Atributos físicos e químicos de substratos compostos por biossólidos e casca de arroz carbonizada

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os atributos físicos e químicos de substratos com diferentes doses de biossólido (BIO) e de casca de arroz carbonizada (CAC), com vistas em obter um meio de crescimento adequado para o desenvolvimento de mudas. Desta forma, utilizando biossólido proveniente da SABESP, estação de Franca (SP), estabeleceu-se um ensaio com os seguintes tratamentos (proporções BIO/CAC): 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, 10/90 e 0/100, os quais foram comparados ao substrato comercial Multiplant®. Foram realizadas análises para determinação dos atributos físicos, como: densidade aparente do substrato, macro e microporosidade, porosidade total, capacidade máxima de retenção de água, e dos atributos químicos dos substratos, como: teores totais de macro e micronutrientes, pH, relação C/N e condutividade elétrica. Com a elevação da dose de BIO no substrato houve aumento da densidade e do percentual de microporos e, conseqüentemente, da capacidade de retenção de água. O BIO apresentou teores razoáveis de nutrientes com destaque para N e P, mas baixos teores de K. Não foram detectados teores de metais pesados superiores aos limites estabelecidos pela Legislação Brasileira no biossólido usado. Comparando-se os valores considerados adequados para o desenvolvimento de mudas encontrados na literatura com os obtidos neste trabalho, encaixaram-se na faixa adequada os substratos cujas doses de biossólido variaram de 30 a 60 %. Nenhum substrato testado, incluindo o do tratamento com substrato comercial, apresentou valores ideais em todas as propriedades estudadas.

Qualidade fisiológica, sanitária e enzimática de sementes de arroz irrigado recobertas com silício

O tratamento de sementes com a utilização de silício em sementes de boa qualidade constitui prática para o aumento da produtividade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do recobrimento de sementes de arroz com duas fontes de silício, em seus atributos fisiológicos, enzimáticos e sanitários. Empregaram-se os cultivares de arroz Irga 424 e Puitá Inta CL e de duas fontes de silício: silicato de alumínio e casca de arroz carbonizada moída, consistindo nas doses de 0; 30; 60; 90 e 120 g 100 kg-1 (de cada produto aplicado) de sementes mais polímero e água, totalizando um volume de calda de 1 L 100 kg-1 de sementes. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. A qualidade fisiológica das sementes foi avaliada no (LAS-FAEM\UFPel) pelos testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, comprimento da parte aérea e raiz, teste de frio e emergência em campo. Para diferenciação isoenzimática, as isoenzimas analisadas foram: esterase, glutamato oxalacetato transaminase e peroxidase, para todos os tratamentos. A avaliação da qualidade sanitária das sementes foi realizada pelo método do papel de filtro ou "Blotter Test". Doses crescentes de casca de arroz carbonizada e de silicato de alumínio, até 120 g 100 kg-1 de sementes, incrementam o vigor de sementes de arroz, avaliados pelo comprimento de raiz e pela emergência a campo. As fontes casca de arroz carbonizada e caulim controlam a incidência de fungos de solo nas sementes de arroz.

Hidrólise enzimática de casca de arroz utilizando-se celulases: efeito de tratamentos químicos e fotoquímicos

In the present work we reported the study of rice hull enzymatic hydrolysis using a commercial cellulase preparation. The results showed that previous treatment with light and sodium chlorite inhibits the enzymatic process (31.4 and 11.8%, respectively) while hydrogen peroxide and ozone favoured the enzymatic production of reducing sugars (5.9 and 54.9%, respectively). Studies performed by quimiluminescence showed that the chlorite treatment produced the most significant change in the structure of rice hull. Nevertheless, this treatment did not favour the subsequent enzymatic process. Photomicrographs obtained from rice hull hydrolysates showed that pre-treatment changed mainly the inner epidermis and parenchyma cell and that they did not change cellular organization of the hull.

