The diploma thesis deals with the preparation and characterization of catanionic complexes and their possible application to pharmaceutics and medicine. The catanionic complexes were prepared by mixing two oppositely charged surfactants with the concentration of 20 mmol·dm­3 in various volume ratios. Two systems were analyzed – CTAB + SDS and Septonex + SDS. Both systems were prepared in an aqueous and physiological environment. The turbidimetric analyses provided results of the intensity of turbidity of the prepared mixtures. The size and stability of the prepared particles were determined by DLS and ELS measurements. CTAB-rich samples showed significant viscosity changes and they were therefore characterized by rheological measurements. The results of this work show that the asymmetry of alkyl chains, surfactant selection, temperature, and ionic strength have a significant influence on the properties and self-assembly of surfactants in catanionic complexes.

[pt] Nanopartículas de ouro dispersas em água (AuNPs-H) e nanopartículas de ouro na presença dos surfactantes brometo de cetiltrimetilamônio (AuNPs-CTAB) e brometo de didecildimetilamônio (AuNPs-C10DAB) foram sintetizadas e caracterizadas por diversas técnicas. As variações nos perfis espectrais no UV-Vis dessas nanopartículas foram estudadas levando-se em consideração a intensidade e o comprimento de onda máximo da banda de ressonância plasmônica de superfície localizada (LSPR); foram acompanhadas em função do tempo para nanopartículas estocadas sob refrigeração (4 graus celsius) com as mantidas na temperatura ambiente (27 graus celsius). Um comportamento anômalo (mais instável) foi observado para AuNPs-C10DAB na concentração 1,0 ×10-4 mol L-1. As suas atividades catalíticas também foram avaliadas na presença de 4-nitrofenol e verificou-se que a cinética mais efetiva foi do sistema sem surfactante. Finalmente, um estudo de interação com aminoglicosídeos (AMG) foi feito visando o uso das nanopartículas como sonda analítica. Todavia, somente AuNPs-H apresentaram resultados satisfatórios, o que indica que o surfactante impede que o AMG se aproxime da superfície das nanopartículas, visto que, em concentrações mais elevadas de CTAB ou C10DAB, não há variação significativa no sinal original da sonda quando o AMG está presente. Um método analítico foi desenvolvido baseado na interação AuNPs-H-gentamicina e AuNPs-H-neomicina a partir da otimização dos parâmetros: concentração de AuNPs-H, tampão, tempo de medição e faixa de concentração de AMG. Na condição ajustada para sondagem quantitativa, cada dispersão de trabalho foi constituída por 40 porcento v/v (1,2 × 10-9 mol L-1) de AuNPs-H 1,0 mL de tampão citrato pH 4,0 (1,0 × 10-2 mol L-1) e volume final de 5,0 mL ajustado pela adição água ultrapura, após micro-volumes apropriados de soluçãoestoque de AMG (exceto na dispersão branco) ou de amostras adicionadas. O monitoramento da variação dos perfis espectrais foi feito em 511 e em 681 nm, habilitando a construção de curvas analíticas em 681, e na razão (681/511). Para gentamicina, a faixa linear variou de 0,6 a 600 microgramas L-1 com o limite de detecção (LD) de 0,06 microgramas L-1. Para neomicina, faixa linear foi de 7,3 a 550 microgramas L-1, tendo LD de 6,2 microgramas L-1. A aplicação do método foi feita determinando-se gentamicina (fortificação) em leite integral, e neomicina em solução controle (amostra aquosa simulada), medicamento e em saliva. Para habilitar a seletividade do método foi necessária a utilização de extração em fase sólida (SPE) em cartuchos comercias empacotados com polímero de impressão molecular de AMG. Em amostras de leite (40 microlitros), após limpeza e SPE, foi possível quantificar 1,72 mais ou menos 0,03 microgramas de gentamicina, o equivale a 39,1 mais ou menos 0,2 porcento. As recuperações para neomicina em amostras de medicamento foram de aproximadamente 45 mais ou menos 3,0 porcento (após