A espectrometria atômica e a determinação de elementos metálicos em material polimérico

Polymeric materials are widely used in the chemical industry and are part of our daily lives. Inorganic species may be added to them as additives, anti-oxidizing agents, stabilizers, plasticizers, colorants and catalysts and may be present in a wide range of concentrations. Their determination demands the development of analytical methods considering different kinds of polymeric materials, their composition and the final use of the material. Although many different analytical techniques may be used, this review emphasizes those based on atomic absorption and emission spectrometry. Solid sampling techniques and digestion methods are described and discussed and compared considering published results.

Amostragem do material particulado e fração orgânica volátil das emissões em motor ciclo diesel sem a utilização de túnel de diluição

Using a sampling method of particulate matter (PM) without the use of a dilution tunnel allows for evaluations of the volatile hydrocarbons (HC) in the emissions of diesel cycle engines. The procedure in this work applied a heated filter with temperature controlled. The volatile compounds are condensed at low temperature, allowing for evaluation of the HC by thermal desorption of the PM and for analysis of the condensed compounds of the exhaust gases.

Propriedades redox da matéria orgânica isolada de material ultrafiltrado das águas do rio Paraíba do Sul

Previous studies indicated that free radicals control organic matter redox activities. In the present study, organic matter of an ultra-filtrated material collected from seven samples taken seasonally from the Paraiba do Sul River for two years were titrated with an oxidizer (I2) in an inert atmosphere. Standard formal potential values for the electrode MO Ox, MO Red ranged from 0.754 to 0.786 V at a 25 ºC temperature. Organic matter oxidation capacity (COx) per carbon mass varied according to pH values, and changes in COx were related to rainfall and river flow intensities.

Hidrólise parcial da superfície do polyethylene terephthalate (PET): transformando um rejeito em um material de troca catiônica para aplicação ambiental

In this work it is proposed a simple and versatile undergraduate chemical experiment in polymer and environmental technology based on the process of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolysis. Polyethylene terephthalate from post-consume bottles is submitted to a controlled partial hydrolysis which allows the students to follow the reaction by a simple procedure. The students can explore the reaction kinetics, the effect of catalysts and the exposed polyethylene terephthalate surface area on the hydrolysis reaction. The second and innovative part of this experiment is the technological and environmental application of the hydrolyzed polyethylene terephthalate as a material with cation exchange properties. The surface hydrolyzed polyethylene terephthalate can be used as adsorbent for cationic contaminants.

Caracterização e propriedades do material coloidal nanoestruturado β-FeOOH/bentonita

A new mixed material was obtained through the combination of the suspensions of iron oxy-hydroxide and bentonite clay, denoted BFe. Analysis of its structure (XRD, Mossbauer and TGA) and composition (AAS) suggests the maintenance of the layer structure of the clay and an increase in the thermal stability of the BFe. Electrochemical studies performed in different electrolytes show that only in an alkaline medium it is possible to observe the redox peaks relative to the processes involving Fe+2/Fe+3 pair. Tests that evaluated the potential use of the photo-Fenton process showed an efficient degradation process of the dyes in significantly reduced reaction times.

Determinação de metais traço no material particulado em suspensão em Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

The determination of the airborne particulate matter (PTS) mass and trace metals concentrations were performed in three sites in Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil. It was evaluated 288 samples. The legal limit of annual geometric average (60 µg m-3) to PTS concentrations didn't exceed, but the legal limit for 24 h (240 µg m-3) did in three measurements. Seven metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb) analysed by ICP-AES were quantified in 18 samples. Aluminum and iron showed the highest concentrations, indicating the contribution of the soil and of one aluminum plant. The high nickel concentration is probably due to vehicular emissions and industrial combustion processes.

Caracterização do material particulado fino e grosso e composição da fração inorgânica solúvel em água em São José dos Campos (SP)

Air samples of fine (PM2,5) and coarse (PM2,5-10) particulate matter were collected in São José dos Campos from February 2004 to February 2005. Average PM10 mass concentrations was 31.2 ± 14.0 μg m-3, half of which belonging to the PM2.5 fraction. Ammonium and SO4(2-) were predominantly found in the fine fraction. Average (NH4)2SO4 concentration was estimated to be about 2.9 μg m-3. Chloride, Na+ and NO3- were mostly associated with PM2,5-10. Chloride deficits with respect to sea-salt Cl/Na ratio were found in both size fractions.

Determinação seletiva de tributilestanho na presença de Sn(IV) em amostras ambientais usando HG-ICP OES e Saccharomyces cerevisiae como material sorvente

A method for selective determination of tributyltin in the presence of Sn(IV) by combining hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (HG-ICP OES) and solid phase extraction (SPE) using baker's yeast is proposed. The procedure is based on selective retention of TBT by the yeast at pH = 6. Detection limit of 1.9 µg L-1 and quantification limit of 6.3 µg L-1 were obtained. TBT and San(IV) were determined in the range of 0-25 µg L-1 and the proposed approach was applied to analyze river water, sea water and biological extracts, with recoveries of 114, 101 and 86%, respectively.

