Homogalactanas sulfatadas da alga Codium isthmocladum com atividade anticoagulante

Since the first description of sulfated polysaccharides from seaweeds, the biological activities of these compounds have been evaluated under different aspects and experimental procedures. Among the broad biological activities presented by seaweed polysaccharides, anticoagulant action appears as a promising function. In this present study we have obtained sulfated polysaccharides from the green seaweed Codium isthmocladium by proteolytic digestion, followed by separation into five fractions (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.2) by sequential acetone precipitation. The chemical analyses have demonstrated that all fractions are composed mainly by sulfated polysaccharides. The anticoagulant activity of these fractions was determined by activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time test (PT) using citrate normal human plasma. None fraction has shown anticoagulant activity by PT test. Furthermore, all of them have shown anticoagulant activity by aPTT test. These results indicated that the molecular targets of these sulfated polysaccharides are mainly in the intrinsic via of the coagulation cascade. Agarose gel electrophoresis in 1,3-diaminopropane acetate buffer, pH 9.0, stained with 0.1% toluidine blue showed the presence of two or three bands in several fractions while the fraction 0.9 showed a single spot. By anion exchange chromatography, the acid polysaccharides from the 0.9 acetone fraction were separated into two new fractions eluted respectively with 2.0 and 3.0 M NaCl. These compounds showed a molecular weight of 6.4 and 7.4 kDa respectively. Chemical analyses and infrared spectroscopy showed that Gal 1 and Gal 2 are sulfated homogalactans and differ one from the other in degree and localization of sulfate groups. aPPT test demonstrated that fractions 2,0 and 3,0M (Gal1 and Gal 2, respectively) have anticoagulant activity. This is the first time that anticoagulant sulfated homogalatans have been isolated from green algae. To prolong the coagulation time to double the baseline value in the aPTT, the required amount of sulfated galactan 1 (6,3mg) was similar to low molecular heparin Clexane®, whereas only 0,7mg of sulfated galactan 2 was needed to obtain the same effect. Sulfated galactan 2 in high doses (250mg) induces platelet aggregation. These results suggest that these galactans from C. isthmocladum have a potential application as an anticoagulant drug

Análises Estruturais e atividades biológicas de exopolissacarídeo extraído do fungo comestível pleurotus Sajor-Caju e de seu derivado sulfatado quimicamente.

The exopolysaccharides are extracellular compounds produced by some species of fungi and bacteria. It is suggested that these molecules, even when in the form of complex polysaccharide-peptide, are the main bioactive molecules of many fungus. Some of the biological activities displayed by these compounds can be accentuated and others may arise when you add chemically polar or nonpolar groups to polysaccharides. The fruiting body of Pleurotus sajor-caju produces a heteropolysaccharide with antineoplastic and antimicrobial activity, but other biological activities of this polymer have not been evaluated. In this work the exopolysaccharide of Pleurotus sajor-caju was sulfated chemically and structurally characterized. We also evaluated the antiproliferative, antioxidant and anticoagulant activities from native exopolysaccharide (PN) and its sulfated derivated (PS). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C) proved successful in sulfation of PN to obtain PS. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy showed that PN and PS are composed of mannose, galactose, 3-O-methyl-galactose and glucose in proportion percentage of 44,9:16,3:19,8:19 and 49, 7:14,4:17,7:18,2, respectively. The percentage of sulfate found in PS was 22.5%. Antioxidants assays revealed that the sulfation procedure affects differently the activities of exopolysaccharides, while the total antioxidant capacity, the scavenging activity of superoxide radical and ferric chelating were not affected by sulfation, on the other hand the chemical modification of PN enhanced the scavenging activity of hydroxyl radical and reducing power. PS also showed anticoagulant activity in a dose-dependent manner and clotting time was 3.0 times higher than the baseline value in APTT at 2 mg/mL. The exopolysaccharide not presented antiproliferative activity against HeLa tumor cells, but PS affects the cellular proliferation in a time-dependent manner. After 72 h, the inhibition rate of PS (2.0 mg/mL) on HeLa cells was about 60%. The results showed that PN sulfation increase some of their activities.

