This diploma thesis deals with macerates of comfrey (Symphytum officinale) in selected fats (food lard, cosmetic lard and almond oil). Selected fats were first characterized by dry matter content, saponification, acid, iodine number, peroxide value. At the same time, total and free fatty acids were determined using GC-FID. Macerates were prepared by extraction of comfrey roots with selected fats. In prepared macerates the change in acid and peroxide value was monitored, as well as the content of selected bioactive compounds. The content of total phytosterol and total carotenoid content was determined by UV-VIS spectrometry, phytosterols and carotenoids were also analysed using HPLC-DAD. Total phenolic content was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and antioxidant activity by ABTS assay. The measured properties were then compared with industrially produced comfrey ointment. In macerated fats the increase in acid and peroxide value was determined. Furthermore, an increase in the content of total phytosterols and total carotenoids was observed. Using HPLC-DAD the content of -sitosterol and stigmasterol was determined, but carotenoids were not detected. Of the tocopherols, only DL--tocopherol acetate was detected. During maceration, the content of total phenolic compound in fat increased, which caused a change in antioxidant activity.

Petroleum powered vehicles emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through combustion that contributes to the pollution of the environment. A technique in the 1970s was developed to decrease these emissions, especially for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphuric oxides (SOx) which is called exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). The technique works by recirculating a portion of the combusted gas back into the engine, this limits the NOx and SOx emissions because of lower temperatures and less available oxygen. The problems that follow these effects is the formation and condensation of acids that corrode the material of the EGR system, which are created by many different reactions. It is of importance to understand how the compounds in the EGR system behaves through analysis of authentic and simulated condensates, which is why a quantitative method for these compounds are of interest. The aim of the project was to develop a simple quantitative analysis method for formic acid, acetic acid, and lactic acid in aqueous solution, which was done at Gränges Sweden AB. The technique used for detection and quantification was gas chromatography (GC) coupled to a flame ionization detector (FID) and a water compatible polyethylene glycol (PEG) column. Fractional factorial design (FFD) was used for determination of adequate operating parameters of the GC method and the sample preparation. Sample preparation only required filtration and pH adjustment prior to direct aqueous injection (DAI) to the chromatographic instrument. Detection of the analytes was very difficult because of non-compatibility with the FID, and quantification of asymmetric peak shapes made this problem worse, omitting lactic acid from further analysis. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was 490 and 1640 ppm for formic acid and 120 and 400 ppm for acetic acid, with an injection volume of 0.3 μL and split ratio 10:1. Limits were too high for every EGR sample leaving no peaks detected for the sample preparation used. Further development should be done with complementary techniques and sample reprocessing in order to quantify the compounds.

Highly accurate analysis for the quantification of sulphur compounds and oxygenated volatile organic compounds are crucial for the adherence of the legislation in different environmental sectors. The sulphur compounds and oxygenated volatile organic compounds measurements are challenging, due to various factors such as molecules being adsorbed on the inner surfaces of cylinders. It is therefore important to produce accurate and reliable reference gas mixtures with mole fraction at ambient levels for the air quality monitoring and field of gas sensing in South Africa. The challenges in producing sulphur compounds and oxygenated volatile organic compounds reference gas mixtures are that the overall process from gravimetric preparation steps until the comparison analysis process and the stability of mixture in the gas cylinder, results in the large measurement uncertainties. In order to produce reference gas mixtures of the highest level, three important steps are followed: purity assessment of starting material, gravimetric preparation, and verification/validation of prepared gas mixtures. The purity analysis of high purity starting materials was determined using gas chromatography coupled with various detectors and Karl Fischer for determination of moisture content in high purity chemicals. The sulphur compounds and oxygenated volatile organic compounds to be developed in this study were hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, acetone, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol. These components were produced following the International Organisation for Standardisation documents at mole fraction of 10 µmol/mol for sulphur compounds and 5 µmol/mol for oxygenated volatile organic compounds. The preparation of sulphur compounds reference gas mixtures was done with a static gravimetric method using a direct method where a target component was transferred directly into the cylinder. The preparation of oxygenated volatile organic compounds used an indirect method whereby a target liquid component from high purity chemicals was transferred into a cylinder using a gas-tight syringe.The comparison between the reference gas mixtures was validated using Non-Dispersive Ultra-Violet analysers (NDUV), gas chromatograph coupled with pulsed discharge helium ionisation detector (GC-PDHID, UV fluorescence analysers for sulphur compounds and gas chromatograph coupled with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) for the oxygenated volatile organic compounds. A multi-point calibration method was used to analyse sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide on the NDUV analyser, and the single-point calibration method was used for analysis on the gas chromatography and UV fluorescence where a sample mixture is analysed against a reference mixture with a similar mole fraction. The statistical data considered during analysis included calculation of the instrument drift and percentage relative standard deviation to check measurements repeatability, reliability, and measurement uncertainty. The gravimetric results of prepared sulphur compounds at 10 µmol/mol gave a percentage relative expanded uncertainty of 0.041 % REU for hydrogen sulphide, 0.12 % REU for sulphur dioxide. The gravimetric results of prepared oxygenated volatile organic compounds at 5 µmol/mol showed a percentage relative expanded uncertainty 0.068 to 0.35 % REU for isopropanol and ethanol respectively and less than 2.4 % REU for multi component of oxygenated volatile organic compounds. Finally, the primary standard gas mixtures of sulphur compounds and oxygenated volatile organic compounds were developed with the highest metrological measurement uncertainty level of (k=2). / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Sciences)

Student Number: 9503012G Master of Science. School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies / A brown haze which builds-up over Cape Town under calm and cold weather conditions causes public concern. The brown haze is thought to be due to the gaseous and particulate emissions from the city, industries, traffic and townships in the Cape Town region. Volatile organic carbon (VOCs) compounds are an important component of the haze layer particularly because of their reactivity. VOCs play an important role in the carbon budget and radiation balance, regional oxidant balance, and in the distribution of ozone and other reactive gases, both at the regional and global scale. In this study the variation in ambient VOC concentrations during brown and non-brown haze days over Cape Town during July and August 2003 were characterised. Ambient air samples were collected in evacuated stainless steel canistes from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) research aircraft (Aerocommander, ZS-JRB) and later analysed by gas chromotography equipped with a flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) were the specific VOCs targeted for this study. Comparable meteorology data was also collected to determine the effects of wind field and atmospheric stability on BTEX concentrations.

Si la sueur fraîchement émise par le corps humain est inodore, la dégradation de celle-ci par la flore bactérienne cutanée produit des composés volatils malodorants, responsables des odeurs de transpiration. Les odeurs de transpiration apparaissent également sur les vêtements au cours de leur utilisation, particulièrement sur les textiles réalisés en fibres synthétiques. Ce travail a pour but d’améliorer la compréhension du phénomène d’émanation d’odeurs en étudiant l’effet du sujet testé, l’effet de la flore bactérienne et l’effet du textile sur les émissions de composés volatils malodorants.L’intérêt de ce travail réside dans l’approche globale de la problématique des odeurs de transpiration et dans la diversité des méthodes de mesure mises en place, tant dans l’étude de la flore microbiologique que dans les méthodes de mesures des composés odorants émis.Dans un premier temps, le dénombrement simultané de la flore bactérienne sur la peau et sur le vêtement a été réalisé sur un échantillon de 15 sujets à l’issue d’un exercice physique. Cette expérimentation a permis d’évaluer le taux de transfert bactérien moyen lors d’une activité sportive et d’étudier son rôle dans l’émission d’odeurs. Ensuite, afin d’affiner ces résultats, une méthode basée sur la biologie moléculaire a été mise en place