Avaliação da qualidade de sedimentos - estudo de caso: sub-bacia do Ribeirão Espírito Santo, afluente do Rio São Francisco

This study evaluated the environmental impact resulting from surface water and sediment contamination by metals in a watershed affected by a tailing basin that controls effluents coming from a zinc-ore beneficiation plant. The studies combined assessments of sediment chemistry (exceedances of sediment quality guidelines), benthic assemblage structure and acute and chronic ecotoxicity. The results showed that the levels of metal contamination in sediments are not yet enough to cause deleterious effects to the biota. However, the ecotoxicity tests indicated the occurrence of chronic effects, demonstrating that other factors, as the use of fertilizers, could also be a source of contamination.

Composição química volátil, em diferentes estádios de maturação, de manga 'Tommy Atkins' produzida no Vale do São Francisco

The effect of the maturation stages on the volatile chemical composition of mango fruit cv. Tommy Atkins, cultivated in São Francisco Valley, was investigated using SPME. GC/MS and GC-FID analysis allowed the identification of 32 compounds, consisting mainly of monoterpenes. δ-3-Carene was the major component in all the stages, while α-terpinolene, trans-β-caryophyllene e α-pinene succeded each other as the second most abundant constituent, during the ripening. The aroma of the ripe fruit was characterized by presence of short-chain ethyl esters (C2-C6), whereas the green mango contained the highest concentration of δ-3-carene. Furthermore, some terpenes were detected exclusively at one of the stages.

Investigação do mecanismo de catálise ROMP do norborneno utilizando métodos de funcional de densidade

This work presents a density functional theory study of the norbornene ROMP metathesis reactions. The energies have been calculated in a Grubbs catalyst model Cl2(PH3)2Ru=CH2. The geometries and energy profile are similar to the Grubbs metilydene (Cl2(PCy3)2Ru=CH2 real model. It was found that the metathesis reaction proceeds via associative mechanism (catalyst-norbonene) followed by dissociative substitution of a phosphine ligand with norbonene, giving a monophosphine complex. The results are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental data. The dissociation energy of the phosphines is predicted to be 23.2 kcal mol-1.

Efecto del catión, del anión y del co-ión sobre la agregación de líquidos iónicos en solución acuosa

The aggregation behavior of thirteen 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium based ionic liquids in aqueous solution is presented, considering variations of the alkyl side chain length as well as the anionic moiety. Cation and anion molecular volumes are selected as appropriate molecular descriptors. Additionally, the existing relationship between critical micelle concentration (CMC) and electrolyte concentration in solution is established, aiming to clarify ion effects. CMC values were obtained by measuring electrical conductivity and surface tension. It was confirmed that aggregation of ionic liquids in aqueous solution and in presence of inorganic salts is affected by the factors developed in this study.

O instituto de coimbra e a análise química de águas minerais em portugal na segunda metade do Século XIX

O Instituto, journal published by the Institute of Coimbra (IC), an academic society founded in this city in 1852, contains many articles on hydrology and chemical analysis of water for human consumption, written by well-known Portuguese chemists and physicians. Based on these papers, we analyse the evolution of hydrology in Portugal throughout the second half of the 19th century, with emphasis on the chemical studies of mineral waters by the physicians Augusto da Costa Simões, Francisco Alves and José Epifânio Marques, and by the chemists Joaquim dos Santos e Silva, António Ferreira da Silva and Charles Lepierre, all of them members of the IC.

O desafio da ativação das ligações C-H em síntese orgânica

This review aims at to the presentation and discussion of the principal aspects of the C-H activation by transition metals. Representative examples were selected from the recent literature to illustrate these principles beginning with somewhat simple examples and moving up to more complex ones. The synthetic potential of the C-H activation, as well as the potential advantages and disadvantages of the methodology are highlighted with relevant recent examples, along with brief insights on the mechanism aspects of these reactions.

Síntese e caracterização de hidrogéis compósitos a partir de copolímeros acrilamida-acrilato e caulim: efeito da constituição de diferentes caulins do nordeste brasileiro

Superabsorbent hydrogels based on poly (acrylamide-co-acrylate) and different kaolins, were prepared by free-radical aqueous copolymerization. FTIR and WAXS techniques were employed for characterization of a series of hydrogels, obtained by varying the percentage of clay, crosslinking and constitution of kaolin. The water absorbency at equilibrium (Weq) decreased with increasing clay content and the amount of crosslinking agent. Superabsorbent hydrogel (Weq > 1084 g H2O/g gel) was obtained as 10 wt% of white kaolin and 0.05 mol% of crosslinking agent were used. The hydrogel proved sensitive to pH variation and the presence of salts.

