Remediação de drenagem ácida de mina usando zeólitas sintetizadas a partir de cinzas leves de carvão

Zeolitic material was synthesized from coal fly ashes (baghouse filter fly ash and cyclone filter fly ash) by hydrothermal alkaline activation. The potential application of the zeolitic product for decontamination of waters from acid mine drainage was evaluated. The results showed that a dose of 30 g L-1 of zeolitic material allowed the water to reach acceptable quality levels after treatment. Both precipitation and cation-exchange processes accounted for the reduction in the pollutant concentration in the treated waters.

Desenvolvimento e aplicação de sistema passivo de coleta de poluentes atmosféricos para monitoramento de Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn e particulados totais

The objective of this study was to assess a new monitoring technique of particulate and trace metals in the atmosphere via the use of a passive sampler of air pollutants in the city of Goiânia. The average particulate weight and average concentrations of metals Fe, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Cd were 0.1104 g and 257.5; 23.4; 17.8; 6.7; 1.9; 0.8; 0.2 μg/m²/day, respectively. Higher Pb and Cr concentrations were obtained in areas with intense traffic. This study revealed that it is possible to monitor trace metals with passive sampling, developed at a low cost and operational facility.

Desenvolvimento e avaliação de um porta-amostra de baixo custo para caracterização elétrica de materiais cerâmicos

Conventional sample holder cells used to the electric characterization of ceramics at high temperature consists of an alumina tube and platinum wires and plates using a complex design. The high cost materials used in the conventional sampler holder cell were replaced by stainless steel and conventional ceramics. The sample holder was validated by characterizing yttria-stabilized-zirconia in a temperature range of 25 to 700 ºC. The results do not present variations, discontinuity or unusual noise in the electric signals. Several samples were characterized without maintenance, which demonstrates that the sample holder is electric and mechanic adequate to be used to electrical characterization of ceramics up to 700 ºC.

Quantificação de conídios de Pyricularia grisea no plantio direto e convencional de arroz de terras altas

Foi estudada a liberação de conídios de Pyricularia grisea no plantio convencional (PC) e direto (PD) de arroz (Oryza sativa) de terras altas, nas fases de desenvolvimento vegetativo e emissão de panículas nos experimentos de campo realizados em dois anos (1998/2000). As coletas de conídios de P. grisea foram realizadas com as armadilhas volumétricas Rotorod sampler. Objetivando quantificar os conídios viáveis e com potencial para causar infecção em folhas novas foram também utilizadas bandejas com plantas de arroz com 25 dias de idade das cultivares Carajás e Primavera expostas no campo, como armadilhas vivas. Na safra 1998/1999, o número de conídios de P. grisea aumentou linearmente com o tempo, entre o estádio de grão pastoso e maduro. Na safra de 1999/2000, a quantidade de conídios coletada aumentou de maneira exponencial, iniciando ao final do estádio emborrachamento até na fase de grão semi-maduro. O número de conídios coletados com a armadilha volumétrica diminuiu exponencialmente com o aumento da precipitação pluviométrica, assim como, reduziu a severidade da brusone nas plantas da armadilha viva tanto para a cultivar Carajás como para Primavera. A produção e a liberação de conídios foi menor no plantio direto tanto na fase vegetativa como durante o enchimento dos grãos nas panículas.

Influência da adubação nitrogenada, época de plantio e aerosporos sobre a severidade da mancha de grãos em arroz de terras altas

A mancha de grãos (MG) ocupa o segundo lugar em importância econômica entre as doenças do arroz. Foi estudada a influência de níveis de adubação nitrogenada, época de plantio e concentração de esporos no ar sobre a severidade da doença no campo. A severidade de MG, na cultivar BRS Bonança, foi avaliada em duas épocas de plantio (30/11/2006 e 21/12/2006) e cinco doses de adubação nitrogenada (0, 30, 60, 120 e 240 kg de N.ha-1) utilizando o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso em esquema de parcelas subdivididas com três repetições. O efeito de dose de N sobre a severidade de MG não foi significativo. A correlação entre a severidade de MG e espiguetas vazias foi positiva e significativa. A população de fungos no ar (aerosporos) foi quantificada utilizando armadilhas volumétricas, Rotorod Sampler, desde a emissão até o amadurecimento das panículas. A mancha de grãos aumentou linearmente com tempo (r = 0,98; P < 0,01), o mesmo não ocorreu com o aumento total de fungos que variou de 0,23 a 2,97 esporos/litro de ar/minuto. Os fungos presentes no ar em ordem decrescente de concentração foram Nigrospora sp., Pyricularia oryzae, Pithomyces sp., Alternaria sp., Cercospora sp., Fusarium sp., Curvularia sp. e Bipolaris sp. Estes fungos e Phoma sp. entre outros também foram detectados no teste de sanidade de sementes. A correlação entre a quantidade de esporos de P. oryzae e outros fungos foi linear e positiva (r = 0,80, P < 0,01). O número de esporos aumentou com o aumento da umidade relativa e diminuiu com o aumento da temperatura máxima de maneira exponencial.

Turbidimetry as an alternative method to determine the rating curve of suspended sediments

Understanding hydrosedimental behavior of a watershed is essential for properly managing and using its hydric resources. The objective of this study was to verify the feasibility of the alternative procedure for the indirect determination of the sediment key curve using a turbidimeter. The research was carried out on the São Francisco Falso River, which is situated in the west of the state of Paraná on the left bank of ITAIPU reservoir. The direct method was applied using a DH-48 sediment suspended sampler. The indirect method consisted of the use of a linigraph and a turbidimeter. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the indirect method using a turbidimeter showed to be fully feasible, since it gave a power function-type mathematical model equal of the direct method. Furthermore, the average suspended sediment discharge into the São Francisco Falso River during the 2006/2007 harvest was calculated at 7.26 metric t day-1.

Comparative performance of two air samplers for monitoring airborne fungal propagules

Many studies have attempted to evaluate the importance of airborne fungi in the development of invasive fungal infection, especially for immunocompromised hosts. Several kinds of instruments are available to quantitate fungal propagule levels in air. We compared the performance of the most frequently used air sampler, the Andersen sampler with six stages, with a portable one, the Reuter centrifugal sampler (RCS). A total of 84 samples were analyzed, 42 with each sampler. Twenty-eight different fungal genera were identified in samples analyzed with the Andersen instrument. In samples obtained with the RCS only seven different fungal genera were identified. The three most frequently isolated genera in samples analyzed with both devices were Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladophialophora. In areas supplied with a high efficiency particulate air filter, fungal spore levels were usually lower when compared to areas without these filters. There was a significant correlation between total fungal propagule measurements taken with both devices on each sampling occasion (Pearson coefficient = 0.50). However, the Andersen device recovered a broader spectrum of fungi. We conclude that the RCS can be used for quantitative estimates of airborne microbiological concentrations. For qualitative studies, however, this device cannot be recommended.

Determination of trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) in royal jelly from São Paulo State, Brazil

The 10-HDA content in Brazilian samples (São Paulo State) of royal jelly (RJ) was analyzed using an HPLC method based on the work by BLOODWORTH et al. [2]. The chromatographic conditions were: isocratic system, reversed phase C18-H column, auto sampler, diode array UV-VIS detector adjusted to 225nm, mobile phase composed by methanol/water (45:55) at pH= 2.5 adjusted with phosphoric acid; a-naphtol was used as internal standard, and the running time was 30min. By statistical analysis of the results, the 10-HDA contents of the samples analyzed seem to have two ranges: 1.8% and 3% (w/w), that would be useful to qualify the RJ. This is the first data regarding 10-HDA content of Brazilian RJ.