Low phosphorus content steels are essential for steel applications where high ductility is required, such as thin sheets, deep drawn, pipelines and automobile exteriors. In the past, phosphorus control was not considered a big challenge in steel production in the US because iron ores with low phosphorus contents were readily available and considered cheap. However, in the last decade, the iron ore price has risen by roughly 400% and lower cost iron sources generally have higher phosphorus content. In integrated steel plants, phosphorus removal usually takes place during the oxygen steelmaking process (OSM) but in Japan a intermediate step for hot metal dephosphorization is commonly used. There are various types of OSM furnaces but the most widely used remains the top-blown Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). The BOF slag can be recycled to a sinter plant or directly to the blast furnace, ultimately increasing the phosphorus input in the process. In order to meet new demands for phosphorus control, it is necessary to improve our understanding on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the phosphorus partitioning reaction between slag and metal melts during steelmaking. Therefore, the present work has been divided in three strongly correlated sections: phosphorus equilibrium between metal and slag; analysis of plant data; and observations of the reaction kinetics. Phosphorus equilibrium between liquid metal and slag has been extensively studied since the 1940's. It is well known that CaO and FeO are the main slag constituents that help promote dephosphorization. On the other hand, dephosphorization decreases with temperature due to the endothermic nature of the reaction. Many correlations have been developed to predict the phosphorus partition ratio as a function of metal and slag composition as well as temperature. Nevertheless, there are still disagreements in the laboratory data and the equilibrium phosphorus partition can be predicted with an uncertainty of a factor of up to 5. The first part of the present work focuses on generating more reliable equilibrium data for BOF-type slags by approaching equilibrium from both sides of the reaction. The experimental results were combined with two other sets of data from different authors to produce a new correlation that includes the effect of SiO2 on the phosphorus partition coefficient, LP . Although the quantification of phosphorus equilibrium is extremely important, most industrial furnaces do not operate at equilibrium, usually due to liquid slag formation, kinetics and time constraints. Thus, it is important to know how close to equilibrium different furnaces operate in order to suggest optimal slag compositions to promote dephosphorization. The present work analyzed four large sets of data containing the chemical compositions of both slag and metal phase as well as the tapping temperature of each heat. Each set of data corresponded to different furnaces: one AOD (Argon Oxygen Decarburization), two top-blown BOFs and one Q-BOP or OBM. It was found that the bulk slag composition can greatly \mask" the data due to solid phases coexisting with the liquid slag. The author used the software package FactSage to estimate the amount of solids in the slag and liquid slag composition. It was found that the AOD is the reactor closest to equilibrium, followed by the Q-BOP (OBM) and the two top-blown BOFs. It was noted that the stirring conditions and slag composition are two key variables to enable optimum phosphorus removal. Also, over saturating the slag with CaO and MgO does not seem to benefit the process to any extent. Lastly, interesting observations on the behavior of small metal droplets reacting with slag are presented and discussed. It was found that dynamic interfacial phenomena at the metal-slag interface is likely to play a significant role in the kinetic behavior of the system, due to the exchange of surface active elements, such as oxygen, which dramatically lowers the interfacial tension and cause spontaneous emulsification. Although this phenomenon has been studied, actual quantification of changes in interfacial area remain a challenge. The author developed an experimental method to enable better quantification of spontaneous emulsification and two sets of experiments were carried. One with an Fe containing 0.2 wt.% P and another in a P-free system where pure iron was oxidized. It was found that phosphorus did not play a role in spontaneous emulsification and it was rapidly removed before the onset of dynamic interfacial phenomena. Emulsificaion was maybe caused by de-oxidation of the metal after phosphorus removal took place and the metal became super saturated with oxygen by an unknown reason. The estimated surface area rapidly increases by over an order of magnitude during the beginning and intermediate periods of the reaction. The metal drop breaks into hundreds of small droplets, effectively emulsifying the metal into the slag. With time, the surface area decreases and the metal droplets coalesce. Similar results were observed for an Fe droplet being oxidized. Spontaneous emulsification takes place regardless of the direction of oxygen transfer and the changes in surface area are similar for both cases. The last chapter describes the industrial relevance of the present work, summarizes the findings, revisits the hypotheses and presents potential future work where further research is encouraged.

