De nouveaux précurseurs borates-triéthoxysilanes comprenant le closo-decahydrodecaborate ont été préparés et immobilisés dans la silice. L'introduction des groupements trialkoxysilyles sur les clusters (NH4)2B10H10, a été réalisée par condensations électrophiles faisant appel à des réactifs nucléophiles dans des conditions douces, tout en épargnant l'utilisation d'électrophiles ou de catalyseurs coûteux. Les borates-trialkoxysilanes obtenus ont été caractérisés par RMN 1H, 13C, 11B, 29Si, 31P, IRTF, analyse élémentaire et spectroscopie de masse. Comme preuve de concept, ces précurseurs ont été incorporés de manière covalente dans les pores d'une silice mésoporeuse, SBA-15. Tous les matériaux hybrides mésoporeux et modifiés avec du borate-triéthoxysilane ont été caractérisés par RMN solide 11B et 29Si, DRX, MET, les analyses élémentaires et étude de l'adsorption d'azote (méthode BET). Les précurseurs silylés-borate ont été combinés avec des nanoparticules de silice pour une utilisation éventuelle dans BNCT, où des NPs d'environ 100 nm ont été synthétisées comprenant deux types de centres luminescents différents. FITC silylé (isothiocyanate de fluorescéine) et complexe Eu (III) silylé ont été respectivement immobilisés dans des nanoparticules de silice par le procédé sol-gel. Les deux types de nanoparticules luminescentes ont été fonctionnalisés par les groupes silylés-borates et caractérisés par RMN du solide 11B, 31P et 29Si, DLS, MET, analyses élémentaires, d'adsorption d'azote et spectrophotométrie. / New borate-triethoxysilane precursors comprising the closo-decahydrodecaborate cluster were prepared and immobolized into hybrid silica materials. The synthesis of silylated clusters starting from (NH4)2B10H10 and silane precursors R-Si(OEt)3 through Electrophilic Induced Nucleophilic Reactions was performed under mild conditions, the silylated clusters were analyzed by 1H, 13C, 11B, 29Si, 31P NMR, IR, elemental analyses and mass spectroscopy ES-ESI. As a proof of concept, the borate-triethoxysilane precursors were covalently incorporated into the pores of mesoporous silica, SBA-15 type. All mesoporous materials modified with borate-triethoxysilane were characterized by 11B and 29Si solid state NMR, XRD, TEM, elemental analyses and Nitrogen sorption studies. The silylated-borate precursors were combined with dye-doped silica nanoparticles for possible future use in BNCT technique, where ~100 nm nanoparticles were synthesized comprising two different types of luminescent centers. Silylated FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) and silylated Eu(III) complexes were embedded into silica nanoparticles through sol-gel process. Both types of luminescent nanoparticles were functionalized with the silylated-borate clusters and characterized by 11B, 31P and 29Si solid state NMR, DLS, TEM, elemental analyses, Nitrogen sorption studies and spectrophotometer.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Praveen V. Vadlani / Distillers Dried grain with Solubles (DDGS) is a co-product of grain-based ethanol and is primarily used as livestock feed. With increasing production of DDGS, it is imperative to produce value-added products and/or find new applications of DDGS to help sustain the biofuel industry. Carotenoids are expensive yet essential feed additives. Since animals cannot synthesize carotenoids and animal feeds including DDGS are generally poor in carotenoids, about 30-120 ppm of total carotenoids is added to animal feed to improve animal health. The objectives of this study were to 1) produce carotenoid (astaxanthin and β-carotene)-enriched DDGS by Phaffia rhodozyma and Sporobolomyces roseus monoculture and mixed culture submerged fermentation of whole stillage, 2) optimize fermentation media by response surface methodology (RSM) and mixture design followed by validation, 3) evaluate the nutritional profile of carotenoid-enriched DDGS, 4) improve carotenoid production by the use of precursors, and 5) develop carotenoid-enriched feeds namely, wheat bran, rice bran and soybean products. Carotenoid-enriched DDGS was produced from both monoculture and mixed culture fermentation with yields ranging from 17-233 µg/g. Upon media optimization, astaxanthin and β-carotene yields, especially in P. rhodozyma