Efeito da salinidade da água do mar no rendimento, composição e atividades biológicas de frações polissacarídicas da Chlorophyta Caulerpa cupressoides var. flabellata

Seaweeds sulfated polysaccharides have been described as having various pharmacological activities. However, nothing is known about the influence of salinity on the structure of sulfated polysaccharides from green seaweed and pharmacological activities they perform. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of salinity of seawater on yield and composition of polysaccharides-rich fractions from green seaweed Caulerpa cupressoides var. flabellata, collected in two different salinities beaches of the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, and to verify the influence of salinity on their biological activities. We extracted four sulfated polysaccharides-rich fractions from C. cupressoides collected in Camapum beach (denominated CCM F0.3; F0.5; F1.0; F2.0), which the seawater has higher salinity, and Buzios beach (denominated CCB F0.3; F0.5; F1.0; F2.0). Different from that observed for other seaweeds, the proximate composition of C. cupressoides did not change with increased salinity. Moreover, interestingly, the C. cupresoides have high amounts of protein, greater even than other edible seaweeds. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the yield of polysaccharide fractions of CCM and its CCB counterparts, which indicates that salinity does not interfere with the yield of polysaccharide fractions. However, there was a significant difference in the sulfate/sugar ratio of F0.3 (p<0.05) and F0.5 (p<0.01) (CCM F0.3 and CCB F0.5 was higher than those determined for their counterparts), while the sulfate/sugar ratio the F1.0 and F2.0 did not change significantly (p>0.05) with salinity. This result suggested that the observed difference in the sulfate/sugar ratio between the fractions from CCM and CCB, is not merely a function of salinity, but probably also is related to the biological function of these biopolymers in seaweed. In addition, the salinity variation between collection sites did not influence algal monosaccharide composition, eletrophoretic mobility or the infrared spectrum of polysaccharides, demonstrating that the salinity does not change the composition of sulfated polysaccharides of C. cupressoides. There were differences in antioxidant and anticoagulant fractions between CCM and CCB. CCB F0.3 (more sulfated) had higher total antioxidant capacity that CCM F0.3, since the chelating ability the CCM F0.5 was more potent than CCB F0.5 (more sulfated). These data indicate that the activities of sulfated polysaccharides from CCM and CCB depend on the spatial patterns of sulfate groups and that it is unlikely to be merely a charge density effect. C. cupressoides polysaccharides also exhibited anticoagulant activity in the intrinsic (aPTT test) and extrinsic pathway (PT test). CCB F1.0 and CCM F1.0 showed different (p<0,001) aPTT activity, although F0.3 and F0.5 showed no difference (p>0,05) between CCM and CCB, corroborating the fact that the sulfate/sugar ratio is not a determining factor for biological activity, but rather for sulfate distribution along the sugar chain. Moreover, F0.3 and F0.5 activity in aPTT test was similar to that of clexane®, anticoagulant drug. In addition, F0.5 showed PT activity. These results suggest that salinity may have created subtle differences in the structure of sulfated polysaccharides, such as the distribution of sulfate groups, which would cause differences in biological activities between the fractions of the CCM and the CCB

Adição do resíduo de biomassa da cana-de-açúcar em pastas para cimentação de poços petrolíferos produtores de óleos pesados

