A produção de compostos a partir de carboidratos conhecidos como blocos de construção tem despertado muito interesse da comunidade científica recentemente, principalmente em aplicações de bioenergia. Um desses compostos é o 5-hidroximetilfurfural ou HMF, o qual apresenta um alto potencial como matéria-prima na produção de biocombustíveis e produtos químicos de alto valor agregado, como polímeros e fármacos. A principal via para a obtenção de HMF é a desidratação de mono e polissacarídeos em meio ácido em um reator bifásico. A fase aquosa reacional contém um catalisador ácido e um açúcar, e a fase orgânica extrativa é formada por um solvente alcoólico parcialmente miscível com água que extrai continuamente o composto. Uma revisão de literatura revelou que o processo industrial ainda não é economicamente viável principalmente pela falta de dados termodinâmicos de equilíbrio associados à solubilidade durante a etapa extrativa, ou seja, à interação do HMF com água e solventes. Consequentemente, muita energia e reagentes são desperdiçados, juntamente com os coprodutos na tentativa de extrair de forma eficiente o HMF. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a interação em mistura aquosa entre o HMF e três álcoois de diferentes cadeias carbônicas (1-pentanol, 1-hexanol e 1-heptanol) a temperatura de 25° C. Os coeficientes de distribuição e de seletividade foram empregados para avaliar a capacidade dos solventes de extrair o 5-hidroximetilfurfural da solução aquosa. Os resultados mostraram que o 1-pentanol apresentou melhor desempenho entre os álcoois estudados para a recuperação de HMF a partir da água. Já o modelo NRTL foi usado para correlacionar os dados experimentais e os parâmetros de interação binária relevantes. O desvio médio quadrático da raiz (RMSD) do modelo NRTL foi de 0,78%, o que indica que os dados experimentais do ELL podem ser correlacionados satisfatoriamente pelo modelo. / The building block composts\' production from carbohydrates is currently attracting the attention of the research community, especially because they could be used as bioenergy. One of those composts is 5-hydroximetilfurfural, or HMF, which has a high potential as crude matter in biofuels as well as in medicine and also in polymers\' production. The easiest way to obtain HMF is by oligosaccharides dehydration using an acid medium at a biphasic reactor. In the aqueous phase, there are an acid catalyser and a sugar, and in the extractive organic phase, there is an alcoholic solvent that is partially miscible with water, were HMF is extracted continuously. A literature review showed that the industrial extraction process is not yet economically attractive. That happens due to missing thermodynamic data that would guarantee a successful extraction, such as the liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) data from the HMF, water and alcohol system. By improving the LLE in the extraction phase utilising a correct and efficient alcohol, we can increase the system efficiency: more HMF and less unwanted by-products extraction and a decrease in the energy consumption. Having those things in mind, in this research solubility graphics and LLE data between HMF, water, alcohol (1-pentanol, 1-hexanol e 1-heptanol) at 298,15 K and ~0,1 MPa were determined experimentally. The distribution coefficients and selectivities were employed to assess the capacity of solvents to extract 5hydroxymethylfurfural from aqueous solution. 1-pentanol showed better performance than the other studied alcohols for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural recovery from water. The NRTL model was used to correlate the experimental data and relevant binary interaction parameters were regressed. The root mean square deviations (RMSD) of the NRTL model was around 0.78%, which indicate that the experimental LLE data can be successfully correlated by model.