were enhanced by 177% and 164% to yield 98 and 275 µg/g respectively. Nutrition profiling of the carotenoid-enriched DDGS showed that the secondary fermentation resulted in low fiber, protein and %N and enhanced fat. Fiber was reduced by 77% and 66% by P. rhodozyma and S. roseus respectively, whereas the crude fat increased by 80% in mixed culture fermentation. Additionally, abundant vaccenic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid was seen in S. roseus and mixed culture fermented DDGS. Vaccenic acid is a precursor of conjugated linolenic acid which is known to confer numerous health benefits. Fermentation of milo DDGS, wheat bran, rice bran and soybean products also resulted in carotenoid enrichment, with the best astaxanthin yield of 80 µg/g in rice bran, and best β-carotene yield of 837 µg/ g in soy flour. Precursors like mevalonic acid, apple pomace and tomato pomace increased carotenoid yield in DDGS and other substrates, with the yield increment depending on the substrate. Mevalonic acid resulted in the best astaxanthin and β-carotene yield increment by 140% and 236% resulting in 220 µg/g and 904 µg/g respectively in corn DDGS. Apple pomace and tomato pomace resulted in 29% carotenoid yield increment. Numerous studies thus far have used cheap agricultural substrates to produce carotenoids especially astaxanthin using P. rhodozyma with the intent of extracting the carotenoids for use in animal feed. However, by fermenting the animal feed directly, carotenoid-enriched feed can be produced without the need for extraction. By this simple yet novel carotenoid value addition, premium feeds or feed blends can be developed. Apart from carotenoid enrichment, low-fiber DDGS can help expand the market base of DDGS for use in non-ruminant feeds. Carotenoid value addition of DDGS can not only help sustain the biofuel industry but can also capture the aquaculture feed base which heavily relies on astaxanthin supplementation.

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) is a wildlife management area with tallgrass prairie, an endangered ecosystem. Essential ecosystem processes, especially fire, are part of restoration. To support fire management efforts at LLELA and surrounding areas, this project evaluated and developed tools for fire restoration. The four primary prairie grasses respond favorably to burning. Fuel loads and fuel models vary by scale and survey method. One- and 10-hour fuel moisture can be predicted using a statistical model; 100- and 1,000-hour fuel moisture cannot. Historic weather data suggests that burning can occur when it is most effective. The production of ozone precursors produced by burning is comparable to those emitted every six minutes by regional automobiles.

Les analyses physico-chimiques des arômes du vin prennent aujourd’hui un essor considérable pour faciliter la prise de décision des professionnels de la vigne et du vin. Des analyses performantes, pour un certain nombre de molécules parmi les plus pertinentes, ont été développées (GC-MS, LC-MS). Cependant les techniques utilisées ne sont pas facilement transposables au sein des exploitations. L’objectif de cette thèse est donc de proposer un nouveau type de dosage peu onéreux et simple à mettre en œuvre. La technique envisagée est le dosage immunologique (tests ELISA) qui permet, pour quelques Euros, de doser directement sur le terrain les molécules pertinentes sans préparation préalable des échantillons. Les molécules visées (alkylméthoxypyrazines et précurseurs cystéinylés de thiols volatiles) sont présentes dans les vins de Cabernet Sauvignon et de Sauvignon blanc. / Analytical methods for the detection and quantification of wines aroma typically utilise HPLC-MS or GC-MS. The methods require some isolation and concentration step preceding the analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are becoming either alternative complementary analytical tools to conventional methods because of their rapidity, sensitivity, selectivity, and low cost. In this Thesis, the applicability of ELISAs for detection and quantification of precursors of volatile thiols and alkylmethoxypyrazines, which have been isolated from wines, made from Cabernet Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc, are described.

