Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Adviser: Michael Sigman. Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-147).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T18:48:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-02-26. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-08-12T18:50:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000865246.pdf: 1418887 bytes, checksum: e6ebb1960afe82f4c1dcbbf2458c4f2b (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Os compostos bioativos do arroz variam de acordo com a variedade e condições de cultivo. Componentes lipossolúvies como γ-orizanol, tocoferóis, tocotrienóis, carotenóides e ácidos graxos foram analisados em variedades de arroz integral, integral açucarado, vermelho e negro, utilizando métodos estabelecidos de cromatografia líquida de alta pressão e cromatografia gasosa. Todas as amostras também foram submetidas a análise por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massa (LTQ-Orbitrap XL), para identificar a abundância iônica [M-H]- de γ-orizanol, variando de m/z 573.3949 a 617.4211. O maior conteúdo de tocoferóis (α-, 1.5; γ-, 0.5 mg/100 g) e carotenóides (luteína 244; trans-β caroteno 25 μg/100 g) foram observados no arroz negro; tocotrienóis (α-, 0.07; γ-, 0.14 mg/100 g) em arroz vermelho e γ-orizanol (115 mg/100 g) no arroz integral açucarado. Em todas as amostras de arroz integral coloridas, os principais ácidos graxos encontrados foram palmítico (16:0), oleico (18:1n-9) e linoleico (18:2n-6). A análise dos componentes de γ-orizanol por espectrometria de massa permitiu identificar 3, 10, 8, e 8 álcoois triterpenóides ou esteril ferulatos nas amostras integral, integral açucarado, vermelho e negro, respectivamente. Estas identificações dos componentes de γ-orizanol, assim como, a concentração dos compostos bioativos, pode levar a elucidação das funções biológicas de cada componente à nível molecular. O consumo de amostras de arroz integral colorido, ricas em compostos bioativos benéficos, pode representar uma interessante estratégia dietética para melhoria da saúde / Bioactive components in rice vary depending on the variety and growing condition. Fat-soluble components such as γ-oryzanol, tocopherols, tocotrienols, carotenoids and fatty acids were analyzed in brown, sugary brown, red and black rice varieties using established high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and GC methodologies. In addition, these colored rice varieties were further analyzed using a high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (LTQ-Orbitrap XL) to identify the [M-H]- ions of γ-oryzanol, ranging from m/z 573.3949 to 617.4211. The highest content of tocopherols (α-, 1.5; γ-, 0.5 mg/100 g) and carotenoids (lutein 244; trans-β carotene 25 μg/100 g) were observed in black rice; tocotrienols (α-, 0.07; γ-, 0.14 mg/100 g) in red rice, and γ-oryzanol (115 mg/100 g) in sugary brown rice. In all colored rice varieties, the major fatty acids were palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n-9), and linoleic (18:2n-6) acids. When the γ-oryzanol components were further analyzed by LC-MS/MS, 3, 10, 8, and 8 triterpene alcohols or sterol ferulates were identified in brown, sugary brown, red, and black rice varieties, respectively. Such structural identification can lead to the elucidation of biological function of each component at the molecular level. Consumption of colored rice rich in beneficial bioactive compounds may be a useful dietary strategy for achieving optimal health / CNPq: 20013-8/140083-GM/GD

CAPES; Fundação Araucária / A espécie Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) é uma planta que possui ampla aplicação industrial, alto valor nutricional e que, além disso, também exibe diversas atividades biológicas. Utilizadas na medicina popular, as folhas de M. oleifera já demonstraram possuir grande variedade de moléculas bioativas, inclusive compostos fenólicos, os quais são, possivelmente, os responsáveis pelo potencial antioxidante desta parte da planta. Apesar do crescente interesse sobre a espécie e, especificamente, sobre o seu potencial fitoquímico, são escassos os trabalhos que relatam o isolamento e a identificação dos compostos bioativos presentes nas suas folhas, principalmente em exemplares cultivados no Brasil. Sendo assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram comparar dois métodos de extração de compostos bioativos e, na sequência, isolar bioguiadamente compostos com atividade antioxidante das folhas de M. oleifera coletadas no município de Itajaí (Santa Catarina, Brasil). O monitoramento bioguiado foi realizado com ensaios in vitro de determinação da atividade antioxidante: capacidade de redução do reagente Folin-Ciocalteau, FRAP, sequestro dos radicais DPPH e ABTS, além do ORAC. A técnica de CLAE-DAD foi utilizada para a caracterização química e acompanhamento das etapas do isolamento. A principal diferença prática entre os métodos de extração avaliados foi o preparo de um extrato