Preparação de carvão ativado em baixas temperaturas de carbonização a partir de rejeitos de café: utilização de FeCl3 como agente ativante

Ferric chloride as a new activating agent was used to obtain activated carbons from agroindustrial waste. This material was prepared at three temperatures of pyrolysis, 200, 280 and 400 ºC. The carbonaceous materials obtained after the activation processes showed high specific surface areas (BET), with values higher than 900 m² g-1. The materials showed different behaviors in the adsorption of methylene blue dye and reactive red textile dye in water solutions. An important fact in the use of FeCl3 as an activating agent is that the activation temperature is at 280 ºC, well below of those commonly employed in chemical or physical activations described in the literature.

Monoglicerídeos: produção por via enzimática e algumas aplicações

Monoglycerides (MAG) are non-ionic surfactants, widely used in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. Although MAGs are manufactured on an industrial scale by chemical glycerolysis of oils and fats, new developments in lipase catalyzed synthesis have been studied as an alternative to the classical method seeking to use clean technology and green chemistry. In this work, different methods such as glycerolysis, selective hydrolysis of fats and oils, and esterification of fatty acids or transesterification of esters with glycerol are presented. The properties and applications of the monoglycerides are also included in this review.

Degradação fotoeletroquímica de corantes dispersos em efluente têxtil utilizando fotoanodos de Ti/TiO2

The degradation of disperses dyes in aqueous solution and in effluents from textile industry has been investigated by photoelectrocatalytic oxidation using nanoporous thin films electrodes of Ti/TiO2. Samples of dispersil black dye and dispersil blue dye after 300 min of photoelectrolyzed at applied potential of +1.0 V and UV irradiation exhibited 100% of discoloration and 90% and 64% reduction total organic carbon, respectively. The proposed method was applied with success in a textile industry effluent containing residues of these dyes, which after 300 min of treatment leads to reduction of 60% of COD and 64% removal of TOC.

Óleos essenciais no Brasil: aspectos gerais, desenvolvimento e perspectivas

Essential oils are extracted by steam distillation of plants or cold pressing of citrus fruit pericarp. They are used in food, cosmetic, personal care and pharmaceutical industries. In Brazil, oils from orange and related products contribute to near 97% to the positive commercial performance of the sector. Predatory exploitation and the availability of new sources of raw materials, with more attracting prices, changed the paradigm. Prospective studies, sustainable use of Brazilian biodiversity, domestication of exotic species with commercial relevance, the use of breeding techniques and the development of new applications for essential oils are thematic lines, usually multidisciplinary, which have been prompting the expansion of the research on essential oils. This paper presents an analysis on essential oils balance trade from 2005 to 2008 and some historical data on research and production of essential oils in Brazil.

Remoção de azul de metileno de solução aquosa usando zeólitas sintetizadas com amostras de cinzas de carvão diferentes

Batch sorption experiments were carried out to remove methylene blue from its aqueous solutions using zeolites synthesized from fly ashes as an adsorbent. The adsorbents were characterized by XFR, XRD and SEM. Nearly 90 min of contact time are found to be sufficient for the adsorption of dye to reach equilibrium. Equilibrium data have been analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the results were found to be well represented by the Freundlich isotherm equation. Adsorption data were fitted to both Lagergren first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models and the data were found to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics.

Elimination of dyes from aqueous solutions using iron oxides and chitosan as adsorbents: a comparative study

This work investigates the adsorption of Alizarin, Eriochrome Blue Black R and Fluorescein using chitosan, goethite and magnetite as adsorbents. For Alizarin, the best adsorbent is chitosan with a Langmuir parameter of 15.8 mmol dye/g adsorbent. For Eriochrome Blue Black R only 1.94 mmol dye/g chitosan is adsorbed. Langmuir parameters for the Alizarin adsorption on both iron oxides display one or two orders of magnitude lower than for chitosan and two orders of magnitude lower in the case of Eriochrome Blue Black R. Fluorescein does not adsorb in appreciable amounts on chitosan and it presents the lower affinity on the iron oxides.

Nióbia sintética modificada como catalisador na oxidação de corante orgânico: utilização de H2O2 e O2 atmosférico como oxidantes

In this work synthetic niobia was used to promote the oxidation of methylene blue dye in aqueous medium. The niobia was characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption, XRD and TG measurements. The presence of reactive species on the niobia surface strongly increased the oxidation rate of the methylene blue dye. The reaction mechanism was studied by ESI-MS suggesting that the oxidation of the organic dye involve oxidizing species generated mainly after previous treatment with H2O2. It can be observed that the catalyst is a good material in the activation of gas (atmospheric oxygen) or liquid (hydrogen peroxide) oxidant agent with a total discoloration of the dye solution after only 1 h of reaction.

Efeitos de agentes oxidantes e oxigênio dissolvido na descoloração do azo corante acid orange 7 por fotólise e fotocatálise

The decolorization of acid orange 7 azo dye by photolysis and photocatalysis by ZnO was investigated in the presence of oxidants such as NaClO3, NaBrO3, NaIO4, and K2S2O8 in an open reactor at 30 ºC. The decolorization was relatively fast at lower oxidants concentrations and slow rate at larger concentrations, except for persulfate in the photocatalysis. Concerning photolysis the rate constant enhanced gradually, except for chlorate, outreaching the obtained values by photocatalysis, at higher concentrations. The air saturation decreased the rate constant in both processes and indicated that the azo dye can be decolorized without dissolved oxygen in persulfate medium.

