This study was conducted to estimate the kinetic constants of benzene-acclimated biomass at optimum conditions and investigate the effectiveness of soil inoculation to expedite the biodegradation of benzene. A complete-mix, bench-scale, continuous-flow, activated-sludge reactor was used to develop organisms capable of utilizing benzene as a sole carbon and energy source. Settled pond water was used as seeding inocula and about 2000 mg/I of MLSS was maintained at the steady state with the MCRT of 7 days. The culture was used to inoculate the experimental bottle equipped with a sampling port. A series of different initial concentrations of benzene were established in the bottles for the batch growth tests. Samples were drawn every hour and the optical densities were measured at 540 nm in order to assess the growth rate. A nonlinear least-squares regression technique was employed to estimate the constants of the Haldane equation (an inhibition function). µ_m was 0.31 hr⁻¹, K₂ was 1.36 mg/I and K_i, was 1.50x10¹⁵' mg/I in the range of 14 - 491 mg/I of benzene. A small amount of the acclimated bacteria was added to the normal moist subsoil containing 100 mg/I of benzene and enough mineral nutrients. The soils were put in septum-capped glass bottles and incubated in the dark for a month. The benzene concentration in the autoclaved bottles did not decrease during the incubation period while that in the inoculated bottles was reduced to zero within 4 days and that in the uninoculated bottles was reduced to zero within 13 days. / M.S.

An analytical and experimental investigation was conducted to determine the bond strength of liquid squeeze-films subjected to oscillating loads normal to the plane of the film. A mass with a flat circular bottom was placed on a rigid flat base covered with a thin layer of liquid. A sinusoidal vibration was then imparted to the base, and the acceleration level necessary to break the bond of the liquid film was measured under both atmospheric and vacuum ambient pressure conditions. The effects of a number of variables, in particular the mass, contact area, oscillatory frequency, fluid vapor pressure, viscosity, and surface tension, were considered. Results indicated that liquid squeeze-films can be used to support vibrating loads of considerable magnitude, even in a vacuum environment. The limiting factor on the bond strength was found to be the fluid cavitation pressure which can be negative. An analysis was developed based on Reynolds lubrication theory and predicted accurately the basic trends of the data. / Master of Science

No / Phosphonium tosylates have been investigated as solvents for the Diels¿Alder reactions of isoprene with methyl acrylate, but-3-en-2-one and acrylonitrile. The reactions with oxygen-containing dienophiles showed high regioselectivity. Graphic

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Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) and their derivatives are promising electrolytes for electrochemical devices including supercapacitors. Understanding the behavior of RTILs in these devices is critical for improving their performance. The energy density of supercapacitors can be improved greatly by using RTILs as electrolytes and nanoporous carbon as electrodes, but the mechanism of the charge storage using these materials is not well understood. In this dissertation, the diffusion and charging dynamics of RTILs in nanopores are studied. The results show that ion packing typically plays the most important role in ion diffusion. The study also demonstrates that the cyclic charging and discharging of a pore can exhibit a number of interesting features (e.g., sloshing of ionic charge along the pores during cyclic scans), which help explain experimental observations such as the negligible contribution of co-ions to charge storage at high scan rates. Solid electrolytes with both high ionic conductivities and excellent mechanical strength are needed in many electrochemical devices. The invention of ion gels featuring aligned polyanions immersed inside RTILs has shown promise in meeting this demand, but the mechanism behind their superior mechanical strength remains elusive. Using molecular simulations, it is discovered that the high elastic moduli of model PBDT ion gels originate from the RTIL-mediated interactions between the polyanions. This insight is useful for future design of ion gels to improve their transport and mechanical properties. / Ph. D. / Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) and their derivatives are promising electrolytes for electrochemical devices including supercapacitors. Understanding the behavior of RTILs in these devices is critical for improving their performance. The energy density of supercapacitors can be improved greatly by using RTILs as electrolytes and nanoporous carbon as electrodes, but the mechanism of the charge storage using these materials is not well understood. In this dissertation, the diffusion and charging dynamics of RTILs in nanopores are studied. The results show that ion packing typically plays the most important role in ion diffusion. The study also demonstrates that the cyclic charging and discharging of a pore can exhibit a number of interesting features (e.g., sloshing of ionic charge along the pores during cyclic scans), which help explain experimental observations such as the negligible contribution of co-ions to charge storage at high scan rates. Solid electrolytes with both high ionic conductivities and excellent mechanical strength are needed in many electrochemical devices. The invention of ion gels featuring aligned polyanions immersed inside RTILs has shown promise in meeting this demand, but the mechanism behind their superior mechanical strength remains elusive. Using molecular simulations, it is discovered that the high elastic moduli of model PBDT ion gels originate from the RTIL-mediated interactions between the polyanions. This insight is useful for future design of ion gels to improve their transport and mechanical properties.