pour réaliser le suivi qualitatif de la stabilité de la flore commensale axillaire d’un sujet pendant 3 mois. Le transfert bactérien spécifique entre la peau du testeur et le vêtement a été étudié pour 4 matières textiles sélectionnées (dont le coton et le PET). Ceci a permis de déterminer le rôle du transfert bactérien spécifique dans l’émission des odeurs à partir de textile.Enfin, le dernier chapitre est consacré à l’étude de l’émission de composés volatils et odorants à l’aide de mesures olfactives et d’un nez électronique au cours du temps par 8 composants textiles sélectionnés. Après traitement statistique par analyse en composante principale et étude détaillée des mesures, 9 composés chimiques ont été identifiés comme indicateurs d’un comportement textile malodorant. Ces derniers pourraient être utilisés dans la mise en place d’une méthode ciblée de mesure physico-chimique des mauvaises odeurs.Ce travail a permis de déterminer l’impact de chacun des facteurs sujet, flore bactérienne et textile dans l’émission d’odeurs. En outre, ce travail ouvre des perspectives sur l’étude des contaminations bactériennes par contact, mais également dans l’étude des odeurs, sur les phénomènes de désorption de molécules volatiles à partir de différentes matrices textiles et sur les solutions pouvant être envisagées pour limiter les émissions odorantes à partir de textiles. / Fresh human sweat is odorless. Odoriferous volatile compounds are produced by the metabolism of bacteria living on the skin, generating strong malodor. Sweaty body odors do also appear on clothes during use, and especially on synthetic fabrics. The aim of this document is to improve understanding of odor emission by investigating subject effect, microbiota effect and fabric effect on the emission of odoriferous volatile compounds.Odors of perspiration are hereby globally approached with a wide use of methods and experimental devices, for microbial flora study as well as for odoriferous volatile compounds emission study.First, microflora enumeration has been simultaneously processed on the skin and on the fabric after exercise for 15 subjects. This experiment allowed an evaluation of the average bacterial transfer yield during physical activity and the beginning of the investigation of its effect on odor emission.A molecular biology methodology has then been developed in order to refine these results. Monitoring of qualitative composition of the microbiota has been performed to study the stability of the armpit’s ecosystem on a subject during 3 months. Specific microbial transfer from subject’s skin to clothe has been performed for 4 textile fabrics (including cotton and PET). This leaded to characterize the effect of specific bacterial transfer on odor emission from fabric.The last chapter is dedicated to the study of the emission of odoriferous volatile compounds over time using olfactory measurements and electronic nose for 8 selected fabrics. Principal component analysis targeted 9 chemical compounds that have been selected as malodorous behavior indicators for a given fabric. Those 9 compounds could be used for setting up a fitted physicochemical method of malodor.To conclude, this study helped to understand the effect of 3 factors in odor perception from a fabric after sport : subject, microbial flora and fabric. Perspectives have been charted on contact microbial contamination, but also on odor, and especially on desorption of odoriferous volatile molecules from a textile or knitted matrix. The solutions that could be used to limit malodorous emission from fabrics have also been discussed.

La prolifération d’espèces invasives est un problème mondial. Après la pollution et la destruction des habitats, l’introduction d’espèces exogènes est une des principales causes de la disparition de la biodiversité animale et végétale dans le monde. La Corse n’est pas épargnée par le phénomène ; en effet, chaque année nous dénombrons de plus en plus d’espèces végétales introduites, potentiellement envahissantes et dangereuses pour l’écosystème insulaire. Si elles ne sont pas contrôlées, ces plantes peuvent rapidement gagner du terrain et s’installer durablement en raison de leurs facultés d’adaptation à divers écosystèmes.C’est dans ce contexte que nous sommes intéressés à quatre plantes de la famille des Astéracées considérées comme envahissantes : deux espèces du genre Xanthium (Xanthium italicum et X. spinosum) et deux espèces du genre Senecio (Senecio angulatus et S. inaequidens). L’objectif principal était d’initier une possible voie de valorisation de ces espèces par la production d’huile essentielle ; cela permettrait d’une part de limiter la dissémination et d’autre part, de générer un débouché économique.Par ailleurs, nous avons étendu ce travail à Limbarda crithmoides et à six espèces du genre Senecio poussant à l’état spontané en Corse. Une approche chimiotaxonomique réalisée à partir de 180 échantillons d’huiles essentielles du genre Senecio a conduit