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Numerous findings have indicated that the distance between the evaporator and condenser of the molecular still is not as critical, as far as mean free-path design criteria are concerned, as formerly believed. It had been recommended that studies be made on the present apparatus at Virginia Polytechnic Institute to determine exactly how critical this factor is. The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of condenser temperature and location on the molecular distillation characteristics of stearic acid, and from this study, determine this relationship of condenser temperature and location to be used in centrifugal molecular still operation. This investigation was accomplished using a magnetically driven centrifugal molecular still with a five-inch rotor and employing the following operating conditions: operating pressure, 24 ± 2 microns of mercury, absolute; feed rate, 60 to 65 milliliters per minute; rotor speed, 1000 ± 50 revolutions per minute; feed-residue temperature differential, 24 ± 1 degrees centigrade; condenser water temperature, 25, 35, and 45 degrees centigrade; condenser locations, 3/4 2-1/2, and 5-3/8 inches from the evaporator; and number of passes of the feed over the rotor per fraction, one. lt was concluded from this investigation that if the Iocation of the condenser did not exceed a mean free-path multiple of three, that the location of the condenser had no effect on the elimination maximum of stearic acid, and the elimination maximum was increased approximately one degree centigrade for every four degrees centigrade decrease in condenser temperature. The elimination maximum was not affected by condenser temperature when the condenser was located in a position with a mean free path multiple of six. / Master of Science

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a produção de micropartículas lipídicas solidas utilizando ácido esteárico/triestearina e óleo de palmiste, e a avaliação de sua estabilidade físico-química e digestibilidade in vitro. Nas dispersões contendo ácido esteárico e óleo de palmiste utilizou-se como tensoativos o polisorbato 20 e span 80 (4% em massa); já nas dispersões contendo triestearina e óleo de palmiste utilizou-se o polisorbato 60 e o span 80 (4% em massa) como tensoativos e o hidrocoloide goma xantana (0,05% em massa) como espessante. A porcentagem do óleo de palmiste variou entre 30 e 90% do conteúdo lipídico total nas partículas. Com relação à microestrutura, todas as micropartículas produzidas apresentaram característica totalmente amorfa, favorecendo as condições de encapsulação de bioativos, diminuindo a chance de expulsão dos mesmos da estrutura. Com relação à vida de prateleira, todas as micropartículas produzidas mostraram-se extremamente estáveis durante o período de estocagem analisado, sendo que a distribuição de tamanho de partícula apresentou-se bimodal, sendo uma população de partículas em torno de 300 nm e a outra em torno de 1500 nm. As análises de potencial zeta e polidispersidade ao longo do tempo de armazenagem confirmaram a alta estabilidade dos sistemas produzidos. As micropartículas produzidas com ácido esteárico e óleo de palmiste se mostraram menos estáveis do que as produzidas com triestearina, frente as diferentes condições de stress aplicadas. As análises de digestibilidade in vitro estática apresentaram resultados piores que a digestibilidade in vitro dinâmica, sendo esta metologia mais eficiente para prever a digestibilidade. Pelas análises de distribuição média de tamanho, potencial zeta, quantificação de ácidos graxos livres e microscopia ótica foi constatada inibição da lipólise durante os ensaios, a qual foi mais acentuada nas micropartículas produzidas com ácido esteárico. No entanto, pode-se deduzir que as micropartículas lipídicas produzidas neste trabalho podem ser estruturadas de modo a produzir efetiva liberação controlada de bioativos encapsulados. / The present study proposed the production of solid lipid microparticles using stearic acid / tristearin and palm kernel oil, and the evaluation of their physical and chemical stability and in vitro digestibility. In the dispersions containing stearic acid and palm kernel oil the surfactants used were polysorbate 20 and span 80 (4% wt). In the production of dispersions containing tristearin and palm kernel oil, polysorbate 60 and span 80 (4% wt) were used as surfactants, as well as xanthan gum (0,05% wt) as thickener. The percentage of palm kernel oil ranged between 30 and 90% of the overall lipid content of the particles. With respect to microstructure, all the microparticles produced had completely amorphous characteristic, a desired characteristic for the encapsulation of a hydrophobic bioactive, as in amorphous particles the chance of expulsion is decreased. With regard to shelf life, all microparticles were extremely stable during the considered storage period, and the particle size distributions were