Atividades anticoagulante e antioxidante de extratos brutos ricos em polissacarídeos sulfatados das macroalgas marinhas marrons Canistrocarpus cervicornis, Dictyota mertensii e Dictyopteris delicatula e de Heterofucanas de Canistrocarpus cervicornis

In the present study, extracts rich-sulfated polysaccharides were obtained from three different species of Dictyotales (a class of brown macroalgae): Canistrocarpus cervicornis, Dictyota mertensii and Dictyopteris delicatula and their anticoagulant and antioxidant activities were evaluated. All extracts showed anticoagulant activity on aPTT assay, but not on PT assay. Extracts also exhibited total antioxidant activity, superoxide radical scavenging capacity and ferric chelating property. The extract from C. cervicornis showed the best results and was choose to have their sulfated polysaccharides fractioned and subsequently analysed. Thus, six fractions (CC-0.3, CC-0.5, CC-0.7, CC-1.0, CC-1.2 and CC-2.0) were obtained by proteolysis followed by sequential acetone precipitation. Agarose gel eletrophoresis stained with blue toluidine, confirmed the presence of sulfated polysaccharides in all fractions. Chemical analyses showed that all fractions presented heterofucans mainly constitued by fucose, galactose, glucuronic acid and sulfate. Any fraction changed the PT. However, all fractions were able to double the aPTT on a dose-dependent manner. CC- 0.3, CC-0.5, CC-0.7 and CC-1.0 needed only 0.100 mg/mL to double the aPTT, result only 1.25 times higher than the Clexane® (0.080 mg/mL), a commercial low molecular heparin. The heterofucans presented appreciable total antioxidant capacity, low capacity on scavenging hydroxyl radical and good efficiency on scavenging superoxide radicals (except CC-1.0). CC-1.2 showed 43.1 % on superoxide radical scavenging. This result was higher than that showed by the same concentration of gallic acid (41.8 %), a known antioxidant. Furthermore, the heterofucans showed excelent activity on ferrous chelating activity (except CC-0.3). CC-0.5, CC-0.7 and CC-1.0 showed the highest activities with 47.0 % of ferrous chelating activity, a result 2.0 times lesser than that exhibited by the same concentration of EDTA. These results clearly indicated the beneficial effects of heterofucans extracted from C. cervicornis as potential anticoagulant and antioxidant agents. However additional steps of purification, structural studies, besides in vivo experiments are needed for these fucans may be used as therapeutic agents

Caracterização estrutural e avaliação das atividades farmacológicas da fucana B extraída da alga Dictyota menstrualis

Seaweeds are a major source of biologically active compounds . In the extracellular matrix of these organisms are sulfated polysaccharides that functions as structural components preventing it against dehydration. The fraction 0.9 (FucB) rich in sulfated fucans obtained from brown seaweed Dictyota menstrualis was chemical characterized and evaluated for pharmacological activity by testing anticoagulant activity, stimulatory action on the synthesis of an antithrombotic heparan sulfate, antioxidant activity and its effects in cell proliferation. The main components were FucB carbohydrates (49.80 ± 0.10 %) and sulfate (42.30 ± 0.015 %), with phenolic compounds ( 3.86 ± 0.016 %) and low protein contamination ( 0.58 ± 0.001 % ) . FucB showed polydisperse profile and analysis of signals in the infrared at 1262, 1074 and 930 cm -1 and 840 assigned to S = O bonds sulfate esters , CO bond presence of 3,6- anhydrogalactose , β -D- galactose non- sulfated sulfate and the axial position of fucose C4 , respectively. FucB exhibited moderate anticoagulant activity , the polysaccharides prolonged time (aPTT ) 200 ug ( > 90s ) partial thromboplastin FucB no effect on prothrombin time (PT), which corresponds to the extrinsic pathway of coagulation was observed. This stimulation promoted fraction of about 3.6 times the synthesis of heparan sulfate (HS) by endothelial cells of the rabbit aorta ( RAEC ) in culture compared with cells not treated with FucB . This has also been shown to compete for the binding site with heparin. The rich fraction sulfated fucans exhibited strong antioxidant activity assays on total antioxidant (109.7 and 89.5 % compared with BHT and ascorbic acid standards ) , reducing power ( 71 % compared to ascorbic acid ) and ferric chelation ( 71 , comparing with 5 % ascorbic acid). The fraction of algae showed cytostatic activity on the RAEC cells revealed that the increase of the synthesis of heparan sulfate is not related to proliferation. FucB showed antiproliferative action on cell lines modified as Hela and Hep G2 by MTT assay . These results suggest that FucB Dictyota menstrualis have anticoagulant , antithrombotic , antioxidant potential as well as a possible antitumor action, promoting the stimulation of the synthesis of antithrombotic HS by endothelial cells and is useful in the prevention of thrombosis, also due to its inhibitory action on species reactive oxygen ( ROS ) in some in vitro systems , being involved in promoting a hypercoagulable state

