This study reports the synthesis of graphene by oxidizing graphite to graphite oxide using H2SO4 and KMnO4 and reducing graphene oxide to graphene by using NaBH4. Graphene was then characterized using FT-IR, TEM, AFM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and solid state NMR. Nafion-Graphene in combination with a mercury film electrode, bismuth film electrode and antimony film electrode was used as a sensing platform for trace metal analysis in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6) at 120 s deposition time, using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Detection limits were calculated using 3σblank/slope. For practical applications recovery studies was done by spiking test samples with known concentrations of metal ions and comparing the results to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). This was then followed by real sample analyses.

The main objective of this work was to develop simple and sensitive electrochemical sensors for the detection of bisphenol A. To investigate the electrochemical behavior of BPA on a bare glassy carbon electrode. To apply the developed biosensor for the determination BPA by differential pulse voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectrometry, square wave voltammetry and steady-state amperometry. To characterize the synthesized PDMA-PSS by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

A novel cyclopentadienylruthenium(II) thiolato Schiff base,[Ru(SC6H4NC(H)C6H4OCH2CH2SMe)(η5-C2H5]2 was synthesized and deposited as a selfassembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold electrode. Effective electronic communication between the Ru(II) centers and the gold electrode was established by electrostatically cycling the Shiff base-doped gold electrode in 0.1 M NaOH from -200 mV to +600 mV. The SAMmodified gold electrode (Au/SAM) exhibited quasi-reversible electrochemistry. The integrity of this electro-catalytic SAM, with respect to its ability to block and electro-catalyze certain Faradaic processes, was interrogated using Cyclic and Osteryoung Square Wave voltammetric experiments. The formal potential, E0', varied with pH to give a slope of about - 34 mV pH-1. The surface concentration, Γ, of the ruthenium redox centers was found to be 1.591 x 10-11 mol cm-2. By electrostatically doping the Au/SAM/Horseradish peroxidase at an applied potential of +700 mV vs Ag/AgCl, a biosensor was produced for the amperometric analysis of hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide. The electrocatalytic-type biosensors displayed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with their limits of detection of 6.45 μM, 6.92 μM and 7.01 μM for hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide respectively / Magister Scientiae - MSc

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The main objective of this work was to develop simple and sensitive electrochemical sensors for the detection of bisphenol A. To investigate the electrochemical behavior of BPA on a bare glassy carbon electrode. To apply the developed biosensor for the determination BPA by differential pulse voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectrometry, square wave voltammetry and steady-state amperometry. To characterize the synthesized PDMA-PSS by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). / South Africa

Magister Scientiae - MSc / A novel cyclopentadienylruthenium(II) thiolato Schiff base, [Ru(SC6H4NC(H)C6H4OCH2CH2SMe)(η5-C2H5]2 was synthesized and deposited as a selfassembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold electrode. Effective electronic communication between the Ru(II) centers and the gold electrode was established by electrostatically cycling the Shiff base-doped gold electrode in 0.1 M NaOH from -200 mV to +600 mV. The SAMmodified gold electrode (Au/SAM) exhibited quasi-reversible electrochemistry. The integrity of this electro-catalytic SAM, with respect to its ability to block and electro-catalyze certain Faradaic processes, was interrogated using Cyclic and Osteryoung Square Wave voltammetric experiments. The formal potential, E0', varied with pH to give a slope of about - 34 mV pH-1. The surface concentration, Γ, of the ruthenium redox centers was found to be 1.591 x 10-11 mol cm-2. By electrostatically doping the Au/SAM/Horseradish peroxidase at an applied potential of +700 mV vs Ag/AgCl, a biosensor was produced for the amperometric analysis of hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide. The electrocatalytic-type biosensors displayed typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with their limits of detection of 6.45 M, 6.92 M and 7.01 M for hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide respectively. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Coeliac disease (CD) is a gluten intolerance condition that results in the flattening of the villi, which line the bowel. It is the most common cause of malabsorption of food nutrients. This inability to absorb sufficient levels of nutrients causes many of the common symptoms experienced by CD patients. Some of the symptoms, which lead to an increase in mortality rate, include chronic diarrhea, fatigue, iron-deficient anemia and osteoporosis. People with CD have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies in their blood. Thus, the concentration of anti-transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG) in human sera is an important analytical marker for the diagnosis of CD. An immunosensor is a type of biosensor that has an antigen or antibody fragment as its biological recognition component. The specificity of the molecular recognition of antigens by antibodies to form a stable complex is the basis of immunosensor technology. In this work, overoxidized polypyrrole (OvoxPpy) was electrosynthesized as a noval sensor platform on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The OvoxPpy was then doped with gold-nanoparticles (GNP) by electrodeposition using cyclic voltammetry to form GNP|OvoxPpy||GCE electrode system. Morphology and size of the GNP|OvoxPpy||GCE nanocomposite were determined using scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical immunosensor for anti-tTG antibodies was prepared by immobilizing transglutaminase antigen (tTG-antigen) onto the GNP|OvoxPpy||GCE by drop coating and allowed to incubate for 2 hrs. The electrochemical characterization of the nanocomposite platform and immunosensor were studied by voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Charge transfer resistance, Rct (obtained from EIS data fitting) of [Fe (CN)6]3-/4- redox probe was used as the analytical parameter for measuring the interfacial kinetics which occurred as a result of the bio-recognition event (affinitive binding) between the tTG-antigen and anti-tTG antibody. Rct was found to increase with increased concentration of the antibody as a result of the reluctance to the flow of redox probe charge across the interface. Antibody concentration as low as in 1:4000 dilutions was detected. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae - MSc / In this study two medicinal plant species, namely Galenia africana and Elytropapus rhinocerotis, the former belonging to the family Aizoceae and the latter belonging to the family Asteraceae, have been investigated and different compounds isolated and characterized. Both species are important plants used in traditional medicine in Africa and particularly in South Africa. Flavanoids are secondary metabolites found in plants. They have a protective function against UV radiation and have a defence against invading illnesses due to their important antioxidant activity. Much of the food we eat and some beverages we drink contain flavonoids. The aim of this study was to investigate the electrochemistry of flavanoids isolated from these species. / South Africa

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Hugo Barbosa Suffredini / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência & Tecnologia - Química, 2015. / Este trabalho buscou aplicar a tecnica de voltametria de onda quadrada em uma interface envolvendo dois liquidos imisciveis, sendo uma fase oleosa, contendo vitaminas lipossoluveis e outra aquosa, formada por solucoes-tampao em dois valores de pH (5,5 e 7,0). Foram realizados testes de interacao entre o tocoferol (lipossoluvel) e o acido ascorbico (hidrossoluvel adicionada a fase aquosa), de aplicacao direta da tecnica em um balsamo pos-barba e de microscopia eletroquimica de varredura. Com o uso de eletrodos de carbono impresso, foram obtidos valores numa escala relativa de potenciais de oxidacao para a vitamina A proximos de 0 V, no caso da vitamina K de -0,1 V e para a vitamina E os potencias foram de 0,1 V aproximadamente (todos em relacao ao potencial de Ag). Em relacao ao teste do balsamo, foi identificado um pico com o perfil e o potencial de oxidacao caracteristico do ¿¿-tocoferol, enquanto que na avaliacao da interacao entre as vitaminas E e C na interface, dados comprovaram o descrito na literatura. / This work applied the square wave voltammetry technique on an interface between two immiscible liquids, one being the oily one, containing the fat soluble vitamins and another one, aqueous, corresponding to a buffer solution on two pH values 5,5 and 7,0. Besides it, tests of tocopherol (vitamin E, fat soluble) and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C, water soluble interaction, a direct application on an after shaving balm and scanning microscopy electrochemistry tests were carried out. By applying screen printed carbon electrodes, the relative oxidation potential to Vitamin A was determined as being next to 0 V. In the case of vitamin K the oxidation potential was measured as -0,1 V and to vitamin E, the values were close to 0,1 V (all potential data was measured versus Ag potential). Concerning the balm, a peak was detected exactly with the same profile and potential of the á-tocopherol. Also, the interaction between vitamins C and E was measured directly on the interface with results near from what was expected by the literature.

