Extraction, purification and biochemical characterization of a peroxidase from Copaifera langsdorffii leaves

The aim of this work is to obtain, purify and characterize biochemically a peroxidase from Copaifera langsdorffii leaves (COP). COP was obtained by acetone precipitation followed by ion-exchange chromatography. Purification yielded 3.5% of peroxidase with the purification factor of 46.86. The COP optimum pH is 6.0 and the temperature is 35 ºC. COP was stable in the pH range of 4.5 to 9.3 and at temperatures below 50.0 ºC. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) for guaiacol and H2O2 were 0.04 mM and 0.39 mM respectively. Enzyme turnover was 0.075 s-1 for guaiacol and 0.28 s-1 for hydrogen peroxide. Copaifera langsdorffii leaves showed to be a rich source of active peroxidase (COP) during the whole year. COP could replace HRP, the most used peroxidase, in analytical determinations and treatment of industrial effluents at low cost.

Degradação do pesticida Padron® por processos fotoquímicos utilizando luz artificial e solar

Destruction of Padron® (dye and picloram) was evaluated using a photoreactor and a solar reactor. Photolysis was observed using only a germicide lamp (GL). Black light (BL) and H2O2 (172 mmol L-1) promoted a conversion of 49% and 6% of dye and picloram, respectively. Photocatalytic processes were more efficient using TiO2/GL (96%-dye; 60%-picloram) than TiO2/BL (44%-dye; 40%-picloram). Photolysis using sunlight was not observed during PadronÒ recirculation in the reactor constructed with four borosilicate tubes. Meanwhile, adding H2O2 resulted in 12% conversion of dissolved organic compounds. Finally, the most efficient mineralization (60%) was obtained using the Fenton reaction ( H2O2-176 mmol L-1; FeSO4x6H2O-90 mmol L-1) and sunlight.

Avaliação do potencial de processos oxidativos avançados para remediação de águas contaminadas com geosmina e 2-MIB

In this work, the efficiency of some homogeneous advanced oxidation processes (UVC/H2O2, Fe2+/H2O2, UVC/Fe2+/H2O2, UVA/Fe2+/H2O2, solar/Fe2+/H2O2) was investigated toward the degradation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB). The effect of relevant experimental parameters (ie. pH, Fe2+ and H2O2 concentration) was first investigated by factorial design, using camphor as a model substrate. In the geosmin and 2-MIB degradation studies the Fenton processes assisted by solar and UVA radiation offered the most promising results, mainly on account of high degradation capacity (higher than 80% at a reaction time of 60 min), high operational simplicity and low cost.

Degradação de corantes ácidos por processos oxidativos avançados usando um reator com disco rotatório de baixa velocidade

Three technologies were tested (TiO2/UV, H2O2/UV, and TiO2/H2O2/UV) for the degradation and color removal of a 25 mg L-1 mixture of three acid dyes: Blue 9, Red 18, and Yellow 23. A low speed rotating disc reactor (20 rpm) and a H2O2 concentration of 2.5 mmol L-1 were used. The dyes did not significantly undergo photolysis, although they were all degraded by the studied advanced oxidation processes. With the TiO2/H2O2/UV process, a strong synergism was observed (color removal reached 100%). Pseudo first order kinetic constants were estimated for all processes, as well as the respective apparent photonic efficiencies.

Materiais à base de óxido de ferro para oxidação de compostos presentes no efluente da despolpa do café

Materials based on pure iron oxide and impregnated with niobia (Nb2O5) were prepared. Their catalytic activities were tested on the oxidation of compounds present in the wastewater from the processing of coffee berries. Particularly caffeine and catechol were tested. The oxidation reactions were carried out with the following systems (i) UV/H2O2, (ii) photo-Fenton and (iii) heterogeneous Fenton. All materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopy. Iron was mainly in the forms of goethite and maghemite. The oxidation kinetics were monitored by UV-vis and the oxidation products were monitored by mass spectrometry. The photo-Fenton reaction presented highest oxidation efficiency, removing 98% of all caffeine and catechol contents.

Predição da demanda química de oxigênio em chorume maduro contendo reagente de Fenton, por meio de modelo matemático empírico gerado com planejamento fatorial completo

COD is an important parameter to estimate the concentration of organic contaminants. The closed system technique with the use of K2Cr2O7 is the most important one, however, it has the inconvenience to suffer positive chemical interferences from inorganic compounds such as Fe2+ and H2O2 (not enough reported in the literature). This paper considers a statistical-experimental set capable to validate a empirical mathematical model generated from a 23 experimental design, in the presence of Fe2+ and H2O2. The t test shows that mathematical model has 99,99999% confidence degree and the experimental validation test indicates absolute mean error of 4,70%.

Extracción y medida de peroxidasa en pulpa de arazá (Eugenia stipitata MC Vaugh)

A technique for both extraction and activity measurement of peroxidase extracted from arazá (Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh) is described. Peroxidase from arazá pulp fruit was extracted using a combination of protein precipitation with acetone and extraction with 50 mM sodium buffer phosphate (pH 6.0). Optimum activity using guaiacol as H-donor was obtained at pH from 5.0 to 6.5, temperature from 60 to 75 °C, H2O2 between 10 to 15 mM and guaiacol from 80 to 160 mM. Thermal inactivation showed a first-order inactivation kinetic. Reactivation was observed when extracts were heated at 80 °C and afterwards incubated at 25 °C.

