Avaliação de contaminação ambiental causada por poluentes orgânicos persistentes utilizando simulação computacional

Environmental concern is growing in the current days and there is global agreement to banish production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POP). The synthetic insecticides chlordecone and mirex, classified as POPs, have similar structures and they are potentially toxic. This work uses properties and physicochemical constants related to the pesticides and computational simulation to evaluate the leach phenomenon and persistency in soil. The largest tendency of persistence of the compound is found to be in the surface of soil, but even low concentration in water represents a high risk due to bioaccumulation in adipose tissue.

Extraction, purification and biochemical characterization of a peroxidase from Copaifera langsdorffii leaves

The aim of this work is to obtain, purify and characterize biochemically a peroxidase from Copaifera langsdorffii leaves (COP). COP was obtained by acetone precipitation followed by ion-exchange chromatography. Purification yielded 3.5% of peroxidase with the purification factor of 46.86. The COP optimum pH is 6.0 and the temperature is 35 ºC. COP was stable in the pH range of 4.5 to 9.3 and at temperatures below 50.0 ºC. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) for guaiacol and H2O2 were 0.04 mM and 0.39 mM respectively. Enzyme turnover was 0.075 s-1 for guaiacol and 0.28 s-1 for hydrogen peroxide. Copaifera langsdorffii leaves showed to be a rich source of active peroxidase (COP) during the whole year. COP could replace HRP, the most used peroxidase, in analytical determinations and treatment of industrial effluents at low cost.

Estudo comparativo da eficiência da difenilcarbazida e do óleo de coco saponificado microemulsionados na inibição da corrosão de aço carbono

The effectiveness of microemulsions (ME) of saponified coconut oil (OCS-ME) and diphenylcarbazide (DC-ME) on a carbon steel corrosion inhibition process was evaluated using an electrochemical method of polarization resistance. The ME was prepared with OCS, butanol, kerosene and saline solutions. OCS-ME and DC-ME showed highest inhibitions effects (77% and 92%, respectively) at lower concentrations (0.5% and 0.48 - 0.50%, respectively). The surfactant OCS (in H2O) showed lower efficiency (63% at 0.20 - 0.25% concentration). The greatest inhibitory effect of DC-ME could be correlated with the chemical structure and the rich O/W ME system, which are very important for adsorption phenomena in interfacial ME systems.

Desenvolvimento e validação de método analítico para determinação simultânea de lamivudina, zidovudina e nevirapina em comprimidos dose-fixa combinada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

An analytical method has been developed and validated for the quantitation of lamivudine, zidovudine and nevirapine in the fixed-dose combination film-coated tablet by high performance liquid chromatography, in accordance with RE No. 899/2003, National Sanitary Surveillance Agency. It was based on an isocratic elution system with a potassium phosphate buffer pH 3.0: acetonitrile (60:40 v/v) mobile phase, C18, 250 x 46 mm column, 10µm particle size, λ 270 nm. The statistically evaluated results have shown that the method is specific, precise, accurate, and robust, ensuring the analytical safety of 3TC, AZT and NVP determination, which emerges as a new therapeutic alternative for antiretroviral treatment.

Avaliação da qualidade do corpo hídrico do rio Tibagi na região de Ponta Grossa utilizando análise de componentes principais (PCA)

The aim of this paper was to evaluate alterations in the quality of the water of the Tibagi River caused by the urban and industrial activities in the region of Ponta Grossa. The study involved the monitoring of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of the water body, which were evaluated by a principal components analysis routine. Sample collections were carried out monthly during one year (October of 2005 to September of 2006), at 3 sampling points: upstream and downstream of the industrial district and downstream from the city of Ponta Grossa. The principal components analysis showed the effect of point sources associated with industrial activity, which contribute to the rise of total concentration of amoniacal nitrogen and the reduction of dissolved oxygen in the studied region.

Propriedades redox da matéria orgânica isolada de material ultrafiltrado das águas do rio Paraíba do Sul

Previous studies indicated that free radicals control organic matter redox activities. In the present study, organic matter of an ultra-filtrated material collected from seven samples taken seasonally from the Paraiba do Sul River for two years were titrated with an oxidizer (I2) in an inert atmosphere. Standard formal potential values for the electrode MO Ox, MO Red ranged from 0.754 to 0.786 V at a 25 ºC temperature. Organic matter oxidation capacity (COx) per carbon mass varied according to pH values, and changes in COx were related to rainfall and river flow intensities.

Produção de monoacilgliceróis e diacilgliceróis via glicerólise enzimática e destilação molecular

Monoacilglycerides and diacilglycerides are produced through lipase-catalyzed glycerolysis of soybean oil using Candida antarctica B in a solvent-free system. The reaction was carried out at a glycerol to triacylglycerol molar ratio of 8:1 with 2% of lipase. Acylglycerides, free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol produced were separated employing the molecular distillation process. Starting from a product of enzymatic reaction 25.06% of triacylglycerols, 46.63% of diacylglycerides, 21.72% of monoacylglycerides, 5.38% of FFA and 1.21% of glycerol and after consecutively distillations, monoacylglycerides with 80% of purity was obtained and also oil with 54% of diacylglycerides to be used in human dietary.

