Produção de xarope de açúcar invertido obtido por hidrólise heterogênea, através de planejamento experimental

A utilização de açúcar líquido na indústria alimentícia constitui em vantagem nas aplicações onde o açúcar é adicionado em solução. O xarope de açúcar invertido reúne a elevada solubilidade da frutose à difícil cristalização da glicose, aumentando seu poder edulcorante e diminuindo os riscos de cristalização. Essas propriedades contribuem para aumentar o valor desses xaropes para uso em vários produtos alimentícios, sobretudo na indústria de refrigerantes. O produto de maior interesse comercial é aquele com nível de inversão próximo a 55%, pois nessa faixa a solubilidade é máxima possibilitando trabalhar com concentrações em torno de 76,5% de sólidos solúveis, diminuindo assim a susceptibilidade à contaminação microbiana, sem riscos de cristalização. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver as etapas de produção do xarope de açúcar invertido produzido a partir de resinas de troca-iônica, visando obter um produto final de alta qualidade que atenda às necessidades da indústria de refrigerantes, utilizando como ferramenta o planejamento experimental. O processo de obtenção do xarope invertido foi iniciado com a descoloração do xarope de sacarose através de duas colunas contendo resina aniônica, para então ser invertido pela eluição numa coluna de resina catiônica. O produto obtido foi isento de qualquer objeção ao paladar, inodoro, praticamente livre de cor (56 ICUMSA) e hidroximetil furfural (11ppm). A contagem microbiológica para fungos, leveduras e bactérias foi menor que 1 unidade/mL.

Influência das variáveis de processo na alcoólise enzimática de óleo de mamona

O potencial de aplicação de lipases em processos biotecnológicos para a modificação de óleos e gorduras tem sido objeto de grande interesse nos meios científico, econômico e industrial nos últimos anos. Além da atividade de hidrólise de ésteres, as lipases podem catalisar uma grande variedade de reações de esterificação, transesterificação e poliesterificação. A transesterificação inclui acidólise, interesterificação e alcoólise. Neste trabalho reações de alcoólise de óleo de mamona para produção de ésteres de ácidos graxos foram estudadas devido a sua importância na obtenção de, por exemplo, agentes de antifricção, emulsificantes, intermediários para produzir uma numerosa quantidade de oleoquímicos e combustível alternativo ao diesel e/ou aditivo ao diesel de petróleo (biodiesel). Neste contexto, foi estudada a etanólise enzimática de óleo de mamona com lipase comercial (Lipozyme IM) usando n-hexano como solvente. Os experimentos foram realizados variando a temperatura, as concentrações de água e enzima no meio reacional e a razão molar óleo-etanol, de acordo com um planejamento de experimentos pré-estabelecidos. Um modelo empírico foi utilizado para avaliar a influência das variáveis de processo no rendimento e, desta forma, as condições de operação que maximizam a produção de ésteres foram estabelecidas para a enzima utilizada.

China: crescimento econômico de longo prazo

China: long-run economic growth. The paper aims to understand on theoretical and empirical grounds the main determinants of China´s long run growth. The econometric analysis suggests the exchange rate as the most important variable in explaining China´s economic growth and in a different model specification using growth rates of exports instead of trade openness, the exchange rate remains as the main variable but export performance has almost the same relevance. Exchange rate policy seems to be a direct road to explain economic growth in China and there is no clear sign that China will increase exchange rate flexibility in the same pattern and pace suggested by most trade partners, which cannot be criticized based on China´s own interest in sustaining its export performance and economic growth.

Relação entre mercado de terras, crescimento econômico e insegurança fundiária explicada por um modelo a "geração imbricada"

In this paper, we analyze the relationship between the land market failures and the economic growth in Brazil, starting from an overlapping model including two sectors: agricultural and industrial. The land is both a specific factor for agriculture and an asset that can be substituted to the capital used in industry. The trade-off between land and capital holding depends, among other factors, on the transaction costs on the land market. These costs result from land insecurity and generate a decrease in the land price that favors capital accumulation. Two assumptions follow from our model: one the one hand, land insecurity has a negative effect on the land price; one the other hand it has a positive effect on economic growth. These two hypotheses are tested on panel data for Brazilian Federation. The econometric results do not reject our hypothesis.