Ce travail s’inscrit dans la convention CIFRE n°2012/0379 avec la startup Adionics pour le développement d’un procédé de dessalement par extraction liquide-liquide. La régénération de la phase organique est réalisée par désextraction du sel à chaud. Les isothermes de partage du NaCl, Na2SO4 et MgCl2 à 20 40 60 et 80°C ont été obtenues. Une stœchiométrie expliquant leur forme a été proposée et les constantes d’équilibre associées ont été déterminées. Les enthalpies d’extraction ont été déduites des variations des constantes d’équilibre avec la température.La prise en compte de l’effet de milieu en phase aqueuse a été réalisée à l’aide du modèle de Pitzer avec l’hypothèse des interactions spécifiques. Une correction pour les effets de milieu en phase organique a également été ajustée sur NaCl -Na2SO4 à 20 40 et 60°C.Les propriétés physico-chimiques du solvant (viscosité, masse volumique, chaleur spécifique, conductivité thermique, ...) ont été déterminées sur une plage de 20°C à 80°C. La tension interfaciale du solvant a également été obtenue à 20°C, avec de l'eau eau pure et salée. Une étude approchée de la solubilité du diluant en phase aqueuse a également été entreprise.Un prototype avec deux colonnes à garnissage de 4 mètres de haut a été élaboré pour tester la faisabilité du procédé en continu. L’extracteur a été modélisé par une cascade d’étages parfaitement agités avec prise en compte du mélange en retour. Les HUT (Hauteur d'une Unité de Transfert) expérimentales ont été comparées à celles calculées à l'aide de différentes corrélations des coefficients de transfert disponibles dans la littérature. Une adéquation satisfaisante a été obtenue entre modèle et expérience. Une réflexion sur le type d'extracteur doit être entreprise pour une amélioration de la performance de dessalement. / This work is a contribution to the development of an innovative desalination process by solvent extraction. The regeneration of the organic phase is achieved by desextraction of the salt at high temperature. Isotherms of distribution of NaCl, Na2SO4 and MgCl2 at 20 40 60 and 80°C were obtained. A stoichiometry able to account for their shapes was suggested and the associated equilibrium constants were determined. The extraction enthalpies were deduced from the variation of the constants with temperature.Non ideality in the aqueous phase was modeled with the Pitzer equations, simplified with the specific interaction principle. A thermodynamic correction to account for mixed salts effect in the organic phase was adjusted on binary data (NaCl, Na2SO4) at 20 40 and 60°C.Mechanical (viscosity, density) and thermal (specific heat, thermal conductivity) properties of the organic phase were characterised from 20 to 80°C. The interfacial tension was obtained at 20°C with pure water and filtrated natural seawater. The overall solubility of the solvant in water was measured. A prototype of the process with two extraction columns with a packed bed of 4 meters was tested. The HTU obtained were compared with a numerical model based on the classical stagewise backflow model expanded by a thermal balance.

Dados experimentais de algumas propriedades de componentes do biodiesel nÃo podem ser obtidos experimentalmente ou sÃo escassos. Com isso, a utilizaÃÃo de mÃtodos preditivos torna-se fundamental para o cÃlculo de propriedades fÃsicas e termodinÃmicas de Ãsteres que compÃem o biodiesel. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados mÃtodos para o cÃlculo de propriedades crÃticas e do fator acÃntrico atravÃs do cÃlculo da densidade utilizando a equaÃÃo de Rackett-Soave. MÃtodos para o cÃlculo da temperatura normal de fusÃo e temperatura normal de ebuliÃÃo tambÃm foram avaliados. Os mÃtodos avaliados para a temperatura normal de fusÃo nÃo apresentaram bons resultados, com isso correlaÃÃes para esta propriedade foram propostas. TrÃs versÃes do mÃtodo GCVOL foram avaliadas, juntamente com a equaÃÃo de Rackett-Soave, para o cÃlculo da densidade de biodiesel. As quatro equaÃÃes apresentaram-se satisfatÃrias. PorÃm, a equaÃÃo de Rackett-Soave foi a Ãnica que apresentou comportamento fisicamente consistente para a densidade a altas temperaturas. A partir disso, a equaÃÃo de Rackett-Soave foi estendida para altas pressÃes. Dois modelos baseados no princÃpio dos estados correspondentes (Carmo1F e Carmo2F) foram propostos para a prediÃÃo de viscosidade de Ãsteres e biodiesel. O modelo de Ceriani tambÃm foi avaliado. Os modelos Carmo1F e Carmo2F apresentaram bons resultados para a viscosidade de biodiesel. No entanto, para Ãsteres o modelo de Carmo1F nÃo apresentou bons resultado e por isso nÃo deve ser utilizado para esse tipo de