always bimodal, with a population of particles around 300 nm and the other at approximately 1500 nm. Analyses of zeta potential and polydispersity over time storage confirmed the high stability of the systems produced. When submitted to different stress conditions, the microparticles produced with stearic acid and palm kernel oil were less stable than those produced with tristearin. As for digestibility assays, static experiments showed much worse results than the in vitro dynamic assays. The analyses of average size distribution, zeta potential, quantification of free fatty acids and optical microscopy showed inhibition of lipolysis during the digestibility assays, which was more pronounced in the microparticles produced with stearic acid. However, it is possible to say that the lipid microparticles produced in this work can be structured to produce effective controlled release of bioactive encapsulated.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a produção de micropartículas lipídicas solidas utilizando ácido esteárico/triestearina e óleo de palmiste, e a avaliação de sua estabilidade físico-química e digestibilidade in vitro. Nas dispersões contendo ácido esteárico e óleo de palmiste utilizou-se como tensoativos o polisorbato 20 e span 80 (4% em massa); já nas dispersões contendo triestearina e óleo de palmiste utilizou-se o polisorbato 60 e o span 80 (4% em massa) como tensoativos e o hidrocoloide goma xantana (0,05% em massa) como espessante. A porcentagem do óleo de palmiste variou entre 30 e 90% do conteúdo lipídico total nas partículas. Com relação à microestrutura, todas as micropartículas produzidas apresentaram característica totalmente amorfa, favorecendo as condições de encapsulação de bioativos, diminuindo a chance de expulsão dos mesmos da estrutura. Com relação à vida de prateleira, todas as micropartículas produzidas mostraram-se extremamente estáveis durante o período de estocagem analisado, sendo que a distribuição de tamanho de partícula apresentou-se bimodal, sendo uma população de partículas em torno de 300 nm e a outra em torno de 1500 nm. As análises de potencial zeta e polidispersidade ao longo do tempo de armazenagem confirmaram a alta estabilidade dos sistemas produzidos. As micropartículas produzidas com ácido esteárico e óleo de palmiste se mostraram menos estáveis do que as produzidas com triestearina, frente as diferentes condições de stress aplicadas. As análises de digestibilidade in vitro estática apresentaram resultados piores que a digestibilidade in vitro dinâmica, sendo esta metologia mais eficiente para prever a digestibilidade. Pelas análises de distribuição média de tamanho, potencial zeta, quantificação de ácidos graxos livres e microscopia ótica foi constatada inibição da lipólise durante os ensaios, a qual foi mais acentuada nas micropartículas produzidas com ácido esteárico. No entanto, pode-se deduzir que as micropartículas lipídicas produzidas neste trabalho podem ser estruturadas de modo a produzir efetiva liberação controlada de bioativos encapsulados. / The present study proposed the production of solid lipid microparticles using stearic acid / tristearin and palm kernel oil, and the evaluation of their physical and chemical stability and in vitro digestibility. In the dispersions containing stearic acid and palm kernel oil the surfactants used were polysorbate 20 and span 80 (4% wt). In the production of dispersions containing tristearin and palm kernel oil, polysorbate 60 and span 80 (4% wt) were used as surfactants, as well as xanthan gum (0,05% wt) as thickener. The percentage of palm kernel oil ranged between 30 and 90% of the overall lipid content of the particles. With respect to microstructure, all the microparticles produced had completely amorphous characteristic, a desired characteristic for the encapsulation of a hydrophobic bioactive, as in amorphous particles the chance of expulsion is decreased. With regard to shelf life, all microparticles were extremely stable during the considered storage period, and the particle size distributions were always bimodal, with a population of particles around 300 nm and the other at approximately 1500 nm. Analyses of zeta potential and polydispersity over time storage confirmed the high stability of the systems produced. When submitted to different stress conditions, the microparticles produced with stearic acid and palm kernel oil were less stable than those produced with tristearin. As for digestibility assays, static experiments showed much worse results than the in vitro dynamic assays. The analyses of average size distribution, zeta potential, quantification of free fatty acids and optical microscopy showed inhibition of lipolysis during the digestibility assays, which was more pronounced in the microparticles produced with stearic acid. However, it is possible to say that the lipid microparticles produced in this work can be structured to produce effective controlled release of bioactive encapsulated.

