A oleuropeína é o mais abundante biofenol presente nas folhas de oliveira (Olea Europaea), com importantes funções antimicrobiana e antioxidante. Estudos visando à obtenção deste composto têm sido conduzidos, porém, muitos deles utilizam solventes tóxicos e métodos caros. A presente dissertação teve por objetivo estudar diferentes metodologias para a obtenção de extratos de folhas de oliva contendo quantidades significativas de oleuropeína. Os extratos foram obtidos a partir de folhas de oliva micronizadas, com ou sem pré-tratamento para redução do teor de clorofila, submetidas a contatos simples ou múltiplos com diferentes solventes, como dietil éter, clorofórmio, acetona, etanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, água e soluções hidroalcoólicas com diferentes concentrações. O contato das folhas micronizadas com os solventes foi promovido pelos seguintes métodos: agitação manual em temperatura ambiente, agitação mecânica a 50 ºC, ultrassom ou uma combinação desses dois últimos, totalizando 38 experimentos, sendo que em 17 destes os extratos foram produzidos na forma líquida e 21 na forma sólida. Os resultados mostraram que, de maneira geral, a etapa prévia de redução do teor da clorofila (realizada através de sucessivos contatos com hexano, diclorometano ou ainda, com CO2 supercrítico) não foi vantajosa, devido à elevada quantidade de solventes utilizados em relação às quantidades de extratos obtidos. Nestes experimentos, a maior concentração de oleuropeína, 1,88%, foi detectada no procedimento em que as folhas micronizadas foram previamente umedecidas com etanol e limpas com CO2 supercrítico, e posteriormente colocadas em contato com a mistura etanol e água, na proporção 1:1, utilizando o ultrassom combinado com a agitação mecânica como método de extração. Nos experimentos finais do trabalho, foi estudada ainda a adição de ácidos orgânicos (cítrico ou acético), juntamente com os solventes hidroalcoólicos (diferentes teores de água) no momento da extração da oleuropeína em banho de ultrassom, utilizando amostras que não foram previamente tratadas para remoção da clorofila. A combinação do ácido acético com a solução etanólica contendo 30 % de água resultou em um extrato com 2,17 % de oleuropeína, em apenas 1 contato com o solvente. Quando três contatos foram utilizados, nestas mesmas condições, o teor de oleuropeína aumentou para 4,8 %, maior do que alguns valores encontrados na literatura, utilizando o mesmo método de extração, indicando que processo ainda pode ser otimizado, utilizando técnicas simples e solventes que não agridam o meio ambiente. / Oleuropein is the most abundant biofenol present in olive leaves (Olea europaea), presenting important antioxidant and antimicrobial functions. Studies focusing on obtaining this compound have been conducted; however, many of them use toxic solvents and expensive methods. The present work aimed to study different methodologies for obtaining extracts from olive leaves containing significant amounts of oleuropein. The extracts were obtained from micronized olive leaves, with or without pretreatment for reducing the chlorophyll content, submitted to single and multiple contacts with different solvents such as diethyl ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol, 1- propanol, 2 -propanol, water and hydroalcoholic solutions at different concentrations. The contact between the micronized leaves and the solvents was promoted by the following methods: manual shaking at room temperature, mechanical agitation at 50 °C, ultrasound or a combination of these last two methods, totaling 38 experiments, from which in 17 of them the extracts were produced in the liquid form, and in 21 in the solid form (as a powder). The results show that, in general, previous step of reducing the content of chlorophyll (performed by successive contacts with hexane, dichloromethane or with supercritical CO2) was not advantageous due to the high amount of solvent used in relation to amounts of extracts. In these experiments, the highest concentration of oleuropein, 1.88 % was detected in the procedure in which the micronized leaves were previously soaked with ethanol and cleaned with supercritical CO2 and then placed in contact with the mixture of ethanol and water in the proportion 1:1, using ultrasound combined with mechanical agitation as extraction method. In the last experiments of the work, the addition of organic acids (citric or acetic acid) together with hydroalcoholic solvents (different water contents) in the extraction of oleuropein in ultrasound was studied, using samples that have not previously been treated for removal of chlorophyll. The combination of acetic acid to the ethanolic solution containing 30 % of water resulted in an extract with 2.17 % of oleuropein, with only one contact to the solvent. When three contacts were used, under the same conditions, the oleuropein content increased to 4.8 %, larger than some values found in the literature, using the same extraction method, indicating that the process can be further optimized using simple techniques and solvents that do not harm the environment.