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The thesis begins with a brief introduction and relevant literature references. The novelty of synthesis, methodology and results of the work reported in the thesis and highlighted subsequently. The thesis consist of three parts, Part A of the thesis consist of five chapters describing new methods of synthesis of orthovanadates, mainly dealing with the structure and photocatalytic properties of synthesized materials. Part B of the thesis consist of two chapters dealing with an unique crystallization methodology for subliming and low melting organic compounds and the crystal structure determination via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Part C consists of one chapter presenting the ab-initio approach of structure determination via powder X-ray diffraction methods. Chapter 1 of the thesis presents the synthesis of three zircon type lanthanide orthovanadates, LnVO4 (Ln = Ce, Pr and Nd) via a new solution based approach at room temperature and photodegradation of a variety of water pollutants have been investigated. Chapter 2 describes the importance of microwave synthesis to produce nano particles of the zircon type lanthanide orthovanadates LnVO4. The importance of the surface area in photocatalysis is evaluated. Chapter 3 consist of the synthesis of a series of new compounds, Ln0.95φ0.05Mo0.15V0.85O4 (Ln = Ce, Pr and Nd) via solid state method. The photocatalytic activities of these compounds are investigated both under UV exposure and sunlight. Chapter 4 presents the synthesis of MxCe1-xVO4+ (M = Li, Ca and Fe) with x = 0.1, 0.25 and 0.05 respectively. Different kinds of dyes and organics are degraded under UV radiation and the specificity towards the same are evaluated. Chapter 5 describes a comparative photocatalytic conversion of cyclohexane and benzene to cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone and phenol respectively by LnVO4, LnMo0.15V0.85O4 and MxCe1-xVO4+ (Ln = Ce, Pr and Nd, M= Li, Ca and Fe with x = 0.1, 0.25 and 0.05 respectively). Kinetics of above photoconversions are established by proposing a mechanism and determining the rate constants. Chapter 6 describes the development of a novel apparatus for the crystallization of anhydrous adenine, whose structure has not been solved over the last few decades. The crystal structure is solved via single crystal X-ray diffraction. Chapter 7 presents a modified design for crystallization of low melting organic compounds and co-crystals. A new polymorph of anhydrous thymine has been grown with this apparatus and its structure has been analyzed and compared with the known form of thymine. Chapter 8 presents the ab-initio approach of structure determination via powder X-ray diffraction methods. The methodology of using the direct space approach for the determination of the crystal structure of N-(2-fluorophenyl) benzamide (a drug intermediate), which could not yield good quality single crystals, is outlined.

The Wonderfonteinspruit (WFS) flows through the richest gold mining region in the world and has subsequently been exposed to the related pollution for more than a century. In order to determine the extent of mining related pollution in the WFS, sediment, water, soil, grass and cattle tissue samples were collected, analysed and compared from an experimental group and a control group. This study identified cobalt, nickel, zinc, selenium, cadmium, gold, lead and uranium as elements of interest by comparing sediment samples from the WFS and the Mooi River (MR) (which served as a control or background site). The cobalt concentration was found to be 16.37 times higher, the nickel concentration was 30.4 times higher, the copper concentration was 3.59 times higher, the zinc concentration was 103.49 times higher, the selenium concentration was 7.14 times higher, the cadmium concentration was 17.88 times higher, the gold concentration was 4.78 times higher, the lead concentration was 1.32 times higher and the uranium concentration was 375.78 times higher in the initial comparison with sediments from the MR. These results were all found to be significant. All these elements are by products of non-ferrous mining activities as was described in the literature review. The elevated concentrations of these elements, which were found in the streambed sediment of a site in the Lower-Wonderfonteinspruit, suggest that they could have resulted due to upstream gold mining activities. These gold mining activities were initiated more than a century ago and continue to this day. Analysis of the different particle size fractions (sand, silt and clay fractions) revealed that the highest elemental concentrations were found in the clay sized fractions. The clay sized fraction usually contains secondary soil minerals which have the ability to adsorb dissolved cations onto their surface areas. Further analysis revealed that the sand fraction of the WFS sediment contained a substantial concentration of cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium which, upon initial inspection could not be explained. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that more than 90 % of the WFS sand, silt and clay fractions consisted of quartz, which was much higher than that of the MR. Due to the particle size of quartz, it generally dominates the sand and silt fractions, and finding it at levels above 90 % in the clay sized fraction is thought to be highly irregular. This could be explained by the extraction and processing of gold reefs from the goldfields in the catchment. The gold reefs consisted of quartz veins that were milled to a fine dust and pumped onto slime and sand dumps after the gold was extracted. The most abundant ore minerals found within these dumps were uraninite(UO2), brannerite (UO3Ti2O4), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), cobaltite (CoAsS), galena (PbS), pyrrhotite (FeS), gersdofite (NiAsS) and chromite (FeCr2O4), which contain some of the elements of interest. These dumps are either located in close proximity to the WFS or connected to the WFs via canals or pipelines. Erosion of these dumps would then introduce this finely milled quartz into the stream system. Therefore, the elements found in the sediment of the WFS were not only introduced to the system in the dissolved form, but also in the particulate form. The water samples that were collected from the experimental site (WFS) were found to exceed the cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium and cadmium concentrations ranges which are normally found in natural waters. In addition to this, the cadmium, lead and nickel concentration in the WFS water samples were found to occasionally exceed the target water quality ranges for livestock water as set by DWAF (1996). Water samples that were collected from the control group were found to exceed only the selenium concentration found in natural water sources as found by Crittenden et al., (2005). Cattle in the experimental group drink directly from the WFS and may stir up the sediment and thereby increasing the elemental concentrations within the water prior to