Líquidos iônicos (LI) e Poli(líquidos íonicos) (PLI) apresentam propriedades moduláveis extremamente interessantes, devido a possibilidade de infinitas combinações entre cátions e ânions, além da possibilidade de funcionalização tanto do cátion quanto do ânion para a inserção de propriedades de interesse, transformando esses LI e PLI em materiais de tarefa específica (task-LI e task-PLI). Nesta tese de doutorado, um PLI sólido, eletrocrômico e inédito foi sintetizado a partir de um LI funcionalizável e polimerizável (brometo de 1-cloropropil-3-vinilimidazólio) e o viologênio 4,4-bipiridina. Essa reação resultou em um monômero que teve sua estrutura intensamente elucidada e, em seguida, foi polimerizado, formando um polieletrólito sólido eletrocrômico estável mecanicamente e termicamente (309 °C). Os estudos espectroeletroquímicos a partir de um filme fino depositado sobre ITO revelaram um processo redox reversível com redução e oxidação nos potenciais de -0.45 e -0,3 V, respectivamente. O processo redox foi acompanhado por variação de coloração de transparente (estado totalmente oxidado) para roxo (estado reduzido/cátion radical) com contraste ótico de 19 % (525 nm), switching time de 20 s e eficiência da coloração (CE) de 60 cm2 C-1. A estabilidade eletroquímica do filme foi estudada via cronoamperometria e o material permaneceu eletroativo e eletrocrômico por 4 horas e 400 ciclos sem perdas consideráveis de eletroatividade. Além disso, mesmo após 16 h e 1600 ciclos o material apresentou eletroatividade com um decréscimo pequeno de corrente e variação de transmitância. Adicionalmente, o monitoramento do material com uma microbalança a cristal de quartzo com dissipação (QCM-D) indicaram que a compensação de carga do polímero é acompanhada por uma considerável variação de viscoelasticidade do filme e a principal espécie responsável pela compensação é o ânion, sendo o ânion volumoso [Tf2N] incapaz de compensar a carga do sistema impedindo o processo redox de ocorrer. Ainda com relação a capacidade de funcionalização dos LI, um LI inédito foi preparado a partir de um segundo LI funcionalizável (brometo de 1-cloropropil-1-metilpirrolidíneo) que foi elucidado por diversas técnicas incluindo ressonância magnética nuclear em duas dimensões de 1H, 13C e 15N (RMN 2D: COSY, NOESY, HSQC e HMBC) e RMN 15N. Dessa forma, um LI funcionalizado com aza-éter de coroa (LIcoroa) foi preparado a partir da reação do LI funcionalizável e o aza-18-coroa-6 e, novamente, a estrutura foi elucidada, incluindo RMN 2D. O LIcoroa apresentou boa estabilidade térmica (371 °C) e eletroquímica (janela de 4 V). A densidade do LI foi obtida no valor de 1,5 g cm-3 (25 °C). No entanto, a viscosidade do LI foi elevada afetando diretamente sua condutividade elétrica quando comparado com o LI bis(trifluorosulfonil)imida de 1-bultil-1-metilpirrolidíneo já amplamente estudado na literatura. Para aplicações, este LI coroa está sendo estudado para atuar como eletrólito em baterias de íon lítio devido a sua possível capacidade de complexar com este íon e diminuir a interação do Li+ com os oxigênios da espécie aniônica [Tf2N]. / Ionic Liquids (ILs) and poly(Ionic Liquids) (PoILs) have fully tunable properties due to their different ion combinations as well as cation or anion functionalization, which results in smart materials with endless possibilities. In this study, a solid electrochromic PoIL was synthesized using a novel functionalizable and polymerizable IL (1-propyl-3-vinylimidazolium chloride bromide) and a viologen (4,4\'-bipyridine) that reacted to form a monomer. Its subsequent polymerization resulted in a mechanically stable, highly ionically and electronically conductive electrochromic polyelectrolyte with a thermal decomposition temperature higher than 309°C and a glass transition temperature of 13°C. Spectroelectrochemical studies of the polymer deposited as a thin film over a transparent conductive substrate demonstrated a reversible redox process with reduction and oxidation potentials of -0.45 and -0.3V, respectively, which was accompanied by a reversible color change from colorless (oxidized state) to purple (reduced state) with an optical contrast of 19% at 525nm, a switching time of nearly 20s and a coloration efficiency of 60 cm2 C-1. Additionally, the film was repetitively switched from colorless to purple and began to lose electroactivity after approximately 4h and 400cycles. However, electroactivity was still observed after 16h or 1600cycles. Moreover, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring indicated that the polymer charge compensation process was accompanied by a huge viscoelastic change in the film, as demonstrated by the spread of the harmonics and important changes in dissipation. Moreover, the anion is the most important specie in the charge compensation process, the large anion [Tf2N] is unable to compensate the charge, preventing the redox process from occurring. Also regarding the functionalization capacity of LI, a novel LI was prepared from a second functionalizable LI (1-chloropropyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bromide) which was intensively elucidated by several techniques including two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance 1H, 13C and 15N (2D NMR: COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC). Thus, a functionalized LI with aza-crown ether (LIcrown) was prepared from the reaction of the functionalizable LI and aza-18-crown-6 and, again, the structure was elucidated, including 2D NMR. LIcrown presented good thermal stability (371 ° C) and electrochemistry (4 V window). The density of the IL was 1,5 g cm-3. However, the viscosity of the LI was elevated by directly affecting its electrical conductivity when compared to the 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluorosulfonyl)imide already widely studied in the literature. For applications, this LIcrown is being studied to act as an electrolyte in lithium ion batteries because of its possible ability to complex with this ion and to decrease the interaction of Li+ with the oxygen of the anionic species [Tf2N].

