Graphite and graphitic materials underpin a number of modern technologies such as electrodes for energy storage and conversion systems. Due to their aromatic honeycomb-type lattice and layered structure, these carbons host a rich variety of foreign elements in their interstices. Whether possessing a tubular morphology - that enables the encapsulation of inorganic compounds, or a planar texture - where anions and molecules can intercalate, the chemical analysis of graphite and graphitic materials is often confronted with the need to disintegrate the carbon matrix to quantify target elements, most often metals. However, the resilience of the sp2-hybridized carbon lattice to chemical attacks is an obstacle to its facile solubilization, a necessary step to perform some of the most common elemental analysis measurements. Over the years, a range of alternative approaches have sprung out to address this issue such as the combustion of the carbon matrix followed by the acid dissolution of its ash product. Unfortunately, none of these represents a viable method that can be applied to batteries, in great part because of the different components that make up the carbon-based electrodes. In this dissertation, a new protocol has been developed to digest graphitic materials aiming to access their elemental composition in bulk scale. The approach is based on the use of molten alkaline salts to promote the oxidation of the carbon lattice and leach out metals into a dilute acid solution. As a model sample, given the existence of standards with a matching matrix, single-walled carbon nanotubes were examined. After being subjected to the alkaline oxidation (a.k.a. fusion), they were solubilized and analyzed with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy, a widely popular tool for elemental analysis of metals. Structural analysis ensued to understand the interaction of the molten salts with the nanotubes. After evaluating the applicability of the protocol to other carbons, a more complex system was investigated, namely the carbon-based anode of an intercalation-type potassium ion battery. In this process, a direct way to quantify the mass of the alkali metal was discovered, one which makes use of complementary chemical and structural analytical tools.

In the United States, 19.3% of adults use some form of tobacco. Nicotine is a compound that is present in tobacco. Nicotine also has been detected in the calculus of teeth of archaeological specimens. The teeth are often well-preserved in unidentified human remains and are resilient in terms of damage from physical or chemical degradation. Dental plaque and calculus form on teeth and can entrap many chemical traces of compounds to which teeth are exposed. Many studies have examined the calculus microscopically and chemically using various techniques to establish patterns in diet, behavior, and health. Forensic odontologists can assist in the identification of individuals using dental records, but some individuals may not have recent or relevant records. In addition, some skeletal remains might only include a partial mandible or maxillae or may consist of only disarticulated teeth. However, given their representation in the anthropological record and the persistence of dental calculus on teeth postmortem, analyzing teeth for behavioral indicators can provide anthropologists with significant information to assist with identifying an individual. For example, detecting the presence of nicotine from teeth can provide information about tobacco use habits of an individual. In this study, the hypothesis was tested whether nicotine can be detected from teeth. It was also hypothesized that different behaviors of use would yield different quantities of nicotine in calculus, and that some nicotine in lower but detectable quantities may still be present from the teeth of non-users. Eighty-two teeth from the Boston University Goldman School of Dentistry were collected from tobacco users and non-users, which were determined by anonymous survey. All teeth were analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Three types of sample extraction were tested. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was used with two subgroups of the overall sample. For Sample Groups A (n=41) and B (n=18), teeth were heated at 80ºC for an hour in a 20 mL SPME vial. An 85 μm polyacrylate SPME fiber was exposed to the headspace of the vials for 15 minutes for teeth in group A and 30 minutes for teeth in group B. For sample group C (n=24), teeth were sonicated in 5 mL ethanol for 30 minutes. After sonication, the ethanol was pipetted into autosampler GC vials. All samples were analyzed on an Agilent Technologies 7890A Gas Chromatography system connected to and Agilent Technologies 5975C inert XL EI/CI Mass Spectrometer and data produced were analyzed using Agilent ChemStation Software. Gas chromatography –mass spectrometry parameters were consistent across all samples, with a solvent delay for the group C samples. Results indicated that while SPME is sensitive enough to detect spiked nicotine from prepared samples, the extraction method did not show any significant data which would identify users. For the samples which were extracted by sonication in methanol, there was an increased likelihood that teeth belonging to a user had a positive identification for nicotine. Of the sonicated samples, 63.6% of teeth from tobacco users showed a positive hit after sonication, while none of the non-user teeth had positive nicotine hits. However, the amount of nicotine detected from each sample does not necessarily reflect tobacco user behavior such as daily frequency, years of use, or type of tobacco.

No description available.

This study attempted to determine hydrocarbons in the crude oil by comparing the results obtained using the two methods of analysis: chemical analysis and Kurtz-Headington analysis. The Kurtz-Headington analysis was found to be adequate to determine hydrocarbons in the crude oil.

