La production croissante des nanoparticules issues du développement des nanotechnologies et leur incorporation dans des produits de consommation vont inévitablement conduire à leur introduction dans l’environnement. Ces particules peuvent constituer un vecteur de substances polluantes en raison du transport facilité des contaminants organiques ou inorganiques potentiellement adsorbés sur leurs surfaces ou représentent elles-mêmes un risque pour l’environnement et la santé humaine. La zone non saturée joue une fonction importante de filtration naturelle des eaux de recharge des nappes. Les mécanismes de transport et de rétention des nanoparticules à travers cette zone sont complexes du fait des hétérogénéités de type structural et textural de celle-ci. Ces hétérogénéités sont à l'origine des écoulements préférentiels et d’un grand nombre de facteurs d'interaction physico-chimiques liés aux propriétés des nanoparticules et de la zone non saturée elle-même. L'objectif de la thèse est de mieux comprendre les effets de ces hétérogénéités sur le transport des nanoparticules dans un milieu non saturé hétérogène afin de mieux prévenir le devenir des nanoparticules dans le sol. Dans ce contexte, trois matériaux granulaires (un sable et des mélanges sable-gravier) ont été mis en place en colonne (10 cm de diamètre x 30 cm de hauteur) et dans le lysimètre LUGH du LEHNA (100 x 160 x 100 cm3) pour simuler le transport des nanoparticules dans le sol. Le but est de déterminer le rôle des hétérogénéités texturale (différentes granulométries) et structurale (barrière capillaire) du sol, en prenant en compte les effets de la force ionique de la solution et de la vitesse d’écoulement sur le transfert des nanoparticules en conditions non saturées. Des nanoparticules de silice marquées par des molécules organiques fluorescentes ont été développées en tant que nanotraceur particulaire dans le cadre de cette étude, l’ion bromure a été utilisé pour caractériser l’écoulement de l’eau. Le modèle de transfert de non équilibre hydrodynamique à fractionnement de l'eau en deux phases mobile et immobile, MIM, incluant un terme de rétention et de relargage des nanoparticules, décrit correctement les courbes d'élution de nanoparticules, pour les expériences en colonne. Cette étude a permis de caractériser les effets liés aux différentes tailles des grains du sol et à la barrière capillaire sur la rétention des nanoparticules. Les expériences réalisées avec différentes forces ioniques montrent que pour les forces ioniques comprises entre 1 et 50 mM, la rétention est croissante comme prédit la théorie DLVO ; cependant à partir d’une force ionique supérieure à 100 mM il se produit une inversion de la rétention. Lorsque la vitesse d’écoulement diminue, la rétention augmente, probablement en partie à l’interface air-eau. Le lysimètre LUGH a permis d’identifier le rôle de la barrière capillaire sur la rétention des nanoparticules. Un modèlenumérique 3D basé sur l’équation de Richards pour l’écoulement et les équations convection dispersion couplées avec un module de rétention pour les nanoparticules a été dévelopé. Les résultats montrent que la rétention a augmenté à l’interface sable-milieu bimodal. Le profil de rétention de nanoparticules indique qu’elles sont majoritairement retenues en surface du sol, puis la rétention diminue avec la profondeur, pour les expériences réalisées en colonne. Le nanotraceur constitue un outil puissant pour l’étude du rôle des hétérogénéités dans le transfert des particules dans un sol non saturé. / Increasing production of nanoparticles from nanotechnology development and incorporation into consumer products will inevitably lead to their introduction into the environment. These particles can be a vector of pollutants due to the facilitated transport of organic and inorganic contaminants potentially adsorbed on their surfaces or represent a risk to the environment and human health themselves. The unsaturated zone plays an important function of natural water filtration recharge. The transport and retention mechanisms of nanoparticles through this zone are complex due to the structural and textural soil heterogeneities. These heterogeneities are causing preferential flows and are responsible a large number of physical and chemical interaction related to the nanoparticles properties. The aim of the thesis is to better understand effects of soil heterogeneities on the transport of nanoparticles in a heterogeneous unsaturated media to better prevent the fate of nanoparticles in the vadose zone. In this context, three granular materials (sand and sand - gravel mixtures) were introduced in column (10 cm diameter x 30 cm high) and the lysimeter LUGH of Lehna (100 x 160 x 100 cm3) to simulate the transport of nanoparticles in the soil. The goal is to determine the role of heterogeneous textural (different sizes) and