Influência da fuligem da queima de palha de cana-de-açucar na presença de HPA em hortaliças de consumo humano

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

The use of radon (Rn-222) and volatile organic compounds in monitoring soil gas to localize NAPL contamination at a gas station in Rio Claro, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

This study focuses on the presence of radon (Rn-222) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil gases at a gas station located in the city of Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil, where a fossil fuel leak occurred. The spatial distribution results show a correlation between Rn-222 and VOCs, consistent with the fact that radon gas has a greater chemical affinity with organic phases than with water. This finding demonstrates that the presence of a residual hydrocarbon phase in an aquifer can retain radon, leading to a reduced radon content in the soil gas. The data in this study confirm the results of previous investigations, in which the method used in this study provided a preliminary fingerprint of a contaminated area. Furthermore, the data analysis time is brief, and only simple equipment is required. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Produção sustentável de leite bovino em área de proteção ambiental: aplicação da análise energética no município de Torre de Pedra/SP

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Desenvolvimento de um novo conceito para o índice de Wobbe

The increasing demand for alternative fuels lead to the search for solutions to use these fuels in old equipments and bring for new equipments the necessity of alternative fuels based burners. As a solution for these necessity the Gas Interchangeability`s studies came in evidence, because it studies the possibility of changing one fuel for another without changing the initial condition. In integrated industries, as most of steel industries, there is a link between process, the byproducts of one process are used as fuel for other process. There are new conditions for the equipments, that will be developed for these fuels, but even in these industries there will be situations which the byproduct won`t be available, and the process cannot stop. Using the gas interchangeability`s concepts is possible to work with security in both cases. Using alternative fuels in fossil fuel based burners and having a back-up solution for new technology burner. But using these new solutions were verified that there are some cases which the interchangeability`s methods does not work with satisfactory results, and for this reason, this study came to develop a new concept for the Method of Wobbe Index to evaluate the possibility to increase the range of the satisfactory results

Avaliação do desempenho ambiental da produção canavieira com colheita mecanizada: contribuição à implantação de um sistema simplificado de gestão ambiental da propriedade

The consuming of the natural resources in the agricultural sector does not represent only one external factor of the productive process, but also it implies in a bigger cost for the production, justified for this environmental degradation. In view of the necessity of evaluating the sustainment of the agricultural businesses, the use of performance indicators if makes of extreme importance. The measurement of the support through environmentalindicators is one of the most accepted forms of performing the evaluation of one given agricultural activity. In this context, the Base System for Eco-certification of Agricultural Businesses (Eco-cert Rural) developed by the Embrapa Environment at Jaguariúna/SP, has for purpose to present a method of evaluation of the agricultural businesses, not only of the point of view of the ecological performance, as well as considering the social, economic and organizational aspects. Through the analysis of the performance of the activity and the regularization of the disconformities found, it makes possible the eco-certification of the activities in the varied existing protocols, offering technologies designed to the sustainable development of the agricultural businesses. Using Eco-cert.Rural, this work evaluated the contribution of the use of mechanized harvest in sugar cane handling, front to the traditional system of manual harvest, using the fire. In the Sugar Cane Activity General Performance Index, Agrícola Rio Claro scored 2,08 of a maximum of 15. Amongst all the indicators, those wich reached performance worse had been related to the Use of Energy and the Income, by increasing fossil fuel consumptiom, and implying income concentration due to resignations of rural workers. However, the improvements on the environment quality by supressing manual harvest through fire are very significant. Beyond the great reduction in...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Opacidade da fumaça do trator agrícola funcionando com biodiesel etílico destilado de babaçu e diesel B S10 em períodos do dia

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Bioenergy from stillage anaerobic digestion to enhance the energy balance ratio of ethanol production

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Rainwater chemical composition and annual atmosphere depositon in Sorocaba (SP)

This work evaluated the rainwater chemical composition and the annual atmospheric deposition in Sorocaba, (Sao Paulo State), Brazil. One sampling ˜ point was chosen and forty samples were collected between January and December 2006. The analyses were performed for pH, electrical conductivity, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity and chloride. The rainwater pH varied from 5.20 to 6.40, being Ca2+ the main ion responsible for controlling the rainwater pH. The ionic concentration decreases in the following order: Ca2+>Na+> K+>Mg2+ for cations and SO2− 4 >HCO− 3 >NO− 3 >Cl−>PO3− 4 for anions. The annual atmospheric deposition appears to be controlled by the following sources: mining activities and cement factories (Ca2+ and HCO− 3 ), agricultural activities (K+, NO− 3 and PO3− 4 ), soil dust (Na+, Mg2+ and HCO− 3 ) and fossil fuel burning (SO2− 4 )

