Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic and carcinogenic environmental contaminants originating from different sources; petrogenic, pyrogenic or biogenic. Depending on the source of contamination there will be different ratios of PAHs and the effects on the environment will differ. Petrogenic sources will be higher in concentration of alkyl substituted PAHs (APAHs) while pyrogenic sources will be higher in parent PAHs. In the present study a GC/MS method was developed to separate and calibrate PAHs, dibenzothiophenes and alkyl substituted PAHs in a mix containing 49 standards. The method was able to differentiate between PAHs and APAHs with the same mass number; up to six different compounds with the same mass number was separated. The developed method was used to analyse six different soil samples from various contamination sites. PAHs, APAHs and dibenzothiophenes were identified and quantified in all samples. In order to establish the source of contamination, the distribution pattern, the ratio between different PAHs, and the ratio between APAHs and parent PAHs were used. There was a higher ratio of APAHs/PAHs and a lower ratio between the parent PAHs in the soil samples from sites contaminated with oils compared to the other samples, indicating petrogenic source. / Polycykliska aromatiska kolväten (PAH) är giftiga och cancerframkallande miljögifter som härstammar från olika källor; petrogena, pyrogena eller biogena. Olika föroreningskällor kommer att ha olika förhållanden av PAH och effekterna på miljön kommer att skilja. Petrogena källor innehåller högre koncentrationer av alkylsubstituerade PAH (APAH) medan pyrogena källor kommer att ha högre koncentration av PAH. I denna studie har en GC/MS-metod utvecklats för att separera och kalibrera PAH, dibensotiofener och alkylsubstituerade PAH i en blandning innehållande 49 standarder. Metoden kunde skilja mellan PAH och alkylsubstituerade PAH med samma masstal; upp till sex olika föreningar med samma masstal särskildes. Den utvecklade metoden användes för att analysera sex olika jordprover från olika föroreningsplatser. PAH, APAH och dibensotiofener identifierades och kvantifieras i samtliga prover. För att fastställa föroreningskällan användes fördelningsmönstret för APAH och PAH, förhållandet mellan olika PAH och ration mellan APAH och PAH. Det fanns en högre kvot APAH/PAH i jordprover från områden som var förorenade med olja, vilket indikerar på petrogena föroreningskällor.

<p> This work was started to investigate new methods of synthesizing certain fulvenes. It was hoped that nucleophilic aromatic substitution of chlorine on 6,6-bis-(p-chlorophenyl) fulvene would provide an alternate route for the preparation of para-substituted 6,6-diphenyl fulvenes which had previously been prepared through the appropriately para-substituted benzophenone and cyclo-pentadienide (1,2). Attempts to prepare these substituted 6,6-diphenylfulvenes were unsuccessful.</p> <p> Secondly, a method of alkylating certain fulvenes in the cyclopentadiene ring was studied. With this in mind, 6,6-diphenylfulvene was treated with various nucleophiles which should give the relatively stable cyclopentadienide intermediate if the base adds to the exocyclic carbon atom. Alkylation of this anion, followed by expulsion of the nucleophilic group and a proton should then generate a new fulvene alkylated in the cyclopentadiene ring. In no case was any alkylated fulvene isolated. The major reaction products were two isomers of benzhydryl cyclopentadiene, rather than the expected alkylated fulvenes. The benzhydryl cyclopentadiene (mixture of two isomers) appears to have resulted from a reduction reaction.</p> <p> Since fulvenes of the type under study are generally unstable, an attempt was made to trap these alkylated fulvenes, if these were present, as their Diels-Alder adducts with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). This attempt gave the adduct from one of the isomers of benzhydryl cyclopentadiene. The adducts from the other two possible isomers of benzhydryl cyclopentadiene were not detected. This result is an indication of the different reactivities of these isomers to TCNE.</p> <p> From the absence of TCNE adducts of the expected alkylated fulvenes, it was concluded that these fulvenes had not materialized in the attempted alkylation.