Sustentabilidade ambiental: um estudo com pesquisadores químicos no Brasil

A study evaluating Brazilian chemical researchers understanding of the scope of the terms Environmental Sustainability and Sustainable Development, and their assessment of how to deal with environmental fragility and limits, is reported. Results showed a certain degree of acknowledgement of the need for a more sustainable development, but little agreement on the magnitude of the environmental limits. The researchers recognized the limitations of the classical paradigms "of dilution" and "of risk", but showed no agreement on the requirements of the new "ecological paradigm" based on Environmental Sustainability and the 12 principles of Green Chemistry, important to assess the role of Green Chemistry for Sustainability.

Membranas de condução mista iônica e eletrônica (miec): composições, preparação e desempenho

This paper presents a review of different chemical compositions that are used in the production of mixed ionic-electronic conducting membranes with the perovskite structure. In these dense membranes, oxygen from the air is permeated through ionic and electronic processes, and high oxygen permeation fluxes are observed at high temperatures (800-900 ºC). Various membranes were compared for their performance and properties after being synthesized by different methods.

Mapas conceptuales como herramienta pedagógica en la enseñanza de la química orgánica

Organic Chemistry is a branch of Chemistry involving the study of the carbon atom, its compounds and reactions. Numerous investigations carried out in the field of teaching and learning processes indicate that knowledge of a conceptual and explanatory type is not conveyed in a conventional manner, but rather each individual is constructed. Therefore, the proposal for this study was devised to help students achieve significant sustainable learning in the area of reactivity in organic chemistry, using the Concept Maps described by Novak (1998) as a teaching tool.

Zingiber officinale (GENGIBRE) COMO FONTE ENZIMÁTICA NA REDUÇÃO DE COMPOSTOS CARBONÍLICOS

Various vegetables as biological catalysts were evaluated in enantioselective reduction of carbonyl compounds. The stereoselectivity of the process was in agreement with Prelog's rule for twelve of the vegetables, whereas okra and green peppers formed anti-Prelog products. Zingiber officinale exhibited the best results with 30% conversion and 89% ee. The parameters of the reaction such as time, solvent and other substrates investigated, as well as the specie, showed good chemo- and enantioselectivity.

Distribuição de geminivírus nas culturas do tomate e pimentão em doze municípios do Submédio do Vale São Francisco

Em 1996 e 1997, observaram-se sintomas de viroses causadas por geminivírus transmitidos por mosca branca em plantas de tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum) e pimentão (Capsicum annuum) no Submédio do Vale São Francisco, situado nos Estados de Pernambuco e Bahia. De outubro de 1996 a dezembro de 1998, foram coletadas 1.368 amostras foliares de tomateiro e 194 de pimentão, exibindo sintomas similares àqueles causados por geminivírus, em 104 e 16 plantios, respectivamente, de 12 municípios dessa região e em dois municípios vizinhos. A incidência de geminiviroses nas áreas amostradas foi estimada entre 5 e100% para tomate e entre 10 e 20% para pimentão. A detecção de geminivírus nas amostras foi feita por "dot blot" ou "squash blot" utilizando-se sondas heterólogas. Para as amostras de tomate, a sonda foi constituída pelos componentes A completos de dois isolados, um de Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) do Brasil e outro de Bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV) da Guatemala, enquanto que para pimentão, esta foi constituída apenas por um fragmento do componente A de um isolado de geminivírus de tomate do Distrito Federal. Do total de 1562 amostras analisadas, em 908 (58,1%) confirmou-se a presença de geminivírus, sendo 823 (60,2%) de tomate e 85 (43,8%) de pimentão. A presença de plantas infetadas foi detectada em todos os 120 plantios, com incidência entre 20 e 100%, indicando ampla disseminação de geminivírus nestas culturas no Submédio do Vale São Francisco.

