Résumé indisponible / Résumé indisponible

Clean water is hard to obtain in certain areas, such as remote locations and during emergency response. Our study developed a membraneless water purification system using diffusiophoresis and tested the influence of various factors (gas pressure, liquid flow rate, etc.) on the turbidity of filtered water. The main component in the separation system is a tube-in-tube-in-tube separator. The inner tube and the middle tube are made of a semipermeable material (Teflon AF-2400), which allows gas (CO2) to permeate through it, but retains liquid (water). In this strategy, the CO2 permeates through the inner tube (the end is sealed) then dissolves into the dirty water/particle suspension passing through the middle tube. It then diffuses radially to the outer tube, where a vacuum collects the CO2, forming a concentration gradient of ions through the water, which induces the migration of charged particles to concentrate at the inner wall of the middle tube. The vacuum phase in the outer tube can increase the concentration gradient of ions in the water and recycle the CO2. Finally, purified water can be collected from the center of the middle tube by a needle in the effluent. The purification system is able to take initial turbid water (243 NTU) to below the WHO drinking water standard (

The efforts of my research have led to the successful construction of several instruments that have helped expand the field of microwave spectroscopy. The classic Balle-Flygare spectrometer has been modified to include two different sets of antenna to operate in the frequency ranges 6-18 GHz and 18-26 GHz, allowing it to function for a large range without having to break vacuum. This modified FTMW instrument houses two low noise amplifiers in the vacuum chamber to allow for the LNAs to be as close to the antenna as physically possible, improving sensitivity. A new innovative Balle-Flygare type spectrometer, the efficient low frequency FTMW, was conceived and built to operate at frequencies as low as 500 MHz through the use of highly curved mirrors. This is new for FTMW techniques that normally operate at 4 GHz or higher with only a few exceptions around 2 GHz. The chirped pulse FTMW spectrometer uses horn antennas to observe spectra that span 2 GHz versus the standard 1 MHz of a cavity technique. This instrument decreases the amount of time to obtain a large spectral region of relative correct intensity molecular transitions. A Nd:YAG laser ablation apparatus was attached to the classic Balle-Flygare and chirped pulse FTMW spectrometers. This allowed the study of heavy metal containing compounds. The instruments I constructed and the techniques I used have allowed the discovery of further insights into molecular chemistry. I have seen the effects of fluorinating an alkyl halide by determining the geometry of the carbon backbone of trans-1-iodoperfluoropropane and observing a ΔJ = 3 forbidden transition caused by a strong quadrupole coupling constant on this heavy molecule. The quadrupole coupling tensors of butyronitrile, a molecule observed in space, have been improved. The nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor of difluoroiodomethane was added to a list of variably fluorinated methyl halides upholding a trend for the magnitude of χzz. The study of SrS led to the determination of the Born-Oppenheimer breakdown terms and improving the precision of the SrS internuclear distance. I have also conducted the first pure rotational spectroscopic investigation on an actinide containing molecule, ThO.

Laser diagnostics are fast-response, non-intrusive and species-specific tools perfectly applicable for studying combustion processes. Quantitative measurements of species concentration and temperature require spectroscopic data to be well-known at combustion-relevant conditions. Absorption cross-section is an important spectroscopic quantity and has direct relation to the species concentration. In this work, the absorption cross-sections of basic hydrocarbons are measured using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, tunable Difference Frequency Generation laser and fixed wavelength helium-neon laser. The studied species are methane, methanol, acetylene, ethylene, ethane, ethanol, propylene, propane, 1-butene, n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, and n-heptane. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer is used for the measurements of the absorption cross-sections and the integrated band intensities of the 13 hydrocarbons. The spectral region of the spectra is 2800 – 3400 cm-1 (2.9 – 3.6 μm) and the temperature range is 673 – 1100 K. These valuable data provide huge opportunities to select interference-free wavelengths for measuring time-histories of a specific species in a shock tube or other combustion systems. Such measurements can allow developing/improving chemical kinetics mechanisms by experimentally determining reaction rates. The Difference Frequency Generation (DFG) laser is a narrow line-width, tunable laser in the 3.35 – 3.53 μm wavelength region which contains strong absorption features for most hydrocarbons due to the fundamental C-H vibrating stretch. The absorption cross-sections of propylene are measured at seven different wavelengths using the DFG laser. The temperature range is 296 – 460 K which is reached using a Reflex Cell. The DFG laser is very attractive for kinetic studies in the shock tube because of its fast time response and the potential possibility of making species-specific measurements. The Fixed wavelength helium-neon (HeNe) laser at 3.39 μm is used to measure the absorption cross-section of the fuels mentioned above. The dependence on temperature, pressure and bath gas (helium, argon and nitrogen) is also examined. The temperature and pressure ranges of this study are 296 – 800 K and 250 – 1000 Torr, respectively. These are the first measured cross-sections at HeNe laser wavelength that are applicable at combustion-relevant conditions.