SPE), indicando interferências de outros componentes. Neomicina também foi recuperada em amostras de saliva após uso do medicamento obtendo valores próximos a 0,36 mais ou menos 0,02 microgramas. Em contraste, as recuperações em amostras simuladas chegaram até 102,6 mais-menos 1,3 porcento (sem necessidade de SPE). Por fim foi feita uma avaliação comparativa de interação de AuNPs-H e nanopartículas de ouro sintetizadas com redução com citrato (AuNPs-citrato) que indicou diferença de comportamento na interação com AMG. / [en] Water-dispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-H) and gold nanoparticles in the presence of surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (AuNPs-CTAB) and didecyldimethylammonium bromide (AuNPs-C10DAB) were synthesized and characterized using several techniques. The differences in the UV-Vis spectral profiles of these nanoparticles were studied monitoring the intensity and the localized surface plasmon resonance band (LSPR) maximum wavelength; these were monitored as a function of time taking into account storage conditions: under refrigeration (4 Celsius degrees) and at room-temperature (27 Celsius degrees). Anomalous (more unstable) profile was observed for AuNPs-C10DAB at 1.0 × 10-4 mol L-1. Their catalytic activities were also evaluated in the presence of 4-nitrophenol and it was shown that the most effective kinetics was observed for the system without surfactant. Finally, an interaction study with aminoglycosides (AMG) was conducted aiming the application of nanoparticles as analytical probe. Only AuNPs-H produced adequate results, indicating that the surfactant prevents interaction between AMG and the surface of the nanoparticles since at higher concentrations of CTAB or C10DAB there is no significant variation in the original probe signal in presence of AMG. An analytical method was developed based on the AuNPs-H-gentamicin and AuNPs-H-neomycin interaction taking into consideration the optimization of the parameters: AuNPs-H concentration, buffer, signal stabilization time and the AMG concentration range. In the adjusted condition for quantitative probing, each dispersion consisted of 40 percent v/v (1.2 × 10-9 mol L-1) of AuNPs-H, 1.0 mL of citrate buffer pH 4.0 (1.0 × 10-2 mol L-1) and final volume of 5.0 mL adjusted with ultrapure water addition, after appropriate micro-volumes of a stock solution of AMG (except in blank dispersion) or sample added. The spectral profiles were monitored at 511 and 681 nm, allowing theconstruction of analytical curves at 681, and at the ratio (681/511). For gentamicin, the linear range reached from 0.6 to 600 microgram L-1 with the limit of detection (LD) of 0.06 microgram L-1 . For neomycin, the linear range was 7.3 to 550 microgram L-1, with LD of 6.2 microgram L-1. The application of the method was made by determining gentamicin(fortification) in whole milk, and neomycin in control solution (simulated aqueous sample), pharmaceutical samples and saliva. In order to enable selectivity of the method it was necessary to use solid phase extraction (SPE) using a commercial SPE cartridge packed with an AMG molecular imprinted polymer. In milk samples (40 microlitre), after clean up and SPE, it was possible to quantify 1,72 plus-minus 0,03 microgram gentamicin, which is equivalent to 39,1 plus-minus 0,2 percent). Recoveries for neomycin in drug samples were approximately 45 plus-minus 3.0 percent (after SPE), indicating interferences of other components. Neomycin was also recovered in saliva samples after drug use obtaining values close to 0.36 plus-minus 0.02 microgram. In contrast, the recoveries in simulated samples reached up to 102.6 plus-minus 1.3 percent (no need for SPE). Finally, a comparative evaluation of the interaction of AuNPs-H and gold nanoparticles synthesized with reduction with citrate (AuNPs-citrato) was performed, indicating differences in terms of the interaction with AMG.

Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Subramanyam Bhadriraju / Heat treatment involves raising the ambient temperature of food-processing facilities such as flour mills to 50-60oC for killing stored-product insects. However, very little is known about the influence of sanitation on responses of stored-product insects to structural heat treatments. The impact of sanitation on responses of life stages of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, an economically important pest in flour mills, were investigated during three 24 h structural heat treatments of the Kansas State University pilot flour mill. Two sanitation levels, dusting of wheat flour (~0.5 g) and 2-cm deep flour (~43 g), were created in 25 plastic bioassay boxes each holding 50 eggs, 50 young larvae, 50 old larvae, 50 pupae, and 50 adults of T. castaneum in separate compartments. Five boxes were placed on each of five floors of the pilot mill during 13-14 May 2009, 25-26 August 2009, and 7-8 May 2010 heat treatments using forced air gas heaters. During the August 2009 and May 2010 heat treatments, 100 eggs or 100 adults of T. castaneum were exposed inside each 20 cm diameter by 15 cm high PVC ring placed only on first and third floors and holding 0.1 (15 g), 0.2 (38 g), 1 (109 g), 3 (388 g), 6 (937 g), or 10 (1645 g) cm deep wheat flour. Among the mill floors, first floor had lower maximum temperature. The first floor rests on a thick concrete foundation, did not get heated from both sides unlike other floors, and had poor air movement resulting in cold pockets (temperatures <50oC). Mortality of life stages was lower on first floor than other floors and adults were less susceptible than other life stages especially on first floor. In general, both these tests have shown that the mortality of T. castaneum life stages were influenced by how quickly temperatures reached 50oC, how long temperatures were held above 50oC, and the maximum temperature. Protective effects of sanitation were evident only if temperatures did not reach 50oC. However, removal of flour accumulations is essential to improve heat treatment effectiveness against all T. castaneum life stages during a 24 h treatment.

The Chlorine-Ammonia Process was developed recently as a preoxidation process to minimize the formation of bromate during ozonation of the waters containing a significant bromide concentration. Chlorine is added first, followed by ammonia 5-10 minutes later, with the goal of sequestering bromide in monobromamine before the subsequent ozonation step. The goal of this research was to improve the Chlorine-Ammonia Process by introducing a very short prechlorination step (i.e., 30 seconds before addition of ammonia) to minimize overall disinfection by-product formation. Also, in this strategy, formation of a powerful halogenating agent, HOBr, is minimized and bromochloramine (NHBrCl) is used predominantly instead of monobromamine to sequester bromide during ozonation. To support this improved approach to bromide sequestration, this study examined the formation and decay of bromochloramine as a function of operating conditions, such as pH and Cl2/N ratio, and refined a chemical kinetic model to predict haloamine concentrations over time. Two natural organic matter (NOM) sources were used in this study (Lake Austin, Texas and Claremore Lake, Oklahoma) to study the effect of NOM on monochloramine and total chlorine decay after 30 seconds of prechlorination. The rate of the reaction between haloamines and fast and slow sites on the NOM was estimated. A kinetics model was developed to model total chlorine decay after a short prechlorination time. The model is based on the Unified Haloamine Kinetic Model developed by Pope (2006). Pope`s model failed to model the initial monochloramine concentration after 30 seconds prechlorination time as well as the monochloramine and total chlorine decay over time. The modified model shows an excellent prediction of monochloramine and total chlorine decay after 30 seconds prechlorination time at pH range of 6.5-8.0 and over a carbonate buffer concentration range of 2-10 mM. The model includes a new bromochloramine decay scheme via the reaction with monochloramine and with itself. In addition, new rate constants for the reaction of HOCl with bromide ion and reaction of HOBr with monochloramine were added. The hypobromous acid formation rate was found to be an acid-catalyzed reaction, which confirms the finding of Kumar et al. (1987). A new value of the acid catalysis effect of hydrogen ion was estimated. New terms were introduced to the hyprobromous acid formation rate including the acid catalysis effect of bicarbonate, carbonic acid, and ammonium ion. In addition, the reaction of HOBr with monochloramine to form bromochloramine was found to be an acid-catalyzed reaction, and a new value of the rate constant was estimated. / text

No description available.

