Thesis (M.Sc. (Physics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / Nanocrystalline materials of defect free anatase and rutile SnO2 together with Ti and Y in anatase SnO2 have been modelled successfully using classical molecular dynamics simulations together with Buckingham potential. The structural properties of these SnO2 phases were analysed using radial distribution functions (RDFs). The effect of increasing temperature in pure SnO2 and doped SnO2 were studied. In both pure and doped materials, RDFs suggest phase transition at higher temperature, where anatase SnO2 transforms to rutile SnO2. Rutile SnO2 was found to be more stable than anatase SnO2. The results showed that the dopants have different effects on the SnO2 material. Ti defect is found to lower the transformation temperature of anatase to rutile SnO2. Y defect is found not to have any effect on the anatase to rutile SnO2 transformation. Thermodynamic properties such as volume thermal expansion coefficient and specific heat capacity were also calculated from above Debye temperature. Volume thermal expansion coefficient was obtained from volume versus temperature curves. Volume thermal expansion coefficient for rutile and Ti-anatase SnO2 were found to be not of the same order with the calculated results. Specific heat capacity calculated from energy versus temperature curves was found to be in agreement with the Dulong and Petit law of solids. Nanocrystalline Al/Y co-doped SnO2 powders were successfully synthesized using the sol-gel method. The samples were subjected to different temperatures 100 (as prepared) 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 oC. The effects of co-doping and temperature on the structural and optical properties of Al/Y co-doped SnO2 nanoparticles as well as morphology were investigated. The characterization techniques used were X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). The average particle sizes were found to be in the range between 2.5–8 nm and the strains were calculated to be 2.76–0.53 with increasing temperature for as prepared and the sample sintered at different tempe-ratures. The Raman bands were found to correspond with the literature. At a higher temperature of about 800 oC the materials were found to contain the second phase which is yttrium stannate. However no information about aluminium was found. The optical band gap were found to be between 3.3–3.99 eV in the temperature range 200–1000 oC.

Vidros comerciais de base silicato do tipo sodo-cálcico, apresentam coloração pela presença de óxidos de metais de transição, tais como ferro e cobalto, ou pela presença de elementos não-metálicos, tais como o selênio. Geralmente, a presença de selênio metálico (Se°) num vidro silicato confere-lhe a cor rosa (depende de seu estado de oxidação). Desse modo, industrialmente, adiciona-se selênio à composição de vidros quando se deseja produzir vidros róseos ou, mais freqüentemente, quando se deseja mascarar a cor esverdeada conferida pela presença de ferro, o principal contaminante das matérias-primas naturais. Entretanto, o selênio é encontrado em pequenas quantidades na natureza, daí seu alto custo. Além disso, da quantidade inicial de selênio colocada na composição de vidros industriais sodo-cálcicos, quase 80% são vaporizados durante a etapa de fusão do vidro. Este trabalho é dedicado ao estudo do efeito da adição de diferentes compostos portadores de selênio como matéria-prima em substituição ao selênio metálico, visando a redução da volatilização de selênio durante a fusão. Além do selênio metálico, foram utilizados selenitos de sódio, de bário, de zinco e de ferro. Os vidros foram obtidos por fusões em escala de laboratório, em cadinhos de alta alumina, a 1500°C, em forno elétrico. A seguir determinou-se a composição química de cada vidro obtido, por fluorescência de raios X e sua cor, através da determinação de suas coordenadas cromáticas no sistema CIEL*a*b*. A análise dos resultados teve como principal conclusão que a concentração final de selênio no vidro é função apenas de sua quantidade no banho, independentemente do composto químico que lhe forneceu. / Commercial silicate glasses of the soda-lime system attain color by the presence of transition metal oxides, such as iron and cobalt, or by the presence of non-metallic elements, like selenium. Usually, the presence of metallic selenium (Se°) in a silicate glass results in a light pink coloration (depends on its oxidation state). Therefore, industrially, selenium is added to a glass composition when the objective is to obtain a pink color glass, or, more often, when the objective is to mask the greenish coloration resultant from the presence of iron, the most usual contaminant in the natural raw-materials. However, selenium occurs in the nature only in small quantities. Besides, from the initial selenium added to industrial soda-lime batch compositions, almost 80% volatilize during melting. This work is dedicated to the study of the effect of adding selenium from different raw-materials, substituting for the metallic selenium, with the principal objective of reducing the loss of this element during glass melting. Along with metallic selenium, sodium, barium, zinc, and iron selenites were employed. The glasses were obtained in laboratory scale meltings in alumina crucibles, at 1500°C, in an electrical furnace. After that, the chemical composition of each glass was obtained by X-ray fluorescence, and its color was measured according to the chromatic coordinates in the CIEL*a*b* method. The main conclusion that can be drawn from the analysis of the results is that the selenium concentration in the final glass is a function only of the quantity of selenium present in the melt, independently of the chemical compound which supplied such selenium.

