Ácido cítrico e quitosana na conservação de lichias 'Bengal'

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a aplicação de ácido cítrico em duas concentrações, associadas ou não à quitosana, na manutenção da qualidade de lichias 'Bengal'. Após a colheita e seleção, os frutos no estádio de maturação maduro foram imersos por 1 minuto nas seguintes soluções de ácido cítrico e de quitosana: [1] Testemunha - sem imersão; [2] ácido cítrico a 300 g L-1; [3] ácido cítrico a 300 g L-1 + 0,3% quitosana; [4] ácido cítrico a 300 g L-1 + 0,6% quitosana; [5] ácido cítrico a 600 g L-1; [6] ácido cítrico a 600 g L-1 + 0,3% quitosana; [7] ácido cítrico a 600 g L-1 + 0,6% quitosana. Após a imersão, os frutos foram colocados em gôndolas para escorrer o excesso de solução. Em seguida, foram armazenados em câmara fria, previamente higienizada, a 5ºC, durante 20 dias. O experimento foi conduzido seguindo um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, num esquema fatorial composto por sete soluções de recobrimento e cinco datas de amostragem. A cada cinco dias, foi avaliada a perda de massa fresca dos frutos, a coloração, o teor de antocianinas e a atividade das enzimas polifenoloxidase e peroxidase da casca. A solução de ácido cítrico a 600 g L-1, associada ou não à quitosana, e a combinação de quitosana 0,3% com 300 g L-1 de ácido cítrico foram as mais eficientes para a manutenção da cor avermelhada e a redução do escurecimento da casca de lichias 'Bengal' por 20 dias, a 5ºC.

Uso da desfolha para indução da brotação de atemoleiras 'Gefner'

A utilização de práticas culturais que permitam programar a época de produção é fundamental para a exploração da cultura da atemoleira em clima tropical. Em determinados tipos de clima, associada a outras técnicas culturais, a desfolha permite induzir a brotação das gemas de atemoleira, podendo controlar a época de produção da cultura. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar diferentes tratamentos de desfolha para a indução da brotação de atemoleiras sob condições tropicais. O experimento foi realizado em cultivo comercial localizado no município de Limoeiro do Norte-CE, utilizando atemoleiras 'Gefner' com cinco anos de idade, enxertadas sob o porta-enxerto de pinha. Cerca de dez dias após a colheita, realizou-se a poda de produção e, em seguida, aplicaram-se os tratamentos: 1) testemunha (sem aplicação da desfolha); 2) desfolha manual; 3) ureia 150 g L-1; 4) ureia 150 g L-1 + óleo mineral 24 mL L-1; 5) ureia 150 g L-1 + sulfato de cobre 10 g L-1; 6) sulfato de cobre 10 g L-1 +óleo mineral 24 mL L-1; 7) ureia 150 g L-1 + óleo mineral 24 mL L-1 + sulfato de cobre 10 g L-1; 8) etefom 2,4 mL L-1. Todos os tratamentos químicos testados induziram a desfolha e a brotação, sobretudo as aplicações foliares de etefom 2,4 mL L-1 e combinação de sulfato de cobre 10 g L-1 + óleo mineral 24 mL L-1.

Extração de ferro de esmectita brasileira com emprego do método ditionito-citrato-bicarbonato

A natural clay from Campina Grande region (Paraíba, Brazil), with 8.57% of Fe2O3, was used to study the most appropriate condition to carry out the iron extraction, without altering the clay structure in a significant way. Samples were treated with the Dithionite-Citrate-Bicarbonate method (DCB) for 30 and 120 minutes (pH=9.1), and also with citric acid (pH=1.8; time=15min), at 75°C. Conductivity measurements, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectrometry, electron-diffraction with transmission electron microscopy and textural evaluation by nitrogen adsorption were done. The treatment in a basic medium was more selective for iron removal than in acid condition. The time of 30 minutes, with 1.6 g Na2S2O4/10 g clay, was the best condition for the iron extraction.

Filme fino de ZrO2 enxertado sobre a superfície de sílica gel: preparação e propriedade de adsorção de Cr(VI)

The present experiment describes an easy procedure for obtaining SiO2/ZrO2 by reacting ZrOCl2 with SiO2 with the following characteristics: S BET = 500 m² g-1 and an average pore diameter of 6 nm. The material obtained presented 1.3 wt% ZrO2 content corresponding to 140 mumol g-1. The average density of ZrO2 onto SiO2/ZrO2 matrix is 2.8x10-11 mol cm-2. The adsorption isotherm for Cr(VI) showed a maximum of adsorption value (200 mumol g-1) at pH 2. The adsorption can be described by the reaction: =Zr(OH)2 + 2HCrO4- + 2H+ [(=Zr(OH2+)2) (HCrO4-)2]. Above the zero point of charge, i.e. pH > 5.5 due to the surface charge inversion, desorption of Cr(VI) occurs according to the reaction: [(=Zr(OH2+)2) (HCrO4-)2] + 6OH- (=ZrO2)2- + 6H2O + 2CrO4(2-).