structural (barrier capillary) heterogeneities of the soil, taking into account the effects of the ionic strength of the solution and the flow rate on the transfer of the nanoparticles in unsaturated conditions. Silica nanoparticles labeled with fluorescent organic molecules have been developed as particulate v in this study, the bromide ion has been used to characterize the flow of water. The transfer model of non-equilibrium hydrodynamic fractionation of water and two mobile and immobile phases, MIM, including a retention and release term of the nanoparticles, properly described breakthrough curves of nanoparticles on column experiments. This study allowed to characterize the effects related of different grain sizes of soil and capillary barrier on the nanoparticle retention. Experiments with different ionic strengths show for the ionic strength between 1 and 50 mM, the retention increased as predicted by the DLVO theory. However, from an ionic strengh greater than 100 mM an inversion retention occurs. When the flow rate decreases, retention increases, air - water interface increases and trapps probably the nanoparticles. Lysimeter LUGH allowed to identify the role of the capillary barrier on the retention of nanoparticles. A 3D numerical model based on Richards equation for flow and the convection dispersion equations coupled with a mechanical module for nanoparticle trapping was developed. Results show retention increased in the sand-bimodal interface. The retention profile indicates that nanoparticles are predominantly retained at the soil surface, then the retention decreases with depth, for the column experiments. The nanotracer is a powerful tool for studying the role of heterogeneous in the transfer of particles in an unsaturated soil.

Pokrok ve vývoji nanotechnologií nám poskytuje dobrou příležitost k vývoji nových špičkových zařízení. Tato práce si klade za cíl vyrobit, popsat a změřit grafenové pH senzory na dvou různých substrátech - polymeru parylenu C a SiO2. Tento pH senzor je prvním krokem ve vývoji nositelné náplasti monitorující stav kůže a možné infekce. Grafen je 2D materiál na bázi uhlíku se zajímavými vlastnosti a nadějnými aplikacemi. Úspěšně jsme provedli dva různé experimenty sloužící k charakterizaci grafenových senzorů a jejich odezvu na různé hodnoty pH. V prvním experimentu jsme použili horní elektrolytické hradlo k určení bodu neutrality (Diracův bod). Druhý experiment popsal změnu rezistence grafenu jako funkce pH. Dále jsme také funkcionalizovali grafen polyanilinem, abychom zlepšili jeho vlastnosti. Prokázali jsme citlivost grafenových senzorů na pH pro oba substráty a objevili jsme několik výzev jako potřebu kontroly iontové síly, experimentů samotných a destrukce grafenu.

The properties of the hyaluronan were investigated by using different fluorescence probes, because hyaluronan is a hopeful carrier of an active matter in medicine and cosmetics. Selected fluorescence probes were: cationic acridine orange, Nile Blue A, methylene blue, amphiphilic 4-Di-2-ASP and anionic fluorescein. Except from fluorescence and absorption spectra of the probes were observed electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions as well. The probes in solvents with different polarity (MeOH, EtOH, DMSO) showed the bathochromic shift in the emission maximum and quenching of the fluorescence with the increasing polarity of the solvents. The influence of the ionic strength on fluorescence properties of the probe acridine orange and 4-Di-2-ASP was investigated in aqueous solutions of chlorides. The formation of acridine orange dimer is inhibited with increasing ionic strength. CaCl2 increased the ionic strength the most, then prevented repulsion of carboxylate groups, so it means the expansion of hyaluronan cluster into the solution. However, the emission of the probe 4-Di-2-ASP was quenched with the addition of CaCl2 the most. The first additions of COO– groups cause the formation of dimers of AO shown as decreasing in extinction coefficient and fluorescence intensity. Next addition of the hyaluronan caused a depolymerization of formed dimers and the increase of the emission intensity. The repolymerization caused the decrease and then again the increase. In case of 4-Di-2-ASP was the pattern of the fluorescence (the intensity and the position of the emission) firstly the same, but at the concentration of 1 g dm-3 the emission intensity increased. The probes MB and F were used for spectroscopic studies of the interaction between methylene blue-fluorescein complex and anionic and cationic surfactants. The absorbance of separate MB and F changed only with the addition of surfactants with the opposite electric charge. Absorbance of the mixture MB-F changed with the addition of the CTAC surfactant, while the addition of SDS into the mixture caused only the change of MB absorption spectra.