Extração, caracterização estrutural e atividades farmacológicas do olginato obtido da alga marrom Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux) Oliveira Filho, 1977

The alginic acid or alginates are acidic polysaccharides found in brown seaweed widely used in food, cosmetic, medical and pharmaceutical industry. This paper proposes the extraction, chemical characterization and verification of the pharmacological activities of brown seaweed variegata Lobophora . The alginate was extracted from the seaweed Lobophora variegata and part was sulphated for comparative purposes. The native extract showed 42% total sugar, 65% uronic acid, 0,36 % protein and 0% of sulfate, while the sulfate showed 39% , 60%, 0.36% and 27,92 % respectively. The presence of a sulfate group may be observed by the metachromasia with toluidine blue in electrophoresis system and characteristic vibration 1262,34 cm-1 in infrared spectroscopy connections assigned to S = O. We observed the formation of films and beads of native alginate, where more concentrated solution 6% resulted in a thicker and more consistent film. Native alginate showed proliferative activity at concentrations (25 and 50 mcg), (50 mg) and (100 mg) in 3T3 cell line in 24h, 48h and 72h, respectively , as the sulfated (100 mg) in 24 . Also showed antiproliferative or cytotoxic activity in HeLa cells of strain, (25 and 100 mg), (25 and 100 mg) and (25, 50 and 100 mg), to native, now for the sulfate concentrations (100 mg) in 24 (25, 50 and 100 mg) in 48 hours, and (50 and 100 mg ) 72h. For their antioxidant activity, the sulfated alginates have better total antioxidant activity reaching 29 % of the native activity while 7.5 % of activity . For the hydroxyl radical AS showed high inhibition ( between 77-83 % ) in concentrations, but the AN surpassed these numbers in the order of 78-92 % inhibition. The reducing power of AN and AS ranged between 39-82 % . In the method of ferric chelation NA reached 100 % chelating while the AS remained at a plateau oscillating 6.5%. However, in this study , we found alginates with promising pharmacological activities, to use in various industries as an antioxidant / anti-tumor compound

Síntese de pigmentos cerâmicos inorgânicos nanométricos e encapsulados com estrutura core-shell pela rota dos precursores poliméricos

The present work has as objective the development of ceramic pigments based in iron oxides and cobalt through the polymeric precursor method, as well as study their characteristics and properties using methods of physical, chemical, morphological and optical characterizations.In this work was used iron nitrate, and cobalt citrate as precursor and nanometer silica as a matrix. The synthesis was based on dissolving the citric acid as complexing agent, addition of metal oxides, such as chromophores ions and polymerization with ethylene glycol. The powder obtained has undergone pre-ignition, breakdown and thermal treatments at different calcination temperatures (700 °C, 800 °C, 900 °C, 1000 °C and 1100 °C). Thermogravimetric analyzes were performed (BT) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), in order to evaluate the term decomposition of samples, beyond characterization by techniques such as BET, which classified as microporous materials samples calcined at 700 ° C, 800 º C and 900 º C and non-porous when annealed at 1000 ° C and 1100 º C, X-ray diffraction (XRD), which identified the formation of two crystalline phases, the Cobalt Ferrite (CoFe2O4) and Cristobalite (SiO2), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the formation of agglomerates of particles slightly rounded;and Analysis of Colorimetry, temperature of 700 °C, 800 °C and 900 °C showed a brown color and 1000 °C and 1100 °C violet