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T18:55:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leticia Parrilha.pdf: 1228823 bytes, checksum: 8118e9aa1d510f179a4087486f0ca68a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-28 / The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topical 1% cyclosporine eye drops diluted in two vehicles, olive and the linseed seed oil and the oils separately in treating experimentally induced keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in rabbits. Twenty-five male New Zealand white rabbits were aleatory allocated in 3 groups: Group C (Control), Group CO (1% cyclosporine in olive oil), Group CL (1% cyclosporine in linseed oil), Group O (olive oil), Group L (linseed oil), being evaluated by Schirmer s Tear Test (STT), Fluorescein Test (FT), Tear Film Break-Up Time Test (TFBUT) and Rose Bengal Test (RBT), ocular cytology, and at the end of the experiment the rabbits were euthanized for histopathological analysis of cornea and conjunctive. The results demonstrated that there was significant increase in the values of STT in all the treated groups after the induction of KCS, presenting better acting the group CL. Regarding FT, there was a more rapid resolution of corneal ulcers in the groups O and L. For RBT, the group O was that it presented worse acting. The groups L and CL presented less edema and cornea congestion. There was significant increase in the number of caliciform cells in all of the treated groups, mainly in the group CL. The cyclosporine was efficient in the CCS treatment, diluted in linseed oil as in olive oil, however the linseed oil presented better effectiveness, associated or no, when compared to the oil olive. / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia do uso tópico do colírio de ciclosporina 1% diluída em dois veículos, óleo de oliva e de semente de linhaça e dos óleos isoladamente, no tratamento de ceratoconjuntivite seca (CCS) induzida experimentalmente em coelhos. Foram utilizados vinte e cinco coelhos machos adultos brancos da raça Nova Zelândia alocados aleatoriamente em 5 grupos: Grupo C (controle), Grupo CO (ciclosporina 1% em óleo de oliva), Grupo CL (ciclosporina 1% em óleo de linhaça), Grupo O (óleo de oliva), Grupo L (óleo de linhaça), sendo avaliados pelo Teste Lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS), Teste de Fluoresceína (TF), Teste de Tempo de Ruptura do Filme Lacrimal (TRFL), Teste de Rosa Bengala (TRB), citologia ocular e ao final do experimento foram eutanasiados para análise histopatológica da córnea e conjuntiva. Os resultados demonstraram que houve aumento significativo nos valores de TLS em todos os grupos de tratamento após a indução da CCS, apresentando melhor desempenho o grupo CL. Com relação ao TF, houve resolução mais precoce das úlceras de córnea nos grupos O e L. Para o TRB, o grupo O foi que apresentou pior desempenho. Os grupos L e CL apresentaram menos edema e congestão de córnea. Houve aumento significativo no numero de células caliciformes em todos os grupos de tratamento, principalmente no grupo CL. A ciclosporina foi eficiente no tratamento da CCS tanto diluída em óleo de linhaça quanto em óleo de oliva, porém com o óleo de linhaça mostrou melhor eficácia, associada ou não, quando comparada ao óleo oliva.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:53:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leticia Parrilha.pdf: 1228823 bytes, checksum: 8118e9aa1d510f179a4087486f0ca68a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-28 / The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topical 1% cyclosporine eye drops diluted in two vehicles, olive and the linseed seed oil and the oils separately in treating experimentally induced keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in rabbits. Twenty-five male New Zealand white rabbits were aleatory allocated in 3 groups: Group C (Control), Group CO (1% cyclosporine in olive oil), Group CL (1% cyclosporine in linseed oil), Group O (olive oil), Group L (linseed oil), being evaluated by Schirmer s Tear Test (STT), Fluorescein Test (FT), Tear Film Break-Up Time Test (TFBUT) and Rose Bengal Test (RBT), ocular cytology, and at the end of the experiment the rabbits were euthanized for histopathological analysis of cornea and conjunctive. The results demonstrated that there was significant increase in the values of STT in all the treated groups after the induction of KCS, presenting better acting the group CL. Regarding FT, there was a more rapid resolution of corneal ulcers in the groups O and L. For RBT, the group O was that it presented worse acting. The groups L and CL presented less edema and cornea