EVALUATION OF A SERIES OF PERFLUOROALKYLATED SURFACTANTS DERIVED FROM TERTIARY AMINES: SURFACE PROPERTIES AND EMULSIFICATION OF FLUOROCARBONS

In view of their easy preparation, the physicochemical properties of a series of highly fluorinated cationic (ammonium salts), zwitterionic (carboxybetaines) or nonionic (amine oxide) surfactants derived from perfluoroalkylated tertiary amines were investigated. Their solubility in water, interfacial properties and the exceptionally low hemolytic activity of the zwitterionic series mark them out as potential surfactants or co-surfactants for the preparation of fluorocarbon emulsions and other preparations for biomedical use. Fine and moderately concentrated fluorocarbon emulsions (50 w/w% in fluorocarbon) could be obtained in some cases when they were used as the sole surfactant. However, none was found suitable for preparing concentrated emulsions (90 w/v% in fluorocarbon) and no appreciable stabilization was found when they were used as co-surfactants with egg yolk phospholipids.     

Influence of the balance of the intertropical front on seasonal variations of the isotopic composition in rainfall at Kisiba Masoko (Rungwe Volcanic Province,SW, Tanzania)

Tropical rainfall isotopic composition results from complex processes. The climatological and environmental variability in East Africa increases this complexity. Long rainfall isotope datasets are needed to fill the lack of observations in this region. At Kisiba Masoko, Tanzania, rainfall and rain isotopic composition have been monitored during 6 years. Mean year profiles allow to analyse the seasonal variations. The mean annual rainfall is 2099?mm with a rain-weighted mean composition of ?3.2?‰ for δ¹⁸O and ?11.7?‰ for δ²H. The results are consistent with available data although they present their own specificity. Thus, if the local meteoric water line is δ²H?=?8.6 δ¹⁸O?+?14.8, two seasonal lines are observed. The seasonality of the isotopic composition in rain and deuterium excess has been compared with precipitating air masses backtracking trajectories to characterize a simple scheme of vapour histories. The three major oceanic sources have two moisture signatures with their own trajectory histories: one originated from the tropical Indian Ocean at the beginning of the rainy season and one from the Austral Ocean at its end. The presented isotopic seasonality depends on the balance of the intertropical front and provides a useful dataset to improve the knowledge about local processes.