The Potiguar basin has large fields of viscous oil where the used method for recovering is based on vapor injection; this operation is carried out by injecting vapor in the oilwell directly, without the protection of a revetment through thermal insulation, what causes its dilation and, consequently, cracks in the cement placed on the annular, and lost of hydraulic insulation; this crack is occasioned by the phenomenon of retrogression of the compressive resistance due to the conversion of the hydrated calcium silicate in phases calcium-rich, caused by the high temperatures in the wells, subjected to thermal recuperation. This work has evaluated the application of composite pastes with addition of residue of biomass of ground sugar-cane bagasse as anti-retrogression mineral admixture for cementation of oil-wells subjected to thermal recuperation. The addition of the mineral residue was carried out considering a relative amount of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 59% in relation to cement mass, trying to improve the microstructure of the paste, still being developed a reference paste only with cement and a paste with addition of 40% of silica flour - renowned material in the oil industry as anti-retrogression additive. Pozzolanic activity of the ash was evaluated through XRD, TG/DTG, as the resistance to compression, and it was also determined the physical and mechanical behavior of the pastes when submitted to cure at low temperatures (22 and 38º C); besides it was evaluated the behavior of the pastes when submitted to two cycles of cure at high temperature (280ºC) and pressure (7 MPa). It was verified that the ash of the sugar-cane biomass presents pozzolanic reaction and has great efficiency in decrease the permeability of the paste by filler effect, as well as that addition of ash in a relative amount of 10, 20 e 30% increases cured compressive resistance at low temperatures. It was also showed that the ash in a relative amount of 40% and 59% has very significant efficiency as anti-retrogression additive, since it prevents the decrease of compressive resistance and forms hydrated calcium silicate type xenotlita and tobermorita which have more resistance and stability in high temperatures

Caracterização ecofisiológica de sementes de espécies lenhosas da Caatinga

Dormancy is an inherent property of the seeds that define the environmental conditions in which they are able to germinate and their presence is an adaptive trait common in species inhabiting semiarid regions. Moreover, the ability of seedling establishment in these environments has been related to the size, strength and chemical characteristics of the seeds. This study investigated patterns of dormancy and germination speed in tree species of the Caatinga, exploring how the seed size influence the processes of germination, seedling size and biomass allocation. In addition, we aim to investigate the chemical characteristics of the reserves, to verify a possible relationship between nutritional content and the process of seed germination. Therefore, seeds were collected from ten species of woody Caatinga for tests of breaking dormancy, germination and biochemical characterization. Overall, the results show that the scarification treatments mechanical and chemical, and thermal shock influenced the percentage and speed of germination in 50 % of the species, suggesting that they have some level of physical dormancy in the seeds. Biochemical characterization showed the existence of large amounts of carbohydrates in the seeds of all species, low proportion of protein and low amounts of neutral lipids. Using linear regression, we demonstrated the existence of a significant relationship between seed size and the ratio of root/shoot where the largest seeds invested a greater amount of resources for shoot growth. The relationship between germination speed and non-reducing sugar content was also significant, so these compounds is related to the maintenance of physiological seed quality. These results confirm some relationships discussed in the literature for cultivated species, but can be applied to the species native to the Caatinga

Análise do Comportamento Mecânico de Concretos Produzidos com Incorporação de Cinza do Bagaço da Cana-de-Açúcar de Variedades SP911049, RB92579 E SP816949

Concrete is the second most consumed product in the world and the incorporation of the Sugar Bagasse Ash (SBA) into this material can provide solutions for the utilization of by-products from other industries, thus reducing the environmental impact. The general aim of this dissertation focuses on analyzing the mechanical behavior of concrete with addition of SBA from three different species of sugar cane, through tests of consistency, compressive strength, porosity, absorption, voids and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Were prepared 13 specimens for each specific pattern and level of incorporation of SBA (10%, 20% and 30%) of the three varieties collected, totaling 130 samples of concrete. The trait was employed 1:2:3 (cement: sand: aggregates) in relation to the cement mass with a water / cement ratio of 0.532 and 1% additive Tec 400 Mult also based on the weight of cement. According to the results obtained in this study, it was concluded that the variety of cane sugar, used in the production of the CBC, influenced the mechanical behavior of the resulting concrete. All concrete with addition of SBA, reported a reduction of at least 10% in the properties related to permeability and an increase in the compressive strength of at least 16% compared to standard concrete at 28 days

Avaliação do concreto de cimento portland com resíduo da produção de scheelita em substituição ao agregado miúdo