Darbo tikslas. Parinkti tinkamą nevandeninį tirpiklį propolio ekstrakcijai bei ekstrakcijos sąlygas; įvertinti propolio fenolinių junginių atpalaidavimą iš skystų modelinių sistemų biofarmaciniu tyrimu in vitro. Darbo uždaviniai. Parinkti nevandeninius propolio ekstrahentus bei įvertinti jų gebą ekstrahuoti polifenolinius propolio junginius. Nustatyti ekstraktų kokybę lemiančius fizikocheminius rodiklius. Parinkti technologinius parametrus ir ištirti jų įtaką propolio ekstraktų kokybei. Įvertinti ekstraktų su propoliu stabilumą. Atlikti biofarmacinį tyrimą in vitro, siekiant nustatyti propolio fenolinių junginių atpalaidavimą iš skystos modelinės sistemos su tiriamuoju propolio ekstraktu (PE). Tyrimo metodai. Ekstraktai gaminti maceracijos metodu, bendras polifenolinių junginių kiekis (BFK) pagal kumaro rūgšties ekvivalentą (KRE) nustatytas ultravioletiniu (UV) spektrofotometru, taikant Folin-Ciocalteu metodą. Propolio ekstraktuose esančių polifenolinių junginių kiekio atpalaidavimas iš modelinių sistemų vykdytas in vitro metodu naudojant modifikuotas Franc tipo difuzines celes [4]. Rezultatai ir išvados. Tyrimo metu propolio ekstrakcijai parinkti trys nevandeniniai tirpikliai - izopropilo miristatas (IPM arba I), ricinos aliejus (R), etanolis, bei sistemos, sudarytos iš ricinos aliejaus ir izopropilo miristato, sumaišytų masės dalimis – 25R:75I, 50R:50I ir 75R:25I. Nustatytas tiesioginis ryšys tarp propolio koncentracijos ištraukose bei BFK naudojant skirtingus... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the study is to find out the most appropriate non-aqueous solvent and conditions for the propolis extraction; evaluate how propolis phenolic compounds release from the liquid model systems during the biopharmaceutical research called in vitro. The task of the study is to evaluate the ability of non-aqueous propolis extractions to extract poly-phenolic propolis compounds. Then find out physic-chemical characteristics which determine the quality of extracts. Next examine how selected technological parameters influence the quality of propolis extracts and evaluate the stability of propolis extracts. Conduct the biopharmaceutical research in vitro to determine the release of propolis phenolic compounds with propolis extract (PE) as an object of the study from the liquid model systems. Research methods. Extracts were produced using the maceration method. The ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer and Folin - Ciocalteu method were used to get the total quantity of poly-phenolic compounds (TFK) in accordance to the coumaric acid equivalent (KAE). The release of polyphenol compounds from the model systems in propolis extracts was carried out by in vitro method with modified Franc -type diffusion cells [4]. Results and Findings. The study of propolis extraction included three non-aqueous solvents, such as isopropyl myristate, castor oil and ethanol), as well as, systems made up with castor oil and isopropyl myristate, mixed in such ratios: 25R:75I , 50R:50I and 75R:25I. The... [to full text]

