João Pedro Mendes

Abstract
A sensing configuration for the real-time monitoring, detection, and quantification of dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO2) was developed for aquaculture and other applications in freshwater and saline water. A chemical sensing membrane, based on a colorimetric indicator, is combined with multimode optical fiber and a dual wavelength light-emitting diode (LED) to measure the dCO2-induced absorbance changes in a self-referenced ratiometric scheme. The detection and processing were achieved with an embeded solution having a mini spectrometer and microcontroller. For optrode calibration, chemical standard solutions using sodium carbonate in acid media were used. Preliminary results in a laboratory environment showed sensitivity for small added amounts of CO2 (0.25 mg·L-1). Accuracy and response time were not affected by the type of solution, while precision was affected by salinity. Calibration in freshwater showed a limit of detection (LOD) and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.23 and 1.87 mg·L-1, respectively. Results in saline water (2.5%) showed a LOD and LOQ of 1.05 and 1.16 mg·L-1, respectively. Generally, performance was improved when moving from fresh to saline water. Studies on the dynamics of dissolved CO2 in a recirculating shallow raceway system (SRS+RAS) prototype showed higher precision than the tested commercial sensor. The new sensor is a compact and robust device, and unlike other sensors used in aquaculture, stirring is not required for correct and fast detection. Tests performed showed that this new sensor has a fast accurate detection as well as a strong potential for assessing dCO2 dynamics in aquaculture applications.

Abstract
Dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO2) evaluation is very important in many different fields. In this work, a new, integrated, colorimetric-optical fiber-based system for dCO2 monitoring in aquaculture industry was developed. The sensing chemistry is based on colorimetric changes of the used indicator—poly p-nitrophenol (pNPh)—in contact with CO2. Preliminary tests were done in a laboratory environment (calibration) and in a laboratory Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) with controlled CO2 injection. The results have shown the suitability of the new sensor for assessing dCO2 dynamics in RAS and its fast detection of low dCO2 concentrations in an appropriate operation range.

Abstract
The detection of dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO(2)) is made possible through a colorimetric effect that occurs in a sensitive membrane. The reaction with dCO(2) changes the pH of the membrane causing a small difference in its colour which results in a characteristic absorbance spectrum band near 435 nm. A sensing platform based on this effect was developed and tested in gaseous and in aqueous environments. It is a combination of a bundle of large core fibre optics (with diameters above 200 mu m) with light emission diodes (LEDs) in the visible range of the spectrum, a silicon photodetector and a polymer membrane sensitive to CO2. A variation in the absorption of 3 / %VV was obtained in the range from 0 to 1.6 % of gaseous CO2 with an estimated response time below 60 seconds.

Abstract
New polymer electrolytes (PEs), potentially interesting for solid-state electrochemical devices applications, were synthesized by a solvent casting method using pectin and ionic liquid (IL) N,N,N-trimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([N-1 1 1 2(OH)] [NTf2]. The resulting electrolytes besides being moderately homogenous and thermally stable below 155 degrees C, they also exhibited good mechanical properties. The SPE membranes were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and complex impedance spectroscopy.

Abstract
We investigated the reductive intramolecular cyclization of bromopropargyl ethers derivatives, catalyzed by electrogenerated (1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraaza-cyclotetradecane)nickel(I), [Ni(tmc)]+ as the catalysts in N,N,N-trimethyl-N-(2- hydroxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide,[N1112(OH)][NTf2] and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C2mim][NTf2] by cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis. The results show that the reaction leads to the formation of the expected cyclic compounds, which are important intermediates in the synthesis of natural products with possible biological activities. © The Electrochemical Society.