<!--[if !mso]> <object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object><mce:style><! st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } --> The present work was initiated to study the synthesis and properties of lanthanum gallate based oxides as intermediate temperature electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells. The wet chemical method, polymer complexing route, was used to prepare the precursor powders. To further investigate the polymer complexing method, it was also applied to the preparation of lanthanum aluminate based oxides.   Single perovskite phase La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.83Mg0.17O2.815 can be prepared by the polymer complexing method using PVA as complexing agent. The thermal decomposition of the precursor powder undergoes three stages. While complete decomposition of the precursor is obtained at 1000°C. Further investigation of LaGaO3 doped with various amounts Sr or/and Mg was conducted. Three secondary phases were identified by X-ray diffraction, e.g. LaSrGaO4, LaSrGa3O7 and La4Ga2O9. The relative amount of these secondary phases depends on the doping compositions. Sr doping produced more Sr rich secondary phases with increasing content, while enhanced solid solubility was observed with Mg addition. Sintered samples showed dense microstructures with well-developed equiaxed grains, and the secondary phases were mainly in the grain boundaries. The oxygen ionic conductivity was enhanced by doping with Sr and Mg. Mg doping showed the increased activation energy of conductivity.   Preliminary study showed that the lanthanum gallate and ceria composite electrolyte is mainly fluorite CeO2 phase after sintering. The minority secondary phase, Sm3Ga5O12, was also detected by XRD. The composite electrolyte showed superior electrical performance. It exhibited the highest conductivity in the temperature range of 250–600°C, compared with lanthanum gallate and ceria specimens.   The phase pure perovskite La0.9Sr0.1Al0.85Mg0.1Co0.05O2.875 powders can easily be obtained by the polymer method using PVA as complexing agent. No secondary phase was detected after calcination at various temperatures (500–1100°C). The fully crystallized LaAlO3 phase was prepared after calcination at 900°C. Meanwhile the secondary phases were difficult to eliminate in the Sr- and Mg- doped LaGaO3 powder prepared by the same polymer method. It is thus concluded that the polymer, PVA in this work, provides more homogeneous mixing for cations of lanthanum aluminate based oxides, compared with the one for doped lanthanum gallate.   The influence of different complexing agents, e.g. PVA and PEG, was investigated in the synthesis of lanthanum aluminate powders. Minority impurity La2O3 existed in the PEG powder, but it could be eliminated after sintering at high temperatures. Although the pure phase LaAlO3 can be easily obtained in PVA powders calcined at 950°C, more seriously aggregated particles existed. PEG showed advantages over PVA in terms of better densification and microstructure control in the sintered products. To select proper polymers in complex oxide synthesis, the agglomeration and morphology of the powder are the most important factors to be considered. / QC 20100727

Motor car exhaust catalysts are some of the most important users of platinum, and much attention is given to the recycling of scrap platinum from spent exhaust systems. The dissolution of platinum from waste exhausts was previously only possible by pyrometallurgical processes or by the use of aggressive chemicals, such as aqua regia and cyanide, all of which, however, cause pollution problems. Recently the potential for the development of hydrometallurgical processes was identified. These processes are more efficient and more environmentally friendly than traditional processes. It was the aim of this study to investigate the oxidation of platinum with ozone as oxidizing agent in the presence of chloride as complexing agent. The influence of various factors, such as chloride ion concentration, pH and temperature were studied thermodynamically and electrochemically in order to achieve efficient leaching. The thermodynamic investigation, leading to the construction of Pourbaix diagrams of platinum in the presence of chloride, confirmed the possibility of the formation of stable aqueous complexes, as well as platinum oxides. From the electrochemical results obtained it can be concluded that ozone may be useful as an oxidizing agent, but according to the leaching results obtained, ozone holds few benefits compared to aqua regia and cyanide, although they still present some environmental challenges. The relatively low percentages of recovery obtained with leaching may be attributed to the rapid decomposition of ozone, which is affected by several factors, such as temperature, pH, initial concentration of ozone, ionic strength and stirring rate. Further optimisation of these factors can possibly prove ozone to be a useful oxidizing agent for the recovery of platinum. / Thesis (MSc (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Motor car exhaust catalysts are some of the most important users of platinum, and much attention is given to the recycling of scrap platinum from spent exhaust systems. The dissolution of platinum from waste exhausts was previously only possible by pyrometallurgical processes or by the use of aggressive chemicals, such as aqua regia and cyanide, all of which, however, cause pollution problems. Recently the potential for the development of hydrometallurgical processes was identified. These processes are more efficient and more environmentally friendly than traditional processes. It was the aim of this study to investigate