[pt] Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidas metodologias eletroanalíticas baseadas na voltametria adsortiva de redissolução catódica com varredura de potencial de onda quadrada e de pulso diferencial para a determinação do ciclofenil em urina e em formulações farmacêuticas, e na voltametria anódica com varredura de potencial de onda quadrada e de pulso diferencial para a determinação da primaquina em formulações farmacêuticas. Comparando-se as duas técnicas de aquisição, a voltametria de onda quadrada foi escolhida para realizar as determinações do ciclofenil em urina e em formulação farmacêutica por se mostrar, além de uma técnica mais rápida, maior sensíbilidade. Para a determinação da primaquina a melhor técnica foi à voltametria de pulso diferencial. As condições experimentais que possibilitaram um melhor desempenho analítico em termos da obtenção do menor limite de detecção e maior reprodutibilidade das leituras foram otimizados. No caso do ciclofenil, o composto mostrou ser instável no meio aquoso e orgânico para determinação voltamétrica, com sistemática diminuição da corrente faradaica. Assim, fez-se uso das propriedades eletroquímicas de um derivado estável obtido pela derivatização fotoquímica do composto (o composto foi irradiado com irradiação UV por 45 minutos em um reator fotoquímico), a corrente máxima obtida apresentou um potencial a -1,28 V. As condições experimentais que possibilitaram este sinal foram obtidas com 30 s de tempo de deposição do analito sobre o eletrodo de mercúrio, solução Britton-Robbinson pH 9,0 como eletrólito de suporte, potencial de acumulação de -0,9 V, amplitude de 250 mV, incremento de potencial de 2,0 mV no modo de onda quadrada. Desta forma foi obtido limite de detecção da ordem de 10-8 mol L-1, faixa linear dinâmica de 2 ordens de grandeza, condições estas que possibilitaram a determinação do composto tanto em formulações farmacêuticas (Menopax) como em amostra de urina enriquecida com o analito de interesse. Foram feitos testes com subtâncias concomitantes da formulação farmacêutica e constatou-se que não existia problema com interferência na análise nesse tipo de amostra. Nas determinações em urina não houve a necessidade de se fazer tratamento prévio da amostra, apenas a irradiação UV para estabilizar o composto, as análises foram realizadas com o método de adição de analito, de forma a se corrigir a interferência de matriz. Em ambos os casos os resultados obtidos se encontram na faixa de 93,6 a 106,5 por cento, dentro da faixa de recuperação aceitável para este tipo de problema analítico segundo estabelecido pela Farmacopéia dos Estados Unidos da América. Usou-se ainda os resultados provenientes das voltametrias de pulso diferencial, de voltametria de onda quadrada e da voltametria cíclica para se obter informações sobre o processo redox que ocorria no eletrodo de trabalho. Constatou-se que a reação é reversível, com um processo de controle adsortivo, sendo que apenas o reagente adsorve no eletrodo de trabalho, não ocorrendo adsorção do produto da reação de redução. Constatou-se também que o processo envolve a transferência de apenas 1 elétron, e que a reação não possuía contribuição cinética. No caso da primaquina o sinal de redução ocorre em região anódica (0,592 V), foi portanto necessário utilizar um eletrodo de carbono para se poder fazer a determinação da primaquina. Visando a possibilidade do uso do eletrodo de mercúrio, tentou-se fazer uso da formação de derivados complexos da primaquina com vanádio, com cobre ou com íon iodeto (complexo de tranferência de carga), porém não foram observados sinal da reação redox na janela de potencial procurada. Nas condições experimentais otimizadas não se / [en] In this work, square-wave and differential pulse voltammetric methods were developed for the determination of cyclofenil and primaquine in pharmaceutical formulations and in urine samples. The use of the square- wave acquisition