Este trabalho insere-se no ramo da modelagem de sistemas termodinâmicos complexos, e diz respeito fundamentalmente ao processo de extração de metais (em forma iônica) por solventes, auxiliando a busca de soluções para a otimização do processo. O modelo inicialmente proposto para o comportamento do equilíbrio líquido-líquido do processo de extração de íons metálicos (foram estudados os íons: Co2+, Ni2+, Mg2+ e Mn2+) mostrou um bom ajuste aos dados experimentais. Na primeira etapa, investigou-se a dependência da taxa de extração dos íons em relação ao pH de equilíbrio. Outras variáveis como: temperatura, concentração do agente extratante e razão volumétrica (O/A) foram mantidas constantes e, foram utilizadas soluções monocomponentes e taxas de carregamento do extratante inferiores a 2%. O estudo baseou-se no mecanismo de reação da extração desses íons, e, através do ajuste dos parâmetros principais dessas equações foi possível gerar um modelo para predizer a taxa de extração (E%) para cada um dos metais estudados. Este primeiro modelo, foi utilizado então, para a obtenção de um segundo modelo que leva em consideração soluções multicomponente de íons concorrentes e taxas de carregamento do extratante próximas a 45%. Parâmetros estes mais coerentes com operações comerciais de separação e produção de níquel e cobalto. O trabalho apresentado mostrou ser possível a utilização de modelos matemáticos que levem estes fatores em consideração, aproximando-se consideravelmente dos valores experimentais, e deste modo permite simulações assertivas de diferentes cenários de processo como: matérias primas, qualidade do produto final e consumo de insumos. / This work is a study on the modeling of the solvent extraction process of metal ions, aiming at finding solutions for process optimization. A model for the liquid - liquid equilibrium accounting for the mass balance in the extraction process of metal ions (Co2+, Ni2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+) showed an excellent fit to the experimental data . In the first step, the dependence of the rate of extraction of ions as a function of solution pH was investigated. Other variables such as temperature, concentration of extractant agent (phosphinic acid) and volumetric ratio (organic and aqueous phases) were held constant. Single-component solutions and low loading of extractant were considered. The study was based on the reaction mechanism of extraction of these ions, and by fitting the main parameters of these equations was possible to generate a model for predicting the extraction rate for each of the metals studied. This initial model was then used to obtain a second model which takes into account multicomponent solutions of competing ions and extractant loading rates close to 45%. These parameters are more consistent with commercial operations. The present work showed that using phenomenological models to account for these factors is possible. The model was validated with experimental values. Thus, this work allows for more accurate simulations of different process scenarios concerning raw materials, final product quality and consumption of inputs.

La désexcitation des fragments de fission reste mal comprise et les modèles théoriques ne permettent pas de prédire et d’expliquer toutes les corrélations observées dans le processus de fission. Il y a un besoin important de données simultanées sur les émissions de neutrons et de rayonnements gamma et sur l’énergie cinétique des fragments de fission. Dans ce contexte, l’utilisation d’un détecteur de fragments de fission avec le détecteur CARMEN permettrait de fournir des données contraignantes pour les modèles grâce à la mesure simultanée de la multiplicité neutronique, de l’énergie totale gamma rayonnée, de l’énergie cinétique totale des fragments et potentiellement de l’énergie totale neutron. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse a consisté à développer un détecteur de fragments de fission et à l’utiliser en association avec CARMEN pour réaliser des mesures calorimétriques de la fission. Dans un premier temps, nous avons développé un nouveau détecteur pour l’étude de la fission dont le principe est de mettre un actinide en solution dans un scintillateur organique. Des simulations Monte Carlo et différentes expériences sous faisceau de neutrons ont permis de caractériser et d’optimiser les performances de ce détecteur qui peut être utilisé comme trigger fission pour différentes mesures de sections efficaces de fission, de taux de fission spontanée ou encore comme veto fission. Dans un second temps, nous avons étudié les possibilités de mesure de l’énergie totale gamma et neutron rayonnée dans la fission avec CARMEN grâce à la caractérisation expérimentale de ses performances et à la simulation Monte Carlo et l’analyse de sa réponse « prompte » aux neutrons et aux rayonnements gamma / Still, the nuclear fission process and the de-excitation of the fission fragments is not fully understood. Current theoretical models can not predict and explain correctly every experimentally observed correlations, and new correlated data upon neutron emission, gamma-ray emission and kinetic energy of the fission fragments are needed. In this context, coincident use of a fission fragment detector and the CARMEN detector would provide compelling data for these models by measuring both neutron multiplicity, total gamma-ray energy, total kinetic energy and possibly total neutron energy. The work presented here consists in developing a fission fragment detector and using it together with CARMEN in order to perform fission calorimetry measurements. Initially, we developed a new detector for fission studies whose principle is dissolving the actinide of choice into an organic liquid scintillator. Monte Carlo simulations and neutron induced experiments were used to fully characterize its performances and shown it can be used as a fission trigger for various measurements, such as fission cross section or spontaneous fission rate measurements, and used as a fission veto. The second part of this work was dedicated to the study of CARMEN’s ability to measure the total gamma-ray energy and total neutron energy released in fission. For this purpose, lab characterization of the detector’s performances and Monte Carlo simulation and analysis of its “prompt” response to neutrons and gamma-rays were performed

Três procedimentos analíticos envolvendo microextração líquido-líquido (MELL) em fluxo foram desenvolvidos para as determinações de formaldeído em leite, detergentes aniônicos em águas de rios e bisfenol A (BPA) em águas de torneira. Microextração líquido-líquido dispersiva (MELLD) foi empregada no primeiro e no segundo procedimentos. O primeiro procedimento foi conduzido em um sistema fluxo-batelada no qual a quantificação espectrofotométrica era realizada diretamente na câmara de mistura/reação, através do acoplamento de fibras ópticas. No segundo, foi explorada a estratégia lab-in-syringe, em que a formação do par iônico entre os detergentes aniônicos e corante catiônico azul de metileno, bem como MELLD ocorriam no interior da seringa, sendo os analitos quantificados na fase orgânica por espectrofotometria. O terceiro procedimento envolveu MELL em sistema de análises por injeção sequencial (SIA), baseada na formação de um filme de 1-octanol na parede da bobina de extração. O extrato foi eluído com etanol e a quantificação de BPA foi realizada por espectrofluorimetria. As linearidades das curvas analíticas, os limites de detecção e os limites de quantificação ao nível de 95% de confiança foram: 0,5-5,0 mg L-1, 100 e 300 ?g L-1 para formaldeído, 0,03-0,5 mg L-1, 9,0 e 29,0 ?g L-1 para detergentes, e 5,0 - 100 ?g L-1, 1,8 ?g L-1 e 5,4 ?g L-1 para BPA. Os procedimentos desenvolvidos não apresentaram efeitos de matriz, e as recuperações se situaram entre 91 e 112%. A precisão e exatidão do procedimento foram concordantes com os procedimentos de referência, ao nível de 95% de confiança. Todos os procedimentos apresentaram coeficientes de variação menores do que 3,5% (n=10), frequência de amostragem de 10-17 h-1, consumiram apenas 30-40 µL de solventes orgânicos e geraram 2,7-6,7 mL de resíduos por determinação / Three analytical procedures involving flow-based liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) were developed for the determinations of formaldehyde in milk, anionic detergents in river waters, and bisphenol A (BPA) in tap waters. The first and second procedures involved dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and spectrophotometric detection. The first one was carried out in a flow-batch system, in which the spectrophotometric quantification was performed directly in the mixing/reaction chamber by coupling optical fibers. The second one exploited the lab-in-syringe strategy, in which the ion-pair formation between the anionic detergents and the methylene blue cationic dye, as well as DLLME, were carried out inside the syringe. The third procedure involved LLME in a sequential injection system based on the formation of a 1-octanol film on the inner wall of the extraction coil. The extract was eluted with ethanol and BPA was quantified by spectrofluorimetry. Linear response ranges, detection and quantification limits estimated at the 95% confidence level were: 0.5-5.0 mg L-1, 100 and 300 ?g L-1 for formaldehyde; 0.03-0.5 mg L-1, 9.0 and 29.0 ?g L-1 for detergents, and 5.0-100 ?g L-1, 1.8 and 5.4 ?g L-1 for BPA. Matrix effects were not observed for the assayed samples and recoveries ranged from 91 to 112%. Accuracy and precision of the results agreed with those attained by reference procedures at the 95% confidence level. All procedures yielded coefficients of variation lower than 3.5% (n = 10), sampling rates within 10 and 17 h-1, consumed only 30-40 ?L of organic solvents, and generated 2.7-6.7 mL of waste by determination