congestion. There was significant increase in the number of caliciform cells in all of the treated groups, mainly in the group CL. The cyclosporine was efficient in the CCS treatment, diluted in linseed oil as in olive oil, however the linseed oil presented better effectiveness, associated or no, when compared to the oil olive. / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia do uso tópico do colírio de ciclosporina 1% diluída em dois veículos, óleo de oliva e de semente de linhaça e dos óleos isoladamente, no tratamento de ceratoconjuntivite seca (CCS) induzida experimentalmente em coelhos. Foram utilizados vinte e cinco coelhos machos adultos brancos da raça Nova Zelândia alocados aleatoriamente em 5 grupos: Grupo C (controle), Grupo CO (ciclosporina 1% em óleo de oliva), Grupo CL (ciclosporina 1% em óleo de linhaça), Grupo O (óleo de oliva), Grupo L (óleo de linhaça), sendo avaliados pelo Teste Lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS), Teste de Fluoresceína (TF), Teste de Tempo de Ruptura do Filme Lacrimal (TRFL), Teste de Rosa Bengala (TRB), citologia ocular e ao final do experimento foram eutanasiados para análise histopatológica da córnea e conjuntiva. Os resultados demonstraram que houve aumento significativo nos valores de TLS em todos os grupos de tratamento após a indução da CCS, apresentando melhor desempenho o grupo CL. Com relação ao TF, houve resolução mais precoce das úlceras de córnea nos grupos O e L. Para o TRB, o grupo O foi que apresentou pior desempenho. Os grupos L e CL apresentaram menos edema e congestão de córnea. Houve aumento significativo no numero de células caliciformes em todos os grupos de tratamento, principalmente no grupo CL. A ciclosporina foi eficiente no tratamento da CCS tanto diluída em óleo de linhaça quanto em óleo de oliva, porém com o óleo de linhaça mostrou melhor eficácia, associada ou não, quando comparada ao óleo oliva.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:53:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 luis felipe zulim.pdf: 1410755 bytes, checksum: 10cd9caab094cc2991e4233b68367a1f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-05 / This study aimed to compare the efficacy of tacrolimus 0.03% eye drops diluted in two types of vehicle, flaxseed oil and olive oil in the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (CCS) in dogs. 60 dogs were used, twenty healthy dogs as a negative control group and 40 dogs diagnosed with bilateral CCS that were randomly divided into two groups, tacrolimus in olive oil (TO) and tacrolimus in flaxseed oil (TL). The dogs were evaluated monthly with ophthalmologic exams, Tear Test Schirmer (TLS), Break Test Tear Film (TRFL), Fluorescein test (TF), Test of Rose Bengal (TRB) and conjunctival cytology and at the beginning and end of the study with histopathological examination of the conjunctiva .In both groups, clinical signs, TLS, TRFL, TF and TRB showed significant improvement with one month of treatment. At study end in cytological and histopathologic evaluation, both groups showed a decrease of neutrophils, it is more significant in the TL group, and both groups showed an increase of goblet cells. Thus we can conclude that the drops of tacrolimus 0.03% diluted in olive oil and flaxseed oil was effective in the treatment of CCS and the TL group performed better as the decrease in neutrophils. Thus, the linseed oil may be a new alternative as the tacrolimus diluent. / O presente estudo teve como objetivo comparar a eficácia do colírio de tacrolimus 0,03% diluído em dois tipos de veículo, óleo de semente de linhaça e óleo de oliva, no tratamento de ceratoconjuntivite seca (CCS) em cães. Foram utilizados 60 cães, sendo vinte cães saudáveis como grupo controle negativo e 40 cães diagnosticados com CCS bilateral que foram alocados aleatoriamente em dois grupos, tacrolimus em óleo de oliva (TO) e tacrolimus em óleo de semente de linhaça (TL). Os cães foram avaliados mensalmente com exames oftálmicos, Teste Lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS), Teste de Ruptura do Filme Lacrimal (TRFL), Teste de Fluoresceína (TF), Teste de Rosa Bengala (TRB) e citologia conjuntival e no início e final do estudo com exame histopatológico de conjuntiva .Em ambos os grupos, os sinais clínicos, o TLS, TRFL, TF e TRB apresentaram melhora significativa com um mês de tratamento. Ao término do estudo na avaliação citológica e histopatológica, ambos os grupos apresentaram diminuição de neutrófilos, sendo ela mais significativa no grupo TL, e ambos grupos apresentaram aumento de células caliciformes. Desta forma podemos concluir que o colírio de tacrolimus 0,03% diluído em óleo de oliva e em óleo de semente de linhaça foi eficiente no tratamento de CCS e o grupo TL apresentou melhor desempenho quanto a diminuição de neutrófilos. Assim, o óleo de semente de linhaça pode ser uma nova alternativa como diluente do tacrolimus.

