This thesis describes the design, synthesis and evaluation of novel chalcogenide antioxidants. A computational model for the prediction of antioxidant properties of chalcogen-containing antioxidants has been developed. The model has been used to probe the relationship between geometry, chalcogen substitution and activity for a series of α-tocopherol analogues of varying ring size and chalcogen substitution. A series of simple diaryltellurides and aryl-alkyl tellurides have been synthesised. The selenium analogue of α-tocopherol has been synthesised in eleven steps and 6.5% total yield, with formation of the selenacycle by homolytic substitution at selenium as the key step. Tentative steps have been taken towards the construction of the tellurotocopherol structure by microwave-assisted radical cyclisation methodologies. A combination of EPR and kinetic studies has been used to assess the antioxidant characteristics of selenotocopherol. A two-phase lipid peroxidation model revealed that the selenotocopherol is not catalytically regenerable. The same model has been used to assess the cooperativity of mixtures of tellurides with α-tocopherol and an aqueous thiol. It was seen that combinations of α-tocopherol with tellurides incorporating phenols displayed synergistic properties, and the mechanistic implications of this are discussed. DSC measurements have been used to assess the antioxidant activity of tellurides together with coantioxidants in melts of polypropylene. The tellurides display excellent activity together with thiol or a sterically hindered phenol antioxidant. In chemiluminescence studies performed at lower temperatures, the telluride mixtures still outperform commercial blends, but to a lesser extent. In a synthetic oil a telluride has demonstrated promising antioxidant properties together with a thiol or phenolic antioxidant. However, under more realistic test conditions the telluride acts instead as a prooxidant. Some tellurides have been evaluated as antioxidants in paper. Water-soluble tellurides appear to function better than lipophilic tellurides, but neither is comparable in activity to α-tocopherol.

ABSTRACT SOLVENT-FREE MICROWAVE EXTRACTION AND MICROWAVEASSISTED HYDRODISTILLATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM SPICES Bayramoglu, Beste M.S., Department of Food Engineering Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serpil Sahin Co-Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. S. G&uuml / l&uuml / m S&uuml / mn&uuml / September 2007, 130 pages The undesirable effects of conventional methods generated the need for economical and safe techniques in the extraction of essential oils. Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) are recently developed techniques, which are thought to overcome this problem. Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) were chosen in this study since they have high antimicrobial and antioxidant effects and are widely grown and consumed in Turkey. The objectives of this study were to examine the applicability of SFME in the extraction of essential oils from oregano and laurel, and MAHD in the extraction of rosemary essential oil. The effects of microwave power and extraction time on the yield, composition, and other quality parameters of the extracts were also investigated. Hydrodistillation was performed as control. SFME offered significantly higher essential oil yields (0.054 mL oil/g oregano) from oregano as compared to hydrodistillation (0.048 mL oil/g oregano). Conventional process time was reduced by 80%. Main aroma compound was thymol (650-750 mg thymol/mL oil). For laurel, no significant differences were obtained in yields (about 0.022 mL oil/g laurel) obtained by SFME and hydrodistillation. Process time was reduced by 55-60%. Main aroma compound was 1,8-cineole (630-730 mg 1,8-cineole/mL oil). In the case of rosemary, no significant differences were obtained in yields (about 0.026 mL oil/g rosemary) obtained by MAHD at 622 W and hydrodistillation. The process time was reduced by about 65%. Main aroma compounds were 1,8-cineole (430-500 mg 1,8-cineole/mL oil) and camphor (150-210 mg camphor/mL oil). Keywords: Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME), Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD), Origanum vulgare L., Laurus nobilis L., Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Dans le cadre de ce travail, des composés de formulation Ce1−xFexO2−x2 ont été synthétisésà l’aide de deux protocoles : co-précipitation et synthèse assistée par chauffage micro-ondes.L’utilisation de cette dernière a ainsi conduit à l’obtention de nanoparticules de morphologiescubiques ou « bâtonnets » et ceci pour des temps de synthèse relativement courts. L’analysepar diffraction X a montré notamment que le paramètre de maille diminue en fonction de lateneur en fer, x. L’environnement local et le degré d’oxydation du fer ont été analysés parspectroscopies Mössbauer, RPE et XANES mettant ainsi en évidence la présence d’ions Fe3+isolés au sein de sites octaédriques distordus et sous forme de clusters. Une comparaison entreles deux voies de synthèse a montré que des différences apparaissent à l’échelle locale. Lessolutions solides obtenues ont ensuite été caractérisées au cours du traitement thermique etsous différentes atmosphères. Indépendamment de l’atmosphère de recuit, une démixtion dela solution solide intervient pour des températures proches de 600°C. / This work deals with the synthesis and characterization of Ce1−xFexO2−x2 nanoparticles.Two different synthesis routes were used : the coprecipitation technique and the microwaveassisted synthesis route. This later allowed the obtention of controled morphologies such asnanocubic or nanorod particles, characterized by HRTEM. Compared to hydrothermal synthesisroute the time of reaction was limited to one hour. X-Ray Diffraction analysis showedthat the lattice parameter decreases versus the iron content. Local environment and oxidationstate of iron were analyzed by Mössbauer, EPR and XANES spectroscopies showingthe presence of two kinds of iron sites : isolated (distorted) octahedral sites and clusters. Acomparison between both synthesis routes shows clearly the differences at a local scale. Thenanoparticles were then further characterized during annealing and under different atmospheres.The solid solution undergoes a demixtion phenomenon around 600°C which does notdepend on the atmosphere conditions.

Abstract Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) are widely consumed due to their favourable taste and health-promoting effects. The berries and extracts from different parts of the plant show anticarcinogenic, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, and are effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and in promoting brain health. These health-promoting benefits are due to high concentrations of valuable compounds such as anthocyanins and flavonols in blackcurrants. However, these compounds are sensitive to heat and processing and some are lost when the berries are processed into products such as jams, purees and juices. Industrial processing of juices is a multistep process that typically includes enzyme treatment, pressing, pasteurisation, clarification and usually also thermal concentration. Alternative minimal processing technologies are required to preserve the health-promoting compounds in products by avoiding the use of high temperatures and extensive clarification. Integrated membrane technology, i.e. combined ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, was used in this thesis for the production of blackcurrant juice concentrate. Pre-treatment methods, such as enzymatic treatment, ultrafiltration, enzymatic treatment combined with ultrafiltration and centrifugation to increase the filtration efficiency in reverse osmosis were evaluated. Processing was modelled to define the resistances, using the resistance-in-series model. The preservation and concentration of anthocyanins and flavonols were analysed. The results indicated that the main resistance in the reverse osmosis process was polarisation resistance, while membrane resistance was lower and fouling resistance was one order of magnitude lower than the other resistances. The