Vidros comerciais de base silicato do tipo sodo-cálcico, apresentam coloração pela presença de óxidos de metais de transição, tais como ferro e cobalto, ou pela presença de elementos não-metálicos, tais como o selênio. Geralmente, a presença de selênio metálico (Se°) num vidro silicato confere-lhe a cor rosa (depende de seu estado de oxidação). Desse modo, industrialmente, adiciona-se selênio à composição de vidros quando se deseja produzir vidros róseos ou, mais freqüentemente, quando se deseja mascarar a cor esverdeada conferida pela presença de ferro, o principal contaminante das matérias-primas naturais. Entretanto, o selênio é encontrado em pequenas quantidades na natureza, daí seu alto custo. Além disso, da quantidade inicial de selênio colocada na composição de vidros industriais sodo-cálcicos, quase 80% são vaporizados durante a etapa de fusão do vidro. Este trabalho é dedicado ao estudo do efeito da adição de diferentes compostos portadores de selênio como matéria-prima em substituição ao selênio metálico, visando a redução da volatilização de selênio durante a fusão. Além do selênio metálico, foram utilizados selenitos de sódio, de bário, de zinco e de ferro. Os vidros foram obtidos por fusões em escala de laboratório, em cadinhos de alta alumina, a 1500°C, em forno elétrico. A seguir determinou-se a composição química de cada vidro obtido, por fluorescência de raios X e sua cor, através da determinação de suas coordenadas cromáticas no sistema CIEL*a*b*. A análise dos resultados teve como principal conclusão que a concentração final de selênio no vidro é função apenas de sua quantidade no banho, independentemente do composto químico que lhe forneceu. / Commercial silicate glasses of the soda-lime system attain color by the presence of transition metal oxides, such as iron and cobalt, or by the presence of non-metallic elements, like selenium. Usually, the presence of metallic selenium (Se°) in a silicate glass results in a light pink coloration (depends on its oxidation state). Therefore, industrially, selenium is added to a glass composition when the objective is to obtain a pink color glass, or, more often, when the objective is to mask the greenish coloration resultant from the presence of iron, the most usual contaminant in the natural raw-materials. However, selenium occurs in the nature only in small quantities. Besides, from the initial selenium added to industrial soda-lime batch compositions, almost 80% volatilize during melting. This work is dedicated to the study of the effect of adding selenium from different raw-materials, substituting for the metallic selenium, with the principal objective of reducing the loss of this element during glass melting. Along with metallic selenium, sodium, barium, zinc, and iron selenites were employed. The glasses were obtained in laboratory scale meltings in alumina crucibles, at 1500°C, in an electrical furnace. After that, the chemical composition of each glass was obtained by X-ray fluorescence, and its color was measured according to the chromatic coordinates in the CIEL*a*b* method. The main conclusion that can be drawn from the analysis of the results is that the selenium concentration in the final glass is a function only of the quantity of selenium present in the melt, independently of the chemical compound which supplied such selenium.

