Cette thèse apporte une nouvelle vision de la structure des réseaux lamellaires gélifiés. Les systèmes étudiés, choisis pour des applications cosmétiques, sont basés sur des mélanges d’alcools cétéaryliques, de tensioactifs esters de phosphate et d’eau. À l’aide de nombreuses méthodes analytiques, nous avons prouvé que la formation d’une structure lamellaire est possible à des forces ioniques allant jusqu’à 2.2 mol∙L-1. Pour la première fois, un comportement de percolation élastiqueest rapporté en fonction de la concentration en alcools gras et tensioactifs. Le seuil au-dessus duquel un réseau percolé apparaît est ici à 3 % et est indépendant de la force ionique et de la présence de longues chaînes d’oxyde de polyéthylène ancrées dans les bicouches. Au-dessus de 3 %, les systèmes passent de structures vésiculaires unilamellaires à des paquets plans de lamelles, qui forment un réseau tridimensionnel pouvant contenir d’importantes quantités de solution aqueuse. L’impact de la force ionique, de la présence d’oxyde de polyéthylène et de la nature des contre-ions sur lespropriétés rhéologiques et sur la stabilité de la formulation est ensuite étudié. Une augmentation inhabituelle du module élastique et de l’énergie de cohésion est observée lorsque la force ionique est accrue. L’addition d’oxyde de polyéthylène, à l’inverse, diminue d’un ordre de magnitude les valeurs du module élastique du réseau. Les systèmes étudiés sont stables à l'échelle macroscopique et on peut distinguer dans le gel, selon sa mobilité : l’eau fixée entre lamelles, l’eau restreinte en troisdimensions et l’eau libre, extractible par ultracentrifugation. / This Ph.D. brings new insights into the structure of lamellar gel networks. The systems studied are relevant for cosmetic applications and based on a mixture of cetearyl alcohols, phosphates esters surfactants and water. Using several analytical methods, we show that the formation of a lamellar gel structure is possible up to the ionic strength of 2.2 mol∙L-1. For the first time for such systems, an elastic percolation behavior as a function of the concentration of fatty alcohols and surfactants isreported. The threshold above which a percolated network is formed is found here at 3 % and appears to be independent of the ionic strength and of the presence of long polyethylene oxide chains between the bilayers. Above 3 %, the systems transform from unilamellar vesicle-like structures towards planar stacks of lamellae, connected together in a three dimensional network,that can hold large amounts of aqueous solution. The impact of the ionic strength, of polyethylene oxide chains and of the nature of the counterions on the rheological properties and on the stability of the formulation is then investigated. When the ionic strength is raised, an unusual increase of the elastic modulus and of the cohesive energy of the network is observed. At the opposite, the addition of polyethylene oxide chains decreases of one order of magnitude the values of the elastic modulus,leading to much softer networks. All systems studied are macroscopically stable and one finds in the gel, according to water mobility: interlamellar fixed water, water restricted in three dimensions and free water, drainable by ultracentrifugation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AlfredoJFS_DISSERT.pdf: 1130528 bytes, checksum: d7a64b847a80a2de8b89250f09f06bd0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-11-05 / Copper is one of the most used metals in platingprocesses of galvanic industries. The presence of copper, a heavy metal, in galvanic effluents is harmful to the environment.The main objective of this researchwas the removal ofcopperfromgalvanic effluents, using for this purpose anionic surfactants. The removal process is based on the interaction between the polar head group of the anionic surfactant and the divalent copper in solution. The surfactants used in this study were derived from soybean oil (OSS), coconut oil (OCS), and sunflower oil (OGS). It was used a copper synthetic solution (280 ppm Cu+2) simulating the rinse water from a copper acid bath of a galvanic industry. It were developed 23and 32 factorial designs to evaluate the parameters that have influence in theremoval process. For each surfactant (OSS, OCS, and OGS), the independent variables evaluated were: surfactant concentration (1.25 to 3.75 g/L), pH (5 to 9) and the presence of an anionic polymer (0 to 0.0125 g/L).From the results obtained in the 23 factorial design and in the calculus for estimatingthe stoichiometric relationship between surfactants and copper in solution, it were developed new experimental tests, varying surfactant concentration in the range of 1.25 to 6.8 g/L (32 factorial design).The results obtained in the experimental designs were subjected to statistical evaluations to obtain Pareto charts and mathematical modelsfor Copper removal efficiency (%). The statistical evaluation of the 23 and 32factorial designs, using saponifiedcoconut oil (OCS), presented the mathematical model that best described the copper removal process.It can be concluded that OCS was the most efficient anionic surfactant, removing 100% of the copper present in the