hidroalcoólico inicial, no processo de extração 1. A partir dos resultados de determinação da atividade antioxidante, interpretados com o auxílio de ferramentas estatísticas (teste de Tukey e teste t pareado), foi possível perceber que o potencial das folhas de M. oleifera sofreu variações em função da forma de extração e dos solventes utilizados. Em geral, as frações produzidas a partir do processo de extração 1 apresentaram maior atividade antioxidante e perfis cromatográficos com sinais mais intensos. Com base nestes resultados, a fração obtida com acetato de etila, no processo de extração 1, foi selecionada para dar sequência ao isolamento bioguiado. A purificação desta fração em coluna aberta preenchida com sílica gel gerou 61 subfrações, as quais, após análise de CCD, foram agrupadas em 18. A avaliação da atividade antioxidante das subfrações agrupadas mostrou que cinco apresentavam grande potencial. Contudo, em função do rendimento, apenas três puderam dar sequência ao isolamento. Nesta etapa, uma análise adicional foi realizada: a determinação da atividade antioxidante por CLAE on-line com o ABTS•+, que permitiu definir quais dos compostos presentes nas três subfrações possuíam maior potencial e, por isso, seriam isolados. Desta forma, cinco compostos foram isolados pela técnica de CLAE semipreparativa, sendo que dois foram testados frente ao ensaio de sequestro do DPPH•. Os valores de EC50 obtidos, 30,34 e 38,72 μg/mL, estão próximos aos encontrados na literatura para substâncias isoladas de outras matrizes naturais. A técnica de RMN permitiu identificar um flavonol glicosilado. Os resultados deste trabalho mostraram que as folhas de M. oleifera coletadas em Itajaí são fonte de compostos fenólicos com potencial antioxidante e, por isso, promissoras para aplicação nas indústrias de cosméticos, alimentos e farmacêutica. / Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) is a plant that has wide industrial application, high nutritional value and, also, exhibits several biological activities. Used in folk medicine, M. oleifera leaves have already been shown to possess a wide variety of bioactive molecules, including phenolic componds, which are possibly responsible for the antioxidant potential of this part of the plant. Despite the growing interest in this species and, specifically, in its phytochemical potential, there are few studies about the isolation and identification of bioactive compounds present in M. oleifera leaves, especially in specimens grown in Brazil. Therefore, the aims of this work were to compare two methods for extracting bioactive componds and, than, to isolate compounds with antioxidant activity of M. oleifera leaves collected in Itajaí (Santa Catarina, Brazil) by a bioguided study. The bioguided monitoring was carried out with in vitro assays to determine the antioxidant activity: Folin-Ciocalteau reagent reduction capacity, FRAP assay, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging methods and, also, the ORAC assay. HPLC-DAD technique was used for chemical characterization and monitoring of the isolation stages. The main practical difference between the evaluated extraction methods was the preparation of an initial hydroalcoholic extract, in the extraction process 1. From the results of the antioxidant activity determination, interpreted with the aid of statistical tools (Tukey’s test and paired t-test), it was possible to see that the potential of M. oleifera leaves varied depending on the extraction form and on the solvents used. In general, the fractions prepared from the extraction process 1 showed higher antioxidant activity and chromatographic profiles with more intense signals. Based on these results, the fraction obtained with ethyl acetate, in the extraction process 1, was selected for the bioguided isolation. The purification of this fraction on an open column of silica gel generated 61 subfractions, which, after TLC analysis, were grouped in 18. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity of grouped subfractions showed that five of them presented great potential. However, depending on the yield, only three could follow the isolation. In this step, an additional analysis was performed: the determination of the antioxidant activity by an on-line HPLC method with the ABTS•+. This technique allowed defining which of the compounds presented in each subfraction had higher potential and, therefore, would be isolated. In this way, five compounds were isolated by semipreparative HPLC, two of them were tested by the DPPH• scavenging assay. The obtained EC50 values, 30.34 and 38.72 μg/mL, are close to those found in literature for substances isolated from other natural matrices. The NMR technique allowed identifying a flavonol glucoside. The results of this work showed that M. oleifera leaves collected in Itajaí are source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant potential and, therefore, are promising for the application in cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries.