technique was found to enable better sensitivity and faster analysis time compared to the differential pulse technique. Experimental and instrumental conditions were optimized to allow the best analytical performance in terms of limit of detection and repeatability of the readings. In the case of cyclofenil, its unstable behavior in aqueous and organic solvents, with systematic decreasing of analyte current signal, makes impossible any voltammetric determination. As an alternative way, the electrochemical properties of a stable photochemical derivative of cyclofenil was used (the compound was irradiated with UV radiation for 45 min) with maximum current at -1,28 V. This analyte photoderivative could also be accumulated in the working electrode. The experimental conditions that allowed the maximum current was a 30 s of deposition time at the mercury electrode, Britton- Robbinson (pH 9,0) supporting electrolyte, accumulation potential of -0,9 V, amplitude of pulse of 250 mV, scan increment 2,0 mV. These optimized conditions allowed a limit of detection of 10-8 mol L-1 and dynamic linear range of 2 orders of magnitude to be achieved. These analytical figures of merit made possible the determination of cyclofenil either in a pharmaceutical formulation (Menopax) and in urine samples spiked with the analyte of interest. The potential interferences from concomitant substances used in the pharmaceutical formulation were also evaluated. For the analyte determination in urine, only UV irradiation of sample was necessary, in order to obtain stable cyclofenil derivative. The analyte addition method was used to analyze urine in order to minimize matrix interferences. Recovery results for the analysis of Menopax and for the analysis of urine were between 96,5 and 107,6 percent, within the acceptable recovery range established by the United States Pharmacopoeia. Information concerning the analyte redox reaction and electrode processes was also obtained from differential pulse voltammetry, square-wave voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. It was verified that the cyclofenil photoderivative eletrochemical reaction is reversible with adsorption of only the reagent on the surface of the electrode. The adsorption of the electrochemical reduction product does not occur. It was also verified that the process involves the transference of only one electron, and there is no kinetics contribution in the reaction. In the case of the primaquine the analyte reduction occurs in anodic region (0,592 V), therefore, it was necessary the use the carbon glass electrode to allow the determination of this analyte. The pre-concentration of the analyte in the working carbon glass electrode was also not attained with the experimental conditions used. Several attempts were made to make possible the use of the mercury electrode, including the formation of charge transfer complexes with iodine and complexation with vanadium. However no success was obtained. Using the carbon glassy electrode and DPV technique the determination of primaquine in pharmaceutical formulations and urine was performed with average recovery of 101.7 percent. Limit of detention of 1,0 x 10-6 mol L- 1 was obtained.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O Dimetomorfe (DIM) pertence à classe dos fungicidas morfolÃnicos, tem aÃÃo sistÃmica, à persistente nas matrizes alimentÃcias e em solos de plantio onde foi aplicado e à um possÃvel interferente endÃcrino, o que justifica o desenvolvimento de metodologias para detecÃÃo e quantificaÃÃo desse composto. No estudo eletroquÃmico pode-se observar que DIM apresentou processo eletroquÃmico controlado por difusÃo e caracterizado como quasi-reversÃvel, com potencial de eletrodo em torno de 1,28 V vs. eletrodo de Ag/AgCl/Cl-(KCl sat.), referente à transferÃncia de dois elÃtrons. No desenvolvimento da metodologia eletroanalÃtica utilizando voltametria de onda quadrada e o eletrodo de diamante dopado