With global emission regulations becoming stringent, development of new combustion technologies that meet future emission regulations is essential. In this vein, this dissertation presents the application of sensitive diagnostic tools to validate and improve chemical kinetic mechanisms that play a fundamental role in the design of new combustion technologies. First, a novel high sensitivity laser-based sensor with a wide frequency tuning range (900 – 1000 cm-1) was developed utilizing pulsed cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) technique. The novel laser-based sensor was illustrated by measuring trace amounts of multiple combustion intermediates, namely ethylene, propene, allene, and 1-butene in a static cell at ambient conditions. Subsequently, pulsed CRDS technique was utilized to develop an ultra-fast, high sensitivity diagnostic to monitor trace concentrations of ethylene in shock tube pyrolysis experiments. This diagnostic represented the first ever successful application of CRDS technique to transient species measurements in a shock tube. The high sensitivity and fast time response (10μs) diagnostic may be utilized for measuring other key neutrals and radicals which are crucial in the oxidation chemistry of practical fuels. Secondly, a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) was employed to measure relative cation mole fractions in atmospheric and low-pressure (30 Torr) flames of methane/oxygen diluted in argon. Lean, stoichiometric and rich flames were 4 examined to evaluate the dependence of ion chemistry on flame stoichiometry. Spatial distribution of cations was compared with predictions of an existing ion chemistry model. Based on the extensive measurements carried out in this work, modifications were suggested to improve the ion chemistry model to enhance the fidelity of such mechanisms. In-depth understanding of flame ion chemistry is vital to model the interaction of flames with electric fields and thereby pave the way to enable active combustion control for increased efficiency and reduced emissions. Finally, a compact fast time-response time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) was coupled to the shock tube through a pin-hole end-wall to enable timeresolved species concentration measurements. This diagnostic tool was demonstrated by investigating the decomposition of 1,3,5-trioxane over a wide range of shock conditions. Reaction rate coefficients were extracted by the best fit to the experimentally measured species time-histories. TOF-MS coupled to the shock tube is an ideal diagnostic tool for developing kinetic mechanisms for future fuels due to its ability to simultaneously measure several species during fuel pyrolysis/oxidation processes.

Le projet ANDROMEDE a pour but de créer un nouvel instrument d’imagerie ionique sub-micrométrique et d’analyse par spectrométrie de masse, en utilisant l’impact d’ions sur des nano-objets présents à la surface des échantillons solides et plus particulièrement sur les échantillons biologiques. L’étude de ces échantillons avec l’objectif d’analyse in vitro et in vivo nécessite une préparation complexe et requiert une expérimentation à la pression atmosphérique. Cet instrument unique ouvre une nouvelle voie dans l’analyse de surfaces, complémentaire aux méthodes utilisées de nos jours.Au sein du projet ANDROMEDE, deux éléments ont été développés dans le cadre de notre étude. La source NAPIS qui délivre les nanoparticules permettant d’augmenter le rendement d’éjection des ions secondaires, et le spectromètre de masse PSI-TOF pour l’analyse chimique des éléments émis depuis la surface de l’échantillon.Le faisceau primaire de nanoparticules de la source NAPIS est accéléré dans un accélérateur de type Pelletron 4MeV et amené sur une cible. La source de nanoparticules NAPIS a été développée et validée indépendamment au sein de la société ORSAY PHYSICS, avant son couplage sur l’accélérateur.Une nouvelle optique d’extraction appelée ExOTOF ainsi que le spectromètre de masse à extraction orthogonale PSI-TOF ont été développés pour permettre l’analyse des ions secondaires et augmenter la résolution en masse du système. Ces ensembles ont été spécialement dessinés pour ce projet. Ils permettront une extraction et une analyse efficace des ions secondaires émis depuis la surface de l’échantillon en utilisant des faisceaux continus et auront leur application pour les analyses à la pression atmosphérique. L’ensemble a été validé et les premiers tests de sortie du faisceau primaire ont été réalisés avec succès. / The goal of the ANDROMEDE project is to create a new instrument for sub-micrometric ion imaging and analysis by mass spectrometry, using ion impacts on nano-objects present in the solid sample surface and more particularly on biological samples. In-vitro and in-vivo analysis of these types of samples require mostly complex preparation and even atmospheric pressure experimentation. This unique instrument opens a new path for surface analysis characterization, which is complementary to the standard methods and technics used today.In the ANDROMEDE project, two elements have been developed in our study. The NAPIS source which delivers the nanoparticles allowing the increase of the secondary ion yield and the PSI-TOF mass spectrometer for the chemical analysis of the elements emitted from the sample surface.The NAPIS source delivers a primary beam of accelerated nanoparticles in a Pelletron 4MeV accelerator which is driven to a target. The NAPIS nanoparticles source has been developed and validated independently in the ORSAY PHYSICS Company firstly before its coupling on the accelerator. The new extraction optics called ExOTOF as well as the PSI-TOF orthogonal extraction mass spectrometer have been developed for the reliable secondary ions study and the increase of the mass resolution.These instruments have been specially designed for this project. This development will allow an efficient extraction and analysis of the secondary ions emitted from the sample surface using continuous primary beams and will have applications for atmospheric pressure studies. The assembly has been completely validated and the first tests of the output beam have been successfully carried out.