The objective of this research is to explore the use of ionic liquds in crystal engineering and drug delivery. Ionic liquids have a wide range of applications in pharmaceutical field due to their unique physicochemical propertie ssuch as chemical, thermal stability, low melting point, nonvolatility, nonflamability, low toxicity and recyclability which offer unique and interesting potential for pharmaceuitcal applications. Currently, many research groups are working on the development of ionic liquids to use in this field but there is need to develop systematic understanding about new techniques for synthesis and applications of ionic liquids to obtain new crystal form and potential of drug ionic salts. The synthesis of fifteen phosphonium ionic liquids under microwave irradiation and their physicochemical properties was investigated. The reaction time was significantly reduced compared to conventional methods, and higher yields were reported. The crystallisation of pharmaceutical drugs such as sulfathiazole, chlorpropamide, phenobarbital and nifedipine were investigated using imidazolium ionic liquids. The supramolecular complex of sulfathiazole and phenobarbital with imidazolium ionic liquids and polymorphic change in chlorpropamide was achieved. The ionic liquids provides unique environment for the crystallisation. The imidazolium salts of ibuprofen and diclofenac were synthesised and evaluated for physicochemical properties and their pharmaceutical performances especially transdermal absorption. The investigation of physicochemcal properties and pharmaceutical performance of imidazolium drug salts indicated opportunity to optimise lipophilicity and other physicochemical properties such as molecular size, osmolality, viscosity to achieve desired skin deposition and permeation. This study will provide a new approach to design of new drug salts develop using the interdisciplinary knowledge of chemical synthesis and drug delivery.

This thesis deals with the study of transport properties of integer and fractional QH edge states and it is based on the work I performed during my Ph.D. studies. The focus of this thesis is on Luttinger liquids far from equilibrium and their relaxation dynamics. Since Boltzmann, a fundamental aspect of statistical mechanics has been the understanding of the emergence of an equilibrium state. Interactions play a crucial role in the thermalization process that drives a system through states described by the Gibbs equilibrium ensemble. Therefore, it seems counterintuitive that a strongly interacting system, such as the Luttinger liquid, should not present any relaxation dynamics. This peculiar fact is due to the integrability of the Luttinger model, i.e. the existence of an infinite number of conserved quantities that precludes the equilibration process. However, in the past few years it has become clear that integrable systems can present some kind of relaxation, even though not towards the Gibbs equilibrium ensemble. Remarkably, the necessity of correctly taking into account some particular non-equilibrium configurations, also revealed the necessity of modifying bosonization, a technique widely used to study strongly interacting systems in one dimension. In this work we focus on three different cases: • Relaxation of high energy electrons injected in a ν = 1/3 chiral Luttinger liquid and in a standard Luttinger liquid. • Heating and the emergence of effective temperatures in a Quantum Hall system at fractional filling fraction ν = 2/3 partitioned by a Quantum Point Contact. • Effect of relaxation on shot-noise measurement of the quasi-particle charge in a ν = 2 QH state.

Gas-expanded liquids (GXLs) are novel and environmentally benign solvent systems with applications in reactions, separations, nanotechnology, drug delivery, and microelectronics. GXLs are liquid mixtures consisting of an organic solvent combined with a benign gas, such as CO2, in the nearcritical regime. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations have been combined with experimental techniques to elucidate the cybotactic region or local environment in gas-expanded liquids. Molecular dynamics simulations show clustering of methanol molecules in carbon dioxide-methanol mixtures. This clustering was not observed in carbon dioxide-acetone mixtures. Furthermore, addition of carbon dioxide enhances diffusivity of solutes in gas-expanded media as shown by both simulations and Taylor-Aris dispersion experiments. Finally, local structure and local compositions around pyrene in carbon dioxide-methanol and carbon-dioxide acetone were investigated using simulations and UV-vis spectroscopy.

No description available.