<div> <p>In recent years, the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic systems has led to research on their fate, effects and treatability. PFAS have been found in various environmental matrices including wastewater effluents, surface, ground, and drinking water. Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are the class of PFAS most commonly tested due to their ability to migrate rapidly through groundwater and include perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). Of the globally distributed and persistent PFAAs, PFSAs are the most resistant to biological and oxidative chemical attack. This doctoral study focused on a reductive treatment approach with zero valent metals/bimetals nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized onto a carbon material to reduce NP aggregation. Initial work focused on exploring reactivity of different combinations of nano (n) Ni, nFe⁰ and activated carbon (AC) at 22 ^oC to 60 ^oC for transforming perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) from which nNiFe⁰-AC at 60 ^oC led to transformation of both linear (L-) and branched (Br-) PFOS isomers. The remaining research focused on work with nNiFe⁰-AC at 60 ^oC in batch reactors including optimizing nNiFe⁰-AC preparation, quantifying PFOS transformation kinetics and evaluating the effects of PFAA chain length (C4, C6 and C8) and polar head group (PFSA versus PFCA) as well a groundwater matrix on transformation magnitude. Optimization of analytical methods to provide multiple lines of evidence of transformation including fluoride, sulfite and organic product generation was an ongoing throughout the research.</p> <p>nNiFe⁰-AC prepared with a 3-h synthesis stirring time led to the highest PFOS transformation of 51.1 ± 2.1% with generation of ~ 1 mole of sulfite (measured as sulfate) and 12 moles of fluoride. Several poly/per-fluorinated intermediates with single and double bonds were identified using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QToF-MS) in negative electrospray ionization (ESI-) mode with MS/MS fragmentation confirmation as well as one and later two desulfonated products with QToF negative atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI-). All organic transformation products were found in only particle extracts as well as most of the sulfite generated. PFOS transformation kinetics showed that generated fluoride concentrations increased for the first day whereas sulfate concentrations continued to increase during the 5-d reaction. The transformation products identified showed defluorination of single- and double-bond structures, formation of C8 to C4 PFCAs and paraffins from cleavage of the C-S bond.</p> <p>The length of the perfluoroalkyl chain affected the length of time to achieve peak removal, but overall magnitude of transformation when reactions appeared complete were similar for both PFSAs and PFCAs. Like PFOS, PFOA transformation maxed in 1 d whereas shorter chains required more time to reach their peak removal, which is hypothesized to be due to lower sorption of the shorter chain PFAAs to the reactive surfaces. Measured F mass balance was higher for PFOS and PFOA (>90% F) compared to shorter chain PFAAs (~50-70% F). The Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) degradation products include single bond polyfluoroalkyl sulfonates and shorter-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylates. For example, PFHxS transformation resulted in perfluorohexane carboxylic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorobutane carboxylic acid (PFBA). PFCA transformation products included per- & polyfluoroalkyl carboxylates with single bonds and alcohols with single and double bonds. The effect of inorganic matrix on transformation with nNiFe⁰-AC at 60 ^oC was explored using a contaminated groundwater collected at a former fire-training area in Massachusetts. Transformation appeared ‘generally’ lower than in the single-solute clean water systems, which may have been due to the presence of PFAS precursors that degraded to PFAAs and competitive adsorption between anionic PFAAs and inorganic ions onto the NP surface.</p><p>The research presented here demonstrates that nNiFe⁰-AC at 60 ^oC can mineralize PFAAs even in a typical groundwater matrix. Additional lab and pilot scale studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms leading to transformation as well as why transformation reactions plateau prior to all the parent compounds being transformed. The latter may be due to a poisoning phenomenon that can occur in closed systems, which may not occur in a flowing system more characteristic of an environmental scenario, as well as surface area and reactive site constraints or particle passivation.</p></div>

