No description available.

High concentrations of heavy metals in the soils have potential long-term environmental and health concerns because of their persistence and accumulation tendency in the environment and along the food chain. This study was aimed at studying the feasibility of heavy metals removal from the soil using plants naturally growing in the surroundings of selected polluted sites in Tanzania and soil application of the sorbent materials zeolite and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). The results showed that Sporobolus sp. is a hyperaccumulator of Cu. Four other species, Launea cornuta (Oliv &amp; Hiern) O. Jeffrey, Tagetes minuta (L.), Sporobolus sp. and Blotiella glabra (Bory) Tryon showed high potential for phytoextraction of Cu. No hyperaccumulators of Pb and Zn were identified in the area, but Tephrosia candida and Tagetes minuta (L.) were identified as potential plants for phytoextraction of Pb, while Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist, Launea cornuta (Oliv &amp; Hiern) O. Jeffrey, Tagetes minuta (L.), Blotiella glabra (Bory) Tryon, Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kulm and Polygonum setogulum A. Rich were identified as potential plants for phytoextraction of Zn. The result from sorbent experiments showed that both materials had a potential for remediating metal polluted soils. The AAC had a higher removal capacity for both Zn and Pb than zeolite. The removal capacity of zeolite and AAC in a mixed metal experiment (Pb and Zn) showed a little difference in the sorption capacity of AAC and Zeolite for Pb and Zn respectively. Speciation of the metal in soil shows that the major part of the metal was associated with firmly attached component of the metal in the soil. Compared with the total metal concentration analysed, the available component accounted for 13-39% for Zn and 31-39% for Pb. It can be suggested to co-remediate polluted soils using reactive sorbent nodules and hyper-accumulating plant species. Identification of the best combinations and designs remains the subject of future research. / <p>QC 20121130</p>

Organic micropollutants (OMPs) in climate change affected natural environment such as wetlands, and engineered systems have brought serious concerns for water security and public health. These issues have increased the demand for better managing water resources and developing effective technologies for aqueous micropollutants removal. This thesis investigated these subjects through the following five sub-research projects. First, boreal peatland was used as a case study for understanding how peatland fires and droughts impacts peatland resilience. Laboratory results suggested that heating and moisture condition, coupled with peat organic hydrophobic transformations, influence peat soil hydrophobicity and the resultant water-extractable pollutant leaching, which potentially threatens peatland downstream receiving waters such as potable waters by high organic loads. Further, post-fire peat chemistry and their mechanistic relationships to leached pollutants (total organic carbon (TOC), nutrients and phenols) were elucidated through a laboratory leaching study. Increased contaminant loading was observed in post-heated peat leachates, suggesting negative effects to water treatment efficiency and an increase of treatment costs to surface waters as potable water source. Next, peat soils damaged from extreme fires and droughts were upcycled for producing high surface area, value-added porous carbons based on a rapid, facile chemical activation approach. This application had the simultaneous benefit of peatland ecological restoration, protecting downstream communities from heavy run-off, and using the sustainable damaged peats for effective environmental remediation though adsorption. Moreover, a critical review of nano-enabled composite membranes for OMP removal (size-exclusion, adsorption, charge interaction, and photo- and electro-catalysis) and their respective benefits and limitations were discussed. This work brought new perspectives for next-generation nanocomposite membranes for OMP removal. Finally, a novel, hyperbranched polyethylenimine (HPEI) crosslinked iron doped reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite membrane was synthesized for process-intensified flow-through separation of phenolic micropollutants. Mechanisms and separation performance to phenolic micropollutant and azo dyes were investigated. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Climate change, industrial manufacture, and population growth have been exacerbating the global water stress. Organic micropollutants (OMPs) are potentially toxic, persistent and can exist even at trace levels, which have been increasingly discovered and identified in natural and built systems. In this research, environmental chemistry of climate-change impacted boreal peatland soils, and their mechanistic relationships to peat soil hydrophobicity, organic substance transformations, micropollutant leaching, and impacts to downstream potable water quality was investigated as a case study. Two different innovative water treatment strategies were developed for restoring peatland resilience and enhancing water resource sustainability including treating peatland phenolic micropollutants. The first approach converted shallow layer wildfire- and drought- damaged peats into value-added porous carbons for adsorption. The second approach synthesized a novel reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite membrane for process-intensified flow-through separation. These solutions provide novel insights for source water protection and wastewater treatment in adaption to climate change.

No description available.

No description available.

