Oxidative potential of particles in different occupational environments: a pilot study

The oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter has been proposed as a toxicologically relevant metric. This concept is already frequently used for hazard characterization of ambient particles but it is still seldom applied in the occupational field. The objective of this study was to assess the OP in two different types of workplaces and to investigate the relationship between the OP and the physicochemical characteristics of the collected particles. At a toll station, at the entrance of a tunnel ('Tunnel' site), and at three different mechanical yards ('Depot' sites), we assessed particle mass (PM4 and PM2.5 and size distribution), number and surface area, organic and elemental carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and four quinones as well as iron and copper concentration. The OP was determined directly on filters without extraction by using the dithiothreitol assay (DTT assay-OP(DTT)). The averaged mass concentration of respirable particles (PM4) at the Tunnel site was about twice the one at the Depot sites (173±103 and 90±36 µg m(-3), respectively), whereas the OP(DTT) was practically identical for all the sites (10.6±7.2 pmol DTT min(-1) μg(-1) at the Tunnel site; 10.4±4.6 pmol DTT min(-1) μg(-1) at the Depot sites). The OP(DTT) of PM4 was mostly present on the smallest PM2.5 fraction (OP(DTT) PM2.5: 10.2±8.1 pmol DTT min(-1) μg(-1); OP(DTT) PM4: 10.5±5.8 pmol DTT min(-1) μg(-1) for all sites), suggesting the presence of redox inactive components in the PM2.5-4 fraction. Although the reactivity was similar at the Tunnel and Depot sites irrespective of the metric chosen (OP(DTT) µg(-1) or OP(DTT) m(-3)), the chemicals associated with OP(DTT) were different between the two types of workplaces. The organic carbon, quinones, and/or metal content (Fe, Cu) were strongly associated with the DTT reactivity at the Tunnel site whereas only Fe and PAH were associated (positively and negatively, respectively) with this reactivity at the Depot sites. These results demonstrate the feasibility of measuring of the OP(DTT) in occupational environments and suggest that the particulate OP(DTT) is integrative of different physicochemical properties. This parameter could be a potentially useful exposure proxy for investigating particle exposure-related oxidative stress and its consequences. Further research is needed mostly to demonstrate the association of OP(DTT) with relevant oxidative endpoints in humans exposed to particles.

Design of flywheel generator for a diesel hybrid working machine

The aim of this work is to design a flywheel generator for a diesel hybrid working machine. In this work we perform detailed design of a generator. Mobile machines are commonly used in industry: road building machines, three harvesting machines, boring machines, trucks and other equipment. These machines work with a hydraulic drive system. This system provides good service property and high technical level. Manufacturers of mobile machines tend to satisfy all requirements of customers and modernized drive system. In this work also a description of the frequency inverter is present. Power electronics system is one of the basic parts for structures perform in the project.

Produção de biocombustível alternativo ao óleo diesel através da transesterificação de óleo de soja usado em frituras

In this work, the utilization of used frying oil for the production of biodiesel is presented. The performance of biodiesel in diesel engines, as well as the characterization of the emissions derived from this process, are also discussed and compared to the emissions derived from engines running on unused vegetable oils and conventional diesel.

Desenvolvimento e validação de metodologia de análise de misturas biodiesel: diesel utilizando cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massas

The aim of this work was to develop and validate a method of analysis of biodiesel:diesel blends using HRGC-MS in SIM mode. The proposed method is applicable to biodiesel from linoleic oils, such as soybean oil. The following results were obtained: linearity over the methyl linoleate concentration range of 250-2500 mg L-1 (R² > 0.999); limits of detection and quantification of 2 and 5 mg L-1, respectively; recovery from 82 to 96% of biodiesel in diesel and repeatability < 2% (RSD). Comparison between two operators showed that it is not necessary the same operator to do the analysis.