filtration efficiency results showed that the highest flux was achieved by ultrafiltered blackcurrant juice, but that the resulting juices were substantially lower in anthocyanins and flavonols, which were retained on the ultrafiltration membrane. Therefore, replacing ultrafiltration with centrifugation as the clarification method for juices is recommended. Value-added processing of blackcurrant was conceptualised by valorisation of the marc left in the berry pressing process for extraction of anthocyanin compounds. Conventional extraction was compared with microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), with the latter optimised using response surface methodology to achieve maximum efficiency in extracting anthocyanins. The optimum parameters found for MAE were: microwave power 700 W, extraction time 10 minutes, pH 2 adjusted with hydrochloric acid and a solid to solvent ratio of 0.05. Conventional extraction showed the best results when carried out at 80 °C for 300 minutes in aqueous solution with pH 2 adjusted by hydrochloric acid. Under these conditions, recovery of anthocyanins was still 10% lower than with MAE for only 10 minutes of extraction time. / Tiivistelmä Mustaherukoita käytetään paljon niiden hyvän maun ja terveyttä edistävien vaikutusten ansiosta. Marjoilla ja marjakasvin eri osien uutteilla on osoitettu olevan antikarsinogeenisia, antioksidatiivisia ja tulehduksia estäviä ominaisuuksia ja ne ovat tehokkaita pienentämään sydän- ja verisuonisairauksia. Ne edistävät myös aivojen terveyttä. Marjojen arvokkailla yhdisteillä kuten antosyanideillä ja flavonoleilla on terveyttä edistäviä vaikutuksia. Mustaherukassa on runsaasti näitä yhdisteitä. Hillojen, soseiden ja mehujen prosessoinnissa menetetään näitä hyödyllisiä yhdisteistä, koska ne ovat herkkiä lämmölle ja prosessoinnin vaikutuksille. Mehujen prosessoinnissa käytetään entsyymikäsittelyjä, puristusta, pastörointia, selkeytystä ja usein myös lämpökonsentrointia. Tuotteiden terveyttä edistävien yhdisteiden säilyttämiseksi tarvitaan uudenlaisia hellävaraisia prosessointitekniikoita ilman korkeita lämpötiloja ja voimakasta selkeyttämistä. Tässä työssä tutkittiin yhdistettyjen kalvotekniikoiden kuten ultrasuodatuksen ja käänteisosmoosin käyttöä mustaherukkatiivistemehun prosessoinnissa. Esikäsittelymenetelmiä, mm. entsyymikäsittelyä, ultrasuodatusta, entsyymikäsittelyn ja ultrasuodatuksen yhdistelmää sekä sentrifugointia, arvioitiin käänteisosmoosin suodatustehokkuuden parantamisessa. Suodatusvastuksen määrittämiseksi prosessi mallinnettiin käyttäen sarja -vastus mallia. Antosyanidien ja flavonolien säilyminen ja konsentroituminen prosesseissa määritettiin. Tulokset osoittivat, että suurin vastus käänteisosmoosissa aiheutui polarisaatiovastuksesta, kun taas kalvon vastus oli pienempi. Mallinnus osoitti myös, että likaantumisen aiheuttama vastus oli yhtä magnitudia alhaisempi kuin muut vastukset. Suodatusteho osoitti, että suurin virtaus saavutettiin ultrasuodatetulla mustaherukkamehulla. Ultrasuodatetussa mehussa oli kuitenkin huomattavasti vähemmän antosyaniineja ja flavonoleja, mikä johtui näiden yhdisteiden tarttumisesta ultrasuodatuskalvoon. Näin ollen, tämän työn tulokset suosittelevat ultrasuodatuksen korvaamista sentrifugoinnilla mehun kirkastusprosessissa. Mustaherukkamehun tuotannossa muodostuu sivutuotteena ns. puristekakkua, joka sisältää runsaasti antosyaaneja. Työssä kehitettiin antosyaanien talteenottoa tästä sivutuotteesta vertaamalla tavanomaista uuttotekniikkaa mikroaaltoavusteiseen uuttoon. Prosessi optimoitiin vastepintamenetelmällä mahdollisimman suuren antosyaanien uuttotehokkuuden saavuttamiseksi. Optimaaliset parametrit saatiin mikroaaltoavusteisessa uutossa teholla 700 W, uuttoajalla 10 minuuttia, kiintoaines-liuotin -suhteella 0,05 pH-arvossa 2, mikä saavutettiin lisäämällä suolahappoa. Tavanomaisessa uutossa parhaat antosyaanisaannot saavutettiin suolahappo-vesiliuoksella pH-arvossa 2 uuttamalla 300 minuuttia lämpötilassa 80 °C. Antosyaanisaanto oli kuitenkin tavanomaisessa uutossa optimiolosuhteissa 10% pienempi kuin mikroaaltoavusteisessa uutossa 10 minuutin uuttoajalla.