O crescimento da população mundial e a expansão industrial são fatores que atualmente desencadeiam um aumento no consumo de produtos e geração de resíduos. Frequentemente utilizados na medicina tradicional e veterinária, os antibióticos são classificados como uma classe emergente de poluentes, pois, devido à sua baixa taxa de degradação e à ineficácia dos sistemas de tratamentos de água, encontram-se disseminados no meio ambiente e nos alimentos. Em consequência desse fato, estudos para o desenvolvimento de novos materiais e métodos que removam estes contaminantes utilizando menor quantidade de consumíveis químicos e a baixo custo, têm sido um campo em desenvolvimento na química analítica. Inserido nesse contexto encontra-se o grafeno, que devido à sua estrutura de anéis aromáticos com elétrons &pi; deslocalizados e elevada área superficial (3600 m2/g), pode favorecer fenômenos de sorção, elevando a eficiência na extração de contaminantes presentes em matrizes complexas. O objetivo do projeto foi sintetizar e caracterizar novas fases sorventes à base de grafeno para atuar no preparo da amostra avaliando a eficácia destas na remoção de tetraciclinas presentes em leite. Para isso, utilizou-se da microextração por sorvente empacotado MEPS como método de preparo de amostra com posterior análise por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massas HPLC-MS/MS. A caracterização dos materiais foi feita através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura MEV e espectroscopia vibracional na região do infravermelho IV revelando eficácia na síntese das folhas de óxido de grafeno, assim como, no recobrimento das partículas de sílica com os novos materiais. Foram avaliadas as fases extratoras: G, GO-SIL, G-Sil e C18-G-Sil com relação a eficiência na extração das tetraciclinas. A fase G-Sil mostrou-se a mais apropriada para continuidade do estudo, pois apresentou os melhores resultados. Com o objetivo de otimizar a etapa de preparo de amostra, foi feito um planejamento fatorial fracionário 24-1 avaliando as variáveis químicas: solvente de eluição, força iônica, pH da solução de lavagem e inclusão de EDTA na solução tampão de Mcllvaine (pH 4.2). Posteriormente foi feito um planejamento fatorial completo 23 visando a otimização dos ciclos de extração da MEPS, possibilitando determinar a condição ótima de extração do método. Baseando-se no documento: ICH - Q2 (R1) guideline, a metodologia foi submetida a testes para avaliar as figuras de mérito referentes a validação analítica. O método apresentou faixa linear de 15 - 110 &micro;g/L, LQ entre 0,05 e 0,9 &micro;g/L e boa seletividade. A precisão foi avaliada intra e inter-dia apresentando desvio padrão relativo - RSD abaixo de 18%. Ao final do desenvolvimento do estudo foram analisadas onze amostras reais incluindo leite bovino, caprino, ovino e leite em pó. A aplicação em amostras de diferentes espécies reforça a versatilidade do método desenvolvido, além de evidenciar o elevado potencial dos novos materiais de grafeno para atuar como sorvente no preparo da amostra. / Nowadays, the rise of world population and industrial expansion are leading to an increase in consumption and consequently waste generation. Large quantities of chemical residues are released into the environment affecting humans and wildlife. Among these residues, antibiotics used in medicine and veterinary are classified as an emerging contaminant due to their low degradation rate, ineffectiveness of wastewater treatment and consequently water and food contamination. An effort has been made to develop microextraction techniques to remove these drugs using reduce volume of solvent and chemical consumable and researches of new sorbent phases are increasing due the high potential to improve these microextraction techniques. Recent studies pinpoint graphene (G) as an effectively sorbent phase to act in sample preparation. G has a structure composed by carbon nanosheets arranged in a honeycomb pattern with large surface area (3600 m2 /g) and delocalized &pi;-electrons system that suggests good interaction between them and contaminants compounds such as veterinary drugs, pesticides, personal care products etc. This study focuses to evaluate sorbent phases based upon graphene particle supported on silica to analyze Tetracycline residues present in milk. For this purpose, was used microextraction by packed sorbent - MEPS as sample preparation method with analysis by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The characterization of synthesized materials was performed by scanning electron microscopy - SEM and vibrational spectroscopy in infrared region - FTIR. The results suggest that synthesis of graphene\'s particles as well as the coating of silica surface with these materials were both performed. To evaluate extraction efficiency each sorbent material: GO-Sil, G-Sil, G, C18-GO-Sil were tested in MEPS and confronted to commercial phases: C8 and C18. By the results, G-Sil was choose to application as sorbent phase. MEPS extractions were optimized and the effect of some factors was investigated by application of experimental design. Firstly, a factorial experimental design 2(4-1) was executed to evaluate chemistry variables such as elution solvent, washing solution, media ionic strength and inclusion of EDTA salt in Mcllvaine solution. After, an experimental design 23 was made in order to estimate the cycles of MEPS extraction like sampling, washing and elution steps. By the results, an optimized extraction conditional was achieved and evaluation of validation parameters was carried out on sequence based on the ICH - Q2 (R1) guide. The method showed linearity ranging from 15 - 110 &micro;g/L, LOQ values from 0,05 to 0,9 &micro;g/L and good selectivity. Precision showed relative standard deviation RSD less than 18% to intra and inter-day analysis. The developed method was applied in analysis of eleven milk samples including bovine, caprine and ovine milk and milk powder. Application in samples from different species enhances the versatility of this analytical method and show the great potential for graphene\'s particles to act as sorbent phase in sample preparation.