Les maladies d’Alzheimer et de Parkinson (MA et MP) sont des maladies neurodégénératives entrainant une diminution des fonctions cognitives et locomotrices et toujours dépourvues de traitements curatifs. La consommation d’huile d’olive et des polyphénols qu’elle contient atténuerait la survenue des démences telles qu’observées dans la MA ou la MP. À ce jour, ces composés phénoliques ont été étudiés de manière isolée afin de caractériser leur réactivité vis à vis des radicaux et leurs effets biologiques, mais les concentrations utilisées (5–100 µM) sont supérieures aux concentrations retrouvées dans le plasma (0.5-2,8 ng/ml). Jusqu’à présent, aucune étude n’a observé les effets de ces composés combinés, alors que l’oleuropéine et le tyrosol, des composés phénoliques parmi les plus abondants dans l’huile d’olive et que l’acide p-coumarique, un dérivé d’acide hydroxycinnamique, sont connus pour leurs activités antioxydantes et leur biodisponibilité. Dans un contexte cellulaire, les composés phénoliques agissent à travers leurs capacités de donneurs d’atomes d’hydrogène et/ou d’électrons, et impactent la régulation des défenses antioxydante. En conditions oxydatives, ils peuvent subir des modifications structurelles et mener à de nouveaux composés. L’impact cellulaire de ces derniers est encore peu étudié, car leur devenir dans le contexte d’un métabolisme oxydatif reste obscur. L’étude des métabolites issus de l’oxydation des composés phénoliques est donc d’une réelle importance afin d’approfondir les connaissances sur leurs mécanismes d’actions au niveau biologique. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que la combinaison de l’oleuropéine, du tyrosol et de l’acide p-coumarique potentialise leurs effets neuroprotecteurs à travers leurs capacités de donneurs d’électrons et en lien avec la production des métabolites associés. Ce propose une approche pluridisciplinaire intégrant des composantes biologiques et des questions relevant de la physico-chimie, en s’appuyant sur des outils électrochimiques. En premier lieu, nous avons démontré que l’association de ces trois composés (Mix 1) permettait de potentialiser leurs effets neuroprotecteurs avec concentrations efficaces à 0.1 et 1µM, contrairement aux concentrations neuroprotectrices lorsque ces composés sont utilisés individuellement (5 à 10 fois plus élevées). Le Mix1 augmente la réactivité des composés phénoliques vis-à-vis d’espèces réactives de l’oxygène et permet une diminution de leur génération intracellulaire. Cette neuroprotection semble en partie médiée par une régulation des facteurs de régulation rédox endogènes. Dans un second temps, nous avons comparé le comportement en conditions oxydatives acellulaires de l’oleuropéine, du tyrosol et de l’acide p-coumarique individuellement et dans le Mix1. L’analyse en LC-MS2 des composés stables issus de l’oxydation du Mix 1 a montré une diminution des taux d’oxydation relatifs de chacun des composés, ainsi que la détection de trois néocomposés spécifiques de l’oxydation du Mix1. De plus, un effet neuroprotecteur significatif du Mix1 oxydé a été observé dès 1 et 5 nM, ce qui soutient l’hypothèse que les produits issus de l’oxydation des composés phénoliques peuvent participer aux effets biologiques des composés natifs. Notre troisième objectif était d’évaluer si les composés issus de l’oxydation des composés phénoliques pouvaient être générés dans un système biologique. L’analyse en LC-HRMS des extraits de cellules neuronales traitées avec le Mix1 en conditions oxydatives a révélé que ces composés étaient toujours présents sous leurs formes natives dans les cellules après plusieurs heures de traitement. Ce projet multidisciplinaire a permis d’observer les effets des composés phénoliques sous plusieurs angles. Il confirme qu’un effet neuroprotecteur de composés issus de l’oxydation est possible et ouvre la voie à de nouvelles approches pour le développement de formulations efficaces pour limiter le stress oxydatif au niveau cérébral. / Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases (AD and PD) are neurodegenerative disorders leading to cognitive function decline and curative treatments are still missing. Olive oil and related phenolic compounds consumption could prevent or slow down cognitive decline through neuronal preservation. Indeed, they have direct antioxidant properties as electrons or H-atom donors, which are largely suspected of being responsible for their biological effects, but also of some indirect properties as modulators of endogenous antioxidant defenses. The secoiridoid oleuropein and the monophenols tyrosol and p-coumaric acid have shown abilities to counteract oxidative injuries and associated neuronal death in several cellular and in vivo models. However, the basic mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds remain to be elucidated. In