Correlation Between Apparent Activation Energy and NOx emission of renewable diesel from sugar cane, biodiesel, fossil diesel and their blends

Biofuels and their blends with fossil fuel are important energy resources, which production and application have been largely increased internationally. This study focus on the development of a correlation between apparent activation energy (Ea) and NOx emission of the thermal decomposition of three pure fuels: farnasane (renewable diesel from sugar cane), biodiesel and fossil diesel and their blends. Apparent Activation energy was determined by using thermogravimetry and Model-Free Kinetics. NOx emission was obtained from the European Stationary Cycle (ESC) with OM 926LA CONAMA P7/Euro 5 engine. Results showed that there is a linear correlation between apparent activation energy and NOx emission with R2 of 0,9667 considering pure fuels and their blends which is given as: NOx = 2,2514Ea - 96,309. The average absolute error of this correlation is 2.96% with respect to the measured NOx value. The main advantage of this correlation is its capability to predict NOx emission when either a new pure fuel or a blend of fuels is proposed to use in enginees.

Mutagenicity profile of atmospheric particulate matter in a small urban center subjected to airborne emission from vehicle traffic and sugar cane burning

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is genotoxic and recently was classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. PM chemical composition varies depending on source and atmospheric conditions. The Salmonella/microsome assay is the most used mutagenicity test and can identify the major chemical classes responsible for observed mutagenicity. The objective of this work was to characterize the mutagenicity of PM samples from a countryside city, Limeira, Brazil, which is influenced by heavy traffic and sugar cane biomass burning. Six samples of total PM were collected. Air mass backward trajectories were calculated. Organic extracts were assayed using the Salmonella/microsome microsuspension mutagenicity assay using TA98, YG1041, and TA1538, with and without metabolic activation (S9). YG1041 was the most sensitive strain and mutagenicity reached 9,700 revertants per m(3) without metabolic activation. Potency for TA1538 was higher than TA98, indicating that this strain should be considered in air mutagenicity studies. The increased response to YG1041 relative to TA98, and the decreased response with S9, suggests that nitroaromatics are the major contributors. Limeira is among the most mutagenic cities in the world. High mutagenicity in Limeira seems to occur when the air mass from the area of sugarcane production is mixed with air from the region impacted by anthropogenic activities such as traffic. An increase in the formation of nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may result from longer contact time between the aromatic compounds and the atmosphere with high NOx and ozone concentration, although more studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Raman Lidar monitors emissions from sugar cane fires in the State of São Paulo: a pilot-project integrating radar, sodar, aerosol and gas observations

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

Physical characterization of particleboard produced with waste from ethanol and sugar mill

The problem of proper disposal of solid waste generated in different industrial processes is one of worldwide environmental concerns nowadays. Thus, this study aimed to establish a new alternative for the disposal of two agro-industrial residues employing them to produce particleboard for different purposes in building construction. The focus was given to the reuse of the sugarcane bagasse (SB) originated during the processing of Saccharum officinarum for sugar and ethanol production, and bamboo stem leaves of Dendrocalamus giganteus(BB). For this, six particleboards were produced in the following compositions: with 100% SB, 75% SB + 25% BB, 50% SB+50% BB, 40% SB +60 BB, 25% SB+ 75% BB and 100% BB in the total mass of the composites. The particleboards physical characterization followed Brazilian Standard ABNT NBR 14810-3 to density, moisture content and water absorption. Results showed these raw materials are compatible to particleboard production.