A economia mundial é fortemente dependente da disponibilidade de óleo, no entanto as reservas de óleo leve, mais atrativas ao mercado, tendem nos próximos anos ao esgotamento, trazendo à luz as reservas de óleo pesado para atender as demandas do mercado. No entanto, os processos associados ao transporte e processamento desses óleos viscosos consomem muita energia, impondo um grande desafio para a indústria do petróleo. Nesse contexto, se transportar óleos viscosos com água através de um escoamento bifásico em padrão Core Annular Flow (CAF) é muito promissor. Nessa prática, uma película anular de água envolve o núcleo que contém o óleo, minimizando o contato entre este e a parede do duto e reduzindo as perdas de energia por atrito. Visou o presente estudo mapear os padrões de escoamento de óleo pesado com água em dutos horizontais e verticais, mensurar os fatores de redução de potência e do diferencial de pressão associados à um trecho reto e à uma válvula de gaveta aberta e determinar o holdup para avaliar a eficiência do CAF. Para atingir esses objetivos, uma unidade de bancada foi construída, consistindo de tanques de armazenamento e de separação da mistura. Interligando os tanques, foram dispostos dutos transparentes com 27 mm de diâmetro interno e 8 m de extensão, contendo duas seções horizontais e uma vertical para análise e diversos acessórios hidráulicos. O óleo utilizado possuía viscosidade de 3200 cP a 22 °C e densidade de 945 kg/m3 . Os resultados experimentais demonstraram haver diversas configurações de fluxo segundo o posicionamento do duto, e que a diferença de densidade dos fluidos descentraliza o óleo nos escoamentos horizontais. Além disso, o trecho vertical intercalado entre os trechos horizontais se comportou como um retificador de fluxo, melhorando os índices do CAF. Foi determinado um fator de redução de perda de pressão máximo de 250 vezes para o trecho reto e de 12 vezes para a válvula de gaveta. O fator global máximo de redução de potência foi mensurado em 2,2 vezes. Concluiu-se que, para um trecho reto, o projeto de instalações hidráulicas para o escoamento bifásico deve considerar 15 % a mais de perda de carga em relação ao escoamento de água pura. Já para a válvula de gaveta, esse fator deve ser de 700 %. / The world economy is strongly dependent on the availability of oil, however, light oil reserves, more market-oriented, tend to deplete in coming years, bringing to light the heavy oil reserves to meet the demands of the market. However, the processes associated with the transportation and production of these viscous oils consume a lot of energy and pose a great challenge for the oil industry. In this context, transporting viscous oils through a liquid-liquid two-phase oil-water flow in a core annular pattern (CAF) is very promising. In this method, an annular water film surrounds the oil-containing core, minimizing its contact with the pipe wall and reducing energy losses by friction. The aim of the present work was to map the flow patterns of a biphasic oil-water flow in horizontal and vertical pipes, to evaluate the overall energy savings provided by the CAF technique, to measure the pressure gradient reduction factor along the pipe and in a gate valve and to determine the holdup as a way of assessing the energy efficiency of the biphasic oil-water flow transport. To achieve these goals, an experimental facility was built and it consisted of cargo and separation tanks. Connecting these tanks, approximately 8 m of 27mm-ID clear transparent PVC pipes, two horizontal and one vertical sections and various hydraulic fittings. It was used in the tests lubricating oil with 3200 cP and 945 kg/m3 at 22°C and distilled water. The experimental results showed that there are several flow configurations according to the pipe positioning, and that the oil and the water density difference decentralizes the oil core in horizontal flows. In addition, the vertical section placed between the two horizontal ones behaved like a flow rectifier, improving the core annular flow energy savings basis. An average pressure gradient reduction factor of 250 times in a straight pipe and of 12 times in a gate valve was determined. The maximum overall power reduction factor was measured as being 2.2 times. It was concluded that the design of a hydraulic installation to transport heavy oil with water in a core annular pattern should consider a pressure drop increase by a factor of 15 % in a straight pipe and by a factor of 700 % in a gate valve based on the monophasic water transport at similar flow rates.