fact, phenolic compounds are highly sensitive to oxidative modifications and could be transformed into new compounds in an oxidative context. Cellular impacts of these products are rarely considered, probably because their intracellular detection is a great challenge and remain an important field to explore. Moreover, oleuropein, tyrosol and p-coumaric were individually evaluated in order to characterize their own reactivity towards ROS and their biological properties. However, the concentration ranges used to observe neuroprotection in cellular models (5 – 100 µM) were far from the possibly recovered phenolic concentration in plasma (0.5 - 2,8 ng /ml of plasma). To observe an effect with concentration range closer to the physiological ones, several antioxidant combinations could be proposed. Nevertheless, despite the biological promises of phenolic compounds from olive oil, studies which combined some of the most abundant phenolic compounds in the neuroprotection field is still missing. We thus hypothesized that the combination of oleuropein, tyrosol and p-coumaric acid in equimolar proportion (Mix 1) could potentiated their ROS scavenging and neuroprotective properties to counteract oxidative stress-induced neuronal death. These effects could be in part due to their oxidized metabolites. First, we demonstrated that the association of these three phenolic compounds potentiated their neuroprotective effects with efficient concentrations at 0.1 and 1µM, contrary to concentration ranges when there are used individually (5 to 10 higher). The Mix1 increase the reactivity of phenolic compounds towards ROS and decreases their intracellular production. These neuroprotective properties seems, at least in part, lead by a regulation of the endogenous redox factors. Then, we compared the behavior of Oleuropein, tyrosol and p-coumaric acid individually and in the Mix1 under acellular oxidative conditions. The oxidized Mix1 LC-ESI-MS2 profiles showed a regeneration of oleuropein through a decrease of the phenolic compounds oxidation rate and highlight the presence of specific oxidized products in Mix 1. This study also showed a significant neuroprotection of oxidized Ole and oxidized Mix1 with very low concentrations (1 and 5 nM), suggesting the putative relevant role of oxidized Ole products to protect or delay neuronal death. Our third objective was to evaluate if these oxidized metabolites could be produced in a biological system. Even under oxidative conditions, we recovered these compounds in cellular extracts under their native forms after few hours of treatments, attesting their accumulation in neuronal cells. Taking together, our results pointed out the relevance to study the phenolic compounds from a chemical and a biological point of view, which should always be as cellular redox reactions are between biological and chemical fields. Lastly, we confirmed the significance to take into account the oxidized metabolites from phenolic compounds to deeper understand their biological properties.

No description available.

A debate over environmental policies and trade competitiveness, “Do environmental policies really matter to impact trade competitiveness?” still exists during the past decade. The thesis aims at investigating the impact of WTO-EU environmental policies for the international olive oil market on production and export competitiveness of developing countries. In particular, we focus our analysis on the agro-industrial sector in the Arab countries, and we take specific reference to the case of the olive oil agro-industrial sector in Syria. In the frame of a partial equilibrium trade model, we incorporate the “end-of-the-pipe” environmental policies which in turn enhance the productivity of the polluting input. Moreover, a part of the burden of environmental compliance may be shifted onto foreign consumers. The most novel part of our model consists of the augmented effect of compliance with environmental policies, which includes not only the standard impact on the effective product price, but also on the input shadow price. The empirical findings, based on Syrian data, provide strong support to the Porter Hypothesis and its application to international markets for agro-industrial products. Accordingly, the study disproves the legitimacy of concerns that stricter environmental policies in developing economies may have negative impacts on their production and export competitiveness. In contrast, our results show that compliance with environmental policies under the large country assumption has positive effects on their international competitiveness of environmentally sensitive sectors, in particular. Therefore, the policy implications suggest the implementation of strict environmental regulatory policies supporting environmentally sound technologies.

No description available.

