Estudo das propriedades físico-químicas do biodiesel e suas influências na deterioração dos elastômeros aplicados no sistema de injeção dos motores diesel

The biodiesel use has become important due to its renewable character and to reduce environmental impacts during the fuel burning. Theses benefit will be valid if the fuel shows good performance, chemistry stability and compatibility with engines. Biodiesel is a good fuel to diesel engines due to its lubricity. Then, the aimed of this study was to verify the physicalchemistry properties of biodiesel and their correlations with possible elastomers damage after biodiesel be used as fuel in an injection system. The methodology was divided in three steps: biodiesels synthesis by transesterification of three vegetable oil (soybean, palm and sunflower) and their physical-chemistry characterization (viscosity, oxidative stability, flash point, acidity, humidity and density); pressurized test of compatibility between elastomers (NBR and VITON) and biodiesel, and the last one, analyze of biodiesels lubricity by tribological test ball-plan( HFRR). Also, the effect of mixture of biodiesel and diesel in different concentrations was evaluated. The results showed that VITON showed better compatibility with all biodiesel blends in relation to NBR, however when VITON had contact with sunflower biodiesel and its blends the swelling degree suffer higher influences due to biodiesel humidity. For others biodiesels and theirs blends, this elastomer kept its mechanical properties constant. The better tribological performance was observed for blends with high biodiesel concentration, lower friction coefficient was obtained when palm biodiesel was used. The main mechanisms observed during the HFRR tests were abrasive and oxidative wear

Avaliação e modelagem da absorção de H2S do gás natural em coluna de leito estagnado

Natural gas, although basically composed by light hydrocarbons, also presents contaminant gases in its composition, such as CO2 (carbon dioxide) and H2S (hydrogen sulfide). The H2S, which commonly occurs in oil and gas exploration and production activities, causes damages in oil and natural gas pipelines. Consequently, the removal of hydrogen sulfide gas will result in an important reduction in operating costs. Also, it is essential to consider the better quality of the oil to be processed in the refinery, thus resulting in benefits in economic, environmental and social areas. All this facts demonstrate the need for the development and improvement in hydrogen sulfide scavengers. Currently, the oil industry uses several processes for hydrogen sulfide removal from natural gas. However, these processes produce amine derivatives which can cause damage in distillation towers, can cause clogging of pipelines by formation of insoluble precipitates, and also produce residues with great environmental impact. Therefore, it is of great importance the obtaining of a stable system, in inorganic or organic reaction media, able to remove hydrogen sulfide without formation of by-products that can affect the quality and cost of natural gas processing, transport, and distribution steps. Seeking the study, evaluation and modeling of mass transfer and kinetics of hydrogen removal, in this study it was used an absorption column packed with Raschig rings, where the natural gas, with H2S as contaminant, passed through an aqueous solution of inorganic compounds as stagnant liquid, being this contaminant gas absorbed by the liquid phase. This absorption column was coupled with a H2S detection system, with interface with a computer. The data and the model equations were solved by the least squares method, modified by Levemberg-Marquardt. In this study, in addition to the water, it were used the following solutions: sodium hydroxide, potassium permanganate, ferric chloride, copper sulfate, zinc chloride, potassium chromate, and manganese sulfate, all at low concentrations (»10 ppm). These solutions were used looking for the evaluation of the interference between absorption physical and chemical parameters, or even to get a better mass transfer coefficient, as in mixing reactors and absorption columns operating in counterflow. In this context, the evaluation of H2S removal arises as a valuable procedure for the treatment of natural gas and destination of process by-products. The study of the obtained absorption curves makes possible to determine the mass transfer predominant stage in the involved processes, the mass transfer volumetric coefficients, and the equilibrium concentrations. It was also performed a kinetic study. The obtained results showed that the H2S removal kinetics is greater for NaOH. Considering that the study was performed at low concentrations of chemical reagents, it was possible to check the effect of secondary reactions in the other chemicals, especially in the case of KMnO4, which shows that your by-product, MnO2, acts in H2S absorption process. In addition, CuSO4 and FeCl3 also demonstrated to have good efficiency in H2S removal

O impacto dos custos não-gerenciáveis na determinação das tarifas de energia elétrica: um estudo nas companhias distribuidoras do nordeste que tiveram revisão tarifária nos exercícios de 2003 e 2004