Les performances des modèles thermodynamiques actuels pour les solvants mixtes (en particulier avec alcools) électrolytiques sont limités. L’objectif de ce travail est d’étendre les capacités du modèle eGC-PPC-SAFT à ces systèmes. Ceci est fait en plusieurs étapes. Dans une première étape, le modèle PPC-SAFT existant est amélioré pour l’eau pure et les solvants usuels, par (1) introduisant une dépendance en température du diamètre sphère dure de l'eau et (2) adapter un minimum de paramètres ioniques sur les coefficients d’activité moyens et les densités des systèmes contenant des électrolytes forts ainsi que les sur les équilibres liquide vapeur des solvants mixtes d'électrolytes. Dans une troisième étape, le modèle final est utilisé pour représenter les équilibres liquide-liquide des solvants mixtes électrolytiques en étudiant les coefficients de partition de chacune des espèces dans le système. Pour cela, une stratégie de paramétrage des paramètres binaires ion-solvant a été développée, qui implique l’évaluation de l’impact de chacune des contributions individuelles du modèle ePPC-SAFT sur les coefficients de partition. Étant donné son importance dans le cadre de la modélisation thermodynamique de ces systèmes, une nouvelle règle de mélange pour le constant diélectrique est proposée. Au final, le modèle développé est capable de décrire les coefficients d’activité ainsi que les équilibres VLE et LLE des système électrolytiques avec solvants mixtes. / The capabilities of the current thermodynamic models are limited in dealing with mixed-solvent electrolyte systems, due to the complex interactions within these systems. The objective of this work is to extend eGC-PPC-SAFT model to these systems. This is done in several steps. First, a modification in the temperature dependent water diameter was proposed. Second, a minimum number of ion-water parameters are determined on mean ioninc activity coefficients and densities of strong electrolyte systems, as well as vapour-liquid equilibria (VLE) of mixed solvent electrolytes. In the third step, the model is used to study the liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) of the mixed-solvent electrolyte system. This was done by looking at the partition coefficients of the individual species in the systems. In doing so, a parameterization strategy was developed for ion-solvent binaries that involve assessing the impact of the individual ePPC-SAFT contribution on the partitioning of individual species. A new method for dealing with the condition of electroneutrality in liquid-liquid ionic systems was proposed that involves a direct correction on the fugacity coefficient. In view of the importance of this property, a new mixing rule for the dielectric constant of mixed solvent is proposed to provide the best description of LLE of mixed solvent electrolyte. The final model is capable of describing, the activity coefficient, VLE, and LLE of mixed-solvent electrolyte systems.