This diploma thesis is focused on the preparation of hybrid titania-silica layers. Titanium tetraisopropoxide and tetraethyl orthosilicate with Levasil were used as the precursors for TiO2 and SiO2 synthesis, respectively. The layers were deposited on substrates by material printing. Furthermore, this work is focused on the study of the rheological properties of TiO2-SiO2 sol and characterization of prepared films by XRD, SEM, ellipsometry, AFM, pencil hardnes test, optical microscopy. Optical properties were also characterized by transmitance and reflectance measurement and the functionality of these layers was demonstrated by a stearic acid degradation experiment.

Orientador: Carlos Raimundo Ferreira Grosso / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T16:31:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Davanco_Taciana_M.pdf: 2629355 bytes, checksum: cdbb1966776fdc55926071d8c776dbb4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Desenvolvimento de biofilmes tem crescido devido a possibilidade de substituição parcial de materiais plásticos não degradáveis. Proteínas e polissacarídeos têm sido utilizados para a produção de filmes com boas propriedades mecânicas. Porém filmes a partir desses materiais apresentam alta permeabilidade ao vapor de água. Uma alternativa usada para diminuir a permeabilidade ao vapor de água dos filmes é a incorporação de substancias hidrofóbicas na composição da solução filmogênica, porém a incorporação dessas substâncias na matriz filmogênica não ocorre de maneira homogênea. Com o objetivo de melhorar a incorporação das substâncias hidrofóbicas na matriz protéica do filme foram adicionados os surfactantes (SDS e Tween 80), que são compostos orgânicos constituídos por moléculas anfifílicas, contendo uma parte polar e outra apolar, com o intuito desta substância interagir na proteína e no ácido graxo, tornando a matriz filmogênica menos heterogênea. O efeito do pH também foi estudado, com a finalidade de observar se este exerce influência na homogeneidade da matriz filmogênica. Os ácidos graxos utilizados no trabalho foram o ácido capróico (6C), e o ácido esteárico (18C), com o objetivo de avaliar e comparar se o número de carbonos da cadeia do ácido graxo exerce influencia na incorporação da matriz protéica. Os filmes foram caracterizados quanto as propriedades de barreira ao vapor de água e propriedades mecânicas, solubilidade em água, opacidade, isotermas de sorção e calorimetria diferencial de varredura, podendo ser observado que a adição dos surfactantes melhorou a barreira ao vapor de água e diminuiu a resistência à tração dos filmes, não sendo observado diferenças na cor e opacidade dos filmes . Posteriormente foram analisadas as características morfológicas, através da microscopia ótica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microscopia confocal de varredura a laser, observando que o ajuste do pH e a adição do surfactante modificam a estrutura morfológica do filme / Abstract: Development of biofilms has grown considering the possibility of partial substitution of plastic materials not degradable. Proteins and polysaccharides have been used for the production of films with good mechanical properties. However films produced with these materials present high water vapor permeability to the water vapor. An used alternative to improve the water vapor barrier of the films is the incorporation of hydrophobic substances in the composition of the filmogenic solution, however the incorporation of these substances in the filmogenic matrix does not occur in homogeneous way. Thus with, the objective to improve the incorporation of hydrofhobic substances in the protein matrix of the film surfactants had been added (SDS and Tween 80). They are organic compounds constituted by anphiphilics molecules, incluing a polar part and other apolar, with the intention that is substances improve the interaction between the protein and the fats acids, producing a less heterogeneous filmogenic matrix. The effect of pH also was studied, with the purpose to observe if this produce influence in the homogeneity of the filmogenic matrix. The fats acids used in this work were the caproic acid (6C), and the stearic acid (18C), with the objective to evaluate and to compare if the carbon number of the fats acids exerts influences in the incorporation on the protein matrix. The films were characterized with respect to the properties of barrier to the water vapor, solubility in water, opacity, isotherms of sorption and thermal properties, being able to be observed that the addition of the surfactants improved the water vapor permeability and decreased the tensile strenght of the films, not being observed differences in the color and opacity of the films. Later the morphologic characteristics had been analyzed, through optics microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, observing that the adjustment of pH and the addition of the surfactant modify the morphological structure of the films / Mestrado / Nutrição Experimental e Aplicada à Tecnologia de Alimentos / Mestre em Alimentos e Nutrição