composto. O modelo de Carmo2F apresentou bons resultados apenas para Ãsteres saturados. O modelo de Ceriani apresentou bons resultados para Ãsteres, mas resultados piores que os modelos de Carmo1F e Carmo2F foram encontrados para biodiesel. AlÃm disso, quatro mÃtodos de contribuiÃÃo de grupos para o coeficiente de atividade foram avaliados para sistemas de equilÃbrio lÃquido-lÃquido contendo biodiesel + glicerol + Ãlcool (metanol ou etanol). Os mÃtodos que apresentaram as melhores prediÃÃes foram o UNIFAC-Dortmund e ASOG. Por isso, eles sÃo os mÃtodos indicados para a simulaÃÃo de equilÃbrio lÃquido-lÃquido de sistemas contendo biodiesel. / Experimental data for some properties of biodiesel components cannot be obtained or are scarce. Therefore predictive methods are fundamental tools for calculating physical and thermodynamic properties of esters in biodiesel. In this work, methods for critical properties and acentric factor were evaluated by the Rackett-Soave for density calculations. Methods for freezing temperature and boiling temperature have also been evaluated. Freezing temperature methods did not present good results. Therefore correlations were proposed for this property. Three versions of GCVOL method and the Rackett-Soave equation were evaluated for biodiesel density predictions. These four models presented satisfactory results. However, Rackett-Soave equation was the only that presented a physically consistent behavior for the density at high temperatures. Thereat, Rackett-Soave equation was extended to high pressures. Two models based on corresponding states principle (Carmo1F and Carmo2F) were proposed for viscosity predictions of esters and biodiesel. The Cerianiâs model was evaluated too. Carmo1F and Carmo2F models obtained good results for biodiesel viscosity. However, the Carmo1F model did not present good results for esters and, for this reason, this model should not be used for these components. The Carmo2F model presented good predictions for saturated esters viscosity. The Cerianiâs model presented good results for ester, but in comparison to Carmo1F and Carmo2F models, worse results have been obtained for biodiesel. Furthermore, four group contributions methods for activity coefficient were evaluated for liquid-liquid equilibrium systems composed of biodiesel + glycerol + alcohol (methanol or ethanol). The models that have output the best predictions were the UNIFAC-Dortmund and ASOG models. As such, these two models are recommended to simulated liquid-liquid equilibrium of biodiesel containing systems.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo selecionar procedimentos de purificação de óleos vegetais, com enfoque na desacidificação, comparando a eficiência de métodos de refino alternativos (adsorção e extração liquido-liquido) com o convencional (alcalino). Para tanto, foram utilizados óleos com baixo impacto na cadeia alimentícia, como óleo de andíroba e óleo de macaúba, visando contribuir para a ampliação de matérias-primas lipídicas na produção de biodiesel. A triagem do método de purificação mais adequado foi baseada na redução de ácidos graxos livres, na quantidade recuperada de matéria-prima após o refino e na qualidade do biodiesel gerado. Adotando óleos com diferentes teores de ácidos graxos livres, óleo de andíroba (17,7%) e óleo de macaúba (7,9%) a desacidificação por adsorção, empregando diferentes adsorventes foi excluída com base nos baixos valores de desacidificação (<34,1%) e de recuperação em massa de óleo (22,2-43,1%). A acidez mais elevada do óleo de andíroba se mostrou como um fator limitante adicional, portanto, o uso deste óleo foi eliminado para as etapas posteriores de triagem. Em contrapartida, o refino por extração liquido-liquido (ELL) usando etanol como solvente forneceu valores mais elevados de recuperação mássica (>75,9%) e de redução de ácidos graxos livres (>48,8%). Buscou-se por meio da utilização de um método estatístico determinar as condições adequadas de refino por ELL usando etanol hidratado. Esta etapa foi realizada por meio de uma matriz de planejamento fatorial composto de face centrada 22, avaliando simultaneamente a influência da porcentagem mássica de agua no solvente alcoólico (2, 4 e 6%) e da razão mássica solvente/óleo (1:1, 1,5:1, 2:1). De acordo com a análise estatística foi possível estabelecer que a adição de 5,3% de agua no etanol e razão mássica etanol/óleo de 1,79:1 maximizaram a remoção de ácidos graxos livres (64,4%) sem ocasionar elevadas perdas de óleo refinado (93,9%). Adotando as condições otimizadas de ELL, o óleo de macaúba foi refinado em único e duplo estagio. Constatou-se que o teor de ácidos graxos livres em