Na presente Tese de Doutorado objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade técnica da substituição do solvente hexana, de fonte não renovável e industrialmente utilizado na extração de óleos vegetais, por solventes geralmente reconhecidos como seguros (GRAS), tais como álcoois de cadeia curta, etanol ou isopropanol, com diferentes graus de hidratação. Em adição, uma propriedade específica dos álcoois de cadeia curta foi estudada, miscibilidade parcial entre álcoois e óleo, objetivando-se a recuperação do solvente, etapa posterior ao processo de extração de óleo, denominada de dessolventização. Nesse sentido, torta de amêndoas de baru proveniente da prensagem mecânica industrial foi submetida à extração, com etanol ou isopropanol, absoluto ou azeotrópico, nas temperaturas de 60 a 90 °C, em um único estágio de contato. Os resultados mostraram que a adição de água ao solvente alcoólico impactou negativamente na eficiência de extração de óleo, enquanto o aumento da temperatura favoreceu este processo, sendo que com solvente isopropanol absoluto, a 80 °C, foi possível extrair aproximadamente 91 % do óleo disponível. Em temperaturas acima de 80 °C, os solventes utilizados, com exceção do etanol azeotrópico, apresentaram rendimentos de extração de óleo estatisticamente iguais. A composição em ácidos graxos dos óleos obtidos da extração alcoólica sequencial foi característica de óleo de amêndoas de baru, com predominância dos ácidos graxos insaturados oleico e linoleico e do saturado palmítico (aproximadamente 51, 28 e 7 %, respectivamente), independentemente da condição de processo empregada. Ainda, a extração alcoólica sequencial não influenciou nos teores dos isômeros α- e γ- tocoferol e no teor total de tocoferóis. Em relação ao estudo da fração proteica, dos sólidos desengordurados provenientes da extração alcoólica sequencial em três e dois estágios, para as temperaturas 60 e 90 °C, respectivamente, tanto a solubilidade proteica como a estabilidade térmica dos sólidos foram afetadas, sendo o índice de solubilidade de nitrogênio afetado negativamente pela hidratação do solvente alcoólico, temperatura de processo e número de estágios de contato. De uma maneira geral, a extração de óleo com solventes alcoólicos proporcionou a obtenção de um material sólido desengordurado com melhorias na capacidade de absorção de água e de óleo. Adicionalmente, verificou-se que o processo de extração alcoólica exerceu influência negativa na atividade emulsificante e positiva na capacidade de formação e estabilidade de espuma. Ademais, no estudo da recuperação do solvente, dados de equilíbrio de fases determinados para sistemas lipídicos compostos por óleo de torta de amêndoas de baru, obtido da prensagem mecânica industrial, e solventes alcoólicos, na faixa de temperatura de 15 a 60 °C, mostraram que a temperatura exerceu maior influencia na solubilidade mútua dos componentes dos sistemas com solventes absolutos em comparação aos sistemas com solventes azeotrópicos, enquanto a hidratação do solvente levou a diminuição da solubilidade, com consequente redução do coeficiente de partição do óleo. Parâmetros do modelo NRTL ajustados aos dados experimentais apresentaram adequada descrição do comportamento dos sistemas lipídicos, com desvios nas frações mássicas variando de 0,0014 a 0,0086. / The aim of this Ph.D. Thesis was to evaluate the technical feasibility of replacing the solvent hexane, from a non-renewable source and industrially used in the extraction of vegetable oils, by solvents generally recognized as safe (GRAS), such as short chain alcohols, ethanol or isopropanol, with different levels of hydration. In addition, a specific property of the short-chain alcohols, the partial miscibility between alcohols and oil, has been studied aiming at recovering the solvent after the oil extraction process, called desolventization. In this sense, baru almond cake from industrial mechanical pressing was subjected to extraction with ethanol or isopropanol, absolute or azeotropic degress, at temperatures from 60 up to 90 °C, in a single contact stage. Results showed that the addition of water to the alcoholic solvent negatively affected the oil extraction efficiency, while the increase in temperature favored this process. It was possible to extract approximately 91 % of the oil with absolute isopropanol solvent at 80 °C. At temperatures above 80 °C, the solvents, with the exception of azeotropic ethanol, showed no statistical differences regarding extraction yields. The fatty acid composition of oils obtained from sequential alcoholic extraction was characteristic of baru almond oil, with predominance of oleic and linoleic unsaturated fatty acids and palmitic saturated fatty acid (approximately 51, 28 and 7%, respectively), regardless of the condition of used. Also, the sequential