CAPES; CNPq; Fundação Araucária / A qualidade das águas é atualmente um assunto que tem atraído a atenção de pessoas de todas as áreas, especialmente quanto à contaminação dos ambientes aquáticos pelos chamados poluentes emergentes. Esses contaminantes constituem compostos orgânicos ou inorgânicos, sintéticos ou naturais, contidos nos bens de consumo utilizados por toda população e que tem como destino final os corpos aquáticos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a presença de produtos farmacêuticos e de higiene pessoal (cafeína, ácido acetilsalicílico, ácido salicílico, cetoprofeno, naproxeno, genfibrozila, fenofibrato, estradiol, etinilestradiol, estrona, 4-metilbenzilideno cânfora, metoxicinamato de octila e octacrileno) no rio Iguaçu, da nascente até sua foz, e em seus principais afluentes na Região Metropolitana de Curitiba. A determinação dos contaminantes emergentes foi realizada utilizando a extração em fase sólida e cromatografia em fase líquida com detector de arranjo de diodos e cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas. Realizou-se validação da metodologia empregada de acordo com os padrões estabelecidos pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. O método para extração e quantificação dos 13 compostos mostrou-se eficiente para a determinação de 10 desses analitos nas amostras de água. A cafeína foi o composto mais presente nas amostras; o ácido acetilsalicílico foi o produto farmacêutico encontrado em maiores concentrações; o estradiol, o hormônio sexual feminino detectado com maior frequência e o metoxicinamato de octila, o produto de higiene pessoal mais detectado. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam grande influência antrópica na bacia do Alto Iguaçu, principalmente devido à presença de esgotos domésticos. Observou-se também que as estações de tratamento de esgoto contribuem com a entrada de nutrientes e contaminantes emergentes que não são eficientemente removidos nos tratamentos utilizados. A falta de saneamento básico impacta negativamente na qualidade das águas do rio Iguaçu, que encontra-se altamente degradado devido a influência dos afluentes da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba. / Water quality is a currently subject that has attracted the attention of people from all areas, especially the contamination of aquatic environments by so-called emerging pollutants. These contaminants are organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic compounds, contained in products used throughout the population and that reacht water bodies. With this work, we intended to verify the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (caffeine, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, ketoprofen, naproxen, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, estradiol, ethinylestradiol, estrone, 4– methylbenzylidencamphor, octylmethoxycinnamate and octacrilene) in Iguaçu River, from source to mouth, and its major tributaries in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. The determination of emerging contaminants was done using solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography with diode array detector and gas chromatography tanden mass spectrometry. Validation of the methodology was conducted in accordance with standards established by the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. The method for extraction and quantitation of the 13 compounds proved to be efficient for the determination of 10 of these analytes in water samples. Caffeine was the main compound present in the samples; acetylsalicylic acid was the pharmaceutical product founded in the highest concentractions; estradiol, the female sexual hormone more frequently detected and octylmethoxycinnamate, the personal care product longer detected. The results of this study indicate intense anthropogenic influence in the Upper Iguaçu basin, mainly due to the presence of domestic sewage. It was also observed that the wastewater treatment plants contribute to the entry of nutrients and emerging contaminants that are not efficiently removed in the treatments used. The lack of sanitation has a negative impact on water quality of the Iguaçu river, which is highly degraded due to the influence of the tributaries of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba.