No description available.

In the early 1990’s, a lot of work was focused on extending the kraft cook to a low lignin content (low kappa number). The driving force was the need to further reduce the environmental impact of the bleaching, as less delignification work would be needed there. However, the delignification during the residual phase of a kraft cook is very slow and, due to its poor selectivity, it is a limiting factor for the lignin removal. If the amount of lignin reacting according to the residual phase could be reduced, it would be possible to improve the selectivity of the kraft cook. In the work described in this thesis, special attention has been given to the activation energy of the slowly reacting residual phase of a kraft cook on softwood raw material and to the influence of different cooking parameters on the amount of the residual phase lignin. The activation energy of the residual phase delignification of the kraft cook was shown to be higher than that of the bulk phase delignification. In order to decrease the amount of residual phase lignin, it was essential to have a high concentration of hydrogen sulphide ions when cooking with a low hydroxide concentration. It was also important to avoid a high sodium ion concentration when cooking with low hydroxide and low hydrogen sulphide ion concentrations. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that dissolved wood components had a positive effect on the delignification rate in the bulk phase of a kraft cook. The influence of different cooking parameters in the extended softwood kraft process on the bleachability (i.e. the ease with which the pulps can be bleached to a target brightness) of the manufactured pulp was also investigated. If variations in bleachability were seen, an attempt would also be made to find chemical reasons to explain the differences. It was difficult to establish clear relationships between the chemical structures of the residual lignin and the bleachability of the pulp. However, it was seen that the higher the content of β-aryl ether structures in the residual lignin after cooking, the better was the QPQP*-bleachability. In the middle/end of the 1990’s, the focus moved from extended cooking to efficient utilisation of the wood raw material, e.g. by interrupting the kraft cook at higher kappa number levels and choosing appropriate cooking conditions to maximise the cooking yield. A high cooking yield often leads to a somewhat higher hexenuronic acid (HexA) content of the pulp at a given kappa number. Therefore additional attention was devoted to how the HexA content and carbohydrate composition were affected, e.g. by a set of cooking parameters. Performing these studies it was also important to investigate the effects of a low HexA (after cooking) strategy on such vital factors as the cooking yield, the bleachability and the yellowing characteristics of the pulp obtained. It proved to be difficult to significantly reduce the HexA content in a kraft pulp by altering the cooking conditions for both softwood and the hardwood Eucalyptus Globulus. A reduction in HexA content can be achieved by extending the cook to lower kappa numbers, or by using a high hydroxide concentration, a low hydrogen sulphide concentration or a high sodium ion concentration. However, neither of these strategies is attractive for industrial implementation since they would result in an extensive loss of yield, viscosity and strength. / <p>QC 20100825</p>

En œnologie, la formation de trouble d'origine protéique dans les vins blancs est un défaut visuel inacceptable d'un point de vue commercial. Il est attribué à des modifications lentes de la conformation des protéines (présentes à une concentration de 15 à 330 mg.L-1), conduisant à des phénomènes d'agrégation. Ce phénomène est accéléré par une exposition du vin à des températures élevées pendant le transport ou le stockage. Il peut aussi se développer dans des conditions de stockage conventionnelles mais suivant des cinétiques très lentes (> 12 mois). Il est aussi influencé par la composition du vin en ions, polyphénols et polysaccharides. Pour éviter ce problème, des tests et traitements efficaces mais non spécifiques sont appliqués avant embouteillage. Il en résulte une diminution de la qualité organoleptique du vin ainsi qu'une perte non négligeable de produit.L'objectif des travaux présentés dans cette thèse est de progresser dans l'identification des mécanismes physico-chimiques impliqués dans le développement de troubles protéiques. Pour cela, les expérimentations ont été réalisées sur des systèmes modèles et des systèmes réels (vin) dans différentes conditions de température, pH et force ionique. Les résultats ont permis de mettre en évidence les protéines impliquées dans le trouble ainsi que le rôle déterminant du pH et de la force ionique sur les mécanismes d'agrégation, les caractéristiques des agrégats et le trouble final. Les polysaccharides du vin modulent le phénomène d'agrégation mais ne le préviennent pas. Par ailleurs, des modifications de la conformation des protéines du vin induites par le pH ont été