Desidratação de etanol sobre material nanoestruturado do tipo LaSBA-15

La-incorporated SBA-15 mesopourous molecular sieves (LaSBA-15) were directly synthesized with aim to convert ethanol to ethylene. The samples were characterized by XRD, XRF, nitrogen sorption and acidity, by thermodesorption of n-buthylamine. The results have indicated that all the samples have showed high ordered mesostructure with a large average pore size, and that the lanthanum incorporation has caused an increase in the acidity of the SBA-15. The LaSBA-15 samples have improved, with low deactivation rate, the conversion of the ethanol to water, ether, acetaldehyde and ethylene. In addition, they have increased the ethylene selectivity.

Eletrodos positivos tubulares para baterias chumbo ácidas produzidas com material ativo nanométrico

Conventional stationary lead acid batteries positive tubular plates have a specific capacity of about 120 Ah/kg. This value represents an active material utilization coefficient of 50%. The production of these plates includes some initial processes to generate the active PbO2 from a precursor material. In the present work it will be presented a proper and novel methodology to assemble tubular plates directely with nanometric powder of PbO2 particles. The utilization coefficient of these plates was about 80%, and they were able to endure more than 130 severe duty cycles. This high utilization coefficient is a higly desirable feature for electric vehicles batteries.

Remoção dos hormônios 17β-estradiol e 17α-etinilestradiol de soluções aquosas empregando turfa decomposta como material adsorvente

This paper describes the adsorption of 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) from aqueous solution by decomposed peat. The peat presented a good adsorption process, close to 76.2% for E2 removal and approximately 55.0% for EE2. Moreover, the results indicated a probable multi-layered process. Adsorption isotherms were well fitted by Freundlich model. The data were evaluated considering the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order approaches, being the second more significant mechanism in the rate-controlling step. Thermodynamic data revealed that hormones adsorption onto peat is spontaneous under the employed experimental conditions. The results confirmed the potential of this adsorbent to be employed for effluents treatment.

A quantitative validated method using liquid chromatography and chemometric analysis for evaluation of raw material oF Maytenus ilicifolia (Schrad.) Planch., Celastraceae

The hydroalcoholic extracts prepared from standard leaves of Maytenus ilicifolia and commercial samples of espinheira-santa were evaluated qualitatively (fingerprinting) and quantitatively. In this paper, fingerprinting chromatogram coupled with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is described for the metabolomic analysis of standard and commercial espinheira-santa samples. The epicatechin standard was used as an external standard for the development and validation of a quantitative method for the analysis in herbal medicines using a photo diode array detector. This method has been applied for quantification of epicatechin in commercialized herbal medicines sold as espinheira-santa in Brazil and in the standard sample of M. ilicifolia.

A retórica da linguagem científica: das bases teóricas à elaboração de material didático para o ensino superior de Química

This work is part of a study that focused on analyzing the contributions of didactic activities related to scientific language rhetoric characteristics aimed at developing students' abilities to identify such characteristics in chemistry scientific texts and critical reading of those texts. In this study, we present the theoretical basis adopted to determine the scientific discourse characteristics and for the production of the didactic material used in those activities. Latour, Coracini and Campanario studies on persuasive rhetorical strategies present in scientific articles aided the production of such material.

Certified reference material to water content determination in bioethanol fuel

Bioethanol is a strategic biofuel in Brazil. Thus, a strong metrological basis for its measurements is required to ensure the quality and promote its exportation. Recently, Inmetro certified a reference material for water content in bioethanol. This paper presents the results of these studies. The characterization, homogeneity, short-term stability and long-term stability uncertainty contributions values were 0.00500, 0.0166, 0.0355 and 0.0391 mg g-1, respectively. The certificated value for water content of bioethanol fuel was (3.65 ± 0.11) mg g-1. This CRM is the first and up to now the unique in the world.

Elementos traço em material particulado atmosférico de uma região agroindustrial do sudeste do Brasil

Trace element concentrations were measured in atmospheric particulate matter collected in 2009 and 2010, in a Brazilian region influenced by pre-harvest burning of sugar cane crops. For coarse particles, high concentrations of Al, Fe, K and Ca suggested that re-suspended soil dust was the main source of aerosol trace elements, subsequently confirmed by XRD analysis. High levels of K, Zn, As, Cd and Pb were found in fine particles, confirming the contribution of biomass burning and vehicle emissions, whereas Na, Al, K, Fe and Zn were the representative elements in ultrafine particles, influenced by a diversity of sources.