No description available.

Sample preparation and analysis for atmospheric pressure matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (AP- MALDI-TOF-MS) was investigated. By investigating the effects that sample preparation has upon MALDI signal, better analysis can be carried out. The influence of sample deposition was studied by not only observing the signal intensity produced but also by quantitation. Isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) was used for the quantitation of three different analytes. The results indicated that not only was signal greatly affected by sample deposition but the effect on quantitation error was also statistically significant among the three different sample deposition techniques that were evaluated. <br>Components of sample preparation solution were studied using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polystryrene (PS) of different weights. This study altered the amounts of matrix, analyte and cationizing agent that were used to make up each sample. Not only did the sample signal intensity greatly vary which had statistical significance but a shifting of the polymer sample peaks was also observed. This confirms that sample preparation is of extreme importance for MALDI analysis. <br>Carpet fibers, glutathione and cell wall extracts from the bacteria Staphylococcus Epidermidis were also studied by AP- MADLI-TOF-MS. These analytes were carefully studied to provide an accurate characterization of each. The diversity of the analytes studied highlights the incredible capabilities that MADLI possesses being able to analyze a range of analytes. Though the samples were diverse each one was able to be completely and comprehensively analyzed using AP-MALDI-TOF-MS. / Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences / Chemistry and Biochemistry / PhD / Dissertation

Thesis (M. Eng.)--University of Louisville, 2004. / Department of Mechanical Engineering. Vita. "December 2004." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-111).

No description available.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Synthetic polymers are complex compounds that have multiple distributions with regard to molar mass, chemical composition, functionality and molecular architecture. Therefore, the molecular complexity of these compounds can only be analysed using a combination of analytical techniques. Well-defined complex polymers can be prepared by different types of living radical polymerisation, including reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerisation (RAFT) and reverse iodine transfer polymerisation (RITP). Using these techniques, several different homopolymers and copolymers have been prepared. However, there is still space for some more extended research. Many different types of multifunctional RAFT agents have been reported in literature. A tetrafunctional RAFT agent was prepared in our laboratory and used for the first time in the polymerisation of styrene. The polymerisation reaction was followed using in situ 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and the molar masses of the resultant polymers were determined using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The molar masses of the star-shaped polystyrenes (PS) were found to be less than the theoretical molar masses. This was due to the fact that SEC was calibrated with linear PS standards, while the samples under investigation are branched. Linear and branched polymers have different hydrodynamic volumes at similar molar masses. In order to prove that the star-shaped polymers were in fact four-armed, the samples were cleaved by aminolysis to yield the linear PS arms. The molar masses of the arms were in agreement with the theoretical arm molar masses based in the fourarmed structure. RITP is a relatively new living radical polymerisation technique. Various monomers have been prepared using RITP, including acrylates, methacrylates and styrene. The polymers formed using this technique have been characterised by techniques such as SEC, NMR and mass spectrometry (MS). However, very little advanced characterisation work has been done on polymers synthesised via RITP. Polystyrene-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PS-b-PBA) block copolymers were prepared via RITP and the microstructure analysed by in situ NMR and other advanced analytical techniques. The chromatograms from gradient HPLC of the PS-b-PBA block copolymers showed a separation based on chemical composition. The preparation of deuterated polymers via RITP has not been reported in literature. Hydrogenous-polystyrene-block-deuterated-polystyrene (hPS-b-dPS) was synthesised via RITP and analysed using liquid chromatography at critical conditions. An isotopic separation was achieved when critical conditions were established for hydrogenous PS (h-PS). A separation of the block copolymer from the first block was also achieved under chromatographic conditions where the block copolymer eluted in SEC mode while the first block eluted in LAC mode. The separation according to the block structure was confirmed by two-dimensional liquid chromatography. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sintetiese polimere is komplekse verbindings wat meervoudige verspreidings ten opsigte van molêre massa, chemiese samestelling, funksionaliteit en molekulêre argitektuur. Daarom kan die molekulêre kompleksiteit van hierdie verbindings net ontleed word met behulp van 'n kombinasie van analitiese tegnieke. Goed-gedefinieerde komplekse polimere kan voorberei word deur verskillende soorte lewende radikaal polimerisasie, insluitend omkeerbare addisie-fragmentasie kettingoordrag polimerisasie (OAFO) en omgekeerde jodium oordrag polimerisasie (OJOP). Met behulp van hierdie tegnieke, was verskeie homopolimere en kopolimeer opgestel. Maar daar is nog plek vir nog uitgebreide navorsing. Baie verskillende tipes multifunksionele OAFO agente is aangemeld in die letterkunde. Ons het 'n nuwe vier-armige OAFO agent in ons laboratorium voorberei en dit was vir die eerste keer in die polimerisasie van stireen gebruik. Die polimerisasie reaksie is gevolg met behulp van in situ 1H kernmagnetieseresonans (KMR) en die molêre massas van die gevolglike polimere was bepaal deur grootteuitsluitings chromatografie (SEC). Die molêre massas van die ster-polistireen (PS) is bevind as minder as teoretiese molêre massas. Dit is omdat SEC instrumente gekalibreer word met lineêre PS standaarde, terwyl die monsters wat tans ondersoek word vertakte polimere is. Lineêre en vertakte polimere het verskillende hidrodinamiese volumes by soortgelyke molêre massas. Ten einde te bewys dat die ster polimere in werklikheid vier-armig is, is die monsters gesny deur ‘n aminolisasiereaksie om die lineêre PS arms te lewer. Die molêre massas van die arms was ooreenkomstig met die teoretiese arm molêre massas gebaseer op die vier-armige struktuur. OJOP is 'n relatiewe nuuts lewende radikaal polimerisasie tegniek. Verskeie monomere is opgestel deur OJOP, insluitend akrilate, metakrilate en stireen. Die polimere wat gevorm is deur middel van die tegniek is al gekenmerk deur tegnieke soos SEC, KMR en massaspektrometrie (MS). Tog is daar baie min gevorderde karakterisering werk gedoen oor polimere gesintetiseer deur middel van OJOP. Polistireen-blok-poli(n-butylacrylaat) (PS-b-PBA) blokkopolimere was voorberei deur middel van OJOP en die mikrostruktuur ontleed met behulp van gevorderde analitiese tegnieke. Die chromatogramme van gradiënt HPLC van die PS-b-PBA blokkopolimere het 'n skeiding ondergaan gebaseer op die chemiese samestelling. Die voorbereiding van gedeutereerde polimere deur middel van OJOP word nie in die letterkunde gevind nie. Gehidrogeneerde-polistireen-blok-gedeutereerde-polistireen (hPS-b-dPS) is gesintetiseer deur middel van OJOP en ontleed met behulp van vloeistofchromatografie onder kritiese kondisies. 'n Isotopiese skeiding was bereik wanneer kritiese kondisies gestig is vir gehidrogeneerde PS (h-PS).'n Skeiding van die blok kopolimeer van die eerste blok was ook bereik onder chromatografiese omstandighede waar die blok kopolimeer elueer in SEC terwyl die eerste blok elueer in LAC. Die skeiding volgens die blok struktuur was bevestig deur twee-dimensionele vloeistofchromatografie.