L'objectif a été de formuler des émulsions multiples Hydrophile/Lipophile/Hydrophile de taille nanométrique par autoémulsification, d'évaluer leurs cytotoxicités et le taux d'encapsulation. Trois formules ont été développées. La phase lipophile est composée de : triglycéride à chaine moyenne et de deux agents de surface : formules (a) Polysorbate 85 (PS85) / Labrasol®, (b) PS 85 / Cremophor® EL, (c) Glycérol / PS85. Les tailles des globules multiples des formules sont (a) 150 nm, (b) 40 nm et (c) 200 nm. La stabilité est de (a) 24 h, (b) 6 mois et (c) 2 mois. Le système multiple a été caractérisé par microscopie électronique à transmission et calorimétrie différentielle à balayage (DSC). L'évaluation de la viabilité cellulaire a montré une cytotoxicité aigüe (a) et retardé (b) et absence de cytotoxicité (c). La stabilité de la formulation (c) a été améliorée par ajout d'un glycéride hémisynthétique (Suppocire®DM). Différentes méthodes d'évaluation du taux d'encapsulation ont été testées, des méthodes usuelles (ultracentrifugation, dialyse) et d'autres méthodes (dégradation enzymatique, intercalant de l'ADN) avec des résultats montrant une interaction. La mise en évidence de la formation de micelles de PS85 dans la phase aqueuse externe a permis d'expliquer cette interaction. L'ultrafiltration a montré que le PS85 encapsulait du principe actif dans la phase aqueuse externe. L'évaluation de l'encapsulation de DTPA-Europium par DSC a permis détecter un taux d'encapsulation de 68 %. Du DTPA-Gadolinium incorporé dans la phase aqueuse interne a montré une supériorité comme agent de contraste positif par imagerie par résonnance magnétique par rapport à la solution de référence. / The aim was to formulate nanoscale Water/Oil/Water (W/O/W) multiple emulsion (ME) byself-emulsification, to evaluate their cytotoxicity and the encapsulation rate of DTPAEuropiumsolution. Three W/O/W ME have been developed. The lipophilic phase is composed of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) and two surfactants (ratio 7/3), which are : formulations:(a) Polysorbate 85 (PS85) / Labrasol ®, (b) PS85 / Cremophor EL®, (c) Glycerol / PS85. The sizes of multiple droplets are (a) 150 nm, (b) 40 nm and (c) 200 nm. Stabilities are (a) 24 h, (b)6 months and (c) 2 months. Multiple system has been characterized by transmission electronmicroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Evaluation of cell viability showacute cytotoxicity (formulation a), delayed cytotoxicity (formulation b) and no cytotoxicity(formulation c). The stability of formulation (c) has been improved by adding to the oily phase a hemisynthetic glycerid (Suppocire® DM). Different methods of evaluation of encapsulation rate have been tested: conventional methods (ultracentrifugation, dialysis, conductivity) and methods used for other nanosystems (enzymatic degradation, DNA intercalating). Results have shown an interaction. The demonstration of the formation of micelles or an emulsion ofPS85 in the external aqueous phase allowed explaining this interaction. Ultrafiltration was used to characterize it and to show that the PS85 encapsulates the active subtance in the external aqueous phase. Evaluation of the encapsulation of a solution of DTPA - Europium byDSC has overcome this interaction, and detecting an encapsulation rate of about 68 %. The incorporation of a solution of DTPA - Gadolinium in the internal aqueous phase has shown superiority as a positive contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging as compared to a reference solution.