From the 70`s, with the publication of the Manifesto for Environment UN Conference, held in Stockholm, in Sweden (1972), defend and improve the environment became part of our daily lives. Thus, several studies have emerged in several segments in order to reuse the waste. Some examples of waste incorporated in portland cement concrete are: rice husk ash, bagasse ash of cane sugar, powder-stone, microsilica, tire rubber, among others. This research used the residue of the mining industry Scheelite, to evaluate the incorporation of the residue composition of Portland cement concrete, replacing the natural sand. The percentage of residue were incorporated from 0% to 100%, with a variation of 10%, 11 being produced concrete mix in the ratio 1:2:3:0.60, by mass. We evaluated the following characteristics of concrete: slump test, compressive strength, tensile strength by diametral compression, water absorption, porosity and density, based on the ABNT, through tests performed in the Laboratory of Civil Construction, UFRN. The trace with the addition of 60% scheelite residue was obtained which better performance. Therefore, the use of the waste from the production of Scheelite is feasible due to the durability parameters (water absorption and porosity), sustainability, and the good results of the resistance of the concrete

Efeito da adição de argila expandida e adições minerais na formulação de concretos estruturais leves autoadensáveis

The search for alternative materials with lower density, reduction in heat transfer and propagation of noise associated with the ease of handling and application in concrete structures, represents an enormous challenge in the formulation and knowledge of the performance of self-compacting lightweight concrete, which has technology little known nationally, and appears on the international scene as an innovative material and alternative to conventional concrete. Based on these, this study set out to study self-compacting lightweight concrete made with two distinct grades of expanded clay associated with the addition of plasticizing/superplasticizers additives and mineral additions of metakaolin and bagasse ash of sugar cane. There is also an object of study, evaluation of pozzolanic activity of mineral admixtures and their influence on the durability characteristics of concrete. The rheological, physical, mechanical and microstructural analysis in this study served as basis in the classification of concretes autoadensáveis, targeting the national technical requirements for their classification in the category autoadensável and lightweight structural. The inclusion of mineral admixtures (metakaolin and bagasse ash of sugar cane), partial replacement of cement, pozzolanic activity and demonstrated maintenance of mechanical properties through the filler effect, a reduction of up to 76% of the nitrogen gas permeability in blend with 20% bagasse ash. All concretes had rheology (cohesion and consistency) suitable for self-adensability as well as strength and density inherent structural lightweight concrete without presenting phenomena of segregation and exudation

Aproveitamento de resíduos de cinza da cana de açúcar em massas cerâmicas

This study aimed to investigate the use of cane sugar ashes from small-scale stills of Eunápolis region, state of Bahia, in pottery mass that can be developed as porcelain stoneware. Bahia is the second largest producer of rum distillery in Brazil. In the production of rum is produced residue called bagasse, which is used to generate electricity in Power plants and in the distillery itself, generating ashes as residue, which is played in nature, causing environmental damage. We studied 5 (five) formulations of 0% 10% 20%, 30% and 40% by weight of the ash, without ignition and 3 (three) formulations of 10%, 20% and 30% with gray ash temperature of 1250ºC. The formulation at 0% by weight of ash was used for a comparison between the traditional mass of porcelain stoneware and the masses with the addition of ash calcined, replacing feldspar. The percentage by weight of kaolin and of Clay was kept the same, 30%, and all raw materials were derived from the state of Bahia. The samples were made in uniaxial array with dimensions of (60 x 20 x 5) mm and compressed to a pressure of 45 MPa. Assays were performed to characterize the raw by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, ATD and ATG and Dilatometric analysis. The samples were sintered at temperatures of 1100°C, 1150°C, 1200°C and 1250°C, for the specimens with the ashes without ash and 1150° C and 1200° C for specimens with the gray level of calcined 60 minutes. and then we made a cooling ramp with the same rate of warming until reach ambient temperature. The sintered bodies were characterized by water absorption, porosity, linear shrinkage, bending strength and XRD of the fracture surface and the results analyzed. It was proven, after results of tests performed, that it is possible to use the ash residue of sugar cane bagasse on ceramic coating with the addition of up to 10% wt of the residue ash