Mining has caused ecosystem losses worldwide, with surface mining disturbing >2.4 million hectares in the United States since 1930. The Appalachian region of the US is home to extensive temperate deciduous forests that provide many ecosystem services and economic benefits. However, >400,000 hectares of forest have been lost due to surface coal mining, with most not being restored back to native forests or other productive land uses. These areas are left fragmented, heavily modified, unmanaged, and densely invaded by non-native plants. Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is one of the most prevalent invasive species on reclaimed mines in Appalachia and viewed as one of the main hindrances to the successful reclamation of mined land to restore native forests. In order to better assess the impact autumn olive can have on reclamation success, we characterize autumn olive's performance in various reclamation scenarios and also how the management of autumn olive affects hardwood tree establishment. We review how exotic species impact restoration outcomes, and advocate for a better understanding of how these species could contribute towards a more ecological understanding of reclamation. Reclamation goals are currently assessed after 5 years, prioritizing short-term goals (e.g. erosion control) instead of longer-term goals such as the return of ecosystem function. With a better understanding of plant function and ecological processes, we hope to continue to advance successful reclamation on surface mined lands. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

The aim of the present thesis is to explore sustainable low cost environmentally friendly composite materials. It is a step by step experimental research. Firstly, taking under consideration the so far commercial available non-organic materials used as reinforcement and the petroleum based resins used as matrices, composite materials were fabricated and mechanically characterized. Different components in micro- and nano- scale were combined. Afterwards, the non-organic materials used as reinforcements were substituted by different types of non conventional natural-based fillers. The fillers (corn starch and olive pit granules) were in powder form, derived from agricultural local resources and additionally flax fabric used to produce laminated composites. All the semi-green epoxy composites were characterized by means of three-point bending testing. Moreover, the manufactured composites were induced in several sources of damage and their residual properties were extensively investigated. More precisely, the effect of the strain-rate and low velocity impact as well as of thermal fatigue, on the mechanical properties of the olive pit and the flax fabric reinforced resin was studied. Since, conventional and semi-green composite materials were fabricated and experimentally investigated, the final objective of the present thesis was to produce novel green composites materials by substituting the petroleum-based epoxy resin with a biodegradable derived from natural resources biopolyester. In order to accomplish this target, polylactic acid (PLA) was combined with olive pits in powder form at different concentrations. Olive pits, is almost unknown non-traditional filler to composites, obtained during the oil extraction process. It is a raw material characterized by its low cost and its abundance, since it consists a waste product of the olive oil industry. In order to successfully accomplish this part of research, experiments were taken place in France at the CMGD (Centre des Matériaux de Grande Diffusion) Institute of the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines d’ Alés, under the guidance of Prof. A. Bergeret within the framework of research cooperation with the main supervisor of this thesis, Prof. G. Papanicolaou. The most important feature of the present green composites is their satisfactory mechanical and thermal performance in combination with their complete biodegradability. The PLA/olive pit composites could be applied to various components with moderate strength such as automotive interiors, interior building applications, durable goods, serviceware and food packaging material The aim of this part of the study was to investigate the effect of three types of