Natural colonization of leaves of 'Pêra' sweet orange and related varieties by Guignardia citricarpa

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the differences in the colonization and production of structures in the leaves of 'Pêra' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) clones and related varieties by Guignardia citricarpa. The natural colonization and the production of reproductive structures in the leaves and in vitro of ten 'Pêra' sweet orange was quantified in the following clones: Bianchi, Dibbern C.V., EEL, IAC 2000, Olímpia 15161, Premunizada 1212, Premunizada 1743/82, R. Gullo 1569/244, R. Gullo 1570/246 and Vimusa; and in five related varieties: Redonda C.N, Ovale 968, Ovale San Lio 969, Lamb Summer and Corsa Tardia. The quantification of the colonization density of G. citricarpa in the leaves was obtained through isolation. Incidence and colonization density (cm²) were calculated for each clone. The production of reproductive structures was accomplished through the moistening and drying process of the leaves. The incidence (percentage of affected leaves) and the leaf surface percentage occupied by the reproductive fungus structures were quantified. The in vitro production of reproductive structures was accomplished in water-agar medium. The number of immature and total reproductive fungus structures (cm²), and the percentage of picnidia with liberation of spores were quantified. Significant differences were not observed among clones related to the colonization of the leaves. But there were differences in the induction experiments, i.e., in the leaf surface percentage occupied by the reproductive fungus structures and the in vitro production of reprodutive fungus structures.

Distribuição espacial da meleira do mamoeiro em zonas de trópico úmido e trópico semi-árido

O vírus da meleira, transmitido por Bemisia tabaci, é um dos maiores problemas da cultura do mamoeiro (Carica papaya), sendo responsável por perdas de até 100% na produção. Com o objetivo de compreender melhor sua epidemiologia e gerar subsídios para estudos da influência de fatores culturais e bioecológicos na dinâmica da doença, avaliou-se a distribuição espacial de plantas afetadas pela meleira em zonas de Trópico Úmido e Trópico Semi-árido, em 15 plantios comerciais em Eunápolis-BA e Petrolina-PE, entre jan. 2000 e mar. 2001. As áreas foram mapeadas anotando-se a posição de cada planta e a presença ou ausência de sintomas. Foram consideradas doentes aquelas que apresentavam frutos com exsudação espontânea do látex, látex muito fluido, frutos borrados e/ou folhas do ápice com o bordo necrosado. Pelas análises de seqüências ordinárias, índice de dispersão, áreas isópatas e ajuste dos logaritmos das variâncias binomial e de acordo com a lei de Taylor, observaram-se maior agregação nas linhas de plantio que entre linhas e uma agregação de mediana a forte em sub-áreas (1,4 < ID < 3,1). Na maioria dos lotes, as áreas de maior incidência concentraram-se nas bordas dos talhões, o que indica que a migração de vetores assume um papel importante na disseminação da doença. Em alguns casos foi possível detectar a presença de focos isolados no interior dos lotes, o que sugere a formação de colônias dos vetores e transmissão planta a planta a partir de inóculo secundário. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na distribuição espacial de plantas doentes entre as áreas das duas regiões.

Variability of the 3' terminal of the polymerase gene of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 isolates from Vale do São Francisco, Brazil

Many viral diseases, including leafroll, which is of great economic importance, affect grapevines (Vitis spp.). A complex of eight viruses [Grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV) -1 to 8] is associated with this disease. The objective of this study was to compare the variability of the 3' terminal region of the polymerase gene of three isolates of GLRaV-3 (Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-3), from Submédio do Vale do Rio São Francisco (Petrolina-PE) with that of other isolates available at the GenBank, including an isolate from North America and another from Southern Brazil. The viral RNA was extracted from three infected ELISA reactive plants and a fragment of 340 bp was amplified, by RT-PCR, using primers that recognize that portion of the polymerase gene found between nucleotides 8267 and 8606. The three isolates from Vale do Rio São Francisco named Pet-1, Pet-2 and Pet-3, showed similarities ranging from 98% and 94%, respectively to the isolates from North America (AF037268) and Southern Brazilian (AF438411). Considering the whole genome, the main variation found was one amino acid change at position 2766 (F2766Y). These preliminary data indicate the existence of a natural variation among GLRaV-3 isolates from grapevines. This could be due to the vegetative propagation and long cycle of the plant, associated with the error-prone nature of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.