Bioprospecção de extratos metanólicos de macroalgas marinhas do litoral do Rio Grande do Norte: avaliação das atividades anticoagulante, antioxidante e antiproliferativa

Seaweeds are organisms known to exhibit a variety of biomolecules with pharmacological properties. The coast of Rio Grande do Norte has over 100 species of seaweeds, most of them not yet explored for their pharmacological potential. Sugars and phenolic compounds are the most studied of these being assigned a range of biological properties, such as anticoagulant , antiinflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant activities. In this work, we obtained methanolic extracts from thirteen seaweeds of the coast of Rio Grande do Norte (Dictyota cervicornis; Dictiopterys delicatula; Dictyota menstruallis; D. mertensis; Sargassum filipendula; Spatoglossum schröederi; Acanthophora specifera; Botryocladia occidentalis; Caulerpa cupresoides; C. racemosa; C. prolifera; C. sertularioides e Codium isthmocladum). They were evaluated as anticoagulant and antioxidant drugs, as well as antiproliferative drugs against the tumor cell line HeLa. None of the methanolic extracts showed anticoagulant activity, but when they were evaluated as antioxidant drugs all of extracts showed antioxidant activity in all tests performed (total antioxidant capacity, sequestration of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, ferric chelation and reductase activity), especially the algae D. mentrualis, D. cilliolata and C. prolifera, who had the greatest potential to donate electrons.In addition, the ability of iron ions chelation appears as the main antioxidant mechanism of the methanolic extracts of these seaweeds mainly for the extract of the C. racemosa seaweed, which reached almost 100% activity. In the MTT assay, all extracts showed inhibitory activity at different levels againts HeLa cells. Moreover, D. cilliolata (MEDC) and D. menstrualis (MEDM) extracts showed specific activity to this cell line, not inhibiting the viability of 3T3 normal cell line, so they were chosen for detailing the antiproliferative mechanism of action. Using flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and in vitro assays we demonstrated that MEDC and MEDM induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by activation of caspases 3 and 9 and yet, MEDC induces cell cycle arrest in S phase. Together, these results showed that the methanolic extracts of brown seaweed D. menstrualis and D. cilliolata may contain agents with potential use in combatting cells from human uterine adenocarcinoma. This study also points to the need for more in-depth research on phytochemical and biological context to enable the purification of biologically active products of these extracts

Atividade anticoagulante, antioxidante e antitumoral de heterofucanas da alga Dictyopteris delicatula (Lamouroux, 1809)

In the present study, six families of sulfated polysaccharides were obtained from seaweed Dictyopteris delicatula (Lamouroux, 1809) and their anticoagulant, antioxidant and antitumor activities were evaluated. All fractions showed anticoagulant activity on aPTT assay, but not on PT assay. Fractions also exhibited total antioxidant activity, superoxide radical scavenging capacity and ferric chelating property. Thus, six fractions (F0.5v, F0.7v, F1.0v, F1.3v, F1.5v e F2.0v) we obtained by proteolytic digestion, followed by acetone fractionation and molecular sieving on Sephadex G-100. Chemical analyses demonstrated that all polysaccharides contain heterofucans composed mainly of fucose, xylose, glucose, galactose, uronic acid, and sulfate. Any fractions changed the PT. However, all fractions were able on double the aPPT on a dose-dependent manner. The heterofucans F0.7v and F1.0v showed low anticoagulant activity while F1.5v presented the most prominent anticoagulant activity .When compared to Clexane®, a low molecular weight heparin, at same concentration F1.5v presented similar anticoagulant activity. The fucans F0.5v and F0.7v at 1.0 mg/mL showed high ferric chelating activity (~45%), whereas fucans F1.3v (0.5 mg/mL) showed considerable reducing power, about 53.2% of the activity of vitamin C. The fucan F1.5v presented the most prominent anticoagulant activity. The best antiproliferative activity was found with fucans F1.3v and F0.7v. However, F1.3v activity was much higher than F0.7v inhibiting almost 100% of HeLa cell proliferation. These fucans have been selected for further studies on structural characterization as well as in vivo experiments, which are already in progress