A pressão osmótica é uma das principais propriedades de interesse no estudo da não-idealidade de soluções proteicas, por fornecer diretamente informações sobre a atividade do solvente e, indiretamente, sobre o comportamento da proteína em solução. O presente trabalho objetiva a investigação do uso de equações osmóticas de estado para o cálculo da pressão osmótica em soluções proteicas contendo co-solventes como sais e polímeros. O modelo desenvolvido compreende um termo de esferas rígidas de Carnahan-Starling e um termo atrativo de van der Waals. Para avaliar a adequação do modelo proposto, correlacionaram-se dados de pressão osmótica de soluções proteicas obtidos da literatura para as proteínas lisozima, a-quimotripsina, albumina de soro bovino e imunoglobulina G humana, em soluções aquosas em diversos valores de pH e com diversos co-solventes. O modelo desenvolvido foi capaz de representar adequadamente os dados experimentais na maioria dos casos estudados, com uma correspondência maior do que a equação virial, usualmente empregada no estudo dessas soluções. Para a modelagem de soluções de a-quimotripsina, foi necessário considerar a dimerização da molécula proteica. Em poucos casos, especialmente na modelagem de soluções de albumina de soro bovino contendo polietileno glicol, o modelo mostrou-se insuficiente para correlacionar adequadamente os dados experimentais. Na maioria das vezes, o parâmetro do termo atrativo mostrou uma fraca dependência do pH próximo ao ponto isoelétrico, uma dependência maior com respeito a esse parâmetro em valores de pH mais distantes deste ponto, e uma dependência nítida com respeito à força iônica. De maneira geral, embora a representação dos dados experimentais seja adequada, não foi possível observar tendências inequívocas do parâmetro atrativo com respeito ao pH e a força iônica de modo a permitir o desenvolvimento de um modelo preditivo. / The osmotic pressure is one of the key properties for the assessment of the non-ideality of protein solutions. Its importance is related to the fact that it allows the evaluation of solvent activity and indirectly of the protein behavior in solution. This work presents an investigation on the use of osmotic equations of state for calculating the osmotic pressure of aqueous solutions of proteins containing cosolvents such as salts or polymers. The developed model comprises a repulsive term, corresponding to the hard-sphere equation by Carnahan-Starling, and an attractive term, corresponding to a van der Waals type equation. To assess the suitability of the proposed model, experimental osmotic pressure data obtained from literature for aqueous solutions containing lysozyme, a-chymotrypsin, bovine serum albumin and human immunoglobulin G, at several values of pH and with different cosolvents, were correlated. The model was able to adequately represent the experimental data in most of the cases, with a better agreement than the virial equation, which is the most widely used equation in the study of the osmotic pressure of protein solutions. For the modeling of a-chymotrypsin solutions, it was necessary to consider the dimerization of the protein molecule. Only in a few cases, mainly in the modeling of solutions containing bovine serum albumin and polyethylene glycol, it was not possible to correlate adequately the experimental data. In most cases, the attractive parameter presented a weak dependency on the pH close to the isoelectric point, and a stronger dependency on pH otherwise. The dependency on the ionic strength was almost always strong. To conclude, in spite of the good performance of the model in the correlation of experimental data, definite tendencies of the attractive parameter in relation to pH and ionic strength were not observed, and hence a predictive model could not be developed.