Estudo da introdução de resíduo de britagem de rocha calcária e cinza de biomassa de cana-de-açúcar em formulações de argamassas colantes

The adhesive mortars are a mixture of cement, sand, and additives to polymers that retain the mixing water and promotes adherence, being used in setting on various ceramic substrates. The sand used in the production of these mortars is from the riverbeds, and with the increasing restriction of these sands extraction by environmental agencies, and often having to be transported over long distances to the consumer center. This work aims to design and physical and mechanical characterization of ecological adhesive mortar with total replacement of natural sand by sand from the crushing of limestone, and the addition of mineral ash biomass of cane sugar in partial replacement cement used in the production of adhesive mortar , aiming compositions that meet the regulatory specifications for use adhesive mortar. Standardized tests to determine the tensile bond strength (NBR 14081-4), determination of open time (NBR 14081-3) and determination of slip (NBR 14081-5) were performed. Were also conducted trials squeeze flow in different formulation, the mortar with addition of 15 % gray biomass of cane sugar for cement mortars as well as the total replacement of natural sand by sand limestone crushing, got the best performance among the mortars studied, it was found that the addition of biomass to replace cement is perfectly feasible due to its pozzolanic activity, which contributed to this reduction in the cement matrix formation of adhesive mortar

Estudo das interações polifenol-proteína e das reações de escurecimento não-enzimático para o processamento de cajuína

The cashew, a fruit from Brazilian Northeast is used to produce juice due to its flavor and vitamin C richness. However, its acceptance is limited due to its astringency. Cajuína is a derivate product appreciated by its characteristic flavor, freshness and lack of astringency, due to tannin removal. Cajuína is a light yellow beverage made from clarified cashew juice and sterilized after bottling. It differs from the integral and concentrated juice by the clarification and thermal treatment steps. Many problems such as haze and excessive browning could appear if these steps are not controlled. The objective of this work was divided into two stages with the aim to supply process information in order to obtain a good quality product with uniform characteristics (sensory and nutritional). Polyphenol-protein interaction was studied at the clarification step, which is an empirical process, to provide values on the amount of clarifying solution (gelatin) that must be added to achieve a complete juice clarification. Clarification essays were performed with juice dilutions of 1:2 and 1:10 and the effect of metabissulfite and tannic acid addition was evaluated. It was not possible to establish a clarification point. Metabissulfite did not influenced the clarification process however tannic acid addition displaced the clarification point, showing the difficulty visual monitoring of the process. Thermal treatment of clarified juice was studied at 88, 100, 111 e 121 °C. To evaluate the non-enzymatic browning, vitamin C, 5-hidroximetilfurfural (5-HMF) and sugar variation were correlated with color parameters (reflectance spectra, color difference and CIELAB). Kinetic models were obtained for reflectance spectra, ascorbic acid and 5-HMF. It was observed that 5-HMF introduction followed a first order kinetic rate at the beginning of the thermal treatment and a zero order kinetic at later process stages. An inverse correlation was observed between absorbance at 420 nm and ascorbic acid degradation, which indicates that ascorbic acid might be the principal factor on cajuína non-enzymatic browning. Constant sugar concentration showed that this parameter did not contribute directly to the nonenzymatic browning. Optimization techniques showed showed that to obtain a high vitamin C and a low 5-HMF content, the process must be done at 120 ºC. With the water-bath thermal treatment, the 90 °C temperature promoted a lower ascorbic acid degradation at the expense of a higher 5-HMF level

Estudo da produção de pectinase por fermentação em estado sólido utilizando pedúnculo de caju como substrato

