Reactions leading to cyclization on methylene bridges in PCPCP structure motif were investigated. It was found, that these reactions result in number of various isomers. Some of these isomers were characterized by NMR and MS spectroscopy, but none was isolated. Further, acid-base properties of bis(methylenephosphonato)phosphineic acid were investigated. Formation of complexes was studied with lithium(I), calcium(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) cations. Furthermore, interaction between bis(methylenephosphonato)phosphinic acid and ethylenediamine was investigated by NMR and potentiometric titration. The results show formation of H-bond-based adducts.

Estudaram-se as propriedades ácido base e de complexação com íons Cu(II) dos ácidos húmico (AH) e fúlvico (AF) extraídos de vermicomposto. O isolamento e a purificação foram realizados de acordo com o método descrito pela Sociedade Internacional de Substâncias Húmicas (IHSS). Estudaram-se as propriedades ácido-base por titulação potenciométrica em meio de KNO3 0,10 mol L-1 utilizando-se funções de Gran modificadas. Caracterizaram-se cinco classes de grupos ionizáveis, constatando-se predominância de grupos carboxílicos sobre grupos fenólicos e amínicos, especialmente para o AF, cuja acidez total foi maior do que a do AH. Estudaram-se as propriedades complexantes com íons Cu(II) nos pH 4, 5 e 6 por titulação potenciométrica com um eletrodo íon-seletivo para Cu(II), adotando-se os métodos de Scatchard e de regressão não linear com a equação de Langmuir para tratamento de dados. Em pH 5 e 6 caracterizaram-se duas classes de sítios de complexação, enquanto em pH 4, apenas uma classe foi caracterizada. De maneira geral, a estabilidade e a capacidade de complexação aumentaram com o pH, indicando a competição de prótons pelos sítios de complexação. Os resultados indicam maior estabilidade e capacidade para a complexação com AH em relação ao AF. Esta tendência foi verificada por funções diferenciais de equilíbrio diferenciais aplicadas em baixos graus de ocupação de sítios. / Acid base and complexation with Cu(II) ions were studied for humic (AH) and fulvic (AF) acids extracted from vermicompost. The isolation and purification was performed according the procedure described by the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS). The acid base properties were studied by potentiometric titration in 0,10 mol L-1 KNO3 using modified Gran functions. Five classes of ionizable sites were characterized, showing a predominance of carboxylic over phenolic and aminic groups, especially for AF, which has total acidity larger than the one determined for AH. Complexing properties with Cu(II) ions were studied by potentiometric titration at pH 4, 5 and 6 using Cu(II) ion-selective electrode. Data treatment was performed using the Scatchard method, as well as non-linear regression with the Langmuir equation. At pH 5 and 6, two classes of binding sites were characterized, but at pH 4 only a single complexing site was characterized. Stability and capacity increased with pH, suggesting competition of protons by the binding sites. The results indicate larger stability and capacity for complexation with AH in comparison with AF. This trend was also verified by differential equilibrium functions at low degree of site occupation.

Estudaram-se as propriedades ácido base e de complexação com íons Cu(II) dos ácidos húmico (AH) e fúlvico (AF) extraídos de vermicomposto. O isolamento e a purificação foram realizados de acordo com o método descrito pela Sociedade Internacional de Substâncias Húmicas (IHSS). Estudaram-se as propriedades ácido-base por titulação potenciométrica em meio de KNO3 0,10 mol L-1 utilizando-se funções de Gran modificadas. Caracterizaram-se cinco classes de grupos ionizáveis, constatando-se predominância de grupos carboxílicos sobre grupos fenólicos e amínicos, especialmente para o AF, cuja acidez total foi maior do que a do AH. Estudaram-se as propriedades complexantes com íons Cu(II) nos pH 4, 5 e 6 por titulação potenciométrica com um eletrodo íon-seletivo para Cu(II), adotando-se os métodos de Scatchard e de regressão não linear com a equação de Langmuir para tratamento de dados. Em pH 5 e 6 caracterizaram-se duas classes de sítios de complexação, enquanto em pH 4, apenas uma classe foi caracterizada. De maneira geral, a estabilidade e a capacidade de complexação aumentaram com o pH, indicando a competição de prótons pelos sítios de complexação. Os resultados indicam maior estabilidade e capacidade para a complexação com AH em relação ao AF. Esta tendência foi verificada por funções diferenciais de equilíbrio diferenciais aplicadas em baixos graus de ocupação de sítios. / Acid base and complexation with Cu(II) ions were studied for humic (AH) and fulvic (AF) acids extracted from vermicompost. The isolation and purification was performed according the procedure described by the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS). The acid base properties were studied by potentiometric titration in 0,10 mol L-1 KNO3 using modified Gran functions. Five classes of ionizable sites were characterized, showing a predominance of carboxylic over phenolic and aminic groups, especially for AF, which has total acidity larger than the one determined for AH. Complexing properties with Cu(II) ions were studied by potentiometric titration at pH 4, 5 and 6 using Cu(II) ion-selective electrode. Data treatment was performed using the Scatchard method, as well as non-linear regression with the Langmuir equation. At pH 5 and 6, two classes of binding sites were characterized, but at pH 4 only a single complexing site was characterized. Stability and capacity increased with pH, suggesting competition of protons by the binding sites. The results indicate larger stability and capacity for complexation with AH in comparison with AF. This trend was also verified by differential equilibrium functions at low degree of site occupation.