Avaliação (em escala laboratorial) da aplicação do processo eletrolítico em efluente de lagoa de estabilização de esgoto urbano

Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters were evaluated before and after applying an electrolytic process to effluents of a stabilization lagoon, in the presence or absence of "salt". Chlorine generation and bactericidal properties of the treatments were studied following two experiments. Effluent pH increased with electrolysis time. In the absence of "salt", 20 min electrolysis resulted in a COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) reduction of 44%, along with ca. 99.9% (3 log10 cfu/mL) reduction in total coliforms, heterotrophic bacteria and Escherichia coli. These results indicated that the electrolytic process is a promising complementary technology to improve effluent quality for stabilization lagoons.

Óleos essenciais das folhas de Vernonia Remotiflora e Vernonia Brasiliana: composição química e atividade biológica

The chemical composition of the essential oils, obtained by hidrodistillation, from leaves of two Vernonia species (V. remotiflora and V. brasiliana), was determined by GC-FID and GC-MS. Both essential oils were predominantly constituted by sesquiterpenes (92.0 - 93.4%). The main constituents of the oil from V. brasilana were (E)-caryophyllene (36.7%), germacrene D (35.5%), and α-humulene (11.7%), while (E)-caryophyllene (42.2%) and bicyclogermacrene (20.0%) were the major ones in the oil from V. remotiflora. Although with moderate activity both oils showed acetylcholinesterase and antibacterial activities.

Variação anual do rendimento e composição química dos componentes voláteis da Siparuna guianensis Aublet

This work describes the volatile composition obtained by hidrodistillation of fresh leaves of Siparuna guianensis Aublet collected from Cuiabá (MT), Brazil. The composition of DCM extract of hydrolate was determined by GC-MS analysis and the results showed that the specie present a range of components according to their phenology and period of the leaves were collects. The highest volatile components yield was obtained during the reproductive period and the principal compound was the siparunone.

Estudo da reação de oxidação preferencial do co sobre o sistema CuO/CeO2-TiO2

Cu catalysts supported on CeO2, TiO2 and CeO2/TiO2 were prepared by precipitation method and used for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogen flow generated by methane steam reforming. The samples were characterized by XRD, BET and TPR techniques. The catalytic properties were studied in the 50-330ºC range by using a quartz micro-reactor vertically positioned on an electrical furnace. The results showed that the small copper particles generated with the lower metal content are the most easily reducible and give the best catalytic performance. In respect of support effect, the strong metal-support interaction and the redox characteristics of the CuOx-CeO2 series resulted in the best catalytic results, especially with the sample with 1% copper content.

Estudo da influência dos particulados no fenômeno de agregação dos asfaltenos por espectrometria de varredura óptica

The processing of national petroleums causes many operational problems due to the asphaltene aggregation phenomena. To evaluate the behavior of these phenomena, a study based on optical scan technique was carried out to understand the behavior of pure oils and their mixtures. The evaluation according to criteria established by ASTM D7061-06¹ gives a result of asphaltene flocculation of according to the separability number. In this study, the aspects related to the existence of colloidal forms of peptized asphaltenes in distinct solvents present in petroleums can cause changes in the kinetics of asphaltene flocculation.

Otimização e validação de método multirresíduo para determinação de sulfonamidas em camarão cultivado por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção por UV

This work reports the optimization and method validation for sulfonamides (sulfamethazine, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfadimethoxine and sulfathiazole) in shrimp muscle using HPLC-UV. The sulfonamides were extracted with acetonitrile and acetic acid, and the extract cleaned up with a Strata SCX SPE cartridge prior to analysis. The method presented linearity in the range of 20-120 µg kg-1, good linear correlation (r > 0.99), and limits of quantification in the range of 4.7-20.2 µg kg-1. The recovery for shrimp muscles spiked with 50-150 µg kg-1 ranged from 63.2-108.0%. Precision and accuracy analysis showed acceptable relative standard deviation. Commercial shrimps were analyzed and sulfonamides don't were found above of the method limit of quantification.

Phenolic compounds from Sidastrum micranthum (A. St.-Hil.) fryxell and evaluation of acacetin and 7,4'-Di-O-methylisoscutellarein as motulator of bacterial drug resistence

From the aerial parts of Sidastrum micranthum (A. St.-Hil.) Fryxell (Malvaceae) were isolated m-methoxy-p-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, o-hydroxy-benzoic acid, acacetin, quercetin, 7,4′-Di-O-methylisoscutellarein, genkwanin and tiliroside. These compounds were identified by data analyses of spectroscopic methods. Although acacetin and 7,4′-Di-O-methylisoscutellarein did not display relevant antibacterial activity (MIC = 256 µg/mL), they modulated the activity of antibiotics, i.e. in combination with antibiotics at 64 µg/mL (¼ MIC), a two-fold reduction in the MIC was observed for norfloxacin and ethidium bromide; regarding tetracycline and erythromycin a two-fold reduction in the MIC was observed only with 7,4′-Di-O-methylisoscutellarein.

Modelagem da cinética de biodegradação de paclobutrazol em dois solos do semiárido do nordeste brasileiro

Mathematical models can help to prevent high levels of toxic substances in soil or fruits of plants treated with pesticides and indicate that such substances should be systematically monitored. The aim of this research was to study the kinetics of paclobutrazol biodegradation by soil native bacteria using mathematical models. Three models were used to assess the kinetics of paclobutrazol biodegradation obtained experimentally. Excellent fits were obtained using dual kinetic and logistic models. The use of glycerol as additional carbon source increased the biodegradation of PBZ and consequently decreased the time required for a given PBZ initial concentration be halved.