relação ao óleo bruto (7,9%) foi reduzido expressivamente em ambos os casos para valores de 2,9% (refino em único estagio) e de 1,0% (refino em duplo estagio), com a vantagem de não promover oxidação do material lipídico. Entretanto, a recuperação mássica de óleo refinado obtida na ELL em duplo estagio foi menor, da ordem de 78,5%. Para validar a metodologia de purificação, foram realizadas reações de etanólise das amostras de óleo refinado por ELL em único e duplo estagio, óleo bruto e óleo refinado por via alcalina utilizando como catalisador oxido nióbio impregnado com sódio. Enquanto a acidez do óleo bruto inibiu o catalisador, os produtos originados pelas amostras de óleo refinadas por ELL em único e duplo estagio contiveram teores em ésteres etílicos (97,4% e 97,8%, respectivamente) que atenderam as especificações recomendadas pela Agencia Nacional de Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustível para uso como combustível. Esses valores foram similares a conversão alcançada na reação conduzida com o óleo refinado por via alcalina (99,0%), que teve desvantagens como recuperação mássica de 80,1% e aumento do índice de peroxido, indicando que a extração liquido-liquido tem potencial para desenvolvimento e aplicação em processos de refino de óleos vegetais para posterior utilização na síntese de biodiesel. / This study aimed at comparing the purification of non-edible vegetable oils by two different types of refining (adsorption and liquid-liquid extraction) with conventional alkali refining, contributing to the expansion of lipid feedstocks for biodiesel production. The use of non-edible vegetable oils is related to the final cost of biodiesel by increasing product competitiveness. The screening of the purification methods for vegetable oils (andiroba oil and macaw palm oil) was based on the reduction of free fatty acids content, oil mass recovery after the refining and the quality of biodiesel. Adopting oils with different levels of free fatty acids, andiroba oil (17.7%) and macaw palm oil (7.9%), the deacidification by adsorption, employing different adsorbents was excluded on the basis of the low deacidification values (<34.1%) and the oil mass recovered (22.2-43.1%). The higher acidity of andiroba oil was found to be an addition drawback and therefore, this oil was disqualified for further testing. On the other hand, the purification by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) of macaw palm oil using ethanol as solvent gave higher values for oil mass recovery (>75.9%) and reduction of free fatty acids (>48.8). To determine the suitable conditions for oil refining by LLE using hydrated ethanol as solvent a statistical method was proposed. For this a 22 central composite face-centered experimental design was adopted to simultaneously evaluate the influence of the water percentage in the alcoholic solvent (2, 4, and 6%), and mass ratio of solvent-to-oil (1:1, 1.5:1 and 2:1). According to the statistical analysis it was possible to establish that the addition of 5.3% of water in the ethanol and mass ratio of ethanol to oil of 1.79:1 maximizes the removal of free fatty acids (64.4%) resulting in high refined oil recovered (93.9%). Adopting the optimized LLE conditions, the macaw palm oil was refined in single and double-stage. It was noted that the level of free fatty acids in relation to crude oil (7.9%) was significantly reduced in both cases for values of 2.9% (refining in single stage) and 1.0% (refining in double-stage), with the advantage of not promoting lipid oxidation. However, the percentage of the recovered refined oil obtained in LLE double-stage was slightly lower, in the order of 78.5%. To validate the purification methodology, ethanolysis reactions catalyzed by niobium oxide impregnated with sodium were performed using samples refined by LLE (single and double-stage), oil refined by alkali neutralization and crude oil. The obtained dataset demonstrated that the catalyst was inhibited by the high acidity level of the crude oil, while refined oil by LLE (single-stage and double-stage) gave levels of ethyl esters contents of 97.4% and 97.8%, respectively that meet the criteria established by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels to be used as a fuel. These values were similar to that attained in the reaction using refined oil by alkaline protocol (99.0%), which had disadvantages such as oil mass recovered of 80.1% and oil oxidation (increased peroxide value), indicating that the liquid-liquid extraction has the potential for development and application in vegetable oils refining processes for further using as feedstocks in the biodiesel synthesis.

