Determinazione di amminotioli mediante elettroforesi capillare

The aminothiols are critical cellular components that play numerous and important roles in metabolism as key extracellular reducing agents, critical substrates for proteins synthesis and detoxificants of free radicals and peroxides. Because altered thiols levels in body fluids are linked to specific pathological conditions, their measurement is thus considered very important. One method to determine these compounds is the capillary electrophoresis, a technique that involves the separation of charged molecules on the basis of their movement under the influence of an applied electric field. The instrument used in this work is equipped with an amperometric detector recording the current of the thiols oxidized at the end of the capillary at a BDD electrode. The aim of this work is to find a valid method for the separations of the aminothiols analyzed, in terms of capillary coating and experimental conditions. In order to find an alternative and less expensive electrode than BDD and to increase sensitivity for the detection of the thiols, a modified electrode consisting in a carbon paste electrode containing Cobalt-phthalocyanine has been studied. In this electrode Cobalt-phthalocyanine works as electrocatalyst to enhance the oxidation reaction, meanwhile the graphite acts as conductive mean. This kind of electrode shows great sensibility and low detection limits for the thiols that have a free thiolic group, but it is not sensible to disulfides. The analysis of human plasma point out that the best method found for the capillary electrophoresis is not useful for the detection of aminothiols in a healthy person, because the very low concentrations in which they are present.

Mitigazione sequestro e stoccaggio di diossido di carbonio

The main objective of my thesis was the technical-economic feasibility of a system of electricity generation integrated with CCS. The policy framework for development processing is part of the recent attention that at the political level has been directed towards the use of CCS technologies with the aim of addressing the problems of actual climate change. Several technological options have been proposed to stabilize and reduce the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) among which, the most promising for IPPC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)are the CCS technologies (Carbon Capture and Storage & Carbon Capture and Sequestration). The remedy proposed for large stationary CO2 sources as thermoelectric power plants is to separate the flue gas capturing CO2 and to store it into deep subsurface geological formations (more than 800 meters of depth). In order to support the identification of potential CO2 storage reservoirs in Italy and in Europe by Geo Capacity(an European database) new studies are developing. From the various literature data analyzed shows that most of the CO2 emitted from large stationary sources comes from the processes of electricity generation (78% of total emissions) and from (about 60%) those using coal especially. The CCS have the objective of return "to the sender" , the ground, the carbon in oxidized form (CO2) after it has been burned by man starting from its reduced form (CH4, oil and coal), then the carbon dioxide is not a "pollutant" if injected into the subsurface, CO2 is an acid reagent that interacts with the rock, with underground fluid and the characteristics of the host rock. The results showed that the CCS technology are very urgent, because unfortunately there are too many industrial sources of CO2 in assets (power plants, refineries, cement plants, steel mills) in the world who are carrying too quickly the CO2 atmospheric concentration levels to values that aren't acceptable for our dear planet.