Produção de Bipolaris euphorbiae em meios de cultura sólidos e líquidos obtidos de grãos e resíduos agroindustriais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bagaço de cana-de-açúcar tratado com hidróxido de sódio

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a composição química e a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (MS) do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar contendo 60% de MS submetido a doses crescentes de hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) (0; 2,5; 5 e 7,5% de uma solução 2:1 de água:NaOH na MS) em diferentes períodos de tratamento (1, 3, 5 e 7 dias). Foram utilizados baldes plásticos com capacidade de 10 L, mantidos em uma câmara climática à temperatura constante de 25ºC. Não foi verificado efeito dos tratamentos (dose de NaOH e dias de tratamento) sobre os teores de PB, que apresentaram valor médio de 1,6%. A MS aumentou com os dias de tratamento, não sendo observadas alterações para essa variável em relação às doses crescentes de NaOH. Foi observada redução das frações de FDN, FDA, celulose (CEL), hemicelulose (HEM) e lignina (LIG). A digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) e o teor de sódio aumentaram quando o bagaço de cana foi submetido a doses crescentes de NaOH, mas não foi observado efeito do período de tratamento sobre essas variáveis. O valor nutritivo do bagaço de cana é melhorado com a adição de NaOH, comprovado pela redução nos constituintes da parede celular e pelo aumento na DIVMS.

Desempenho e características de carcaça de bovinos Nelore em confinamento alimentados com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e diferentes fontes energéticas

Avaliaram-se o ganho de peso e as características da carcaça de bovinos Nelore alimentados com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (in natura ou hidrolisado) como volumoso e concentrado contendo farelo de gérmen de milho, casca do grão de soja ou polpa de citrus em substituição parcial (50%) ao milho. Quarenta bovinos Nelore (peso médio inicial de 340 kg e idade inicial de 32 meses) foram alimentados com quatro dietas fornecidas na proporção volumoso:concentrado 39:61. As fontes substitutivas do milho não afetaram o peso final (470,8; 478,6; 476,4 e 475,3 kg) e o ganho médio diário (1,1; 1,1; 1,1 e 1,2 kg/animal/dia). Não houve efeito sobre o rendimento de carcaça (55,3; 55,3; 54,0 e 54,8%), a área de Longissimus (24,2; 23,0; 25,0 e 23,2 cm²/100 kg de carcaça) e a espessura de gordura (4,4; 5,6; 4,7 e 4,4 mm). O menor custo por arroba foi observado no tratamento com polpa de citrus (R$ 44,20), seguido do farelo de gérmen de milho (R$ 48,80) e da casca de soja (R$ 50,80), porém, quando utilizado somente o milho, o custo da arroba foi de R$ 51,80. O milho moído pode ser parcialmente substituído pelo farelo de gérmen de milho, pela casca de soja ou pela polpa de citrus em dietas para bovinos em confinamento alimentados com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (in natura ou hidrolisado) como volumoso, pois a substituição não alterou o ganho de peso e as características de carcaça.

Production of reinforced composites with natural fibers for industrial applications - Extrusion and injection WPC

The aim of this work is to study the replacement of currently used thermoplastics by composites reinforced with vegetable fibers with several advantages, mainly better mechanical properties, low weight and competitive cost compared to its counterparts. Extrusion and injection molding processes were studied using polypropylene (PP) matrix. The raw materials used were sugar cane bagasse, elephant grass, wood, milk cartons and recycled polypropylene. The composites were tested for bending, tension, hardness and impact resistance, following ASTM standards. The results obtained were extremely positive since they proved that natural fibers as reinforcement can be an important alternative to replace talc and other fillers.

Ultrathin films of lignins as a potential transducer in sensing applications involving heavy metal ions

Lignins extracted from sugar cane bagasse using different alcohols in the organosolv-CO(2) supercritical pulping process have been applied in the fabrication of ultrathin films through the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Langmuir films were characterized by surface pressure versus mean molecular area (Pi-A) isotherms to exploit the sensitivity of nanostructured lignin films to metallic ions (Cu(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+)). The Pi-A isotherms were shifted to larger molecular areas when heavy metal ions are present into the subphase, which might be related to electrostatic repulsions between metallic ions entrapped within the lignin molecular structure. Taking the advantage of metal incorporation, Langmuir monolayers were transferred onto solid substrates forming Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films to be used as a transducer in an "electronic tongue" system to detect Cu(2+) in aqueous solution below threshold standard established by the Brazilian regulation. Both techniques impedance spectroscopy and electrochemistry have been used in these experiments. Complementary, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy recorded for LB films before and after soaking into Cu(2+) aqueous solution revealed an interaction between the lignin phenyl groups and the metallic ion. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Efeito de diferentes níveis de bicarbonato de sódio em dietas com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar auto-hidrolisado sobre a degradação in situ do milho e farelo de algodão