Continuous flow reaction using micro-reactors is a valued technology due to its excellent mass and heat transfer performance, reduced reactor volume, handling capacity of hazardous reactions, and many other process intensifications. These intensifications opportunities interest the fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals producers and other multiphase reaction users who currently use batch processes or already use continuous flow. In this thesis, elements of passive and active mixing are investigated for the application of immiscible liquid-liquid systems. In the first study, the effects of geometrical arrangements of a residence time between mixing units on the interphase mass transfer rates are evaluated with four different immiscible liquid-liquid systems. A presentation of an algorithm for the optimal selection of a reactor and its operating conditions is given in order to enable easy and improved use of one’s micro-reactor. In the second study, the impact of a secondary pulse flow on interphase mass transfer is investigated. A coil without internal baffles is used as the oscillatory-flow coil reactor with a continuous active mixing source. The best application for the reactor is determined using a comparison to other complementary continuous flow platforms in the toolbox approach. The novel advancements presented here will help lead new molecular discoveries and connect the laboratory science scale to the process engineering production scale.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemistry)) --University of Limpopo, 2017 / The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment is of major concern since these compounds are highly persistent, toxic and wide spread pollutants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of PAHs in water and sediment samples collected from Blood and Mokolo Rivers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) was used for the extraction of PAHs from water, whereas PAHs in sediments were extracted using optimised microwaveassisted extraction (MAE). Furthermore, ultrasonication and a combination of ultrasonication and mechanical agitation were used for the extraction of PAHs from sediments samples. The quantification of sixteen (16) PAHs in water and sediment was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode and by GC-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). Concentrations of PAHs in sediments were higher than in water. The highest concentrations of PAHs were obtained in Mokolo River sediments, with the concentration ranging between 0.044 and 51.9 mg/kg. The levels of PAHs recorded in Blood River sediments were lower than those obtained in Mokolo River with concentrations ranging between 0.014 and 3.10 mg/kg. In water samples, higher levels of PAHs were observed in Mokolo River (between 0.0219 and 1.53 µg/L) while lower concentrations were recorded in Blood River (between 0.0121 and 0.433 µg/L). In water and sediment samples from both Rivers, higher molecular weight (HMW) PAH compounds (4-6 rings) were found at greater concentration levels than lower molecular weight (LMW) PAHs (2-3 rings), and this can be attributed to pyrogenic activities in the study areas. The efficiencies and accuracy of the methods for the extraction of PAHs were determined by assessing the recoveries of samples spiked with known amount of standards (for water samples), while a certified reference material (CRM) was used for sediments. Percentage recoveries ranged from 67.6 to 115% for LLE and 83.8 to 125% for MAE for both sample types. Diagnostic ratio was used for the source identification of PAHs in sediment samples. Several PAHs ratios indicated that both pyrogenic and petrogenic could be the sources of these compounds in both rivers. Toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) and benzo(a)pyrene equivalent (BaPE) were used to quantitatively estimate the PAHs potential human health risk. The assessment of ecotoxicological risk indicated that the v sediment samples collected from Mokolo River are at high toxicity risk while sediments from Blood River are at low sediment toxicity risk. / Water Research Commission (WRC), National Research Foundation (NRF) and Sasol Inzalo Foundation

Le travail présenté porte sur le couplage d’un procédé membranaire à extraction liquide-liquide avec un bioréacteur impliquant des molécules hydrophobes. La bioconversion modèle utilisée est la production de cis-2-methyl-5-isopropylhexa-2,5-dienal (isonovalal) à partir d’α-pinène oxyde, instable en phase aqueuse, par des cellules entières perméabilisées de Pseudomonas rhodesiae (CIP 107491). La production d’isonovalal en milieu biphasique eau (tampon phosphate)/hexadécane présente des verrous technologiques importants, dont une inactivation de l'enzyme à l'interface eau-solvant organique ainsi que l'apparition d'une émulsion stable. L’intérêt de la membrane porte sur l'absence de formation d'émulsion et sur l’augmentation de la durée de vie du biocatalyseur en raison de l'absence de contact direct du biocatalyseur avec l'interface liquide-liquide. La nature de la membrane a été choisie à partir de l'analyse des