Phycocyanin (PC), a pigment-protein conjugate from Arthrospira platensis, is increasingly used in foods as a natural alternative to artificial blue dyes. Although PC has been classified as a color additive exempt from certification by the Food and Drug Administration, its limited stability has hindered its widespread application in food products. The objectives of this study were: a) to evaluate the photophysical properties of PC and their sensitivity to temperature, viscosity, and water activity, b) to monitor PC’s thermal degradation based on changes in the optical properties of its intrinsic fluorophores, namely its chromophores and aromatic amino acids, and c) to extract PC’s thermal degradation kinetics parameters from non-isothermal degradation profiles and validate their predictive ability. PC’s photophysical properties were monitored in solutions with viscosities from 1 to8000 mPa s and water activities, aw, from about 0 to 1. PC’s emission intensity showed high sensitivity to aw above 0.8 and mild sensitivity to the viscosity of its local environment. The effect of temperature on PC’s photophysical properties was tested in aqueous PC solutions (0.5 mM, pH: 6.1) subjected to non-isothermal temperature profiles with target temperatures from 42.5 to 80°C. The stability of PC was monitored in terms of its photophysical properties, i.e., fluorescence emission intensity, energy, and anisotropy (r) of its chromophore at set time intervals. Additionally, the photophysical properties of PC’s aromatic amino acids (AAs) tyrosine and tryptophan (lexc: 280 and 295 nm) were recorded. The thermal degradation kinetics of PC was assumed to follow a Weibullian model, and the temperature dependence of the degradation rate parameter, b(T), a logarithmic exponential model. Changes of PC fluorescence intensity under dynamic conditions were used to extract the degradation kinetics parameters using the endpoints method. Deviations between the estimated and experimental values were less than 10% for all temperature profiles. During thermal treatments, hypsochromic shifts of AAs’ emission spectra (from 340 to 315 nm) and significant increases in fluorescence anisotropy revealed that color losses were not solely associated with an alteration of the chromophore but with conformational changes and possible aggregation of the protein subunits. An increase in viscosity of the surrounding media provided a protected effect on discoloration during heating. Adequate modeling approaches and molecular spectroscopic techniques can help to develop effective strategies to enhance thermal stability, expand its use as a color and functional ingredient and operationalize it as an endogenous sensor of food quality.

The present thesis investigates the application of pressurized mixtures of imidazolium-based ionic liquids with traditional organic solvents for the dissolution and extraction of lignocellulosic biomass, with bamboo as a specific example of renewable biomass. The approach has been unconventional in that the focus has been on solvent mixtures in which the ionic liquid is the minor component. The objective has been to combine the solvating power of the ionic liquid with a traditional solvent such as ethanol to modulate the outcomes of solubility and extractions by tuning the parameters of fluid composition, temperature, and pressure. Working with mixtures of ionic liquids in traditional solvents as process solvents lowers the viscosity of the medium and thus reduces the transport limitations that are often encountered when working with pure ionic liquids. Among other potential advantages are the reductions in overall process cost that are associated with ionic liquids, potentially easier recovery of post-extraction products, and the recycling of the ionic liquids. This thesis has also addressed another important question regarding the thermal stability of the ionic liquids as a processing medium at elevated temperatures and pressures over time, which may negatively impact their recovery and reuse, and may lead to environmentally unacceptable consequences. The dissolution experiments were carried out in a specially designed high-pressure view-cell equipped with sapphire windows for visual or optical observations. Evaluations were made employing standard characterization tools such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Thermal stability studies were carried out using a combination of a view-cell and fiber optic UV-Vis capability at high pressures (up to 350 bar) and temperatures (up to 150 ℃). The dissolution of bamboo was first explored using mixtures of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac) with ethanol at temperatures from 100 to 150 ℃ and pressures from 35 to 350 bar over 4 or 24 h extraction times. The fluid mixtures employed were in the range of 1 - 40 wt % ionic liquid, which is in contrast to