alcoholic extraction did not influence the contents of the α- and γ-tocopherol isomers and the total content of tocopherols. In relation to the protein fraction study, of the defatted solids from the sequential alcoholic extraction in three and two stages, for the temperatures of 60 and 90 °C, respectively, the protein solubility and the thermal stability of the solids were affected, being the nitrogen solubility index negatively affected by the hydration of the alcoholic solvent, by the process temperature and by the number of contact stages. In general, the extraction of oil with alcoholic solvents provided a defatted solid material with improvements in water and oil absorption capacities. Additionally, it was verified that the process of alcoholic extraction exerted a negative influence on the emulsifying activity and a positive on the capacity of foam formation and stability. Moreover, in the study of solvent recovery, phase equilibrium data determined for lipid systems composed of baru almond cake oil, obtained from industrial mechanical pressing, and alcoholic solvents, in the temperature range from 15 up to 60 °C, showed that the temperature exhibited the higher influence on the mutual solubility of the components of the system with absolute solvents compared to systems with azeotropic solvents, while the hydration of the solvent led to a decrease in solubility, with consequent reduction of the partition coefficient of the oil. NRTL model parameters adjusted to the experimental data presented an adequate description of the behavior of the lipid systems, with deviations in mass fractions varying from 0.0014 to 0.0086.

<p>Freudenberg Household Products AB in Norrköping are manufacturer of sponge cloths with the well-known brand names of Wettex^® and Vileda^®. The production is based on the viscose fiber process and involves a high chemical demand. Recent customer complaints involve a diffuse smell from the cloths that is like a “garage odor” and occurs after a few uses. The company’s theory is that the smell derives from a chemical used in the process called Exxal 9.</p><p>The aim was to screen the washing water from two sections and the cloth before and after wash for the presence of Exxal 9 and other prominent components. The washing water samples consisted of a salt solution from one section and a water condensate from another section. A method to qualitatively and quantitatively examine the production samples was developed. To evaluate the variation over a short period of time, twelve samples were taken during four weeks. The focus for the analysis lay on production line Wx4, but comparisons with two other production lines, Wx7 and SL1, were also made. The method of choice was gas chromatography in combination with two different detectors; mass spectrometer for identification and flame ionization detector for quantification.</p><p>Exxal 9 could be identified in both of the washing water sections but in very various concentrations. At the production line Wx4, the mean concentration in the mother lye was 61.96 µl/l whereas the mean concentration in the condensate was 0.24 µl/l. The comparison between the different production lines showed significant variations, where Wx4 had the highest concentration. In the cloths, Exxal 9 could only be found before it had been washed. The concentration in the cloths was not high enough for quantification. In both the washing waters and cloths, additional unknown peaks were found. Attempts to identify all the unknowns were made but only two compounds were included in the commercial library; 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)-ethanol.</p>

This work focuses on wood extractives in effluents from the CTMP plant at Skoghall Mill. Pulp and paper industry effluents contain mostly natural compounds which are part of the trees. They are toxic to aquatic life but harmless in nature, as they are present in low concentrations. Processing tons of wood, such as in a pulp mill, strongly increases the concentrations of the toxic compounds (Ali, M. and Sreekrishnan, T., 2001) which have to be treated before transferring to the aquatic environment.Extractives can be found in different forms, as micelles soluble in water, unprocessed in fibers or absorbed on the surface of fibers. It is important to know in which forms extractives are mostly present in the effluent, so that they can be treated more efficiently. It is desired to have extractives absorbed on the fibers and fibrils present in the waste water, so they can be separated from the water and treated separately, e.g. burned for energy recovery. Dissolved extractives complicate the oxygen transfer in an aerated biological treatment step with their surface active properties (Sandberg, 2012).The aim of this study is quantification of extractives on the fibers suspended in the