ingestion. The target water quality ranges (TWQR) for livestock watering, as set by DWAF 1996, were exceeded by the average nickel and lead concentrations found in the disturbed WFS water samples. Although the elemental concentrations in the respective water samples were fairly low there was a definite practical significant difference between the WFS water and the MR water samples, as well as the disturbed WFS water and the MR water samples. The WFS water quality seemed to have a very large standard deviation which could serve as an indication that the elemental concentrations are highly variable over time. The elemental concentrations that were found in soil samples from the respective sites were compared to elemental concentrations found in normal agricultural soil as presented by Bergman (1992), which revealed the following results. The cobalt concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The nickel concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site, wetland WFS and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The zinc concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. Copper, selenium, cadmium and lead concentrations did not exceed the agricultural threshold values in any of the respective sites. The agricultural threshold value for uranium concentrations was exceeded in the soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The comparison between the elemental concentrations that were found in the soil samples from the irrigated soil WFS site and the irrigated soil MR site revealed a practically significant difference for the copper, zinc and uranium concentrations. The comparison between the elemental concentrations found in soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the soil along the MR site revealed a practically significant difference for all elements of interest. The analysis of the elemental concentration in the different particle size fractions of soil samples from all the sites (excluding the irrigated pastures) displayed highest elemental concentrations in the clay sized fraction. The elemental concentrations that were found in this fraction are generally considered to be available for plant uptake, as most of them are usually bound to the surface of secondary soil minerals. The sites with the highest concentration of plant available elements were found to be the soil along WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The elemental concentrations found in the grass samples from the respective sampling sites were compared to elemental concentrations that are normally found in grass pastures (Underwood & Suttle, 2001). The cobalt, nickel, copper and concentrations that were found in the grass samples from most of the sites in both the control and experimental groups were all found to exceed the concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The cadmium and zinc concentrations in the grass samples from the soil along WFS site were found to exceed the respective concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The normal uranium concentration found in irrigated or natural grasses could not be found in an extensive search. Dreesen et al. (1982) reported 0.16 mg/kg uranium in grasses and 1.8 mg/kg uranium in shrubs that grew on soil-covered tailings material. All the sites in the experimental group, including the control WFS site, drastically exceeded these concentrations, which may suggest that the grasses in the experimental sites have been exposed to elevated uranium concentrations. The grass samples with the highest average elemental concentrations were found in the soil along WFS site and irrigated soil WFS site. Lead was to be the only element of interest to have the highest concentration in grass samples from the irrigated soil WFS site. The irrigated soil WFS site portrayed significant transfer factors for nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium. This could serve as an indication that the grasses under irrigation in the WFS site absorb and accumulate the highest concentration of elements in respect to the soil concentrations found in the various sites. Therefore, the irrigation from the WFS has a profound effect on the nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium concentration in the grass samples under irrigation. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the irrigation WFS and irrigation MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations except for that of zinc had a difference that was practically significant, with the uranium concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the soil along WFS and soil along MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations had a difference that was practically significant uranium, nickel and zinc concentrations having the largest effect sizes. Considering that a large effect size is achieved at a value equal to or greater than 0.8, the uranium concentration therefore had a massive difference in both comparisons. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the wetland WFS and control WFS sites revealed that only the cobalt, nickel and uranium concentrations had differences that were practically significant, with the cobalt concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in the grass samples from the soil along WFS and control WFS sites revealed that all the elemental concentrations except for the lead concentration had a difference that was practically significant. The cobalt, nickel and zinc had the largest effect sizes. The elemental concentrations that were found in cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were compared to elemental concentrations normally found in cattle samples as found in Pulse (1994), ATSDR (2004), and ATSDR (2011). This comparison revealed the following results: The nickel, cadmium and lead concentration that were found in the cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were found to be within the ranges normally found in cattle. Cobalt concentrations found in the liver and muscle tissue samples of cattle from both the experimental and control groups exceeded the normal ranges, and the cobalt concentrations found in the kidney samples from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The copper concentration found in the kidney samples from the cattle in the experimental group exceeded that of the normal concentration range. The zinc concentration found in the liver and kidney samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The selenium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The uranium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The comparison between cattle tissue samples from the experimental and control group revealed that nickel, zinc, selenium, lead and uranium concentrations all reveal a practically significant difference. Uranium, nickel and lead portrayed the largest differences between the two groups. The uranium concentration in the cattle samples from the experimental group was 126.75 times higher in the liver, 4350 times higher in the kidney, 47.75 times higher in the spleen, 31.6 times higher in the muscle tissue, 60 times