Sílica quimicamente modificada com os grupos p-anisidina, p-fenitidina e p-fenilenodiamina usada como adsorvente para Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ e Ni2+ em soluções aquosa e etanólica

Silica gel was chemically modified with the aromatic amines p-anisidine, p-phenytidine and p-phenylenediamine, using grafting reactions. The resulting modified silicas were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. The organic groups were covalently immobilized in a monolayer form. These modified silicas were investigated as adsorbents for Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+ in aqueous and ethanol solutions. In a general way, the adsorption capacity values for all adsorbents presented the following sequence: Pb2+ >> Cu2+ @Cd2+ @ Ni2+. Adsorption studies for all adsorbents, in competitive medium, showed better selectivity for Cu2+ and Pb2+ in aqueous medium and for Pb2+ in ethanol solution. Desorption studies were carried out using HCl and HNO3 as eluents.

Determinação da espessura da camada polimérica de fases estacionárias imobilizadas para cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência por termogravimetria

This paper presents a simple and practical thermogravimetric method for determining the layer thickness of immobilized polymer stationary phases used in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. In this method, the weight loss of different polysiloxanes immobilized onto chromatographic supports, determined over the temperature range 150-650 ºC, demonstrated excellent agreement with the sum of carbon and hydrogen content obtained by elemental analysis. The results presented here suggest that the thermogravimetric procedure is an accurate and precise method to determine the polymeric material content on polymer-coated stationary phases.

Imobilização de ferro (II) em matriz de alginato e sua utilização na degradação de corantes têxteis por processos Fenton

In this work Fenton and photo-Fenton processes for textile dye degradation were investigated using iron (II) immobilized in alginate spheres. Photomicrographs obtained by scanning electron microscopy showed an irregular and porous surface with a homogeneous distribution of iron. The Fenton process was used to evaluate the degradation efficiency of reactive dyes and this procedure showed a low degradation effect. The association of artificial visible light or solar radiation in the Fenton process (foto-Fenton process) showed degradation ratios of 70 and 80% respectively in 45 min. It was also observed that the iron-alginate matrix can be reused.

Biossensores baseados no processo de inibição enzimática

Fast, selective, reproducible and reliable detections have been carried out by using enzymatic biosensors in several areas. The enzymatic biosensors based on the inhibition represent an important role in analytical chemistry. Enzymes like cholinesterases, peroxidases, tyrosinases, etc. have been immobilized on electrochemical and optical transducers and the enzymatic activity decreasing in the presence of the inhibitor is related with its concentrations. This article presents a review on the enzymes used on the construction of these sensors, emphasizing the respective applications.

Extracción y medida de peroxidasa en pulpa de arazá (Eugenia stipitata MC Vaugh)

A technique for both extraction and activity measurement of peroxidase extracted from arazá (Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh) is described. Peroxidase from arazá pulp fruit was extracted using a combination of protein precipitation with acetone and extraction with 50 mM sodium buffer phosphate (pH 6.0). Optimum activity using guaiacol as H-donor was obtained at pH from 5.0 to 6.5, temperature from 60 to 75 °C, H2O2 between 10 to 15 mM and guaiacol from 80 to 160 mM. Thermal inactivation showed a first-order inactivation kinetic. Reactivation was observed when extracts were heated at 80 °C and afterwards incubated at 25 °C.

Imobilização de enzimas em suportes cromatográficos: uma ferramenta na busca por substâncias bioativas

The development and characterization of bioreactors or IMER (immobilized enzyme reactors) as research tools are important in the scope of medicinal chemistry and constitute an alternative for the rational development of drugs. This approach does not require highly purified enzymes or a great amount of protein, but increase the enzymatic stability against heat, organic solvents and pH, without too much loss of catalyst activity. Immobilized enzyme reactors (IMER) can be used for the accomplishment of high efficiency screening on-line and, thus inhibitors can be quickly identified. Here, we emphasize the development of IMER by use of different methods of immobilization and chromatographic supports. Their applications, in different areas of research, are also fully discussed.

Biodiesel: visão crítica do status atual e perspectivas na academia e na indústria

This article presents a bibliographic review of research carried out on different alternative processes for biodiesel production. The supercritical and subcritical (non catalytic) reaction conditions, the use of solid basic, solid acid and other heterogeneous catalysts, including the use of immobilized enzymes and whole-cell catalysts are also critically compared with the traditional homogeneous alkaline or acid catalysts that are common on industrial applications. Advantages and limitations of all these processes for the transference from the laboratory to the industry are discussed. A correlation of the chemical composition with the quality parameters of the produced biodiesel is done with aim to stablish adequate procedures for the right selection of the raw-material. Castor bean oil is used as an example of inappropriate oil in order to produce a B100 that fulfill all the international physico-chemical quality standards. In this article are presented research results to adequate the values of viscosity, density and iodine number of the castor and soybean biodiesel to the international standard limits by means blending these both biodiesels at the right ratio.

