Recentemente, o mecanismo pelo qual o ácido fórmico é oxidado tem gerado debate na literatura. Há discordância em relação às vias pelas quais o processo ocorre e também qual seria o principal intermediário de uma das vias. Como forma de se obter novas informações sobre este sistema, há trabalhos na literatura explorando diferentes condições experimentais, como por exemplo, a adição de um aditivo. Dentre eles, a hidrazina foi eleita por ser outra molécula de interesse para aplicação em dispositivos de conversão de energia química em elétrica. Assim argumenta-se que a presença da hidrazina não interfere na eletro-oxidação do ácido fórmico e, portanto, gera uma resposta total aditiva da soma das partes individuais. Ao se utilizar o estudo do comportamento complexo de um sistema como metodologia, pode-se encontrar novas informações a respeito deste. Desta forma, foi descoberto que o comportamento ao invés de aditivo seria sinergético e que há mudanças significativas na série temporal do ácido fórmico, como um grande aumento na duração do processo e a alteração de algumas de suas variáveis. Também foi observada uma mudança no comportamento das oscilações potenciostáticas, indicando uma dependência do processo com a superfície utilizada. Foi proposto que a hidrazina atuaria reduzindo o acúmulo de espécies oxigenadas na superfície do eletrodo prevenindo que a série temporal terminasse brevemente. Em seguida empregou-se uma técnica espectrométrica (DEMS) para avaliar a produção de produtos gasosos (CO2) e descobriu-se que, na presença de hidrazina, o ácido fórmico oxida-se de forma facilitada, em potenciais mais baixos. Propôs-se que, além de prevenir o acúmulo de espécies oxigenadas, a hidrazina perturbaria a decomposição do ácido fórmico para a geração de CO, permitindo uma oxidação direta em potenciais mais baixos. Finalmente, para se aprofundar o entendimento dos processos superficiais, utilizou-se a técnica EMSI para se obter uma imagem da superfície. Foi descoberto que a decomposição do ácido fórmico a COads ocorre gerando uma frente reacional que se repete ciclo após ciclo durante a série temporal e que é possível monitorar a variação de adsorbatos por uma mudança na intensidade da imagem. Não foi possível obter dados na presença da hidrazina por conta da presença de bolhas. Como conclusão entende-se neste trabalho que há evidências o suficiente para apontar que a eletro-oxidação do ácido fórmico assistido por hidrazina ocorre, não de forma aditiva, mas sim de forma sinergética. / Recently, the mechanism by which formic acid is oxidized is a matter of debate on the literature. There is disagreement on the pathways that the process may occur as well as which would be the intermediates participating. In this sense, there are some work exploring another aspect of this reaction, such as its behavior facing the addition of an additive. Among them, hydrazine has been chosen as it is another molecule of interest for energy generation devices such as fuel cells. In this fashion, it is argued that the presence of hydrazine would not interfere in the electro-oxidation of formic acid and, therefore, would yield an additive current when being co-oxidized. The complex behavior of a system may display new and relevant information thus this methodology was employed to revisit this system. It was found that the system would behave, instead of the argued additive behavior, synergistically and that there are striking differences on the time-series of formic acid, such as an increase on the duration of the process and the alteration of some of its variables. Also, it was observed a change in the potentiostatic oscillations, showing a dependence of the process with the morphology of the surface employed. It was proposed that hydrazine would act reducing the accumulation of oxygenated species on the surface of the electrode, postponing the end of the time-series. Next, it was employed a spectrometric technique (DEMS) to evaluate the production of gaseous products (CO2) and it was found that, in the presence of hydrazine, formic acid gets oxidized in a more facile way, in lower overpotential values. It was proposed that, besides preventing the accumulation of oxygenated species, hydrazine would disturb the decomposition of formic acid to COads, allowing a direct oxidation in lower overpotentials. Finally, for deepening the understanding of the superficial processes it was employed an imaging technique (EMSI). It was discovered that the decomposition of formic acid to COads there is a reactional front that repeats itself cycle after cycle during the time-series and that it is possible to monitor changes in the coverage of adsorbates by changes in the intensity of the image. It was not possible to obtain data in the presence of hydrazine since it generates many bubbles that disrupt the experiment. As conclusion of this work it is presented the thesis that, with the amount of evidences herein presented, the interaction between formic acid and hydrazine is synergistical rather than additive, as stated on the literature.