synthetic galvanic solution / O cobre ? um dos metais mais utilizados nos processos decorativos das ind?strias galv?nicas. A presen?a do cobre nos efluentes galv?nicos, por ser um metal pesado, compromete a vida das pessoas e dos animais. O principal objetivo deste trabalho ? remover o cobre destes efluentes, utilizando para este prop?sito tensoativos ani?nicos. O processo de remo??o consiste em utilizar a partepolar do tensoativo ani?nico para interagir com o cobre bivalente em solu??o. Os tensoativos utilizados neste estudo foram derivados dos ?leos de soja, coco e girassol. Utilizou-se a ?gua de lavagem do processo de cobre ?cido de uma ind?stria galv?nica como base para a obten??o do efluente sint?tico (280 ppm Cu+2). Para avaliar os par?metros que influenciam no processo foram desenvolvidos planejamentos experimentais fatoriais 23 e 32.Para cada tensoativo derivado dos ?leos vegetais avaliados (OSS, OCS e OGS) as vari?veis independentes utilizadas no planejamento foram: a concentra??o de tensoativo (1,25 a 3,75 g/L), pH (5 a 9) e presen?a de um pol?mero ani?nico (0 a 0,0125 g/L).A partir dos resultados colhidos neste primeiro planejamento experimental e dos c?lculos obtidos atrav?s da rela??o estequiom?trica entre os tensoativos e o cobre em solu??o foram realizados novos ensaios experimentais, variando a concentra??o do tensoativo na faixa de 1,25 a 6,8 g/L. Os resultados obtidos atrav?s do planejamento experimental foram submetidos a avalia??o estat?stica para obten??o de gr?ficos de pareto e do modelo matem?tico que descreve a efici?ncia do processo na remo??o do cobre. A avalia??o estat?stica dos planejamentos experimentais fatoriais 23 e 32,onde se utilizou ?leo de coco saponificado, apresentou o modelo matem?tico que melhor descreveu o processo de remo??o do cobre. Conclui-se que, atrav?s da utiliza??o de metodologias de planejamento experimental e da varia??o da concentra??o dos 3tensoativos(1,25 a 6,8g/L), o OCS foi o tensoativo mais eficiente, chegando a remover 100% do cobre presente na solu??o

[pt] Os métodos de recuperação terciária ou avançada de petróleo (EOR) permitem fatores de recuperação de até 70 por cento. A injeção de surfactantes aniônicos, amplamente empregados em EOR químico, pode se tornar inviável devido às perdas após precipitação, difusão para o interior de poros sem conectividade e especialmente adsorção sobre a superfície da rocha reservatório. Este trabalho almejou modificar a superfície de nanopartículas de sílica com alcoxisilanos para que possam ser utilizadas como nanocarreadores de surfactantes aniônicos em EOR químico, diminuindo desta forma as perdas por adsorção. Técnicas de caracterização foram empregadas para confirmar a modificação ocorrida na superfície da sílica, obtendo-se graus de modificação estimados entre 11 e 14 por cento. A inserção de grupos alquila (C8 e C16) na superfície da sílica aumentou significativamente a interação com o surfactante aniônico (dodecil sulfato de sódio, SDS), em comparação com as nanopartículas sem modificação, ampliando em até 11x a quantidade de surfactante retido na superfície das nanopartículas. Os nanomateriais híbridos obtidos possuem maior capacidade de manter adsorvido o tensoativo em soluções aquosas e salinas, bem como liberá-lo quando na interface salmoura/óleo. Ao fim, as nanopartículas de sílica modificadas contendo surfactante adsorvido na sua superfície atuaram sinergicamente na redução da tensão interfacial, sem afetar o desempenho do surfactante após liberação na interface água/óleo. Sendo assim, as nanopartículas modificadas com alcoxisilanos obtidas neste trabalho podem atuar como nanocarreadores de surfactantes em fluidos de injeção para EOR químico. / [en] The tertiary oil recovery methods or enhanced oi recovery (EOR) allow a recovery factor up to 70 percent. The injection of anionic surfactants, widely used in chemical EOR, could become unfeasible due to losses after precipitation, diffusion to the interior of non-connected pores and specially adsorption over reservoir rock surface. This work aimed to modify the surface of silica nanoparticles with alkoxysilanes in order to be used as surfactant nanocarriers in chemical EOR, reducing surfactant loss by adsorption. Characterization techniques were employed to confirm the modifications on silica surface, obtaining degrees of modification between 11 and 14 percent. The attachment of alkyl groups (C8 and C16) on the silica surface raised significantly the interaction with an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), in comparison to bare silica nanoparticles, increasing up to 11x the amount of adsorbed surfactant over silica s surface. The hybrid nanomaterials obtained in this work have a high capacity to keep the tensoactive in aqueous solutions and brine, as well as releasing it at the brine/oil interface. Finally, the modified silica nanoparticles containing surfactant adsorbed on their surface showed a synergy in reducing interfacial tension, without affecting the surfactant performance after the release at the water/oil interface. Thus, the nanoparticles modified with alkoxysilanes obtained in this work can act as surfactant nanocarriers in injection fluids for chemical EOR.

