Water extracts of saffron, a spice derived from the plant Crocus Sativus L. obtained from India and Iran, were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The components in the extracts were separated on four different solid phase extraction cartridges with four different solvents and by silica gel column. Analysis was done by GC-MS, LC-MS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The extracts separated into three distinct bands (two bright yellow and one orange) on the silica gel column. Based on GC-MS, the extracted compounds show many structural similarities. Using both extraction techniques, several compounds were identified that were not previously reported to be in saffron. Picrocrocin, safranal, and crocins presence in the extracts were evidenced by absorbance bands at wavelengths of 250 nm, 310 nm and 440 nm, respectively, in their UV-Vis spectra. The LC-MS analysis revealed several high molecular weight compounds that were not observed by GC-MS.

Despite its extremely low solubility in water, fullerite C₆₀ can form colloidally stable aqueous suspensions containing nanoscale C₆₀ particles (nC₆₀) when it is subject to contact with water. nC₆₀ is the primary fullerene form following its release to the environment. The aim of the present study was to provide fundamental insights into the properties and environmental impacts of nC₆₀. nC₆₀ suspensions containing negatively charged and heterogeneous nanoparticles were produced via extended mixing in the presence and absence of citrate and other carboxylates. These low-molecular weight acids were employed as simple surrogates of natural organic matter. The properties of nC₆₀ were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. nC₆₀ produced in the presence of carboxylate differs from that produced in water alone (aq/nC₆₀) with respect to surface charge, average particle size, interfacial properties, and UV-Vis spectroscopic characteristics. Importantly, regularly shaped (spheres, triangles, squares, and nano-rods) nC₆₀ nanoparticles were observed in carboxylate solutions, but not in water alone. This observation indicates that a carboxylate-mediated 'bottom-up' process occurs in the presence of carboxylates. Changes in the UV-Vis spectra over time indicate that reactions between C₆₀ and water or other constituents in water never stop, potentially leading to significant morphologic changes during storage or as a result of simple dilution. These results suggest that studies examining the transport, fate, and environmental impacts of nC₆₀ should take the constituents of natural waters into consideration and that careful examination on the properties of the tested nC₆₀ should be conducted prior to and during each study. / Ph. D.