higher in the bone and 129 times higher in the hair than that of the cattle samples from the control group. In addition to this, the uranium did not only accumulate in the predicted tissue samples (bone, liver and kidney), but also in the muscle tissue samples. The nickel concentrations in the cattle samples were all found to be higher in the experimental group, with liver 1.4 times higher, kidney 387.5 times higher, spleen 2.1 times higher, muscle tissue 2.8 times higher, bone 167.5 times higher and hair 76.5 times higher than that of the cattle samples from the control group. The lead concentrations found in the cattle samples from the experimental group were found to be 3.8 times higher in the liver, 17.3 times higher in the kidney, 3.3 times higher in the spleen, 3.2 times higher in the muscle tissue, 9 times higher in the bone and 12.2 times higher in the hair than the cattle samples from the control group. Furthermore, the study revealed that the major route of ingestion for all the elements of interest, excluding nickel and cobalt was via the ingestion of grass. The major route for nickel and cobalt ingestion was via soil ingestion. The elemental concentrations from water ingestion were found to be a less significant. It was shown that a predictive cattle consumption model was developed and calibrated from data gathered from a control and experimental group. Animal matter analysed for both groups were related to the cattle age of six years. Although good correlation between observed and simulated values was achieved, the exiting model fit is non-unique. To obtain a more precise model fit a similar dataset is required for both groups, but at a different age. The predictive model also showed that if only grass were to be used as input, there were no significant changes in the correlation between observed and simulated values. This has a huge advantage in terms of costs associated with laboratory analyses as the analysis of grass will be sufficient for using the model. A human health risk assessment was performed based on the results of the cattle consumption model. It was shown that no toxic risk exits for both the control and experimental groups if an intake rate of 0.13 kg of meat per day was assumed. Furthermore, Figure 6-11 clearly indicates that an intake rate of up to 0.38 kg of meat per day also has no toxic risk for both groups, which strongly suggests that there is no risk to the human food chain. The cattle grazing in the WFS appear to be in a good physical condition and according to the farmer; the reproduction rate is at desirable levels. Good farming practices would have also played a significant role to achieve this. / Thesis (MSc (Environmental Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The Wonderfonteinspruit (WFS) flows through the richest gold mining region in the world and has subsequently been exposed to the related pollution for more than a century. In order to determine the extent of mining related pollution in the WFS, sediment, water, soil, grass and cattle tissue samples were collected, analysed and compared from an experimental group and a control group. This study identified cobalt, nickel, zinc, selenium, cadmium, gold, lead and uranium as elements of interest by comparing sediment samples from the WFS and the Mooi River (MR) (which served as a control or background site). The cobalt concentration was found to be 16.37 times higher, the nickel concentration was 30.4 times higher, the copper concentration was 3.59 times higher, the zinc concentration was 103.49 times higher, the selenium concentration was 7.14 times higher, the cadmium concentration was 17.88 times higher, the gold concentration was 4.78 times higher, the lead concentration was 1.32 times higher and the uranium concentration was 375.78 times higher in the initial comparison with sediments from the MR. These results were all found to be significant. All these elements are by products of non-ferrous mining activities as was described in the literature review. The elevated concentrations of these elements, which were found in the streambed sediment of a site in the Lower-Wonderfonteinspruit, suggest that they could have resulted due to upstream gold mining activities. These gold mining activities were initiated more than a century ago and continue to this day. Analysis of the different particle size fractions (sand, silt and clay fractions) revealed that the highest elemental concentrations were found in the clay sized fractions. The clay sized fraction usually contains secondary soil minerals which have the ability to adsorb dissolved cations onto their surface areas. Further analysis revealed that the sand fraction of the WFS sediment contained a substantial concentration of cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium which, upon initial inspection could not be explained. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that more than 90 % of the WFS sand, silt and clay fractions consisted of quartz, which was much higher than that of the MR. Due to the particle size of quartz, it generally dominates the sand and silt fractions, and finding it at levels above 90 % in the clay sized fraction is thought to be highly irregular. This could be explained by the extraction and processing of gold reefs from the goldfields in the catchment. The gold reefs consisted of quartz veins that were milled to a fine dust and pumped onto slime and sand dumps after the gold was extracted. The most abundant ore minerals found within these dumps were uraninite(UO2), brannerite (UO3Ti2O4), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), cobaltite (CoAsS), galena (PbS), pyrrhotite (FeS), gersdofite (NiAsS) and chromite (FeCr2O4), which contain some of the elements of interest. These dumps are either located in close proximity to the WFS or connected to the WFs via canals or pipelines. Erosion of these dumps would then introduce this finely milled quartz into the stream system. Therefore, the elements found in the sediment of the WFS were not only introduced to the system in the dissolved form, but also in the particulate form. The water samples that were collected from the experimental site (WFS) were found to exceed the cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium and cadmium concentrations ranges which are normally found in natural waters. In addition to this, the cadmium, lead and nickel concentration in the WFS water samples were found to occasionally exceed the target water quality ranges for livestock water as set by DWAF (1996). Water samples that were collected from the control group were found to exceed only the selenium concentration found in natural water sources as found by Crittenden et al., (2005). Cattle in the experimental group drink directly from the WFS and may stir up the sediment and thereby increasing the elemental concentrations within the water prior to ingestion. The target water quality ranges (TWQR) for livestock watering, as set by DWAF 1996, were exceeded by the average nickel and lead concentrations found in the disturbed WFS water samples. Although the elemental concentrations in