Groundwater chemistry is highly variable and dependent on environmental conditions, and it is not entirely understood how all these factors contribute to groundwater chemistry. This study aims to examine some of the factors that contribute to groundwater heterogeneity in the Amazon Rainforest. This was done by collecting groundwater samples from piezometers in three different regions of the Amazon Basin in Brazil, and then analyzing them in the lab for cations and anions, as well as dissolved inorganic and organic carbon. Environmental conditions were measured in the field using portable probes. The results were analyzed and compared with previously established figures for tropical forests. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and R in order to establish correlations and linear relationships between the studied variables.Understanding how groundwater supplies are affected is important for being able to predict and manage environmental change that can degrade groundwater sources. This knowledge could also help in developing strategies for groundwater remediation efforts in areas where supplies are contaminated.

No / The synthesis of 1,1-thiodisaccharide trehalose analogues in good to excellent yields by a Lewis acid (BF(3).Et(2)O)-catalysed coupling of sugar per-O-acetate with thiosugar is described. The reactivity of different sugar per-O-acetates and thiosugars is explored.

<p> Five pyroclastic breccia rock samples from a felsic volcanic sequence at Kakagi Lake, Northwestern Ontario, have been analysed for eight major elements using X-Ray Fluorescence to study the fragment-matrix relationships. The salic fragments represent a rhyodacitic composition and the matrices are of andesitic composition showing Fe and Mg enrichment and Si deficiency compared to the fragment. </p> <p> Four matrix and four fragment samples were obtained from one rock,and a triplicate analysis of one of these matrices,compared to the average of the four matrices, showed that the variability of the composition throughout the rock was not due to the analytical procedure. </p> <p> These results agree reasonably well with the trends found in previous work by Goodwin (1968) and Baragar and Goodwin (1969) considering the matrices only. The fragment-matrix study for this area is unique and has been carried out in conjunction with Smith (1971). </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

<p> Samples from two granitic offshoot dikes from the Murray granite, and from the Murray granite itself were analysed for eight major elements using X-Ray Fluorescence, to determine whether or not the dikes represented remobilized parts of the Murray granite and as such could have a different chemical composition from the parent material.</p> <p> The analyses show that only very minor chemical differences exist between the two granitic dikes and the main Murray granite. However four samples of the dike rocks appear to show element exchange with the Sudbury norite surrounding them, resulting in increased Na2O and CaO contents and lower K2O contents, resulting in increased amounts of albitic plagioclase.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

