Publications

Abstract The standard (p(degrees) = 0.1 MPa) molar energy of combustion, at T = 298.15 K, of crystalline 2,3-dicyanopyrazine was measured by static bomb calorimetry, in oxygen atmosphere. The standard molar enthalpy of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, was obtained by Calvet Microcalorimetry, allowing the calculation of the standard molar enthalpy of formation of the compound, in the gas phase, at T = 298.15 K: Delta H-f(m)degrees (g) = (518.7 +/- 3.4) kJ center dot mol(-1). In addition, the geometries of all cyanopyrazines were obtained using density functional theory with the B3LYP functional and two basis sets: 6-31G* and 6-311G**. These calculations were Then used for a better understanding of the relation between structure and energetics of the cyanopyrazine systems. These calculations also reproduce measured standard molar enthalpies of formation with some accuracy and do provide estimates of this thermochemical parameter for those compounds that could not be studied experimentally, namely the tri- and tetracyanopyrazines: the strong electron withdrawing cyano group on the pyrazine ring makes cyanopyrazines highly destabilized compounds.

Abstract Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEM) of aqueous solutions of Laurentian soil fulvic acid (LFA) at three concentrations (50, 75 and 100 mg/l) were obtained at two pH values (pH = 4.0 and 6.0) and as function of the Cu(II) ion concentration. The presence of Cu(II) ion provokes quenching of the intrinsic LFA fluorescence due to complex formation. Multivariate curve resolution (MCR-ALS) was used to successfully decompose single EEM into excitation and emission spectra for the detected components. Moreover, multidimensional (up to six dimensions) data matrices were generated by adding EEM collected as function of the LFA and Cu(II) concentrations and pH. MCR-ALS was able to resolve the excitation and emission spectra from these multidimensional data matrices given further information about the spectral variation profiles induced by the experimental factors. Conditional stability constants (logK(LFACu)) were calculated from the quenching profiles observed as function of the Cu(II) concentration, as well as, their trends as function of pH and LFA concentration were obtained - average (and standard deviation) of logK(LFACu) = 4.6 +/- 0.2. This EEM/MCR-ALS methodology constitutes a new tool for the study of natural organic matter under varying experimental conditions that characterize natural environmental systems.

Abstract An environmentally friendly methodology is proposed for the analysis of pesticides in soil samples based on supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and analysis at high selectivity and sensitivity, by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). The pesticides investigated are among the most commonly used in intensive horticulture activities comprising organochlorme and organophosphorous insecticides, triazine and acetanilide herbicides, amongst others. An experimental design approach was used for modelling SFE and optimised extraction conditions were derived for the total pesticides extraction or for specific sub-groups of interest. Pesticide residues could be detected in soils in the sub-ppb range (0.1-3.7 mu g kg(-1)), with quite good precision (4.2-15.7%) and extraction efficiency (80.4-106.5%). The analysis of soil samples from an intensive horticulture area in Povoa de Varzim, north of Portugal, revealed the presence of persistent pesticides, parent compounds and degradation products among the following: endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, dieldrin, 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDD, atrazine, alachlor, metolachlor, chlorpyrifos, pendimethalin and lindane. The important features to point out are the easy interpretation of chromatograms and straightforward confirmation of analytes that greatly facilitates the analyst judgement on the contamination of the sample.

Abstract The standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation for solid and gaseous diphenic anhydride (2,2'-biphenyldicarboxylic anhydride, dibenz[c,e] oxepin-5,7-dione) was derived from the standard molar enthalpy of combustion, in oxygen, at T 298.15 K, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and the standard molar enthalpy of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, measured by Calvet microcalorimetry: -(258.4 +/- 4.9) kJ mol(-1). In addition, ab initio and density functional theory calculations have been performed at a variety of levels. The degree of aromaticity of diphenic anhydride is discussed in the context of other oxygen-containing (ring and keto) heterocycles and related carbocycles: this species is surprisingly destabilized.

Abstract The standard molar enthalpies of combustion, sublimation, and formation in the crystalline and gaseous phase at a temperature of 298.15 K have been experimentally determined for saccharin and for benzenesulfonamide. These compounds were also studied theoretically using density functional theory, the B3LYP functional and extended basis sets.

Abstract Vesicle solutions formed by the cationic lipid dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide have been extensively used in the past 20 years as model membrane systems. Often, discrepancies are found in the literature for the thermodynamic parameters of the gel-to-liquid crystal (gel-lc) phase transition of these vesicles. In this work we present a systematic DSC investigation on the influence of the sonication method on the main temperature and enthalpy of the transition for DODAB vesicles, prepared both in normal and deuterated water. It is shown that as the sonication time increases, the T-m and enthalpy values decrease until a plateau value is reached. This effect is associated with incomplete chain crystallization in the highly curved vesicles (produced by sonication) when they are cooled below the transition temperature. The effect of aging on the sonicated solutions has also been monitored by DSC.

Abstract Catanionic surfactants formed by the pairing of two ionic amphiphilic chains of opposite charge are now recognized as an important class of amphiphiles. Many aspects of their phase behavior have yet to be explored. In this work, two homologous series of catanionic surfactants were synthesized, based on the cationic headgroups trimethylammonium and pyridinium. Within each series, the headgroup and chain length of the cationic counterpart remains constant while for the anionic counterpart the headgroup is varied, while its alkyl chain length is also kept constant. Thus, one can directly monitor the influence of headgroup chemistry on the thermal behavior of these compounds. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing light microscopy show that these compounds bear a rich and often complex thermotropic behavior, with the headgroup chemistry in some instances having a rather dramatic influence on phase behavior. Several liquid crystalline phases appear between the solid crystalline phase and the isotropic liquid phase. A qualitative correlation between the observed thermotropic behavior and the chemical nature of headgroup, is presented.

Abstract The standard (p degrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation for gaseous pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, and dimethylpyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate were derived from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and the standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at 298.15 K, measured by Calvet microcalorimetry: pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, -(580.6 +/- 5.0) kJ-mol(-1); pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, -(608.0 +/- 6.1) kJ-mol(-1); dimethylpyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate, -(562.4 +/- 4.2) kJ-mol(-1). The enthalpy of formation for crystalline pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid was also derived from combustion calorimetry measurements as -(733.1 +/- 2.0) kJ-mol(-1). In addition, theoretical calculations using the density functional theory and the B3LYP/6-311G** hybrid exchange-correlation energy functional have been performed for these molecules in order to obtain the most stable geometries and to access their relative stabilities. The good correlation obtained between experimental and theoretical results allowed the estimation of the enthalpy of sublimation for pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract The standard (pdegrees = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of liquid pyrazinecarbonitrile and of crystalline pyrazinecarboxylic acid and pyrazinamide were measured, at T = 298.15 K, by static bomb calorimetry and the standard molar enthalpies of vaporization or of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, were obtained using Calvet microcalorimetry. These values were used to derive the respective standard molar enthalpies of formation in gaseous phase.