CAPES; Fundação Araucária / A espécie Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) é uma planta que possui ampla aplicação industrial, alto valor nutricional e que, além disso, também exibe diversas atividades biológicas. Utilizadas na medicina popular, as folhas de M. oleifera já demonstraram possuir grande variedade de moléculas bioativas, inclusive compostos fenólicos, os quais são, possivelmente, os responsáveis pelo potencial antioxidante desta parte da planta. Apesar do crescente interesse sobre a espécie e, especificamente, sobre o seu potencial fitoquímico, são escassos os trabalhos que relatam o isolamento e a identificação dos compostos bioativos presentes nas suas folhas, principalmente em exemplares cultivados no Brasil. Sendo assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram comparar dois métodos de extração de compostos bioativos e, na sequência, isolar bioguiadamente compostos com atividade antioxidante das folhas de M. oleifera coletadas no município de Itajaí (Santa Catarina, Brasil). O monitoramento bioguiado foi realizado com ensaios in vitro de determinação da atividade antioxidante: capacidade de redução do reagente Folin-Ciocalteau, FRAP, sequestro dos radicais DPPH e ABTS, além do ORAC. A técnica de CLAE-DAD foi utilizada para a caracterização química e acompanhamento das etapas do isolamento. A principal diferença prática entre os métodos de extração avaliados foi o preparo de um extrato hidroalcoólico inicial, no processo de extração 1. A partir dos resultados de determinação da atividade antioxidante, interpretados com o auxílio de ferramentas estatísticas (teste de Tukey e teste t pareado), foi possível perceber que o potencial das folhas de M. oleifera sofreu variações em função da forma de extração e dos solventes utilizados. Em geral, as frações produzidas a partir do processo de extração 1 apresentaram maior atividade antioxidante e perfis cromatográficos com sinais mais intensos. Com base nestes resultados, a fração obtida com acetato de etila, no processo de extração 1, foi selecionada para dar sequência ao isolamento bioguiado. A purificação desta fração em coluna aberta preenchida com sílica gel gerou 61 subfrações, as quais, após análise de CCD, foram agrupadas em 18. A avaliação da atividade antioxidante das subfrações agrupadas mostrou que cinco apresentavam grande potencial. Contudo, em função do rendimento, apenas três puderam dar sequência ao isolamento. Nesta etapa, uma análise adicional foi realizada: a determinação da atividade antioxidante por CLAE on-line com o ABTS•+, que permitiu definir quais dos compostos presentes nas três subfrações possuíam maior potencial e, por isso, seriam isolados. Desta forma, cinco compostos foram isolados pela técnica de CLAE semipreparativa, sendo que dois foram testados frente ao ensaio de sequestro do DPPH•. Os valores de EC50 obtidos, 30,34 e 38,72 μg/mL, estão próximos aos encontrados na literatura para substâncias isoladas de outras matrizes naturais. A técnica de RMN permitiu identificar um flavonol glicosilado. Os resultados deste trabalho mostraram que as folhas de M. oleifera coletadas em Itajaí são fonte de compostos fenólicos com potencial antioxidante e, por isso, promissoras para aplicação nas indústrias de cosméticos, alimentos e farmacêutica. / Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) is a plant that has wide industrial application, high nutritional value and, also, exhibits several biological activities. Used in folk medicine, M. oleifera leaves have already been shown to possess a wide variety of bioactive molecules, including phenolic componds, which are possibly responsible for the antioxidant potential of this part of the plant. Despite the growing interest in this species and, specifically, in its phytochemical potential, there are few studies about the isolation and identification of bioactive compounds present in M. oleifera leaves, especially in specimens grown in Brazil. Therefore, the aims of this work were to compare two methods for extracting bioactive componds and, than, to isolate compounds with antioxidant activity of M. oleifera leaves collected in Itajaí (Santa Catarina, Brazil) by a bioguided study. The bioguided monitoring was carried out with in vitro assays to determine the antioxidant activity: Folin-Ciocalteau reagent reduction capacity, FRAP assay, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging methods and, also, the ORAC assay. HPLC-DAD technique was used for chemical characterization and monitoring of the isolation stages. The main practical difference between the evaluated extraction methods was the preparation of an initial hydroalcoholic extract, in the extraction process 1. From the results of the antioxidant activity determination, interpreted with the aid of statistical tools (Tukey’s test and paired t-test), it was possible to see that the potential of M. oleifera leaves varied depending on the extraction form and on the solvents used. In general, the fractions prepared from the extraction process 1 showed higher antioxidant activity and chromatographic profiles with more intense signals. Based on these results, the fraction obtained with ethyl acetate, in the extraction process 1, was selected for the bioguided isolation. The purification of this fraction on an open column of silica gel generated 61 subfractions, which, after TLC analysis, were grouped in 18. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity of grouped subfractions showed that five of them presented great potential. However, depending on the yield, only three could follow the isolation. In this step, an additional analysis was performed: the determination of the antioxidant activity by an on-line HPLC method with the ABTS•+. This technique allowed defining which of the compounds presented in each subfraction had higher potential and, therefore, would be isolated. In this way, five compounds were isolated by semipreparative HPLC, two of them were tested by the DPPH• scavenging assay. The obtained EC50 values, 30.34 and 38.72 μg/mL, are close to those found in literature for substances isolated from other natural matrices. The NMR technique allowed identifying a flavonol glucoside. The results of this work showed that M. oleifera leaves collected in Itajaí are source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant potential and, therefore, are promising for the application in cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries.