Degradação de fármacos residuais por processos oxidativos avançados

The concern about aquatic ecosystems and the potential risk of drinking water contamination by pharmaceuticals have stimulated the study of processes for the efficient degradation of these contaminants, since the conventional treatment have been inefficient on that purpose. The advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) appear as viable alternatives due to their efficiency on the degradation of different classes of organic contaminants. This review presents an overview of the main AOP (O3, H2O2/UV, TiO2/UV, Fenton and photo-Fenton) which have been applied to the degradation of different pharmaceuticals. The main results obtained, intermediates identified and toxicity data are presented.

Branqueamento de polpa celulósica kraft de eucalipto com peróxido ácido ativado por molibdênio

Optimum conditions to run the P Mo stage for bleaching eucalyptus kraft pulp were 90 ºC, pH 3.5, 2 h, 0.1 kg/t Mo and 5 kg/t H2O2. The P Mo stage efficiency increased with decreasing pH (1.5-5.5) and increasing temperature (75-90 ºC), time (2-4 h), and hydrogen peroxide (3-10 kg/t) and molybdenum concentration (0.1-0.4 kg/t). The implementation of the P Mo stage, as replacement for the A stage, decreased total active chlorine demand of the OAZDP sequence by 6 kg/t to reach 90% ISO, both in laboratory and mill scale. Such practice resulted in decreased bleaching chemical costs to produce fully bleached pulp of 90% ISO.

Degradação de benzeno, tolueno e xilenos em águas contaminadas por gasolina, utilizando-se processos foto-Fenton

In this work the potentiality of photo-Fenton processes were investigated toward the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons (BTXs) from water contaminated with gasoline. The main results demonstrated that BTXs can be quickly degraded by photo-Fenton process assisted by solar or artificial UV-A radiation, degradation that leads to generation of characteristic phenolic transient species (ie. phenol, hydroquinone and catechol). In the treatment of contaminated water by photo-Fenton processes assisted by solar light, complete BTXs removal was observed in reaction times of about 5 min. Mineralization of about 90% was also observed by applying a multiple H2O2 addition system.

Determinação direta de Ca, Mg, Mn e Zn em amostras de leite de búfala da Ilha de Marajó por espectrometria de absorção atômica com chama (FAAS)

This work proposes an analytical procedure for direct determination of calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc in buffalo milk by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Samples were diluted with a solution containing 10% (v/v) of water-soluble tertiary amines (CFA-C) at pH 8. For comparison, buffalo milk samples were digested with HNO3 and H2O2. According to a paired t-test, the results obtained in the determination of Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn in digested samples and in 10% (v/v) CFA-C medium were in agreement at a 95% confidence level. The developed procedure is simple, rapid, decrease the possibility of contamination and can be applied for the routine determination of Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn in buffalo milk samples without any difficulty caused by matrix constituents, such as fat content, and particle size distribution in the milk emulsion.

Utilização e recuperação de sílica gel impregnada com nitrato de prata

Argentation chromatography is used to increase the selectivity of the chromatographic process, chiefly in the resolution of complex mixtures of nonpolar substances. Although efficient, this technique generates residues containing heavy metal which makes its discarding through common procedures impracticable. In the present work a simple method for recycling of silica, and also silver, from argentation chromatography is described. This procedure uses initially a treatment of H2O2/HNO3, with subsequent treatment with H2O2/H2SO4 , allowing an efficient recycling of both components. This methodology is simple, costless, removes impurities efficiently, and does not modify retention parameters nor specific surface in a significant way.

In vitro study of antioxidant and scavenger properties of phenolic compounds from Lychnophora species

This paper describes the antioxidant effects of thirteen phenolic compounds isolated from plants of the genus Lychnophora. Two assays were performed to evaluate these effects: a cellular test that measured the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence produced by neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan and a cell-free test involving horseradish peroxidase-H2O2-luminol. In both assays, the antioxidant activity of the phenolic compounds was dependent on their concentration and chemical structure. Our results suggest that the ability of phenolic compounds from Lychnophora species to scavenge and inhibit the generation of ROS may be a mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts from Lychnophora spp.

Determinação de peróxido de hidrogênio em antisséptico bucal usando um microdispositivo contendo partículas de Azul da Prússia

A simple flow-injection amperometric procedure using a three-electrode-integrated sensor for the determination of H2O2 in antiseptic mouthwash is reported. This method involves the use of a working composite electrode modified with Prussian Blue (PB) particles that was easily adapted as detector in FIA. The best amperometric response was observed for a composite containing 30% of graphite modified with PB particles (GAP) and 70% of pure graphite (GR). The proposed method presents a linear response in the range of 10 to 200 μmol L-1. The detection and quantification limits were 0.8 and 2.6 μmol L-1, respectively.

Atividade eletrocatalítica de sistemas biomiméticos da enzima catalase

In this work, we describe the immobilization of the dinuclear compound [Cu2(apyhist)2Cl2](ClO4)2 (1) and its derived cations complexes, obtained in water solution or by deprotonation of the imidazolate moiety in the ligand leading to a cyclic tetranuclear species, in the Nafion® membrane on glass carbon electrode surface. After that, we studied the influence of the equilibrium in the electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H2O2 in the development of an amperometric sensor for the analytical determination of hydrogen peroxide. This strategy proved successful, and the electrochemical behaviour of the all complexes formed within the Nafion® coatings was characterized. We also provide evidence that its related cyclic tetranuclear imidazolate-bridged complex acts as a catalysts for the intramolecular, two-electron reduction of H2O2.