relevant dissolution experiments reported in the literature which either use pure ionic liquids or have the ionic liquids as the majority component. The effects of changing the temperature, pressure, and solvent composition on the removal of different components of the bamboo were assessed. Temperature played the most significant role in the amount of material extracted from the bamboo, with higher temperatures resulting in the removal of more lignin than cellulose and greater conversion of crystalline cellulose to the less recalcitrant amorphous form of cellulose. The concentration of ionic liquid in solution was also important, with higher concentrations resulting in more dissolved biomass. Finally, increasing the pressure resulted in higher amounts of dissolved biomass. The next series of studies focused on rigorously assessing the stability of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and chloride ionic liquids with alkyl chain lengths from 2 to 10 under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions via thermogravimetric analysis. Isothermal degradation experiments were conducted at temperatures ranging from 100 to 225 ℃ over time periods ranging from two hours to three weeks. Non-isothermal degradation experiments were conducted at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 ℃/min from room temperature to 650 ℃. The activation energies and pre-exponential factors were assessed with isoconversional integral methods; the activation energies () ranged from 115 to 157 kJ/mol, and the pre-exponential factors (()) ranged from 24-38. The degradation reactions could be described as 1st order, as they often are in the literature, but were best fit by the 3-dimensional reaction model. Ionic liquids with longer alkyl chains on their imidazolium rings decomposed more quickly and at lower temperatures. The thermal stability of the most promising ionic liquids ([EMIM]Ac, [BMIM]Ac, [EMIM]Cl, and [BMIM]Cl) were then assessed more closely at the possible biomass processing conditions that were being considered. The primary interest was determining the effects of various cosolvents on the thermal stability of these ionic liquids at the process temperatures and pressures, from 100 to 150 ℃ and 35 to 350 bar. These evaluations were carried out in the same high-pressure view cell in which the extraction experiments were conducted. To assess the degradation of the ionic liquids, time-evolved UV spectra of the mixtures were generated. It was found that more protic solvents such as water attenuated the degradation of the ionic liquids, whereas aprotic solvents such as DMF significantly exacerbated their degradation. Among the ionic liquids evaluated, it was found that [BMIM]Cl had the greatest stability in ethanol at 150 ℃. The bamboo extraction experiments were then continued with mixtures of [BMIM]Cl in ethanol. The results showed that higher temperatures are necessary to extract lignin and cellulose, with [BMIM]Cl's thermal stability at these temperatures giving it the advantage over [EMIM]Ac. In this system as well it was shown that higher concentrations of ionic liquid facilitated the extraction of more biomass. However, biomass constituents that dissolve into mixtures with lower concentrations of ionic liquid readily precipitate back out of solution when the mixture is returned to room conditions. Along with the results of the studies with [EMIM]Ac, the experiments conducted with [BMIM]Cl show that an increase in pressure results in greater amounts of dissolved biomass holding other conditions constant. The thesis, in summary, presents for the first time (a) the use of ionic liquids as a minor component in organic solvents as a potential biomass processing media, (b) the thermal stability of ionic liquids in a cosolvents at high pressures and temperatures, and (c) experimental results showing that pressure can enhance the amount that can be extracted from biomass with mixtures of ionic liquids in a cosolvent like ethanol. / Doctor of Philosophy / The purpose of the work detailed in the present thesis is to better understand the effects of mixtures of ionic liquids and traditional solvents on woody biomass. Ionic liquids are organic salts with melting points below 100 ℃, and they possess unique physical and chemical properties that can facilitate the dissolution or extraction of otherwise recalcitrant materials. There is a rapidly growing need for greener and more sustainable methods of processing woody biomass, which consist of primarily cellulose, lignin, and hemicelluloses. Industrial use of these liquids as processing solvents for woody biomass is limited by their relatively high viscosity, cost, and the difficulty of separating dissolved materials back out of solution. One method used to address these limitations is to mix the ionic liquids with other solvents, such as ethanol. The studies