the oxidation of platinum with ozone as oxidizing agent in the presence of chloride as complexing agent. The influence of various factors, such as chloride ion concentration, pH and temperature were studied thermodynamically and electrochemically in order to achieve efficient leaching. The thermodynamic investigation, leading to the construction of Pourbaix diagrams of platinum in the presence of chloride, confirmed the possibility of the formation of stable aqueous complexes, as well as platinum oxides. From the electrochemical results obtained it can be concluded that ozone may be useful as an oxidizing agent, but according to the leaching results obtained, ozone holds few benefits compared to aqua regia and cyanide, although they still present some environmental challenges. The relatively low percentages of recovery obtained with leaching may be attributed to the rapid decomposition of ozone, which is affected by several factors, such as temperature, pH, initial concentration of ozone, ionic strength and stirring rate. Further optimisation of these factors can possibly prove ozone to be a useful oxidizing agent for the recovery of platinum. / Thesis (MSc (Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Characterising the geochemistry and speciation of major contaminant radionuclides is crucial in order to understand their behaviour and migration in complex environmental systems. Organic complexing agents used in nuclear decontamination have been found to enhance migration of radionuclides at contaminated sites; however, the mechanisms of the interactions in complex environments are poorly understood. In this work, radionuclide speciation and sorption behaviour were investigated in order to identify interactions between four key radionuclides with different oxidation states (Cs(I) and Sr(II) as important fission products; Th(IV) and U(VI) as representative actinides), three anthropogenic organic complexing agents with different denticities (EDTA, NTA and picolinic acid as common co-contaminants), and natural sand (as simple environmental solid phase). A UV spectrophotometric and an IC method were developed to monitor the behaviour of EDTA, NTA and picolinic acid in the later experiments. The optimised methods were simple, applied widely-available instrumentation and achieved the necessary analytical figures of merit to allow a compound specific determination over variable background levels of DOC and in the presence of natural cations, anions and radionuclides. The effect of the ligands on the solubility of the radionuclides was studied using a natural sand matrix and pure silica for comparison of anions, cations and organic carbon. In the silica system, the presence of EDTA, NTA and, to a lesser extent, picolinic acid, showed a clear net effect of increasing Th and U solubility. Conversely, in the sand system, the sorption of Th and U was kinetically controlled and radionuclide complexation by the ligands enhanced the rate of sorption, by a mechanism identified as metal exchange with matrix metals. Experiments in which excess EDTA, NTA and picolinic acid (40 – 100 fold excess) were pre-equilibrated with Th and U prior to contact with the sand, to allow a greater degree of radionuclide complex formation, resulted in enhanced rates of sorption. This confirmed that the radionuclide complexes interacted with the sand surface more readily than uncomplexed Th or U. Overall this shows that Th and U mobility would be lowered in this natural sand by the presence of organic co-contaminants. In contrast, the complexation of Sr with the complexing agents was rapid and the effect of the ligands was observed as a net increase on Sr solubility (EDTA, picolinic acid) or sorption (NTA). As expected, Cs did not interact with the ligands, and showed rapid sorption kinetics. Finally, ESI-MS was used to study competitive interactions in the aqueous Th-Mn-ligand ternary system. Quantification presented a challenge, however, the careful approach taken to determine the signal correction allowed the competitive interactions between Mn and Th for EDTA to be studied semi-quantitatively. In an EDTA limited system, Th displaced Mn from the EDTA complex, even in the presence of a higher Mn concentration, which was consistent with the higher stability constant of the Th-EDTA complex.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Toxic elements are in continuous accumulation in the environment mainly due to anthropogenic activities. In this work, a voltammetric method of sequential analysis for application in matrices of complex characteristics was developed. Using an organic mixture complexing, SVRS (alizarin violet) DMG (dimethylglyoxime), 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine), CA (chloranilic acid) and DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) 13 elements could be determined at two different methods. According to the formation constants with their respective ligands, in method 1, step were determined Al3+, Fe3+, Mo6+ SVRS in the presence of AdSV (Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry). In step 2 were determined Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ by ASV. In step 3, were determined Ni2+ and Co2+ in the presence of DMG and oxine. In method 2, V5+ and U6+ were determined by AdSV in the presence of CA (chloranilic acid), Cr(total) was analyzed in sequence by the presence of DTPA by AdSV and finally Tl+ was determined by ASV. The data for the figures of merit showed that the proposed method is suitable for samples of complex matrices studied (certified materials and commercial plant compounds). High concentrations for some elements were found in commercial samples. It indicates that the species translocates through the environment in which they are insert, being susceptible to contact with humans. / Elementos tóxicos estão em contínuo acúmulo no ambiente principalmente devido a atividades antropogênicas. Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvido um método voltamétrico de análise sequencial para aplicação em matrizes de natureza complexa. Utilizando uma mistura de complexantes orgânicos, SVRS (violeta de solocromo), DMG (dimetilglioxima), 8-Hidroxiquinolina (oxina), CA (ácido cloranílico) e DTPA (ácido dietilenotriamino pentaacético) foi possível determinar 13 elementos em dois diferentes métodos. De acordo com as constantes de formação com os respectivos ligantes foi determinado no método 1, etapa 1 Al3+, Fe3+, Mo6+ na presença de SVRS por AdSV (Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry). Na etapa 2 determinou-se Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ por ASV. Na etapa 3, foram determinados Ni2+ e Co2+, na presença de DMG e oxina. No método 2, U6+ e V5+ foram determinados por AdSV na presença de CA (ácido cloranílico), Cr(total) foi determinado na sequência na presença de DTPA por AdSV e por fim, Tl+ foi determinado por ASV. Os dados obtidos para as figuras de mérito mostraram que o método proposto é adequado para as amostras de matrizes complexas estudadas (materiais certificados e compostos vegetais comerciais). Concentrações altas para alguns elementos foram encontradas nas amostras comerciais. Este dado indica que as espécies translocam-se através do meio em que estão inseridos estando suscetíveis a entrar em contato com o ser humano.

This study aimed to understand the interactions between humic substances extracted from peat and metallic species, of the National Park of Itabaiana - SE, seeking a further application in the remediation of soil, surface water contaminated by agricultural activities. We collected samples of soil, fertilizer and peat and characterized by the organic matter content, elemental analysis, pH and concentrations of metals, and for peat analysis was performed in the infrared spectroscopic and complexation capacity of humic substances peat with potentially toxic metals (Ni, Pb, Cu and Mn). In surface water samples were analyzed for major physico-chemical parameters and metal concentrations. Soil samples (2.62%) and poultry manure (13.77%) analyzed showed low levels of organic matter, the goat manure (72.72%) and the mixture of castor bean and goat manure (75.56%) showed high levels of organic matter. The concentrations of the metals Ni, Cr and Cd in samples of soil, fertilizers, except for the castor-oil sample, surface water Pb, Ni, Cd, Al, Cu and Mn exceeded the limits provided by law. The peat samples collected at depth higher (40 to 60 cm) had organic matter content and C / N ratio higher indicating that the organic matter is more decomposed and humified. The infrared spectra in the region of humic substances showed absorption bands more intense than those of peat. The metals Fe, K and Na showed higher concentrations at depth 0-20 cm, while others (Cd, Pb and Mo) were below the limit of quantification, the Ni remained constant at all depths (0-20, 20-40 , 40 - 60 cm). The values of complexing capacity of humic substances of peat for metal species in this study was 1.06, 1.53, 1.84, 2.06 mmol g-1 SH; for Pb, Cu, Ni and Mn respectively indicating a optimal interaction of humic substances extracted from peat of the National Park of Itabaiana-SE. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo compreender as interações entre substâncias húmicas extraídas de turfas e espécies metálicas, do Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana SE, visando uma posterior aplicação na remediação de solos, águas superficiais contaminadas com metais potencialmente tóxicos pelas atividades agrícolas na região do açude Macela, Itabaiana - SE. Foram coletadas amostras de solo, fertilizantes e turfa e caracterizadas por meio do teor de matéria orgânica, análise elementar, pH e concentrações de metais, sendo que, para a turfa foi feita análise espectroscópica na região do infravermelho e a capacidade de complexação das substâncias húmicas de turfa com metais potencialmente tóxicos (Ni, Pb, Cu e Mn). Foram coletadas amostras de águas superficiais e analisados os principais parâmetros físico-químicos e as concentrações de metais. As amostras de solo (2,62 %) e esterco de aves (13,77 %), analisadas apresentaram baixos teores de matéria orgânica, as de esterco caprino (72,72 %) e as da mistura torta de mamona e esterco caprino (75,56 %) apresentaram altos teores de matéria orgânica. As concentrações dos metais Ni, Cr e Cd nas amostras de solo, fertilizantes, exceto na amostra torta de mamona, nas amostras de águas superficiais Pb, Ni, Cd, Al, Cu e Mn excederam os limites apresentados pelas legislações. As amostras de turfa coletadas em profundidade mais elevada (40 - 60 cm) apresentaram teor de matéria orgânica e a razão C/N mais elevada indicando que a matéria orgânica está mais decomposta e humificada. Os espectros na região do infravermelho das substâncias húmicas apresentaram bandas de absorção mais intensas do que as de turfa. Os metais Fe, K e Na apresentaram concentrações superiores na profundidade 0 - 20 cm, enquanto outros (Cd, Mo e Pb) ficaram abaixo do limite de quantificação, o Ni manteve-se constante em todas as profundidades (0 20; 20 40; 40 - 60 cm). Os valores da capacidade de complexação das substâncias húmicas de turfa por espécies metálicas neste trabalho foi 1,06; 1,53; 1,84; 2,06 mmol g-1 SH; para o Pb, Cu, Ni e Mn respectivamente indicando uma ótima interação das substâncias húmicas extraídas de turfa do Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana-SE.