Efficiency in Brazil's industrial sectors in terms of energy and sustainable development

This article evaluates the efficiency of Brazil's industrial sectors from 1996 to 2009, taking into account energy consumption and respective contributions to the country's economic and social aspects. This analysis used a mathematical programming method called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which enabled, from the SBM model and the window analysis, to evaluate the ability of industries to reduce energy consumption and fossil-fuel CO2 emissions (inputs), as well as to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by sectors, the persons employed and personnel expenses (outputs). The results of this study indicated that the Textile sector is the most efficient industrial sector in Brazil, according to the variables used, followed by these sectors: Foods and Beverages, Chemical, Mining, Paper and Pulp, Nonmetallic and Metallurgical.

Análise Energética do processo experimental de produção de Biodiesel a partir do óleo de frango

There is a great global concern about the depletion and the high cost of fossil fuel reserves exploitation, more than ever, it is necessary to make a profound study and take advantage of alternative sources that can be used as energy efficiency with an appropriate pricing and low environmental impact. Brazil, which has highlighted using alternative energy sources as the use of ethanol and, in recent years, has been encouraging the expansion of its energy matrix in which the biodiesel will have a strategic importance within the agrobusiness area. Biodiesel is a fuel that can replace the diesel, which is a petroleum derivative. It is an ester, produced in the transesterification reaction of vegetable oils and animal greases, in an alcohol with an additional catalyst, are converted into fatty acids and result in esters with glycerol as sub products. The objective of this study was to estimate the final energy balance for the process biodiesel production from oil chicken waste. The energy balance estimation was quantified in calorific value according to the energy expenditure by calorimetric bomb method. The relationship between input and output of energy was around 0.97. In a first evaluation, the procedures adopted should be improved enough, so the process can become energetic and economically viable.

Avaliação energética econômica do agroecossistema algodão: uma abordagem entre sistemas familiares de produção do Paraguai e do Brasil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the energy and economic efficiency indexes per unit of cotton agro-ecosystem area in family production systems of Paraguay and Brazil; and, to establish a relationship between the energy and economic. Typologies presented by the Program to Support Small Cotton Holdings (Paraguay), and by the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (Brazil). Family systems of the two countries were identified; these are located from Paraguay (San Juan–CA) and from Brazil (Leme–SP). To construct the energy expenditure structure of the cotton agro-ecosystem, as well as to assess the economic efficiency, the mean values obtained were considered, when they presented similarities in production systems and they were within the typology proposed in this study. From the technical itinerary observed the Paraguayan agro-ecosystem depended (fossil fuel 56.76%) and industrial source (35.99%). Thus, the energy balance of the agricultural stage was established, which attained a value of 17,740.69 MJ ha-1; an energy efficiency of 5.28, and a cultural efficiency of 3.04. The Brazilian agro-ecosystem depended on energy from industrial source (insecticides 39.82%) and from fossil fuel (33.59%); it reached an energy balance of 19,547.88 MJ ha-1; an energy efficiency of 2.12, and a cultural efficiency index of 0.71. In the economic and energy indicator ratio, with regard to the months referring to the harvest time, that is to say, March, April, and May, the maximum economic efficiency indicator of paraguay was attained in the month of May (1,00), and from Brazil in the month of May (1,71). Both production systems analyzed were presented efficient, however, dependent of external circumstances and non-renewable energy sources.

Valiação energética e econômica do agroecossistema algodão: uma abordagem entre sistemas familiares de produção do Paraguai e Brasil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the energy and economic efficiency indexes per unit of cotton agro-ecosystem area in family production systems of Paraguay and Brazil; and, to establish a relationship between the energy and economic. Typologies presented by the Program to Support Small Cotton Holdings (Paraguay), and by the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (Brazil). Family systems of the two countries were identified; these are located from Paraguay (San Juan–CA) and from Brazil (Leme–SP). To construct the energy expenditure structure of the cotton agro-ecosystem, as well as to assess the economic efficiency, the mean values obtained were considered, when they presented similarities in production systems and they were within the typology proposed in this study. From the technical itinerary observed the Paraguayan agro-ecosystem depended (fossil fuel 56.76%) and industrial source (35.99%). Thus, the energy balance of the agricultural stage was established, which attained a value of 17,740.69 MJ ha-1; an energy efficiency of 5.28, and a cultural efficiency of 3.04. The Brazilian agro-ecosystem depended on energy from industrial source (insecticides 39.82%) and from fossil fuel (33.59%); it reached an energy balance of 19,547.88 MJ ha-1; an energy efficiency of 2.12, and a cultural efficiency index of 0.71. In the economic and energy indicator ratio, with regard to the months referring to the harvest time, that is to say, March, April, and May, the maximum economic efficiency indicator of paraguay was attained in the month of May (1,00), and from Brazil in the month of May (1,71). Both production systems analyzed were presented efficient, however, dependent of external circumstances and non-renewable energy sources.