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Les composés fluorés sont très utilisés dans les agents de contraste ultrasonore (ACU) pour faciliter le diagnostic de nombreuses maladies par imagerie en temps réel. Tous les ACU commerciaux sont des microbulles de gaz perfluoré stabilisé par une monocouche de phospholipides, protéines ou tensioactifs. Cependant, l'application théranostique (de la contraction de thérapeutique et de diagnostic) de ces matériaux est sévèrement limitée par (i) la faible stabilité du composé fluoré, (ii) leur taille micrométrique et (iii) le manque de compartiments efficaces pour l'encapsulation d’un principe actif. Nous avons proposé deux stratégies différentes pour améliorer la stabilité du cœur fluoré et fournir simultanément des interfaces fonctionnelles pour l'encapsulation d’un principe actif.La première approche a consisté à intercaler le chitosane avec des phospholipides (DSPC) pour augmenter la stabilité de microvésicules contenant du gaz fluoré décafluorobutane (C4F10). L'affinité du DSPC et du chitosane a été révélée par des techniques de caractérisation de surface et par microscopie à fluorescence. Les microvésicules contenant du chitosane ont présenté des signaux intenses de la composante gazeuse en résonance magnétique nucléaire du fluor (RMN 19F) et en échographie in vitro après 48 h, deux fois plus longtemps que les échantillons sans chitosane. Le chitosane permet ainsi d’augmenter la stabilité des microvésicules et constitue une plateforme appropriée pour l'encapsulation de médicaments. La coque de chitosane-phospholipide pourrait donc améliorer le potentiel théranostique de ces microvésicules. Cependant, l'utilisation d'un coeur gazeux a rendu la stabilisation de vésicules submicrométriques difficile. Par conséquent, la deuxième stratégie s’est focalisée sur le développement d'un agent théranostique à l'échelle nanométrique en piégeant un coeur fluoré liquide de perfluorohexane (PFH; C6F14) dans une enveloppe polymère rigide de polylactide (PLA). Pour améliorer l'interaction des polymères biodégradables avec les perfluorocarbones, nous avons synthétisé des polymères PLA contenant cinq longueurs différentes de groupes terminaux fluorés (de C3F7 à C13F27) par polymérisation par ouverture de cycle du D,L-lactide. Les mesures de temps de relaxation spin-spin 19F ont démontré la présence d’interactions fluorophiles intenses entre les chaînons fluorés et le PFH. Les polymères ont ensuite été formulés en nanocapsules (NCs) sphériques de 150 nm de diamètre, comme vérifié par microscopie électronique en transmission. La RMN 19F a montré que l'efficacité d'encapsulation du PFH dans les capsules est doublée grâce à l’utilisation des polymères fluorés comparé aux dérivés non fluorés. Par conséquent, la réponse acoustique des NCs a été multipliée par dix avec les deux modes d'imagerie fondamentale et harmonique. En outre, l’utilisation d’ultrasons focalisés a permis la vaporisation acoustique de gouttelettes de PFH, confirmée par l’observation de morphologies fragmentées ou perturbées dans de nombreux échantillons. Les effets des groupes terminaux fluorés ont été davantage explorés par une évaluation morphologique des microcapsules (MCs) produites avec les polymères. Finalement, les NCs et MCs présentent un potentiel théranostique intéressant, puisqu’elles permettent d'effectuer un diagnostic assisté par ultrasons et de libérer potentiellement un principe actif lorsqu'elles sont soumises à des pressions acoustiques élevées. / Fluorinated materials are intensively used as ultrasound contrast agents (UCA) to facilitate the diagnosis of many diseases by real-time imaging. All the commercially available UCAs are microbubbles constituted by a perfluorinated gaseous-core stabilized by a monolayer of phospholipids, proteins or surfactants. Unfortunately, the theranostic application (i.e. therapeutic and diagnostic ability) of such materials are severely limited by the (i) poor stability of the fluorinated component, (ii) inherent micrometer size range and (iii) lack of effective compartments for drug accumulation. To overcome these limitations, we proposed two different strategies to improve the persistence of the fluorinated core and simultaneously provide functional interfaces for drug encapsulation.The first approach involves intercalating chitosan with phospholipids (DSPC) to increase the stability of microvesicles containing the fluorinated gas decafluorobutane (C4F10). The affinity of DSPC and chitosan was disclosed by surface sensitive techniques and fluorescence microscopy. 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (19F-NMR) and in vitro ultrasound of chitosan-coated microvesicles exhibited intense signals of the gaseous-component after 48 h, twice as long compared to plain samples. Altogether, chitosan increased the stability of microvesicles and is a suitable platform for drug accumulation. As a result, the chitosan-phospholipid shell may enhance the theranostic potential of related microvesicles. However, the use of a fluorinated gas-core imposed an important restriction to stabilize sub-micrometric vesicles. Therefore, the second strategy was focused in developing a theranostic agent at the nanoscale by entrapping a liquid fluorinated core of perfluorohexane (PFH; C6F14) into a rigid polymeric shell of polylactide (PLA). To enhance the interaction of biodegradable polymers with perfluorocarbons, we synthesized PLA polymers containing five distinct lengths of fluorinated end-groups (from C3F7 until C13F27) by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide. A greater extent of fluorous interactions was indicated by 19F spin-spin relaxation time and, subsequently, all the block copolymers were formulated into spherical nanocapsules (NC) with average diameter of 150 nm as verified by transmission electron microscopy. 