Pectinolytic enzymes, or simply pectinases, are complex enzymes that degrade pectic polymers. They have many uses, such as fruit juice extraction and purification, textile fiber treatment and vegetal oil extraction. The aim of this work was to study the kinetics of pectinases production by solid-state fermentation, using dry cashew apple residue as substrate and the microorganism Aspergillus niger CCT 0916. The influence of the initial medium moisture and medium supplementation with a source of nitrogen and phosphorus was evaluated using the factorial experimental planning and response surface methodology. Ammonia sulphate and potassium phosphate were used as nitrogen and phosphorus source, respectively. The variables time of contact (T) and ratio volume solvent/fermented medium (RZ), in systems with and without agitation, were evaluated in order to study the best extraction condition of the produced enzyme. Washed and unwashed cashew apple residues were tested as the growth medium. The unwashed residue was obtained by drying the residue after the extraction of the juice, while the washed residue was obtained by water washing 5 times using the proportion of 1 kg pulp/2 liters of water. Samples were taken every 12 hours for moisture content, pH, protein, reducing sugars, polygalacturonase activity (PG) and viscosity reduction. The physical-chemical composition of the residues had different sugar and pectin levels. For the unwashed residue, the peak activity was reached with 40% of initial moisture content, 1% of nitrogen supplementation without phosphorus addition after 30 hours of process. These conditions led to 16 U/g of PG activity and 82% of viscosity reduction. The calculated models reached similar values to the experimental ones in the same process conditions: 15.55 U/g of PG and 79.57% of viscosity eduction. Similarly, the greatest enzyme production for washed residue was reached with 40% initial moisture content, 1% nitrogen supplementation without phosphorus addition after 22 hours of cultivation. In this condition it was obtained polygalacturonase activity of 9.84 U/g and viscosity reduction of 81.36%. These values are close to experimental values that were of 10.1 U/g and 81%, respectively. The conditions that led to the best PG activity results was the agitated one and the best extraction condition was obtained with 100 minutes of solvent/medium contact and RZ of 5 (mL/g)

Estudo do mecanismo de produção de oligossacarídeos com atividades nutracêuticas a partir da quitosana por hidrólise enzimática com processo fermentativo simultâneo

The obtaining of the oligosaccharides from chitosanase, has showed interest of the pharmaceutical area in the last years due their countless functional properties. Although, the great challenge founded out is how to keep a constant and efficient production. The alternative proposed by this present work was to study the viability to develop an integrated technology, with reduced costs. The strategy used was the obtaining of the oligomers through enzymatic hydrolysis using chitosanolitic enzymes obtained straight from the fermented broth, eliminating this way the phases involved in the enzymes purification. The two chitosanases producing strains chosen for the work, Paenibacillus chitinolyticus and Paenibacillus ehimensis, were evaluated according to the behavior in the culture medium with simple sugar and in relation to the pH medium variations. The culture medium for the chitosanases induction and production was developed through addition of soluble chitosan as carbon source. The soluble chitosan was obtained using hydrochloric acid solution 0.1 M and afterwards neutralization with NaOH 10 M. The enzymatic complexes were obtained from induction process in culture medium with 0.2% of soluble chitosan. The enzymes production was verified soon after the consumption of the simple sugars by the microorganisms and the maximum chitosanolitic activity obtained in the fermented broth by Paenibacillus chitinolyticus was 249 U.L-1 and by Paenibacillus ehimensis was 495U.L-1. These two enzymatic complexes showed stability when stored at 20°C for about 91 days. The enzymes in the fermented broth by Paenibacillus chitinolyticus, when exposed at temperature of 55°C and pH 6.0, where the activity is maximum, showed 50% lost of activity after 3 hours Meanwhile, for the complex produced by Paenibacillus ehimensis, after 6 days of exposure, it was detected 100% of the activity. The chito-oligosaccharides obtained by the hydrolysis of a 1% chitosan solution, using the enzymatic complex produced by Paenibacillus chitinolyticus showed larger quantity after 9 hours hydrolysis and using the complex produced by Paenibacillus ehimensis after 20 minutes was observed the chito-ligosacharides with polymerization degree between 3 and 6 units. Evaluating these results, it was verified that the production of chitosan-oligosaccharides is possible, using a simultaneous process