Síntese citrato-hidrotermal e caracterização eletroquímica de LSCF para aplicação como catodo em célula a combustível de temperatura intermediária

The lanthanum strontium cobalt iron oxide (La1-xSrxCo1-yFeyO3 LSCF) is the most commonly used material for application as cathode in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), mainly due to their high mixed ionic electronic conductivity between 600 and 800ºC. In this study, LSCF powders with different compositions were synthesized via a combination between citrate and hydrothermal methods. As-prepared powders were calcined from 700 to 900°C and then characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses, particle size analyses, nitrogen adsorption (BET) and scanning electronic microscopy. Films of composition La0,6Sr0,4Co0,2Fe0,8O3 (LSCF6428), powders calcined at 900°C, were screen-printed on gadolinium doped ceria (CGO) substrates and sintered between 1150 and 1200°C. The effects of level of sintering on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of electrodes were evaluated by scanning electronic microscopy and impedance spectroscopy. Area specific resistance (ASR) exhibited strong relation with the microstructure of the electrodes. The best electrochemical performance (0.18 ohm.cm2 at 800°C) was obtained for the cathode sintered at 1200°C for 2 h. The electrochemical activity can be further improved through surface activation by impregnation with PrOx, in this case the electrode area specific resistance decreases to values as low as 0.12 ohm.cm2 (800°C), 0.17 ohm.cm2 (750°C) and 0.31 ohm.cm2 (700°C). The results indicate that the citrate-hydrothermal method is suitable for the attainment of LSCF particulates with potential application as cathode component in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs)

Caracterização morfológica e microestrutural da perovskita BaCexPr1-xO3 sintetizada a partir do método de complexação combinando EDTA/Citrato

In this study, binary perovskite (BaCexO3) were doped with praseodymium (Pr) to obtainment of the ternary material BaCexPr1-xO3. This material was synthesized by the complexation method combining EDTA/Citrate with the stoichiometric ratio of the element Praseodymium ranging from x = 0.1 to x = 0.9 in order to determine the influence of this rare earth element on the morphology and microstructure of the final powder. At first the material was synthesized based on the route proposed by literature (Santos, 2010), and then characterized by SEM and XRD, besides being refined by the Rietveld method. In the material that had lowest residual parameter, S, and lowest average size of crystal, pH variation of synthesis solution was made in order to identify the influence of this parameter on the morphology and microscopy of the final powder. The results show that addition of praseodymium did not directly influence the crystallographic and lattice parameters, keeping even the same orthorhombic structure of the binary material BaCexO3, according to Yamanaka et al (2003). Material type BaCe0,2Pr0,8O3 had lowest residual parameter (S=1.4) and lowest average size of crystallite (26.4 nm), being used as reference in the pH variation of synthesis solution for 9, 7, 5 and 3, respectively. Variation of this parameter showed that when the synthesis solution pH was decreased to below 11, there was an increase in the average size of crystals, for pH 9, about 58.3%, for pH 7 (30.3 %), for pH 2 (2.3%) and for pH 3 (42%), indicating that the value initially used and quoted by Santos (2010) was the most coherent

Síntese e caracterização de tungstatos de cério e estrôncio para fins catalíticos

The main goal of this work was to produce nanosized ceramic materials of the family of the tungstates (tungstates of cerium and strontium), and test them for their catalytic activity in processes involving the transformation of methane (CH4). The methodology used for the synthesis of the ceramic powders involved the complexation combining EDTA-citrate. The materials characterization was performed using simple and differential thermogravimetry, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The microstructure analysis was performed using the refinement by the Rietveld method, and the crystallite size and distribution of the materials was elucidate by the Scherrer and Williamson-Hall methods. The conditions of the synthesis process for the three envisaged materials (SrWO4, SrWO4 using tungsten oxide concentrate as raw material, and Ce2(WO4)3) were adjusted to obtain a single phase crystalline material. The catalytic tests were carried out in the presence of methane and synthetic air, which is composed of 21% O2 and 79% N2. The analysis of the conversion of the reaction was done with the aid of an fourier transform infrared device (FTIR). The analysis showed that, structurally, the SrWO4 produced using raw materials of high and poor purity (99% and 92%, respectively) are similar. The ideal parameters of calcination, in the tested range, are temperature of 1000 °C and time of calcination 5 hours. For the Ce2(WO4)3, the ideal calcination time and are temperature 15 hours and 1000°C, respectively. The Williamson-Hall method provided two different distributions for the crystallite size of each material, whose values ranged between the nanometer and micrometer scales. According to method of Scherrer, all materials produced were composed of nanometric crystallites. The analyses of transmission electron microscopy confirmed the results obtained from the Williamson- Hall method for the crystallite size. The EDS showed an atomic composition for the metals in the SrWO4 that was different of the theoretical composition. With respect to the catalytic tests, all materials were found to be catalytically active, but the reaction process should be further studied and optimized.

