences associated with the modification. 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) is a reactive quinone and environmental toxicant, formed from oxidative metabolism of benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon found in gasoline and other fuels. Although environmental and occupational exposure to benzene is associated with the development of aplastic anemia and leukemia, the mechanism of toxicity remains elusive. Due to the electrophilic nature of BQ, it reacts with glutathione to form quinol-thioether (QT) conjugates that retain the ability to redox cycle between the reduced (HQ) and oxidized (BQ) forms. BQ and its QT metabolites are reactive, and can produce cellular necrosis through oxidative stress and protein modification. One further consequence of oxidative stress is the elevation of cellular membrane lipid peroxidation, resulting in the formation of reactive lipid-aldehydes such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE). Adduction of critical amino acid residues in target bone marrow proteins by 4HNE and QTs following exposure to benzene could contribute to its hematotoxic effects. This dissertation builds upon the foundation of proteins targeted by electrophilic adduction by outlining techniques to pinpoint the specific amino acids targeted and furthermore predict the functional releavance of adduction. For the first time, protein targets of reactive endogenous lipid aldehydes are reported in the bone marrow of chemically treated rats. Furthermore, novel sites of adduction by aldehydes and benzene-glutathione conjugates are reported within functional regions of topoisomerase II. Inhibition of bone marrow DNA topoisomerase II by benzene metabolites is implicated as a potential mechanism of benzene-induced hematotoxicity and acute-myeloid leukemia. The strong inhibitory effect of these compounds on topoisomerase II activity suggests that their presence in the bone marrow may play a role in benzene-induced myelotoxicity.

Benzene is an ubiquitous pollutant and industrial solvent that has been identified as a human leukemogen. Early exposure to environmental carcinogens such as benzene has been postulated to play a role in the etiology of childhood leukemia, however the association remains controversial. Genotoxic agents such as benzene can cause an increase in the frequency of DNA double-strand breaks, which may remain unrepaired or result in the initiation of DNA recombinational repair mechanisms. The first objective was to investigate the induction of DNA double-strand breaks following in utero treatment to 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg benzene i.p. using the phosphorylated histone γ-H2A.X as a marker. Using immunoblotting, treatment with benzene did not increase the formation of γ-H2A.X in bone marrow cells of adult C57Bl/6N male mice and in maternal bone marrow, fetal liver, and post-natal bone marrow cells following in utero exposure to 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg benzene throughout gestational days 7 to 15. Secondly, the study investigated the induction of micronuclei following in utero exposure to benzene. Acute exposure to 400 mg/kg benzene resulted in a statistically significant increase in the percentage of micronucleated cells in adult male bone marrow cells. In utero exposure to 400 mg/kg benzene throughout gestational days 7 to 15 also caused a statistically significant increase in the percentage of micronucleated cells in maternal bone marrow and post-natal bone marrow cells. Fetal liver cells also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the percentage of micronucleated cells following 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg benzene. The third objective was to investigate the initiation of DNA recombination following in utero exposure to benzene using the pKZ1 mutagenesis mouse model as a surrogate marker for non-homologous end joining activity. Adult pKZ1 mouse tissue yielded no recombination events; however, post-natal bone marrow cells did contain detectable recombination frequencies. iii In utero benzene exposure did cause an increasing trend in recombination events, and upon analysis of only the samples containing detectable levels of recombination, in utero exposure to 400 mg/kg of benzene caused a statistically significant increase in recombination frequency within this group. These results demonstrate that benzene does not increase the formation of γ-H2A.X after acute and in utero exposure, however, the induction of micronuclei following acute and in utero benzene exposure confirmed that benzene is a genotoxic agent causing chromosomal breaks. In utero benzene exposure increased the frequency of DNA recombination in bone marrow from post-natal day 9 pups exhibiting detectable levels of recombination. Further investigations into different types of DNA damage and repair pathways are warranted to fully elucidate the role of genotoxic mechanisms in the etiology of benzene-induced childhood leukemias. / Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2008-08-22 11:07:49.162

Benzene is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and a known human leukemogen. Early-life exposure to environmental carcinogens, including benzene, may lead to genomic instability in the fetus, ultimately leading to an increased risk for the development of childhood cancers including leukemia. It is possible that exposure to benzene results in DNA damage that may either be left unrepaired or be repaired erroneously causing genotoxicity. The first objective of this study was to determine if exposure of fetal hematopoietic cells to p-benzoquinone, a known toxic metabolite of benzene, increased DNA recombination in the pKZ1 model of mutagenesis. A significant increase in recombination was observed following exposure to 25 μM and 50 μM p-benzoquinone for 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours. A significant increase in recombination was also observed following exposure to 25 μM p-benzoquinone for 30 min, 45 min, and 1 hour, but not 15 min as compared to vehicle alone. Secondly, this study determined if exposure of fetal hematopoietic cells to p-benzoquinone resulted in DNA damage using γ-H2A.X as a marker for DNA double strand breaks and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine as a marker of oxidative DNA damage. A significant increase in γ-H2A.X foci formation was observed following exposure to 25 μM p-benzoquinone for 30 min, 45 min and one hour. Exposure of fetal hematopoietic cells to 25 μM p-benzoquinone did not significantly increase oxidative DNA damage at any of the examined time points. The third objective of this study was to determine whether or not reactive oxygen species were involved in the observed increase in DNA damage and recombination. Exposure to 25 μM p-benzoquinone for 15 min and 30 min, but not 45 min or one hour, led to an increase in reactive oxygen species production as measured by 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2-7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescence. Additionally, pretreatment with 400 U/mL PEG-catalase, an antioxidative enzyme, attenuated the increases in both DNA recombination and DNA double strand breaks as compared to treatment with p-benzoquinone alone. These studies indicate that p-benzoquinone is able to induce DNA damage and recombination in fetal hematopoieitic cells and that reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress may be important in the mechanism of toxicity. / Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2010-07-23 15:44:05.381

Processing of petrochemical compounds produces a large amount of wastewater. This wastewater consists of toxic (hazardous) materials that can not be discharged to the environment without treatment. As restrictive environmental constraints increase, new technologies are needed to treat those toxic materials before discharging them to the environment. Wet Air Oxidation (WAO) is one of these new methods. / This study casts light on the effect of initial pH on the WAO of benzene at different temperatures and pressures. It was found that at pH 6, a temperature of 260°C and a partial pressure of oxygen of 1.38 MPa around 97% degradation was achieved in one hour. When the initial pH was lowered to 4 more than 90% degradation was achieved at 220°C and PO2 of 1.38 MPa in only 15 minutes.` It was concluded that the higher the temperature the better the benzene degradation, and the faster benzene degradation has been obtained with the increasing partial pressure of oxygen. The main intermediates were acetic acid and formic acid. / Furthermore, it was found that the degradation of benzene can be further enhanced in the presence of phenol. The main reason can be attributed to the effect of the free radicals generated from the fast phenol degradation. A simplified pathway for oxidation of benzene was proposed.