propriétés physico-chimiques du matériau et de l’étude des affinités entre membrane et composés d’intérêt (solutés, solvants). Il a été montré que les conditions d'écoulement au voisinage de la membrane, notamment du côté aqueux, jouent un rôle prépondérant sur les vitesses de transfert. Ce résultat souligne l'importance du design et des conditions d'opération du module membranaire sur les capacités de transfert. Le couplage de l’extraction membranaire liquide-liquide et de la réaction biologique a conduit à la mise en place d’un système bi-membranaire. Le prototype développé a permis de doubler les capacités catalytiques (+ 100 % d’isonovalal par gramme de biomasse) ainsi que de la durée de vie du biocatalyseur (160 h contre 80 h) par rapport à la même bioconversion réalisée en système biphasique conventionnel. / The study deals with the combination of a membrane process based on liquid/liquid extraction with a bioreactor producing hydrophobic molecules. The bioconversion used is the production of cis-2-methyl-5-isopropylhexa-2,5-dienal (isonovalal) from α-pinene oxide (unstable in aqueous phase) by whole cells of Pseudomonas rhodesiae (CIP 107491). The production of isonovalal in two-phase medium water/organic is known about but presents important technological brakes. Membrane interest concerns the stabilization of liquid/liquid interface and capacity to increase the biocatalyst life-time. Membrane nature is chosen from the analysis of physical and chemical properties of membrane material and study of the affinities between membrane and interest compounds (solutes, solvents). Two membrane contactors are designed and implemented on laboratory scale to study transfers between liquid phases. It is shown that the hydrodynamic conditions in the membrane neighborhood, in particular on aqueous side, play a major role on transfer speeds. This result underlines the importance of design and operation conditions in membrane module about the transfer capacities. The combination of liquid/liquid membrane extraction and biological reaction with unstable substrate had been studied and lead to the implementation of a serial bi-membrane system. The developed prototype, equipped with a PTFE membrane (polytetrafluoroethylene) with 0.22 μm pores’ diameter, highlights a doubling of catalytic capacities (+ 100 % of isonovalal per gram of biomass) as well as biocatalyst life-time (160 hours against 80 hours) compared with the same bioconversion realized in conventional two-phase medium system.

Particle Nucleation is the forcing function in the Emulsion Polymerization processes and it plays an important role in dictating the final properties of the latex produced. Identification of the main nucleation sites and characterizing them in terms of their size and composition is important for elucidating the mechanism of particle nucleation. This research focuses on identifying the most likely nucleation locus in emulsion polymerization processes by characterizing the initial conditions of the reaction mixture. In order to achieve this objective, a methodology was devised, which used a non-reacting model emulsion system instead of the original emulsion. The model emulsion system selected has the same dispersion properties as that of the monomer emulsion system, but different optical properties. The model emulsion system enabled the study of the distribution of the emulsifier using Uv vis spectroscopy. This approach also eliminated the time constraint associated with sampling during a polymerization reaction. A quantitative deconvolution using the turbidity equation, was done on the transmission Uv vis spectra of the emulsions. This enabled the characterization of the emulsions in terms of their particle size distribution, particle number and the composition of the droplet populations comprising them. The studies conducted provide the experimental evidence for a previously unidentified nano-droplet population of size range 30 to 100nm in diameter. To further support this experimental evidence, calculations were performed to obtain the emulsifier distribution over the nano-droplet population. The calculations suggest the probability of existence of the nano-droplet population to be much higher than the probability of the existence of the swollen micelles. The results, depending upon the emulsification conditions, indicate the presence of about 15 % to 80% of the dispersed phase in the nano-droplet population. The large interfacial area offered by the nano-droplet population due to their high particle numbers and high percentage of the dispersed oil phase in them, make them the most probable particle nucleation loci in emulsion polymerization processes. Designed experiments were performed to experimentally observe the changes in the nano-droplet populations. The effects of the process variables, namely pH, surfactant concentration and temperature, on the size and compositional characteristics of the nano-droplet population were investigated. The results suggested that the surfactant to oil ratio was the dominating factor governing the size and the weight percent of the dispersed phase in the nano-droplet population.

Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) resultant from the generation of nuclear power is a chemically and radiologically diverse system which is advantageous to chemically process prior to geologic disposal. Hydrometallurgy is the primary technology for chemical processing for light water reactor spent fuels, where spent fuel is dissolved in an acid for liquid based separations. The primary means for recovery of desired metals from the SNF solution is liquid-liquid extraction which is based on distribution (partitioning) of the metal ions between two immiscible phases based on thermodynamic favorability. One of the means of increasing this favorability is by designing extractant molecules to be either "harder" or "softer" bases, which will more preferentially extract harder or softer metal ions respectively. This technique is used in designing extractant molecules for targeted extraction as actinides are slightly softer than lanthanides, and precious metals produced in significant quantities from the fission process are especially soft metals. The work performed in this thesis involved the synthesis of a novel soft electron donor organic extractant molecule for testing of targeted soft metal extraction. The molecule synthesized was bis-dibutanethiolthiophosphinato-methane, or S6, a bidentate neutral extractant molecule with significant thiolysis for a softer electron environment. The synthesis technique was refined and the molecule composition and structure was confirmed by ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, and elemental analysis. Two metal groups, f-elements (actinides and lanthanides) and soft transition metals were tested for their extractability from nitric acid solutions into an S6 solution in n-dodecane. Aqueous solutions of nitric acid and n-dodecane as an organic diluent are typical liquid-liquid extraction conditions in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. As extraction experiments were performed with radiotracers, for the soft metal extraction experiment, a mixture of the selected metals was neutron-activated in the OSU TRIGA reactor, as was europium to create a lanthanide radiotracer. Actinides and lanthanides were not seen to effectively extract into the organic or form a precipitate at all, making their partitioning with this extractant seemingly ineffective. Through gamma spectroscopy of an irradiated metal solution post-extraction, it is seen that only silver and palladium preferentially complex in the mixed metal samples into an insoluble organic ligand, dropping out of solution. This effect was more pronounced at higher acid concentrations, but silver was seen to slightly extract to the organic phase at all acid concentrations as well. This testing has shown that the S6 extractant can be used to recover silver and palladium from a mixed metal aqueous solution, such as one resultant from advanced spent nuclear fuel reprocessing operations. This result shows promise for future development of sulfur based organophosphate ligands for targeted extraction of precious metals from solutions. / Graduation date: 2013

This research investigate the matrix effect, operation time, cost and solvent comsumption for triarylmethanes and corresponding metabolites in different aquaculture products by different extraction methods. Triarylmethane was determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS in positive mode. The analytical method validation were followed the regulation of 2002/657/EC. HPLC separation was conducted with the RP-18 column. The mobile phases consisted of 0.5 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 3.8, adjusted with acetic acid) ¡V acetonitrile (contained 0.1% formic acid) solution. The ratios of standard deviation to average residual time for all compounds are less than 0.05. The ion ratio is stable and allowed by the regulation of 2002/657/EC. The regression constant of calibration curve is in the range from 0.998 to 0.999. The CC£\ for MG, LMG, CV, LCV are 0.09 ¡Ó 0.05, 0.19 ¡Ó 0.14, 0.15 ¡Ó 0.13, 0.15 ¡Ó 0.10 £ggkg-1, respectively. The CC£] for MG, LMG, CV, LCV are 0.09 ¡Ó 0.05, 0.19 ¡Ó 0.14, 0.15 ¡Ó 0.13, 0.15 ¡Ó0.10 £ggkg-1, respectively. The results for SPE and liquid-liquid extraction are not significantly different; the liquid-liquid extraction have shorter operation time, cheaper cost and less solvent consumption in comparison with SPE.