mises en évidence. Ces résultats permettent d'apporter des informations supplémentaires pour le développement de tests et de traitements alternatifs plus spécifiques. / In enology, the haze formation in white wine is a visual defect, related to the presence of proteins. This problem is inacceptable for the consumer. It is attributed to a slow unfolding of protein conformation (in white wine at a concentration ranging from 15 to 330 mg.L-1), leading to their aggregation. This phenomenon is accelerated by an exposure to excessive temperature during the storage or the transport. It can also develop on conventional storage conditions but following very slow kinetics (> 12 months). It is influenced by the wine composition in non proteinaceous compounds such as ions, polyphenols and polysaccharides. To prevent this problem, some tests and treatments are used before bottling. However, even if they are efficient, they are non specific to proteins and lead to a diminution of wine organoleptic quality and a non negligible loss of product. The aim of this work is to progress on the identification of physico-chemical mechanisms involved in aggregation. To this end, experiments were performed on model systems and wine, at different conditions of temperature, pH, ionic strength. Results evidenced that specific wine proteins were involved in haze formation whereas others were not. The main role played by pH and ionic strength on aggregation mechanisms, aggregates characteristics and final haze was highlighted. The impact of wine polysaccharides was studied. They modulated the aggregation phenomenon but did not prevent it. Moreover, conformational modifications induced by low pH of some wine proteins were highlighted. These results give some supplementary information for the development of news tests and treatments alternatives, more specific.

Cette thèse apporte une nouvelle vision de la structure des réseaux lamellaires gélifiés. Les systèmes étudiés, choisis pour des applications cosmétiques, sont basés sur des mélanges d’alcools cétéaryliques, de tensioactifs esters de phosphate et d’eau. À l’aide de nombreuses méthodes analytiques, nous avons prouvé que la formation d’une structure lamellaire est possible à des forces ioniques allant jusqu’à 2.2 mol∙L-1. Pour la première fois, un comportement de percolation élastiqueest rapporté en fonction de la concentration en alcools gras et tensioactifs. Le seuil au-dessus duquel un réseau percolé apparaît est ici à 3 % et est indépendant de la force ionique et de la présence de longues chaînes d’oxyde de polyéthylène ancrées dans les bicouches. Au-dessus de 3 %, les systèmes passent de structures vésiculaires unilamellaires à des paquets plans de lamelles, qui forment un réseau tridimensionnel pouvant contenir d’importantes quantités de solution aqueuse. L’impact de la force ionique, de la présence d’oxyde de polyéthylène et de la nature des contre-ions sur lespropriétés rhéologiques et sur la stabilité de la formulation est ensuite étudié. Une augmentation inhabituelle du module élastique et de l’énergie de cohésion est observée lorsque la force ionique est accrue. L’addition d’oxyde de polyéthylène, à l’inverse, diminue d’un ordre de magnitude les valeurs du module élastique du réseau. Les systèmes étudiés sont stables à l'échelle macroscopique et on peut distinguer dans le gel, selon sa mobilité : l’eau fixée entre lamelles, l’eau restreinte en troisdimensions et l’eau libre, extractible par ultracentrifugation. / This Ph.D. brings new insights into the structure of lamellar gel networks. The systems studied are relevant for cosmetic applications and based on a mixture of cetearyl alcohols, phosphates esters surfactants and water. Using several analytical methods, we show that the formation of a lamellar gel structure is possible up to the ionic strength of 2.2 mol∙L-1. For the first time for such systems, an elastic percolation behavior as a function of the concentration of fatty alcohols and surfactants isreported. The threshold above which a percolated network is formed is found here at 3 % and appears to be independent of the ionic strength and of the presence of long polyethylene oxide chains between the bilayers. Above 3 %, the systems transform from unilamellar vesicle-like structures towards planar stacks of lamellae, connected together in a three dimensional network,that can hold large amounts of aqueous solution. The impact of the ionic strength, of polyethylene oxide chains and of the nature of the counterions on the rheological properties and on the stability of the formulation is then investigated. When the ionic strength is raised, an unusual increase of the elastic modulus and of the cohesive energy of the network is observed. At the opposite, the addition of polyethylene oxide chains decreases of one order of magnitude the values of the elastic modulus,leading to much softer networks. All systems studied are macroscopically stable and one finds in the gel, according to water mobility: interlamellar fixed water, water restricted in three dimensions and free water, drainable by ultracentrifugation.

Aterros sanitários são a forma mais viável de disposição final dos resíduos sólidos urbanos no Brasil, tanto do ponto de vista técnico quanto econômico. Os antigos lixões estão sendo progressivamente substituídos por aterros bem projetados e operados. Entretanto, os aterros ainda representam risco ambiental devido à liberação de gases e produção de lixiviado (chorume). Os gases podem ser canalizados e queimados ou usados para produção de energia. O tratamento do lixiviado, porém, ainda representa um desafio aos profissionais da área, não tendo ainda sido encontrada uma solução eficaz. As próprias características físico-químicas deste efluente não são bem conhecidas. No presente trabalho buscou-se contribuir para a solução do problema mediante estudos em três frentes: a caracterização detalhada do lixiviado de aterros brasileiros, o estudo da remoção da amônia (o principal poluente presente no lixiviado) por arraste com ar e a importância da força iônica. A compilação de dados referentes a 40 aterros, distribuídos em todas as regiões do país, possibilitou a elaboração de tabelas com as características típicas do lixiviado durante as fases ácida e metanogênica dos aterros. Não se apresentou apenas os valores extremos de cada variável, mas também as faixas mais prováveis de variação. Também foi possível concluir que a fase ácida na maior parte dos casos não dura mais que dois anos nos aterros brasileiros, desde que esses sejam dotados de sistemas de drenagem de base. O estudo do arraste de amônia foi efetuado em torres de 15 cm de diâmetro e 1 m de altura útil, usando-se anéis de polietileno corrugado como material de recheio. Os resultados mostraram que torres aeradas permitem a remoção praticamente total do nitrogênio amoniacal, independentemente de se fazer ou não alcalinização prévia do lixiviado. O volume de ar necessário para remover uma determinada massa de amônia é sempre constante. Somente foi observada nitrificação quando as concentrações de nitrogênio amoniacal ficaram abaixo de 50 mg/L. A elevada força iônica do lixiviado pode ser a responsável pelo fraco desempenho do processo de coagulação-floculação quando aplicado a este efluente. A força iônica é um aspecto pouco estudado no âmbito da engenharia sanitária e ambiental, mas que não pode ser desconsiderada nos estudos acerca do lixiviado. Outros aspectos foram investigados, como o efeito do cloreto na DQO (demanda química de oxigênio) e a possibilidade de desenvolvimento de larvas de insetos nas lagoas de lixiviado. / Sanitary landfills are considered as the most appropriate way for final disposal of municipal solid wastes in Brazil, in the technical and economical point of view. Open dumps have been progressively substituted by well engineered and operated landfills. However, landfills still present environmental risks due to the gas emission and leachate production. Gases can be piped and burnt or used to the electricity production, but the same can not be applied to the leachate. Moreover, the leachate treatment still represents a challenge to the expertise of the area because it was not already found an efficient solution for it. The physical-chemical characteristics of this effluent are not well known yet. This research sought to contribute to the solution of this problem by focusing in three main lines: detailed characterization of the leachate of Brazilian landfills, investigation of the possibilities of ammonia removal (the main pollutant present in the leachate) by air stripping process and evaluation of the importance of the ionic strength. The compilation of data from 40 sanitary landfills, distributed in all the geographic regions of Brazil, allowed the preparation of tables describing the typical characteristics of Brazilian leachates during the acid and methanogenic phases. It was presented not only the extreme values, but also the most probable ranges of variation. It was also possible to conclude that the acid phase lasts no more than 2 years in Brazilian landfills equipped with adequate leachate drainage systems. The study of ammonia air stripping was carried out in towers of 15 cm of diameter and 1 m of packed bed height. Corrugated plastic Raschig rings were used as packing media. Results showed that the aerated towers were able to remove the ammonia almost completely, independently if the pH of leachate was previously increased or not. The volume of air necessary to remove a determined mass of ammonia is always constant. Nitrification occurred only when total ammonia nitrogen concentrations were lower than 50 mg/L. This led to the conclusion that biological systems should not be applied directly to the treatment of raw methanogenic leachate. The high ionic strength of the leachate can be the responsible for the low efficiencies of coagulation-flocculation process applied to this effluent. Even though ionic strength is not usually considered by sanitary and environmental engineering, it should be considered in the studies dealing with leachate. Other aspects were also investigated, as the effect of the chloride in COD (chemical oxygen demand) measurements and the possibility of maggots growth in leachate ponds.

