Extração de β-caroteno de cenouras: uma proposta para disciplinas experimentais de química

This paper reports on the development of a simple and fast procedure for β-carotene extraction from carrots and its quantification by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Carotenoids extracted from carrots may also be used as alternative reagents for TLC (thin layer chromatography) detection of natural compounds with antioxidant properties, replacing the commercial p.a. grade β-carotene. Although this reagent had around 10% b-carotene, it proved to be as efficient for TLC analysis as the commercial p.a. grade β-carotene. This practice is a useful alternative for teaching undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory classes.

Preparação de carvão ativado em baixas temperaturas de carbonização a partir de rejeitos de café: utilização de FeCl3 como agente ativante

Ferric chloride as a new activating agent was used to obtain activated carbons from agroindustrial waste. This material was prepared at three temperatures of pyrolysis, 200, 280 and 400 ºC. The carbonaceous materials obtained after the activation processes showed high specific surface areas (BET), with values higher than 900 m² g-1. The materials showed different behaviors in the adsorption of methylene blue dye and reactive red textile dye in water solutions. An important fact in the use of FeCl3 as an activating agent is that the activation temperature is at 280 ºC, well below of those commonly employed in chemical or physical activations described in the literature.

Materiais à base de óxido de ferro para oxidação de compostos presentes no efluente da despolpa do café

Materials based on pure iron oxide and impregnated with niobia (Nb2O5) were prepared. Their catalytic activities were tested on the oxidation of compounds present in the wastewater from the processing of coffee berries. Particularly caffeine and catechol were tested. The oxidation reactions were carried out with the following systems (i) UV/H2O2, (ii) photo-Fenton and (iii) heterogeneous Fenton. All materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopy. Iron was mainly in the forms of goethite and maghemite. The oxidation kinetics were monitored by UV-vis and the oxidation products were monitored by mass spectrometry. The photo-Fenton reaction presented highest oxidation efficiency, removing 98% of all caffeine and catechol contents.

Avaliação do potencial antioxidante de extratos ativos de plantas obtidos por extração com fluido supercrítico

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of ginger and rosemary extracts, obtained by supercritical extraction. The extracts were characterized by HPLC, GC-MS, phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity. The main active compounds were identified and high content of phenolic compounds was observed. The extracts presented high antioxidant activity against the free radicals ABTS•+ (350 and 200 mM Trolox/g, for ginger and rosemary, respectively) and DPPH•+ (145 and 80 mM Trolox/g, for ginger and rosemary, respectively). These results suggested that the attained extracts are potential substitutes of synthetic antioxidants used in chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Extração sortiva em barra de agitação para análise de fármacos em fluidos biológicos

A novel solventless sample preparation, stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), for extraction, and sample enrichment of organic compounds from biological fluids, is described in this manuscript from principle to applications. The SBSE is based on sorptive extraction, whereby the compounds are extracted into a polymer coating, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), on a magnetic stirring rod. The extraction is controlled by the partitioning coefficient of drugs between the PDMS and sample matrix, and upon the sample-extraction medium phase ratio. The SBSE technique has been applied successfully, with high sensitivities, to biomedical analysis of volatiles and for semi-volatiles drugs from biological sample, including urine, plasma, and saliva. SBSE combined with in situ derivatization, drugs quite more polar (e.g. metabolites) also can be analyzed.

Aplicação da metodologia de superfície de resposta no estudo da produção e extração da poligalacturonase

The aim of this work was to verify the effects of initial medium moisture content (U), addition of ammonium sulphate (N) and of potassium phosphate (P) in the production of the polygalacturonase through the solid-state fermentation, using cashew apple husk as substrate and Aspergillus niger CCT0916 as transformation agent. We also studied the best extraction conditions of the produced enzyme. The best condition of production was with U of 40%, 1% of N and 0% of P being reached an activity of the poligalacturonase of 10.1 U/g. The best extraction condition is an agitation system with a time of 100 min and a solvent-fermented medium volume ratio of 5 mL/g.

Extração líquido-líquido de urânio(VI) do colofanito de itataia (Santa Quitéria, Ceará) por extratantes orgânicos em presença de ácido fosfórico

This work describes the liquid-liquid extraction of uranium after digestion of colofanite (a fluoroapatite) from Itataia with sulfuric acid. The experiments were run at room temperature in one stage. Among the solutions tested the highest distribution coefficient (D > 60) was found for 40%vol. DEHPA (di(2-ethyl-hexyl)phosphoric acid) + 20% vol. TOPO (trioctylphosphine oxide) in kerosene. Thorium in the raffinate was quantitatively extracted by TOPO (0.1% vol.) in cyclohexane. Uranium stripping and separation from iron was possible using 1.5 mol L-1 ammonium or sodium carbonate (room temperature, one stage). However, pH control is essential for a good separation.