the respective water samples were fairly low there was a definite practical significant difference between the WFS water and the MR water samples, as well as the disturbed WFS water and the MR water samples. The WFS water quality seemed to have a very large standard deviation which could serve as an indication that the elemental concentrations are highly variable over time. The elemental concentrations that were found in soil samples from the respective sites were compared to elemental concentrations found in normal agricultural soil as presented by Bergman (1992), which revealed the following results. The cobalt concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The nickel concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site, soil along MR site, wetland WFS and irrigation MR site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. The zinc concentrations in the soil samples from the soil along WFS site exceeded the agricultural threshold value. Copper, selenium, cadmium and lead concentrations did not exceed the agricultural threshold values in any of the respective sites. The agricultural threshold value for uranium concentrations was exceeded in the soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The comparison between the elemental concentrations that were found in the soil samples from the irrigated soil WFS site and the irrigated soil MR site revealed a practically significant difference for the copper, zinc and uranium concentrations. The comparison between the elemental concentrations found in soil samples from the soil along the WFS site and the soil along the MR site revealed a practically significant difference for all elements of interest. The analysis of the elemental concentration in the different particle size fractions of soil samples from all the sites (excluding the irrigated pastures) displayed highest elemental concentrations in the clay sized fraction. The elemental concentrations that were found in this fraction are generally considered to be available for plant uptake, as most of them are usually bound to the surface of secondary soil minerals. The sites with the highest concentration of plant available elements were found to be the soil along WFS site and the wetland WFS site. The elemental concentrations found in the grass samples from the respective sampling sites were compared to elemental concentrations that are normally found in grass pastures (Underwood & Suttle, 2001). The cobalt, nickel, copper and concentrations that were found in the grass samples from most of the sites in both the control and experimental groups were all found to exceed the concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The cadmium and zinc concentrations in the grass samples from the soil along WFS site were found to exceed the respective concentration ranges found in natural pastures. The normal uranium concentration found in irrigated or natural grasses could not be found in an extensive search. Dreesen et al. (1982) reported 0.16 mg/kg uranium in grasses and 1.8 mg/kg uranium in shrubs that grew on soil-covered tailings material. All the sites in the experimental group, including the control WFS site, drastically exceeded these concentrations, which may suggest that the grasses in the experimental sites have been exposed to elevated uranium concentrations. The grass samples with the highest average elemental concentrations were found in the soil along WFS site and irrigated soil WFS site. Lead was to be the only element of interest to have the highest concentration in grass samples from the irrigated soil WFS site. The irrigated soil WFS site portrayed significant transfer factors for nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium. This could serve as an indication that the grasses under irrigation in the WFS site absorb and accumulate the highest concentration of elements in respect to the soil concentrations found in the various sites. Therefore, the irrigation from the WFS has a profound effect on the nickel, copper, zinc, lead and uranium concentration in the grass samples under irrigation. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the irrigation WFS and irrigation MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations except for that of zinc had a difference that was practically significant, with the uranium concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the soil along WFS and soil along MR sites revealed that all elemental concentrations had a difference that was practically significant uranium, nickel and zinc concentrations having the largest effect sizes. Considering that a large effect size is achieved at a value equal to or greater than 0.8, the uranium concentration therefore had a massive difference in both comparisons. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in grass samples from the wetland WFS and control WFS sites revealed that only the cobalt, nickel and uranium concentrations had differences that were practically significant, with the cobalt concentration having the largest effect size. The results obtained from the comparative analysis of the elemental concentration in the grass samples from the soil along WFS and control WFS sites revealed that all the elemental concentrations except for the lead concentration had a difference that was practically significant. The cobalt, nickel and zinc had the largest effect sizes. The elemental concentrations that were found in cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were compared to elemental concentrations normally found in cattle samples as found in Pulse (1994), ATSDR (2004), and ATSDR (2011). This comparison revealed the following results: The nickel, cadmium and lead concentration that were found in the cattle liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples from both the experimental and control groups were found to be within the ranges normally found in cattle. Cobalt concentrations found in the liver and muscle tissue samples of cattle from both the experimental and control groups exceeded the normal ranges, and the cobalt concentrations found in the kidney samples from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The copper concentration found in the kidney samples from the cattle in the experimental group exceeded that of the normal concentration range. The zinc concentration found in the liver and kidney samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The selenium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group, and the kidney samples from the cattle in the control group exceeded the normal range. The uranium concentration found in the liver, kidney and muscle tissue samples in the cattle from the experimental group exceeded the normal range. The comparison between cattle tissue samples from the experimental and control group revealed that nickel, zinc, selenium, lead and uranium concentrations all reveal a practically significant difference. Uranium, nickel and lead portrayed the largest differences between the two groups. The uranium concentration in the cattle samples from the experimental group was 126.75 times higher in the