O uso de pesticidas constitui um importante aspecto na agricultura moderna, com inquestionável beneficio na produção agrícola. Porém a contaminação dos alimentos por pesticidas constitui um sério risco a saúde do consumidor. A determinação de resíduo de pesticidas em alimentos envolve procedimentos laboriosos, com elevado tempo de análise e várias etapas de pré-concentração. Neste trabalho, procedimentos alternativos de extração e pré-concentração para analise multiresíduo de pesticida em água, frutas e tubérculos foram desenvolvidos. A eletroforese capilar em seu modo MEKC em condições de alto e baixo fluxo eletrosmótico foi empregado para a otimização da separação de diferentes classes de pesticidas (triazinas, organofosforado, carbendamidazóis, feniluréia e carbamatos). A composição do eletrólito de separação otimizada para condições de alto EOF foi: 10 mmol L-1 de tetraborato de sódio (pH 9,3),50 mmol L-1 de SDS e 5% etanol e 5% propanol, enquanto que para condições de baixo EOF foi: 10 mmol L-1 de tampão fosfato (pH 2,5), 25 mmol L-1 de SDS e 10% metanol. Estratégias de pré-concetração on-line conhecida como sweeping (SW) e stacking nos modos de migração reversa das micelas (SRMM) e migração reversa com um plug de água (SWR) bem como as suas versões modificadas foram avaliadas, obtendo fatores de pré-concetração de variaram de 2,6 a 19 para o SW, 2,9 a 15 para o SRW e de 5,5 a 15 para o método SRMM modificado. Varias metodologias de extração envolvendo extração em fase sólida (SPE) e extração líquido-líquido (LLE) foram testada. A estratégia de extração por cloud point foi aplicada a uma amostra de abacaxi. O procedimento denominado dispersão da matriz em fase sólida (sigla inglesa MSPD), que minimiza o uso de solventes orgânicos e é de fácil implementação foi aplicado a amostras de cenoura. A combinação do SPE off-line e das estratégias de pré-concentração anteriormente mencionadas permitiram a determinação de alguns pesticidas na concentração de 0,1 &#181;g L-1 em amostras de água potável. O método de extração e clean-up MSPD seguida da análise de MEKC em alto EOF foi otimizado e algumas figuras de mérito foram estabelecidas baseados em protocolos de validação para análise de pesticidas (IAEA-FAO). Boa linearidade (r > 0,99) foi obtido para todos os pesticidas estudados, exceto para linuron e dimetoato. A precisão do método foi estimada através de testes de recuperação. Dois níveis de fortificação foram utilizados para a avaliação, foram obtidos recuperações de 51 a 89 % para o nível mais baixo e 67 a 100% para o maior nível. Foi obtida uma boa precisão intraensaio (CV < 15%). O método otimizado foi aplicado para análise multiresíduo de cenouras. Uma amostra adquirida no comércio local foi quantificada encontrando-se 0,88 mg kg-1 de simazina, 0,13 mg kg-1 de atrazina e 0,08 mg kg-1 de propazina. / The use of pesticides constitutes an important aspect of modem agriculture, with unquestionable impact on crop production. However, food contamination by pesticide residues is a serious risk for the consumer. The determination of pesticide residues in food usually involves laborious procedures, with time consuming sample clean up and preconcentration steps prior to the analysis. In this work, alternative methodologies for extraction, pre-concentration and analysis of pesticide multi-residue in water, fruits and tubers were developed. Capillary electrophoresis in its micellar mode (micellar electrokinetic Chromatography, MEKC) under low and high electroosmotic flow (EOF) conditions was used for the separation of pesticides from different chemical classes (triazines, organophosphorous, carbendamidazols, phenilurea and carbamates). Optimized electrolyte compositions were: high EOF - 10 mmol L-1 tetraborate (pH 9.3), 50 mmol L-1 SDS, 5 % ethanol and 5 % propanol; low EOF - 10 mmol L-1 phosphate buffer (pH 2.5), 25 mmol L-1 SDS and 10 % methanol. On-line preconcentration strategies for MEKC known as sweeping (SW) and stacking with reverse migrating micelles with (SRW) and without (SRMM) a plug of water prior to the sample plug as well as modified versions of SRW and RMM were evaluated and contrasted in terms of signal enhancement factor (peak height ratios) Signal enhancement factors for SW varied from 2,6 to 19 for SRW from 2,9 to 15, whereas for modified-SRMM from 5,5 to 15. Among the extraction methodologies, several procedures involving solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) were tested. It is worth mentioning a strategy based upon cloud point extraction, which was applied to pineapple samples and a procedure denominated matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), which combines low cost, saves in solvents and easy implementation, applied to carrots. The combination of off-line SPE and the above mentioned on-line preconcentration strategies allowed the determination of selected pesticides in the 0.1 &#181;/L level (drinking water sample). A complete methodology involving MSPD for extraction and sample clean-up followed by MEKC in high EOF was optimized and a few figures of merit were established based on method validation protocols for pesticide analysis (IAEA-FAO). Good linearity (r>0.99) was obtained for all pesticides under investigation, except for linuron and dimetoate. The method accuracy was estimated by recovery tests. Two level standard spiking were conducted with recoveries of 51 to 89 % for the lowest level and 67 to 100 % for the highest level. Acceptable intra-day precision was obtained (CV < 15 %). The optimized method was applied to the analysis of multi-residue pesticides in carrots. In a sample acquired in a local grocery store an unusual amount of triazines was found: simazine (O,88 mg/kg), atrazine (0,13 mg/kg) and propazine (0,088mg/kg).