Abstract The main objective of this thesis was to research and develop a sensitive characterization method for dielectric powdery substances which could be utilized in various industrial and research fields. With modern electromagnetic simulation tools and the presented experimental measurements, the characterization of dielectric powders using an indirectly coupled open-ended coaxial cavity resonator operating in TEM mode at 4.5 GHz was found to have potential. The modelling and the experimental measurement results of commonly used dielectric powders revealed that, from the nine classical mixing rules, it was possible to derive reliable inclusion permittivity values when using the properties of the perturbed resonator and the Bruggeman symmetric and the Looyenga mixing theories. In addition, the determination accuracy of the inclusion permittivity was found to be greatly improved with the correction factor included into the previously presented permittivity equation of the quarter wave coaxial resonator. Determination of the dielectric losses was found to be reliable when using the differences between the perturbed and unperturbed resonator and the general mixing model equation. The sensitivity of the characterization method was researched with both humidity exposed and surfactant treated modified SiO2, Al2O3 and ZrO2 powders. Experimental results showed that the effect of adsorbed water on the particles was most pronounced when measuring the dielectric losses of the inclusions. Furthermore, a clear correlation with the theory of the general mixing model was found. Thus, in addition to the changed dielectric properties between dry and humidity exposed powders, it was also possible to determine the moisture content with reasonable accuracy. This correlated well with the traditional, mass based, determination. Stearic acid coating of the particles induced only a small change in inclusion permittivity but a notable change in dielectric losses. Unlike the cases with the larger particle sized SiO2 and Al2O3, the dielectric loss of ZrO2 inclusions, with stearic acid coating, was decreased significantly from 6.2 × 10-3 to 3.8 × 10-3. When characterizing magnesium and calcium titanate composite powders, with CaTiO3 molar ratios of 0.0, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1, the method was found to have good sensitivity and accuracy. Additions of CaTiO3 exhibited a clear increase in net inclusion permittivities from 13.4 up to 14.9 and in dielectric loss tangents from 7.1 × 10-3 up to 8.5 × 10-3. In addition, a good correlation was found in the theoretical determination of the CaTiO3 molar ratios using the resonator measurement results and the general mixing model. The characterization method was proved to be capable of measuring the dielectric properties and detecting even very slight changes in the powders. Thus, the method could be utilized in various types of powdery material characterization, for example, in the analysis and quality control of different composite powders. / Tiivistelmä Väitöstyön päätavoitteena oli tutkia ja kehittää herkkä jauhemaisten eristemateriaalien karakterisointimenetelmä, jota voitaisiin hyödyntää usealla teollisuuden ja tutkimuksen alueella. Hyödyntäen nykyaikaisia sähkömagnetiikan simulointityökaluja sekä kokeellisia mittauksia, havaittiin TEM -moodissa 4,5 GHz taajuudella toimivan avoimen epäsuorasti kytketyn koaksiaalionteloresonaattorin soveltuvan karakterisoimaan eristejauheita. Sähkömagneettinenmallinnus yhdessä yleisesti käytettyjen eristejauheiden kokeellisten mittausten kanssa osoitti, että partikkelin permittiivisyysarvot voitiin johtaa luotettavasti. Tällöin käytettiin näytemateriaalilla täytetyn resonaattorin ominaisuuksia, sekä yhdeksästä vertaillusta klassisesta sekoitusyhtälöstä Bruggeman symmetristä ja Looyengan sekoitusteorioita. Tämän lisäksi tarkkuutta voitiin parantaa huomattavasti lisäämällä korjauskerroin aikaisemmin julkaistuun