Submitted by Alison Vanceto (alison-vanceto@hotmail.com) on 2016-10-06T13:10:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJLC.pdf: 2059088 bytes, checksum: 17e62a1a362fb497c4e79d993d9aae53 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-20T18:53:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJLC.pdf: 2059088 bytes, checksum: 17e62a1a362fb497c4e79d993d9aae53 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-20T18:53:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJLC.pdf: 2059088 bytes, checksum: 17e62a1a362fb497c4e79d993d9aae53 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-20T18:53:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJLC.pdf: 2059088 bytes, checksum: 17e62a1a362fb497c4e79d993d9aae53 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-08 / Não recebi financiamento / The use of guiding values has been the practice in countries with tradition in monitoring the quality of natural resources. The first step of a pollution monitoring program is to establish the natural concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in uncontaminated soil to the development of background values. Mean values of total PTE concentration in worldwide are very heterogeneous and resulting from different soils, extraction methods and techniques of analytical determination. The background values recommended by CETESB were obtained from samples of 13 soils, submitted to USEPA SW 846 3050 protocol, whose PTE contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The objective of this work was to contribute to the improvement of background values of Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, V and Zn in tropical soils, using topsoil samples (0-20 cm) of 30 representative soils of State of São Paulo, Brazil, collected in areas without human disturbance. The soil samples were submitted to the USEPA SW 846 3051, 3051 A and 3052 protocols, with microwaveassisted acid digestion. Natural contents of PTEs were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Extraction protocols were evaluated using the certified soil sample NIST SRM 2709 San Joaquin. Arithmetic means were adopted to describe the central tendency and the variation of results from the different acid digestions and to set the background values into 75 and 90 percentiles. Regardless the extraction method, the average contents of EPT were in the following range of variation (mg kg-1): Al - 27118-42865; Ba - 78-101; Fe - 6318- 35888; Cd - ND - 2.2; Co - 18 to 37; Cr - 39-59; Cu - 43-61; Mn - 176-623; Ni - ND - 61; V - 111-193 and Zn - 63 to 68. The contents of Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, V and Zn correlated with clay, amorphous (Feox) and crystalline (FeDCB) iron oxides contents. The method 3052 resulted in PTEs recovery levels within the limits considered acceptable for certified sample. Within recommended methods by CONAMA Resolution n.420 / 2009, the 3051 A was the best correlated with the method 3052 and was considered the protocol with high potential to improve soil background values. The new soil background values were (mg kg-1): a) percentile 75: Al - 66,700; BA - 68; CD - 1.53; Co - 16; Cr - 47; Cu - 20; Fe - 24,830; Mn - 333; Ni - 57; V - 66; Zn - 61; percentile 90: Al - 99 820; Ba - 113; CD - 1.78; Co - 30; Cr - 62; Cu - 32; Fe - 39 280; Mn - 480; Ni - 113; V - 119; Zn - 65. Since new background values differed from those currently practiced by CETESB, the use of ICP OES to determine natural PTE levels extracted by USEPA 3051 A, from a larger and more representative set of soils, supported the improvement of background values and may contribute to the improvement of the environmental risk assessment estimates for edaphoclimatical conditions of the State of São Paulo. / O emprego de listas com valores orientadores tem sido prática nos países com tradição no monitoramento da qualidade dos recursos naturais. A primeira etapa de um programa de monitoramento de poluição é o estabelecimento das concentrações naturais dos elementos potencialmente tóxicos (EPTs) em solos não contaminados, para a definição de valores de referência de qualidade (VRQs). Valores médios da concentração total de EPTs no âmbito mundial são muito heterogêneos e decorrem da diversidade dos solos, dos métodos de extração e das técnicas de determinação analítica. Os valores de referência preconizados pela CETESB foram obtidos de amostras de 13 solos, submetidas ao protocolo USEPA SW 846 3050, cujos