The synthesis of p-lactams has been of foremost importance since the discovery of penicillin by Sir Alexander Fleming, in 1928, and its susequent structure elucidation in 1945. Ethyl N-2-bromo-alkylcarbamates show considerable potential as precursors to p- lactams. In the past, p-lactams have been prepared by many methods, none of which have involved 2-3 bond formation. The proposed ring closure using ethyl N-2-bromoalkylcarbamate involves 2-3 bond formation, making this method of synthesis novel. This work describes two attempted methods of cyclisation. The first using a Grignard reagent, and the second, using abstraction of an acidic proton a to a phosphonate group. These methods of intramolecular cyclisation were based on analogous intermolecular additions, which are also described. The second method was also used to determine the general potential of ethyl N-bromo- alkylcarbamtes as precursors to other heterocyclic systems. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001. / NRF & NRF/DEA & T.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Entomology / Thomas W. Phillips / Robert "Jeff" J. Whitworth / Dry-cured ham is protected from infestations of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) with the fumigant methyl bromide. Developing feasible alternatives to methyl bromide is necessary due to the phase out of methyl bromide. The effectiveness of food-safe compounds for preventing infestations of T. putrescentiae on dry-cured hams was evaluated by dipping ham pieces in solutions of various food additives. Propylene glycol (1, 2-propanediol), lard, ethoxyquin and butylated hydroxytoluene prevented or significantly reduced mite population growth. A combination of carrageenan + propylene glycol alginate + 40% propylene glycol was effective in reducing mite numbers on treated whole-aged hams compared with untreated hams. Dose/response tests with twelve registered residual insecticides were conducted to assess contact toxicity to T. putrescentiae. Three of these insecticides were evaluated for persistence over a 2-month period on different surfaces. Commercial formulations of deltamethrin plus chlorpyrifos-methyl, chlorfenapyr, and malathion showed promising results for contact toxicity against T. putriscentiae. Chlorfenapyr applied to metal, concrete, and wood resulted in 100% mortality of treated ham mites for up to 8 weeks. The effect of high and low temperatures on mortality of T. putrescentiae was studied in the laboratory. Groups of 10 eggs and groups of a mixture of 40 adults and nymphs were separately exposed to several high and low temperatures, ranging from +35 to 45°C and from −20 to +5°C, for several time periods. Eggs were found to be more tolerant to both high and low temperatures compared with adults and nymphs. Results showed that high temperatures from 40-45°C killed all T. putrescentiae eggs, adults, and nymphs within 4-1 d, while −10°C or lower killed all the same stages in less than 1 d. Combinations of the fumigant sulfuryl fluoride (SF) applied under high temperatures ranging from 25-40ºC, were studied to determine the highest temperature, shortest exposure time, and the lowest value of a concentration-by-time product (CTP) of SF against T. putrescentiae. Results showed that complete control of all life stages of T. putrescentiae was achieved at 40ºC with SF. More than one day of exposure was required to kill adults and nymphs and eggs at 40ºC at a CTP close to the EPA labeled rate of 1500 gh.m⁻³. Results indicated that adults and nymphs were more susceptible to SF compared to eggs. This study focused on investigating different control methods for T. putrescentiae in dry-cured ham facilities and most of examined techniques are preventive, although some of them can be applied as remedial methods after mite infestations are noticed.