olive pit powder at different weights fractions on the physical and mechanical properties of polylactide (PLA) matrix composites. For the preparation of the powder, two different grinding procedures were applied, producing three types of olive pit powder. Various measurements were accomplished to determine characteristics such as the density and the size distribution and the shape of the powder. Different PLA/ olive pits powder composites were manufactured by extrusion and injection molding. A comparative study between the different composites was made in order to investigate the matrix-filler interactions, occurring between the PLA and olive pit granules and their overall physical, mechanical and thermomechanical properties were investigated by means of TGA, FT-IR, DSC, SEM, flexural and uni-axial tensile testing. Finally, theoretical predictive models were applied in most of the composite materials manufactured in the present work. These models making use of minimal number of experimental results can satisfactorily predict the residual properties of damaged materials, irrespectively of the type of the material investigated and the damage source. Namely, the Modulus Predictive Model (ΜPM), the Residual Properties Model (RPM) and the Residual Strength after Impact Model (RSIM), have been successfully applied. A big number of interesting conclusions have been derived from the present work. However, a general conclusion is that a totally green composite with useful properties and applications is a promising target for the humanity and the planet survivability. / Σκοπός της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η κατασκευή και μελέτη συνθέτων υλικών χαμηλού κόστους ενισχυμένων με φυσικά υλικά, φιλικά προς το περιβάλλον. Η επίτευξη αυτού του στόχου πραγματοποιήθηκε σταδιακά. Αρχικά, πραγματοποιήθηκε μια εκτεταμένη μελέτη διαφορετικών συνθέτων υλικών τα οποία ήταν εξ’ ολοκλήρου κατασκευασμένα από ανόργανα και συνθετικά υλικά. Γι’ αυτό το σκοπό κατασκευάστηκαν και μελετήθηκαν οι μηχανικές ιδιότητες συνθέτων υλικών που έχουν ως μήτρα μια εμπορικά διαθέσιμη πετροχημική εποξειδική ρητίνη. Η εποξειδική ρητίνη ενισχύθηκε με ανόργανα υλικά σε μικρο- (συμπαγή και κενά σφαιρίδια γυαλίου) και νανο- (νανοσωλήνες άνθρακα πολλαπλού τοιχώματος) διαστάσεις. Στη συνέχεια, βασιζόμενη στο ήδη υπάρχον επιστημονικό υπόβαθρο, καθώς η μεταπτυχιακή μου εργασία ειδίκευσης ήταν στο ίδιο ερευνητικό πεδίο με το αντικείμενο της διδακτορικής μου διατριβής, γίνεται προσπάθεια περαιτέρω εξέλιξης της έρευνας που σχετίζεται με την μελέτη και κατασκευή συνθέτων φιλικών προς το περιβάλλον. Ως εκ τούτου, το επόμενο στάδιο της πειραματικής μελέτης στα πλαίσια εκπόνησης της διατριβής αυτής, ήταν η κατασκευή και χαρακτηρισμός, ως προς την μηχανική τους συμπεριφορά, συνθέτων υλικών πολυμερικής εποξειδικής μήτρας ενισχυμένης με διαφορετικού τύπου φυσικές ενισχύσεις και περιεκτικότητες. Οι φυσικές ενισχύσεις που επιλέχθηκαν να μελετηθούν ήταν τόσο σε μορφή κόκκων και μικρο-ινών, όσο και σε μορφή υφάσματος. Τα εγκλείσματα που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ήταν σκόνη από κόκκους ελαιοπυρήνα και σκόνη αμύλου καλαμποκιού. Στα σύνθετα υλικά ενισχυμένα με κόκκους ελαιοπυρήνα, έγινε μελέτη της επίδρασης των διαφορετικών ρυθμών παραμόρφωσης στις μηχανικές τους ιδιότητες, ενώ στα σύνθετα υλικά ενισχυμένα με την σκόνη αμύλου μελετήθηκαν εκτενώς οι στατικές μηχανικές τους ιδιότητες. Επιπλέον, κατασκευάστηκαν πολύστρωτα σύνθετα υλικά χρησιμοποιώντας για τις διάφορες στρώσεις ύφασμα από ίνες λιναριού. Τα πολύστρωτα σύνθετα υλικά χαρακτηρίστηκαν ως προς τις μηχανικές τους ιδιότητες, υποβλήθηκαν σε θερμική κόπωση και υπέστησαν κρούση χαμηλής ενέργεια. Οι εναπομένουσες μηχανικές ιδιότητες των υλικών αυτών μελετήθηκαν τόσο πειραματικά όσο και θεωρητικά. Ο απώτερος στόχος αυτής της διδακτορικής διατριβής ήταν να γίνει η δυνατή η κατασκευή συνθέτων υλικών τα οποία να είναι πλήρως βιοδιασπώμενα και φιλικά προς το περιβάλλον. Για το σκοπό αυτό, το τρίτο και τελευταίο στάδιο της έρευνας που διεξήχθη στα πλαίσια της παρούσας διατριβής, ήταν η κατασκευή εξολοκλήρου φυσικών συνθέτων υλικών έχοντας ως μήτρα ένα βιοδιασπώμενο πολυεστέρα φυτικής προέλευσης, το πολύ (γαλακτικό οξύ), ενισχυμένο με σκόνη από κόκκους ελαιοπυρήνα. Ο ξηρός ελαιοπυρήνας που χρησιμοποιήθηκε, αποτελεί μέρος των