"March 2002" / Includes bibliographical references. / xii, 178 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines the application of physico-chemical phenomena to aspects of environmental analysis. Measures the superoxide radical in natural waters in order to establish the role of the radical in natural water chemistry. Also investigates the electrokinetic charging behaviour associated with liquid microjets in order to understand the unusual charging behaviour reported in the literature with the ultimate goal of determining the viability of using the charging mechanism for in vacuo ion generation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Chemistry, 2002