19F-NMR showed that NC produced with fluorinated polymers increased two-fold the encapsulation efficiency of PFH compared with non-fluorinated derivatives. As a result, the NC echogenicity increased 10-fold for both fundamental and harmonic ultrasound imaging modalities. In addition, acoustic drop vaporization of PFH was successfully attained by focused ultrasound as observed by fragmented or disrupted morphologies in many samples. Effects of the fluorinated end-groups were further explored by a morphological evaluation of microcapsules (MC) produced with the polymers. Finally, both NC and MC present an interesting theranostic potential, being able to perform ultrasound-assisted diagnosis and potentially release drug contents when irradiated by high acoustic pressures.

No description available.

No description available.

Uma série de porfirinas meso-substituídas tetracatiônicas foi sintetizada e caracterizada, com o objetivo de estudar o papel da anfifilicidade e a presença de zinco em propriedades que podem influenciar na eficácia dos mesmos como FSs na terapia fotodinâmica. Observamos que as propriedades fotofísicas dos compostos são semelhantes (máximos de absorção na mesma região, red. quantico fl0,02; rend. quantico ox. singlete ~0.8). O aumento na lipofilicidade e a presença de zinco no centro do anel porfirínico aumentam a incorporação dos FSs em vesículas e células, uma vez que a presença de zinco possibilita a coordenação pelos grupos fosfato dos fosfolipídeos (os resultados os estudos das monocamadas de Langmuir e dos filmes de Langmuir-Blodgett corroboram com esta afirmação). A incorporação em mitocôndrias é também dependente da lipofilicidade do FS e é influenciada pelo potencial eletroquímico de membrana. A presença do zinco mostrou diminuir a incorporação em mitocôndrias isoladas e em mitocôndrias nas células HeLa, devido às características particulares da membrana mitocondrial interna. A fototoxicidade aumenta proporcionalmente ao aumento da eficiência da incorporação em membranas, que é atribuída às interações favoráveis entre os FSs e as membranas, permitindo a fotooxidação mais eficiente das mesmas. Para esta série de compostos, a eficiência fotodinâmica é diretamente proporcional à ligação em membranas e incorporação em células, mas não está totalmente relacionada ao acúmulo seletivo em mitocôndrias. Os resultados preliminares de permeação e retenção cutâneos mostram que apesar destes FSs apresentarem baixa penetração e retenção na pele, quando adequadamente formuladas passam a apresentar penetração e retenção cutâneas adequadas de maneira que poderiam ser utilizados na TFD tópica no tratamento de câncer de pele. / A series of photosensitizers (PS), which are meso-substituted tetra-cationic porphyrins, was synthesized and characterized in order to study the role of amphiphilicity and zinc insertion in PDT efficacy. The photophysical properties of all compounds are quite similar (absorption maxima in the same region of the spectra, f 0.02; ~0.8). An increase in lipophilicity and the presence of zinc in the porphyrin ring result in higher vesicle and cell uptake, because zinc can be complexed by the phosphate groups of the phospholipids. The results from the study of Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett mixed films corroborate this affirmation. Binding in mitochondria is dependent on the PS lipophilicity and on the electrochemical membrane potential. Zinc insertion was also shown to decrease the interaction with isolated mitochondria and with the mitochondria of HeLa cells, an effect that has been explained by the particular characteristics of the mitochondrial internal membrane. Phototoxicity was shown to increase proportionally with membrane binding efficiency, which is attributed to favorable membrane interactions between FSs and membranes, which allow for more efficient membrane photooxidation. For this series of compounds, photodynamic efficiency is directly proportional to membrane binding and cell uptake, but it is not totally related to mitochondrial targeting. Preliminary results of skin permeation and retention show that besides presenting low permeation and retention when suitably formulated, FSs can cross the EC barrier and accumulate in deeper regions, thus being applicable to topical PDT in the treatment of skin cancer.