neljännesaalto-koaksiaaliresonaattorin permittiivisyyden määrittävään yhtälöön. Eristehäviöiden määrittäminen havaittiin luotettavaksi, kun käytettiin mitattavalla materiaalilla muutetun ja tyhjän resonaattorin ominaisuuksien eroja, sekä general mixing model -yhtälöä. Karakterisointimenetelmän herkkyys tutkittiin ilmankosteudelle altistetuilla, sekä pintakäsittelyllä muutetuilla SiO2, Al2O3 ja ZrO2 -jauheilla. Mittaustulokset osoittivat, että partikkelin pinnalle adsorpoituneen veden vaikutus oli kaikkein korostunein, kun mitattiin partikkelien eristehäviöitä. Tämän lisäksi havaittiin myös selkeä korrelaatio general mixing model -teorian kanssa. Näin ollen muuttuneiden eristeominaisuuksien määritysten lisäksi voitiin määrittää jauheen kosteussisältö riittävällä tarkkuudella. Tulokset korreloivat hyvin perinteisen massaeroihin perustuvan määrittämisen kanssa. Partikkelien pinnoitus steariinihapolla aiheutti ainoastaan pienen muutoksen permittiivisyyteen mutta merkittävän muutoksen eristehäviöihin. Toisin kuin suuremman partikkelikoon SiO2:lla ja Al2O3:lla ZrO2 -partikkelin eristehäviö laski huomattavasti steariinihappopinnoituksen jälkeen, 6,2 × 10-3:sta 3,8 × 10-3:een. Karakterisoitaessa magnesium- ja kalsiumtitanaattikomposiittijauheita käyttämällä CaTiO3 -moolisuhteita 0,0, 0,02, 0,05 ja 0,1 menetelmällä havaittiin olevan hyvä herkkyys ja tarkkuus mitattavan materiaalin muutoksille. CaTiO3 -määrän lisäykset aiheuttivat selkeän nousun partikkelien kokonaispermittiivisyyksissä, joka kasvoi 13,4:sta 14,9:ään, sekä häviötangentissa, joka kasvoi 7,1 × 10-3:sta aina 8,5 × 10-3:een. Tämän lisäksi resonaattorin mitattuihin ominaisuuksiin sekä general mixing model -yhtälöön perustuvan teoreettisen määrityksen havaittin korreloivan hyvin CaTiO3 -moolisuhteisiin. Karakterisointimenetelmän osoitettiin soveltuvan eristeominaisuuksien mittaukseen sekä havaitsemaan jopa erittäin pienet muutokset jauheiden eristeominaisuuksissa. Menetelmää voitaisiin hyödyntää usean tyyppisissä jauhemateriaalien ominaisuuksien määrityksissä, kuten esimerkiksi erilaisten komposiittijauheiden analysoinnissa ja laaduntarkkailussa.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-01-19T10:10:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 charlesdiasdebrito.pdf: 2413607 bytes, checksum: f1809f4cce1cb76f35fa95ba6b716e99 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-01-25T17:43:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 charlesdiasdebrito.pdf: 2413607 bytes, checksum: f1809f4cce1cb76f35fa95ba6b716e99 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-25T17:43:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 charlesdiasdebrito.pdf: 2413607 bytes, checksum: f1809f4cce1cb76f35fa95ba6b716e99 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-24 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neste presente trabalho foi realizado uma busca conformacional dos ácidos graxos esteárico, oleico, palmítico, do álcool glicerol e do triacilglicerol (TAG) que é formado pela junção dos três ácidos citados anteriormente com o glicerol. Tais compostos estão todos situados na gordura do leite bovino [1]. Este foi o maior motivo para os tê-los estudados. Para isso, utilizamos a mecânica molecular (MM), dinâmica molecular (DM) e mecânica quântica (MQ). Foram feitas as otimizações destas moléculas no vácuo e na água. Então, após tais otimizações obtemos seus espectros infravermelho (IR) e RAMAN. Com os resultados obtidos fomos capazes de compará-los aos já existentes na literatura. Podendo estes resultados também, contribuir com informações de propriedades ópticas da gordura do leite bovino a grupos experimentais. Visto que conseguimos um resultado bastante detalhado e satisfatório. / In this present study was performed a conformational search of stearic fatty acids, oleic, palmitic, alcohol glycerol and the triacylglycerol (TAG) that is formed by the junction of the three acids above with glycerol. Such compounds are all situated in bovine milk fat. And this was the biggest reason to have them studied. For this, we use molecular mechanics ( MM ) , molecular dynamics (MD ) and quantum mechanics (QM ). Were made optimizations of these molecules in vacuum and water and then after such optimizations we obtain its infrared (IR) spectra and RAMAN. With the results we were able to compare them with existing in the literature.These results may also, contribute with information of optical properties of bovine milk fat the experimental groups. Since we can a very detailed and satisfactory result.