detailed in this thesis also seek to understand the effects of temperature and pressure on both the dissolution of woody biomass and on the degradation of the ionic liquids. The studies employ both traditional characterization equipment and a custom-designed view-cell which allowed for observation and characterization at high temperatures and pressures. The first part of the study investigated the dissolution of bamboo with mixtures of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, [EMIM]Ac, and ethanol. The effects of changing the temperature, pressure, and solvent composition on the removal of different components of the bamboo were assessed. It was found that temperature played the most significant role in the amount of material extracted, with higher temperatures resulting in the removal of more lignin than cellulose. The concentration of ionic liquid in solution was also important, with higher concentrations resulting in more dissolved biomass. Finally, increasing the pressure resulted in higher amounts of dissolved biomass. The next parts of the study focused on the degradation of the ionic liquids at elevated temperatures. The type of ionic liquids used in this study do not boil or evaporate at high temperatures, but instead break down into constituents that are themselves volatile. The thermal degradation of the ionic liquid used in the initial biomass dissolution experiments was investigated along with a series of similar ionic liquids. Their degradation behavior was assessed both by measuring their mass over time at a single constant temperature, and by heating them at a constant rate until they fully degraded. This behavior was mathematically modeled. The thermal stability of the most promising ionic liquids were then investigated in mixtures with other solvents in the high-pressure experimental cell under the same temperature and pressure conditions used in the biomass dissolution experiments. The ionic liquid found to have the best stability in ethanol in those experiments was 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [BMIM]Cl. Further dissolution experiments were carried out with mixtures of this ionic liquid in ethanol. These experiments took the insights gained from the previous investigations to further clarify the effects of temperature, concentration, and pressure on the dissolution of bamboo in mixtures of ionic liquid and ethanol. It was again shown that higher temperatures are necessary to extract lignin and cellulose. It was also shown that higher concentrations of ionic liquid facilitate the extraction of more biomass. However, it was also shown that biomass dissolved into mixtures with lower concentrations of ionic liquid readily precipitates back out of solution when the mixture is returned to room conditions. Pressure was again shown to have a favorable effect on the amount of material extracted.

Yes / Polymer extrusion is an important but an energy intensive method of processing polymeric materials. The rapid increase in demand of polymeric products has forced manufactures to rethink their processing efficiencies to manufacture good quality products with low-unit-cost. Here, analyzing the operational conditions has become a key strategy to achieve both energy and thermal efficiencies simultaneously. This study aims to explore the effects of polymers' rheology on the energy consumption and melt thermal quality (ie, a thermally homogeneous melt flow in both radial and axil directions) of extruders. Six commodity grades of polymers (LDPE, LLDPE, PP, PET, PS, and PMMA) were processed at different conditions in two types of continuous screw extruders. Total power, motor power, and melt temperature profiles were analyzed in an industrial scale single-screw extruder. Moreover, the active power (AP), mass throughput, torque, and power factor were measured in a laboratory scale twin-screw extruder. The results confirmed that the specific energy consumption for both single and twin screw extruders tends to decrease with the processing speed. However, this action deteriorates the thermal stability of the melt regardless the nature of the polymer. Rheological characterization results showed that the viscosity of LDPE and PS exhibited a normal shear thinning behavior. However, PMMA presented a shear thickening behavior at moderate-to-high shear rates, indicating the possible formation of entanglements. Overall, the findings of this work confirm that the materials' rheology has an appreciable correlation with the energy consumption in polymer extrusion and also most of the findings are in agreement with the previously reported investigations. Therefore, further research should be useful for identifying possible correlations between key process parameters and hence to further understand the processing behavior for wide range of machines, polymers, and operating conditions.