Submitted by MARCIA ROVADOSCHI (marciar@unifra.br) on 2018-08-17T20:06:36Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_DanielaAlvesDeOliveira.pdf: 1704710 bytes, checksum: 2a7d863c9c37b44daa7f6af4648c5cd2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T20:06:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_DanielaAlvesDeOliveira.pdf: 1704710 bytes, checksum: 2a7d863c9c37b44daa7f6af4648c5cd2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-26 / Viticulture in Brazil has a great economic importance and an extension of approximately 80,000 hectares, generating employment and income for several families, however it is quite prone to infectious processes, which drastically reduces its productivity. Among these agents is Glomerella cingulata, which is controlled by fungicides, such as mancozeb. However, the use of this commercial product is related to contamination of the environment, in addition to a known toxic effect for humans. In this context the use of a naturally occurring substance, such as eugenol, could be a promising alternative. However, eugenol, which has an antimicrobial action, presents high volatilization and low solubility in water, thus impairing its administration and efficacy. One possibility to minimize toxicity of the fungicide, and the instability of eugenol, is nanoencapsulation. Therefore, the aim of this work was to verify the feasibility of co-encapsulation of mancozeb and eugenol in nanoemulsions and to evaluate the potential antifungal activity of nanoemulsions containing these compounds isolated and associated with Glomerella cingulata. Nanoemulsions containing eugenol (NE-E), mancozeb and eugenol (NE-ME), nanoemulsions with mancozeb (NE-M) and white nanoemulsions, without the active ones (NE-B) were prepared by the spontaneous emulsification method. The formulations were characterized according to mean diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, pH, content and morphology. The stability of the formulations for 30 days under different storage conditions and the antifungal activity against G. cingulata were also evaluated. The nanoemulsions had a mean diameter of approximately 200 nm, PDI of approximately 0.170, zeta potential of -11.0 mV, pH close to 5.0 and eugenol content, for NE-E and NE-ME, around 40%. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical shape. The antifungal activity assay was performed by the macrodilution technique, and the active compounds were analyzed: free eugenol, mancozeb, mancozeb and eugenol and the same nanoencapsulated ones. The NE-M obtained a minimum inhibitory activity of 0.009 μg / mL, a satisfactory result, followed by NE-ME 0.02 μg / mL mancozeb + 2 μg/mL eugenol compared to its free forms. The best condition for storage of the formulations was under refrigeration and antifungal activity was potentiated after nanoencapsulation for all formulations. This study presents an innovative alternative for the treatment of G. cingulata through the use of nanotechnology. / A viticultura no Brasil apresenta uma grande importância econômica e uma extensão de aproximadamente 80.000 hectares, gerando emprego e renda para várias famílias, entretanto é bastante propensa a processos infecciosos, o que diminui drasticamente sua produtividade. Dentre estes agentes está a Glomerella cingulata, cujo controle é realizado por fungicidas, como o mancozebe. Entretanto o uso deste produto comercial está relacionado com contaminação do ambiente, além de conhecido efeito tóxico para os seres humanos. Neste contexto o uso de substância de origem natural, como o eugenol, poderia ser uma alternativa promissora. Entretanto, o eugenol, que possui ação antimicrobiana, apresenta alta volatilização e baixa solubilidade em água, prejudicando assim sua administração e eficácia. Uma possibilidade para minimizar a toxicidade do fungicida, e a instabilidade do eugenol, é a nanoencapsulação. Sendo assim, a proposta deste trabalho foi verificar a viabilidade de co-encapsulação do mancozebe e do eugenol em nanoemulsões e avaliar a potencial atividade antifúngica de nanoemulsões contendo estes compostos isolados e associados frente à Glomerella cingulata. Foram preparadas nanoemulsões contendo eugenol (NE-E), mancozebe e eugenol (NE- ME), nanoemulsões com mancozebe (NE-M) e nanoemulsões brancas, sem os ativos (NE-B) através do método emulsificação espontânea. As formulações, foram caracterizadas de acordo com diâmetro médio, índice de polidispersão (PDI), potencial zeta, pH, teor e morfologia. Também foi avaliada a estabilidade das formulações durante 30 dias em diferentes condições de armazenamento e a atividade antifúngica frente à G. cingulata. As nanoemulsões apresentaram diâmetro médio de aproximadamente 200 nm, PDI de aproximadamente 0,170, potencial zeta de -11,0 mV, pH próximo à 5,0 e teor de eugenol, para NE-E e NE-ME, em torno de 40%. A microscopia eletrônica de transmissão demonstrou formato esférico. O ensaio da atividade antifúngica foi realizado pela técnica de macrodiluição, sendo analisados os ativos: eugenol, mancozebe, mancozebe e eugenol livres e os mesmos nanoencapsulados. A NE-M, obteve uma atividade inibitória mínima de 0,009 μg/mL, resultado satisfatório, seguida da NE-ME 0,02 μg/mL de mancozebe e 2 μg/mL de eugenol, comparada a suas formas livres. A melhor condição para armazenamento das formulações foi sob refrigeração e a atividade antifúngica foi potencializada após nanoencapsulação para todas as formulações. Este estudo apresenta uma alternativa inovadora para o tratamento da G. cingulata através do emprego da nanotecnologia.