Espectrofotometría de absorción atómica con tubo en la llama: aplicación en la determinación total de cadmio, plomo y zinc en aguas frescas, agua de mar y sedimentos marinos

Thermospray flame furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS) was used for the total determination of Cd, Pb and Zn in fresh water and seawater samples at µg L-1 levels, and in marine sediment samples at µg g-1 levels. Using a sample loop of 50 µL and a peristaltic pump the samples were transported into the metallic tube placed over an air/acetylene flame, through a ceramic capillary (o.d. = 3.2 mm) containing two parallel internal orifices (i.d = 0.5 mm). The detection limits determined for Cd, Pb and Zn using a synthetic water matrix (2.5% m/v NaCl, 0.5% m/v MgCl2 and 0.8% m/v CaCl2) were 0.32 µg L-1; 2.6 µg L-1 and 0.21 µg L-1 respectively. The methodology by TS-FF-AAS was validated by determination of Cd, Pb and Zn in certified reference materials of water and marine sediment, and the t-test for differences between means was applied. No statistically significant differences were established in fresh water and seawater (p>0.05), whereas differences became apparent in marine sediment (p<0.03).

Flow analysis by using solenoid valves for As(III) determination in natural waters by an on-line separation and pre-concentration system coupled to a tungsten coil atomizer

A flow system coupled to a tungsten coil atomizer in an atomic absorption spectrometer (TCA-AAS) was developed for As(III) determination in waters, by extraction with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (NaDDTC) as complexing agent, and by sorption of the As(III)-DDTC complex in a micro-column filled with 5 mg C18 reversed phase (10 µL dry sorbent), followed by elution with ethanol. A complete pre-concentration/elution cycle took 208 s, with 30 s sample load time (1.7 mL) and 4 s elution time (71 µL). The interface and software for the synchronous control of two peristaltic pumps (RUN/ STOP), an autosampler arm, seven solenoid valves, one injection valve, the electrothermal atomizer and the spectrometer Read function were constructed. The system was characterized and validated by analytical recovery studies performed both in synthetic solutions and in natural waters. Using a 30 s pre-concentration period, the working curve was linear between 0.25 and 6.0 µg L-1 (r = 0.9976), the retention efficiency was 94±1% (6.0 µg L-1), and the pre-concentration coefficient was 28.9. The characteristic mass was 58 pg, the mean repeatability (expressed as the variation coefficient) was 3.4% (n=5), the detection limit was 0.058 µg L-1 (4.1 pg in 71 µL of eluate injected into the coil), and the mean analytical recovery in natural waters was 92.6 ± 9.5 % (n=15). The procedure is simple, economic, less prone to sample loss and contamination and the useful lifetime of the micro-column was between 200-300 pre-concentration cycles.

Persistent organic pollutants in two reservoirs along the Paraíba do Sul-Guandu River system, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sediment contamination is evaluated by determining organic micropollutants (organochlorine compounds - OCs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - PAHs) in two important Brazilian water reservoirs. Trace levels of OCs were observed in the Santana reservoir (44.8 ng g-1 d.w. of p,p'-DDT), while in the Funil reservoir the levels were below detection level. Forty-eight percent of the found sigmaocs were polychlorinated biphenyls, 29% dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), 18% Drins, and 5% other pesticides (HCB, Heptachlor, Heptachlor-epoxide, gamma-HCH and a-Endosulfan). We observed lower levels of sigmaPAH in the Funil reservoir (1 to 275 ng g-1d.w.) than in the Santana reservoir (2.2 to 26.7 µg g-1 d.w.).

Determinação de contaminantes em óleos lubrificantes usados e em esgotos contaminados por esses lubrificantes

A simple and reliable ashing procedure is proposed for the preparation of used lubricating oil samples for the determination of Zn, Fe, Pb, Ni and Cu by the flame atomic absorption spectrometry technique. Sulphanilic acid was added to oil samples, the mixture coked and the coke ashed at 550 ºC. The solutions of the ash were analysed by flame AAS for these metals. The quantification limits were 38.250 µg g-1 for Zn, 4.550 µg g-1 for Fe, 1.562 µg g-1 for Pb, 1.450 µg g-1 for Ni, and 0.439 µg g-1 for Cu. The determinations, in lubricating oil, showed good precision and accuracy with recoveries between 90 and 110 %, indicating a negligible matrix effect in the experiments using addition of analyte, with relative standard deviation lower than 5%. The results for analysis of wastewater contamined by theses lubricants showed a very high relative standard deviation.