Recentemente, o mecanismo pelo qual o ácido fórmico é oxidado tem gerado debate na literatura. Há discordância em relação às vias pelas quais o processo ocorre e também qual seria o principal intermediário de uma das vias. Como forma de se obter novas informações sobre este sistema, há trabalhos na literatura explorando diferentes condições experimentais, como por exemplo, a adição de um aditivo. Dentre eles, a hidrazina foi eleita por ser outra molécula de interesse para aplicação em dispositivos de conversão de energia química em elétrica. Assim argumenta-se que a presença da hidrazina não interfere na eletro-oxidação do ácido fórmico e, portanto, gera uma resposta total aditiva da soma das partes individuais. Ao se utilizar o estudo do comportamento complexo de um sistema como metodologia, pode-se encontrar novas informações a respeito deste. Desta forma, foi descoberto que o comportamento ao invés de aditivo seria sinergético e que há mudanças significativas na série temporal do ácido fórmico, como um grande aumento na duração do processo e a alteração de algumas de suas variáveis. Também foi observada uma mudança no comportamento das oscilações potenciostáticas, indicando uma dependência do processo com a superfície utilizada. Foi proposto que a hidrazina atuaria reduzindo o acúmulo de espécies oxigenadas na superfície do eletrodo prevenindo que a série temporal terminasse brevemente. Em seguida empregou-se uma técnica espectrométrica (DEMS) para avaliar a produção de produtos gasosos (CO2) e descobriu-se que, na presença de hidrazina, o ácido fórmico oxida-se de forma facilitada, em potenciais mais baixos. Propôs-se que, além de prevenir o acúmulo de espécies oxigenadas, a hidrazina perturbaria a decomposição do ácido fórmico para a geração de CO, permitindo uma oxidação direta em potenciais mais baixos. Finalmente, para se aprofundar o entendimento dos processos superficiais, utilizou-se a técnica EMSI para se obter uma imagem da superfície. Foi descoberto que a decomposição do ácido fórmico a COads ocorre gerando uma frente reacional que se repete ciclo após ciclo durante a série temporal e que é possível monitorar a variação de adsorbatos por uma mudança na intensidade da imagem. Não foi possível obter dados na presença da hidrazina por conta da presença de bolhas. Como conclusão entende-se neste trabalho que há evidências o suficiente para apontar que a eletro-oxidação do ácido fórmico assistido por hidrazina ocorre, não de forma aditiva, mas sim de forma sinergética. / Recently, the mechanism by which formic acid is oxidized is a matter of debate on the literature. There is disagreement on the pathways that the process may occur as well as which would be the intermediates participating. In this sense, there are some work exploring another aspect of this reaction, such as its behavior facing the addition of an additive. Among them, hydrazine has been chosen as it is another molecule of interest for energy generation devices such as fuel cells. In this fashion, it is argued that the presence of hydrazine would not interfere in the electro-oxidation of formic acid and, therefore, would yield an additive current when being co-oxidized. The complex behavior of a system may display new and relevant information thus this methodology was employed to revisit this system. It was found that the system would behave, instead of the argued additive behavior, synergistically and that there are striking differences on the time-series of formic acid, such as an increase on the duration of the process and the alteration of some of its variables. Also, it was observed a change in the potentiostatic oscillations, showing a dependence of the process with the morphology of the surface employed. It was proposed that hydrazine would act reducing the accumulation of oxygenated species on the surface of the electrode, postponing the end of the time-series. Next, it was employed a spectrometric technique (DEMS) to evaluate the production of gaseous products (CO2) and it was found that, in the presence of hydrazine, formic acid gets oxidized in a more facile way, in lower overpotential values. It was proposed that, besides preventing the accumulation of oxygenated species, hydrazine would disturb the decomposition of formic acid to COads, allowing a direct oxidation in lower overpotentials. Finally, for deepening the understanding of the superficial processes it was employed an imaging technique (EMSI). It was discovered that the decomposition of formic acid to COads there is a reactional front that repeats itself cycle after cycle during the time-series and that it is possible to monitor changes in the coverage of adsorbates by changes in the intensity of the image. It was not possible to obtain data in the presence of hydrazine since it generates many bubbles that disrupt the experiment. As conclusion of this work it is presented the thesis that, with the amount of evidences herein presented, the interaction between formic acid and hydrazine is synergistical rather than additive, as stated on the literature.