Acid/base and metal ion adsorption properties have been investigated for a range of chemically modified bleached Kraft fibre materials (pulps). The studies were performed via potentiometric titrations, Flame Atomic Absorbtion (and Emission) Spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy and Extended X-ray Absorbtion Fine Structure measurements. As a result of a chemical modification procedure, the total concentration of acidic carboxylate groups in the fibre materials ranged between 43 and 590 μmol/g. The preferable surface potential model for modelling the ionic strength dependent acid/base properties of fibre materials with low charge densities, i.e. unmodified fully bleached Kraft fibre materials, was found to be the Basic Stern Model. For fibre materials with high total charge, ≳100 μmol/g, this model resulted in poor fits to data, and for such materials a number of Constant Capacitance Models, one at each ionic strength, must be recommended. With respect to metal ion adsorption, the results have indicated that the unspecific Donnan theory could correctly model the simultaneous adsorption of several metal ions, i.e. K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Cu2+, provided that the salt concentration in the fibre suspension is low. In suspensions of high salt concentration it was, however, found that this very same model strongly underestimated the adsorption of Ca2+ and Cu2+. Here, the Donnan model had to be complemented by specific ion exchange equilibria. These results were corroborated by spectroscopic evidence of specific interactions between Cu2+-ions and fibres. The spectroscopic indication of a complex formed between two fibre surface carboxylate groups and one Cu2+-ion, agree with the specific ion exchange model. It was therefore concluded that specific metal ionfibre interactions cannot be neglected, especially at high salt concentrations. The interactions occurring between the polycation GaO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)127+ and fibre materials were studied by both adsorption and spectroscopic measurements. These indicate that GaO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)127+ is surprisingly stable in fibre suspensions and that intact GaO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)127+- ions are strongly adsorbed onto the fibres. Also for this ion, specific interactions has to be considered, since the strong adsorption registered was too strong to be explained by Donnan equilibria. In the thesis, the stochiometric composition and an equilibrium constant characterising these interactions is presented.

Glycerol and fructose are molecules that are readily available in substantial quantities fromthe biomass. In this work dehydration routes for valorization of these compounds wereinvestigated. Therefore, zirconia and titania based catalysts, and calcium phosphate materialswere prepared and evaluated in the glycerol dehydration in gas phase. Niobia-ceria mixedoxides and mesoporous Nb2O5-MeO2 (M = Ce, Zr, Ti) mixed oxides were prepared andtested in fructose dehydration reaction in aqueous phase. The surface acid-base properties ofthe studied catalysts were correlated to their catalytic performance.

Le glycérol et le fructose sont des molécules qui peuvent être extraites facilement de labiomasse et en des quantités substantielles. Ce travail de recherche porte sur la déshydratationcomme moyen de valoriser ces composés. C’est dans ce but que des catalyseurs supportés suroxydes de zirconium et de titane, ainsi que des matériaux de type phosphate de calcium, ontété préparés et testés pour la réaction de déshydratation du glycérol en phase gazeuse. Desoxydes mixtes de niobium et cerium ainsi que des oxydes mixtes mésoporeux de Nb2O5-MeO2 (M = Ce, Zr, Ti) ont été également préparés et cette fois-ci testés pour la réaction dedéshydratation du fructose en milieu aqueux. Dans les deux cas, les propriétés acido-basiquesde surface des catalyseurs étudiés ont été corrélées à leur efficacité catalytique. / Glycerol and fructose are molecules that are readily available in substantial quantities fromthe biomass. In this work dehydration routes for valorization of these compounds wereinvestigated. Therefore, zirconia and titania based catalysts, and calcium phosphate materialswere prepared and evaluated in the glycerol dehydration in gas phase. Niobia-ceria mixedoxides and mesoporous Nb2O5-MeO2 (M = Ce, Zr, Ti) mixed oxides were prepared andtested in fructose dehydration reaction in aqueous phase. The surface acid-base properties ofthe studied catalysts were correlated to their catalytic performance.