Ciclo de cogeração a partir de resíduos de poda de árvores na cidade de Guaratinguetá

The current socio-economic situation has brought a need to look for alternative ways to get energy that allow reducing the high dependence on fossil fuel sources while deflect from the climate change arising from the result of the use of these energy resources. Renewable sources of energy, low and medium temperature appear as high potential of energy resources, which have a major influence on the way of life of the people to enable decentralized energy production. In Brazil, in particular, have also the need to decentralize the energy grid, currently focused on energy from water source. The current water crisis, exemplifies the urgency of betting on other energy sources, as a way to help in emergency situations such as the current one. Therefore, this study evaluates the possibility of using biomass as a heat source in a Rankine Cycle Organic where instead of water; it uses thermal fluid as working fluid, was compared the urban areas of the city of Guaratinguetá with the urban area of the metropolitan region of São Paulo. Thus, it was established two scenarios, so it was possible to establish the cycle to be used

Ciclo de cogeração a partir de resíduos de poda de árvores na cidade de Guaratinguetá

The current socio-economic situation has brought a need to look for alternative ways to get energy that allow reducing the high dependence on fossil fuel sources while deflect from the climate change arising from the result of the use of these energy resources. Renewable sources of energy, low and medium temperature appear as high potential of energy resources, which have a major influence on the way of life of the people to enable decentralized energy production. In Brazil, in particular, have also the need to decentralize the energy grid, currently focused on energy from water source. The current water crisis, exemplifies the urgency of betting on other energy sources, as a way to help in emergency situations such as the current one. Therefore, this study evaluates the possibility of using biomass as a heat source in a Rankine Cycle Organic where instead of water; it uses thermal fluid as working fluid, was compared the urban areas of the city of Guaratinguetá with the urban area of the metropolitan region of São Paulo. Thus, it was established two scenarios, so it was possible to establish the cycle to be used

Petroleum contamination impact on macrobenthic communities under the influence of an oil refinery: Integrating chemical and biological multivariate data

Petroleum contamination impact on macrobenthic communities in the northeast portion of Todos os Santos Bay was assessed combining in multivariate analyses, chemical parameters such as aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon indices and concentration ratios with benthic ecological parameters. Sediment samples were taken in August 2000 with a 0.05 m(2) van Veen grab at 28 sampling locations. The predominance of n-alkanes with more than 24 carbons, together with CPI values close to one, and the fact that most of the stations showed UCM/resolved aliphatic hydrocarbons ratios (UCM:R) higher than two, indicated a high degree of anthropogenic contribution, the presence of terrestrial plant detritus, petroleum products and evidence of chronic oil pollution. The indices used to determine the origin of PAH indicated the occurrence of a petrogenic contribution. A pyrolytic contribution constituted mainly by fossil fuel combustion derived PAH was also observed. The results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis performed with chemical data and benthic ecological descriptors demonstrated that not only total PAH concentrations but also specific concentration ratios or indices such as >= C24:< C24, An/178 and Fl/Fl + Py, are determining the structure of benthic communities within the study area. According to the BIO-ENV results petroleum related variables seemed to have a main influence on macrofauna community structure. The PCA ordination performed with the chemical data resulted in the formation of three groups of stations. The decrease in macrofauna density, number of species and diversity from groups III to I seemed to be related to the occurrence of high aliphatic hydrocarbon and PAH concentrations associated with fine sediments. Our results showed that macrobenthic communities in the northeast portion of Todos os Santos Bay are subjected to the impact of chronic oil pollution as was reflected by the reduction in the number of species and diversity. These results emphasise the importance to combine in multivariate approaches not only total hydrocarbon concentrations but also indices, isomer pair ratios and specific compound concentrations with biological data to improve the assessment of anthropogenic impact on marine ecosystems. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.