Por ser um semicondutor de elevado número atômico, elevada densidade de massa e largo gap de energia, o brometo de tálio (TlBr) é um material promissor para a detecção da radiação à temperatura ambiente. Entretanto, existem poucos trabalhos relacionados ao estudo deste material sob forma de filme fino policristalino para produção em grandes áreas como desejado para aplicações médicas. Neste trabalho, as técnicas de spray pyrolysis e evaporação térmica foram avaliadas como métodos alternativos para a deposição de filmes de TlBr policristalinos. Ambas as técnicas apresentam relativo baixo custo e podem facilmente ser expandidas para grandes áreas. O objetivos deste trabalho é o estudo da influência das principais condições de crescimento nas propriedades (estruturais, ópticas e elétricas) finais dos filmes de TlBr. Para os filmes produzidos por spray pyrolysis água mili-Q foi utilizada como solvente. A solução (0,10 g de TlBr dissolvidos em 100 g de água) foi agitada à temperatura de 70ºC. Cada deposição foi realizado mantendo os substratos (1cm x 1cm) à temperatura de 100ºC, com um fluxo de nitrogênio (N2) de 8 1/min e um fluxo de solução de aproximadamente 1/90 (ml/s). A distância bico de spray-substrato utilizada foi de 19 cm. Os filmes de TlBr evaporados foram crescidos pela evaporação térmica do material a partir de um cadinho de tungstênio. Um sistema de aquecimento dos substratos foi implantado e permitiu a variação da temperatura destes durante a deposição desde a temperatura ambiente até 200ºC. A separação substrato-superfície de evaporação, h, e o número de deposições por filme, n, também foram variados no intervalo de 3 a 9 cm e 1 a 4, respectivamente. A estrutura dos filmes foi investigada por Difração de Raio-x, a morfologia por Microscopia Eletrônica de Verredura e a composição através da Espectroscopia de Dispersão de Energia (EDS). Experimentos ópticos de transmitância em função do comprimento de ondas foram realizados para estimar o gap ótico dos filmes.As resistividades foram medidas a partir de experimentos de corrente em função da voltagem aplicada fluorescente (20 watts). Por fim, algumas amostras selecionadas foram expostas aos raios-X na faixa de diagnóstico mamográfico. As melhores propriedades foram obtidas para os filmes crescidos por evaporação térmica. A maior compactação e o maior gap óptico foram encontrados para os filmes produzidos a partir de h= 9 cm, os quais garantiram a maior sensibilidade para estes filmes quando expostos aos raios-X. Para os filmes produzidos pela deposição sequencial de várias camadas, a estrutura colunar dos filmes foi mantida para camadas superiores e resultados semelhantes para todas as amostras foram obtidos em relação ao gap óptico e à resistividade elétrica. Além disso, a sensibilidade a partir da utilização de raio-X na faixa mamográfica foi quadruplicada para o filme mais espesso. O aumento da temperatura do substrato resultou na maior compactação e homogeneidade no recobrimento do substrato. Entretanto, uma perda significativa de material durante a evaporação determinou filmes menos espessos em relação aos depósitos à temperatura ambiente. Variações cristalográficas e morfológicas foram obtidas entre os filmes depositados a diferentes temperaturas. Maiores valores gap foram obtidos para 150 e 200ºC. A caracterização elétrica dos filmes depositados a diferentes temperaturas foi limitada, neste trabalho, pela baixa pureza do pó utilizado para produção destes filmes. / Due to its high atomic number, high mass density and intrinsic band gap, thallium bromide (TlBr) is a promising semiconductor for room temperature operation for ionizing radiation detection. However, there are few works related to the study of this material in the polycrystalline thin film form for production in large areas (~ 40 x 40 cm2 ), as desired by medical applications. In this work, spray pyrolysis and thermal evaporation were used as alternative methods for the deposition of polycrystalline TlBr films. Both techniques present relative low cost and can be expanded for large areas. The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of the main growth conditions on the final structural, optical and electrical TlBr films properties. Films produced by spray pyrolysis used mili-Q water as solvent. The solution (0,10g of TlBr dissolved in 100g of water) was stirred at 70o C. Each deposition was performed maintaining the substrates (1cm2 ) at 100o C, the nitrogen rate at 8l/min and the solution flow at 1/90 ml/s approximately. The nozzle-spray to substrate distance was 19 cm. Evaporated TlBr films were grown by resistive thermal evaporation of purified material from a tungsten crucible. The substrate temperature was evaluated from room temperature to 200°C. The separation between evaporation source and substrates, h, and the number of depositions, n, were also varied from 3 cm up to 9 cm and from 1 up to 4, respectively. The structure of the crystals was investigated by X-ray Diffraction, the morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy and the composition by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. Optical experiments of absorbance as a function of wavelength were performed to estimate the optical gap of the TlBr films. Electrical resistivities were measured using current versus voltage experiments. The dark current was compared to the current under illumination with a fluorescent lamp (20 watts). Finally, some selected samples were exposed to X-ray in the range of mammography diagnosis. The best properties were obtained for films produced by resistive thermal evaporation. This technique allowed the production of films with thickness of approximately 28 µm, for a unique deposition of 12 minutes. However, bromine has lower vapor pressure than the thallium, what leads to a Br loss of about 10% in the composition of evaporated films. The smallest distribution of cracks and the largest optical gap were obtained for films produced at the lowest deposition rates. This leads also to a higher increase of the ratio between current under irradiation and in the dark, when the films were exposed to X-rays. For films produced at room temperature using sequential depositions, the columnar structure was kept for the superior layers and similar results for all samples were obtained in relation to optical gap and electrical resistivity. Moreover, for the thicker film, an increase of a factor 4 was observed for the ratio between current under irradiation using X-rays in the mammography range in relation to the dark. The higher substrate temperature leads to significant material loss during the evaporation and determined less thick films in relation to the ones deposited at room temperature. Structural and morphological variations were verified for films deposited at different temperatures. Larger gap values were found for 150 and 200ºC. For the electrical characterization of the films deposited at different temperatures an original powder with higher purity would be necessary. Moreover, due to the significant difference between bromine and thallium vapor pressures, better results would probably be obtained by a change to the hot-wall evaporation technique.

Resumo: Substâncias perigosas são freqüentemente utilizadas em laboratórios de ensino e pesquisa das Universidades. Até pouco tempo não existia preocupação com o destino destas substâncias após o uso. Tinha-se a falsa idéia de que como a Universidade utiliza poucas quantidades, de diferentes produtos, seu efeito ao ambiente era irrelevante. Felizmente atualmente este cenário é outro e as Universidades estão implementando programas de gerenciamento e em alguns poucos casos, de tratamento de resíduos. Diferentemente de agentes biológicos, substâncias químicas não possuem um procedimento de degradação que seja eficaz às diferentes classes e é necessário o desenvolvimento de diferentes métodos para diferentes produtos. Este trabalho adaptou métodos degradativos apresentados na literatura à três substâncias, escolhidas por sua toxicidade e pelo volume gerado anualmente das mesmas: brometo de etídeo (BE), formaldeído e fenol. A degradação do BE foi monitorada por fluorescência e pela concentração de Carbono Orgânico Total (COT), como BE é mutagênico seu produto de degradação foi submetido ao teste de mutação gênica com Salmonella thiphimurium (teste de Ames) utilizando as linhagens TA97a, TA98 e TA100, para avaliar se havia perdido esta característica. Observou-se que embora todos os tratamentos apresentassem a mesma resposta quanto a fluorescência, o ensaio mutagênico mostrou que apenas dois procedimentos poderiam ser realmente empregados. Os demais resíduos (fenol e formaldeído) tiveram seus produtos de degradação avaliados por COT e segundo as premissas da legislação estadual para efluentes em ambos os casos os resíduos apresentaram uma boa redução da carga orgânica. A toxicidade dos produtos formados foi avaliada por testes ecotoxicológicos (Daphna magna) e como todo formaldeído e fenol foram oxidados essa propriedade foi efetivamente eliminada. / Abstract: Hazardous substances often have been used in university teaching and researching laboratories as well. Few years ago there was not the concern about the destiny of these substances after their application. There was the wrong concept as the university use a few quantities of different kind of products, the behavior of these products in the environment were insignificant. Fortunately, nowadays the context has changed and the universities have established management programs of waste treatment. Distinctly of biological agents, chemicals substances do not have a model is better (or pattern) of destruction efficient to so many categories or types. So it is necessary the development of different methods for different products. This present work adjusted degradative methods presented on the literature for three different substances, chosen by their toxicity and quantity yearly storage: ethidium bromide (EB); formaldehyde and phenol. The degradation of EB was observed by fluorescence and by total carbon organic concentration, as BE is mutagenic, its degradation product was submitted to mutagenicity test with Salmonella thiphimurium (Ames test) using TA97a, TA98 and TA100, for evaluate original characteristics. The obtained data shown that although all of treatments presented the same answer for the fluorescence, the mutagenic assay has shown that just two methods could be efficiently used. The another products (phenol and formaldehyde) have had yours degradatives products evaluated by TOC according the supposition from the state legislation for wastewater, in both cases the results data shown reduction organic The toxicity of products in this case were evaluated by ecotoxicological tests (Daphnia magna), as all formaldehyde and phenol have been oxidized the toxicity was banished. Even tough the results obtained shown that methods are simple and could be applied for own creators in situ, just follow the methods shown in these work. / Orientador: Mary Rosa Rodrigues de Marchi / Coorientador: Raquel Fernandes Pupo Nogueira / Banca: Mary Rosa Rodrigues de Marchi / Banca: Maria Lucia Ribeiro / Banca: Valdir Schalch / Banca: Pedro Sergio Fadini / Banca: Messias Borges Silva / Doutor

Neste trabalho, os cristais de TlBr foram crescidos pelo método de Bridgman, a partir de materiais purificados pela técnica de fusão zonal. A eficiência da purificação e avaliação da superfície cristalina em relação ao desempenho como detectores de radiação foi observada. Bons resultados foram obtidos com os aprimoramentos realizados nos processos de purificação, crescimento de cristais e na fabricação dos detectores. A resposta à radiação foi verificada excitando os detectores com fontes de raios gama: 241Am (59 keV), 133Ba (80 e 355 keV), 57Co (122 keV), 22Na (511 keV) e 137Cs (662 keV) à temperatura ambiente. Os valores de resolução em energia mais satisfatórios encontrados nesse trabalho foram a partir de detectores mais puros. Os melhores valores de resolução em energia obtidos foram de 10keV (16%), 12keV (15%), 12keV (10%), 28 keV (8%), 31keV (6%) e 36keV (5%) para as energias de 59, 80, 122, 355, 511 e 662 keV, respectivamente. Também foi realizado um estudo da resposta à detecção a uma temperatura de -20ºC e da estabilidade desses detectores. Nos detectores desenvolvidos não houve diferença significativa na resolução tanto em temperatura ambiente quanto na reduzida. Em relação à estabilidade foi observada uma degradação das características espectrométricas sob operação contínua do detector a temperatura ambiente e esta instabilidade variou para cada detector. Ambas características também foram observadas por outros autores. A viabilidade de utilização do cristal de TlBr como fotodetector para acoplamento em cintiladores também foi estudada neste trabalho. TlBr é um material promissor para ser utilizado como fotodetector devido a sua adequada eficiência quântica na região de 350 a aproximadamente 500 nm. Como uma aplicação para este trabalho foram iniciados estudos para fabricação de sondas cirúrgicas utilizando cristais de TlBr como o meio detector. / In this work, TlBr crystals were grown by the Bridgman method from zone melted materials. The influence of the purification efficiency and the crystalline surface quality on the crystal were studied, evaluating its performance as a radiation detector. Due to significant improvement in the purification and crystals growth, good results have been obtained for the developed detectors. The spectrometric performance of the TlBr detector was evaluated by 241Am (59 keV), 133Ba (80 e 355 keV), 57Co (122 keV), 22Na (511 keV) and 137Cs (662 keV) at room temperature. The best energy resolution results were obtained from purer detectors. Energy resolutions of 10keV (16%), 12keV (15%), 12keV (10%), 28keV (8%), 31keV (6%) and 36keV (5%) to 59, 80, 122, 355, 511 and 662 keV energies, respectively, were obtained. A study on the detection response at -20ºC was also carried out, as well as the detector stability in function of the time. No significant difference was observed in the energy resolution between measurements at both temperatures. It was observed that the detector instability causes degradation of the spectroscopic characteristics during measurements at room temperature and the instability varies for each detector. This behavior was also verified by other authors. The viability to use the developed TlBr crystal as a photodetector coupled to scintillators crystals was also studied in this work. Due to its quantum efficiency in the region from 350 to 500 nm, TlBr shows to be a promising material to be used as a photodetector. As a possible application of this work, the development of a surgical probe has been initiated using the developed TlBr crystal as the radiation detector of the probe.