A pressão osmótica é uma das principais propriedades de interesse no estudo da não-idealidade de soluções proteicas, por fornecer diretamente informações sobre a atividade do solvente e, indiretamente, sobre o comportamento da proteína em solução. O presente trabalho objetiva a investigação do uso de equações osmóticas de estado para o cálculo da pressão osmótica em soluções proteicas contendo co-solventes como sais e polímeros. O modelo desenvolvido compreende um termo de esferas rígidas de Carnahan-Starling e um termo atrativo de van der Waals. Para avaliar a adequação do modelo proposto, correlacionaram-se dados de pressão osmótica de soluções proteicas obtidos da literatura para as proteínas lisozima, a-quimotripsina, albumina de soro bovino e imunoglobulina G humana, em soluções aquosas em diversos valores de pH e com diversos co-solventes. O modelo desenvolvido foi capaz de representar adequadamente os dados experimentais na maioria dos casos estudados, com uma correspondência maior do que a equação virial, usualmente empregada no estudo dessas soluções. Para a modelagem de soluções de a-quimotripsina, foi necessário considerar a dimerização da molécula proteica. Em poucos casos, especialmente na modelagem de soluções de albumina de soro bovino contendo polietileno glicol, o modelo mostrou-se insuficiente para correlacionar adequadamente os dados experimentais. Na maioria das vezes, o parâmetro do termo atrativo mostrou uma fraca dependência do pH próximo ao ponto isoelétrico, uma dependência maior com respeito a esse parâmetro em valores de pH mais distantes deste ponto, e uma dependência nítida com respeito à força iônica. De maneira geral, embora a representação dos dados experimentais seja adequada, não foi possível observar tendências inequívocas do parâmetro atrativo com respeito ao pH e a força iônica de modo a permitir o desenvolvimento de um modelo preditivo. / The osmotic pressure is one of the key properties for the assessment of the non-ideality of protein solutions. Its importance is related to the fact that it allows the evaluation of solvent activity and indirectly of the protein behavior in solution. This work presents an investigation on the use of osmotic equations of state for calculating the osmotic pressure of aqueous solutions of proteins containing cosolvents such as salts or polymers. The developed model comprises a repulsive term, corresponding to the hard-sphere equation by Carnahan-Starling, and an attractive term, corresponding to a van der Waals type equation. To assess the suitability of the proposed model, experimental osmotic pressure data obtained from literature for aqueous solutions containing lysozyme, a-chymotrypsin, bovine serum albumin and human immunoglobulin G, at several values of pH and with different cosolvents, were correlated. The model was able to adequately represent the experimental data in most of the cases, with a better agreement than the virial equation, which is the most widely used equation in the study of the osmotic pressure of protein solutions. For the modeling of a-chymotrypsin solutions, it was necessary to consider the dimerization of the protein molecule. Only in a few cases, mainly in the modeling of solutions containing bovine serum albumin and polyethylene glycol, it was not possible to correlate adequately the experimental data. In most cases, the attractive parameter presented a weak dependency on the pH close to the isoelectric point, and a stronger dependency on pH otherwise. The dependency on the ionic strength was almost always strong. To conclude, in spite of the good performance of the model in the correlation of experimental data, definite tendencies of the attractive parameter in relation to pH and ionic strength were not observed, and hence a predictive model could not be developed.

