The presented work describes first principles for monitoring gas hydrate formation and dissociation in solution by evaluating state-responsive IR absorption features of water with fiberoptic evanescent field spectroscopy. In addition, a first order linear functional relationship has been derived according to Lambert Beer’s law, which enables quantification of percentage gas hydrate within the volume of water directly probed via the evanescent field. Moreover, spectroscopic studies evaluating seafloor sediments collected from a gas hydrate site in the Gulf of Mexico revealed minimal spectral interferences from sediment matrix components, thereby establishing evanescent field sensing strategies as a promising perspective for monitoring the dynamics of gas hydrates in oceanic environments.

A number of MIR sensing platforms and methods were developed in this research work demonstrating potential applicability of MIR spectroscopy for studying hydrocarbon systems in extreme environments. First of all, the quantitative determination of the diamondoid compound adamantane in organic media utilizing IR-ATR spectroscopy at waveguide surfaces was established. The developed analytical strategy further enabled the successful detection of adamantane in real world crude oil samples. These reported efforts provide a promising outlook for detection and monitoring of diamondoid constituents in naturally occurring crudes and petroleum samples. IR-ATR spectroscopy was further utilized for evaluating and characterizing distribution, variations, and origin of carbonate minerals within sediment formations surrounding a hydrocarbon seep site - MC 118 in the Gulf of Mexico. An analytical model for direct detection of 13C-depleted authigenic carbonates associated with cold seep ecosystems was constructed. Potential applicability of IR-ATR spectroscopy as direct on-ship - and in future in situ - analytical tool for characterizing hydrocarbon seep sites was demonstrated. MIR evanescent field absorption spectroscopy was also utilized to expand the understanding on the role of surfactants during gas hydrate formation at surfaces. This experimental method allowed detailed spectroscopic observations of detergent-related surface processes during SDS mediated gas hydrate formation. The obtained IR data enabled proposing a mechanism by which SDS decreases the induction time for hydrate nucleation, and promotes hydrate formation. Potential of MIR fiberoptic evanescent field spectroscopy for studying surface effects during gas hydrate nucleation and growth was demonstrated. Next, quantifying trace amounts of water content in hexane using MIR evanescent field absorption spectroscopy is presented. The improvement in sensitivity and of limit of detection was obtained by coating an optical fiber with layer of a hydrophilic polymer. The application of the polymer layer has enabled the on-line MIR detection of water in hexane at low ppm levels. These results indicate that the MIR evanescent filed spectroscopy method shows potential for in-situ detection and monitoring of water in industrial oils and petroleum products. Finally, quantification of trace amounts of oil content in water using MIR evanescent field absorption spectroscopy is reported. Unmodified and modified with grafted hydrophobic polymer layer silver halide optical fibers were employed for the measurements. The surface modification of the fiber has enabled the on-line MIR analysis of crude oil in water at the low ppb level. Potential application of MIR fiber-optic evanescent field spectroscopy using polymer modified waveguides toward in-situ low level detection of crude oil in open waters was demonstrated.

Substantial amounts of methane are sequestered in naturally occurring ice-like formations known as gas hydrates. In particular, oceanic gas hydrates are globally distributed in complex heterogeneous ecosystems that typically occur at depths exceeding 300 m. Gas hydrates have received attention for their potential as an alternative energy resource, as marine geohazards, and their role in cycling of greenhouse gases. In addition, chemosynthetic communities often play a vital role in the cycling and sequestration of carbon emanating from cold hydrocarbon seeps surrounding hydrate sites. Research efforts are presently striving to better understand the significance and complexity of these ecosystems through the establishment of seafloor observatories capable of long-term monitoring with integrated sensor networks. In this thesis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy has been implemented for the investigation of molecular-specific signatures to monitor gas hydrate growth dynamics and evaluate carbonate minerals, which are intimately connected with complex chemosynthetic processes occurring in these harsh environments. The first fundamental principles and data evaluation strategies for monitoring and quantifying gas hydrate growth dynamics utilizing mid-infrared (MIR) fiber-optic evanescent field spectroscopy have been established by exploiting the state-responsive IR absorption behavior of water. This has been achieved by peak area evaluation of the O-H stretch, H-O-H bend, and libration modes and assessing peak shifts in the 3rd libration overtone and libration bands during the formation and dissociation of simple clathrate hydrates of methane, ethane, and propane formed from aqueous solution. Hydrate growth and monitoring was facilitated with a customized pressure cell enabling operation up to ~5.9 MPa with spectroscopic, temperature, pressure, and video monitoring capabilities. Furthermore, the initial feasibility for extending the developed IR spectroscopic hydrate monitoring strategies into oceanic gas hydrate ecosystems has been demonstrated through the evaluation of potential spectroscopic interferences from sediment matrices in samples collected from two hydrate sites in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). With exception of the libration band, the primary IR absorption features of water are readily accessed within hydrated sediment samples. Additional consideration for potential long-term hydrate monitoring applications revealed that the collection of approx. 2 IR spectra per day should enable direct insight into the temporal dynamics of hydrates...

De nos jours, la modification de surface fait l'objet d'attentions particulières en raison de sa variété d'applications dans divers domaines. Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de cette thèse a été de traiter de la modification localisée de surfaces dans des conditions douces en utilisant le microscope électrochimique à balayage (SECM). En tant que preuve de concept pour l'écriture directe, différentes stratégies ont été menées pour la modification de surface par gravure de matériaux, greffage de couche organique et modification de la structure chimique surfacique. Des surfaces de verre et d'or ont été les principaux substrats qui ont été modifiés du fait de leur large utilisation notamment dans les nanotechnologies. Cette thèse est présentée sous forme de quatre chapitres et le premier est consacré à la technique SECM ainsi qu'à la modification de surface en général. Les trois autres parties concernent le travail effectué pour valider le concept d'écriture directe. Dans la première partie, une matrice de silice synthétisée par voie sol-gel et dopée avec un ion métallique (cuivre ou or) est utilisée comme matériau d'écriture à l'aide d'une sonde locale (ultramicroéléctrode). Le SECM est utilisé en mode de rétroaction avec des médiateurs tels que viologène de méthyle et le p-benzoquinone. Le diamètre de l'ultramicroélectrode (UME) et la durée d'hydrolyse ont été des facteurs pris en compte pour étudier l'effet sur la taille des plots métalliques électrogénérés. Dans la deuxième partie, la gravure par voie humide localisée de la surface de l'or a été réalisée en utilisant le SECM opérant dans un électrolyte à base de diméthylsulfoxide chargé avec de l'iode. Dans cette méthode, une UME est positionnée (à une distance connue) à proximité de la surface d'or pour générer électrochimiquement l'ion triiodure à la pointe de l'UME de platine, agissant comme oxydant à la surface d'or. La troisième partie comprend deux travaux expérimentaux différents mais complémentaires. Le premier porte sur la réduction électrochimique sur électrode d'or d'un sel de diazonium préparé à partir de l'éthylènediamine, une molécule aliphatique. Pour la première fois, la fonctionnalisation covalente sur or d'un sel de diazonium est démontrée via la diazotation d'un groupe amino de l'éthylènediamine. Dans la seconde partie, un substrat de verre a été greffé par un film à base de 3-aminopropyle silane qui a été réalisée par un procédé sol-gel. Ensuite, la lame de verre modifiée a été fonctionnalisée avec du glutaraldéhyde pour greffer la tyrosinase. Enfin, le mode de réaction du SECM a également été utilisé pour vérifier l’activité catalytique de cette enzyme. La pointe de l’UME est positionnée à proximité de la surface modifiée par l’enzyme afin de réaliser une mesure de courant de l’activité enzymatique à partir d’un balayage horizontal dans le plan x-y. / Nowadays, the modification of surfaces has drawn more attention due to its variety of applications in various domains. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis deals with the localized modification of surfaces in mild condition by using the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) instrument. As a proof of concept for direct writing, different strategies have been used for surface modifications through removing surface materials, grafted organic layer and changing the chemical structure of the surface. Gold wafer and glass surfaces were the main substrates which have been modified since these materials are very used especially in nanotechnologies. This dissertation is conducted in four chapters and the first one focuses on SECM technique and surface modifications in general. The three other parts concern the work performed to validate the concept of direct writing. In the first part, metal ion (copper and gold)-doped silica matrices have been prepared by the well-known sol-gel method. Copper and gold metallic particles are produced locally by using the SECM in feedback mode with mediators such as methyl viologen and p-benzoquinone. The diameter of ultramicroelectrode (UME) tip and hydrolysis period were factors taken into account to study the effect on the size of electrogenerated metallic spots. In the second part, the localized wet etching of gold surface has been achieved by using SECM where a dimethylsulfoxide-based electrolyte charged with iodine is used. In this method an UME probe is positioned (at a known distance) close to the gold surface. Friendly environment method was used as etching process to generate electrochemically triiodide ion at the platinum UME tip, acting as an oxidant for gold surface. he third part includes two different experimental works. The first one covers the electrochemical reduction on gold electrode of diazonium salt prepared from ethylenediamine, an aliphatic diamine molecule. For the first time, the covalent functionalization on gold of a diazonium salt is demonstrated, and required diazotization of one amine group from ethylenediamine. In the second work, glass substrate was grafted by 3-aminopropyl silane film which was performed by sol-gel method. Then the modified-glass slide was functionalized by glutaraldehyde solution in order to immobilize tyrosinase molecules. Finally, the feedback mode of SECM has also been used to monitor the catalytic activity of tyrosinase. The tip of ultramicroelectrode was positioned close to the enzyme-modified surface and was scanned horizontally in x-y plane while measuring current from re-generated mediator molecules was carried out.