teores foram determinados por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica (AAS). O objetivo deste trabalho foi contribuir para o aprimoramento dos VRQs de Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, V e Zn em solos paulistas, utilizando amostras superficiais (0-20 cm) de 30 solos representativos dos limites estaduais, coletadas em áreas isentas de perturbação antrópica. As amostras de solo foram submetidas aos protocolos USEPA SW 846 3051, 3051 A e 3052, com digestão ácida assistida por forno micro-ondas. Os teores naturais de EPTs foram determinados por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES). Os métodos de extração foram avaliados utilizando a amostra certificada de solo NIST SRM 2709 San Joaquin. Médias aritméticas foram adotadas para descrever a tendência central e a variação dos resultados provenientes das diferentes digestões e para definir os VRQs nos percentis 75 e 90. Independentemente do método de extração, os teores médios de EPTs apresentaram a seguinte amplitude de variação (mg kg-1): Al - 27.118 a 42.865; Ba - 78 a 101; Fe – 6.318 a 35.888; Cd – ND a 2,2; Co – 18 a 37; Cr – 39 a 59; Cu – 43 a 61; Mn – 176 a 623; Ni – ND a 61; V – 111 a 193; Zn – 63 a 68. Os teores de Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, V e Zn correlacionaram-se com os teores de argila, de óxidos de ferro cristalinos (FeDCB) e de óxidos de ferro amorfos (FeOX) dos solos. O método 3052 resultou em teores percentuais de recuperação dentro dos limites considerados aceitáveis para a amostra certificada. Dentre os métodos recomendados pela Resolução CONAMA n.420/2009, o 3051 A foi o que melhor se correlacionou com o método 3052, sendo considerado o método com maior potencial para aprimorar os VRQs de solos do Estado de São Paulo. Os novos VRQs sugeridos para solos do Estado de São Paulo foram (mg kg-1): a) percentil 75: Al – 66.700; Ba – 68; Cd – 1,53; Co – 16; Cr – 47; Cu – 20; Fe – 24.830; Mn – 333; Ni – 57; V – 66; Zn – 61; percentil 90: Al – 99.820; Ba – 113; Cd – 1,78; Co – 30; Cr – 62; Cu – 32; Fe – 39.280; Mn – 480; Ni – 113; V – 119; Zn – 65. Os VRQs diferiram daqueles atualmente praticados pela CETESB, indicando que o uso do ICP OES para determinar teores naturais EPTs, extraídos pelo método USEPA 3051 A, a partir de um conjunto maior e mais representativo de solos, subsidiou o aprimoramento dos VRQs, podendo contribuir para a melhoria das estimativas de avaliação de risco ambiental para as condições edafoclimáticas do Estado de São Paulo.

Submitted by Bruna Andressa Bregadiolli null (brunabregadiolli@hotmail.com) on 2016-11-14T15:01:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 these Bruna final revisada.pdf: 6701827 bytes, checksum: ff6657984f5cc54c2e587577fbdcfe83 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-11-21T12:28:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 bregadiolli_ba_dr_bauru.pdf: 6701827 bytes, checksum: ff6657984f5cc54c2e587577fbdcfe83 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-21T12:28:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 bregadiolli_ba_dr_bauru.pdf: 6701827 bytes, checksum: ff6657984f5cc54c2e587577fbdcfe83 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Ce travail vise à étudier et à développer des matériaux pour des applications dans les cellules solaires de troisième génération. Les matériaux synthétisés sont des dérivés de fullerène, l'oxyde de titane et des nanoparticules hybride (polymère@oxyde). Les polymères dérivés de fullerène, de type n, ont été conçues pour contenir C60 dans la chaîne principale. Trois produits différents ont été obtenus, en faisant varier la longueur du comonomère en utilisant une nouvelle voie de polymérisation. Les dispositifs photovoltaïques ont été préparés en utilisant la configuration à hétérojonction en vrac et le rendement le plus élevé atteint était de 1,84 %, ce qui représente une performance prometteuses pour un nouveau matériau. Les nanoparticules de dioxyde de titane ont été synthétisés en utilisant la technique hydrothermique assistée par micro-ondes dans différentes conditions de réaction, tels que le pH, la température et le temps, afin d'obtenir ainsi défini nanométrique morphologie, avec des rendements élevés et une grande surface spécifique. En outre, on a étudié l'influence des ions Na+ sur la croissance cristalline des oxydes et morphologies des oxydes, où c'etait obtenu des nanoparticules, des aiguilles et des structures ressemblant des