Osmotic dehydration of mango with ascorbic acid impregnation: influence of process variables

The present study investigated the osmotic dehydration (OD) of mangoes cv.Palmer, dehydrated in a sucrose solution with added ascorbic acid (AA), aiming toevaluate the influence of the process variables (sucrose concentration, AA concen-tration and time) on vitamin C, water, sugars and total phenolic compound (TPC)contents by way of an analysis of the effects and the variance of the factors. Thesucrose concentration did not affect the vitamin C content, but the AA concentra-tion in the solution and the process time exerted a positive influence on thisresponse. The addition of AA also presented a significant positive effect on theTPC contents because this vitamin interferes with the quantification of the TPC.On discounting the interferences, no losses of phenolic compounds were found.Impregnation with vitamin C during OD was shown to be effective in obtainingminimally processed mangoes with high nutritional value.

PLGA nanoparticles containing praziquantel: effect of formulation variables on size distribution

Praziquantel has been shown to be highly effective against all known species of Schistosoma infecting humans. Spherical nanoparticulate drug carriers made of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) acid with controlled size were designed. Praziquantel, a hydrophobic molecule, was entrapped into the nanoparticles with theoretical loading varying from 10 to 30% (w/w). This investigates the effects of some process variables on the size distribution of nanoparticles prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The results show that sonication time, PLGA and drug amounts, PVA concentration, ratio between aqueous and organic phases, and the method of solvent evaporation have a significant influence on size distribution of the nanoparticles. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of micro-bubble size distribution and flow configuration in DAF contact zone by a non-intrusive image analysis system and tracer tests

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

Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy analysis of BaBi2Ta2O9 thin films

Thin films of BaBi2Ta2O9 (BBT) composition were prepared through the metal organic decomposition method. The crystallinity, phase formation, crystallite size and morphology of the thin films were measured as a function of the type of substrate, stoichiometry of solution and process variables such as thickness and temperature. The thin films were investigated by grazing incidence X-ray diffractometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. For the sample without excess of bismuth, diffraction peaks other than that of the BBT phase were observed. A well crystallized BBT single phase was observed for films prepared from a solution with 10% excess of bismuth, deposited on Si/Pt substrate, with a thickness up to 150 nm and sintered at temperatures of 700 degreesC. The thin BBT phase films heat-treated at 600 degreesC presented a diffraction pattern characteristic of samples with lower degree of crystallinity whereas for the thin films heat-treated at 800 degreesC, we observed the presence of other phases than the BBT. For the thin film deposited on the Sin+ substrate, we observe that the peaks corresponding to the BBT phase are broader than that observed on the samples deposited on the Pt and Si/Pt substrates. No variation of average crystallite size was observed as the excess of Bi increased from 10 to 20%. AFM images for the samples showed that the increasing the amount of bismuth promotes grain growth. The average surface roughness measured was in the range of 16-22 nm showing that the bismuth amount had no or little effect on the roughness of films. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of nanocrystalline tetragonal zirconia by a polymeric organometallic method

A polymeric precursor method based on the Pechini process was successfully used to synthesize zirconia-12 mol% ceria ceramic powders, the influence of the main process variables (citric acid-ethylene glycol ratio, citric acid-total oxides ratio and calcination temperature) on phase formation and powder morphology (surface area and crystallite size) were investigated. The thermal decomposition behavior of the precursor is presented. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of powders revealed a crystalline tetragonal zirconia single-phase, with crystallite diameter ranging from 6 to 15 nm. The BET surface areas were relatively high, reaching 95 m(2) g(-1) Nitrogen adsorption/desorption on the powders suggested that nonaggregated powders could be attained, depending on the synthesis conditions. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Estudo comparativo do desempenho de rebolos com grãos superabrasivos e convencionais

Grinding is a precision machining process which is widely used in the manufacture of components requiring fine tolerances and smooth surfaces. There are several imput parameters (cutting conditions, cutting fluid and grinding wheel type used, dressing conditions etc.) which can affect the process variables (tangential and normal cutting forces, roughness, grinding temperatures, G ratio, etc.) leading to differences in the roughness, in the surface integrity and in the mechanical strength of the ground component. Consequently, the imput parameters must be controlled in order to insure the workpiece final quality. This paper presents a comparative evaluation of the performance of two types of grinding wheels [a conventional (Al2O3) and a superabrasive (CBN)] when grinding a VC131 steel, by the analysis of specific process variables when varying the cutting conditions. Highest values of G ratio and lowest workpiece roughness was observed when using CBN grinding wheels. This confirms the global trend of replacement of alumina grinding wheels by CBN, when grinding DTG (difficult to grind) materials.