liver, 4350 times higher in the kidney, 47.75 times higher in the spleen, 31.6 times higher in the muscle tissue, 60 times higher in the bone and 129 times higher in the hair than that of the cattle samples from the control group. In addition to this, the uranium did not only accumulate in the predicted tissue samples (bone, liver and kidney), but also in the muscle tissue samples. The nickel concentrations in the cattle samples were all found to be higher in the experimental group, with liver 1.4 times higher, kidney 387.5 times higher, spleen 2.1 times higher, muscle tissue 2.8 times higher, bone 167.5 times higher and hair 76.5 times higher than that of the cattle samples from the control group. The lead concentrations found in the cattle samples from the experimental group were found to be 3.8 times higher in the liver, 17.3 times higher in the kidney, 3.3 times higher in the spleen, 3.2 times higher in the muscle tissue, 9 times higher in the bone and 12.2 times higher in the hair than the cattle samples from the control group. Furthermore, the study revealed that the major route of ingestion for all the elements of interest, excluding nickel and cobalt was via the ingestion of grass. The major route for nickel and cobalt ingestion was via soil ingestion. The elemental concentrations from water ingestion were found to be a less significant. It was shown that a predictive cattle consumption model was developed and calibrated from data gathered from a control and experimental group. Animal matter analysed for both groups were related to the cattle age of six years. Although good correlation between observed and simulated values was achieved, the exiting model fit is non-unique. To obtain a more precise model fit a similar dataset is required for both groups, but at a different age. The predictive model also showed that if only grass were to be used as input, there were no significant changes in the correlation between observed and simulated values. This has a huge advantage in terms of costs associated with laboratory analyses as the analysis of grass will be sufficient for using the model. A human health risk assessment was performed based on the results of the cattle consumption model. It was shown that no toxic risk exits for both the control and experimental groups if an intake rate of 0.13 kg of meat per day was assumed. Furthermore, Figure 6-11 clearly indicates that an intake rate of up to 0.38 kg of meat per day also has no toxic risk for both groups, which strongly suggests that there is no risk to the human food chain. The cattle grazing in the WFS appear to be in a good physical condition and according to the farmer; the reproduction rate is at desirable levels. Good farming practices would have also played a significant role to achieve this. / Thesis (MSc (Environmental Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Fabio Furlan Ferreira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2016. / Diabetes mellitus é um problema de saúde pública com elevado ônus social e econômico. O diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) é o subtipo mais comum e está presente em 90% a 95% dos casos. Atualmente, pessoas portadoras de DM2 têm apresentado um risco elevado no desenvolvimento de alguns tipos de cânceres, o que gera uma maior preocupação sobre a saúde a nível mundial. Diante do aumento da incidência de portadores da doença a cada ano e do impacto mundial que o diabetes vem atingindo, o propósito principal desta tese consistiu em realizar a caracterização físico-química dos candidatos a fármacos - LASSBio-1773 e LASSBio-1774, ambos os compostos apresentam atividade hipoglicemiante e são efetivos na neuropatia diabética periférica. Além da atividade hipoglicemiante, o LASSBio-1774 apresenta também atividade anti-inflamatória, o que faz do composto extremamente promissor para o tratamento do DM2. A caracterização físico-química dos compostos foi realizada pela difração de raios X por policristais (DRXP), termogravimetria (TG), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), espectroscopia no infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), dissolução intrínseca (DI) e estudos da predição da morfologia dos cristais pelo método GM (growth morphology method). Pelas análises dos padrões de difração foi verificado que os candidatos a fármacos são de moléculas cristalinas e de baixa simetria. No processo de indexação com os dados de DRXP foi observado que os compostos cristalizaram em sistemas ortorrômbicos, porém em diferentes grupos espaciais. O LASSBio-1773 cristalizou no grupo espacial P212121 e o LASSBio-1774 no grupo espacial Pbca. Pela análise dos dados de TG/DTG foi determinada a estabilidade térmica dos compostos. Por meio dos dados de DSC foram determinados a fusão e a pureza dos compostos. Com os dados de DSC, TG e FTIR pôde-se caracterizar o LASSBio-1773 como uma molécula anidra e o LASSBio-1774 como uma molécula monohidratada. Nas fotomicrografias de MEV e nos estudos da predição da morfologia dos cristais foram evidenciados diferentes formas de cristais para os compostos. Pelos ensaios de DI pôde-se classificar o LASSBio-1773 e o LASSBio-1774 monohidratado como compostos de baixa solubilidade. / Diabetes mellitus is a public health problem with high social and economic burden. The type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type and is present in 90% to 95% of cases. Currently, people with type 2 diabetes mellitus have shown a high risk of developing some types of cancer, which generate a great concern about health on a global level. Given the increasing incidence of individuals with the disease each year and due to the worldwide impact that diabetes has reached, the main purpose of this thesis was to conduct the physicochemical characterization of two parent compounds - LASSBio-1773 and LASSBio-1774, both compounds exhibit hypoglycemic activity and display an anti-neuropathy effect. In addition to the hypoglycemic activity, the LASSBio-1774 also exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, making this compound extremely promising for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The physicochemical characterization of the compounds was performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), intrinsic dissolution (ID) and studies of morphology prediction by growth morphology method (GM method). The analysis of the diffraction patterns evidenced that the pharmaceutical candidates are crystalline molecules of low symmetry. Both compounds crystallized in orthorhombic space groups ¿ LASSBio-1773 crystallized in the P212121 and LASSBio-1774 in the Pbca space groups. By means of the TG/DTG data we determined the thermal stability of the compounds. By DSC we observed the fusion and purity of the compounds. With the results from DSC, TG and FTIR it was possible to characterize the LASSBio-1773 as an anhydrous molecule and LASSBio-1774 as a monohydrate one. By inspection of the SEM photomicrographs and the studies of crystal morphology prediction we observed different crystal forms for the compounds. By intrinsic dissolution tests we could classify both LASSBio-1773 and 1774-LASSBio monohydrate as low solubility compounds.