Emulsion-based delivery systems offer many potential benefits for incorporating omega-3 oils into foods and beverages. Nanoemulsions are emulsion-based delivery systems that are gaining popularity because of their ease of preparation, small particle size, relatively high stability, high bioavailability, and production of optically transparent emulsions. Fish oil (FO) nanoemulsions are potentially more susceptible to lipid oxidation because of their high degree of lipid unsaturation, high surface area of exposed lipids, and greater light penetration. In the first study, spontaneous emulsification, a low-energy method, was used to fabricate FO nanoemulsions. The influence of surfactant-to-oil-ratio (SOR) on particle size, turbidity, and physical stability was evaluated. Furthermore, the oxidative stability of these nanoemulsions was compared to emulsions produced by microfluidizer, a high-energy method. The effect of particle size and SOR on oxidation was monitored by measuring lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Optically transparent nanoemulsions were formed and maintained physical stability after being held at 37 °C for 14 days. FO nanoemulsions produced by high- and low-energy methods had similar oxidative stabilities at 55 °C for 14 days. These results demonstrate that spontaneous emulsification can produce fish oil nanoemulsion that are physically stable and oxidize at similar rates as traditionally prepared nanoemulsions, and are therefore potentially suitable for fortification of clear food systems. Additionally, carrier oils can also impact the physical and oxidative stability of FO nanoemulsions. Medium chain triglycerides, lemon oil, and thyme oil were chosen as carrier oils and added to the oil phase at different ratios of FO to carrier oil for emulsions produced by the microfluidizer. Medium chain triglycerides and lemon oil produced stable FO nanoemulsions but the thyme oil only produced stable FO nanoemulsions at lower concentrations of carrier oil. On the other hand, at FO to carrier oil ratios of 75/25, lemon oil and thyme oil nanoemulsions had high oxidative stability because of natural of their antioxidants. These findings suggest that lemon oil and thyme oil can produce FO nanoemulsions that are physically and chemically stable and can be used for food system fortification.

L'objectif de cette thèse, la production et la caractérisation de nanovéhicules de morphologies différentes propres au traitement et au diagnostic par radio-isotopes, a conduit à une meilleure compréhension de la façon dont ces véhicules se forment. Les résultats ont permis de concevoir des méthodes de préparation novatrices qui permettent d'obtenir des échantillons de qualité supérieure à ce qui est actuellement l'état de l'art. Un nouveau procédé pour la préparation d'échantillons pour les essais de flexion de microscopie à force atomique a été développé. Cela a permis de mesurer le module d'élasticité de nanofils préparés avec des mélanges copolymère séquencé/homopolymère de composition variable. Enfin, les nanoparticules de morphologies sphérique et allongée ont été comparées dans des études in vivo réalisées avec des souris saines. Les résultats montrent que leur temps de circulation et leur biodistribution peuvent être modulés par leur taille et leur morphologie. / This thesis provides an overview of the formation, characterization and testing of micelles of different morphology for biological applications. One major aspect of this thesis is the understanding of the processes which lead to the formation of block copolymer micelles through the emulsion evaporation method. The results obtained made it possible to develop an innovative micelle formation technique which provides samples which are of superior quality to what the current state of the art. A new method has been developed for the preparation of samples for three point bending tests experiments performed by atomic force microscopy. This has made it possible to determine the elastic modulus of elongated micelles formed with various blends of homopolymers and copolymers. Finally, the behavior of spherical and elongated micelles was compared in vivo in healthy mice. The results have shown that the micelle size and morphology influences their biodistribution and circulation time.