Performance of constructed wetland system for public water supply

The project is being conducted in the town of Analândia, São Paulo, Brazil. The constructed wetlands system for water supply consists of a channel with floating aquatic macrophytes, HDS system (Water Decontamination with Soil - Patent PI 850.3030), chlorinating system, filtering system and distribution. The project objectives include investigating the process variables to further optimize design and operation factors, evaluating the relation of nutrients and plants development, biomass production, shoot development, nutrient cycling and total and fecal coliforms removal, comparing the treatment efficiency among the seasons of the year; and moreover to compare the average values obtained between February and June 1998 (Salati et al., 1998) with the average obtained for the same parameters between March and June 2000. Studies have been developed in order to verify during one year the drinking quality of the water for the following parameters: turbidity, color, pH, dissolved oxygen, total of dissolved solids, COD, chloride, among others, according to the Ministry of Health's Regulation 36. This system of water supply projected to treat 15 L s-1 has been in continuous operation for 2 years, it was implemented with support of the National Environment Fund (FNMA), administered by the Center of Environmental Studies (CEA-UNESP), while the technical supervision and design were performed by the Institute of Applied Ecology. The actual research project is being supported by FAPESP.

L(+) Lactic acid production by new Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 103

L(+) Lactic acid fermentation was studied by Lactobacillus rhamnosus sp. under the effects of pH control and a lowcost nutritional medium (sugarcane juice and corn steep liquor-CSL). Central composite design (CCD) was employed to determine maximum lactic acid production at optimum values for process variables and a satisfactory fit model was realized. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the linear and quadratic terms of two variables (sugarcane juice and pH) had significant effects. The interactions between the three variables were found to contribute to the response at a significant level. A second-order polynomial regression model estimated that the maximum lactic acid production of 86.36 g/L was obtained when the optimum values of sucrose, CSL and pH were 112.65 g/L, 29.88 g/L and 6.2, respectively. Verification of the optimization showed that L(+) lactic acid production was of 85.06 g/L. Under these conditions, Y P/S and Q P values of 0.85 g/g and 1.77 g/Lh, respectively, were obtained after 48 h fermentation, with a maximal productivity of 2.2 g/L h at 30 h of process. © 2010 de Lima CJB, et al.

Proposal of a dedicated telemetry device for real-time and remote measurements

This work aims to demonstrate an application of telemetry for monitoring process variables. The authors developed the prototype of a dedicated device capable of multiplexing, encoding and transmitting real-time data signals via amplitude-shift keying modulation to remotely located device(s). The prototype development is described in details, enabling the reproduction of the proposed telemetry system for a three-phase motor as well as for other devices. Furthermore, the proposed device has an easy implementation by using of accessible components and low cost, also presenting a tutorial and educational purpose. © 2011 IEEE.

Avaliação da resistência ao desgaste abrasivo de revestimentos soldados do tipo Fe-C-Cr utilizados na indústria sucroalcooleira

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Avaliação da deslignificação com oxigênio utilizando residual da planta química do dióxido de cloro do licor branco oxidado

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Desenvolvimento de um programa paramétrico para simulação do processo de estampagem utilizando elementos finitos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Projeto de experimentos e modelamento matemático do limite de resistência dos arames de aço SAE 9254 temperados e revenidos usados na fabricação de molas automobilísticas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cinética de sinterização do combustível nuclear 'UO IND. 2.'7%'Gd IND.2''O IND. 3': cálculo da curva mestre de sinterização

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

Produção e caracterização de maltodextrinas a partir de amidos de mandioca e batata-doce

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)