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Fabio Furlan Ferreira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2017. / A utilização do gesso na construção civil vem crescendo por diversos fatores: baixo custo do material, disponibilidade e soluções construtivas mais rápidas. Por apresentar rápido endurecimento, o desperdício de gesso é um problema sério, uma vez que resíduos de construção e demolição com altos teores de gesso não podem ser aproveitados como agregados reciclados para concretos e sua disposição em aterros pode gerar contaminação do solo e da água, além da formação de gases tóxicos e inflamáveis. Por outro lado, a reciclagem do gesso mostra-se bastante atraente, uma vez que basta calcinar o material em temperaturas amenas (140 °C a 160 °C) para que ele volte à sua composição inicial e possa ser reutilizado. Entretanto, as características do material resultante deste tipo de reciclagem devem ser muito bem avaliadas para que este processo se torne corriqueiro. Dessa forma, este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o impacto da reciclagem na microestrutura e nas propriedades físicas do gesso, comparando com o material comercial. Para tanto, a principal técnica de avaliação da microestrutura utilizada neste trabalho é a difração de raios X por policristais, que, aliada ao método de refinamento de Rietveld, permite quantificar as fases presentes no material, avaliando possíveis alterações causadas pela reciclagem. Ensaios de análise termogravimétrica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, distribuição granulométrica a laser, área superficial específica por BET, densidade de massa aparente e massa específica também foram aplicados às amostras de gessos comerciais do setor da construção de São Paulo, que passaram por um processo de reciclagem composto pelas etapas de hidratação, moagem e calcinação em laboratório, bem como para a amostra de resíduo de gesso coletado em obra, também moído e calcinado em laboratório. Medidas de DRXP in-situ, para monitoramento da hidratação do gesso, serviram de base para o refinamento paramétrico em função do tempo, que permitiu avaliar a reatividade dos gessos reciclados em comparação com as amostras comerciais. Os ensaios mostraram que o teor de água utilizado na produção do resíduo não tem impacto significativo sobre a reciclagem e que algumas marcas de gesso disponíveis no mercado da construção apresentam altos teores de impurezas. O processo de reciclagem adotado não causou alterações na composição química, mas produziu um material com maior área superficial específica e menor compacidade que o material comercial de origem, o que o tornou mais reativo, comprometendo sua aplicação por alterar a consistência e reduzir o tempo útil para utilização. Sendo assim, o sucesso da reciclagem está diretamente associado ao controle da moagem, que deve ser monitorado de maneira a garantir que o material reciclado apresente área superficial específica semelhante à do material comercial. / The use of gypsum in civil construction has been increasing due to several factors: low material cost, availability and quicker constructive solutions. Because plaster wasting rapidly, plaster waste is a serious problem, since construction and demolition wastes with high gypsum contents cannot be used as recycled aggregates for concrete and their disposal in landfills can lead to soil and water contamination, besides the formation of toxic and flammable gases. On the other hand, plaster recycling proves to be quite attractive, since it is enough to calcine the material in mild temperatures (140 °C to 160 °C) so that it returns to its initial composition and thus can be reused. However, the characteristics of the material resulting from this type of recycling should be very well evaluated for this process to become commonplace. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the impact of recycling on the microstructure and physical properties of the gypsum, comparing to the commercial material. The main technique of evaluation of the microstructure used in this work is the X-ray powder diffraction, which, together with the Rietveld refinement method, allows quantifying the phases present in the material, evaluating possible changes caused by recycling. Thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, laser particle size distribution, specific surface area by BET, apparent mass density and specific mass were also applied to samples of commercial plasters obtained from São Paulo construction sector. The recycling process encompasses the steps of hydration, grinding and calcination in laboratory, as well as for the sample of gypsum residue collected on site, which was also grinded and calcined in laboratory. In-situ XRD measurements for the plaster hydration monitoring contributed for the time-based parametric refinements, which allowed the evaluation of recycled plasters reactivity compared to commercial samples. The tests showed that the water content used in the waste production does not have a significant impact on the recycling and that some brands of gypsum available in the construction market have high levels of impurities. The recycling process adopted did not cause changes in the chemical composition, but produced a material with a greater specific surface area and less compactness than the original commercial material, which made it more reactive, compromising its application by altering its consistency and reducing the useful time. Therefore, the success of the recycling is directly associated to the grinding control, which must be monitored in order to ensure that the recycled material presents a specific surface area similar to that of the commercial material.

Submitted by Diego Luiz Tita (diego.tita@gmail.com) on 2018-05-11T17:51:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DR_TITA_DL_FINAL_A.pdf: 8672085 bytes, checksum: af81639f689b5a5fc78999ae952240a8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Carolina Gonçalves Bet null (abet@iq.unesp.br) on 2018-05-15T12:53:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 tita_dl_dr_araiq_int.pdf: 8328482 bytes, checksum: be0fe77b0059e1880c4d517105e2c2f6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-15T12:53:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tita_dl_dr_araiq_int.pdf: 8328482 bytes, checksum: be0fe77b0059e1880c4d517105e2c2f6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-20 / O refinamento de estruturas cristalinas pelo método de Rietveld (MR) consiste em ajustar um modelo estrutural a uma medida de difração. Essa é uma ferramenta eficiente para identificação e quantificação de estruturas polimórficas presentes em fármacos e excipientes. Uma forma avançada do método é o refinamento sequencial por Rietveld (RSR) que visa, a partir de um conjunto de difratogramas de uma mesma amostra, estudar o comportamento do material em função de uma variável externa (e.g. temperatura, pressão, tempo ou ambiente químico). No presente trabalho, com o objetivo de estudar as transições polimórficas e