nanotubes. Les nanoparticules hybrides ont été synthétisés en utilisant l'oxyde synthétisé et un polymére, P3HT, fonctionnalisés afin de lier de manière covalente avec les oxydes. Les nanoparticules sont optiquement caractérisés et ont conclu à être possible d'utiliser pour les études de transfert de charge dans les systèmes hybrides. / Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar e desenvolver materiais para aplicações em células solares de terceira geração. Os materiais sintetizados são derivados de fulereno, óxido de titânio e nanopartículas híbrido (óxido@polímero). Os polímeros derivados de fulereno, de tipo n, foram planejados para conter C60 na cadeia principal. Três produtos diferentes foram obtidos, variando o comprimento da cadeia alquílica do co-monômero utilizando uma nova rota de polimerização. Os dispositivos fotovoltaicos foram preparados utilizando a configuração de heterojunção no volume e a maior eficiência alcançada foi de 1,84 %, o que representa um desempenho promissor para um novo material. As nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio foram sintetizadas usando a técnica hidrotermal assistida por micro-ondas em diferentes condições reacionais, tais como pH, temperatura e tempo, de modo a obter a morfologia nano dimensionada bem definida, rendimentos elevados e alta área superficial. Além disso, estudou-se a influência dos íons Na+ no crescimento cristalino dos óxidos e em sua morfologia, onde foram obtidas nanopartículas, estruturas tipo agulas e estruturas tipo nanotubos. As nanopartículas híbridas foram sintetizadas utilizando os óxidos sintetizados e um polímero, P3HT, funcionalizado de modo a ligar-se covalentemente aos óxidos. As nanopartículas foram opticamente caracterizadas e concluímos que estas podem ser utilizadas para estudar a transferência de carga em sistemas híbridos. / This work aims to study and develop materials for applications in third generation solar cells. The synthesized materials are fullerene derivatives, titanium oxide, and hybrid (polymer@oxide) nanoparticles. The fullerene derivatives, n-type polymers, were designed to contain C60 in the main chain. Different products were obtained, varying the comonomer alkyl length using a new polymerization route discovery in this work. The photovoltaic devices were prepared using the bulk heterojunction configuration and the highest efficiency reached was 1.84 %, representing a very promising performance for a novel material. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized using microwave assisted hydrothermal technique in different reaction condition, such as pH, temperature and time, in order to obtain well defined nano-sized morphologies, high yields and high surface areas. Also, it was investigated the influence of the Na+ ions on the crystalline growth and morphologies of the oxides, where nanoparticles, needles and nanotube-like structures were obtained. The hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized using the prepared oxides and a P3HT functionalized in order to bond covalently with the oxides. The nanoparticles were optically characterized and concluded to be possible to use for studies of charge transfer in hybrid systems. / FAPESP: 2011/02205-3 / CAPES: 11216-12-3

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:21:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 5622993 bytes, checksum: 5f55f5275c3e644a55c5f60e02cff6ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Ferrites are well studied materials due to their wide application as: gas detector, optical, electronic and magnetic devices, catalyst and pigments. In the synthesis of materials, the properties are extremely influenced by the synthesis method. In this work, four methods were used in the synthesis of spinel ferrites with composition Zn1-xCuxFe2O4 (x = 0,0; 0,25; 0,50; 0,75; 1,0). These were: microwave assisted hydrothermal method (HMO), polymeric precursor (PP), solid state reaction (ES) and thermal decomposition (CA). The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), surface area analysis by the BET method e field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM). The synthesis realized with different methods presented very distinct results according to the characterization methods. The sample with composition Zn0,75Cu0,25Fe2O4 was selected as standard for comparison among the applied methods. Samples obtained by the hydrothermal method presented high surface area (128 m2.g-1) and using the particle size obtained by BET and crystallite size calculated from the XRD patterns, it was estimated that there is about 1 crystallite per particle. All samples had high short- and long-range disorder. The sample synthesized by de PP method presented the highest crystallinity, with high short and long range order, leading to a high photoconductivity, intermediary surface area due to the sintering among small particles. The CA method presented an intermediate characteristic between the PP and ES methods. Comparing to HMO method, the PP, ES and CA ones presented small surface areas (not exceeding 2 m2.g-1), and about 9 times more crystallites per particle. Generally, the formation of ZnFe2O4 spinel was achieved by all methods applied, with the synthesis of CuFe2O4 was not possible depending on the reaction media or at lower temperatures. / As ferritas são materiais bastante estudados devido às diversas aplicações como: detector de gases, dispositivos ópticos, eletrônicos e magnéticos, catalisadores e pigmentos. Na síntese de materiais, essas propriedades são influenciadas pelo método de síntese. Neste trabalho, quatro métodos foram empregados na síntese das ferritas do tipo espinélio com composição Zn1-xCuxFe2O4 (x = 0,0; 0,25; 0,50; 0,75; 1,0). Estes foram: o hidrotermal assistido por micro-ondas (HMO), o precursor polimérico (PP), reação no estado sólido (ES) e decomposição térmica (CA). As amostras foram caracterizadas por difração de raios-X (DRX), espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (IV), espectroscopia Raman, espectroscopia na região do ultravioleta e do visível (UV-Vis), análise de área superficial pelo método de BET e microscopia eletrônica de varredura com emissão de campo (MEV-EC). Nas sínteses realizadas pelas diferentes metodologias, resultados diferentes foram obtidos em todas as técnicas empregadas. A amostra de composição Zn0,75Cu0,25Fe2O4 foi utilizada como composição padrão como comparação entre os métodos. Amostras obtidas pelo método hidrotermal apresentaram elevada área superficial (128 m2.g-1) e utilizando o tamanho de partícula calculado pelo BET e o tamanho de cristalito calculado pela difração, pode ser estimado que praticamente há cerca de 1 cristalito por partícula. Todas as amostras apresentaram elevada desordem a curto e a longo alcance. A amostra sintetizada pelo método PP apresentou a maior cristalinidade, com elevada ordem a curto e longo alcance, gerando alta fotocondutividade, com área superficial intermediária, devido à sinterização entre partículas pequenas. O método CA, em geral, apresentou comportamento intermediário entre o método PP e ES. Os métodos PP, ES e CA, quando comparados ao método HMO, apresentaram pequena área superficial (não excedendo 2 m2.g-1) e cerca de 9 vezes mais cristalitos por partícula. De um modo geral, a formação do espinélio ZnFe2O4 foi alcançada por todos os métodos utilizados, enquanto a síntese do CuFe2O4 não foi possível em alguns meios reacionais ou em temperaturas mais baixas.

La thèse étudie le vaporeformage catalytique du méthane avec captage de CO2. Les catalyseurs bi-fonctionnels choisis se composent de nickel, efficace en vaporeformage, de CaO pour la sorption de CO2 et d'aluminate de calcium (Ca12Al14O33) pour permettre une bonne dispersion du métal et de CaO. La méthode de synthèse privilégiée était la méthode d’autocombustion assisté par microondes. Le rapport Ca/Al a été optimisé et un large excès de CaO est nécessaire (75%CaO ; 25%Ca12Al14O33) pour la sorption de CO2. Le reformage du méthane est total dès 650 °C (H2O/CH4 de 1 ou 3) et la sélectivité en hydrogène de 100% durant 7h ou 16h selon les conditions opérationnelles, validant le concept de vaporeformage du méthane assisté par l'absorption de CO2. / This thesis investigates the catalytic steam reforming of methane with CO2 capture. The selected bi-functional catalysts consist of nickel, effective in steam reforming, CaO for sorption of CO2, and calcium aluminate (Ca12Al14O33) to allow good dispersion of metal and CaO. The synthesis method privileged was microwave assisted self-combustion. The Ca/Al ratio was optimized and a large excess of CaO is required (75% CaO, 25% Ca12Al14O33) for the sorption of CO2. Reforming of methane at 650 °C is total (H2O/CH4 1 or 3) and the hydrogen selectivity of 100% during 7h or 16 h according to operational conditions, validating the concept of steam methane reforming with CO2 sorption.