Capillary electrophoresis often uses complexing agents since the interaction between the analyte and the complexing agent can result in achieving or improving the separation. Examples of such methods can be electrokinetic chromatography or affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE). ACE is used to determine the complexing parameters. In case of chiral separation, this issue gets complicated, since the parameters of the two analytes (enantiomers) are not completely independent to one another. Therefore, a procedure has been proposed in this thesis, that should always be used to evaluate the complexing parameters of two enantiomers. Statistical evaluation of these parameters was assessed as well. This work also proposes a method that allows to determine the relative migration order of two enantiomers in two different complexing separation systems. The mathematical description of electrophoresis is based on continuity equations, that are inherently nonlinear. However, these equations can be linearized to obtain an approximate analytical solution. There was recently presented a generalized model, that enables inclusion of complete complexing equilibria in the theoretical description of electromigration. Thus, various phenomena, including nonlinear ones, associated with complexation can be predicted. This...

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire ont pour but d’approfondir la compréhension des mécanismes d’élaboration de revêtements électrolytiques de zinc-nickel obtenus à partir d’électrolytes alcalins. Les dépôts de zinc-nickel contenant entre 12% et 16%de nickel, connus pour leur performances anti-corrosion, nécessitent l’utilisation d’agents complexants afin de d’obtenir des formes solubles et réductibles du nickel dans un électrolyte à base de zincates à haut pH. Une étude des mécanismes de complexation a permis d’améliorer la compréhension du rôle respectif des agents complexants et de leurs interactions sur la stabilité des mélanges, ainsi que sur la morphologie de la structure cristalline des revêtements obtenus. Les phases cristallines d’alliages de zinc-nickel électro déposés,contenant entre 1% et 20% de nickel ont été quantifiés par déconvolution de courbes d’oxydation potentio dynamique et par DRX. Cette approche donne accès à une cartographie précise des phases d’alliages obtenus en fonction de la teneur en nickel du dépôt. La stabilité thermique des différentes phases à également pu être évaluée et quantifiée par cette méthode. La formulation des électrolytes ainsi que les paramètres des procédés peuvent modifier les cinétiques de germination des revêtements. Une étude fondamentale des mécanismes de germination par chrono ampérométrie couplée à des méthodes d’identification paramétrique a permis de quantifier l’évolution de certains paramètres de germination d’éléments simples en fonction du potentiel d’électrodéposition. L’étude de la germination d’alliage a mis en évidence que des réactions de décomplexation d’espèces modifient les cinétiques de nucléation, sans permettre d’aboutir à un modèle descriptif complet. / The present work aims to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms of zinc-nickelelectrodeposition in alkaline baths. Zinc-nickel deposits containing between 12% and 16%nickel known for their anti-corrosion performance. Complexing agents are required toobtain soluble and reactive nickel forms, and to stabilize the electrolytes. A study ofthe complexing mechanisms has improved the understanding of their respective role andbehavior, and their influence on the stability and the morphology and crystalline structureof the coatings obtained. The crystalline phases of electroplated zinc-nickel alloys in therange from 1% to 20% nickel content were quantified by deconvolution of potentiodynamicoxidation curves and XRD. This approach has led to a precise mapping of the alloyphases obtained as a function of the nickel content. The thermal stability of the differentphases has also been evaluated and quantified by this method. The formulation of theelectrolytes and the process parameters may modify the kinetics of coating germination. Afundamental study of the mechanisms of germination by chronoamperometry coupled witha parametric identification allows the quantification of parameter evolution in relation tonucleation phenomenon of simple elements. The study of alloy germination has shownthat decomplexing reactions are able to modify nucleation kinetics, without achieving acomplete comprehensive modeling.