Yes / Thermal stability is of major importance in polymer extrusion, where product quality is dependent upon the level of melt homogeneity achieved by the extruder screw. Extrusion is an energy intensive process and optimisation of process energy usage while maintaining melt stability is necessary in order to produce good quality product at low unit cost. Optimisation of process energy usage is timely as world energy prices have increased rapidly over the last few years. In the first part of this study, a general discussion was made on the efficiency of an extruder. Then, an attempt was made to explore correlations between melt thermal stability and energy demand in polymer extrusion under different process settings and screw geometries. A commodity grade of polystyrene was extruded using a highly instrumented single screw extruder, equipped with energy consumption and melt temperature field measurement. Moreover, the melt viscosity of the experimental material was observed by using an off-line rheometer. Results showed that specific energy demand of the extruder (i.e. energy for processing of unit mass of polymer) decreased with increasing throughput whilst fluctuation in energy demand also reduced. However, the relationship between melt temperature and extruder throughput was found to be complex, with temperature varying with radial position across the melt flow. Moreover, the melt thermal stability deteriorated as throughput was increased, meaning that a greater efficiency was achieved at the detriment of melt consistency. Extruder screw design also had a significant effect on the relationship between energy consumption and melt consistency. Overall, the relationship between the process energy demand and thermal stability seemed to be negatively correlated and also it was shown to be highly complex in nature. Moreover, the level of process understanding achieved here can help to inform selection of equipment and setting of operating conditions to optimise both energy and thermal efficiencies in parallel. / This work was funded through an inter-disciplinary research programme (Grant No. EP/G059330/1) by the EPSRC-UK. The technical assistance provided by Ken Howell, Roy Dixon and John Wyborn is greatly appreciated.

Novel solutions to offset thermal degradation of polyamide-6 (PA-6) and organoclay (organically modified layered silicates) nanocomposites during melt compounding have been investigated. In this research, a novel chain extender (Joncryl ADR 3400) has been used to improve thermal stability of PA-6 and PA- 6/organoclay nanocomposites during melt compounding. The materials were compounded using a linear twin extruder and various laboratory scale mixers. The effects of organoclay and chain extender were studied using both processing methods. In order to replicate large scale production used in industry, a comprehensive plan of experimental work was carried out under different processing conditions (extrusion temperature and screw speed), organoclay and chain extender loading using a linear twin screw extruder. Rheology, mechanical and thermal properties were analysed and selected samples were also characterised by TEM and FTIR. Process induced degradation of PA-6 during the melt compounding was found to have significant influence on the rheological and mechanical properties. Rheological and mechanical characterisation clearly showed showed that incorporation of the chain extender minimised thermal degradation of PA-6 and nanocomposites during melt processing. Visual analysis of selected nanocomposites using TEM confirmed that chain extender increased the dispersion of nanoclays in the PA- 6 matrix. The crystallinity of the PA-6 was slightly affected by addition of organoclay and chain extender. The samples obtained by linear twin screw extrusion showed higher rheological properties than the samples from laboratory scale mixers suggesting better mixing and less thermal degradation during extrusion. / Republic of Turkey, Ministry of National Education. / The full text was made available at the end of the embargo, 31st Dec 2019.

The chloride/proton antiporter ClC-5 is primarily expressed in the kidney where it aids in re-absorption of proteins from the glomerular filtrate. Functional disruption of ClC-5 causes Dent’s Disease – a renal condition characterized by proteinuria and kidney failure in a third of all cases. The majority of disease-causing mutations translate into premature truncations of the carboxy-terminal (Ct) region of ClC-5 and are predicted to disrupt the protein-protein interactions mediated by this domain. In this thesis, direct ATP binding to the two cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) domains of ClC-5 was demonstrated. ATP binding enhanced the global compactness of the ClC-5 Ct region likely through a clamping motion of the CBS domains around the nucleotide. Along with ATP, the sodium proton exchange regulatory factor 2 (NHERF2) also binds ClC-5; however, the molecular mechanism behind this interaction was unknown as ClC-5 lacked the PDZ binding motif traditionally localized at the Ct end of bait proteins. Here, we also identified a class I PDZ binding motif (657-660; TSII) within the internal sequence of ClC-5. Despite the buried position of this motif in the Ct peptide’s X-ray crystal structure (PDB: 2J9L), the high propensity of this region for dynamic flexibility prompted us to test whether it could mediate NHERF2 interactions. In support of this hypothesis, we demonstrated that the motif is transiently available to interact directly with NHERF2 in vivo and to enable an enhancement in receptor-mediated endocytosis in mammalian cells. Collectively, these results gave further evidence that the intracellular Ct region of ClC-5 serves as a hub to mediate interactions essential for its maturation, stability, and trafficking in renal epithelium, as well as providing further insights into the molecular basis of Dent’s Disease.