Caracterização de cinza de casca de arroz para uso como matéria-prima na fabricação de refratários de sílica

The characterization of rice husk ash, a deriving by-product of the burning of the rice husk during the rice processing is the object of this study. This by-product, for being rich in silica, can be an important raw material for the production of siliceous ceramics, such as thermal insulators and refractory. A combination of surface analysis, thermal analysis and microscopy analysis techniques was used for the characterization. The characterized by-product presented as main component the silica, under amorphous form, with a maximum content of alkalis around 1%, features that become it potentially interesting for the production of ceramic materials.

Aplicabilidade das cinzas da casca de arroz

Currently, the accumulation of rice husk is a serious environmental problem. The burning of rice husk generates a considerable volume of ash, that falls to the ground and gets into the air and the rivers, causing a disequilibrium in the ecosystem. This motived research into solutions that aim to exploit the husks for energy generation and the ashes for developing diverse technological products. This work presents the possibilities of using rice husks and their ashes after burning.

Estudo comparativo entre sílica obtida por lixívia ácida da casca de arroz e sílica obtida por tratamento térmico da cinza de casca de arroz

A comparison between silica by acid leaching of rice husk (RH) and silica obtained from thermal treatment of rice husk ash (RHA) is presented. The best leaching results were obtained using 10% hydrochloric acid followed by washing with water. The alternative method, calcination of RHA at 700 ºC for 6 h followed by grinding for 80 min, was more effective. Silica obtained from RH was about 97% amorphous, had a 17.37 µm mean particle size, and a specific surface area of 296 m²/g. On the other hand, for silica obtained from RHA the values were about 95% amorphous material 0.68 µm, and 81 m²/g.

Preparação e caracterização de carvão ativado quimicamente a partir da casca de arroz

This work consists in a study about the chemical activation of charred rice hulls using NaOH as the activation agent. The influence of the naturally-occurring silica was particularly evidenced. X-ray diffraction patterns showed the formation of sodium carbonate and silicates in the activated samples, whereas thermogravimetric curves revealed a strong reduction in the ash content of these samples after washing with water. Nitrogen adsorption data indicated a microporosity development only in the washed samples, with BET surface area values of 450 and 1380 m²/g achieved for the samples activated at 800 °C starting from the precursor with or without silica, respectively.

Caracterização de cinza obtida por combustão de casca de arroz em reator de leito fluidizado

The rice husk combustion in a bubbling and atmospheric fluidized bed reactor was investigated. This paper presents the rice husk ash characterization employing the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) among others. After combustion, a rice husk ash containing 93% amorphous silica and <3% unburned char was produced. Methods usually applied to fixed bed considering external sources of energy and high reaction times were employed. Thus, the potential of this type of reactors with respect to speed, continuity and self-sufficiency energy of the process was shown.

Uso da cinza da casca do arroz (CCA) obtida da geração de energia térmica como adsorvente de Zn(II) em soluções aquosas

The removal study was conducted using 1.00 g of the rice husk ash (RHA) and 20.0 mL solution with concentrations in the range of 10-1000 mg/L of Zn(II). The influence of contact time, initial metal concentration, agitation and pH of the removal process was investigated. Superior removals to 95% were obtained at the end of 24 h of contact. The agitation increased in 20% the removal of Zn(II), being needed only 5 min to reach the equilibrium. The adsorption process was studied by the models of isotherms of Langmuir, Freundlich and BET, obtaining results of R L and 1/n for a process favorable of adsorption. BET isotherm best represents the equilibrium adsorption. The results showed that the RHA has the largest capacity and affinity for the removal of Zn(II).

Aplicação da casca de arroz na adsorção dos íons Cu2+, Al3+, Ni2+ e Zn2+

The potential use of rice husk as biosorbent to remove Cu2+, Al3+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions was investigated under both noncompetitive and competitive conditions. The biosorbent was used in the form of particles with size smaller than 0.5 μm and in the concentration of 500 mg L-1 (dry weight). The experiments were performed using batch adsorption technique for concentrations of 10, 30 and 70 mg L-1 of metal ions at pH 4.0 and 5.0. The chemical speciation of metals in the experimental conditions used in this work was predicted by the software Visual MINTEQ 2.6.

