Remote Sensing Detection of atmospheric pollutants using Lidar, Sodar and correlation with air quality data in an industrial area

Optical remote sensing techniques have obvious advantages for monitoring gas and aerosol emissions, since they enable the operation over large distances, far from hostile environments, and fast processing of the measured signal. In this study two remote sensing devices, namely a Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) for monitoring the vertical profile of backscattered light intensity, and a Sodar (Acoustic Radar, Sound Detection and Ranging) for monitoring the vertical profile of the wind vector were operated during specific periods. The acquired data were processed and compared with data of air quality obtained from ground level monitoring stations, in order to verify the possibility of using the remote sensing techniques to monitor industrial emissions. The campaigns were carried out in the area of the Environmental Research Center (Cepema) of the University of São Paulo, in the city of Cubatão, Brazil, a large industrial site, where numerous different industries are located, including an oil refinery, a steel plant, as well as fertilizer, cement and chemical/petrochemical plants. The local environmental problems caused by the industrial activities are aggravated by the climate and topography of the site, unfavorable to pollutant dispersion. Results of a campaign are presented for a 24- hour period, showing data of a Lidar, an air quality monitoring station and a Sodar. © 2011 SPIE.

A simple procedure for the preparation of laponite and thermoplastic starch nanocomposites: Structural, mechanical, and thermal characterizations

The aim of this article is to propose advances for the preparation of hybrid nanocomposites prepared by the combination of intercalation from solution and melt-processing methods. This research investigates the effect of the laponite RDS content on the thermal, structural, and mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS). X-ray diffraction was performed to investigate the dispersion of the laponite RDS layers into the TPS matrix. The results show good nanodispersion, intercalation, and exfoliation of the clay platelets, indicating that these composites are true nanocomposites. The presence of laponite RDS also improves the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the TPSmatrix due to its reinforcement effect which was optimized by the high degree of exfoliation of the clay. Thus, these results indicate that the exfoliated TPS-laponite nanocomposites have great potential for industrial applications and, more specifically, in the packaging field. © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Effect of Ag addition on phase transitions of the Cu-22.26 at.%Al-9.93 at.%Mn alloy

The phase transitions that occur in the Cu-22.26 at.%Al-9.93 at.%Mn and Cu-22.49 at.%Al-10.01 at.%Mn-1.53 at.%Ag alloys after slow cooling were studied using differential scanning calorimetry at different heating rates, microhardness changes with temperature, magnetization changes with temperature, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy. The results indicated that the presence of Ag does not modify the transition sequence of Cu-Al-Mn alloy, introduces a new transition due to the (Ag-Cu)-rich precipitates dissolution at about 800 K, and changes the mechanism of DO 3 phase dissolution. This mechanistic change was analyzed and a sequence of phase transitions was proposed for the reaction. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Hydrostatic and [001] uniaxial pressure on anatase TiO2 by periodic B3LYP-D* calculations

The effect of high hydrostatic and [001] uniaxial pressures on TiO 2 anatase was studied under the framework of periodic calculations with the inclusion of DFT-D2 dispersion potential adjusted for this system (B3LYP-D*). The role of dispersion in distorted unit cells was evaluated in terms of lattice parameters, elastic constants, equation of state, vibrational properties, and electronic properties (band structure and density of states). A more reliable description at high pressures was achieved because the B3LYP-D* presented an improvement in all properties for undistorted bulk over conventional B3LYP and B3LYP-D. From density of states analysis, we observed that the contribution of crystalline orbitals to the edge of valence and conduction bands changed within applied pressure. The studied distortions can give some insight into behavior of electronic and structural properties due to local stress in anatase bulk from doping, defects, and physical tensions in nanometric forms. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Luminescent properties of hybrid materials prepared by the polymeric precursor method