Size distribution of atmospheric particulate ionic species at a coastal site in Portugal

A Berner impactor was used to collect size-differentiated aerosol samples from March to August 2003 in the city of Aveiro, on the Portuguese west coast. The samples were analysed for the main water-soluble ion species. The average concentration of sulphate, nitrate, chloride and ammonium was 6.38, 3.09, 1.67 and 1.27 µg m-3, respectively. The results show that SO4(2-) and NH4+ were consistently present in the fine fraction < 1 µm, which represents, on average, 72 and 89% of their total atmospheric concentrations, respectively. The NO3-particles were concentrated in the coarse size. Chloride presented the characteristic coarse mode for marine aerosols. During some spring/summer events, an ammonium surplus was observed (NH4+/SO4(2-) molar ratios > 2), possibly due to greater availability of ammonia coming from agricultural activities or from the neighbouring chemical industrial complex. During the remaining periods, the aerosol was found to be somewhat acidic and predominantly in the form of ammonium bisulphate (NH4+/SO4(2-) molar ratios = 0.5-1.25). Samples collected under a major or exclusive influence of maritime air masses were essentially constituted by coarse particles with enrichment in sea salt, while for air masses of continental origin the contribution of water-soluble ionic species in the fine mode was more pronounced.

Metodologia analítica para quantificar o teor de biodiesel na mistura biodiesel: diesel utilizando espectroscopia na região do infravermelho

Considered the best substitute for diesel, biodiesel can be blended with diesel in any ratio, bringing lots of environmental, economic and social advantages. Brazilian law Nº 11097/2005, proposes the introduction of biodiesel in to the Brazilian energy matrix, mixed with diesel at a minimum percentage of 2%. For consumers and sellers to be sure that the commercialized mixture of biodiesel:diesel contains the correct percentage, it is necessary to develop analytical methodologies to quantify the amount of biodiesel added. This work presents a fast, low-cost and simple methodology to determine the biodiesel proportion in mixtures of biodiesel:diesel, based on infrared spectroscopy.

Análise por cromatografia gasosa de BTEX nas emissões de motor de combustão interna alimentado com diesel e mistura diesel-biodiesel (B10)

This paper describes the procedures for analysing pollutant gases emitted by engines, such as volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene) by using high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC). For IC engine burning, in a broad sense, the use of the B10 mixture reduces drastically the emissions of aromatic compounds. Especially for benzene the reduction of concentrations occurs at the level of about 24.5%. Although a concentration value below 1 µg mL-1 has been obtained, this reduction is extremely significant since benzene is a carcinogenic compound.

Determinação da matéria-prima utilizada na produção do biodiesel adicionado ao diesel mineral através de monitoramento seletivo de íons

The selective ion monitoring acquisition mode in mass spectrometry was applied to identify, in the diesel complex matrix, the raw materials (vegetable oil and alcohol) that originate biodiesel. Biodiesel samples obtained from babassu, castor, palm and soybean vegetable oils and pure fatty acid methyl and ethyl esters were used to develop this method, using specific fragments in mass spectrometry and the "window system" in gas chromatography. The commercial Brazilian B2 samples were found to be produced with soybean oil, transesterified with methanol.

Estudo de adsorção de compostos sulfurados utilizando um diesel comercial dopado com benzotiofeno e dibenzotiofeno

Desulphurization process by adsorption was studied employing a commercial diesel dooped with 1000 mg/L of benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene. The adsorbents materials employed were three types of activated alumina (acid, basic and neutral). For comparison, adsorption process was made also using oxidized diesel sample. The results showed that the adsorbents were selective for sulphur compounds removal from fuels. The contact time have influence in adsorption process achieving 80% of removal for not oxidized dibenzothiophene. The three studied alumina types showed similar behavior and a greater selective in dibenzothiophene adsorption than benzothiophene. Dibenzothiophene removal is more effective in samples not oxidized, whereas the benzothiophene was almost totally removed in oxidized sample.