Ce projet de thèse s'inscrit dans la recherche et le développement de dispositifs de lutte contre les émissions de composés organiques volatils (Programme principal n°7). En effet, l'objet de ce projet est d'étudier et de développer une nouvelle génération de microréacteurs catalytiques structurés pour la dépollution d'effluents gazeux contenant des composés organiques volatils (COV) issus de sources dispersées et/ou confinées. La difficulté principale du traitement des effluents gazeux est souvent liée à la multiplicité des sources de pollution et donc à la nécessité de collecter tous les effluents pollués vers une unité de traitement de grande échelle. Tout procédé qui pourrait facilement s'adapter et répondre à des pollutions diverses et localisées quels que soient les polluants, le débit et l'application, constituerait une grande avancée technologique dans le traitement de la pollution de l'air. Ainsi, des microsystèmes catalytiques pourraient être mis en oeuvre pour le traitement de composés organiques volatils dans des environnements industriels divers comme des ateliers d'imprimerie, de séchage, de peinture, de vernissage et des ateliers de nettoyage à sec. Toutes ces applications présentent un intérêt majeur d'un point de vue environnemental et de santé publique et constituent des cas idéaux pour mettre en oeuvre ces nouveaux microsystèmes et démontrer leur efficacité. Les microréacteurs présentent un avantage certain en terme de conception de procédés. La possibilité d'associer des éléments microstructurés ou des petites unités permet d'adapter et d'intégrer le procédé catalytique de façon appropriée, indépendamment de l'échelle et l'effluent. De plus, le concept modulaire est évidemment plus sûr. Ainsi, les microréacteurs construits à partir de plaques microstructurées permettent une distribution du flux gazeux dans l'ensemble des microcanaux. En outre, en raison des dimensions caractéristiques des microcanaux, les dispositifs microstructurés permettent une grande diminution de la distance entre la zone catalytique et le fluide conduisant à de meilleures propriétés de transferts que les réacteurs à lit fixe. Enfin et surtout, les microréacteurs catalytiques permettent une manipulation plus sûre des produits dangereux, inflammables et même explosifs que dans les réacteurs conventionnels. En partenariat avec le Laboratoire d'Analyse et d'Architecture des Systèmes (LAAS-Toulouse), ce projet vise donc à concevoir et à développer des réacteurs catalytiques microstructurés suivant les objectifs définis précédemment. Ces microréacteurs sont constitués d'un empilement de plaques de silicium recouvertes d'une couche fine de platine utilisant des technologies de la microélectronique. Les technologies utilisées par le LAAS constituent une alternative aux dépôts catalytiques sur des microstructures existantes. De plus, un des avantages majeurs de l'utilisation des microtechnologies est la possibilité d'intégrer les sources chauffantes sur une plaque de silicium (résistances thermiques métalliques). Ainsi, l'intégration de sources chauffantes au coeur du microréacteur est une solution intéressante à la question des besoins énergétiques. Les travaux associés à ce projet de thèse visent à optimiser les performances et les conditions de fonctionnement de microréacteurs catalytiques et à mieux comprendre et appréhender les phénomènes impliqués. Les performances des microréacteurs conçus sont évaluées vis-à-vis de diverses molécules représentatives des émissions industrielles aux mélanges de COV avec pour objectif final une étude sur des effluents réels. / This thesis project is part of the research and development of devices to fight against the emission of volatile organics compounds.

The present study aims to determine the antioxidant capacity of the ethanolic extracts of husk fiber of four coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties (yellow dwarf, green dwarf, giant and hybrid), aiming to verify their possible utilization as natural antioxidants. For this, their total phenolic content, radical DPPH• scavenging activity, reducing ability towards iron ions (FRAP) and copper ions (CUPRAC) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation using a biomimetic membrane system were analysed. The electrochemical investigation using a glassy carbon and a modified glassy carbon electrode, and the identification of some chemical constituents were performed by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry and liquid chromatography coupled with UVVIS spectrometry (CLAE-UV/DAD) and mass spectrometry, respectively. The higher value of total phenolic content was found for the hybrid variety: 531 ± 24 mg GAE g-1 dry extract and the lowest was for the green dwarf with 58 ± 9 mg GAE g-1 dry extract. The ability of the extracts to scavenge DPPH• radicals was in the order giant> yellow dwarf > hybrid > green dwarf and IC50 values varied from 8.6 to 55.9 μgmL-1. All varieties showed reducing potential by the use of FRAP and