The response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants to various root and shoot environments (solution depth, temperature, ionic strength, nitrogen and calcium level and light intensity) were studied. Cucumber plants were grown in continuously circulating-solution in a heated-glasshouse. Dry weights of leaves, stems and roots, leaf area, leaf number, root length and root number were measured as well as uptake of potassium, calcium and nitrogen. The relationship between shoot and root in terms of functional equilibrium equations was also examined. The results presented show that: 1. Shoot growth of cucumber plants was reduced if grown in solutions of less than 50mm in depth; 2. When roots were grown in shallow solution depths at 1 or 5mm the dry weight allocated to the root increased. The ratio of root number/root length(no./cm) also increased. Lowering solution temperature to 12.5±2.5°C enhanced the production of root number relctive to root length, and 5 and 2% of full strength and 5% of full strength nitrogen level solution stimulated the growth of root length relative to root number; 3. Under low solution temperature treatment leaf number was maintained at the expense of leaf area. Under low total ionic strength and low nitrogen solution, enhanced root length growth was at the expense of leaf area growth; 4. Low solution temperature enhanced the dry weight allocated to the stem relative to the leaf. Low total ionic strength and low nitrogen solution increased the dry weight allocated to the leaf relative to the stem; 5. The specific activity of root, represented by specific absorption rate, increased when the shoot was under light stress and, the specific activity of shoot, represented by unit shoot rate, increased when the root was under nitrogen-stress; 6. The form of equation developed by Thornley (ΔM = fmΔW, where ΔM is the increment in weight of element M and ΔW the increment in total plant dry weight during a time period Δt with fm a constant) showed a better relationship than the equation developed by Davidson [root mass x rate(absorption) ∝ leaf mass x rate(photosynthesis)] and subsequently used by Hunt in the form of mass ratio(root/shoot) ∝ l/activity ratio; 7. The equation developed by Chung et al, total plant weight/(leaf number/leaf area) ∝ total "k"/(root number/root length), where k represents the total contents of elements or compounds, showed a good approximation of the relationship between shoot and root under all the environmental stresses imposed with the exception of calcium uptake. The results support the concept that the activity of the root or shoot in carrying out its function is influenced by the demand created by the opposite organ and appears to be a better assumption than that which proposes that the activity of an organ is solely dependent on its own size.

Effect of ionic strength on the efficiency of heavy metal removal and recovery from aqueous solutions via continuous mode polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) method was examined. Application of PEUF to divalent ions of cadmium, nickel and zinc after their prior linking with polyethylenimine (PEI) results in complete removal of metal ions from single component aqueous solutions at high pHs. Binding ability and hence the extent of metal retention in high ionic strength medium exhibits differences between solutions containing single and multicomponent metal mixtures. In single component metal solutions, extent of retention decreases but binding order of metals remains unaffected both in low and high ionic strength medium. But, in binary component metal mixtures, with increase in ionic strength the binding order of metals changes. Fractional separation of Cd, Ni and Zn ions from equimolar binary and ternary mixtures of these metals and effect of ionic strength on fractional separation efficiency were investigated. Depending on pH and salt concentration and metal pairs present in the solution fractional separation can be achieved.Dynamic and static light scattering experiments were performed in order to gain insight about the conformational changes in PEI structure due to the pH and ionic strength alternations in solution. It was found that, the increase in ionic strength reduces the size of the macromolecules. A chemical equilibrium model was developed in order to estimate the apparent binding constants of metal-PEI complexes. Based on the data obtained from continuous and batch mode PEUF experiments apparent binding constants were estimated and compared to reveal the performance differences between these operational modes.