O crescimento da população mundial e a expansão industrial são fatores que atualmente desencadeiam um aumento no consumo de produtos e geração de resíduos. Frequentemente utilizados na medicina tradicional e veterinária, os antibióticos são classificados como uma classe emergente de poluentes, pois, devido à sua baixa taxa de degradação e à ineficácia dos sistemas de tratamentos de água, encontram-se disseminados no meio ambiente e nos alimentos. Em consequência desse fato, estudos para o desenvolvimento de novos materiais e métodos que removam estes contaminantes utilizando menor quantidade de consumíveis químicos e a baixo custo, têm sido um campo em desenvolvimento na química analítica. Inserido nesse contexto encontra-se o grafeno, que devido à sua estrutura de anéis aromáticos com elétrons &pi; deslocalizados e elevada área superficial (3600 m2/g), pode favorecer fenômenos de sorção, elevando a eficiência na extração de contaminantes presentes em matrizes complexas. O objetivo do projeto foi sintetizar e caracterizar novas fases sorventes à base de grafeno para atuar no preparo da amostra avaliando a eficácia destas na remoção de tetraciclinas presentes em leite. Para isso, utilizou-se da microextração por sorvente empacotado MEPS como método de preparo de amostra com posterior análise por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massas HPLC-MS/MS. A caracterização dos materiais foi feita através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura MEV e espectroscopia vibracional na região do infravermelho IV revelando eficácia na síntese das folhas de óxido de grafeno, assim como, no recobrimento das partículas de sílica com os novos materiais. Foram avaliadas as fases extratoras: G, GO-SIL, G-Sil e C18-G-Sil com relação a eficiência na extração das tetraciclinas. A fase G-Sil mostrou-se a mais apropriada para continuidade do estudo, pois apresentou os melhores resultados. Com o objetivo de otimizar a etapa de preparo de amostra, foi feito um planejamento fatorial fracionário 24-1 avaliando as variáveis químicas: solvente de eluição, força iônica, pH da solução de lavagem e inclusão de EDTA na solução tampão de Mcllvaine (pH 4.2). Posteriormente foi feito um planejamento fatorial completo 23 visando a otimização dos ciclos de extração da MEPS, possibilitando determinar a condição ótima de extração do método. Baseando-se no documento: ICH - Q2 (R1) guideline, a metodologia foi submetida a testes para avaliar as figuras de mérito referentes a validação analítica. O método apresentou faixa linear de 15 - 110 &micro;g/L, LQ entre 0,05 e 0,9 &micro;g/L e boa seletividade. A precisão foi avaliada intra e inter-dia apresentando desvio padrão relativo - RSD abaixo de 18%. Ao final do desenvolvimento do estudo foram analisadas onze amostras reais incluindo leite bovino, caprino, ovino e leite em pó. A aplicação em amostras de diferentes espécies reforça a versatilidade do método desenvolvido, além de evidenciar o elevado potencial dos novos materiais de grafeno para atuar como sorvente no preparo da amostra. / Nowadays, the rise of world population and industrial expansion are leading to an increase in consumption and consequently waste generation. Large quantities of chemical residues are released into the environment affecting humans and wildlife. Among these residues, antibiotics used in medicine and veterinary are classified as an emerging contaminant due to their low degradation rate, ineffectiveness of wastewater treatment and consequently water and food contamination. An effort has been made to develop microextraction techniques to remove these drugs using reduce volume of solvent and chemical consumable and researches of new sorbent phases are increasing due the high potential to improve these microextraction techniques. Recent studies pinpoint graphene (G) as an effectively sorbent phase to act in sample preparation. G has a structure composed by carbon nanosheets arranged in a honeycomb pattern with large surface area (3600 m2 /g) and delocalized &pi;-electrons system that suggests good interaction between them and contaminants compounds such as veterinary drugs, pesticides, personal care products etc. This study focuses to evaluate sorbent phases based upon graphene particle supported on silica to analyze Tetracycline residues present in milk. For this purpose, was used microextraction by packed sorbent - MEPS as sample preparation method with analysis by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The characterization of synthesized materials was performed by scanning electron microscopy - SEM and vibrational spectroscopy in infrared region - FTIR. The results suggest that synthesis of graphene\'s particles as well as the coating of silica surface with these materials were both performed. To evaluate extraction efficiency each sorbent material: GO-Sil, G-Sil, G, C18-GO-Sil were tested in MEPS and confronted to commercial phases: C8 and C18. By the results, G-Sil was choose to application as sorbent phase. MEPS extractions were optimized and the effect of some factors was investigated by application of experimental design. Firstly, a factorial experimental design 2(4-1) was executed to evaluate chemistry variables such as elution solvent, washing solution, media ionic strength and inclusion of EDTA salt in Mcllvaine solution. After, an experimental design 23 was made in order to estimate the cycles of MEPS extraction like sampling, washing and elution steps. By the results, an optimized extraction conditional was achieved and evaluation of validation parameters was carried out on sequence based on the ICH - Q2 (R1) guide. The method showed linearity ranging from 15 - 110 &micro;g/L, LOQ values from 0,05 to 0,9 &micro;g/L and good selectivity. Precision showed relative standard deviation RSD less than 18% to intra and inter-day analysis. The developed method was applied in analysis of eleven milk samples including bovine, caprine and ovine milk and milk powder. Application in samples from different species enhances the versatility of this analytical method and show the great potential for graphene\'s particles to act as sorbent phase in sample preparation.