L'objectif de ces travaux était de mettre au point des vecteurs de diffusion efficaces du thymol pour lutter contre un acarien parasite des abeilles. Le choix s'est porté sur la formation de nano-objets par émulsification spontanée pouvant libérer efficacement du thymol grâce à leur grande surface spécifique. L'émulsification spontanée par « effet Ouzo » a été choisie en raison de (i) la simplicité du procédé nécessaire pour son application par les apiculteurs et de (ii) la possibilité de former une grande diversité de nano-objets. L'émulsification spontanée par effet Ouzo a tout d'abord été étudiée fondamentalement avec un polymère (nanoprécipitation), le polyméthacrylate de méthyle (PMMA), pour s'affranchir des phénomènes déstabilisants typiques des émulsions tels que le mûrissement d'Ostwald et la coalescence. Cette étude a permis de définir clairement les compositions du système PMMA/solvant/eau pour lesquelles la nanoprécipitation du PMMA induit la formation exclusive de nanoparticules de distribution de taille étroite (zone Ouzo) ou la formation de nanoparticules additionnées de macroparticules (zone non-Ouzo), séparées par la limite Ouzo. Deux mécanismes de formation des nanoparticules ont été déduits suivant la sursaturation du PMMA (nucléation et croissance ou nucléation et agrégation). L'influence des stabilisants a montré l'importance de l'adsorption des ions OH- sur la taille des nanoparticules et sur le déplacement de la limite Ouzo alors que seule la stabilité colloïdale est améliorée avec l'ajout de tensioactifs. Cette étude fondamentale a servi de base pour la formation des nanogouttelettes de thymol et des nanocapsules thymol-PVA réticulé et thymol-PMMA par effet Ouzo. Des nanoparticules thymol-PVP ont également été formées par complexation de la poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) en milieu aqueux. Ces nano-objets de thymol ont été testés sur des ruches infestées pour déterminer leur efficacité d'éradication de l'acarien Varroa Destructor. / The objective of this work dealt with setting up efficient thymol diffusion vectors to fight against a bee mite, the Varroa Destructor. The formation of nano-objects by spontaneous emulsification was investigated because they provide large specific area to enhance thymol evaporation. Spontaneous emulsification by so-called Ouzo effect was chosen because of (i) the simplicity of the process necessary for the transfer to beekeepers and (ii) the great diversity of nano-objects morphologies which can be designed. Spontaneous emulsification by Ouzo effect was first studied fundamentally with a polymer (nanoprecipitation), the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), in order to avoid typical emulsion destabilizing phenomena such as Ostwald ripening and coalescence. This study enabled to clearly define the PMMA/solvent/water system compositions for which PMMA nanoprecipitation induces only formation of nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution (Ouzo domain) or formation of microparticles besides nanoparticles (non-Ouzo domain), separated by the Ouzo boundary. Two nanoparticles formation mechanisms were deduced with respect to the supersaturation of PMMA (nucleation and growth or nucleation and aggregation). Stabilizers influence set off the importance of OH- ions adsorption on nanoparticles size and on Ouzo boundary shifting whereas only colloidal stability is improved through surfactant addition. This fundamental study laid down basis for thymol nanodroplets and for thymol-cross linked PVA and thymol-PMMA nanocapsules formation by Ouzo effect. Thymol-PVP nanoparticles were also prepared by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) complexation in aqueous medium. These thymol nano-objects were tested on infested beehives to determine their efficiency to eradicate the Varroa Destructor mite.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BentoPCN.pdf: 1568863 bytes, checksum: bd484a66a36dd1be9ccc75015b40e5e8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-05 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Currently, studies in the area of polymeric microcapsules and nanocapsules and controlled release are considerably advanced. This work aims the study and development of microcapsules and nanocapsules from Chitosan/MDI, using a new technique of interfacial polycondensation combined to spontaneous emulsification, for encapsulation of BZ-3. It was firstly elaborated an experimental design of 23 of the particle in white without the presence of BZ-3 and Miglyol, where the variables were the concentrations of MDI, chitosan and solvent. Starting from the data supplied by the experimental design was chosen the experiment with smaller particle diameter and only added like this BZ-3 and Miglyol. The suspension containing concentrations of 6.25 mg/mL, 12.5 mg/mL, 18.75 mg/mL, 25 mg/mL of BZ-3 were prepared, nevertheless, during the storage time, these formulations presented drug precipitates in the suspensions of 18.75 mg/mL and 25 mg/mL of BZ-3. This apparition of precipitate was attributed to the diffusion of BZ-3 for the aqueous phase without any encapsulation, suggesting so the use of the smaller concentrations of the BZ-3. The suspension containing 6.25mg/mL of BZ3 presented average size of 1.47μm, zeta potential of 61 mV, pH 5.64 and this sample showed an amount of BZ-3 and drug entrapment of 100 %. The suspension containing 12.5mg/mL of BZ-3 presented average size of 1.76μm, zeta potential of 47.4 mV, pH 5.71 and this sample showed an amount of BZ-3 and drug entrapment of 100 %. Then, showing such important characteristics, these two formulations were chosen for futher continuity to the study. These formulations were also characterized by the morphology, FTIR, stability for Turbiscan, DSC and a study of controlled release of the BZ-3 was elaborated in different receiving means / O presente trabalho visou o estudo e desenvolvimento de um sistema micro e nanoestruturado de quitosana reticulada por diisocianato, pela t?cnica de policondensa??o interfacial combinada com emulsifica??o espont?nea, para encapsula??o de benzofenona-3 (BZ-3), um filtro solar qu?mico. Foi elaborado primeiramente um planejamento experimental de 23 para desenvolvimento da formula??o de part?culas de quitosana e MDI (4,4 -difenil metano diisocianato), onde as vari?veis foram ?s concentra??es de MDI, de quitosana e do solvente. A partir dos dados fornecidos pelo planejamento experimental, optou-se pelas condi??es de processo e formula??o capazes de gerar o menor di?metro de part?cula. O estudo prosseguiu com a incorpora??o de BZ-3 e Miglyol (n?cleo das c?psulas formadas). Suspens?es de nanoc?psulas com concentra??es de 6,25 mg/mL, 12,5 mg/mL, 18,75 mg/mL e 25 mg/mL de BZ-3 foram preparadas, por?m durante o per?odo de armazenamento ocorreu o aparecimento de precipitados cristalinos, nas suspens?es de 18,75 mg/mL e 25 mg/mL de BZ-3. Este aparecimento de precipitados cristalinos foi atribu?do ? difus?o da BZ-3 para a fase aquosa n?o ocorrendo sua encapsula??o. A suspens?o contendo 6,25 mg/mL de BZ-3 apresentou di?metro m?dio de 1,47μm, potencial zeta de 61 mV, pH de 5,64 e teor de encapsula??o pr?ximos a 100 %. A suspens?o contendo 12,5mg/mL de BZ-3 apresentou di?metro m?dio de 1,76μm, potencial zeta de 47,4mV, pH 5,71 e teor de encapsula??o pr?ximos a 100 % e foi selecionada juntamente com a de 6,25 mg/mL para a continuidade do estudo. Estas formula??es foram caracterizadas tamb?m pela morfologia, turbidimetria, espectroscopia de absor??o na regi?o do infravermelho, DSC e foi elaborado um estudo de libera??o controlada do f?rmaco em diferentes meios receptores. Em conclus?o, o conjunto dos resultados obtidos demonstra que estas formula??es s?o sistemas promissores para a aplica??o cut?nea de filtros solares

<p>Emulsions are advantageous in many applications including healthcare, food science, and detergency due to their ability to disperse one fluid in another, otherwise immiscible fluid. For the same reason, emulsions are also problematic when mixtures of oil and water are undesirable like in industrial wastewater pollution and fuel systems. Whether an emulsion is desirable or not, both benefit from understanding the fundamental relationship of emulsion formation and stability to the physical and chemical properties of the oil-water-surfactant mixture. This work identifies the formation and stability mechanisms of model emulsion systems through the perspective of emulsion prevention for applications in shipboard wastewater (bilge water) treatment. Although experiments in this study were designed to model bilge water systems, their fundamental approach makes them practical for many different applications like food science, pharmaceuticals, and detergency.</p> <p>The impact of salts on emulsion formation and stability to coalescence were studied to understand how emulsions stabilized by ionic surfactant behave in saltwater environments. Droplet size analysis revealed that emulsion stability to coalescence improved with salt concentration. Through interfacial tension and zeta potential measurements, it was found that the addition of salt promoted close surfactant packing and faster surfactant adsorption kinetics at the oil-water interface. This aided in preventing coalescence and created conditions favorable for the formation of a stable Newton black film. Extended DLVO calculations were used to model the interaction energy between droplets and suggested that hydration forces play an important role in stabilizing these systems. These emulsions were then studied under dynamic ageing conditions to observe the impact of motion on emulsion stability. While statically aged emulsions were stable to coalescence, dynamic ageing induced coalescence (increased droplet size) or emulsified the oil droplets (decreased droplet size) depending on the surfactant concentration and energy input during ageing.