Fotodegradación heterogénea de bisfenol A en agua con dióxido de titanio

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used in epoxy resin and polycarbonate manufacture. This molecule is considered as an endocrine disruptor that causes different diseases. The human exposition to this non biodegrable substance is increasing in the time; in particular, water is contaminated by industrial remainder flow. In this article heterogeneous photo degradation of a solution of BPA in water solution using a catalytic photo reactor with UV light and titanium dioxide (TiO2) was evaluated. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the photo degradation of BPA solutions. The influence of titanium dioxide amount, BPA concentration, reaction temperature and the catalyst state like suspension and immobilized were also determinated. The highest elimination of BPA was 83.2%, in 240 min, beginning with 0.05 mM of BPA and 100 mg/L of TiO2 in suspension.

Imobilização da lacase em micropartículas de quitosana obtidas por spray drying e usadas na construção de biossensores

Biosensors based on laccase immobilized on microparticles of chitosan crosslinked with tripolyphosphate (biosensor I) and glyoxal (biosensor II) obtained by spray drying for the determinations of rutin in pharmaceutical formulations were developed. Under optimized operational conditions (pH 4.0, frequency of 30 Hz, pulse amplitude of 40 mV and scan increment of 2.0 mV) two analytical curves were obtained for both biosensors showing a detection limit of 6.2x10-8 mol L-1 for biosensor (I) and 2.0x10-8 mol L-1 for biosensor (II). The recovery of rutin from pharmaceutical sample ranged from 90.7 to 105.0% and the lifetime of these biosensors were 4 months (at least 400 determinations).

On-line preconcentration system using a microcolumn packed with Alizarin Red S-modified alumina for zinc determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and sensitive on-line flow injection system for determination of zinc with FAAS has been described. The method is based on the separation and preconcentration of zinc on a microcolumn of immobilized Alizarin Red S on alumina. The adsorbed analyte is then eluted with 250 µL of nitric acid (1 mol L-1) and is transported to flame atomic absorption spectrometer for quantification. The effect of pH, sample and eluent flow rates and presence of various cations and anions on the retention of zinc was investigated. The sorption of zinc was quantitative in the pH range of 5.5-8.5. For a sample volume of 25 mL an enrichment factor of 144 and a detection limit (3S) of 0.2 µg L-1 was obtained. The precision (RSD, n=7) was 3.0% at the 20 µg L-1 level. The developed system was successfully applied to the determination of zinc in water samples, hair, urine and saliva.

Cromatografia de afinidade por íons metálicos imobilizados (IMAC) de biomoléculas: aspectos fundamentais e aplicações tecnológicas

Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Cromatography - IMAC - is a group-specific based adsorption applied to the purification and structure-function studies of proteins and nucleic acids. The adsorption is based on coordination between a metal ion chelated on the surface of a solid matrix and electron donor groups at the surface of the biomolecule. IMAC is a highly selective, low cost, and easily scaled-up technique being used in research and commercial operations. A separation process can be designed for a specific molecule by just selecting an appropriate metal ion, chelating agent, and operational conditions such as pH, ionic strength, and buffer type.

Fotocatálise heterogênea com TiO2 para oxidação de arsênio e sua remoção de águas por coprecipitação com sulfato férrico

The oxidation of arsenic (As(III) to As(V)) in water samples was performed by heterogeneous photocatalysis using a TiO2 film immobilized inside a photochemical reactor. After oxidation, As(V) was removed from the water samples by coprecipitation with ferric sulfate. The final conditions of oxidation and arsenic removal (TiO2 film prepared with a suspension: 10% (w/v); pH: 7.0; oxidation time: 30 min and Fe3+ concentration: 50 mg L-1) were applied in natural water samples which were supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 of As(III) to verify the influence of the matrix. After treatment, more than 99% of arsenic was removed from the water.

Immobilization of laccase on hybrid layered double hydroxide

Crystals of Mg/Al layered double hydroxide were synthesized by alkaline precipitation and treated in an aqueous solution of glutamic acid. The glutamate ions were not intercalated into the interlayer space, but were detected in the material by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, suggesting that only the external surfaces of crystals were modified with glutamate ions. The resulting hybrid material was tested as a support for immobilization of the enzyme laccase (Myceliophthora thermophila). The immobilized enzyme preparation was characterized by electronic paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and by assays of catalytic activity. The activity of the immobilized laccase was 97% of the activity in the free enzyme. Layered double hydroxide is a suitable support for use in remediation of soil studies.

Bioacetilação de álcoois catalisada por Saccharum officinarum

Lipase-catalysed esterifications of alcohols using immobilized enzyme system from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) as biocatalyst afforded the corresponding esters in considerable yields (68-93%). Under optimized conditions, the material was utilized for reactions of acetylation with several advantage. It also investigated the possibility of reuse of immobilized enzymes of S. officinarum as biocatalyst under optimal reaction conditions.

Uma visão sobre a estrutura, composição e biodegradação da madeira

Wood is the main raw material used in the pulp and paper industry. It is a material that presents heterogeneous structure and complex composition, which results in a relatively resistant material to the biodegradation process. In the present review, we attempted to summarize the structural characteristics of wood and describe the chemical nature of its major components to, afterwards, comment about its biodegradation. The role of the enzyme manganese peroxidase in the lignin degradation by a selective white-rot fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, was highlighted.