Rare earth complexes (RE) can be incorporated in silica matrixes, originating organic/inorganic hybrid materials with good thermal stability and high rare earth emission lines. In this work, the hybrid material was obtained by the polymeric precursor method and ultrasonic dispersed with spherical silica particles prepared by the Stöber Method. The Raman spectra indicated that the Eu3+ ions are involved in a polymeric structure formed as consequence of the chelation and polyesterification reactions of this ion with citric acid and ethylene glycol. After the ultrasonic stirring, 2-hydroxynicotinic ligand will also compose this polymeric rigid structure. The TGA/DTA analysis showed that this polymeric material was thermal decomposed at 300 °C. Moreover, this process allows the chelating process of the 2-hydroxynicotinic acid ligand to the Eu3+ ions. The 29Si NMR showed that the ultrasonic dispersion of the reactants was not able to promote the functionalization of the silica particles with the 2-hydroxynicotinic acid ligand. Moreover, heat treatment promotes the [Eu(HnicO2)3] complex particles incorporation into silica pores. At this temperature, the TGA curve showed that only the thermal degradation of ethylene glycol and citric acid used during the experimental procedure occurs. The silica and hybrid materials are composed by spherical and aggregated particles with particle size of approximately 450 nm, which can be influenced by the heat treatment. These materials also present an absorption band located at 337 nm. The photoluminescent study showed that when the hybrid samples were excited at 337 nm wavelength, the ligand absorbs the excitation light. Part of this energy is transferred to the Eu3+ ion, which main emission, 5D0→ 7F2, is observed in the emission spectrum at 612 nm. As the heating temperature increases to 300 C, the energy transfer is more favorable. The lifetime values showed that the Eu3+ emission is enhanced due to the energy transfer process in the powders. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cost-effective composite electrode for the fast voltammetric screening and determination of riboflavin (B2) and pyridoxine (B6) in pharmaceuticals

Different solid composites made by mechanical dispersions of graphite particles into heated paraffin (from 65 to 80% graphite, in mass) were prepared and assessed in order to optimize their use in electrochemical and electroanalytical procedures for bioanalysis. Besides these, composites were also evaluated by thermoanalytical techniques aiming to study their conservation and long-term stability (over eight months without special care), among others. Best results were found at 80% m/m graphite in paraffin. Such electrode combines low-cost, stability, sensitivity, ease of maintenance and clearance, besides the possibilities of manufacture in many different forms and shapes (with or without modifications) and applicability in a wide range of pH. Electrochemical studies by different voltammetric techniques involving vitamins from complex B (riboflavin and pyridoxine) leaded to a better understanding about their electrooxidative processes onto carbon-composite electrodes, specially regarding reversibility and pH-dependence. Data were also acquired and optimized with analytical purposes, being square-wave voltammetry in pH 4.2 chosen by its many advantages. Good linearity between peak responses as function of concentration were reached from 5 to 43 μmol L-1 for riboflavin (peak at -0.257 V) and up to 8.5 × 10-4 mol L -1 for pyridoxine (peak at +1.04 V), best studied conditions; limits of detection (at an S/N of 3) for both analites showed to be circa 1.0 mol L-1. Different commercial samples were analyzed for riboflavin (EMS® complex B syrup) and pyridoxine (Citoneurin 5000 Merck® ampoules) providing 96.6% and 98.7% recoveries, respectively.

Influência da adição da espécie Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans e de íons Cl- na dissolução da calcopirita (CuFeS'IND2')

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo das variações elétricas em filmes ultrafinos compondo as unidades sensoriais de uma língua eletrônica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Preparação e caracterização de filmes a base de xiloglucana extraída de sementes de Hymenaea Courbaril (Jatobá)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de dispersão sólida com propriedade mucoadesiva para liberação de zidovudina

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Obtenção e caracterização de filmes de misturas de amido resistence e pectina como estratégia para liberação cólon específica de fármacos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação de processos para obtenção de comprimidos de Beta-Ciclodextrina-Paracetamol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desenvolvimento de dispersões sólidas para liberação colônica de metronidazol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do efeito do praziquantel veiculado em dispersões lipídicas no tratamento de camundongos infectados com schistosoma mansoni

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntese e caracterização de polipirrol (PPy) obtido pelo processo químico convencional e microemulsão

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)