La photocatalyse laisse entrevoir un large champ d’applications dans de nombreux domaines parmi lesquels figurent principalement ceux du traitement et de la purification de l’eau et de l’air. Ceci constitue une des raisons pour lesquelles les études fondamentales des processus de dégradation des molécules organiques à la surface des photocatalyseurs concernent le plus souvent les phases liquides et gazeuses. Les développements plus récents des applications de la photocatalyse dans le domaine des surfaces autonettoyantes ont soulevé des problématiques fondamentales concernant les mécanismes de dégradation photocatalytique de composés solides tels que les suies et les acides gras. Ces problématiques restent encore peu abordées dans la littérature malgré les enjeux majeurs en terme environnemental et méritent donc des travaux de recherche plus approfondis. Cette thèse porte sur l’étude des modes de dégradation photocatalytique de dépôts solides d’acide stéarique (AS) sur des couches minces de dioxyde de titane. Dans ce travail, des approches expérimentales originales basées sur la microscopie optique sont mises en œuvre pour suivre la dégradation photocatalytique de ces dépôts d’AS à l’échelle microscopique sous exposition à la lumière ultraviolette. Les dépôts d’AS se présentent sous forme d’îlots microscopiques présentant une distribution de taille et de forme. Sur la base d’un nouveau modèle cinétique que nous proposons, le lien existant entre la vitesse de dégradation photocatalytique du dépôt et la distribution de taille initiale de la population d’îlots est mis en évidence. Le modèle cinétique développé permet de rationaliser nos résultats et de concilier d’autres résultats, jusqu’alors contradictoires, de la littérature. Ce travail propose en outre une étude originale sur la dégradation photocatalytique de microcristaux d’AS déposés sur des couches minces de TiO2 microstructurées qui a permis d’appréhender le rôle des radicaux libres dans le processus de dégradation photocatalytique. La démarche expérimentale est basée sur le lien étroit existant entre l’orientation des molécules, inhérente à la structure propre des microcristaux, et les directions des plans cristallographiques {hkl}. Ainsi, nous mettons en évidence une dépendance en {hkl} des vitesses de dégradation des microcristaux qui est justifiée à l’échelle moléculaire par l’affinité des radicaux pour les terminaisons chimiques exposées selon ces plans cristallographiques / Photocatalysis is widely used in a variety of applications in water and air purification. For those reasons, fundamentals research on the photocatalytical degradation processes of organic compounds on photocatalysts surfaces concern in most cases liquid and gaseous phases. The more recent development of self-cleaning surfaces has raised several issues concerning the mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation of solid deposits such as soot or fatty acids. These issues remain little addressed in the literature and therefore deserve further attention. This thesis work deals with the study of the photocatalytical degradation modes of solid deposits of stearic acid (SA) on the surface of titanium dioxide thin films. In this work, an original experimental approach based on the use of optical microscopy is implemented to monitor, on a microscopic scale, the SA deposits as a function of UV light exposure. Viewed under microscope, the SA deposits appear as microscopic islands presenting size and form distribution. On the basis of a new kinetic model we propose, the existing relationships between the degradation rate of the deposit and the initial size distribution of the islands population is demonstrated. The proposed kinetic model rationalizes our experimental results as well as several others from the literature. Additionally, an original study on the degradation of SA microcrystals, grown on microstructured TiO2 thin films, provides insight into the role of the photogenerated oxygenated radicals in the photocatalytical mechanisms. Furthermore, the anisotropy of the microcrystals structure is put in relation with that of the SA molecules orientations within the microcrystal. This explains the observed {hkl}-dependence of the degradation rate of the microcrystals

No / RATIONALE: The carbon isotopic characterisation of ruminant lipids associated with ceramic vessels has been crucial for elucidating the origins and changing nature of pastoral economies. delta(13)C values of fatty acids extracted from potsherds are commonly compared with those from the dairy and carcass fats of modern domesticated animals to determine vessel use. However, the processing of wild ruminant products in pottery, such as deer, is rarely considered despite the presence of several different species on many prehistoric sites. To address this issue, the carbon isotope range of fatty acids from a number of red deer (Cervus elaphus) tissues, a species commonly encountered in the European archaeological record, was investigated. METHODS: Lipids were extracted from 10 modern red deer tissues obtained from the Slowinski National Park (Poland). Fatty acids were fractionated, methylated and analysed by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCCIRMS). The delta(13)C values of n-octadecanoic acid and n-hexadecanoic acid, and the difference between these values (Delta(13)C), were compared with those from previously published ruminant fats. RESULTS: Nine of the ten deer carcass fats measured have Delta(13)C values of less than -3.3 per thousand, the threshold previously used for classifying dairy products. Despite considerable overlap, dairy fats from domesticated ruminants with Delta(13)C values less than -4.3 per thousand are still distinguishable. CONCLUSIONS: The finding has implications for evaluating pottery use and early pastoralism. The processing of deer tissues and our revised criteria should be considered, especially where there is other archaeological evidence for their consumption.