Submitted by Biblioteca da Faculdade de Farmácia (bff@ndc.uff.br) on 2018-03-05T14:14:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JÚLIA GONÇALVES MAYER.pdf: 2883327 bytes, checksum: 6ae955490e1664e27d2c9669ad07a02c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-05T14:14:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JÚLIA GONÇALVES MAYER.pdf: 2883327 bytes, checksum: 6ae955490e1664e27d2c9669ad07a02c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Os métodos analíticos utilizados para medir o percentual de ácido graxo trans (AGT) em alimentos envolvem cromatografia em fase gasosa com detecção de ionização de chama (CG-DIC), espectrometria de massas (CG-EM) e espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier e refletância total atenuada (FT-IR-ATR). O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a viabilidade e a aplicabilidade do uso das técnicas de FT-IR-ATR, sem extração, com extração prévia da gordura e após hidrólise e metilação dos ácidos graxos, para avaliar o conteúdo de AGT em biscoitos recheados e comparar os resultados obtidos com os encontrados para a determinação de ácido elaídico pela técnica de CG-EM. Foram escolhidas 9 marcas de biscoitos recheados sabor chocolate e 1 pacote de gordura vegetal hidrogenada, para ser usada como padrão secundário para análise de AGT por FT-IR-ATR. As amostras foram analisadas, inicialmente, quanto aos seus conteúdos de umidade e lipídeos totais. Para todas as amostras não foi observada concentração de umidade superior a 6,03 g/100 g. Os lipídeos totais variaram de 12,51±0,58 a 23,84±0,09 g/100 g. A presença de AGT foi identificada por FT-IR-ATR pela visualização da banda próxima a 966 cm−1 e confirmada com adição de padrão às amostras. Ao analisar as amostras de biscoito homogeneizadas e sem outro preparo, não foi viável a utilização do método de FT-IR-ATR, visto que a absorção de radiação infravermelha de substâncias da amostra se sobrepõe à absorção na região das ligações duplas trans, o que demonstra que a matriz do alimento pode influenciar na análise. Quanto a presença dos AGT, ácido elaídico (C18:1, n-9 trans) foi identificado e confirmado em todas as amostras através de CG-EM. Ao comparar a quantificação pelos métodos CG-EM e FT-IR-ATR em amostras de extratos e na forma de ácidos graxos metilados (FAME), foram observadas concentrações baixas de ácido elaídico/ácidos graxos trans (de 0,03±0,01 a 0,86±0,01 g/100 g de biscoito) obtidas pelos diferentes métodos. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as concentrações de AGT determinadas pelos três métodos testados para oito das nove amostras analisadas. O presente trabalho mostrou que a técnica de FT-IR-ATR, analisando o extrato lipídico e as amostras em forma de FAME foi adequado para estimar os teores de AGT em biscoito recheado de chocolate, visto que proporciona uma análise mais rápida, com um menor número de etapas e menor consumo de reagentes em relação às análises por CG-EM / The analytical methods used to measure the percentage of trans fatty acids in foods involve gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR). The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and applicability of ATR-FT-IR techniques, without extraction, with previous extraction of fat and after hydrolysis and methylation of fatty acids to evaluate the content of TFA in filled biscuits, and compare the results obtained with those found for the determination of elaidic acid by the CG-MS technique. Were chosen 9 marks of chocolate filled biscuit and 1 packet of hydrogenated vegetable fat to be used as a secondary standard for AGT analysis by ATR-FT-IR. The samples were initially analyzed for their moisture contents and total lipids. For all samples, no moisture content higher than 6.03 g/100 g. Total lipids ranged from 12.51 ± 0.58 to 23.84 ± 0.09 g/100g. The presence of TFA was identified by ATR-FT-IR through the visualization of the band near 966 cm−1 and confirmed with addition of standard to the samples. When analyzing the homogenized cookie samples and without further preparation, the use of the ATR-FT-IR method was not feasible because the absorption of infrared radiation from sample substances overlaps the absorption in the region of the trans double bonds, which demonstrates that the food matrix may influence the analysis. Regarding the presence of TFA, elaidic acid (C18: 1, n-9 trans) was identified and confirmed in all samples by GC-MS. When comparing quantification by GC-MS and ATR-FT-IR in samples of extracts and in the form of fatty acids methly esters (FAME), low concentrations of elaidic acid / trans fatty acids were observed (0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.86 ± 0.01 g / 100 g of biscuit) obtained by the different methods. No significant differences were found between the concentrations of TFA determined by the three methods tested for eight of the nine samples analyzed. The present study showed that the ATR-FT-IR technique, analyzing the lipid extract and the samples in the form of FAME, was adequate to estimate the TFA contents in chocolate filled biscuit, because it provides a faster analysis with a smaller number of steps and lower toxic chemicals in relation to GC-MS analyzes