O uso de pesticidas constitui um importante aspecto na agricultura moderna, com inquestionável beneficio na produção agrícola. Porém a contaminação dos alimentos por pesticidas constitui um sério risco a saúde do consumidor. A determinação de resíduo de pesticidas em alimentos envolve procedimentos laboriosos, com elevado tempo de análise e várias etapas de pré-concentração. Neste trabalho, procedimentos alternativos de extração e pré-concentração para analise multiresíduo de pesticida em água, frutas e tubérculos foram desenvolvidos. A eletroforese capilar em seu modo MEKC em condições de alto e baixo fluxo eletrosmótico foi empregado para a otimização da separação de diferentes classes de pesticidas (triazinas, organofosforado, carbendamidazóis, feniluréia e carbamatos). A composição do eletrólito de separação otimizada para condições de alto EOF foi: 10 mmol L-1 de tetraborato de sódio (pH 9,3),50 mmol L-1 de SDS e 5% etanol e 5% propanol, enquanto que para condições de baixo EOF foi: 10 mmol L-1 de tampão fosfato (pH 2,5), 25 mmol L-1 de SDS e 10% metanol. Estratégias de pré-concetração on-line conhecida como sweeping (SW) e stacking nos modos de migração reversa das micelas (SRMM) e migração reversa com um plug de água (SWR) bem como as suas versões modificadas foram avaliadas, obtendo fatores de pré-concetração de variaram de 2,6 a 19 para o SW, 2,9 a 15 para o SRW e de 5,5 a 15 para o método SRMM modificado. Varias metodologias de extração envolvendo extração em fase sólida (SPE) e extração líquido-líquido (LLE) foram testada. A estratégia de extração por cloud point foi aplicada a uma amostra de abacaxi. O procedimento denominado dispersão da matriz em fase sólida (sigla inglesa MSPD), que minimiza o uso de solventes orgânicos e é de fácil implementação foi aplicado a amostras de cenoura. A combinação do SPE off-line e das estratégias de pré-concentração anteriormente mencionadas permitiram a determinação de alguns pesticidas na concentração de 0,1 &#181;g L-1 em amostras de água potável. O método de extração e clean-up MSPD seguida da análise de MEKC em alto EOF foi otimizado e algumas figuras de mérito foram estabelecidas baseados em protocolos de validação para análise de pesticidas (IAEA-FAO). Boa linearidade (r > 0,99) foi obtido para todos os pesticidas estudados, exceto para linuron e dimetoato. A precisão do método foi estimada através de testes de recuperação. Dois níveis de fortificação foram utilizados para a avaliação, foram obtidos recuperações de 51 a 89 % para o nível mais baixo e 67 a 100% para o maior nível. Foi obtida uma boa precisão intraensaio (CV < 15%). O método otimizado foi aplicado para análise multiresíduo de cenouras. Uma amostra adquirida no comércio local foi quantificada encontrando-se 0,88 mg kg-1 de simazina, 0,13 mg kg-1 de atrazina e 0,08 mg kg-1 de propazina. / The use of pesticides constitutes an important aspect of modem agriculture, with unquestionable impact on crop production. However, food contamination by pesticide residues is a serious risk for the consumer. The determination of pesticide residues in food usually involves laborious procedures, with time consuming sample clean up and preconcentration steps prior to the analysis. In this work, alternative methodologies for extraction, pre-concentration and analysis of pesticide multi-residue in water, fruits and tubers were developed. Capillary electrophoresis in its micellar mode (micellar electrokinetic Chromatography, MEKC) under low and high electroosmotic flow (EOF) conditions was used for the separation of pesticides from different chemical classes (triazines, organophosphorous, carbendamidazols, phenilurea and carbamates). Optimized electrolyte compositions were: high EOF - 10 mmol L-1 tetraborate (pH 9.3), 50 mmol L-1 SDS, 5 % ethanol and 5 % propanol; low EOF - 10 mmol L-1 phosphate buffer (pH 2.5), 25 mmol L-1 SDS and 10 % methanol. On-line preconcentration strategies for MEKC known as sweeping (SW) and stacking with reverse migrating micelles with (SRW) and without (SRMM) a plug of water prior to the sample plug as well as modified versions of SRW and RMM were evaluated and contrasted in terms of signal enhancement factor (peak height ratios) Signal enhancement factors for SW varied from 2,6 to 19 for SRW from 2,9 to 15, whereas for modified-SRMM from 5,5 to 15. Among the extraction methodologies, several procedures involving solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) were tested. It is worth mentioning a strategy based upon cloud point extraction, which was applied to pineapple samples and a procedure denominated matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), which combines low cost, saves in solvents and easy implementation, applied to carrots. The combination of off-line SPE and the above mentioned on-line preconcentration strategies allowed the determination of selected pesticides in the 0.1 &#181;/L level (drinking water sample). A complete methodology involving MSPD for extraction and sample clean-up followed by MEKC in high EOF was optimized and a few figures of merit were established based on method validation protocols for pesticide analysis (IAEA-FAO). Good linearity (r>0.99) was obtained for all pesticides under investigation, except for linuron and dimetoate. The method accuracy was estimated by recovery tests. Two level standard spiking were conducted with recoveries of 51 to 89 % for the lowest level and 67 to 100 % for the highest level. Acceptable intra-day precision was obtained (CV < 15 %). The optimized method was applied to the analysis of multi-residue pesticides in carrots. In a sample acquired in a local grocery store an unusual amount of triazines was found: simazine (O,88 mg/kg), atrazine (0,13 mg/kg) and propazine (0,088mg/kg).