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo realizar experimentos de incorporação de precursores isotopicamente marcados em produtos naturais isolados do meio de cultura de duas espécies de fungos do gênero Penicillium, de maneira a se verificar a rota de biossíntese dos compostos produzidos pelas linhagens P. citrinum F53 e P. oxalicum F30. Para tanto, os meios de cultura utilizados na fermentação das linhagens foram enriquecidos com os seguintes precursores: [1-13C1]acetato de sódio, [1,2-13C2]acetato de sódio, [2,3-13C2]propionato de sódio, [metil-13C1]metionina, [1-13C1]glicose, [U-13C5]ornitina, [U-13C6]lisina, [U-13C5]prolina, [U-13C6]histidina, [2-indol-13C1]triptofano e [U-13C6]ácido antranílico, separadamente. Ao final do período de fermentação, as culturas foram separadamente submetidas à extração em fase sólida e analisadas por CLAE/UV/EM/IES. Os experimentos de incorporação que apresentaram resultados positivos tiveram seus produtos purificados por CLAE/UV e analisados por RMN de 13C. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que dois dihidropirrois produzidos por P. citrinum F53 são formados por uma rota biossintética mista, oriunda de um resíduo de ornitina, um grupo metila derivado da metionina e uma cadeia policetídica derivada do acetato. Os alcaloides citrinalina B e 17-hidroxicitrinalina B, também produzidos por P. citrinum F53, são ambos derivados de dois resíduos de aminoácidos, ornitina e triptofano (via ácido antranílico), e dois grupos isopreno derivados da glicose (via mevalonato). Os alcaloides oxalina e meleagrina, produzidos por P. oxalicum F30, são formados a partir de uma via biossintética mista derivada de dois resíduos de aminoácidos, histidina e triptofano (via ácido antranílico), e grupos metila derivados da metionina. / The present investigation aimed to carry out feeding experiments for the incorporation of isotopic labeled precursors on natural products isolated from the culture media of two fungal species belonging to the Penicillium genus, in order to verify the biosynthetic pathway of the compounds produced by the P. citrinum F53 and P. oxalicum F30 fungal strains. Culture media used in the fermentation of the fungal strains were enriched with the following isotopic labeled precursors: [1-13C1]sodium acetate, [1,2-13C2]sodium acetate, [2,3-13C2]sodium propionate, [methyl-13C1]methionine, [1-13C1]glucose, [U-13C5]ornithine, [U-13C6]lysine, [U-13C5]proline, [U-13C6]histidine, [2-indol-13C1]tryptophan, and [U-13C6]anthranilic acid, separately. At the end of the fermentation period, culture media were separately subjected to solid phase extraction and analyzed by LC/UV/ESI/MS. The incorporation experiments that showed positive results were purified by HPLC/UV, and the pure compounds labeled in different positions were then analyzed by 13C-NMR. The results demonstrated that two dihydropyrroles produced by P. citrinum F53 were formed via a mixed biosynthetic route, derived from ornithine, a methyl group derived from methionine, and a polyketide chain derived from acetate. The alkaloids citrinalin B and 17-hydroxycitrinalin B, also produced by P. citrinum F53, are both derived from two amino acid residues, ornithine and tryptophan (via anthranilic acid), and two isoprene units derived from glucose via the mevalonate pathway. The alkaloids oxaline and meleagrine, produced by P. oxalicum F30, are formed via a mixed biosynthetic pathway by two amino acid residues, histidine and tryptophan (via anthranilic acid), and methyl groups derived from methionine.