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo do comportamento e eficÃcia de antioxidantes aditivados ao biodiesel do Ãleo de soja. Os antioxidantes mais utilizados sÃo de estrutura fenÃlica, deste modo, sintetizar, comparar e estudar a aÃÃo destes antioxidantes avaliando as possÃveis causas que os levam a serem mais eficazes traz-nos informaÃÃes para a sÃntese de compostos com melhor atuaÃÃo antioxidante. Para uso como substrato orgÃnico, foi sintetizado o biodiesel a partir do Ãleo de soja, uma vez que à a partir deste, a produÃÃo de 81 % do biodiesel produzido no Brasil. Outro fator para o uso do Ãleo de soja à que este possui majoritariamente em sua composiÃÃo Ãcido linolÃico e olÃico, Ãcidos insaturados, altamente suscetÃveis à oxidaÃÃo. O biodiesel foi sintetizado atravÃs da reaÃÃo de transesterificaÃÃo com Ãlcool metÃlico, razÃo molar Ãlcool/Ãleo de 1:6 e hidrÃxido de sÃdio 0,5 % (m/m). As amostras de biodiesel foram aditivadas com os antioxidantes comerciais (BHT e ionol) e da biomassa (cardanol hidrogenado e cardanol alquilado) nas concentraÃÃes de 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 2000, 3000 e 4000 mg/kg e armazenadas em frasco Ãmbar em uma temperatura de 22,  3 ÂC. Todas as amostras foram analisadas em teste de oxidaÃÃo acelerada (Rancimat), no tempo zero (momento logo apÃs a aditivaÃÃo) e apÃs 2, 4, 6, 9 e 12 meses de armazenamento. Durante o monitoramento observou-se a variaÃÃo do tempo de induÃÃo via rancimat em funÃÃo do tempo de armazenamento das amostras. As anÃlises tÃrmicas foram realizadas com o biodiesel do Ãleo de soja, BHT, ionol, cardanol hidrogenado, cardanol alquilado, e do biodiesel aditivado com estes antioxidantes nas concentraÃÃes de 300, 900, 1500, 3000 e 4000 mg/kg, na taxa de aquecimento de 10 ÂC/min, em atmosfera de nitrogÃnio, com faixa de aquecimento de 30 ÂC â 600 ÂC. AtravÃs da anÃlise tÃrmica verificaram-se o comportamento das amostras quando submetidas a temperaturas elevadas. As anÃlises por UV-vis foram realizadas com o intuito de avaliar o processo de autoxidaÃÃo das amostras apÃs 12 meses de armazenamento. Os experimentos via rancimat revelaram que os antioxidantes comerciais sÃo melhores que os da biomassa, os experimentos termogravimÃtricos e via UV-vis auxiliaram na constataÃÃo de que para otimizar antioxidantes fenÃlicos deve-se adicionar substituintes de baixo peso molecular nas posiÃÃes orto e para. AtravÃs dos resultados via Rancimat foi desenvolvido um software para a prediÃÃo do tempo de estabilidade oxidativa em funÃÃo do antioxidante utilizado, quantidade adicionada deste, tempo de armazenamento, bem como, realizar uma anÃlise econÃmica do custo de utilizaÃÃo de cada antioxidante. / This paper presents a study of the behavior and effectiveness of antioxidants additives for biodiesel from soybean oil. The most commonly used antioxidants are ofphenolic structure, thereby synthesizing, examining and comparing the antioxidant action for evaluating possible causes for a structure to be more effective when compared to another, brings forth necessary tools in the search for better performance antioxidant compounds. For use as an organic substrate, it was synthesized biodiesel from soybean oil, since this oil is from producing about 81 % of biodiesel produced in Brazil. Another factor for the use of soybean oil is that it has in its composition mainly oleic and linoleic acids, unsaturated acids highly susceptible to oxidation. The biodiesel was synthesized by the transesterification reaction with methyl alcohol, the molar ratio alcohol / oil of 1:6 and sodium hydroxide 0.5% (m / m). The biodiesel samples were doped with antioxidants (BHT and ionol), and biomass (hydrogenated cardanol and cardanol alkylated) at concentrations of 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg.kg-1 and stored in an amber vial at a temperature of 22,  3  C. All samples were analyzed in an accelerated oxidation test (Rancimat), at the beginning (immediately after the moment additives) and after 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months storage. During monitoring the observed variation via Rancimat induction time as a function of storage time of the samples. The thermal analyzes were performed with biodiesel from soybean oil, BHT, ionol, hydrogenated cardanol, cardanolalkylated, and biodiesel doped antioxidants at concentrations of 300, 900, 1500, 3000 and 4000 mg.kg-1 rate heating to 10  C / min in a nitrogen atmosphere with heating range of 30  C - 600  C.Through thermal analysis verified the behavior of the samples when exposed to elevated temperatures. The analysis by UV-vis were conducted in order to evaluate the process of autoxidation of the samples after12 months of storage. The experiments via rancimat revealed that the commercial antioxidants are better than those of biomass, and to the thermogravimetric experiments via UV-vis the finding that helped to optimize phenolic antioxidants should be added low molecular weight substituent at the ortho and para positions. Through the results via Rancimat software was developed to predict the time depending on the oxidative stability of the antioxidant used, this added amount, time of storage and, perform an economic analysis cost of use of each antioxidant.