</p> Formation mechanisms and stability of spontaneous emulsion systems were also investigated. Low molecular weight oils (e.g., toluene, xylenes, and cyclohexane) were found to spontaneously emulsify with nonylphenol polyethoxylated (NPE) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS). NPE emulsions spontaneously emulsified via diffusion and micelle swelling and displayed limited stability due to Ostwald ripening. SDBS emulsions also spontaneously emulsified with toluene but only in saltwater environments. As the concentration of salt in the aqueous phase increased, the spontaneity of these emulsions also increased. These systems were analyzed using the hydrophilic lipophilic difference (HLD) theory to evaluate its efficacy for predicting the conditions favorable for spontaneous emulsification. Limitations and practicality of using the HLD model for these systems were also explored.

[pt] A adsorção de moléculas de asfalteno na interface óleo-água induz a formação de uma microestrutura complexa, que estabiliza as emulsões e prejudica a eficiência dos processes de refino de petróleo. Neste trabalho, desenvolvemos um conjunto de novos protocolos de reologia de cisalhamento para avaliar o efeito de solventes polares e apolares na adsorção de genuínos asfaltenos brasileiros. Além disso, a morfologia do asfalteno, após a adição de solventes com aromaticidades distintas, é investigada por microscopia de varredura (MEV). Os resultados indicam que os asfaltenos estão organizados em uma estrutura do tipo ilha com unidades aromáticas e policondensadas, que formam filmes interfaciais reversíveis com a adição de solventes polares. O estudo interfacial também revela que solventes apolares podem "prender" os nanoagregados de asfalteno na mistura. Esses agregados, na presença de solventes fracamente polares, podem se consolidar em um padrão mais compactado, sugerindo que o crescimento do filme e o autoarranjo do asfalteno estão diretamente relacionados ao conteúdo aromático. Explora-se as diferenças na estruturação do asfalteno e como afetam a extensão da emulsificação espontânea. É proposto que a taxa de emulsificação está diretamente relacionada à configuração química dos asfaltenos. Finalmente, estuda-se a adição de ácido esteárico (AE) a soluções de asfalteno em conteúdo de água deionizada (AD) e água sintética (AS) para melhor compreender como as propriedades reológicas e superficiais são afetadas pela competição das coespécies. Verifica-se que interfaces formadas puramente por AEs originam filmes mais viscosos do que elásticos na interface ar-água. A atividade interfacial dos asfaltenos brasileiros é evidente e significativa na presença de eletrólitos e dependente da aromaticidade do solvente. / [en] Adsorption of asphaltene molecules at the oil-water interface induces the formation of a complex microstructure, which stabilizes emulsions and impairs the efficiency of crude oil refining. In this work, we design a set of new shear rheology protocols to assess the effect of polar and non-polar solvents on indigenous Brazilian (BR) asphaltene adsorption. Moreover, the asphaltene morphology upon addition of solvents with distinct aromaticities is investigated by SEM microscopy. Our findings indicate that asphaltenes are a polycondensate aromatic island-type structure that forms reversible films when polar solvents are placed on top of the adsorbed film. The interfacial study also reveals that non-polar solvents may lock up asphaltene nanoaggregates in mixture. These aggregates, upon the presence of weakly polar solvents, can consolidate into a more close-packed pattern, suggesting that network growth and asphaltene self-arrangement are directly related to the aromatic content. We explore the differences in asphaltene structuring and how it affects the extent of spontaneous emulsification. We find that the rate of emulsification is directly related to the chemical configuration of asphaltenes. Finally, we study the addition of stearic acid (SA) to asphaltene solutions in deionized water (DW) and synthetic water (SW) to better understand how surface and rheological properties are affected by competitive adsorption. We find that single SA are more prone to form liquid-like rather than solid-like films at the air-water interface. Furthermore, we show that the interfacial activity of our asphaltenes is enhanced in the presence of electrolytes and is dependent of the solvent aromaticity.

