Electrocatalytic study of an electrode modified with Reactive Blue 4 dye covalently immobilized on amine-functionalized silica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A decentralized approach for optimal reactive power dispatch using a Lagrangian decomposition method

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparison of Reactive Power Support in Distribution Networks Provided by Capacitor Banks and Distributed Generators

This paper presents a comparison of reactive power support in distribution networks provided by switched Capacitor Banks (CBs) and Distributed Generators (DGs). Regarding switched CBs, a Tabu Search metaheuristic algorithm is developed to determine their optimal operation with the objective of reducing the power losses in the lines on the system, while meeting network constraints. on the other hand, the optimal operation of DGs is analyzed through an evolutionary Multi-Objective (MO) programming approach. The objectives of such approach are the minimization of power losses and operation cost of the DGs. The comparison of the reactive power support provided by switched CBs and DGs is carried out using a modified IEEE 34 bus distribution test system.

Atmospheric emission of reactive nitrogen during biofuel ethanol production

This paper evaluates emissions to the atmosphere of biologically available nitrogen compounds in a region characterized by intensive sugar cane biofuel ethanol production. Large emissions of NH(3) and NO,, as well as particulate nitrate and ammonium, occur at the harvest when the crop is burned, with the amount of nitrogen released equivalent to similar to 35% of annual fertilizer-N application. Nitrogen oxides concentrations show a positive association with fire frequency, indicating that biomass burning is a major emission source, with mean concentrations of NO, doubling in the dry season relative to the wet season. During the dry season biomass burning is a source of NH3, with other sources (wastes, soil, biogenic) predominant during the wet season. Estimated NO(2)-N, NH(3)-N, NO(3)(-)-N and NH(4)(+)-N emission fluxes from sugar cane burning in a planted area,of ca. 2.2 x 10(6) ha are 11.0, 1.1, 0.2, and 1.2 Gg N yr(-1), respectively.

Sensitive Affimer and Antibody Based Impedimetric Label-Free Assays for C-Reactive Protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein whose levels are increased in many disorders. Levels greater than 3 mu g/mL serum have hitherto been considered to indicate pathology, but there is increasing interest in assessments between 0.1 and 10 mu g/mL, which have been found to correlate with severity of risk for cardiovascular disease. We report herein the generation of both antibody and Affimer based impedance immunoassays for CRP that are substantially more sensitive than clinically utilized immunonephelometry and immunoturbidity assessments. Significant in this study is not only the use of a constrained peptide to detect a clinically important target but also that derived electrochemical impedance assays can be highly sensitive even with probes whose relatively weak (mu M) affinities are not amenable to target detection by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Key to this finding is acknowledging that receptive surfaces of comparatively low initial steric bulk and charge transfer resistance are especially primed to be highly responsive to target binding in electroanalytical assays of this type.

TWO DECOMPOSITION APPROACHES APPLIED TO THE MULTI-AREA OPTIMAL REACTIVE POWER FLOW PROBLEM

This paper applies two methods of mathematical decomposition to carry out an optimal reactive power flow (ORPF) in a coordinated decentralized way in the context of an interconnected multi-area power system. The first method is based on an augmented Lagrangian approach using the auxiliary problem principle (APP). The second method uses a decomposition technique based on the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) first-order optimality conditions. The viability of each method to be used in the decomposition of multi-area ORPF is studied and the corresponding mathematical models are presented. The IEEE RTS-96, the IEEE 118-bus test systems and a 9-bus didactic system are used in order to show the operation and effectiveness of the decomposition methods.