Obtenção de ferrita de cobalto através de dois métodos de síntese: método de complexação combinando EDTA/Citrato e método hidrotérmico

In this work it was synthesized and characterized the cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) by two methods: complexation combining EDTA/Citrate and hydrothermal investigating the influence of the synthesis conditions on phase formation and on the crystallite size. The powders were mainly characterized by x-ray diffraction. In specific cases, it was also used scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and isotherms of adsorption and desorption of nitrogen (BET method). The study of the crystallite size was based on the interpretation of x-ray diffractograms obtained and estimated by the method of Halder-Wagner-Scherrer and Langford. An experimental design was made in order to assist in quantifying the influence of synthesis conditions on the response variables. The synthesis parameters evaluated in this study were: pH of the reaction medium (8, 9 and 10), the calcination temperature (combined complexation method EDTA/Citrate 600°C, 800°C and 1000°C), synthesis temperature (hydrothermal method 120°C, 140°C and 160°C), calcination time (combined complexation method EDTA/Citrate - 2, 4 and 6 hours) and time of synthesis (hydrothermal method 6, 15 and 24 hours). By the hydrothermal method was possible to produce mesoporous powders with high purity, with an average crystallite size up to 7 nm, with a surface area of 113.44 m²/g in the form of pellets with irregular morphology. By using the method of combined complexation EDTA/Citrate, mesoporous powders were produced with greater purity, crystallite size up to 22nm and 27.95 m²/g of surface area in the form of pellets with a regular morphology of plaques. In the experimental design was found that the hydrothermal method to all the studied parameters (pH, temperature and time) have significant effect on the crystallite size, while to the combined complexation method EDTA/Citrate, only temperature and time were significant

Estudo dos óxidos A2B2O7 e ABO3 a base de terras raras, para aplicações térmicas e catalíticas a altas temperaturas

Rare earth elements have recently been involved in a range of advanced technologies like microelectronics, membranes for catalytic conversion and applications in gas sensors. In the family of rare earth elements like cerium can play a key role in such industrial applications. However, the high cost of these materials and the control and efficiencies associated processes required for its use in advanced technologies, are a permanent obstacle to its industrial development. In present study was proposed the creation of phases based on rare earth elements that can be used because of its thermal behavior, ionic conduction and catalytic properties. This way were studied two types of structure (ABO3 and A2B2O7), the basis of rare earths, observing their transport properties of ionic and electronic, as well as their catalytic applications in the treatment of methane. For the process of obtaining the first structure, a new synthesis method based on the use of EDTA citrate mixture was used to develop a precursor, which undergone heat treatment at 950 ° C resulted in the development of submicron phase BaCeO3 powders. The catalytic activity of perovskite begins at 450 ° C to achieve complete conversion at 675 ° C, where at this temperature, the catalytic efficiency of the phase is maximum. The evolution of conductivity with temperature for the perovskite phase revealed a series of electrical changes strongly correlated with structural transitions known in the literature. Finally, we can establish a real correlation between the high catalytic activity observed around the temperature of 650 ° C and increasing the oxygen ionic conductivity. For the second structure, showed clearly that it is possible, through chemical processes optimized to separate the rare earth elements and synthesize a pyrochlore phase TR2Ce2O7 particular formula. This "extracted phase" can be obtained directly at low cost, based on complex systems made of natural minerals and tailings, such as monazite. Moreover, this method is applied to matters of "no cost", which is the case of waste, making a preparation method of phases useful for high technology applications