Para superar el estancamiento económico en México: "nudos críticos" de un proyecto nacional de desarrollo

This article is devoted to analyze changes in economic policy to be adopted by Mexico if a national development project were implemented. Starting from an evaluation of the main economic and political outcomes of Vicente’s Fox administration, the author proposes an alternative development strategy which permits Mexico to overcome economic stagnation. That strategy would be based in recovering the internal market as the dynamical focus of the economy with the purpose of satisfying basic needs of people. To be successful this strategy should to confront the "critical knots" of the Neo-liberal model: to reverse the uneven distribution of income; abandoning the fixing of restrictive monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies; and mobilizing economic surplus by means of a profound revision of debt service schemes. It concludes that to implement a national development project it is required a political and economic strategy to dismantle neoliberalism, which is an antinational structure of power.

Liberalização da conta de capitais e crescimento econômico: evidências de dados em painel para a América Latina

The aim of this paper is to carry out an empirical analysis about the relation between Capital Account Liberalization and Economic Growth having as object of study the experience of 16 countries of Latin America with annual data for the period 1986-2000. The econometrical calculations do not corroborate the hypothesis that the liberalization of Capital Account would stimulate the economic growth. The results suggest an adverse effect of the liberalization of the Capital Account on the real growth gross domestic product per capita of the countries.

Mudança estrutural, desenvolvimento institucional e crescimento econômico sustentado: um comentário sobre a experiência irlandesa

It is discussed the recent Irish experience of sustained economic growth, in which a social pact, the entry in the European Union and the opening of the economy have all played a paramount role. Some remarks on the sustainability of such an experience are also made.

Uma interpretação do Primeiro Milagre Econômico Alemão (1933-1944)

The German Third Reich was successful in reaching its economical objectives. It is intended to explain the causes of the First German Economic Miracle, fitting its economic system into the category of command economy, which does not confuse itself with the centrally planned economy. Thus, in the first section, we describe the so adopted politics in this period and explain how they had led to the recovery of the German economy. The second section evaluates global indicators of economic performance and population welfare. We are looking for to demonstrate the hypothesis that the Nazi economy was efficient. Such efficiency is explained by the characteristics of the German model.

Os efeitos da política educacional no crescimento econômico: teoria e estimativas dinâmicas em painel de dados

In this paper, we develop a theoretical model that considers a non-linear relationship between growth and level of education (human capital). Our econometric estimates demonstrated the causality running from human capital to GDP per capita with U inverted shape. The level of education (human capital) that generates the maximum growth rate lies around 4.5 years. The foremost implication of this result is that States with level of education below this range should have as priority educational policies.

China: estabilidade e crescimento econômico

China: stability and economic growth. China experienced an extraordinary economic growth since 1978, while keeping inflation low. Which are the main determinants for this performance and to what point has macroeconomic policy been responsible? Obviously, many factors have been important although none of them may be appointed as the sole determinant. The paper also argues whether China would be able to keep this pace of growth or will slow down, like many other Asian countries. It is argued that China will maintain her average rate of growth in the near future.

Crescimento econômico e liquidez externa no Brasil após 1970

Economic growth and foreign liquidity in Brazil after 1970. This paper assesses the relationship between the capital account and the Brazilian economic growth according to balance-of-payments constraint approach. The Thirlwall (1979)'s simple rule is extended to take into consideration capital account and several empirical evidence using time series analysis are shown. Conversely to the simple rule when fitted rates of balance-of-payment equilibrium economic growth average bellow the observed ones, fitted rates of growth using the rule extended to international liquidity are consistently greater than the observed ones. It is fair to conclude that, first, the Brazilian economy grows better during abundant international liquidity and, second, the economy sub utilizes such advantage growing far less than it could grow.

Crescimento econômico impulsionado por recursos naturais: uma nota sobre a experiência de Botsuana

Economic growth stimulated by natural resources: a note on the Botswana experience. Botswana was the fastest growing economy in the world in the 1966-1989 period. Even though the discovery and exploitation of large diamond reserves had played an essential role in such an impressive performance, favorable economic, political and institutional conditions allowed the use of the resulting large export revenues as a lever for economic growth, though not for development.

O mito do populismo econômico de Vargas

The myth of Vargas' economic populism. The Second Vargas Administration in Brazil (1951-1954) is commonly associated with the phenomenon of populism. However, based on the models of economic populism, it is clear that the economic policy of the period is not the one shown by those models. Besides, based on this historic experience, it is advocated that there is no incompatibility between developmentalism and the adoption of macroeconomic stability-oriented measures.