αποβλήτων που προκύπτουν από την διαδικασία παραγωγής ελαιολάδου. Ο ελαιοπυρήνας σε αυτή την μορφή έχοντας μηδαμινό κόστος απαντάται σε εξαιρετικά μεγάλες ποσότητες και σε σημαντικό ποσοστό εναποτίθεται στους περιβάλλοντα χώρους των μονάδων παραγωγής του ελαιολάδου. Η ερευνητική εργασία που σχετίζεται με αυτό το αντικείμενο του διδακτορικού έλαβε χώρα στην Γαλλία στο École Nationale Supérieure des Mines d’ Alés, στο ερευνητικό ινστιτούτο CMGD (Centre des Matériaux de Grande Diffusion) υπό την επίβλεψη της καθηγήτριας A. Bergeret, στα πλαίσια ερευνητικής συνεργασίας του επιβλέποντα καθηγητή Γ. Παπανικολάου και της ερευνητικής του ομάδας. Τα πειράματα που διεξήχθησαν στο ερευνητικό ινστιτούτο CMGD, περιελάμβαναν αρχικά την προετοιμασία των κόκκων του ελαιοπυρήνα στην κατάλληλη μορφή για να είναι δυνατή η χρησιμοποίησή τους ως ενισχυτικό υλικό. Έγινε κονιορτοποίηση των κόκκων από την οποία προέκυψαν δύο τύπου σκονών που διέφεραν ως προς την διασπορά του μεγέθους των κόκκων, ενώ μια τρίτη σκόνη ελαιοπυρήνα είχε ήδη προετοιμαστεί με διαφορετική μέθοδο κονιορτοποίησης στο τμήμα Επιστήμης των Υλικών του Πανεπιστήμιου Πατρών. Έγινε εκτενής χαρακτηρισμός των φυσικών και μορφολογικών ιδιοτήτων όλων των σκονών ελαιοπυρήνα που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την κατασκευή των συνθέτων υλικών με μήτρα το PLA. Προσδιορίστηκαν διαφορετικού τύπου πυκνότητες και η διασπορά του μεγέθους των κόκκων. Έγινε θερμική ανάλυση με δοκιμή θερμοζυγού (TGA), μορφολογικός χαρακτηρισμός με χρήση ηλετρονικού μικροσκοπίου σάρωσης (SEM) καθώς και χαρακτηρισμός με φασματοσκοπία υπερύθρου με μετασχηματισμό Fourier (FT IR) και ακτίνων-Χ. Αφού ολοκληρώθηκε ο χαρακτηρισμός των ιδιοτήτων της ενισχυτικής φάσης, στη συνέχεια κατασκευάστηκαν σύνθετα υλικά μήτρας PLA ενισχυμένα με τους κόκκους ελαιοπυρήνα σε διαφορετικές περιεκτικότητες. Η προετοιμασία των σύνθετων αυτών υλικών πραγματοποιήθηκε σε δύο στάδια. Αρχικά έγινε μια πρώτη μορφοποίηση με εξώθηση (extrusion). Τα σύνθετα υλικά που προέκυψαν από την εξώθηση που ήταν στη μορφή δισκίων (pellets) χαρακτηρίστηκαν και αυτά με διάφορες τεχνικές (WAXD, DSC, TGA). Τα σύνθετα υλικά υπό μορφή δισκίων για να αποκτήσουν την τελική τους μορφή ως δοκίμια κατάλληλα για μηχανικές δοκιμές κατά τα πρότυπα ISO 527, μορφοποιήθηκαν με έγχυση (Injection molding). Τα σύνθετα υλικά στην τελική τους μορφή χαρακτηρίστηκαν με διάφορες τεχνικές (WAXD, DSC, TGA), έγινε χαρακτηρισμός των μηχανικών τους ιδιοτήτων και μορφολογική παρατήρηση των επιφανειών τους ύστερα από την μηχανική τους αστοχία (SEM). Τέλος, σε πολλά από τα σύνθετα υλικά που κατασκευάστηκαν και μελετήθηκαν πειραματικά, εφαρμόστηκαν διαφορετικά ημιεμπειρικά μοντέλα ανάλυσης και πρόβλεψης της μηχανικής τους συμπεριφοράς. Στο κυρίως κείμενο της διδακτορικής διατριβής, περιγράφεται σε ξεχωριστό κεφάλαιο το σύνολο των θεωρητικών μοντέλων που εφαρμόστηκαν στα πειραματικά αποτελέσματα. Στα επιμέρους κεφάλαια που παρουσιάζονται και αναλύονται τα πειραματικά αποτελέσματα, παρατίθενται η σύγκρισή τους με τις αντίστοιχες προβλέψεις που πρόεκυψαν από την εφαρμογή των θεωρητικών μοντέλων. Από τη σύγκριση αυτή παρατηρούμε ότι τα θεωρητικά μοντέλα που εφαρμόστηκαν που είναι το μοντέλο πρόβλεψης του μέτρου ελαστικότητας κοκκωδών υλικών, ΜPM (Modulus Predictive Model), το μοντέλο πρόβλεψης της υποβάθμισης ιδιοτήτων ύστερα από διαφορετικές είδους καταπονήσεις (θερμική κόπωση, κρούση χαμηλής ενέργειας και του ρυθμού παραμόρφωσης σε κάμψη τριών σημείων), RPM (Residual Properties Model) και το μοντέλο πρόβλεψης της υποβάθμισης της αντοχής των υλικών ύστερα από κρούση, Residual Strength after Impact Model (RSIM), έδωσαν ικανοποιητικές προβλέψεις για την μεταβολή των ιδιοτήτων κάνοντας χρήση ελάχιστων μόνο πειραματικών σημείων. Στην παρούσα διατριβή συνδυάστηκαν δύο διαφορετικού τύπου πολυμερικές ρητίνες με πληθώρα ενισχυτικών υλικών για την κατασκευή και μελέτη της μηχανικής τους συμπεριφοράς, τόσο πειραματικά όσο και θεωρητικά με την εφαρμογή ημιεμπειρικών μοντέλων πρόβλεψης και ανάλυσης. Για την κατασκευή των δοκιμίων, ανάλογα με τον τύπο του υλικού της μήτρας και της ενίσχυσης, εφαρμόστηκαν διαφορετικές τεχνικές και σύνθετες πειραματικές διαδικασίες. Ενώ, για την μελέτη των μηχανικών, θερμομηχανικών και μορφολογικών τους ιδιοτήτων εφαρμόστηκε σημαντικός αριθμός διαφορετικών τεχνικών χαρακτηρισμού.