No description available.

Polímeros molecularmente impressos (MIPs) se afiguram como materiais promissores a serem empregados em extração em fase sólida devido à boa seletividade apresentada por eles. A seletividade dos MIPs está diretamente relacionada ao reconhecimento pelo polímero de uma molécula de interesse, a qual foi empregada previamente como molde no processo de sua síntese. MIPs apresentam como características o fácil preparo, o baixo custo, a possibilidade de síntese em ambientes adversos, e a resistência química na presença de ácidos, bases, íons metálicos, solventes orgânicos bem como resistência física a altas temperaturas e pressões. Neste trabalho, a exploração de MIPs como extratores para separação em fase sólida (SPE) em sistemas de análises em fluxo foi realizada, sendo suas características e desempenho avaliados em relação às determinações espectrofotométricas de catecol, ácico ascórbico e atrazina em amostras de relevãncia ambiental, farmacológica e alimentícia. A possibilidade de separação quiral foi também investigada em relação D e L-ácido ascórbico. Potencialidades e limitações quanto ao emprego dos mesmos em sistemas de análises em fluxo foram observadas e enfatizadas / Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are promising as material to be used in solid phase extractions due to their high selectivity. MIPs selectivity is directly related to the recognition of a molecule of interest, which was previously employed as template in the synthesis process. The main favorable characteristics of MIPs are the easy preparation, low cost, possibility of synthesis in adverse environments, and chemical resistance in the presence of acids, bases, metal ions, organic solvents as well as the physical resistance to high temperatures and pressures. In the present work, flow systems with molecularly imprinted polymers as in-line solid phase extractors were designed, and their characteristics and efficiencies were assessed in relation to the spectrophotometric determinations of the catechol, ascorbic acid and atrazine in environmental, pharmacological and food samples. Moreover, the feasibility of chiral separation was investigated in relation to D and L-ascorbic acid. Potentialities and limitations of implementing MIPs in flow analysis were highlighted

Polímeros molecularmente impressos (MIPs) se afiguram como materiais promissores a serem empregados em extração em fase sólida devido à boa seletividade apresentada por eles. A seletividade dos MIPs está diretamente relacionada ao reconhecimento pelo polímero de uma molécula de interesse, a qual foi empregada previamente como molde no processo de sua síntese. MIPs apresentam como características o fácil preparo, o baixo custo, a possibilidade de síntese em ambientes adversos, e a resistência química na presença de ácidos, bases, íons metálicos, solventes orgânicos bem como resistência física a altas temperaturas e pressões. Neste trabalho, a exploração de MIPs como extratores para separação em fase sólida (SPE) em sistemas de análises em fluxo foi realizada, sendo suas características e desempenho avaliados em relação às determinações espectrofotométricas de catecol, ácico ascórbico e atrazina em amostras de relevãncia ambiental, farmacológica e alimentícia. A possibilidade de separação quiral foi também investigada em relação D e L-ácido ascórbico. Potencialidades e limitações quanto ao emprego dos mesmos em sistemas de análises em fluxo foram observadas e enfatizadas / Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are promising as material to be used in solid phase extractions due to their high selectivity. MIPs selectivity is directly related to the recognition of a molecule of interest, which was previously employed as template in the synthesis process. The main favorable characteristics of MIPs are the easy preparation, low cost, possibility of synthesis in adverse environments, and chemical resistance in the presence of acids, bases, metal ions, organic solvents as well as the physical resistance to high temperatures and pressures. In the present work, flow systems with molecularly imprinted polymers as in-line solid phase extractors were designed, and their characteristics and efficiencies were assessed in relation to the spectrophotometric determinations of the catechol, ascorbic acid and atrazine in environmental, pharmacological and food samples. Moreover, the feasibility of chiral separation was investigated in relation to D and L-ascorbic acid. Potentialities and limitations of implementing MIPs in flow analysis were highlighted