Estudo da funcionalidade de espécies comestíveis do semiárido nordestino e estratégias para sua utilização como ingredientes para fins alimentícios

The Brazilian caatinga is characterized by low annual rainfall and arid soils. Several cactaceae, either native or adapted species, grow in this semi-arid region, including the prickly pear (Opuntia fícus indica) and facheiro ((Philosocereus pachycladus Ritter) which produce underexploited edible fruits. In addition to these species, the algaroba is a leguminous with little studied technological applications and bioactive potential so far. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the physicochemical, bioactive and functional attributes of the prickly pear and facheiro fruit pulps and the algaroba flour. Specifically, this study approaches the physicochemical characterization, total phenolic compounds (TPC) and the betalain identification and quantification by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. It is also investigated the DPPH antioxidant capacity and the antienzymatic activities against alpha-amylase and alphaglucosidase of water and ethanolic extracts of these food material. In order to address their potential to be used as food ingredients, juice blends prepared with mixtures of cajá and prickly pear, biofilms with facheiro and cereal bars with algaroba flour were elaborated and analyzed. The prickly pear fruits presented low acidity and high sugar content when compared to facheiro. The Philosocereus pachycladus Ritter fruits had higher protein and ash content, but the algaroba flour was the species with higher protein and sugar content among all. The algaroba flour also presented outstanding food fiber content, which reveals its potentiality to be used as a natural intestinal regulator. The TPC of water and ethanol extracts ranged from 3.87 to 16.21 mg GAE/100g for algaroba flour, 79.24 to 110.20 GAE/ 100g for prickly pear and 412.23 to 539.14 mg GAE/100g for facheiro. The 70% (w/v) ethanol extract reached the highest DPPH antioxidant activity, which was linearly correlated to its high TPC content. In regard to the enzymatic inhibitory activities, the best performance was observed for the prickly pear extracts which presented a moderate inhibition for both investigated enzymes, but interestingly, no alpha-glucosidase inhibition was observed for facheiro extracts. This work shows, for the first time in the literature, the functional attributes of facheiro fruits, as well as the presence of betacianins and isobetanin in the pulp of this exotic fruit. When it comes to the food products developed here, the sensory attributes that better described the juice blend cajá-prickly pear were sweetness, acidity, color yellow-orange, body, turbidity and cajá flavor. The discriminative test applied for cereal bars produced with and without algaroba revealed that the texture was the only sensory attribute that differed (p<0.05) between these two samples. It was also observed that the addition of facheiro extracts did not influence the visual characteristics of the biofilms. Overall, this work unveils the physicochemical and bioactive attributes of these commercial and technologically underexploited species widely found in the Brazilian caatinga and presents alternatives for their rational use

Tecnologia mais limpa para produção de mel seco de cana e sua inclusão em rações de frangos de corte

This study analyzed the effects of adding dry sugar cane molasses (MSC) to the feed of broiler chickens, and determining the economic feasibility of use of this type of diet; 240 male Ross race broiler chickens, one day in age, were utilized in this study. The experimental desing was a completely randomized whit 6 treatments and 4 replications, in 24 portions of 10 birds per parcel. The treatments corresponded to 6 rations (T1-T6) in phase initial (1-21 days) and 6 rations (T1-T6) in phasem finish (22-42 days) characterized by substitution of corn meal in levels increase 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 e 25% by the molasse dried sugar-cane. The birds received water and free ration during the whole creation phase, being the iso-proteins and iso-calories rations. The variance analysis showed the 1 a 21 days significant differences for average gain weight (P<0,05), average consumption of ration (P<0,05) and average alimentary conversion (P<0,05) and the 22 a 42 days, the analysis of variance showed significant differences for gain in weight (P<0,01) and average alimentary conversion (P<0,05). There no difference significant on average consumption of ration (P>0,05) the 22 a 42 days of age. Results showed out that is possible to use molasse dried sugar-cane up to 8,3 % in broilers ration. It was concluded the level of 8,3 % of addition gave the best economical returns in the experimental conditions