[pt] Inúmeros estudos têm sido realizados para melhor entender a formação e estabilidade de emulsões. Em algumas situações, é desejável ter emulsões estáveis; em outros, a separação de fases por coalescência de gotas é benéfica. Em ambos os casos, é importante entender os mecanismos associados ao processo de coalescência. O presente trabalho investiga a relação entre as propriedades reológicas das interfaces óleo-água e o tempo de drenagem de um filme fino de óleo entre duas gotas aquosas. A tensão interfacial e a reologia dilatacional interfacial foram medidas usando a análise axissimétrica da forma da gota. Foram avaliadas diferentes concentrações de um tensoativo não iônico (Span 80) dissolvido em óleo mineral (Primol 352). Os resultados indicam uma relação direta entre as propriedades da estrutura formada na interface óleo-água e a ausência de coalescência das gotas. Para concentrações de surfactante abaixo da concentração micelar crítica (CMC), a interface é fracamente elástica (fluid-like) e o processo de coalescência sempre ocorre; o tempo de drenagem não está relacionado ao tempo de envelhecimento da interface. Para concentrações de surfactante acima da CMC, os módulos elástico e viscoso mostraram mudanças significativas com o envelhecimento, levando à formação de um filme sólido na interface, impedindo a coalescência entre as gotas. Usamos experimentos de coalescência gota/gota para avaliar o efeito da reologia interfacial na dinâmica de coalescência. Para entender melhor o fenômeno da não coalescência, estudamos microscopicamente a estrutura do filme interfacial e observamos o aparecimento de pequenas gotas de água formadas na interface através de emulsificação espontânea. Descobrimos que a taxa de surgimento dessas microgotículas está diretamente relacionada à concentração de surfactante. À medida que a concentração de surfactante aumenta, mais rápido ocorre o processo de emulsificação espontânea, o que confirma os resultados obtidos com a reologia interfacial. Finalmente, um novo método para promover a desestabilização da emulsão impondo uma perturbação do filme interfacial pelo escoamento das gotas através de capilares constritos é proposto e testado. / [en] Several studies have been conducted to understand emulsions formation and stability. In some situations, it is desirable to have stable emulsions; in others, phase separation through drop coalescence is beneficial. In both cases, it is important to understand the mechanisms associated to the coalescence process. The present work investigates the relationship between rheological properties of oil-water interfaces and the drainage time of a thin oil film between two aqueous drops. Interfacial tension and dilatational rheology were measured using the axisymmetric drop shape analysis. We evaluated different concentrations of a nonionic surfactant (Span 80) dissolved in mineral oil (Primol 352) phase. The results indicate a direct relationship between the properties of the structure formed at the oil-water interface and the absence of droplet coalescence. For low surfactant concentrations, below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the interface is weakly elastic (fluid-like) and the coalescence process always occurs; the draining time is not to related to the aging time of the interface. For surfactant concentrations above CMC, the elastic and viscous moduli showed significant changes with aging leading to the formation of a solid-like film at the interface preventing further coalescence. We used a drop/drop coalescence experiments to evaluate the effect of interfacial rheology on the coalescence dynamics. To better understand the phenomenon of non-coalescence, we study the structure of interfacial film microscopically and observe the appearance of small water droplets formed at the interface by spontaneous emulsification. We found that the emergence rate of these microdroplets is directly related to the surfactant concentration. As the surfactant concentration increases, faster the spontaneous emulsification process occurs, which confirms the results obtained with the interfacial rheology. Finally, a new method to promote emulsion destabilization by imposing a perturbation of the interfacial film by flowing the drops through constricted capillaries is proposed and tested.