Gas hydrate formation was studied in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sediments. Sediments studied were from six-meter long cores from Mississippi Canyon Block 118 and a 27-meter core from a cruise in 2002 of the Marion Dufresne. These sediments retained their in situ seawater before testing. Hydrate formation rate and induction times were measured. The hydrate memory effect was studied in GOM sediments with and without in situ seawater. Hydrate induction time was short when in situ seawater was present. Bioproducts adsorbed on particles in the sediments are postulated to shorten the induction times by maintaining seawater structuring around coated particles. Hydrate nucleation was studied by Dynamic Light Scattering and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Particles around 50 to 100 nm nucleated hydrate formation. These small nucleating particles appeared to be clays or surfactant molecules and interactions thereof. Hydrate capillaries were studied and found to be at least 100 nm in diameter because the sediment nucleating particles with bioproducts diffused through the hydrate capillaries. Large complexes of nontronite smectite clay and Emulsan, an anionic biosurfactant, were found to facilitate hydrate formation. It was determined that Emulsan entered the interlayer of nontronite. The clay contents of the GOM sediments were determined. All sediments contained smectite, illite, chlorite, and kaolinite in different proportions. The study gave new insight into the gas hydrate formation mechanism in seafloor sediments.

Surfactants are one of the more ubiquitous contaminants in aquatic systems. Their importance as toxic components of pesticide formulations has, however, been largely overlooked. Amphibians particularly, as inhabitants of shallow, temporary and often lentic aquatic environments may be at risk from exposure to these chemicals when they enter aquatic systems. This thesis presents data on the toxicity of surfactants to amphibians. Several experimental exposures were conducted with embryo-larval, tadpole and adult developmental stages of the Australian species- Crinia insignifera, Helcioporus eyrei, Limnodynastes dorsalis and Litoria moorei and the exotic species- Bufo marinus and Xenopus laevis. Animals were variously exposed to glyphosate formulations that contain a high proportion of nonionic surfactants, or commercial pesticide wetting agents (alcohol alkoxylate and nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) surfactants). Feeding stage tadpoles of C.insignifera, H. eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei were exposed to three commercial glyphosate formulations, glyphosate isopropylamine and glyphosate acid in static-renewal acute toxicity tests. The 48-h LC50 values for Roundup Herbicide (MON 2139) tested against tadpoles of C. insignifera, H. eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei ranged between 8.1 and 32.2 mg/L (2.9 and 11.6 mg/L glyphosate acid equivalent (ae)), while the 48-h LC50 values for Roundup Herbicide tested against adult and newly metamorphosed C. insignifera ranged from 137-144 mg/L (49.4-51.8 mg/L ae). / Touchdown Herbicide (4 LC-E) tested against tadpoles of C. insignifera, H. eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei was slightly less toxic than Roundup with 48-h LC50 values ranging between 27.3 and 48.7 mg/L (9.0 and 16.1 mg/L ae). Roundup Biactive (MON 77920) was practically non-toxic to tadpoles of the same four species producing 48-h LC50 values of 911 mg/L (328 mg/L ae) for L. moorei and >1000 mg/L (>360 mg/L ae) for C. insignifera, H. eyrei and L. dorsalis. Glyphosate isopropylamine was practically non-toxic producing no mortality amongst tadpoles of any of the four species over 48 h, at concentrations between 503 and 684 mg/L (343 and 466 mg/L ae). The toxicity of technical grade glyphosate acid (48-h LC50, 81.2-121 mg/L) is likely to be due to acid intolerance. Feeding stage tadpoles of B. marinus, X laevis, C. insignifera, H.eyrei, L. dorsalis and L. moorei were exposed to NPE and alcohol alkoxylate in static renewal acute toxicity tests. All species exhibited non-specific narcosis following exposure to both these