Microstructural development of ZnO varistor during reactive liquid phase sintering

The microstructural evolution, grain growth and densification for the varistor systems ZnO-Bi2O3 (ZB), ZnO-Bi2O3-Sb2O3 (ZBS), ZnO-Bi2O3-Sb2O3-MnO-Cr 2O3-CoO (ZBSCCM) were studied using constant heating rate sintering, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in situ phase formation measurement by high temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD). The results showed that the densifying process is controlled by the formation and decomposition of the Zn2Bi3Sb3O14 pyrochlore (PY) phase for the ZBS and ZBSCCM systems. The addition of transition metals (ZBSCCM system) alters the formation and decomposition reaction temperatures of the pyrochlore phase and the morphology of the Zn7Sb2O12 spinel phase. Thus, the spinel grains act as inclusions and decrease the ZnO grain growth rate. Spinel grain growth kinetics in the ZBSCCM system showed an n value of 2.6, and SEM and HT-XRD results indicate two grain growth mechanisms based on coalescence and Ostwald ripening. © 1996 Chapman & Hall.

Can trifluoperazine protect mitochondria against reactive oxygen species-induced damage?

Trifluoperazine (TFP) (35 μM) prevents mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨ) collapse and swelling induced by 10 μM Ca2+ plus oxyradicals generated from δ-aminolevulinic acid autoxidation. In contrast with EGTA, TFP cannot restore the totally collapsed ΔΨ. So, TFP might not remove Ca2+ from its 'harmful site', but could impair the ROS-driven cross-linking between membrane -SH proteins. Our data are correlated with the protective uses of TFP against oxidative processes promoted by oxyradicals plus Ca2+.

Energy of the Photosubstitutionally Reactive Excited State of Pentaammine(pyridine)ruthenium(II)

The photosensitized aquation of pentaammine(pyridine)ruthenium(II) by several dyes has been studied under conditions where only the sensitizers absorb light. The ratio of the quantum yields for ammine and pyridine substitution was the same as that for direct photoaquation. Sensitization was effective with singlet sensitizers Rhodamine-B (17 452 cm -1) and Safranine-T (17 690 cm -1), as well as the triplet sensitizer biacetyl (19 000 cm -1), but no reaction was observed with Neutral-Red (16 900 cm -1). The results indicate that the excited state precursor of the observed photosubstitution in the complex lies in the energy range between 17 000 and 17 700 cm -1.

Studies of absorptive interaction between Aspergillus niger and the reactive azo dye Procion Blue MX-G

Aspergillus niger on paramorphogenic form showed to be efficient adsorbent to reactive azo dye Procion Blue MX-G, where it has obtained rates of colour removal above 99% in acid pH, at 120 minutes of equilibrium time. Temperature did not exert expressive influence in the process, and the applicability of Freundlich's, isotherm suggest the occurrence of various molecules layers of adsorbed dye on the substratum surface.

Determination of the phthalocyanine textile dye, reactive turquoise blue, by electrochemical techniques

Turquoise blue 15 (AT15) is a reactive dye widely used in the textile industry to color natural fibers. The presence of these dyes in effluent and industrial wastewater is of considerable interest due ecotoxicological and environmental problems. The electrochemical reduction of this dye has been investigated in aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry, controlled potential electrolysis and cathodic stripping voltammetry. Optimum conditions for dye discoloration by controlled potential electrolysis use an alkaline medium. Using cathodic stripping voltammetry a linear calibration graph was obtained from 5.00×10-8 mol L-1 to 1.00×10 -6 mol L-1 of AT15 at pH 4.0, using accumulation times of 180 and 240 s and an accumulation potential of 0.0 V. The proposed method was applied in direct determination of the dye in tap water and in textile industry effluent.

Decolourization of anthraquinone reactive dye by electrochemical reduction on reticulated glassy carbon electrode

The electrochemistry reduction for the removal of Reactive Blue 4 (RB4) dye from aqueous solution using reticulated glassy carbon electrode is investigated. At pH < 8.0 the anthraquinone group of the RB4 dye are reduced in one cathodic step to hidroquinone after a reversible two-electron process involving a precedent two protons reaction. A stable semiquinone is detected by spectrophotometric technique. At pH > 8.0 the reduction process involves two reversible 2-electron steps, whose species are generated by a protonation equilibrium of anthraquinone group. The results shows that 60% of color removal was obtained after 3 hours of RB4 dye electrolysis at acidic and neutral conditions and only 37% at alkaline conditions. Simultaneously 64% of total organic carbon was removed after electrolysis at pH 2.0.