as expansões/contrações dos parâmetros de cela unitária (PCU) dos insumos farmacêuticos: espironolactona (SPR), lactose monoidratada (LACMH) e lactose anidra (LACA), empregou-se o RSR em medidas obtidas em diferentes temperaturas. O RSR foi eficiente para que os PCU fossem refinados até temperaturas próximas ao ponto de fusão dos materiais. Após o RSR, a partir da análise matemática dos PCU obtidos, foram propostas funções que regem a tendência desses parâmetros quando submetidos à variação de temperatura. Com essas funções modelaram-se os PCU em uma outra modalidade de refinamento, o refinamento paramétrico por Rietveld (RPR), assim, os PCU seguem a modelagem imposta pelas equações obtidas via RSR. O RPR mostrou-se mais eficiente nas análises, o que evitou perda de fases ou problemas de ajustes, resultando assim em informações mais precisas do sistema. Embora o RSR e RPR serem métodos sofisticados para a caracterização dos materiais, a preparação das rotinas de programação dos refinamentos não é trivial, assim, nesse trabalho desenvolveu-se uma planilha (i.e. planilha SP-DLT) que facilita o emprego dos métodos. A planilha mostrou-se eficiente e rápida para programar todas as rotinas de refinamentos apresentadas nesse trabalho. Com os estudos dos insumos farmacêuticos observou-se que na amostra SPR a forma I, com o aumento da temperatura, se converte para forma II. A alfalactose monoidratada sofre desidratação e se converte para alfalactose, na amostra LACMH, e para betalactose, na amostra LACA. E, ainda com aumento de temperatura, a betalactose não sofre mudança de fase polimórfica. Assim, entende-se que o meio pode causar influência na rota de transição polimórfica. / The crystal structural refinement by the Rietveld method (MR) consists of fitting a structural model to a diffraction measure. This is an efficient tool for identification and quantification of polymorphic structures present in drugs and excipients. An advanced way to use this method is the Sequential Rietveld Refinement (RSR), which aims, from a set of data of the same sample, to study the behavior of the material as a function of an external variable (e.g. temperature, pressure, time or chemical environment). In the present work, with the objective of studying the polymorphic transitions and the expansions / contractions of the unit cell parameters (PCU) of the pharmaceutical ingredients: spironolactone (SPR), lactose monohydrate (LACMH) and anhydrous lactose (LACA), the RSR in measurements obtained at different temperatures. The RSR was efficient so that the PCU were refined to temperatures close to the melting point of the materials. After the RSR, from the mathematical analysis of the obtained PCU, functions were proposed that govern the trend of these parameters when submitted to the temperature variation. With these functions the PCU were modeled in another modality of refinement, the Parametric Rietveld Refinement (RPR), thus, the PCU follow the modeling imposed by the equations obtained via RSR. The RPR was more efficient in the analyzes, which avoided loss of phases or problems of adjustments, resulting in more accurate information of the system. Although RSR and RPR are sophisticated methods for characterization of materials, preparation of refinement programming routines is not trivial, so a spreadsheet (i.e. SP-DLT spreadsheet) has been developed in this paper to facilitate the use of methods. The worksheet proved to be efficient and quick to program all the refinement routines presented in this paper. With the studies of the pharmaceutical inputs it was observed that in the SPR sample, the form I, with the increase in temperature, converts to form II. Alfalactose monohydrate undergoes dehydration and converts to alfalactose in the LACMH sample and to betalactose in the LACA sample. And, even with temperature increase, the betalactose does not undergo polymorphic phase change. Thus, it is understood that the medium may cause influence on the polymorphic transition route.

La présente thèse traite de la synthèse à température ambiante et pression atmosphérique de différents composés de coordination hybrides organique-inorganiques. La partie inorganique de ces composés est constituée d’éléments de transition de la première période 3dn divalents: cobalt, nickel et cuivre. Les ligands utilisés constituent la partie organique de ces composés. Les ligands employés sont l’acide-1H-imidazol-4-carboxilique (H2IMC) et l’acide-1H-imidazol-4,5-dicarboxílique (H3IMDC). La composante inorganique Mx+ est introduite dans le composé terminal en utilisant le précurseur métallique moléculaire M(hfac)2 (M = Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+; hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5- hexafluoro-2,4-pentanodione), précurseur utilisé afin d'obtenir un centre métallique acide facile à coordonner aux ligands imidazol carboxíliques dans des positions axiales. L’ensemble des composés a été caractérisé par l’étude des propriétés magnétiques, études thermogravimétriques et caractérisation structurale (résolution et affinement) sur échantillons pulvérulents. Dans la totalité des structures obtenues, le ligand imidazol carboxylique se lie à l’espèce métallique en positions équatoriales via l’élément azote du cycle et un élément oxygène du groupement carboxylique. Les mesures magnétiques montrent des déviations à la loi de Curie à basse température qui indiquent des phénomènes de coopération magnétique entre les centres métalliques. Ces centres métalliques ont été traités et modélisés en considérant, pour les composés contenant les éléments cuivre et nickel, un modèle de chaîne régulière qui a permis d’estimer la constante d’interéchange J. Pour les composés contenant l’élément cobalt, seule l’importante contribution orbitale (L≠ 0) à la propriété magnétique (état fontamental 4T1g en symétrie octaédrique) sans interaction inter espèces magnétiques a été prise en considération pour traiter les données. / This thesis work presents the synthesis at ambient temperature and pressure of different hybrids organic - inorganic coordination compounds. The inorganic portion is composed by transition elements from the first period 3dn divalent cobalt, nickel and copper. The selected ligands are the organic portion of these compounds, and there are the 1H-imidazol-4-carboxylic acid (H2IMC) and 1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (H3IMDC)2. The inorganic component Mx+ is introduced into the terminal compound by using the molecular metallic precursor M(hfac)2 (M=Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+; hfac=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanodione) used to obtain an acidic metal center that coordinates easily to imidazol carboxylic ligands in axial positions. All compounds were characterized by studying their magnetic properties, thermogravimetric analysis and structural characterization (resolution and refinement) on powdered samples. In all these compounds, the imidazole carboxylic ligand is linked to the central metal ion in equatorial position, by the nitrogen atom from the imidazole ring, and an oxygen atom