Emprego de catalisadores heterogêneos de CaO e SnO2 suportados em cinza de casca de arroz na obtenção de biodiesel

Silica obtained from rice husk after acid leaching and calcination was compared to commercial silica as a catalyst support. CaO and SnO2 catalysts were prepared by impregnation and tested in the transesterification of soybean oil and the esterification of oleic acid. CaO catalysts showed basic character and were the most active for transesterification, whereas SnO2 catalysts were acid and the most effective for esterification. In both cases the performances of the catalysts prepared with rice husk ash and commercial silica were similar. These results demonstrate that rice husk is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly source of silica that can be used as a catalyst support.

Investigando cinza da casca do arroz como fase estacionária em cromatografia: uma proposta de aula experimental nos cursos de graduação

This article describes an experiment that involves the extraction and separation of the pigments of spinach extract by column chromatography using the silica obtained from rice husk ash as a stationary phase. The experimental procedure is very simple to apply in the chemistry laboratory, and allowed to illustrate some concepts of organic chemistry: structure of organic molecules, solubility, polarity, extraction, partition coefficient, adsorption and retention factor (Rf), as well as objectives and fundamentals of chromatographic methods. The experiment can be carried out in a 4 h period.

Influência de parâmetros de processo na obtenção de sílica a partir de cinza da casca de arroz pela ação de Fusarium oxysporum

In this work, an experimental design was used to analyze the influence of process parameters on the production of extracellular enzymes such as β-glucosidase and peroxidase, and their possible effect on the obtention of soluble and nanostructured silica from rice husk ash by the action of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Specifically, pH, fermentation time and glucose concentration in the culture medium were varied. Statistical analysis indicated that the silica synthesis in the aqueous medium was strongly dependent on pH and time. Although the glucose concentration does not exert a direct influence on the biosynthesis of silica, it is an important parameter in the production of extracellular enzymes. To prevent enzyme inhibition and provide higher dissolution of silica, it is recommended to work at a pH close to neutral with a glucose concentration of 3 g L-1 for at least 144 h.

Estudo de catalisadores de níquel suportados em cinza de casca de arroz na reforma de metano com dióxido de carbono visando a produção de hidrogênio e gás de síntese

Rice husk ash (RHA) is used as a silica source for several purposes, among them to obtain metal catalysts, as was done in this work. The catalysts were characterized by chemisorption, physisorption, thermal analyses (TG, DSC), X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, temperature-programmed reduction and scanning electron microscopy. The catalysts synthesized with different Ni loadings supported on RHA were applied to the reaction of dry reforming of methane. The reaction was tested at three temperatures of catalytic reduction (500, 600 and 700 ºC). All synthesized catalysts were active for the studied reaction, with different H2/CO ratios achieved according to degree of metallic dispersion.

Efeito da aplicação de silicato de cálcio e de cinza de casca de arroz sobre a incidência de fungos associados a manchas em sementes de arroz irrigado

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de silicato de cálcio e de cinza de casca de arroz (CCA) na incidência de fungos associados a manchas em sementes de arroz irrigado. Plantas de arroz foram submetidas à aplicação de silicato de cálcio ou CCA nas doses de 0, 51, 153, 256 e 357 kg ha-1de silício (Si). Dois experimentos foram conduzidos, sendo um na safra 2007/2008 e outro na safra 2008/2009 e, posteriormente, amostras de sementes foram analisadas em laboratório. Foram realizadas avaliações do Índice de Escurecimento de Sementes (IES), da concentração de Si no pericarpo das sementes e a determinação da diversidade dos fungos presentes nas sementes. Não houve efeito das duas fontes de Si empregadas, nas doses utilizadas nos dois experimentos no IES e na concentração de Si. Os fungos fitopatogênicos encontrados em ambos experimentos foram Alternaria padwickiii, Bipolarisoryzae, Botrytis cinerea, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium semitectum, F. solani, Microdochium oryzae, Nigrospora oryzae, Phoma sorghina e Pyriculariaoryzae. A incidência destes fungos não foi afetada pela aplicação das fontes de Si nas doses utilizadas.