The GMT-Consortium Large Earth Finder (G-CLEF) is an echelle spectrograph with precision radial velocity (PRV) capability that will be a first light instrument for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). G-CLEF has a PRV precision goal of 40 cm/sec (10 cm/s for multiple measurements) to enable detection of Earth-like exoplanets in the habitable zones of sun-like stars'. This precision is a primary driver of G-CLEF's structural design. Extreme stability is necessary to minimize image motions at the CCD detectors. Minute changes in temperature, pressure, and acceleration environments cause structural deformations, inducing image motions which degrade PRV precision. The instrument's structural design will ensure that the PRV goal is achieved under the environments G-CLEF will be subjected to as installed on the GMT azimuth platform, including: Millikelvin (0.001 K) thermal soaks and gradients 10 millibar changes in ambient pressure Changes in acceleration due to instrument tip/tilt and telescope slewing Carbon fiber/cyanate composite was selected for the optical bench structure in order to meet performance goals. Low coefficient of thermal expansion (C 1E) and high stiffness-to-weight are key features of the composite optical bench design. Manufacturability and serviceability of the instrument are also drivers of the design. In this paper, we discuss analyses leading to technical choices made to minimize G-CLEF's sensitivity to changing environments. Finite element analysis (FEA) and image motion sensitivity studies were conducted to determine PRV performance under operational environments. We discuss the design of the optical bench structure to optimize stiffness to -weight and minimize deformations due to inertial and pressure effects. We also discuss quasi-kinematic mounting of optical elements and assemblies, and optimization of these to ensure minimal image motion under thermal, pressure, and inertial loads expected during PRV observations.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T19:25:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rubyan Lucas Santos Piazzetta.pdf: 4250981 bytes, checksum: c1d20c3e7f1d1d4307bef8d9dee045f7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-23 / Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Paraná / This work studied tellurite glasses in a ternary system with the TeO2-Li2O-ZnO composition, divided in three groups with 10%, 15% and 20%mol Li2O fixed. For this study, was made the replacement of known TeO2 network former by ZnO. It used the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), optical absorption in ultraviolet-visible region (UV-VIS), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), linear refractive index (n0) measurement and instrumented nanoindentation. The samples were prepared by melt quenching method in the bulk form. DSC results showed that the glass transition temperature (TG) virtually no change in the glass systems, while that there was an increase in the glass stability due to exchange of TeO2 by ZnO especially for 10 and 15% mol Li2O groups. By continuing, the UV-VIS results indicated a gradual increase in the band gap energy which was calculated by Urbach rule; this increased energy as TeO2 was replaced by ZnO, can also be seen as a blue shift. These same results were confirmed by a structural change seen by Raman spectroscopy: with the increased of ZnO, the vibrational modes located at 450 e 659 cm-1 which incorporate trigonal bipyramids of TeO4 are gradually replaced by vibrational modes at 735-760 cm-1 referred the creation of Zn2Te3O8 units. This behavior by Raman spectroscopy is also confirmed by the FTIR results with increased intensity of peaks related to vibrational modes of ZnO molecules. Therefore, it is verified that the addition of ZnO in the system has the property to decrease the amount of NBOs, which in turn decreases the polarizability of the oxide ion of the system and increases the band gap energy. Lastly, the increase in the band gap values and, Raman and DSC results showed