Uma série de porfirinas meso-substituídas tetracatiônicas foi sintetizada e caracterizada, com o objetivo de estudar o papel da anfifilicidade e a presença de zinco em propriedades que podem influenciar na eficácia dos mesmos como FSs na terapia fotodinâmica. Observamos que as propriedades fotofísicas dos compostos são semelhantes (máximos de absorção na mesma região, red. quantico fl0,02; rend. quantico ox. singlete ~0.8). O aumento na lipofilicidade e a presença de zinco no centro do anel porfirínico aumentam a incorporação dos FSs em vesículas e células, uma vez que a presença de zinco possibilita a coordenação pelos grupos fosfato dos fosfolipídeos (os resultados os estudos das monocamadas de Langmuir e dos filmes de Langmuir-Blodgett corroboram com esta afirmação). A incorporação em mitocôndrias é também dependente da lipofilicidade do FS e é influenciada pelo potencial eletroquímico de membrana. A presença do zinco mostrou diminuir a incorporação em mitocôndrias isoladas e em mitocôndrias nas células HeLa, devido às características particulares da membrana mitocondrial interna. A fototoxicidade aumenta proporcionalmente ao aumento da eficiência da incorporação em membranas, que é atribuída às interações favoráveis entre os FSs e as membranas, permitindo a fotooxidação mais eficiente das mesmas. Para esta série de compostos, a eficiência fotodinâmica é diretamente proporcional à ligação em membranas e incorporação em células, mas não está totalmente relacionada ao acúmulo seletivo em mitocôndrias. Os resultados preliminares de permeação e retenção cutâneos mostram que apesar destes FSs apresentarem baixa penetração e retenção na pele, quando adequadamente formuladas passam a apresentar penetração e retenção cutâneas adequadas de maneira que poderiam ser utilizados na TFD tópica no tratamento de câncer de pele. / A series of photosensitizers (PS), which are meso-substituted tetra-cationic porphyrins, was synthesized and characterized in order to study the role of amphiphilicity and zinc insertion in PDT efficacy. The photophysical properties of all compounds are quite similar (absorption maxima in the same region of the spectra, f 0.02; ~0.8). An increase in lipophilicity and the presence of zinc in the porphyrin ring result in higher vesicle and cell uptake, because zinc can be complexed by the phosphate groups of the phospholipids. The results from the study of Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett mixed films corroborate this affirmation. Binding in mitochondria is dependent on the PS lipophilicity and on the electrochemical membrane potential. Zinc insertion was also shown to decrease the interaction with isolated mitochondria and with the mitochondria of HeLa cells, an effect that has been explained by the particular characteristics of the mitochondrial internal membrane. Phototoxicity was shown to increase proportionally with membrane binding efficiency, which is attributed to favorable membrane interactions between FSs and membranes, which allow for more efficient membrane photooxidation. For this series of compounds, photodynamic efficiency is directly proportional to membrane binding and cell uptake, but it is not totally related to mitochondrial targeting. Preliminary results of skin permeation and retention show that besides presenting low permeation and retention when suitably formulated, FSs can cross the EC barrier and accumulate in deeper regions, thus being applicable to topical PDT in the treatment of skin cancer.