Avaliação e modelagem da absorção de H2S do gás natural em coluna de leito estagnado

Natural gas, although basically composed by light hydrocarbons, also presents contaminant gases in its composition, such as CO2 (carbon dioxide) and H2S (hydrogen sulfide). The H2S, which commonly occurs in oil and gas exploration and production activities, causes damages in oil and natural gas pipelines. Consequently, the removal of hydrogen sulfide gas will result in an important reduction in operating costs. Also, it is essential to consider the better quality of the oil to be processed in the refinery, thus resulting in benefits in economic, environmental and social areas. All this facts demonstrate the need for the development and improvement in hydrogen sulfide scavengers. Currently, the oil industry uses several processes for hydrogen sulfide removal from natural gas. However, these processes produce amine derivatives which can cause damage in distillation towers, can cause clogging of pipelines by formation of insoluble precipitates, and also produce residues with great environmental impact. Therefore, it is of great importance the obtaining of a stable system, in inorganic or organic reaction media, able to remove hydrogen sulfide without formation of by-products that can affect the quality and cost of natural gas processing, transport, and distribution steps. Seeking the study, evaluation and modeling of mass transfer and kinetics of hydrogen removal, in this study it was used an absorption column packed with Raschig rings, where the natural gas, with H2S as contaminant, passed through an aqueous solution of inorganic compounds as stagnant liquid, being this contaminant gas absorbed by the liquid phase. This absorption column was coupled with a H2S detection system, with interface with a computer. The data and the model equations were solved by the least squares method, modified by Levemberg-Marquardt. In this study, in addition to the water, it were used the following solutions: sodium hydroxide, potassium permanganate, ferric chloride, copper sulfate, zinc chloride, potassium chromate, and manganese sulfate, all at low concentrations (»10 ppm). These solutions were used looking for the evaluation of the interference between absorption physical and chemical parameters, or even to get a better mass transfer coefficient, as in mixing reactors and absorption columns operating in counterflow. In this context, the evaluation of H2S removal arises as a valuable procedure for the treatment of natural gas and destination of process by-products. The study of the obtained absorption curves makes possible to determine the mass transfer predominant stage in the involved processes, the mass transfer volumetric coefficients, and the equilibrium concentrations. It was also performed a kinetic study. The obtained results showed that the H2S removal kinetics is greater for NaOH. Considering that the study was performed at low concentrations of chemical reagents, it was possible to check the effect of secondary reactions in the other chemicals, especially in the case of KMnO4, which shows that your by-product, MnO2, acts in H2S absorption process. In addition, CuSO4 and FeCl3 also demonstrated to have good efficiency in H2S removal

Avaliação da flotação por ar dissolvido no polimento de efluentes de lagoa de estabilização

Experience in the use of stabilization ponds shows that this is a system with low cost, easy operation and maintenance and suitable for tropical countries. One of its disadvantages is due to high concentrations of suspended solids, mainly due to algal biomass in the effluents. Accordingly, the dissolved air flotation has been shown to be an efficient post-treatment technology. However, the efficiency of this process is related to coagulation and flocculation steps, as well as the adjustment of the involved variables in the process. The objective of this work was to evaluate the algae removal efficiency from wastewater stabilization ponds and the influence of the factors involved in the process using dissolved air flotation. For this, we used primary facultative and maturation effluents of ETE Ponta Negra in Natal. We did tests of coagulation, flocculation and flotation with the samples, using the equipment flotatest. In this process were tested coagulants aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride, and varied the factors pH, coagulant concentration, polymer concentration and rate of recirculation. At the end of the experiments were analyzed turbidity, suspended solids, color, COD and chlorophyll "a". These results were submitted to descriptive statistics to verify the efficiency of the process in general, and regression analysis to identify models that describe the process and demonstrate the factors that have greater influence on flotation. After step methodology, high values were found removal efficiency of suspended solids, reaching values greater than 90% in the best cases. It was concluded that flotation is more efficient in the facultative pond effluent using ferric chloride, and the variability of algae may negatively influence the process. Regression analyzes showed that pH is the most influential variable in the coagulation-flocculation-flotation, and its optimal value among the tested is 5.5 for both coagulants