CUPRAC methods, with the lowest performance obtained for the green dwarf variety. Through the use of mimetic biomembranes, ethanolic extracts of coconut husk fibers were shown to protect lipids against oxidative damage independent of the variety. Cyclic voltammetric studies of the ethanolic extracts on glassy carbon electrode confirmed the presence of easily oxidized compounds, and the high antioxidant capacity of the varieties. This was expressed as mg quercetin equivalents g-1 dry extract and ranged from 25.9 – 53.5 mg QE g-1 dry extract using a glassy carbon xanthurenic acid modified electrode (GCE/MWCNT/ poly-Xanthurenic Acid). The investigation of phenols using CLAE-UV/DAD revealed the presence the catechin, quercetin, chlorogenic, vanillic, ferulic, caffeic and gallic acids. Our findings suggest that these extracts can be an important source of natural antioxidants for use in food and possibly in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, aggregating value to the enormous amount of waste from the coconut industry. / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a capacidade antioxidante dos extratos etanólicos das fibras da casca de coco (Cocos nucifera L.) das variedades anão amarelo, anão verde, gigante e híbrido, visando sua possível utilização como antioxidante natural. Para isso, foram analisados o conteúdo total de fenóis, as atividades sequestradora do radical DPPH• , redutora frente aos íons de ferro (FRAP), e íons de cobre (CUPRAC) e a inibição da lipoperoxidação utilizando um sistema de membranas biomimético. Fez-se investigação eletroquímica utilizando eletrodo de carbono vítreo e eletrodo de carbono vítreo modificado, assim como a identificação de alguns constituintes químicos, por meio da técnica de cromatografia líquida acoplada ao espectrômetro UV-Vis (CLAE – UV/DAD). Para o conteúdo total de fenóis, os maiores valores foram obtidos para a variedade híbrido (531 ± 24 mg EAG g-1 extrato seco) e o menor foi para a variedade anão verde (58 ± 9 mg EAG g-1 extrato seco). A habilidade dos extratos para sequestrar o radical DPPH• foi estabelecida na seguinte ordem: gigante > anão amarelo > híbrido > anão verde e os valores de IC50 variaram de 8,6 a 55,9 μg mL-1. Todas as variedades mostraram potencial redutor para os métodos FRAP e CUPRAC, com o menor desempenho para a variedade anão verde. Através do sistema do uso de membranas biomiméticas, os extratos etanólicos da fibra da casca de coco mostraram proteção contra os danos oxidativo lipídicos, independente da variedade. Estudos de voltametria cíclica dos extratos etanólicos em eletrodo de carbono vítreo confirmaram a presença de compostos facilmente oxidáveis, e elevada capacidade antioxidante das variedades. Esta capacidade foi expressa em miligramas equivalentes de quercetina (Q) por grama de extrato seco e variou de 25,9 – 53,5 mg EQ g-1 usando um eletrodo de carbono vítreo modificado (ECV/MWCNT/poliácido xanturênico). Na investigação de compostos fenólicos por CLAE-UV/DAD verificou-se a presença de quercetina, ácido clorogênico, ácidos vanílico, ferúlico, cafeíco, gálico, e catequina. Nosso trabalho sugere que esses extratos podem ser antioxidantes importantes para o enriquecimento na dieta humana, indústrias farmacêuticas e de cosméticos, agregando valor à enorme quantidade de resíduos gerados na indústria do coco.

The thesis deals with the content of selected phenolic compounds in some species of the genus Amaranthus, in black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M.). Phenolic compounds are a group of natural compounds exclusively vegetable character. Flavonoids represent only one group of phenolic compounds. Flavonoids show many positive biological effects, in particular act as antioxidants. Natural flavonoids may cause to prevent from coronary- heard diseases and other diseases associated with older age. In recent years the increased attention is paid to flavonoid investigation due to its biological effects. For the determination of phenolic substances there were used two independent analytical methods. There are the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). The MECC method was used for determination rutin and free quercetin. The highest content of rutin was found in leaves of buckwheat (76,400 mg/kg of dry weight) and the lowest content of rutin was determined in buckwheat hulls. The highest content of rutin was observed in teas from buckwheat leaves and inflorescence. This amount of rutin corresponds with rutin content in more than two pills of Ascorutin (the most favourite flavonoid medicament in the Czech Republic) The HPLC method was used for quantitative determination of phenolic acids. The content of free quercetin was monitored in all samples. No free quercetin was found both in plant material and in samples of teas. The ethanolic extract from the elderberry inflorescence didn´t contain any free quercetin. Free quercetin wasn?t found in any further samples of teas, which were prepared by described methods.