CAPES; CNPq; Fundação Araucária / A qualidade das águas é atualmente um assunto que tem atraído a atenção de pessoas de todas as áreas, especialmente quanto à contaminação dos ambientes aquáticos pelos chamados poluentes emergentes. Esses contaminantes constituem compostos orgânicos ou inorgânicos, sintéticos ou naturais, contidos nos bens de consumo utilizados por toda população e que tem como destino final os corpos aquáticos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a presença de produtos farmacêuticos e de higiene pessoal (cafeína, ácido acetilsalicílico, ácido salicílico, cetoprofeno, naproxeno, genfibrozila, fenofibrato, estradiol, etinilestradiol, estrona, 4-metilbenzilideno cânfora, metoxicinamato de octila e octacrileno) no rio Iguaçu, da nascente até sua foz, e em seus principais afluentes na Região Metropolitana de Curitiba. A determinação dos contaminantes emergentes foi realizada utilizando a extração em fase sólida e cromatografia em fase líquida com detector de arranjo de diodos e cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas. Realizou-se validação da metodologia empregada de acordo com os padrões estabelecidos pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. O método para extração e quantificação dos 13 compostos mostrou-se eficiente para a determinação de 10 desses analitos nas amostras de água. A cafeína foi o composto mais presente nas amostras; o ácido acetilsalicílico foi o produto farmacêutico encontrado em maiores concentrações; o estradiol, o hormônio sexual feminino detectado com maior frequência e o metoxicinamato de octila, o produto de higiene pessoal mais detectado. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam grande influência antrópica na bacia do Alto Iguaçu, principalmente devido à presença de esgotos domésticos. Observou-se também que as estações de tratamento de esgoto contribuem com a entrada de nutrientes e contaminantes emergentes que não são eficientemente removidos nos tratamentos utilizados. A falta de saneamento básico impacta negativamente na qualidade das águas do rio Iguaçu, que encontra-se altamente degradado devido a influência dos afluentes da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba. / Water quality is a currently subject that has attracted the attention of people from all areas, especially the contamination of aquatic environments by so-called emerging pollutants. These contaminants are organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic compounds, contained in products used throughout the population and that reacht water bodies. With this work, we intended to verify the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (caffeine, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, ketoprofen, naproxen, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, estradiol, ethinylestradiol, estrone, 4– methylbenzylidencamphor, octylmethoxycinnamate and octacrilene) in Iguaçu River, from source to mouth, and its major tributaries in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. The determination of emerging contaminants was done using solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography with diode array detector and gas chromatography tanden mass spectrometry. Validation of the methodology was conducted in accordance with standards established by the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. The method for extraction and quantitation of the 13 compounds proved to be efficient for the determination of 10 of these analytes in water samples. Caffeine was the main compound present in the samples; acetylsalicylic acid was the pharmaceutical product founded in the highest concentractions; estradiol, the female sexual hormone more frequently detected and octylmethoxycinnamate, the personal care product longer detected. The results of this study indicate intense anthropogenic influence in the Upper Iguaçu basin, mainly due to the presence of domestic sewage. It was also observed that the wastewater treatment plants contribute to the entry of nutrients and emerging contaminants that are not efficiently removed in the treatments used. The lack of sanitation has a negative impact on water quality of the Iguaçu river, which is highly degraded due to the influence of the tributaries of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba.

Improvements to the properties of recycled rubber, by developing a more selective breakdown process, is an important issue and a global challenge. Devulcanization is the most promising way to achieve this. It is a process which aims to totally or partially cleave monosulfidic (C-S-C), disulfidic (C-S-S-C) and polysulfidic (C-Sx-C) crosslinks of vulcanized rubber. In this study, the devulcanization of sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber with a variety of diphenyldisulfides has been studied using 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene and squalene as model compounds, vulcanized by sulfur and 2-bisbenzothiazole-2,2’-disulfide. 2-aminodiphenyldisulfide; 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide; bis(2-benzamido-)diphenyldisulfide and 2,2’-bithiosalicylic acid were used as aromatic disulfides devulcanization agents. Thermal analysis was used to investigate interactions between various combinations of curatives in the vulcanization systems in the absence of model compounds. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to detect mass changes during vulcanization and whether the samples decompose/evaporate so as not to contaminate differential scanning calorimetry instrumentation. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate reactions occurring between curatives. Comparison of reversing and non-reversing signals in modulated experiments are suggestive of reactions between devulcanization agents and sulfur, and accelerators Vulcanization of the model compounds were performed in 10m evacuated sealed glass ampoules placed in an oil bath at 160 °C and agitated for the duration of vulcanization. After 60 min the ampoules were removed and quenched. These were then devulcanized by exposure to a devulcanization agent in a sealed ampoule at 180 for 60 min. Crosslinked 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene species were isolated and analysed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Particular attention was paid to changes in the number of sulfur atoms in the crosslinks. Results indicate that of the devulcanization agents tested 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide was the most effective. No detrimental effect on devulcanization efficiency was caused by the substitution of a basic amino group with an acidic carboxylic acid group Gel permeation chromatography was performed on devulcanized squalene crosslinks using a tetrahydrofuran eluent. GPC investigations with squalene were less effective than HPLC experiments with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene at evaluating the relative efficiency of individual devulcanization agents. Results were, however, consistent with 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide again being the most efficient devulcanization agent.