com boro, constatou-se que as melhores condiÃÃes experimentais e voltamÃtricas foram obtidas em tampÃo Britton-Robinson pH 3, como eletrÃlito de suporte, frequÃncia de aplicaÃÃo dos pulsos de potencial de 30 s-1, amplitude dos pulsos de potencial de 50 mV e incremento de potencial de 2 mV. Partindo dessas condiÃÃes foi possÃvel desenvolver uma metodologia analÃtica com faixa linear de 4,57x10-6 a 3,78x10-4 mol L-1, limite de detecÃÃo de 3,11x10-7 mol L-1, limite de quantificaÃÃo de 1,04x10-6 mol L-1, repetibilidade de 0,13% (n = 10) e reprodutibilidade de 0,92% (n = 5). A avaliaÃÃo da interferÃncia das espÃcies iÃnicas presentes no eletrÃlito de suporte e do Mancozebe (MZB), presente em coformulaÃÃes de DIM, na exatidÃo e na precisÃo da metodologia mostrou que essas espÃcies exercem pouca influÃncia. A recuperaÃÃo em eletrÃlito foi de 97,25  0,70 %, com confianÃa de 95%, e BIAS de 2,74 %. O percentual de interferÃncia do MZB, em diferentes concentraÃÃes, foi menor que |10%|. A aplicaÃÃo da metodologia proposta na determinaÃÃo do DIM em uva in natura e em vinho tinto apresentou percentual de recuperaÃÃo de 101,0  12,1% e 105,1  10,8% com confianÃa de 95%, respectivamente, e BIAS menor que 6%. Baseando-se nas informaÃÃes quÃmico-computacionais, pode-se inferir que o sÃtio de oxidaÃÃo do DIM à na dupla ligaÃÃo nÃo aromÃtica. Os dados obtidos por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a um espectrÃmetro de massa levaram à conclusÃo que a natureza do substrato eletrÃdico nÃo interfere no mecanismo global da reaÃÃo de eletrooxidaÃÃo do DIM, sendo formado o (4-clorofenil)-(3,4-dimetoxifenil)metanona como produto majoritÃrio. / Dimethomorph (DIM) belongs to the class of morpholinic fungicides, it has systemic action, it is persistent in food matrices and in planting soils where was applied and a possible endocrine interferent, justifying the development of methodologies for detection and quantification of this compound. In the electrochemical study can be seen that the DIM had electrochemical process diffusion-controlled and characterized as quasi-reversible, with electrode potential of approximately 1.28 V vs. Ag/AgCl/Cl-(KCl sat.) electrode and involving two electrons transfer. In the development of electroanalytical methods using the square-wave voltammetry and the boron-doped diamond electrode, it was found that the best experimental and voltammetric conditions were obtained in Britton-Robinson buffer pH 3, as supporting electrolyte, pulse potential frequency of 30 s-1, square-wave amplitude of 50 mV and potential step increment of 2 mV. From these conditions it was possible to develop an analytical method with a linear range from 4.57x10-6 to 3.78x10-4 mol L-1, detection limit of 3.11x10-7 mol L-1, quantification limit of 1.04x10-6 mol L-1, 0.13% of repeatability (n = 10) and 0.92% of reproducibility (n = 5). The evaluation of the interference of the ionic compounds present in the supporting electrolyte and the Mancozebe (MZB), present in DIM co-formulations, in the accuracy and precision of the methodology showed that these species have little influence. The recovery in electrolyte was of 97.25  0.70%, with 95% confidence, and BIAS of 2.74%. The percentage of MZB interference, in different concentrations, was less than |10%|. The application of the proposed methodology for determining of the DIM in fresh grapes and red wine showed a percent recovery equal to 101.0  12.1% and 105.1  10.8% with 95% confidence, respectively, and BIAS less than 6 %. Based on the quantum-chemicals information, we can infer that the site of oxidation of DIM is the non-aromatic double bond. The data obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry led to the conclusion that the electrodic substrate nature does not interfere in the overall mechanism of the DIM electrooxidation reaction, in which is formed the (4-chlorophenyl)-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methanone as major product.