In light of increasing harmful algal blooms and the need to protect human health and aquatic resources, proactive management approaches merit further study. For this purpose I conducted field samplings to characterize plankton community composition and laboratory experiments to test some approaches to new management schemes in the lower Rincon Delta. On site measurements and microscopic analysis showed that environmental parameters and plankton community composition varied considerably among sampling stations and sampling dates. A recent modeling study suggested that manipulation of freshwater inflow to estuaries might prevent phytoplankton blooms and enhance secondary productivity. To test this theory I conducted three semi-continuous design and flow-through incubation design experiments using natural plankton assemblages. I investigated the effect of two different pulsing regimes of inflow and nutrient loading on zooplankton densities, and phytoplankton biomass and diversity. Despite differences in zooplankton structure and phytoplankton community composition between the two experiment designs, the results confirmed that pulsed inflows might alter plankton dynamics. My findings showed that 3-day pulse treatments consistently supported greater zooplankton densities and higher phytoplankton species diversity when compared to 1-day pulse treatments. In addition, accumulation of phytoplankton biovolume remained low during 3-day pulse treatments. Differences in zooplankton performance between 3-day pulse and 1-day pulse inflow treatments were likely due to the ability of phytoplankton to uptake and store greater amounts of nutrients under conditions of 3-day pulse inflow. This resulted in food of higher quality for zooplankton, and might have supported greater zooplankton population growth rates. Additionally, in an attempt to understand the mechanisms leading to high biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems, I built a resource-storage model and studied the effects of resource-storage on competition of multiple phytoplankton species on multiple abiotic resources. I compared this model with a well-established multi-species competition model. My results showed that for certain species combinations a resource-storage-based model can generate dissimilar outcomes when compared to a model without resource-storage.

In light of increasing harmful algal blooms and the need to protect human health and aquatic resources, proactive management approaches merit further study. For this purpose I conducted field samplings to characterize plankton community composition and laboratory experiments to test some approaches to new management schemes in the lower Rincon Delta. On site measurements and microscopic analysis showed that environmental parameters and plankton community composition varied considerably among sampling stations and sampling dates. A recent modeling study suggested that manipulation of freshwater inflow to estuaries might prevent phytoplankton blooms and enhance secondary productivity. To test this theory I conducted three semi-continuous design and flow-through incubation design experiments using natural plankton assemblages. I investigated the effect of two different pulsing regimes of inflow and nutrient loading on zooplankton densities, and phytoplankton biomass and diversity. Despite differences in zooplankton structure and phytoplankton community composition between the two experiment designs, the results confirmed that pulsed inflows might alter plankton dynamics. My findings showed that 3-day pulse treatments consistently supported greater zooplankton densities and higher phytoplankton species diversity when compared to 1-day pulse treatments. In addition, accumulation of phytoplankton biovolume remained low during 3-day pulse treatments. Differences in zooplankton performance between 3-day pulse and 1-day pulse inflow treatments were likely due to the ability of phytoplankton to uptake and store greater amounts of nutrients under conditions of 3-day pulse inflow. This resulted in food of higher quality for zooplankton, and might have supported greater zooplankton population growth rates. Additionally, in an attempt to understand the mechanisms leading to high biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems, I built a resource-storage model and studied the effects of resource-storage on competition of multiple phytoplankton species on multiple abiotic resources. I compared this model with a well-established multi-species competition model. My results showed that for certain species combinations a resource-storage-based model can generate dissimilar outcomes when compared to a model without resource-storage.