surfactants. The 48-h EC50 values for NPE ranged between 1.1 mg/L (mild narcosis) and 12.1 mg/L (full narcosis). The 48-h EC50 values for alcohol alkoxylate ranged between 5.3 mg/L (mild narcosis) and 25.4 mg/L (full narcosis). Xenopus laevis was the most sensitive species tested. The sensitivity of the other five species was size dependent with larger species displaying greater tolerance. Replicate acute toxicity tests with B. marinus exposed to NPE at 30 degrees celsius over 96 hours indicated that the narcotic effects were not particularly time dependant. / The mean 24, 48, 72 and 96-h EC50 (mild narcosis) were 3.6, 3.7, 3.5 and 3.5 mg/L respectively. The mean 24, 48, 72, and 96-h EC50 (full narcosis) values were 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.0 respectively. Acute toxicity tests with B. marinus exposed to NPE at 30 degrees celsius under conditions of low dissolved oxygen (0.8-2.3 mg/L) produced a two to threefold increase in toxicity. The 12-h EC50 values ranged from 1.4 to 2.2 mg/L. The embryotoxicity of NPE was determined in X. laevis, L. adelaidensis and C. insignifera using a Frog Embryo Teratogenesis assay-Xenopus (FETAX). The 96-h LC50, EC50 and MCIG (LOEC) values for X. laevis were 3.9 to 5.4 mg/L, 2.8 to 4.6 mg/L and 1.0 to 3.0 mg/L respectively. The 140-h LC50, ECSO and MCIG values for L. adelaidensis were 9.2 mg/L, 8.8 mg/L and 5.1 to 6.0 ing/L respectively. The 134-h LC50, EC50 and MCIG values for C. insignifera were 6.4 mg/L, 4.5 mg/L and 4.0 mg/L respectively. Teratogenicity indices for the three species ranged between 1.0 and 1.6 indicating either no or low teratogenicity. Xenopus laevis was the more sensitive of the three species and the only species that displayed indisputable terata. The acute toxicity data indicated that the amphibian species tested were of similar sensitivity to fish and some invertebrates. Developmental retardation and oestrogenic effects following exposure to nonylphenol ethoxylate were indicated by sublethal toxicity tests. Crinia insignifera embryos were exposed during early embryogenesis to sublethal concentrations of NPE. / Exposure to NPE did not affect either weight nor size (snout-vent length) at metamorphosis. Exposure to 5.0mg/L NPE resulted in a significant delay in the time required to reach metamorphosis. Also, exposure to 3.0 mg/L NPE for the first 6 days of embryonic development or exposure to 5.0 mg/L NPE from day 2 to day 6 resulted in a statistically significant predominance in the female phenotype amongst metamorphosing froglets. Exposure for the first five days to 1.5 ing/L or 3.0 mg/L NPE had no effect on sex ratio. The results indicated that exposure to NPEs has endocrine disruptive effects in this species and that a narrow window of susceptibility exists for the induction of predominantly female phenotype. This study has also followed the degradation of a mixture of NPE oligomers and the concomitant formation of individual oligomers in static die-away tests with and without illumination in freshwater. Over 33 days in darkness there was a progressive and complete loss of long chain oligomers (NPEO(subscript)8-17), transient increases and subsequent loss of short to medium chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)4-7), and large persistent increases (approximately 1000%) in short chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)1-3). In the presence of illumination, biodegradation was retarded and heterotrophic bacterial proliferation was inhibited. After 33 days there was complete loss of long chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)9-17), incomplete loss of medium chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)6.8) and increases in short chain oligomers (NPE0(subscript)1-5). / This thesis discusses the importance of persistent metabolites of NPE degradation as it pertains to the habitat, developmental time frame and ecology of amphibians. Degradation of NPE is likely to occur over a time frame that is longer than that required for complete embryogenesis and metamorphosis of many species of amphibians, and may easily encompass those critical stages of development during which oestrogenic metabolites can affect development.