that this glassy system acquires considerable glass stability, has good transmittance in the ultraviolet and visible regions, and thus appears as a promising candidate for host ions optically active. / Esta dissertação teve por objetivo estudar os vidros teluretos em um sistema ternário com composição TeO2-Li2O-ZnO, separados em três grupos com concentração fixa de 10%, 15% e 20% em mol de Li2O com a respectiva substituição do conhecido formador de rede TeO2 por ZnO. Tal estudo agregou as técnicas de Calorimetria Diferencial de Varredura (DSC), absorção óptica na região do ultravioleta-visível (UV-VIS), espectroscopia Raman, infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR), medidas de índice de refração linear (n0) e nanoindentação instrumentada. As amostras foram preparadas pelo método de melt quenching e obtidas na forma de bulk. Por meio dos resultados de DSC verificou-se que a temperatura de transição vítrea (TG) fica praticamente inalterada nesse sistema vítreo, enquanto que existe um aumento expressivo da estabilidade vítrea com a troca de TeO2 por ZnO, principalmente para os grupos com 10 e 15% em mol de Li2O. Já os resultados de UV-VIS mostraram um aumento gradual na energia de band gap, a qual foi calculada utilizando a Regra de Urbach. Esse aumento de energia, à medida que TeO2 era substituído por ZnO, também pode ser visto como um blue shift (deslocamento para o azul). Esse aumento de band gap foi confirmado por uma mudança estrutural vista por espectroscopia Raman: com o aumento na concentração de ZnO, os modos vibracionais localizados em 450 e 659 cm-1 que incorporam bipirâmides trigonais de TeO4 passam a ser gradualmente substituídos por modos vibracionais em 735-760 cm-1 que se referem a criação de unidades Zn2Te3O8. Esse comportamento por espectroscopia Raman também é confirmado através dos resultados de FTIR com aumento da intensidade dos picos relacionados a modos vibracionais de moléculas ZnO. É verificado assim que a adição de ZnO ao sistema tem a propriedade de diminuir a quantidade de NBOs, o que por sua vez, diminui a polarizabilidade do íon óxido do sistema e aumenta a energia de band gap. Com isto, o aumento nos valores de band gap e os resultados de DSC e Raman mostraram que esse sistema vítreo adquire considerável estabilidade vítrea, tem boa transmitância nas regiões do ultravioleta e visível e, assim, se mostra como um promissor candidato para hospedeiro de íons opticamente ativos.

In this study thermal and mechanical properties and chemical structure of four differentpolymers (PE, PP, polyASA and PVC) were investigated to find out if the recycled polymershad the same properties and can be used in the same applications as the virgins or not.FT-IR was used for investigation of chemical structure. TGA, DSC and thermal stability wereused to compare the thermal properties. Tensile test also used to examine the mechanicalproperties.All the tests showed the recycling process is not done completely well. The differences inresults for virgins and recycled samples are the reasons which verified this claim.The results obtained from this study clarifying that the amount of stabilizer in the recycledpolymers were considerably less than the amount in virgins, means that the company had notadded enough stabilizer during the recycling process.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:41:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RosimereMLF_DISSERT.pdf: 4130045 bytes, checksum: 8bd2b0d06407df9f474aa2e763c256ba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-01-11 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Sweeteners provide a pleasant sensation of sweetness that helps the sensory quality of the human diet, can be divided into natural sweeteners such as fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose and sucrose, and articial sweeteners such as aspartame, cyclamate and saccharin. This work aimed to study the thermal stability of natural and artificial sweeteners in atmospheres of nitrogen and syntetic air using thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Among the natural sweeteners analyzed showed higher thermal stability for the lactose and sucrose, which showed initial decomposition temperatures near 220 ? C, taking advantage of the lactose has a higher melting point (213 ? C) compared to sucrose (191 ? C). The lower thermal stability was observed for fructose, it has the lowest melting point (122 ?C) and the lower initial decomposition temperature (170 ?C). Of the artificial sweeteners studied showed higher thermal stability for sodium saccharin, which had the highest melting point (364 ? C) as well as the largest initial decomposition temperature (466 ? C under nitrogen and 435 ? C in air). The lower thermal stability was observed for aspartame, which showed lower initial decomposition temperature (158 ? C under nitrogen and 170 ? C under air). For commercial sweeteners showed higher thermal stability for the sweeteners L and C, which showed initial temperature of thermal decomposition near 220 ? C and melting points near 215 ? C. The lower thermal stability was observed for the sweetener P, which showed initial decomposition temperature at 160 ? C and melting point of 130 ?C. Sweeteners B, D, E, I, J, N and O had low thermal stability, with the initial temperature of decomposition starts near 160 ?C, probably due to the presence of aspartame, even if they have as the main constituent of the lactose, wich is the most stable of natural sweeteners. According to the results we could also realize that all commercial sweeteners are in its composition by at least a natural sweeteners and are always found in large proportions, and lactose is the main constituent of 60% of the total recorded / Os ado?antes proporcionam uma agrad?vel sensa??o de do?ura, que auxiliam na qualidade sensorial da dieta humana, os quais podem ser divididos em ado?antes naturais, como a frutose, galactose, glicose, lactose e sacarose; e artificiais, tais como aspartame, ciclamato e sacarina. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a estabilidade t?rmica destes ado?antes em atmosferas de nitrog?nio e ar sint?tico utilizando-se a Termogravimetria (TG), Termogravimetria Derivada (DTG), An?lise T?rmica Diferencial (DTA) e Calorimetria Explorat?ria Diferencial (DSC). Entre os ado?antes naturais analisados verificou-se uma maior estabilidade t?rmica para a lactose e sacarose, que apresentaram temperaturas iniciais de decomposi??o t?rmica pr?ximas de 220 ?C, tendo a lactose vantagem por possuir um maior ponto de fus?o (213 ?C) em rela??o ? sacarose (191 ?C). A menor estabilidade t?rmica foi observada para a frutose, que apresentou o menor ponto de fus?o (122 ?C), assim como uma menor temperatura inicial de decomposi??o t?rmica (170 ?C). Dos ado?antes artificiais estudados verificou-se uma maior estabilidade t?rmica para a sacarina s?dica, que apresentou o maior ponto de fus?o (364 ?C), assim como a maior temperatura inicial de decomposi??o t?rmica (466 ?C sob nitrog?nio e 435 ?C sob ar). A menor estabilidade t?rmica foi observada para o aspartame, com a menor temperatura inicial de decomposi??o t?rmica (158 ?C sob nitrog?nio e 170 ?C sob ar). Para os ado?antes comerciais observou-se maior estabilidade t?rmica para os ado?antes L e C, os quais apresentaram temperaturas iniciais de decomposi??o t?rmica pr?ximas de 220 ?C e pontos de fus?o pr?ximos de 215 ?C. A menor estabilidade t?rmica foi observada para o ado?ante P, que apresentou temperatura inicial de decomposi??o em 160 ?C e ponto de fus?o em 130 ?C. Os ado?antes B, D, E, I, J, N e O apresentaram baixa estabilidade t?rmica com as temperaturas iniciais de decomposi??o pr?ximas de 160 ?C, provavelmente devido ? presen?a do aspartame, ainda que estes possuam como principal constituinte a lactose, que ? o mais est?vel dos ado?antes naturais. De acordo com os resultados p?de-se perceber tamb?m que todos os ado?antes comerciais possuem em sua composi??o pelo ao menos um ado?ante natural e sempre s?o encontrados em grandes propor??es, sendo a lactose o principal constituinte de 60 % do total analisados