Estudo de recuperação de glifosato e AMPA derivados em solo utilizando-se resinas nacionais

In the present paper we studied the recoveries of glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (GLY) and its major metabolite, (aminomethyl)phosphonic acid (AMPA) in soil using national (Brazilian) ion-exchange resins, derivatization by a mixture of trifluoroacetic anhydride and trifluoroethanol and analyses by GC-MS. The quantification limits were 12 ng.g-1 for both compounds and the methodology showed a range of recuperation from 85 to 94% with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 4.07 to 6.91% for GLY. For AMPA, the mean recoveries ranged from 87 to 102% with CVs ranging from 5.81 to 6.99%. Additional studies showed that, due to the instability of the derivatized compounds, they must be analysed keeping constant time between derivatization and analysis, preferably less than 24 h.

Planejamento estatístico de experimentos como uma ferramenta para otimização das condições de biossorção de Cu(II) em batelada utilizando-se casca de nozes pecã como biossorvente

In order to reduce the total number of experiments for achieving the highest amount of adsorbed Cu2+ (qmax) using pecan nutshells (Carya illinoensis) as biosorbent, a full 2(4) factorial design with two central points was carried out (mass of biosorbent- m, pH, initial metallic ion concentration- C0, time of contact- t). In order to continue the optimization of the system, a central composite surface analysis design with two factors and five central points was carried out. The maximum amount of Cu2+ taken up by the pecan nutshells was 20 mg g-1. These results were confirmed by determining a Cu2+ isotherm using the best conditions attained by the statistical design of experiments.

Quantificação de dextranas em açúcares e em cachaças

Solid dextrans are thermally stable polysaccharides losing water only at 160ºC. According to IR, X-ray, DTA and DSC data no noticeable changes in dextran configuration occurs at this temperature. The total content of dextrans analyzed in 26 samples of Brazilian sugars and 57 samples of sweetened cachaças ranged from 109.5 to 1840 mg/kg and 1.6 to 11.2 mg/L with medians of 999.8 mg/kg and 5.9 mg/L respectively. Samples of sweeted cachaças have been monitored for turbidity, total soluble dextran content and weight of precipitate formed during 275 days. Precipitate formation is a kinetically controlled process which ends after 275 days when the total concentration of soluble dextrans becomes smaller than 0.25 mg/L.

Propriedades ácido-base e de complexação de ácidos húmico e fúlvico isolados de vermicomposto

Proton binding properties of humic and fulvic acids were studied by potentiometric titration. Carboxylic groups were the predominant ionizable sites in comparison to phenolic and amine groups. Total acidity of fulvic acid was 12 x 10-3 mol g-1, a number significantly higher than that obtained for humic acid (5.2 x 10-3 mol g-1). Copper ion binding was evaluated at pH 4, 5 and 6 by potentiometric titration with an ion selective electrode for Cu(II). Differential stability constants and complexation capacities were systematically higher for humic acid, despite its lower number of ionizable sites in comparison with fulvic acid.

Detailed crystallization study of co-precipitated Y1.47Gd1.53Fe5O12 and relevant magnetic properties

The crystallization process of co-precipitated Y1.5Gd1.5Fe5O12 powder heated up to 1000 ºC at rate of 5 °C min-1 was investigated. Above 810 ºC crystalline Y1.47Gd1.53Fe5O12 was obtained with a lattice parameter of 12.41 Å and a theoretical density of 5.84 g cm-3. Dry pressed rings were sintered at 1270 and 1320 ºC, increasing the grain-size from 3.1 to 6.5 µm, the theoretical density by 87.6 to 95.3% and decreasing Hc from 2.9725 to 1.4005 Oe. Additionally, Hc increased when the frequency of the hysteresis graph varied from 60 Hz to 10 kHz, the curie temperature was 282.4 ºC and Ms equalled 9.25 emu g-1 (0.17 kG) agreeing well with the Bs-value of the hysteresis graph and literature values.

Preparação e caracterização de carvão ativado produzido a partir de resíduos do beneficiamento do café

Coffee fruit processing is one of the most polluting activities in agriculture due to the large amount of waste generated in the process. In this work, coffee parchment was employed as precursor for the production of carbons activated with ZnCl2 (CAP). The material was characterized using N2 adsorption/desorption at 77 K, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The material showed a surface area of 521.6 m²g-1 and microporous structure. CAP was applied as adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue dye in aqueous medium. The adsorption capacity was found to be about 188.7 mg g-1.

Produção de etanol a partir de torta de mamona (Ricinus communis L.) e avaliação da letalidade da torta hidrolisada para camundongos

The castor bean cake is rich in starch (48 ± 0.53%) and bears a problem linked to the occurrence of a toxic protein (ricin). The chemical hydrolysis (ratio solid:liquid = 1:6; H2SO4= 0.1 mol L-1; 120 °C; 40 min) generated a medium with 27 g L-1 of reducing sugars (hydrolysis efficiency= 32%). The hydrolyzed product was fermented and produced 11 g L-1 of ethanol (volumetric productivity=1.38 g L-1 h-1 and ethanol yield on substrate consumed=0.45 g g-1). In vivo experiments (DL50) revealed a reduction of roughly 240 times in the CBC toxicity (2.11 µg g-1).