à différencier les espèces dites halotolérantes (S. aquaticus, S. transiens et S. cineraria) des espèces plus « terrestres » (S. vulgaris, S. angulatus, S. inaequidens, S. serpentinicola et S. lividus). L’étude de la variabilité chimique intraspécifique a permis de mettre en évidence des corrélations entre la composition chimique des huiles essentielles et le polymorphisme des taxons et/ou des facteurs édaphiques. L’étude du genre Senecio a également conduit à la caractérisation de deux nouvelles molécules, l’oxyde d’acétoxybisabolène et le 8-acétoxybisabolène 1,9-diol, isolées de l’huile essentielle de S. transiens (espèce endémique de Corse).D’un point de vue plus appliqué, les mesures des activités anti-radicalaires et anticorrosives des huiles essentielles ont démontré le potentiel de certaines espèces comme sources d’anti-oxydants naturels (notamment, Xanthium italicum et X. spinosum) mais aussi le pouvoir anticorrosif de la cacalohastine, isolée de l’huile essentielle de S. inaequidens (espèce invasive). / The proliferation of invasive species is a global problem. The introduction of exogenous species is after pollution and habitat destruction a major cause of the disappearance of the worldwide plant and animal biodiversity. Corsica is not spare to the phenomenon and every year there are numerous dangerous species which are introduced to the island ecosystem.In this study, we have studied four invasive species of Asteraceae (X. italicum, X. spinosum, S. angulatus and S. inaequidens) from Corsica. The aim of this study is to initiate a possible valuation pathway of these species by production of their essential oils. For this purpose, we investigated the chemical variability of each essential oil and their antioxidant and anticorrosive activities. Then we have extended our investigations to the others species of Senecio genus and to Limbarda crithmoides, anciently parented taxa.GC and GC/MS analysis allowed the identification of 107 and 74 components which accounted for 98.7 and 93.5% of the X. italicum and X. spinosum essential oils, respectively. Essential oils of X. italicum and X. spinosum were dominated by hydrocarbon monoterpenes (66.2%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (41.5%), respectively. The same metabolomic pathways seem occur for both species during the vegetative cycle of the plant: oxygenated sesquiterpene-production was higher during the flowering stage. Moreover the study of 25 sample oils of X. italicum and X. spinosum showed that the chemical variability of both essential oils could be linked to morphological characters.A comprehensive work on the chemical variability of 180 sample oils of Senecio was carried out and 251 components were identified. Among them, using mono and bi-dimensional NMR the structures of 8-acetoxybisabolene-1,9-diol and 8-acetoxy-1,9-oxobisabolene, two new components of S. transiens essential oil were described for the first time. Corsican Senecio species exhibited interspecies chemical variability: the halotolerant Senecio species (S. transiens, S. cineraria and S. aquaticus erraticus) were characterized by essential oils dominated by non-terpenic compounds while the so-called “terrestrial” Senecio species (S. angulatus, S. ineaquidens, S. lividus, S. vulgaris and S. serpentinicola) exhibited terpenic component-rich oils. The study of intra-species chemical variability highlighted direct correlations between the plant-production of secondary metabolites and the nature of soils on which S. lividus, S. vulgaris and S. transiens grows. Hence essential oil compositions and morphological polymorphism are indirectly related. In the same way, the chemical variability of S. cineraria essential oils seems to be linked to the geology of the soils while the oil diversity of the invasive S. angulatus, could be linked to the both spots of introduction on Corsica Island. In addition, an original chiral-gas chromatographic method was improved and applied to the main components of the essential oils in order to complement the chemical composition of the Senecio sample oils.Furthermore the originality of Corsican Limbarda crithmoides essential was highlighted by the occurrence of two p-cymenene derivatives, never reported in the related studies from literature. The investigation of 25 Corsican L. crithmoides focuses on a direct correlation between the water salinities of the plant locations and the chemical compositions of the essential oils.Finally the antioxidant activities, anti-free radical and reducing power, were measured on some essential oils of the studied species. Essential oils of the Xanthium genus appeared to be most effectives. In addition, anticorrosion properties of the essential oils were investigated and the best corrosion inhibiting activity was exhibited by those of S. inaequidens . Anticorrosion activity could be attributed to the cacalohastine, a naphtalofuranic component, isolated form the whole essential oil after column chromatography.