Les membranes cellulaires naturelles sont des structures complexes et posent de nombreux problèmes lorsqu'elles sont étudiées dans leur forme native. Par conséquent, des systèmes modèles lipidiques plus simples sont souhaitables pour étudier les composants des membranes cellulaires et leur interaction avec les molécules biologiques. Immobiliser ces modèles lipidiques sur des surfaces solides métalliques, pour former des bicouches biomimétiques supportées (SLB pour Supported Lipid Bilayer en anglais), est encore plus avantageux grâce leur adaptabilité à de nombreuses techniques de caractérisation de surface, telles que la microscopie de force atomique (AFM), la spectroscopie de résonance des plasmons de surface (SPR), l’électrochimie et les spectroscopies vibrationnelles (IR, Raman). Former ces bicouches lipidiques supportées par fusion des vésicules a toujours été la technique la plus adaptée vue sa simplicité et son efficacité. Cependant, cette technique exige des conditions expérimentales critiques comme la nécessité de surfaces planes lisses et hydrophiles (mica, verre…), des vésicules à base de phospholipides zwitterioniques en phase fluide, une concentration élevée en lipides, et une longue durée d’incubation (>1h). Dans cette thèse, nous visons à développer une nouvelle méthode simple, rapide et polyvalente permettant de former une large gamme de bicouches biomimétiques supportées, de type zwitterionique et anionique, en phase gel et fluide sur un substrat d’or. Cette nouvelle approche consiste en l’utilisation des réactions d’appariement ionique générées par un système rédox confiné en surface pour induire l’assemblage de phospholipides et former la bicouche lipidique. Le premier objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier le comportement électrochimique d’une monocouche auto-assemblée de ferrocényldodécanethiolates (FcC12SAu) en présence de molécules amphiphiles avec des groupes anioniques de types carboxyle (sel d’acide gras) et phosphate (groupes qu’on trouve dans les phospholipides) et une simple chaîne hydrocarbonée. Dans le même contexte, nous viserons également l’utilisation des réactions d’appariement ionique pour induire l’assemblage des surfactants n-alkyl carboxylate et n-alkyl phosphate à l’interface SAM/électrolyte. Le second objectif de ce travail de thèse consiste en l’utilisation du système rédox confiné en surface pour déclencher par appariement ionique l’assemblage des phospholipides (molécules amphiphiles à double chaînes hydrocarbonées) pour former des bicouches biomimétiques supportées sur une surface d’or, à partir de vésicules unilamellaires, à température ambiante et en quelques minutes. La couverture de surface en ferrocènes et l’hydrophobicité/hydrophilicité de la surface seront altérées par la suite pour investiguer l’effet sur la formation des bicouches lipidiques supportées. / Natural cell membranes are complex structures and may present many problems when studied in their native form. It is therefore desirable to have simpler lipid bilayer systems to study the components of cell membranes and their interaction with biological molecules. Immobilizing these lipid membranes on metallic solid surfaces, to form Supported Lipid Bilayers (SLB), is more advantageous due to the integrity with a wide range of surface-sensitive characterization techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR), electrochemistry and vibrational spectroscopies (IR, Raman). The preparation of SLBs by vesicle fusion has always been the most suitable technique due to its simplicity and efficiency, but it requires critical experimental conditions such as the need for smooth and hydrophilic flat surfaces (mica, glass...), vesicles based on zwitterionic phospholipids in fluid phase, high lipid concentration, and lengthy SLB preparation times (>1h). In this thesis, we aim to develop a new simple, fast, and versatile method to form a wide range of supported biomimetic bilayers using zwitterionic and anionic phospholipid vesicles in gel and fluid phase on a gold substrate. This new approach consists in the use of ionic pairing reactions generated by a surface-confined redox system to induce the assembly of phospholipids and form the lipid bilayer. The first part of this thesis focuses on studying the electrochemical behavior of a self-assembled monolayer of ferrocenyldodecanethiolates (FcC12SAu) in the presence of amphiphilic molecules containing a carboxyl (fatty acid salt) and phosphate anionic group and a single hydrocarbon chain. This part will also focus on the use of ion-pairing reactions to induce the assembly of n-alkyl carboxylate and n-alkyl phosphate surfactants at the SAM/electrolyte interface. The second and main objective of this thesis work was subsequently devoted to the use of the surface-confined redox system to trigger by ion-pairing the assembly of phospholipids (amphiphilic molecules with double hydrocarbon chains) to form biomimetic bilayers supported on a gold surface from unilamellar vesicles at room temperature and within minutes. The surface coverage of ferrocenes and the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the surface will be altered later to investigate the effect on the formation of supported lipid bilayers.