Hidróxidos duplos lamelares: síntese, estrutura, propriedades e aplicações

The layered double hydroxides, known as anionic clays and represented by the general formula [M2+1-x M3+x (OH) 2]x+ Am-x/m·nH 2O, are a group of materials which are of much interest currently. They present a variety of potential applications as adsorbents, catalysts and catalyst support, ion-exchangers, antacids and as a polymer stabilizer. It is possible to obtain a broad variety of layered double hydroxides (LDHs), depending on the identity and ratio of the cations M2+ and M3+, as well as the interlamelar anion. The aim of this review is to give out some information about this class of materials, concerning to the synthesis, characterization, properties and applications.

Biocatálise em meios aquo-restritos: fundamentos e aplicações em química analítica

The ability of enzymes to function in aquo-restricted media (commonly reported as non-aqueous media) has greatly enlarged the applications in numerous fields. The development of biosensors was also benefited with this area, expanding their applications toward many previously inaccessible analytes, enlarging significantly the scope of applications. In this review, some basic factors that influence biocatalytical reactions in aquo-restricted media is discussed. Attention is focused on the development, advantages and analytical applications of biosensors in non-aqueous media. Recent examples and relevant applications of their use are presented.

Organo-gel de heptano: diagrama de fases e aplicações sintéticas

The phase diagram formation of microemulsion-based gels composed of an anionic surfactant aerosol-OT sodium bis (2-ethylhexyl)-sulphosuccinate), water, gelatin and an organic solvent is presented for heptane. The stability of this organo- gel, when an enzyme is immobilized is discussed in terms of its reutilization in various esters synthesis.

Fibras de carbono: aplicações em eletroanalítica como material eletródico

The use of carbon fibers to develop new sensors and biosensors has received great attention due to its characteristics and electrochemical properties. A brief presentation about history, properties, characteristics, composition and structure of the carbon fibers are shown in this paper. Several applications of the carbon fibers in electroanalytical chemistry for determination of metals and organic molecules in environmental and clinical samples are also described.

Análise de cabelo: uma revisão dos procedimentos para a determinação de elementos traço e aplicações

Aspects related to the quality of human hair analysis are presented, such as sample collection, sample preparation, determination of trace elements and application examples. Also the hair morphology, the importance of this analysis and its uses and meanings are discussed.

2-oxazolinas quirais: algumas aplicações como indutores de assimetria em reações orgânicas

This article summarizes how chiral 2-oxazolines have been employed as inducers of asymmetry in many kinds of organic reactions, including the more recent examples reported in which chiral bis(oxazolines) have been complexed in situ with transition metals and utilized to induce the stereoselectivity of some reactions.

Novas tendências para o tratamento de resíduos industriais contendo espécies organocloradas

The toxic character of organochloride compounds, their habitual presence in many industrial effluents, and mainly the low efficiency of the current remediation processes, are important aspects that have been promoted to study new degrading technologies. Among the great number of new physical and chemical alternatives, the photochemical and electrochemical processes have been played an important role, mainly due to their high degradation capacity through relatively low-cost procedures. In these contexts biological processes, the use of white-rot fungi, or even ligninolytic enzymes produced from them, are also very promising alternatives. However, the necessity of long reaction time and the high cost of the enzyme production process are some of the drawbacks that difficult the definitive consolidation of these processes.

Propriedades e aplicações de clusters trinucleares de carboxilatos de rutênio

A review with 94 references focusing on mu3-oxo-triruthenium carboxylate clusters is presented. The electronic, magnetic, electrochemical, and catalytic properties of these compounds are discussed. Main synthetic routes and structural characteristics, including their use as building blocks in supramolecular systems are described.

Eletrodos modificados com polímeros perfluorados e sulfonados: aplicações em análises ambientais

Perfluoro and sulfonated ion-exchange polymers are recognized as a very useful material for various mechanistic studies and applications in electrochemistry. These polymers are characterized by high equivalent weights and by a low number of ion-exchange sites interposed between long organic chains. The solubility enables a preparation of stable polyelectrolyte films on the electrode surface. Examples of the determination of trace metals and organic componds in real environmental samples are presented.

O perfil profissional do químico frente às novas realidades das organizações industriais

The objective of this paper is to reflect about the professional profile required of chemists by the chemical industry employing new management practices. This paper includes: a) historical synthesis of the appropriation of chemical knowledge by the industrial sector, b) a discussion of today's industrial organization and a comparison between the professional profile of chemists as expected by the taylorist and fordist standards of production and that expected in the context of flexibilization and globalization of production.

Filmes poliméricos ultrafinos produzidos pela técnica de automontagem: preparação, propriedades e aplicações

The self-assembly technique is a powerful tool to fabricate ultrathin films from organic compounds aiming at technological applications in molecular electronics. This relatively new approach allows molecularly flat films to be obtained on a simple and cheap fashion from various types of material, including polyelectrolytes, conducting polymers, dyes and proteins. The resulting multilayer films may be fabricated according to specific requirements since their structural and physical properties may be controlled at the molecular level. In this review we shall comment upon the evolution of preparation methods for ultrathin films, the process of adsorption and their main properties, as well as some examples of technological applications of layer-by-layer or self-assembled films.

Aplicações da química combinatória no desenvolvimento de fármacos

Combinatorial Chemistry has become a very efficient methodology in drug research. Recent progress in combinatorial synthesis performed both in solid and solution phase have led to a change in the paradigm for the identification and optimization of lead compounds. This article gives an overview of the principal characteristics of combinatorial libraries and some examples of the application of this methodology in the identification of test compounds and lead compound optimization, either from synthetic or natural sources.

Determinação simultânea de cátions por eletroforese capilar: fundamentos e aplicações

In this work, the analysis of cations by capillary electrophoresis is reviewed from the theoretical and practical point of view. Separation mechanisms and detection modes are discussed and illustrated. A thorough compilation of the literature over the last ten years, regarding applications of the technique to the analysis of cations in real matrices, is presented.

Redes neurais e suas aplicações em calibração multivariada

Neural Networks are a set of mathematical methods and computer programs designed to simulate the information process and the knowledge acquisition of the human brain. In last years its application in chemistry is increasing significantly, due the special characteristics for model complex systems. The basic principles of two types of neural networks, the multi-layer perceptrons and radial basis functions, are introduced, as well as, a pruning approach to architecture optimization. Two analytical applications based on near infrared spectroscopy are presented, the first one for determination of nitrogen content in wheat leaves using multi-layer perceptrons networks and second one for determination of BRIX in sugar cane juices using radial basis functions networks.

Sistemas interfaceados de análise por injeção em fluxo e eletroforese capilar (FIA - CE): desafios, aplicações e perspectivas

A review about the state-of-the-art of flow injection analysis (FIA) -- capillary electrophoresis (CE) systems is presented. The basic principles of flow injection and capillary electrophoresis are briefly revised. The main aspects of the FIA-CE hybridization, including advantages and shortcomings, are discussed. Some applications involving all different designs are also presented. This review covers the literature from 1997 up to 2000.