The objective of this work was to evaluate the buffering effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), used in the levels of: 0, 0.7, 1.4 and 2.1% of dry matter, on the in situ degradation of corn and cottonseed meal. A diet with 60% autohidrolised sugar bagasse (BAH) and 40% of concentrate was used, plus urea, minerals and limestone. The rations was calculated to allow 300g of daily gain. After 20 days of adaptation to the treatment (levels of NaHCO3), 5g of each feed was incubated in the rumen of four bovines for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours, using naylon bag with size of 7,5 x 17,5 cm with pores of 36 micras. A randomized blocks design with four treatment (levels of NaHCO3) were used. The buffer affected the in situ dry matter degradation, whose means were 49.68; 63,10; 67,71; and 60,85% and 25.89; 30.88; 33.48 and; 31.02% for the corn and cottonseed meal, respectively. The level of 1.4% of NaHCO3 provided the highest value of degradability, which did not differ from the 0.7% and 2.1% levels, for the corn. The degradability of protein was not affected by the treatments.

Resíduos orgânicos como recondicionante de subsolo degradado e efeitos na atividade microbiana e fertilidade em cultivo de barbatimão

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Adubação química e orgânica na recuperação da fertilidade de subsolo degradado e na micorrização do Stryphnodendron polyphyllum

Com a construção da usina hidrelétrica de Ilha Solteira no final da década de 1960, algumas áreas foram desmatadas, servindo como área de empréstimo. Os solos dessas áreas foram retirados e estas adquiriram características físicas, químicas e biológicas distantes das ideais. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos da aplicação da adubação química e orgânica na fertilidade do subsolo degradado e micorrização de Stryphnodendron polyphyllum (barbatimão). A área localiza-se na fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão (FEPE) da UNESP/Ilha Solteira, em Selvíria - MS. Com delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas de 250 m² (10 x 25 m), foram avaliados 10 tratamentos: testemunha; calagem; adubação N + P; calagem + N + P; N + P + aguapé; N + P + bagaço de cana; N + P + aguapé + bagaço de cana; calagem + N + P + aguapé; calagem + N + P + bagaço de cana; e calagem + N + P + bagaço de cana + aguapé. Avaliaram-se as características químicas do solo e o crescimento do barbatimão em cinco períodos (junho, agosto, novembro e dezembro de 2005 e março de 2006), e a micorrização, em março de 2006. Observou-se que o subsolo continuou apresentando caráter ácido e pobreza em nutrientes após um ano de avaliação. O crescimento da planta aumentou ao longo do período, com os maiores valores para os tratamentos que receberam calagem, adubação e resíduos orgânicos, especialmente o aguapé. A colonização micorrízica foi influenciada positivamente pela presença de resíduos orgânicos, e o número de esporos, pelos tratamentos com presença de aguapé.

Screening and Production Study of Microbial Xylanase Producers from Brazilian Cerrado