Determinação de metil-etil-cetona em amostras de urina com amostragem por micro extração em fase sólida (MEFS) em headspace associada à cromatografia gasosa com detector de ionização de chama (CG-DIC)

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a solvent commonly used in chemical, paint and shoe industry. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for urinary quantification of MEK, employing headspace solid phase micro extraction sampling (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The calibration curve (y=4.6851x-0.0011) presented good linearity with r²=0.9993. Accuracy (94-109%), intra-assay precision (4.07-5.91%) and inter-assay precision (3.03-5.62%) were acceptable. The quantification limit was 0.19 mg/L. This low cost method can be used routinely in the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to MEK, according to the requirements of the Brazilian legislation.

Extração seletiva de metais pesados em sedimentos de fundo do Rio Tietê, São Paulo

Sediment samples from Tietê river were submitted to chemical and sequential extractions of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn). It was followed a single extraction by using 0.1 mol L-1 hydrochloric acid and a sequential procedure to evaluate possible chemical associations described as exchangeable, carbonate, reducible oxides, sulfide, organic matter and residual fractions. High concentrations of heavy metals were determined at Pirapora reservoir, which is closer to the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo while for Barra Bonita reservoir, the results showed low concentrations for such elements. Acid volatile sulfides, grain size distribution and carbon contents were also determined.

Composição volátil dos defeitos intrínsecos do café por CG/EM-headspace

About 20% of Brazilian raw coffee production is considered inappropriate for exportation. Consequently, these beans are incorporated to good quality beans in the Brazilian market. This by-product of coffee industry is called PVA due to the presence of black (P), green (V) and sour (A) defective beans which are known to contribute considerably for cup quality decrease. Data on the volatile composition of Brazilian defective coffee beans are scarce. In this study, we evaluated the volatile composition of immature, black-immature, black defective beans and PVA compared to good quality beans. Potential defective beans markers were identified.

Compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante do café conilon submetido a diferentes graus de torra

The bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity presented by Conilon coffee (C. Canephora) variety, produced in the Espírito Santo State, Brazil, were quantified. The light roast coffee showed the highest level of total phenols, trigonelline, caffeic and chlorogenic acids. The proanthocyanidin level was the highest for dark roast coffee, while caffeine level didn't show significative changes for the light and middle roast coffees. All the Conilon coffee extracts showed antioxidant activity depending on bioactive compounds concentration and roasting degree. The coffee samples submitted to a light roasting degree showed the highest antioxidant activity.

Métodos de extração e qualidade da fração lipídica de matérias-primas de origem vegetal e animal

Methodologies of extraction of lipids from chicken breast and oats flakes were evaluated: Soxhlet, Folch et al., Bligh & Dyer and Hara & Radin. For chicken breast, the methods Soxhlet, Folch et al. and Bligh & Dyer presented the highest yields in total lipids. With oat flakes, the methods Soxhlet and Bligh & Dyer presented higher yields than the Hara & Radin and Folch et al. The Soxhlet method affected the quality of the lipid fraction in both samples. Extracted lipid components were separated by thin layer chromatography, the chloroform-methanol based was more efficient to extract the neutral and polar lipids.

Determinação de fósforo biodisponível em rações de peixes utilizando extração assistida por ultra-som e espectrofotometria no visível

The aim of the present work was to develop and optimize a method for determination of bioavailable phosphorus in samples of feces and fish feed using ultrasound extraction and subsequent quantification by visible spectrophotometry. Using as extractor solution HNO3 0.50 mol L-1, the great conditions of extraction established were: sample mass - 100 mg, samples granulometry - < 60 µm, sonification time - five cycles of 40 s and ultrasound potency - 136 W. The proposed method was applied in studies of digestibility of this nutrient in different feeds used in diets of juvenile of Nile tilapia.

Produção e caracterização de carvão ativado produzido a partir do defeito preto, verde, ardido (PVA) do café

The black, green and sour coffee defect (PVA) contributes with 20% of the total coffee production. It should be separate from the normal coffee grains in order to improve the final quality of the beverage. In this way, the present work has the objective to use the PVA reject for the production of activated carbon. The activated carbon (CA) was prepared from PVA defect using zinc chloride as activating agent. The prepared material (CA PVA) was characterized and the adsorption tests were carried out using as organic models methylene blue (AM) and reactive red (VR). The CA PVA revealed to be more efficient in the removal of the organic contaminants compared to a commercial activated carbon.

Aplicação de planejamento fatorial a protocolo de extração e fixação de sulfetos volatilizáveis por acidificação (SVA) em amostras de sedimento

The AVS is defined operationally as acid volatile sulfide, which is a controlling phase on the partition of some metallic species in sediments. A Factorial design was evaluated by means of 16 experiments and using four variables: temperature, extraction time, N2 flow, and volume of the S2- collection solution. The factors that contributed to the efficiency of the process were the extraction time and the N2 flow. Trapping of S2- was efficient in AAB. The S2- was quantified using a potentiometric procedure. Recovery tests for S2- concentrations varying from 1×10-5 to 1×10-4 mol L-1 were in the range from 93 to 116%.