This dissertation is dedicated to the research and investigation of novel enzymes and the methods used to study them, with physiological roles ranging from isoprenoid biosynthesis to neurotransmitter production. Using a combination of bioinformatics, recombinant cloning, enzymology, and proteomics, we have contributed to the understanding and exploration of several human illnesses, including malaria, cancer, and endocrine dysfunction. Our first project involved studying the enzymes responsible for N-acylarylalkylamide biosynthesis in Bombyx mori. Very little is known how these potent signaling molecules are produced in vivo, however, one possible pathway is the direct conjugation of an acyl-CoA to a corresponding arylalkylamide by the enzyme arylalkylamine N-acyltransferase (AANAT). In insects, this enzyme is responsible for controlling melanism, the inactivation of biogenic amines, the sclerotization of the insect cuticle, photoperiodism, and the penultimate intermediate in the production of melatonin. We studied a pair of AANAT enzymes from B. mori: Bm-AANAT and Bm-AANAT3. The former was found to catalyze the direct formation of long-chain acylarylalkylamines (only the second enzyme discovered to do such chemistry), while the latter exhibited potent inactivation of several amines through acetylation. We conducted a full kinetic characterization of Bm-AANAT3, including double-reciprocal plots, pH-rate profiling, dead-end inhibition, and the construction of mutants to elucidate catalytically-relevant amino acids. Our hope is that new insights and discoveries on these enzymatic pathways in model organisms will yield novel molecular targets for human health and disease. We then developed an innovative, microwave-assisted synthesis of a binding-based probe capable of enriching proteins that bind adenine ribose derivatives (AdoRs). We employed this probe in activity-based protein profiling studies to qualitatively assess the AdoR-binding proteome in three bacterial cell lines from the genus Bacillus. This proof of concept experiment demonstrated a unique subset of proteins distinctive to each species, and confirmed the efficacy of the probe tagging and subsequent enrichment. This technology can be used in clinical applications for the detection and identification of cancerous biomarkers. Finally, we successfully truncated and recombinantly-expressed 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) from both P. vivax and P. falciparum. We elucidated the order of substrate binding for both of these TPP-dependent enzymes using steady-state kinetic analyses, dead-end inhibition, and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence titrations. Both enzymes adhere to a random sequential mechanism with respect to binding of both substrates: pyruvate and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. These findings are in contrast to other TPP-dependent enzymes, which exhibit classical ordered and/or ping-pong kinetic mechanisms. A better understanding of the kinetic mechanism for these two Plasmodial enzymes could aid in the development of novel DXS-specific inhibitors that might prove useful in treatment of malaria.

The thesis is focused on a determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in dried pelletized sewage sludge and pelletized biochar. Biochars were made in mild conditions by microwave torrefaction of prepared sewage sludge. There were analyzed and quantified the 34 of standardized PAHs compounds in two series. The first serie, also called “Sada 1”, has been aimed at comparison of extraction methods for the chosen sample of sewage sludge and the sample of biochar. In serie “Sada 1”, there were compared efficiencies of chosen type of solvent or solvent mixture by comparison of yields for 34 standardized analytes in a sample of biochar and a sample of sewage sludge. There were compared also to total yields of PAHs and to number of quantified compounds in analyzed samples. The most reliable extraction method has been used for the next analyses of samples in the second serie called “Sada 2”. In Sada 2, there were compared different samples of the same type (e.g. biochar, sludge). The origin of sewage sludge (small or big sewage treatment plant expressed as PE) and used additives (cellulose, chaff, hay) as modificators for torrefaction process were variables for different type of sample. The results of analysis were identification of the most suitable sewage sludge and additive to be used as modificator for microwave torrefaction process. The main goal of correctly chosen sludge and additive was to minimize production of PAH’s during torrefaction and in samples of biochar.