Fused glass beads as a sample preparation method for X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) were introduced in 1957 by Claisse; it soon became the preferred method to introduce oxide samples to the spectrometer, because heterogeneity, mineralogical and particle size effects are eliminated during the fusion process. Matrix effects are largely reduced by the resulting dilution. With the recent advances in XRF spectrometers, instruments with enhanced generator and temperature stability, improved sensitivity (even for light elements), and effective matrix correction software are available. Consequently, the largest proportion of analytical error results from the sample preparation step. Sampling error will always contribute the largest overall error but that is not the topic of this discussion. After more than 50 years of fused bead use in XRF analysis, certain matrices remain problematic. Although many fusion methods for chromite-, sulphide- and cassiterite-rich materials have been published, easily reproduced, routine methods for these still elude analytical chemists. Lengthy fusions at temperatures higher than 1100ºC are often prescribed for refractory materials and ores, and until recently one of the biggest challenges was a metal-bearing sample e.g. contained in slags or certain refractory materials. This study was conducted to identify and elucidate the reactions occurring in the formation of a lithium borate glass, but also between the lithium borate and oxides during glass formation. Different analytical techniques were used to investigate the reactions occurring during the fusion process based on theoretical glass-making principles. As a starting point, Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) were used jointly to evaluate the reactions occurring during the fusion of lithium borate glasses, and at a later stage, oxide/flux mixtures. When a different TGA instrument was used, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used in conjunction with the TGA. Observed reactions were modelled in a muffle furnace to produce identical material in larger quantities, and this material was then investigated using X-ray Powder Diffractometry (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy and Electron Microprobe Analysis (EPMA). The most enlightening result from the TGA/DSC results was the large mass loss above 1050 ºC. Literature often prescribes prolonged fusions at elevated temperatures for certain fusions, but it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that this practise causes volatilisation of the flux and leads to erroneous analytical results. The next analytical technique applied to the flux and flux/oxide samples was XRD. Where pre-fused fluxes were investigated, the XRD data served as confirmation of the glassy state of the pre-fused flux as a broad humpy scan indicative of an amorphous material was seen in stead of a diffractogram with sharp, well defined peaks. After heating to above the temperature of re-crystallisation, the phases present could be identified from the diffractogram. Provisional results using the in-situ, high temperature stage point towards the possibility of using this technique to great effect to investigate the presence of different phases formed at high temperatures. Flux-oxide mixtures were measured on the high temperature stage and after cooling a new phase was observed indicating that new phases formed during a fusion reaction. As the heating stage is slow-cooled, the chance of crystallisation in the glass is good, providing the possibility for investigating this formation of new phases at elevated temperatures further with a more suitable heating element that will contain the material. Raman spectroscopy was subsequently used to gain information about the bonds within the flux. Pure lithium tetraborate and lithium metaborate fluxes were analysed as well as flux oxide mixtures. The vibrations could not be predicted from first principles as band broadening occurs in glasses that makes theoretical predictions very difficult. The data obtained was compared to similar studies in literature and good agreement was found. In oxide-flux mixtures definite new bands were observed that was not part of the flux or oxide spectrum. EPMA results allowed calculation of the maximum solubilities of an oxide in a specific flux. It was done using Cr2O3 and ZrO2 and compared well with experimental values obtained from literature. The microscope images revealed some new insights into the theory of XRF fusions. It could clearly be seen that dissociation of the minerals in the sample occurred, thus proving that no mineralogical effects exist in a fused glass bead, and it could be observed that the flux oxide mixture devitrify when over saturated. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Chemistry / unrestricted

A user-friendly fully digital TDPAC-spectrometer with six detectors and fast digitizers using Field Programmable Gate Arrays is described and performance data are given.

Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit sont consacrés à l’étude de la spectroscopie FTIR à très haute résolution de la molécule de fluorure de sulfuryle SO2F2 qui est apparu récemment comme un polluant atmosphérique important. Une très bonne modélisation de son spectre d’absorption est donc essentielle pour les mesures de concentration atmosphérique.Ce manuscrit comporte cinq parties. La première partie de ce travail de thèse concerne les propriétés de la molécule du fluorure de sulfuryle. La deuxième partie décrit le modèle théorique (formalisme tensoriel, Hamiltonien et moment dipolaire effectifs) que nous avons utilisé pour effectuer les analyses. La troisième partie expose les conditions expérimentales des différents spectres que nous avons enregistré à la ligne AILES du synchrotron SOLEIL à Saint-Aubin (Paris). La quatrième partie décrit le logiciel C2vTDS et enfin dans la cinquième partie, nous présentons les résultats des différentes analyses.Cette thèse a été effectuée au sein du Groupe de Spectrométrie Moléculaire et Atmosphérique (GSMA) de l’Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne et au Laboratoire Dynamique Moléculaire et Matériaux Photoniques (LDMMP) à l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de l’Université de Tunis. / The work presented in this manuscript is devoted to the study of very high resolution FTIR spectroscopy of the molecule of sulfuryl fluoride, SO2F2, which recently appeared as an important atmospheric pollutant. However, a very good modeling of its absorption spectrum is essential for atmospheric concentration measurements.This manuscript has five parts. The first part deals with the properties of the molecule of sulfuryl fluoride. The second part describes the theoretical model (tensor formalism and effective Hamiltonian and dipole moment) that we used to perform the analyzes. The third part presents the experimental conditions of the different spectra that we recorded at the AILES line of the SOLEIL synchrotron at Saint-Aubin (Paris). The fourth part describes the software C2vTDS and finally in the fifth part we present the results of the different analyzes.This thesis was performed in the Molecular and Atmospheric Spectrometry Group (GSMA) of the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and the Laboratory of Molecular Dynamics and Photonic Materials (LDMMP - ENSIT) of the University of Tunis.

The research in this dissertation explored the sources and chemistry of organic nitrogen aerosols in the atmosphere. Two approaches were employed: field measurements and laboratory experiments. In order to characterize atmospheric aerosol, two ambient studies were conducted in Cache Valley in Northern Utah during strong winter inversions of 2004 and 2005. The economy of this region is heavily dependent on agriculture. There is also a fast growing urban population. Urban and agricultural emissions, aided by the valley geography and meteorology, led to high concentrations of fine particles that often exceeded the national ambient air quality standards. Aerosol composition was dominated by ammonium nitrate and organic species. Mass spectra from an aerosol mass spectrometer revealed that the organic ion peaks were consistent with reduced organic nitrogen compounds, typically associated with animal husbandry practices. Although no direct source characterization studies have been undertaken in Cache Valley with an aerosol mass spectrometer, spectra from a study at a swine facility in Ames, Iowa, did not show any evidence of reduced organic nitrogen species. This, combined with temporal and diurnal characteristics of organic aerosol peaks, was a pointer that the organic nitrogen species in Cache Valley likely formed from secondary chemistry. Application of multivariate statistical analyses to the organic aerosol spectra further supported this hypothesis. To quantify organic nitrogen signals observed in ambient studies as well as understand formation chemistry, three categories of laboratory experiments were performed. These were calibration experiments, smog chamber studies, and an analytical method development. Laboratory calibration experiments using standard calibrants indicated that quantifying the signals from organic nitrogen species was dependent on whether they formed through acid-base chemistry or via secondary organic aerosol pathway. Results from smog chamber reactions of amines with ozone, nitrogen oxides, nitrate radical, and nitric acid showed that the secondary organic aerosol pathway was more plausible than acid-base chemistry, thus making the contribution of the organic nitrogen species to the total aerosol mass in Cache Valley significant. Gas phase and aerosol products formed from the smog chamber reactions were identified and used to devise reaction mechanisms. Finally, an ion chromatographic method for detecting and quantifying some key organic nitrogen species in aerosol was developed and tested.