UVA I-protection effectiveness of bioactive compound and organic UV filters: an in vitro assessment

This research work aimed at determining the UVA effectiveness (UVA I/UV ratio), by diffuse transmittance analysis, of sunscreens developed with a bioactive substance, the rutin, associating or not with organic UVB-UVA filters incorporated at a phosphate-base O/W emulsion. Sunscreens provided conflicting and unpredictable results concerning the anti-UVA protection, specially, at the UVA I region. Possible interactions among the organic UV filters and the polyphenolic bioactive substance may have accounted with improvement or reduction of UV protection by a complex and not yet elucidated mechanism, probably regarding wavelength delocalization to superior or inferior values, by resonant molecule stabilization or destabilization.

Avaliação da potencialidade de processos pseudo-fenton para remediação de solos contaminados por diesel

The use of the Fenton's reagent process has been investigated for the remediation of a Brazilian soil contaminated by diesel. Laboratory experiments were conducted in batch experiments. Slurries, consisting of 10 g of diesel-contaminated soil and 30 mL of Fenton's Reagent (0.41 mol L-1 H(2)0(2) and 0.18 mol L-1 FeSO4). The experiments were monitored during 24, 48 and 72 h. The efficiency of the Fenton treatment was dependent on the time of contact between soil and Fenton's reagents and matrix characteristics, probably iron content. Data suggested that no iron addition is needed for the application of Fenton-like treatment for the remediation of diesel-contaminated iron rich soils after 72 h reaction.

Aplicação do modelo Tucker-3 para a análise da biodegradação de diesel

Tucker-3 model offers several advantages for analysis of environmental data but its interpretation is still challenging. A Tucker-3 model was applied to a biodegradation experiment involving a large number of overlapped chromatographic peaks and a temporal variation. The Tucker-3 model allowed the data to be decomposed in two processes: evaporation and biodegradation. The results suggest that linear hydrocarbons were those biodegraded first and demonstrate that the data analysis can be simplified by interpreting the elements of the core array. The approach discussed in this work can be applied in similar problems involving multi-way data in other areas of chemistry.

Identificação de adulteração de biocombustível por adição de óleo residual ao diesel por espectrofluorimetria total 3D e análise das componentes principais

Total spectrofluorimetry associated to Principal Components Analysis (PCA) were used to classify into different groups the samples of diesel oil, biodiesel, vegetal oil and residual oil, as well as, to identify addition of non-transesterified residual vegetable oil, instead of biodiesel, to the diesel oil. Using this method, the samples of diesel oil, mixtures of biodiesel in diesel and mixtures of residual oil in diesel were separated into well-defined groups.

Diesel/biodiesel soot oxidation with ceo2 and ceo2-zro2-modified cordierites: a facile way of accounting for their catalytic ability in fuel combustion processes

CeO2 and mixed CeO2-ZrO2 nanopowders were synthesized and efficiently deposited onto cordierite substrates, with the evaluation of their morphologic and structural properties through XRD, SEM, and FTIR. The modified substrates were employed as outer heterogeneous catalysts for reducing the soot originated from the diesel and diesel/biodiesel blends incomplete combustion. Their activity was evaluated in a diesel stationary motor, and a comparative analysis of the soot emission was carried out through diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The analyses have shown that the catalyst-impregnated cordierite samples are very efficient for soot oxidation, being capable of reducing the soot emission in more than 60%.

Estudos de biodegradação de óleo diesel por consórcio microbiano coletado em Porto Velho - RO, amazônia

The goal of this research was to evaluate the biodegradation of diesel by a microbial consortium collected in a region close to distributors of fuel. The experiments were monitored by SPME-GC-FID and SPME-GC-MS. The consortium showed a high potential for production of biosurfactants, presenting an emulsification index of 53%. The consortium degraded completely n-alkanes, while dimethylnaphtalene, hepthyl-cyclohexane and 2,6,10-trimethyl-undecane were partially degraded and pristane was not degraded. From this consortium five strains were isolated and identified as Acinetobacter baumannii. Based on this initial investigation this consortium appears to be effective for bioremediation in Porto Velho - RO region.