Hemicelluloses are polysaccharides of low molecular weight containing 100 to 200 glycosidic residues. In plants, the xylans or the hemicelluloses are situated between the lignin and the collection of cellulose fibers underneath. The xylan is the most common hemicellulosic polysaccharide in cell walls of land plants, comprising a backbone of xylose residues linked by beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds. So, xylanolytic enzymes from microorganism have attracted a great deal of attention in the last decade, particularly because of their biotechnological characteristics in various industrial processes, related to food, feed, ethanol, pulp, and paper industries. A microbial screening of xylanase producer was carried out in Brazilian Cerrado area in Selviria city, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. About 50 bacterial strains and 15 fungal strains were isolated from soil sample at 35 A degrees C. Between these isolated microorganisms, a bacterium Lysinibacillus sp. and a fungus Neosartorya spinosa as good xylanase producers were identified. Based on identification processes, Lysinibacillus sp. is a new species and the xylanase production by this bacterial genus was not reported yet. Similarly, it has not reported about xylanase production from N. spinosa. The bacterial strain P5B1 identified as Lysinibacillus sp. was cultivated on submerged fermentation using as substrate xylan, wheat bran, corn straw, corncob, and sugar cane bagasse. Corn straw and wheat bran show a good xylanase activity after 72 h of fermentation. A fungus identified as N. spinosa (strain P2D16) was cultivated on solid-state fermentation using as substrate source wheat bran, wheat bran plus sawdust, corn straw, corncob, cassava bran, and sugar cane bagasse. Wheat bran and corncobs show the better xylanase production after 72 h of fermentation. Both crude xylanases were characterized and a bacterial xylanase shows optimum pH for enzyme activity at 6.0, whereas a fungal xylanase has optimum pH at 5.0-5.5. They were stable in the pH range 5.0-10.0 and 5.5-8.5 for bacterial and fungal xylanase, respectively. The optimum temperatures were 55C and 60 A degrees C for bacterial and fungal xylanase, respectively, and they were thermally stable up to 50 A degrees C.

Efeito de Diferentes Níveis de bicarbonato de sódio sobre a degradação in situ do bagaço de cana-de-açucar auto-hidrolisado

The objective of this work was to evaluate the buffering effects, using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) at the levels: 0; 0.7; 1.4; and 2.1% of dry matter, on the in situ degradation of autohidrolised sugar-cane bagasse. A diet was used with 60% autohidrolised sugar bagasse (AHB) and 40% of concentrate, plus urea, minerals and limestone. The rations was calculated to allow 300g of daily gain. After 20 days adaptation to the treatment (level of NaHCO3), 5 g of AWE was incubated on rumen of four bovines for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours, using naylon bag measuring 7,5 x 17,5 cm with pores of 36 micras. It was used a randomized blocks design with four treatments (NaHCO3) and four replications(animals). For the calculations of the protein degradation, it was considered the soluble fraction in water plus the degraded fraction in the same proportion as for the neutral detergent fiber (NDF). It was observed that the buffer did not affect the degradability in situ of AHB, whose averages in 48 hours of incubation for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergente fiber (NDF) were 34.83; 36.90; 55.40; and 25.56%, respectively.

Litter materials and the incidence of carcass lesions in broilers chickens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different litter materials on litter compaction, broiler feathering and the incidence of carcass lesions. In the experiment, 3240 one-day-old Ross® chicks were selected by sex and distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design in a 2 x 6 factorial arrangement (two sex and six litter materials). The following litter materials were used: wood shavings, rice husks, chopped Napier grass, 50% sugar cane bagasse plus 50% wood shavings, 50% sugar cane bagasse plus 50% rice husks, and pure sugar cane bagasse. Litter compaction was weekly assessed using a penetrometer. on days 21, 35 and 42 of the experimental period, feathering on the back and legs was scored according to a 0 - 10 scale. on day 42, birds were slaughtered and the presence of bruises, scratches and footpad lesions was recorded. Litter material had no effect on bird feathering. Carcass lesions (scratches, bruises and footpad lesions) were influenced by the litter material evaluated. Birds reared on sugarcane bagasse and chopped Napier grass presented more scratches, bruises and footpad lesions than the others. Dermatitis was more evident in birds reared on sugarcane bagasse, chopped Napier grass and the combination of litter materials. It was found that males presented higher incidence of dermatitis and footpad lesions than females. Each litter material presented different compaction degrees, which increased along the experimental period. Sugarcane bagasse, chopped Napier grass and the combination of bedding materials presented the highest degree of compaction, compared with wood shavings and rice husks.