Nous décrivons dans ce travail l’élaboration de latex nanocomposites à base d’oxyde de cérium en vue d’applications dans le domaine des revêtements. Deux procédés originaux ont été développés afin de contrôler la morphologie des particules. Dans un premier temps, nous avons tiré parti de la forte densité de charges des nanoparticules d’oxyde de cérium pour stabiliser des particules de latex obtenues par polymérisation en émulsion ou en miniémulsion « de Pickering ». Dans les deux cas, la réaction est conduite en présence des particules inorganiques et d’un agent complexant à caractère acide, l’acide méthacrylique, en l’absence de tout tensioactif. Des particules de latex, décorées en surface par les nanoparticules d’oxyde de cérium ont été ainsi synthétisées. Par la suite, une stratégie qui consiste à utiliser des chaînes de polymères hydrophiles, réactivables (macro-agent RAFT) et préalablement adsorbées à la surface des nanoparticules d’oxyde de cérium a été envisagée. Ces chaînes polymères comportant à la fois des fonctions carboxyliques et un groupe trithiocarbonate terminal sont capables de stabiliser la suspension colloïdale des nanoparticules et de réamorcer la polymérisation en mode semi-continu permettant ainsi l’encapsulation de l’oxyde de cérium. Une optimisation visant à utiliser un procédé batch a également été évaluée. Quelle que soit la stratégie employée, une attention toute particulière a été portée à la stabilité colloïdale du milieu ainsi qu’à la cinétique de la réaction. La morphologie des particules composites a été caractérisée par MET et cryo-MET et reliée aux conditions de modification de surface et de polymérisation / This work describes the elaboration of nanocomposite latexes containing cerium dioxide nanoparticles for coating applications. Two original approaches have been developed to control the particle morphology. First, we took advantage of the high charge density of cerium dioxide nanoparticles to stabilize latex particles obtained via emulsion or “Pickering” miniemulsion polymerization. In both cases the reaction was conducted in the presence of the inorganic particles and methacrylic acid as a complexing agent, in the absence of any added surfactant. Armored latex particles covered with cerium dioxide nanoparticules were obtained by this method. Subsequently, another approach based on the use of living hydrophilic polymer chains (macroRAFT agents) previously adsorbed on the surface of the cerium dioxide nanoparticles was considered. These copolymers both containing carboxylic acid groups and carrying a thiocarbonylthio end group led to stable aqueous dispersion of the nanoparticles and could chain extend to form an encapsulating polymer shell under starved feed emulsion polymerization conditions. An optimization using a batch process was also evaluated. For both approaches, particular attention was paid to the colloidal stability of the medium and to the kinetics of the reaction. The morphology of the nanocomposite latex particles was characterized by TEM and cryo-TEM and correlated with the surface modification and the experimental conditions

La fitorremediación es una técnica de descontaminación de ecosistemas que aprovecha la capacidad de las plantas para acumular sustancias tóxicas en su interior sin que afecten severamente a su ciclo vital. Dicha técnica presenta un bajo impacto medioambiental, convirtiéndose en una alternativa a los métodos clásicos, más agresivos y costosos. En lo referente a metales pesados, las plantas inducen la síntesis intracelular de fitoquelatinas (PC), ligandos tiólicos que complejan los metales y los almacenan en orgánulos celulares de bajo metabolismo como las vacuolas. A pesar de las investigaciones realizadas hasta la fecha, el mecanismo de actuación de las fitoquelatinas no está totalmente establecido, incluida la secuencia de formación y la estequiometria final de los complejos PC-M. Por esta razón, resulta de gran interés estudiar estos procesos de complejación, pues sus conclusiones pueden ayudar a entender la fitorremediación y a optimizar su aplicación. Las investigaciones recogidas en esta tesis se sustentan -como metodología básica- en el análisis quimiométrico mediante MCR-ALS de los datos obtenidos de valoraciones complexométricas registradas por técnicas electroanalíticas, concluyendo con la proposición de modelos de complejación para el sistema en estudio. La elección del plomo como metal complejante se debe a su alta toxicidad y dispersión en el medio ambiente, así como por suponer un paso más en el uso de dicha metodología, pues el estudio de los sistemas PC/Pb(II) presentan problemas que la dificultan. Estos problemas son, principalmente, el desplazamiento lateral de las señales voltamperométricas