No description available.

Solid phase microextraction (SPME), needle trap device (NTD), and membrane extraction with a sorbent interface (MESI) are solvent-free sample preparation techniques that were developed to perform the rapid routine analysis of organic compounds (VOCs) in various environmental matrices by integrating sampling, extraction, preconcentration and sample introduction procedures into one step. A portable ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) analyzer has some advantages, such as small size, light weight, operability under ambient pressure, air as carrier gas, and sensitivity, all of which make IMS suitable for on-site monitoring for low concentration of analytes. The aforementioned sampling and preconcentration techniques were coupled with a portable IMS analyzer, as well as a thermal desorption unit that can accommodate SPME, NTD and MESI, which was modified and combined with IMS for on-site monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from human breath and plant emissions. Experimental results demonstrated that low detection limits were achievable for gaseous analytes, (25 ng/L for acetone (SPME-IMS), 43 ng/mL (NTD-IMS) and 2.3 ng/mL (MESI-IMS) for α-pinene). These three analytical systems were applied for on-site rapid determination of acetone in human breath and α-pinene from plant emissions respectively. The salient features of these systems that make them suitable for on-site monitoring of volatile organic compounds in different sources are: small size, simple operation, fast and/or on-line sampling, rapid analysis.

Solid phase microextraction (SPME), needle trap device (NTD), and membrane extraction with a sorbent interface (MESI) are solvent-free sample preparation techniques that were developed to perform the rapid routine analysis of organic compounds (VOCs) in various environmental matrices by integrating sampling, extraction, preconcentration and sample introduction procedures into one step. A portable ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) analyzer has some advantages, such as small size, light weight, operability under ambient pressure, air as carrier gas, and sensitivity, all of which make IMS suitable for on-site monitoring for low concentration of analytes. The aforementioned sampling and preconcentration techniques were coupled with a portable IMS analyzer, as well as a thermal desorption unit that can accommodate SPME, NTD and MESI, which was modified and combined with IMS for on-site monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from human breath and plant emissions. Experimental results demonstrated that low detection limits were achievable for gaseous analytes, (25 ng/L for acetone (SPME-IMS), 43 ng/mL (NTD-IMS) and 2.3 ng/mL (MESI-IMS) for α-pinene). These three analytical systems were applied for on-site rapid determination of acetone in human breath and α-pinene from plant emissions respectively. The salient features of these systems that make them suitable for on-site monitoring of volatile organic compounds in different sources are: small size, simple operation, fast and/or on-line sampling, rapid analysis.