I denna studie har förekomst av Polycykliska aromatiska kolväten (PAHer) i musslor undersökts. Syftet var att undersöka vilka PAHer som förekom, i vilka halter och ifall dessa nivåer överskred gränsvärdena för humankonsumtion. Vissa PAHer är skadliga för människan då de kan ge upphov till cancer. Vilda och odlade musslor jämfördes för att se om innehållet av PAHer skiljde sig åt. Musslor från sex olika provplatser undersöktes. Två prov handplockades vilda utanför Stenungssund, Sverige. Danska vildfångade musslor undersöktes, likaså vildfångade svenska musslor. Även odlade musslor från Irland och odlade musslor från Sverige undersöktes. Resultaten visar att fluoranten, fenantren, pyren, krysen, benzo(e)pyren och benzo(b)fluoranten var de ämnen som förekom i högst halter. Av de alkylerade PAHerna var 2-metylantracen-9,10-dion, 2-metylfenantren, 2-metylkrysen och 1-metylfluoranten vanligast. Halterna av oxy-PAHer var låga, förutom för antracen-9,10-dion, benzo(h)quinolin samt 2-metylantracen-9,10-dion. Utifrån de riktvärden som finns för humankonsumtion överskred inga musslor gränsvärdena. Inga skillnader kunde ses mellan odlade och vilda musslor. Sammanfattningsvis förekommer PAHer i musslor, men inte i sådan halt att musslorna inte är godkända som livsmedel. / In this study, the presence of PAHs in mussels were investigated. The aim was to examine the occurrence of PAHs, at which levels and if these levels exceeded the limits for human consumption. Some PAHs are toxic to humans as they can give rise to cancer. Wild and cultivated mussels were compared to see if the content of PAHs was different. Mussels from six different test sites were examined. Two wild samples were hand-picked outside Stenungsund, Sweden. Furthermore, wild clams from both Sweden and Denmark were sampled. Also cultured mussels from Ireland and cultured mussels from Sweden were investigated. The results show that fluoranthene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo(e)pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene were the compounds that occurred at the highest levels. The most common alkylated PAHs were 2-methylanthracene-9,10-dione, 2-methylphenanthrene, 2-methylchrysene and 1-methylfluoranthene. The concentrations of oxy-PAHs were low except for anthracene-9,10-dione, benzo(h)quinoline and 2-methylanthracene-9,10-dione. Based on the guideline values available for human consumption, no mussels exceeded the limits. No differences could be seen between wild and cultivated mussels. To sum up, PAHs were found in mussels, but not at such concentration that the mussels would not be approved for human consumption.

<p> A method for the simultaneous preconcentration by solvent extraction of a group of trace metal ions from natural waters has been developed. The procedure makes use of a proprietary "liquid cation-exchanger", Kelex 100, the primary component of which is an alkylated oxine (8-quinolinol) derivative, 7-(4-ethyl-1-methyloctyl)-8-quinolinol (HL). After purification of HL from the commercial mixture, the extraction of ten environmentally-significant trace metal ions from artificial seawater into toluene solution was studied as a function of pH. From these investigations, the optimal conditions for the extraction of Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from natural waters were established. The conditions for quantitative back-extraction of the metal ions were then investigated. With the exception of cobalt, the metal ions were quantitatively back-extracted into a small volume of nitric acid, simplifying the matrix and providing additional analyte enrichment. The optimized forward- and back-extraction technique was subsequently applied to the determination of total (soluble) Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb in a coastal seawater reference standard by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). The quantitative recovery of the analytes and the uncomplicated matrix of analysis enabled quantitation to be carried out by external calibration. Compared to the method of standard additions, external calibration has advantages in overall analysis time and sample consumption. Satisfactory agreement was obtained between the experimental and reference values, although Cu(II) blanks were high due to trace Cu(II) contamination of HL and the stability of the Cu(II)-HL chelate.</p> <p> The lipophilicity of HL and its metal chelates provided high metal chelate distribution ratios which, in turn, permitted preconcentration factors of up to 500 in a single batch-extraction. Additionally, studies on the recovery of radiotracer spikes from lakewater and seawater suggested that HL is an effective extractant for stripping metal ions from variously-bound forms from natural waters.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)