que produce un decrecimiento en la linealidad de los datos obtenidos, y la presencia de señales anódicas que favorece un fuerte solapamiento entre los picos de las diferentes especies químicas; ambos problemas comprometen la aplicación del método MCR-ALS y el correcto examen de los resultados. El objetivo de esta tesis adquiere así una doble vertiente. Por un lado, para solucionar dichos problemas y, de alguna forma, ampliar la aplicabilidad de MCR-ALS a eventuales sistemas más complejos, se estudian nuevas adaptaciones metodológicas (análisis MCR-ALS de matrices espectro-voltamperométricas), herramientas (programa shiftfit, que corrige el desplazamiento de potencial de las señales voltamperométricas) y metodologías experimentales (uso de electrodos alternativos al de mercurio). Por otro lado, se procura la consecución de resultados para los propios sistemas PC/Pb(II) estudiados, es decir, la determinación de modelos de complejación lo bastante completos y sólidos para servir de apoyo a los resultados de los estudios in vivo o in vitro. Los trabajos publicados y la explicación de los resultados están organizados en tres bloques: • El primer bloque (artículo 11.1) recoge la aproximación inicial al estudio de la complejación de fitoquelatinas y ligandos relacionados con plomo utilizando la metodología básica. Los resultados ponen de relieve la relativa solvencia del procedimiento, así como el verdadero alcance de los problemas que se describen en el capítulo 5. • El segundo bloque recopila los resultados de la aplicación de las nuevas metodologías y herramientas propuestas para solucionar las insuficiencias o ambigüedades de los modelos de complejación obtenidos en el artículo anterior. Estas metodologías son el análisis quimiométrico conjunto de valoraciones registradas por polarografía y dicroísmo circular (11.2), la formulación del programa shiftfit que corrige el movimiento lateral de señales polarográficas, es decir, la falta de un valor fijo del potencial de pico (11.3) y, finalmente, el uso del electrodo de película de bismuto (BiFE) con la intención de minimizar el solapamiento que producen las señales anódicas (11.4). • Tras la aplicación de estas metodologías a sistemas sencillos, en el tercer bloque se aplican a sistemas con plomo (11.5 y 11.6), incluyendo la comparación de los diferentes modelos de complejación obtenidos en los artículos 11.1 y 11.5 para el sistema PC3/Pb(II). / Phytoremediation is a decontamination technique that takes profit by the plants ability to accumulate toxic substances without affecting severely their vital cycles. This technique presents the advantatges of being cheap and non-destructive to ecological systems. Regarding heavy metals, plants induce the intracellular synthesis of phytochelatins (PC), Cys-rich polypeptides that complex metals and storage them in cellular organelles of limited metabolism as vacuoles. Despite the research achieved to date, the mechanism of actuation of phytochelatins is not entirely established, including the sequence of formation and the final stoichiometry of the PC-M complexes. By this reason, it is of great interest to study these complexation processes, reaching conclusions that would be able to help the optimization of phytoremediation. The investigations collected in this doctoral thesis are held -as basic methodology- in the chemometric analysis through MCR-ALS of the data obtained from complexometric titrations carried out by voltammetric techniques. This methodology concludes with the proposition of complexation models for the systems under study, but when lead is used as complexing metal, PC/Pb(II) systems present problems that make it more difficult. Mainly, these problems are the lateral movement of the voltammetric signals (producing a decrease in the linearity of the data), and the presence of anodic signals that propitiate a strong overlapping between peaks of different chemical species; both troubles compromise the MCR-ALS application and the correct investigation of the results. To solve the aforementioned problems -and that way to increase the applicability of MCR-ALS to more complex systems-, some new tools have been applied for the first time: • Methodologic adaptations as the MCR-ALS simultaneous analysis of spectro- and electrochemical data (row-wise CD-DPP augmented matrices) to differenciate real chemical species from physicochemical or kinetic phenomena of the diffusion layer. • Chemometric programs as shiftfit that corrects the potential shift of the polarographic signals to obtain a matrix of corrected voltammograms with an increased linearity. • The use of the bismuth film electrode (BiFE) for complexation studies, to minimize the overlapping produced by the anodic signals.