Antioxidant capacity of eugenol derivatives

Toxicity and antioxidant capacity of eugenol derivatives (E2 = 2-Methoxy-4-[1-propenylphenyl]acetate, E3 = 4-Allyl-2-methoxyphenylacetate, E4 = 4-Allyl-2-methoxy-4-nitrophenol, E5 = 5-Allyl-3-nitrobenzene-1,2-diol, E6 = 4-Allyl-2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl acetate) were evaluated in order to determine the influence of the sustituents. E2-E6 were synthesized from eugenol (E1). E1 was extracted from cloves oil, and E2-E6 were obtained through acetylation and nitration reactions. Antioxidant capacity evaluated by DPPH (1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) and ORAC fluorescein demonstrated that E1 and E5 have a higher capacity and the minor toxicity evaluated by red blood cells haemolysis and the Artemia saline test. In accordance with our results, the compound's (E1-E5) use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and or food industries could be suggested.

Remoção de compostos orgânicos em água empregando carvão ativado impregnado com óxido de ferro: ação combinada de adsorção e oxidação em presença de H2O2

In this work, composites based on activated carbon/iron oxide (AC/Fe) were prepared in two different proportions (AC/Fe 5/1 and 1/1) and evaluated in the removal of the organic dye methylene blue (MB). Physical-chemical properties of the composites were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), adsorption/dessorption of N2 isotherm, temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that goethite (α- FeOOH), with nanometer particle size, was formed over carbon surface for both composites. These materials showed high efficiency to remove MB from solution by combined adsorption and oxidation process. The AC/Fe 1/1 showed to be more active in (MB) oxidation then AC/Fe 5/1.

Extração e purificação de clorofila a, da alga Spirulina maxima: um experimento para os cursos de química

This work describes a simple and economical experiment for the extraction and purification of chlorophyll a from Spirulina maxima. Extraction and purification of natural compounds can be considered one of the most illustrative experiments that can be performed in Organic Chemistry courses. Particularly, the chromatography of dyes and pigments allows students to have a better comprehension of the chromatography separations. These compounds represent an important class of organic pigments applied in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, detergent compositions, and various other fields and can be extracted from plants and algae. To extract, separate and purify chlorophyll a from associated pigments such as xanthophylls, carotenes, and pheophytins, very costly processes are reported. The present approach is perfectly adequate for use in Chemistry experiments for undergraduate students.

Estudo da sorção do corante catiônico violeta cristal por espuma de poliuretano em meio aquoso contendo dodecilsulfato de sódio

This work presents a detailed study about the sorption of crystal violet (CV) cationic dye onto polyether type polyurethane foam (PUF). The sorption process was based on the formation of an ionic-pair between cationic dye and dodecylsulfate anion (SDS), which presented high affinity by PUF. Set-up employed in the study was built up by adjusting a 200 mg cylinder of PUF to the arm of an overhead stirrer. The system was characterized in relation to equilibrium and kinetic aspects and it was modeled by employing Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Obtained results showed that the ratio between SDS and MB concentrations played an important role on the sorption process. According to results found it was possible to retain up to 3.4 mg of dye from 200 mL of a 5.0 x 10-5 mol L-1 CV solution containing 1.25 x 10-4 mol L-1 SDS, which represented a removal efficiency of around 92%.

Contaminação de produtos de higiene e cosméticos por n-nitrosaminas

N-nitrosamines are carcinogenic compounds that have been found during the last three decades in a variety of consumer products, including cosmetic and personal care products, and their raw materials. These compounds are formed from amine precursors and nitrosating agents present in the formulations. This paper reviews the formation and occurrence of N-nitrosamines in cosmetic products, as well as presents considerations about analytical, toxicological and regulatory aspects.

Nanocompósitos semicondutores ZnO/TiO2: testes fotocatalíticos

Titanium dioxide is an efficient photocatalist, being possible to improve its efficiency with better charge separation which occurs when it is coupled with other semiconductors. Nanometric particles of ZnO were used to impregnate TiO2 P25 in order to optimize its photocatalytic properties. ZnO/TiO2 composites were obtained at different proportions and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, measurement of surface area (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Raman spectroscopy data revealed a change on the TiO2 surface due the presence of ZnO which was observed by an enlargement of TiO2 peaks and a change on the relation rate between anatase and rutile phases of the composites. The photodegradation of azo-dye Drimaren red revealed better efficiency for ZnO/TiO2 3% nanocomposite and for ZnO pure.

Determinação de corantes marcadores do tipo azo e antraquinona em combustíveis por cromatografia líquida com detecção eletroquímica

An analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection has been developed and applied to the determination of Solvent blue 14 (SA-14) and Solvent red 24 (SV-24) in fuel samples. The dyes were better separated on C18 column, using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and ammonium acetate (90:10, v/v). Detection was carried out at an oxidation potential of +0.85V. The detector response was linear at concentration range of 7.50×10-8 - 1.50×10-6 mol L-1 (r = 0.997) for SA-14 and SV-24, respectively. The method was used to quantify these dyes in fuels samples with satisfactory accuracy and precision.