from the carboxylic group. The magnetic measurements have revealed deviations at low temperatures to the Curie law, suggesting magnetic cooperation phenomena between the metallic centers. For the copper and nickel based compounds, the magnetic data was analyzed considering a regular chain model that has led to obtain the value of the exchange coupling constant J. For the cobalt based compounds the treatment has been different. Only the important orbital contribution (L≠ 0) to the magnetic propierties (fundamental state 4T1g for octahedral symmetry) without interaction between the metallic centers was taken into account for the data treatment. / La presente tesis trata de la síntesis a temperatura ambiente y presión atmosférica de diferentes compuestos de coordinación híbridos órgano-inorgánicos. La parte inorgánica de estos compuestos está constituida por los elementos de transición divalentes del primer período 3dn: cobalto, níquel y cobre. Los ligandos utilizados constituyen la parte orgánica de estos compuestos. Los ligandos empleados son el ácido-1H-imidazol-4-carboxílico (H2IMC) y el ácido-1H-imidazol-4,5-dicarboxílico (H3IMDC). La componente inorgánica Mx+ ha sido introducida en los compuestos terminales utilizando el precursor metálico molecular M(hfac)2 (M = Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+; hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanodiona), precursor utilizado con el fin de obtener un centro metálico ácido fácil de ser coordinado por los ligandos imidazol carboxílicos en las posiciones axiales. El conjunto de los compuestos obtenidos ha sido caracterizado mediante el estudio de sus propiedades magnéticas, análisis termogravimétrico y caracterización estructural (resolución y afinamiento) sobre muestras pulverizadas. En la totalidad de la estructuras obtenidas, el ligando imidazol carboxílico se une al metal en posiciones ecuatoriales a través del átomo de nitrógeno del anillo imidazol y un átomo de oxígeno del grupo carboxílico. Las medidas magnéticas muestran desviaciones de la ley de Curie a baja temperatura que indican fenómenos de cooperación magnética entre los centros metálicos. Estos centros metálicos han sido tratados y modelados considerando para los compuestos de cobre y níquel, un modelo de cadena regular que ha permitido estimar el valor de la constante de intercambio J. Para los compuestos de cobalto, se ha considerado la importante contribución orbital (L≠ 0) a la propiedad magnética (estado fundamental 4T1g en simetría octaédrica) sin interacción entre las especies magnéticas para el tratamiento de los datos.

Orientador: Carlos de Oliveira Paiva Santos / Coorientadora: Selma Gutierrez Antonio / Banca: Marlus Chorilli / Banca: Vinícius Danilo Nonato Bezzon / Banca: Flavio Machado de Souza Carvalho / Banca: Alexandre Urbano / Resumo: O refinamento de estruturas cristalinas pelo método de Rietveld (MR) consiste em ajustar um modelo estrutural a uma medida de difração. Essa é uma ferramenta eficiente para identificação e quantificação de estruturas polimórficas presentes em fármacos e excipientes. Uma forma avançada do método é o refinamento sequencial por Rietveld (RSR) que visa, a partir de um conjunto de difratogramas de uma mesma amostra, estudar o comportamento do material em função de uma variável externa (e.g. temperatura, pressão, tempo ou ambiente químico). No presente trabalho, com o objetivo de estudar as transições polimórficas e as expansões/contrações dos parâmetros de cela unitária (PCU) dos insumos farmacêuticos: espironolactona (SPR), lactose monoidratada (LACMH) e lactose anidra (LACA), empregou-se o RSR em medidas obtidas em diferentes temperaturas. O RSR foi eficiente para que os PCU fossem refinados até temperaturas próximas ao ponto de fusão dos materiais. Após o RSR, a partir da análise matemática dos PCU obtidos, foram propostas funções que regem a tendência desses parâmetros quando submetidos à variação de temperatura. Com essas funções modelaram-se os PCU em uma outra modalidade de refinamento, o refinamento paramétrico por Rietveld (RPR), assim, os PCU seguem a modelagem imposta pelas equações obtidas via RSR. O RPR mostrou-se mais eficiente nas análises, o que evitou perda de fases ou problemas de ajustes, resultando assim em informações mais precisas do sistema. Embora o RSR e R... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The crystal structural refinement by the Rietveld method (MR) consists of fitting a structural model to a diffraction measure. This is an efficient tool for identification and quantification of polymorphic structures present in drugs and excipients. An advanced way to use this method is the Sequential Rietveld Refinement (RSR), which aims, from a set of data of the same sample, to study the behavior of the material as a function of an external variable (e.g. temperature, pressure, time or chemical environment). In the present work, with the objective of studying the polymorphic transitions and the expansions / contractions of the unit cell parameters (PCU) of the pharmaceutical ingredients: spironolactone (SPR), lactose monohydrate (LACMH) and anhydrous lactose (LACA), the RSR in measurements obtained at different temperatures. The RSR was efficient so that the PCU were refined to temperatures close to the melting point of the materials. After the RSR, from the mathematical analysis of the obtained PCU, functions were proposed that govern the trend of these parameters when submitted to the temperature variation. With these functions the PCU were modeled in another modality of refinement, the Parametric Rietveld Refinement (RPR), thus, the PCU follow the modeling imposed by the equations obtained via RSR. The RPR was more efficient in the analyzes, which avoided loss of phases or problems of adjustments, resulting in more accurate information of the system. Although RSR and RP... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This diploma thesis is focused on the study of the influence of the of size cosmetics pigments on the properties of the final product. This effect was studied on samples of make-up given by industry partner. Make-up samples were measured by the rheology method and the yield stress of all samples was determined. Scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the size and shape of the pigment particles. Particle size was also measured by dynamic light scattering, but the results were influenced by forming aggregates. To easier determination of the types of pigments in the sample was determined elemental composition of the pigments (Ti, Fe, O, Al) by EDS detector. Due to the unknown composition of make-up, the information was supplemented by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, and it was possible to determine the compounds TiO2 (anatase and rutile), FeOOH and Fe2O3. The results obtained by these methods showed what pigments can be found in make-up samples, what their sizes and shapes are. It has been shown that the smaller the pigments are, the higher the viscosity and yield stress of the final product. The higher these quantities, the harder it is to handle the product.