The chemistry of mineral surfaces is of great importance in many different areas including natural processes occurring in oceans, rivers, lakes and soils. Manganese (hydr)oxides are one important group to these natural processes, and the thermodynamically most stable trivalent manganese (hydr)oxide, manganit (γ-MnOOH), is studied in this thesis. This thesis summarises six papers in which the surface chemistry of synthetic manganite has been investigated with respect to surface acid-base properties, dissolution, and adsorption of Cd(II) and the herbicide N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate, PMG). In these papers, a wide range of analysis techniques were used, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), potentiometry, electrophoretic mobility measurements and wet chemical techniques, in order to obtain a more complete understanding of the different processes occurring at the manganite-water interface. From the combined use of these techniques, a 1-pKa acid-base model was established that is valid at pH>6. The model includes a Na+ interaction with the surface: =MnOH2+½ --> =MnOH-½ + H+ log β0 (intr.) = -8.20 = -pHiep =MnOH2+½ + Na+ --> =MnOHNa+½ + H+ log β0 (intr.) = -9.64 At pH<6 the manganite crystals dissolve and disproportionate into pyrolusite (β-MnO2) and Mn(II)-ions in solution according to: 2 γ-MnOOH + 2H+ --> β-MnO2 + Mn2+ + 2H2O log K0 = 7.61 ± 0.10 The adsorption and co-adsorption of Cd(II) and glyphosate at the manganite surface was studied at pH>6. Cd(II) adsorption displays an adsorption edge at pH~8.5. Glyphosate adsorbs over the entire pH range, but the adsorption decreases with increasing pH. When the two substances are co-adsorbed, the adsorption of Cd(II) is increased at low pH but decreased at high pH. The adsorption of glyphosate is increased in the entire pH range in the presence of Cd(II). From XPS, FTIR and EXAFS it was found that glyphosate and Cd(II) form inner sphere complexes. The binary Cd(II)-surface complex is bonded by edge sharing of Mn and Cd octahedra on the (010) plane of manganite. Glyphosate forms inner-sphere complexes through an interaction between the phosphonate group and the manganite surface. The largest fraction of this binary glyphosate complex is protonated throughout the pH range. A ternary surface complex is also present, and its structure is explained as type B ternary surface complex (surface-glyphosate-Cd(II)). The chelating rings between the Cd(II) and glyphosate, found in aqueous complexes, are maintained at the surface, and the ternary complex is bound to the surface through the phosphonate group of the ligand.

The goal of this study was to characterize the binding sites on the surface of wheat roots, Triticum turgidum, involved in the adsorption of protons and metals, and quantify the thermodynamic constants needed for a surface complexation model to predict metal binding. The adsorption of protons, Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) to the root surface as a function of pH and ionic strength in single metal exposure scenarios was quantitatively described using potentiometric titrations, batch metal adsorption experiments, and the least squares fitting program FITEQL. Model predictions from single metal exposures were compared to measured metal adsorption concentrations when roots were exposed to binary and ternary combinations of the metals. Proton dissociation was a function of three discrete monoprotic acid sites on the root surface with log proton dissociation constants of -4.50, -6.23, and -7.37 respectively, upon which varied ionic strength had no effect. The total proton binding capacities for the three sites were 2.58 x 10-4, 1.29 x 10-4, and 2.58 x 10-4 M, respectively. Metal complexation was best described by a two-site model having conditional stability constant log values of 3.04 and 3.30 for Cd(II), 3.21 and 3.25 for Cu(II), and 2.83 and 2.84 for Ni(II) at ionic strength 0.01M. At ionic strength 0.1 M the conditional stability constants log values were 2.37 and 3.36 for Cd(II), 3.11 and 2.56 for Cu(II), and 2.18 and 3.00 for Ni(II). When roots were exposed to binary or ternary mixtures of the metals, the two monoprotic acid single metal model did not provide ideal fits to the data indicating that adsorption in a metal mixture scenario cannot be considered additive and is dependent on the combination of metals present in the exposure environment. The experimentally determined proton dissociation constants and metal stability constants could be used in commercial geochemical speciation programs such as Visual MINTEQ to predict metal adsorption to plants. / Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, The Mining Association of Canada, Ontario Power Generation, Environment Canada.