Introduction: The macroporous Amberlite XAD resins were coated with LIX-64N and examined for the rate of uptake of copper . XAD-7 was by far the best support and gave a satisfactory rate of uptake up to loadings of 60% (w/w). The specific surface area of XAD-7 was measured by the adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution. The area of the wetted resin was five times less than that of the dry resin. LIX-65N was purified and the anti isomer characterised using spectroscopic techniques . The rate of uptake of copper was not improved by use of purified LIX-65N or by addition of LIX-63. XAD-7 coated with LIX-65N was used in columns. Elution curves for copper showed negligible tailing, and rapid separations of copper from iron (111), nickel, cobalt and magnesium by selective absorption were achieved. Copper was concentrated from very dilute solution at a flow rate of 50 ml min -1 ,and a 99% recovery was obtained. The method was applied to the rapid determination of copper in brass and bronze. A series of long-chain hydroxamic acids were synthesised and tested for suitability as stationary phase on XAD-7. Oleohydroxamic acid and naphthenohydroxamic acid were the most promising. The r ate of uptake of copper was reduced by the use of nonylphenol or amyl alcohol as a diluent. The capacities for copper of the hydroxamic acids were less when supported on XAD-7 than when used as liquid ionexchangers. The distribution coefficients of cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, vanadium, uranium, iron (111) and copper were measured as a function of pH. XAD-7 coated with oleohydroxamic acid was used in columns for the rapid separation of iron (111) from copper and of copper from nickel, cobalt, lead and zinc. Copper was concentrated from very dilute solution at a flow rate of 45 ml min -1 and a 100,8% recovery was obtained. Copper was successfully separated from nickel by selective elution. The elution curves obtained show negligible tailing. The resin loaded with oleohydroxamic acid lost capacity due to chemical instability. Naphthenohydroxamic acid supported on XAD-7 was not suitable for use in columns, because it was physically unstable.

M.Sc. / The behaviour i.e. the distribution, bioavailability and toxicity of an element depends on the particular species in which it is present. That being said the prediction of the behaviour of species can therefore not be predicted by determination of the total concentration alone. Speciation analysis is thus an important process, which seeks to identify and quantify the species that occur in a sample. By identifying the species one is better equipped to predict the behaviour of the element if it were released into the ecosystem as well as if it were used in industrial processes. The speciation analysis of the dominant chromium species, Cr(III) and Cr(VI), has received much attention as these contradictory species are involved in many industrial processes such as plating and tanning for example. The species have opposing behaviour as Cr(III) is found to be a necessary micronutrient for mammals where as Cr(VI) is known to be toxic. Of the numerous methods developed for chromium speciation analysis, the on-line process of chromatographic preconcentration followed by simultaneous detection with a sensitive detector produces a synergistic effect for the successful speciation analysis of chromium. It was thus decided to study ion chromatography hyphenated with an ICP-OES as a means of studying chromium species. Anion chromatography coupled with ICP-OES was the basis for the development of the first method. Complexation of Cr(III) with EDTA to form a monovalent anion preceded its separation from Cr(VI) as the chromate anion. A carbonate-bicarbonate eluent was used to elute the species from a Dionex AG 9 guard column coupled with an AS 9 separation column. This method proved to be effective and fast, with each analysis taking less than two minutes. The second method was based on cation chromatography in the form of a Dionex CG12A guard column being coupled with an ICP-OES spectrometer as the detector. This method made use of a gradient elution program in which hexavalent chromium was eluted first with ammonium nitrate followed by trivalent chromium with nitric acid. This method was successfully applied to synthetic samples and was found to be effective.