waste water and extractives dissolved in the water. The distribution between the two forms is an important input when designing future effluent treatment. Wood extractives itself are a wide group with different compounds. This work focuses on the main groups present in waste water: resin acids, free and esterified fatty acids and, free and esterified sterols. These groups are analyzed in different process waters and waste water before the waste water treatment plant. The measured concentrations of extractives were as expected, higher in process and effluent waters, lower in white water. Most of the extract was dissolved in the water and unfortunately fiber samples contained very low concentration from the total extract in the samples.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) frequently occur in the deep granitic rock aquifers at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (Äspö HRL), Sweden. The new SRB strain Desulfovibrio äspöensis could be iso-lated. The objective of this project was to explore the basic interaction mechanisms of uranium, curium, neptunium and plutonium with cells of D. äspöensis DSM 10631T. The cells of D. äspöensis were successfully cultivated under anaerobic conditions as well in an optimized bicarbonate-buffered mineral medium as on solid medium at 22 °C. To study the interaction of D. äspöensis with the actinides, the cells were grown to the mid-exponential phase (four days). The collected biomass was usually 1.0±0.2 gdry weight/L. The purity of the used bacterial cultures was verified using microscopic techniques and by applying the Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Enzyme Analysis (ARDREA). The interaction experiments with the actinides showed that the cells are able to remove all four actinides from the surrounding solution. The amount of removed actinide and the interaction mechanism varied among the different actinides. The main U(VI) removal occurred after the first 24 h. The contact time, pH and [U(VI)]initial influence the U removal efficiency. The presence of uranium caused a damaging of the cell membranes. TEM revealed an accumulation of U inside the bacterial cell. D. äspöensis are able to form U(IV). A complex interaction mechanism takes place consisting of biosorption, bioreduction and bioaccumulation. Neptunium interacts in a similar way. The experimental findings are indicating a stronger interaction with uranium compared to neptunium. The results obtained with 242Pu indicate the ability of the cells of D. äspöensis to accumulate and to reduce Pu(VI) from a solution containing Pu(VI) and Pu(IV)-polymers. In the case of curium at a much lower metal concentration of 3x10-7 M, a pure biosorption of Cm(III) on the cell envelope forming an inner-sphere surface complex most likely with organic phosphate groups was detected. To summarize, the strength of the interaction of D. äspöensis with the selected actinides at pH 5 and actinide concentrations ≥10 mg/L ([Cm] 0.07 mg/L) follows the pattern: Cm > U > Pu >> Np.

Bioanalytical chemistry is a challenging field, often involving complex samples, such as blood, plasma, serum or urine. In many applications, sample cleanup is the most demanding and time-consuming step. In the work underlying this thesis a novel dynamic miniature extractor, known as a hollow-fibre liquid-phase microextractor (HF-LPME), was designed, evaluated and studied closely when used to clean plasma samples. Aqueous-organic-aqueous liquid extraction, in which the organic liquid is immobilised in a porous polypropylene membrane, was the principle upon which the extractor was based, and this is discussed in all the papers associated with this thesis. This type of extraction is known as supported-liquid membrane extraction (SLM). The aim of this work was the development of a dynamic system for SLM. It was essential that the system could handle small sample volumes and had the potential for hyphenations and on-line connections to, for instance, LC/electrospray-MS. The design of a miniaturised HF-LPME device is presented in Paper I. The extraction method was developed for some weakly acidic pesticides and these were also used for evaluation. In the work described in Paper II, the method was optimised on the basis of an experimental design using spiked human plasma samples. Paper III presents a detailed study of the mass-transfer over the liquid membrane. The diffusion through the membrane pores was illustrated by a computer-simulation. Not surprisingly, the more lipophilic, the greater the retention of the compounds, as a result of dispersive forces. The main focus of the work described in Paper IV was to make the HF/LPME system more versatile and user-friendly; therefore, the extractor was automated by hyphenation to a SIA system. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript.