The presented diploma thesis deals with the study of interactions between humic acids as the main component of soil organic matter with a model organic pollutant presented by cationic surfactant Septonex (which was expected to interact positively with humic acids due to its charge) through unconventional combination of dialysis and diffusion techniques realized in diffusion cells together with isothermal titration calorimetry capable of elucidating the nature of ongoing reactions from a thermodynamic point of view. The experiments were performed with a humic acid isolated by standard isolation procedure from Leonardite (1S104H) purchased from the International Society for Humic Substances, with humic acids isolated from lignite as well as modal chernozem. The aim of the submited diploma thesis is to assess the influence of carboxyl functional groups in the structure of humic acids to interactions with Septonex. For this reason, said samples of humic acids have been modified by selective methylation of their carboxyl functional groups, which can no longer participate in interactions with ionic substances. Results from diffusion cells and isothermal titration calorimetry confirmed the assumption that Septonex interacted with all types of unmodified humic acids more than with their methylated derivatives. Despite the available literature, it was surprising that the differences in the interaction of humic acids with Septonex were not diametrically different when comparing unmodified humic acids with their methylated derivatives. The extent of these interactions was assessed through the apparent equilibrium constant Kapp determined in the diffusion (dialysis) experiments and from the course of enthalpy curves from isothermal titration calorimetry. After the experiments and their evaluation, it can be concluded that humic acids and Septonex in their interactions, due to their structures, probably apply not only electrostatic interactions, especially through available carboxyl functional groups of humic acids and positively charged hydrophilic parts of Septonex molecules, but also a significant role have a hydrophobic effect, hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces.

Vliv hyaluronanu na micelizaci tenzidů byl studován různými fyzikálně-chemickými metodami. Byly zvoleny dva kationaktivní tenzidy, a to tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromid (TTAB) a cetyltrimethylammonium bromid (CTAB). Metoda izotermické titrační kalorimetrie byla využita pro stanovení entalpie micelizace, tenziometrie popisuje povrchové vlastnosti daných vzorků. Byl sledován také vliv různé molekulové hmotnosti použitého hyaluronanu a délka alkylového řetězce tenzidu na agregační chování daného systému. Výsledkem jsou hodnoty kritické micelární nebo agregační koncentrace tenzidu. V neposlední řadě se diskutuje využití agregátů hyaluronan-tenzid jako možné nosiče pro cílenou distribuci léčiv.

This work focuses on the hydration of four calcium aluminate phases – C3A, C12A7, CA and CA2. Above all, the influence of particle size and method of preparation on hydration behaviour were studied. Influence of these factors on hydration products were also investigated. Calcium aluminates were prepared by solid state synthesis and amorphous citrate method. Both methods were described in detail. The particle size was determined by laser diffraction. Isothermic calorimetry was used to investigate the process of hydration. Hydration products were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis and simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis.

This thesis is focused at possibilities of preparation and characterization of XRD-amorphous delaminated and dehydroxylated talc phase – meta-talc, which can have its potential application and a starter material for a preparation of magnesium-silicate analogues of geopolymers. Changes in structure and morphology of talc ore were observed during this work. For the purposes of this research, two various talc ores – chloritic and dolomitic were examined. Whole process of meta-talc preparation was examined with whole scale of instrumental techniques such as X-ray diffraction, simultaneous thermogravimetric a differential thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy or laser analysis of particle size. Meta-talc can be obtained via mechanochemical activation of talc ore with subsequent calcination. Mechanochemical treatment lead to destruction of original crystal structure and breaking of original bonds, i.e. the product of this treatment was almost amorphous and delaminated. Most of hydroxyl groups were converted to molecules of water which remained adsorbed or coordinated in ore structure. These molecules were removed during calcination step.

This diploma thesis deals with study of crystalline structure of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which contains different types of additives for studying of their nucleation activity and which were prepared by mixing. It is about boronitrid (BN), sacharin, hydroxapatit, plasticizer Tegmer a tree types of talc. Crystal structure was analysed by differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction, supramolecular structure was observed by optical microscopy (polarized and confocal laser scanning). Nucleating activity was evaluated by isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization made on calorimeter and heated table of optical microscope. There is not influence of additives on crystallographic structure, but additives affects number and size of spherulites including crystal domains defects, which can have impact on final mechanical properties. BN and talcs react as nucleating agents, other additives during low and high cooling speeds (vc) inhibit nucleation and in middle cooling speeds are without effect. Nucleating activity is not evaluated by numerically, because decrease of crystallization temperature together with vc is not linear. Results of direct methods are based on picture analysis, which is great benefit for understanding of crystal behaviour of PHB.

This master thesis deals with study of chitosan-lignohumate, chitosan-polystyrenesulfonate, chitosan-alginate and chitosan-carrageenan polyelectrolyte complexes. The work was motivated by research of finding suitable alternative substance for lignohumate. The molecular weights of substances were characterized using SEC-MALLS. A degree and a character of the interactions between polyelectrolyte were studied by isothermal titration calorimetry and dynamic light scattering method. The calorimetric experiments proved that decreasing concentration of samples causes decreasing of heat flow. The best calorimetric measurements were provided by adding chitosan into polymer solution. The interactions between chitosan and polyanions and influence of mixing order were proved also by measuring intensity of zeta potential, Z-average of particle size and turbidity. New chitosan-based materials have a big potential in agriculture and medicine.

The presented dissertation focuses on non-covalent interactions of hyaluronan of different molecular weights (9–1540 kDa) with basic (oligo)-amino acids (especially arginine) and the antimicrobial peptide cecropin B. High-resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy (HR-US), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and potentiometric titration techniques were chosen to investigate the interactions. The thesis focuses on the characterization of interactions, especially with respect to the used molecular weight of interacting polymers and the ionic strength of the environment. Whether interactions occur or not was determined primarily by the length of the arginine oligomer chain. For monomeric amino acids, the interactions were investigated mainly by potentiometric titrations. Interactions were observable from arginine oligomers with eight monomer units. The molecular weight of hyaluronan mainly affected the intensity of the interactions. The transition between the individual conformations of hyaluronan (rod and random coil) was especially significant. Investigation of interactions was performed in water, in solutions with different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS. The sufficiently high ionic strength of the solution was able to suppress the interactions in water between the oligomers of arginine and hyaluronan. The basic antimicrobial peptide cecropin B has been shown to interact with hyaluronan in water but not in PBS. Based on these results, it was possible to conclude that the hyaluronan-cecropin B system would be particularly suitable for topical applications.

Metallocene based polypropylene (mPP) with very narrow distribution of molecular weight was peroxide-degraded to materials of four different molecular weights including the original mPP labeled MET1–MET3 and MET0, respectively. Double bonds formed after peroxide-degradation was proved on material surfaces by FTIR-ATR (attenuated total reflection of Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy). The decreasing molecular weight led to gradual decrease of the tensile strength, tensile modulus as well as the strain and to the decrease of the temperature of thermal decomposition. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of chemically etched surfaces of MET0–MET3 revealed supramolecular structure of commonly occurred structure (radical spherulites) but also supramolecular structure of form (sheaf-like structure). The latter was proved by XRD together with the fact that the content of form decreases with decreasing molecular weight. The mentioned structure differences were not visible on DSC curves because the amount of structure was small and melting temperature, temperature of crystallization and the degree of crystallinity remained the same for all four types of mPP. The structure of the original materials was also characterized after isothermal crystallization performed on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and under polarizing optical microscope (POM). The first was performed at 120–126 °C and the latter at 130 °C (Tic). The materials obtained on DSC always contained the structure and its amount increased with increasing Tic whereas higher content of form was always in MET0 with respect to MET3. The structure was proved by XRD and also by DSC heating run followed immediately after the isothermal process. The latter revealed two endotherms belonging to melting of and forms. The presence of form was on the surfaces proved by CLSM. The formation of structure was in-situ observed on POM and the amount of it decreased with decreasing molecular weight. The spherulite growth rate increased with decreasing molecular weight whereas the rate of crystalline portion expressed as half-time of crystallization decreased with decreasing molecular weight.

The study of protein and surfactant interactions is of great significance in a number of applications, such as the cosmetic, food or pharmaceutical industries and many others. However, they require further study due to their compositional complexity and the limitations of current analytical approaches. In this thesis, the cationic surfactant septonex in combination with two differently charged proteins lysozyme and bovine serum albumin under different physiological conditions (temperature, surfactant concentration, environment and others) was selected to study the interactions. Characterization of protein-surfactant interactions is a very important but challenging task, therefore it is essential to use appropriate approaches to explore the nature of these interactions. In order to unify the information to provide rational models, calorimetric methods (DSC, ITC) and dynamic light scattering were used. Isothermal titration calorimetry monitors the evidence for the formation of the system of the mentioned substances and information on aggregation behavior, differential scanning calorimetry characterizes the thermal stability of proteins and dynamic light scattering made it possible to monitor changes in particle size. Both proteins have been proven to interact with positive septonex, even if the lysozyme molecule is also positively charged. However, significant differences were found between the two proteins. From the obtained results it is evident that the identical charge of the protein with the surfactant has an effect on the intensity of the measurement, although all measured interactions showed an endothermic character.

Biopolymer surfactant systems have been studied by using different physico chemical methods. As the biopolymer, it was chosen high (1400–1600 kDa), medium (250–450 kDa) and low (8–15 kDa) molecular weight sodium hyaluronate. Two cationic surfactants – cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and carbethopendecinium bromide (Septonex) were selected to provide polyelectrolyte complexes with oppositely charged hyaluronan. The critical aggregation concentration of the surfactant in the system was monitored by dynamic light scattering (Zetasizer Nano ZS). SEC-MALS method was used for the description of the conformation of sodium hyaluronate of different molecular weights and polyelectrolytes complexes hyaluronan surfactant after reaching the aggregation point. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to determine the critical aggregation concentration of the surfactant by monitoring the thermal changes accompanying the aggregation of the system. It was found out that the increasing molecular weight of hyaluronan in these systems decreases the critical aggregation concentrations and conversely.