As características das matérias-primas particuladas como tamanho, forma, área específica, entre outras, determinam não somente o desempenho final de um produto, mas também o processo de sua fabricação. Neste sentido, matérias-primas sintéticas são produzidas por meio de conversões químicas que têm como finalidade o controle da reprodutibilidade de características. Esta tese tem como objetivo o estudo de precursores sintetizados com matérias-primas nacionais de elevada pureza, quanto à área específica (AE), estrutura cristalina e morfologia das fases formadas durante as transformações térmicas de alguns hidróxidos (gibsita e pseudoboemita), sais (acetato e formato) e sulfatos duplos (de amônio e de sódio) de alumínio. As amostras sintetizadas e aquecidas foram caracterizadas por DRX, MEV, BET e análise térmica (TG, DTA e DSC), a fim de que fossem observadas as variações nas características das fases formadas. Observou-se que todos os precursores, à exceção do \"sulfato-Na\", evoluem termicamente resultando como produto final somente a a-alumina. No caso particular do \"sulfato-Na\", em que se apresenta resultados preliminares, verifica-se a formação, além da a- alumina, de B-alumina. Os hidróxidos e os sais de alumínio passam por uma seqüência de aluminas de transição que exibem valores de área específica elevados. Com relação à pseudoboemita, além da caracterização proposta no trabalho, foi estudada a influência do método de secagem e do tempo de envelhecimento da pseudoboemita nas características dos materiais sintetizados. Verificou-se que o método de secagem pode influenciar as temperaturas de transformações de fases das aluminas. Precursores secos por nebulização podem formar a fase a concomitantemente com a fase 0, o que não ocorre com os materiais secos ao ar. Já o tempo de envelhecimento influenciou no tamanho final das fibrilas de pseudoboemita. Tanto o método de secagem quanto o tempo de maturação afetam de forma determinante a organização das fibrilas que, por sua vez, estabelecem a distribuição de poros nos materiais produzidos. / Features of powdered raw materials like size, morphology, specific area, determine the product performance, besides the fabrication process product. In this direction, the synthetic raw materials are produced by means of chemical conversion to control the characteristics reprodutibility. This thesis has as objective the study of precursor\'s synthesized with national raw materials of raised pureness, by the study if the specific area (AE), crystalline structure and morphology of the phases formed during thermal transformation of some hydroxides as (aluminum hydroxides- gibbsite and pseudoboehmite; aluminum salts - acetate and formate and aluminum sulphates - sodium and amonium) produzed by high pure nacional raw materials. The sythetized and heated samples are examined by DRX, MEV, BET and thermal analysis (TG, DTA e DSC) to verify the characteristics variations in the formed phases. It\'s can be seen that every thermal treated precursors evolve to a-alumina. In the particular case of \"Na-sulfate\", the preliminary results present also B-alumina. The hydroxides and salts pass by a sequence of alumina transition, that show high specific area. In the case of pseudoboehmite, was also studied the influence of dried method and the aging of aqueous aluminum hydroxide gels in the characteristic of synthesized materials. It verified that the dried method can influence the temperature of the alumina phase\'s transitions. Dried precursors by spray drier can form the phase a and 0 together, this not occur with the others. The aging can influence in the pseudoboehmite microfibrils size. The dried method and the aging influence the organization microfibrils, and this one determines the pore distribution from the produced materials.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo realizar experimentos de incorporação de precursores isotopicamente marcados em produtos naturais isolados do meio de cultura de duas espécies de fungos do gênero Penicillium, de maneira a se verificar a rota de biossíntese dos compostos produzidos pelas linhagens P. citrinum F53 e P. oxalicum F30. Para tanto, os meios de cultura utilizados na fermentação das linhagens foram enriquecidos com os seguintes precursores: [1-13C1]acetato de sódio, [1,2-13C2]acetato de sódio, [2,3-13C2]propionato de sódio, [metil-13C1]metionina, [1-13C1]glicose, [U-13C5]ornitina, [U-13C6]lisina, [U-13C5]prolina, [U-13C6]histidina, [2-indol-13C1]triptofano e [U-13C6]ácido antranílico, separadamente. Ao final do período de fermentação, as culturas foram separadamente submetidas à extração em fase sólida e analisadas por CLAE/UV/EM/IES. Os experimentos de incorporação que apresentaram resultados positivos tiveram seus produtos purificados por CLAE/UV e analisados por RMN de 13C. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que dois dihidropirrois produzidos por P. citrinum F53 são formados por uma rota biossintética mista, oriunda de um resíduo de ornitina, um grupo metila derivado da metionina e uma cadeia policetídica derivada do acetato. Os alcaloides citrinalina B e 17-hidroxicitrinalina B, também produzidos por P. citrinum F53, são ambos derivados de dois resíduos de aminoácidos, ornitina e triptofano (via ácido antranílico), e dois grupos isopreno derivados da glicose (via mevalonato). Os alcaloides oxalina e meleagrina, produzidos por P. oxalicum F30, são formados a partir de uma via biossintética mista derivada de dois resíduos de aminoácidos, histidina e triptofano (via ácido antranílico), e grupos metila derivados da metionina. / The present investigation aimed to carry out feeding experiments for the incorporation of isotopic labeled precursors on natural products isolated from the culture media of two fungal species belonging to the Penicillium genus, in order to verify the biosynthetic pathway of the compounds produced by the P. citrinum F53 and P. oxalicum F30 fungal strains. Culture media used in the fermentation of the fungal strains were enriched with the following isotopic labeled precursors: [1-13C1]sodium acetate, [1,2-13C2]sodium acetate, [2,3-13C2]sodium propionate, [methyl-13C1]methionine, [1-13C1]glucose, [U-13C5]ornithine, [U-13C6]lysine, [U-13C5]proline, [U-13C6]histidine, [2-indol-13C1]tryptophan, and [U-13C6]anthranilic acid, separately. At the end of the fermentation period, culture media were separately subjected to solid phase extraction and analyzed by LC/UV/ESI/MS. The incorporation experiments that showed positive results were purified by HPLC/UV, and the pure compounds labeled in different positions were then analyzed by 13C-NMR. The results demonstrated that two dihydropyrroles produced by P. citrinum F53 were formed via a mixed biosynthetic route, derived from ornithine, a methyl group derived from methionine, and a polyketide chain derived from acetate. The alkaloids citrinalin B and 17-hydroxycitrinalin B, also produced by P. citrinum F53, are both derived from two amino acid residues, ornithine and tryptophan (via anthranilic acid), and two isoprene units derived from glucose via the mevalonate pathway. The alkaloids oxaline and meleagrine, produced by P. oxalicum F30, are formed via a mixed biosynthetic pathway by two amino acid residues, histidine and tryptophan (via anthranilic acid), and methyl groups derived from methionine.

This thesis ‘’An Investigation of Tin Chalcogenide Precursors and Thin Film Materials for Applications in Energy Harvesting Devices’’ encompasses a range of research areas. The report can be divided into two categories: The first is the design of novel heavy tin chalcogenide complexes and compounds that demonstrate the recent advances in main group chemistry and act as potential precursor candidates for CVD processes. The second category follows on from the previous, and focuses on materials deposited and their successive development, characterisation and optimisation for device applications. Subsequently, an array of metal chalcogenide thin films have been deposited and characterised within this project. By designing of a number of the tin chalcogenide precursors and precursor solutions it has been possible to selectively deposit thin films of Sn, α-SnS and cubic-SnS polymorphs, SnS2, SnSe, and SnTe via a low-cost deposition route known as aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AA-CVD). It is proposed that the processes developed in this PhD can be adapted to deposit a wider spectrum of metal chalcogenide materials using cost effective techniques. Even though there is a wide scope of the possible applications for the aforementioned materials, the study has only been extended towards the characterisation of the optoelectronic properties of phase pure α-SnS and cubic-SnS samples, and SnS2 thin films deposited onto FTO, Mo and graphene substrates. The optimum deposition parameters for the application of these materials has been defined. In collaboration with a research group at the Institut de Recerca de Energia de Catalunya (iREC), Barcelona, Spain, an extended study of the photovoltaic properties of the α-SnS and Cubic-SnS samples is also presented, from which a series of SnS based thin film photovoltaic devices have been fabricated and characterised. This study present some of the few reports explicitly comparing the PV properties of the two α-SnS and Cubic-SnS polymorphs.