Ce travail de thèse se focalise sur l'impact des propriétés acido-basiques des catalyseurs (quantité et force des sites) dans la production d’acroléine par couplage oxydant d’alcools en phase gazeuse. L'influence du rapport entre site acides et sites basiques des catalyseurs a été étudiée dans la condensation aldolique de l'acétaldéhyde et du formaldéhyde en acroléine, réalisée en conditions oxydantes. Les données et corrélations obtenues ont donné des informations indispensables à l’identification des paramètres qui doivent être modifiés afin d'améliorer la sélectivité en acroléine. La première réaction du procédé implique l'oxydation du méthanol et de l'éthanol respectivement en formaldéhyde et acétaldéhyde sur un catalyseur rédox de type FeMoOx.Ensuite, l'aldolisation croisée des deux aldéhydes et la déshydratation en acroléine sont effectuées sur des catalyseurs acido-basiques.Les alcools impliqués dans ce procédé pouvant dériver de la biomasse, cette nouvelle voie de production d'acroléine présente un intérêt élevé puisqu'elle peut remplacer la production actuelle d'acroléine basée sur des ressources fossiles (aujourd'hui l’acroléine est produite industriellement par oxydation du propylène).Le catalyseur optimal doit présenter des caractéristiques amphotères avec une quantité similaire de sites basiques et acides. Une présence modérée et équilibrée de sites acides et basiques améliore le rendement en acroléine et déplace à plus haute température la production des oxydes de carbone. Parmi tous les catalyseurs étudiés, et grâce à ses propriétés acido-basiques spécifiques, MgO supporté sur silice a été identifié comme étant le meilleur catalyseur pour la condensation aldolique des aldéhydes en acroléine en conditions oxydantes / The present work focuses on the impact of the amount and strength of acidic and/or basic sites on the yield of acrolein produced by alcohols oxidative coupling in gas phase. The influence of acid/base ratio of catalytic sites has been studied in the aldol condensation of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde to acrolein performed in oxidizing conditions. The obtained data and correlations supplied valuable information to understand which parameters have to be modified to improve the acrolein selectivity. The first reaction of the process implies methanol and ethanol oxidation respectively to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde on a FeMoOx redox catalyst. Then the cross-aldolization of the two aldehydes and the dehydration to acrolein is performed on acid/base catalysts. Because the alcohols involved in this process can be bio-sourced, this new route to produce acrolein presents a very high interest, since it can replace the current fossil-based acrolein production (nowadays industrially produced by oxidation of propylene). The optimal catalyst should present amphoteric features with a similar amount of both basic and acidic sites. A moderate and balanced presence of acidic and basic sites improves the acrolein yield and the production of carbon oxides is significantly increased only at high temperature. Among all studied catalysts, MgO supported on silica has been identified as the best catalyst for aldol-condensation of aldehydes to acrolein in oxidizing conditions thanks to a given ratio of basic to acidic sites

Im Gegensatz zu „festen Säuren“ sind „feste Basen“ wesentlich seltener Untersuchungsgegenstand in ihrer Anwendung als Katalysatoren in der heterogenen Katalyse. In der vorliegenden Promotionsarbeit wurden entgegen diesem Trend die Herstellung, Charakterisierung und Anwendung basischer Oxide sowie modifizierter Oxide in ihrer Eignung als feste Basen in der Katalyse untersucht. Zu diesen Katalysatoren gehören MgO, hergestellt nach unterschiedlichen Methoden, Kalium modifiziertes ZrO2, calcinierte Mg-Al Hydrotalcite und ein neuartiges Katalysatorsystem auf der Basis von Mg(O,F)-Kompositionen, die zum ersten Mal nach einem Sol-Gel-Fluorierungsverfahren hergestellt wurden. Die Katalysatoren wurden mittels N2 Adsorptions/Desorptionsuntersuchungen (BET), XRD, FTIR, XPS, TG-DTA-DTG und MAS NMR untersucht. Die Säure-Basen-Eigenschaften der Katalysatoren wurden durch TPD, FTIR Spektroskopie und Mikrokalorimetrie charakterisiert und mit den katalytischen Eigenschaften korreliert. Calcinierte Mg-Al Hydrotalcite und Mg(O,F) waren in diesem Zusammenhang am stärksten aktiv und auch selektiv wie für die Flüssigphasenreaktion der Michael-Addition von CH aciden Verbindungen mit Methylvinylketon gezeigt wurde. / In contrast to solid acid catalysts, much fewer efforts have been made to study solid base catalysts. In this thesis, preparation, characterization and application of oxides and modified oxide as solid base catalysts were studied. The catalysts include MgO prepared by different methods, potassium-modified ZrO2, calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites, and a novel catalyst system Mg(O,F), which was prepared by sol-gel method for the first time. The catalysts were studied by N2 adsorption/desorption measurement, XRD, FTIR, XPS, TG-DTA-DTG and NMR. Acid-base properties of the catalysts were investigated by TPD, FTIR spectroscopy and microcalorimetry to correlate with the catalytic behavior. Calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcite and Mg(O,F) are found to be highly active and selective catalysts for liquid-phase Michael additions of CH-acid compounds with methyl vinyl ketone.