This work presents results derived from a study related to impact on non-controllable costs in the determination of energy taxes. This is done analyzing tax review practiced by concessionaries responsible for the distribution of electrical energy located in the Northeastern Region of Brazil, between 2003 and 2004. This Region was chosen as a study area due to the researcher s expectation in congregating companies that deliver services to markets that have similar social-economical profiles. A brief explanation related to the restructuring of the electrical sector in Brazil is presented, pointing out that there was privatization of the great majority of these companies. The study also points out the definition of regulating rules in service delivery process. The components of taxes that are practiced by these companies aimed at final consumers, as well as the market as a whole and the revision process that is executed by Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica ANEEL for the definition of these taxes are demonstrated in the research. A brief historical of the concessionaires that were focus of the research is presented, totaling five companies. Some data used by ANEEL in the tax review process was analyzed as well as data on components of approved taxes. It is concluded that as a media 47, 49% of the components of taxes in the researched companies correspond to the non-controllable costs. These is done considering previous classification by ANEEL in the tax review process. Although, if it is considered that these companies since 2006, by the means of participation in energy auctions are able to negotiate energy prices for their own needs, it is concluded that these concession contracts guarantee the delivery of the service to the costumer in the total tribute. The percentage of non-controllable costs is 16, 27% average of the tax. This means, amongst other information, that the government has a great deal of responsibility in the formation of price practiced by these companies and its target markets

Estudo evolutivo das condições ambientais da região costeira do município de Guamaré - RN

The work concerns on the evolutionary study of the environmental conditions of the coastal area of Guamaré-RN, where was investigated the geo-environmental transformation occourred in this region, whose primordial purpose was to diagnose the changes verified in the temporary space of five decades (1950 to 2001). With the objective of evaluanting the action of the active coastal processes (currents, waves, tides and winds), in order to understand the generating mechanisms of the erosion/sedimentation, evidenced by constant morphologic changes. The adopted methodological procedure consisted of a succession of stages, involving bibliographical and cartographic study, aereal photographs study, digital treatment of images, field work (sample collection, beaches profiles, characterization of the beach environment and morfodynamics), mapping correction and laboratory analyses (granulometry). The evolutionary study of the morphologic features indicated significant variations in the studied period, mainly, in the dunes, sea terraces, variation of the shore line and tidal flat, evidencing the largest transformations in the temporary space between 1988 and 2001. The analyses of the beach profiles showed a sedimentation tendency in the area of the profiles P1, P2 and P3, however in the monitored pediod, it was observed in the referred profiles, erosive and depositionals intervals evidencing a need of more effective monitoring. The results of the granulometric analyses indicate a predominance of mean to coarse sand in the backshore and estirancy area, as in the shoreface, the analyses indicated medium to fine sand. The morfodynamic state, showed that beach of Minhoto is intermediate state, with alternancy to reflective. The areas of larger vulnerability and sensibility are the tidal flat, shore line, barrier island and mobile dunes, that actually is suffering great environmental impact with expansion of the carcinoculture, urban presence and natural impacts (erosion of the shoreline)

Fragilidade ambiental da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Punaú (RN) e área litorânea adjacente

Hydrographic basins always exercised a big fascination over humankind that attracted for its scenery beauty or for its richness in natural resources, had been acting in order to modify these important ecosystems without, therefore, considering the possible consequences of these changes. The attributed importance to the coast ecosystems, in eminence to the hydrographic basin of Punaú river and adjacent areas, is had when it s verified the diversity of the ecosystems that contemplate it. Hydrographic basin in evidence in Rio Grande do Norte state, occupies an area of nearly 652.71 km², being it sited in the homogeneous micro-region Litoral Nordeste, with a regional population estimated in nearly 75,188 inhabitants, according to the Anuário Estatístico do Rio Grande do Norte 2004. The region of the researched basin is formed by seven municipal districts related as it follows: Maxaranguape, Pedra Grande, Pureza, Rio do Fogo, São Miguel de Touros, Taipu and Touros, but Maxaranguape, Rio do Fogo, Touros and Pureza have a direct participation in the basin. Basin in study have it lands evaluated according to the agriculturist aptitude by the conventionally methodology practiced in the country, having as objective, then, a compara-tive analysis between the ambient unities, Aeolian littoral and coast tray, identified in the researched area. From the characterization of the physic way of the area in study and owning the kept data, it was proceeded the integrated analysis of the structural elements of the landscape which were evidenced that the fragile areas are associated with the areas of agriculture cultivation, such as the ones of irregular occupation. About the degradation, the ambient diagnostic of the basin indicated that the equivalent to the Aeolian Littoral Ambient Unit correspond to the bigger pledging of the ambient quality, in other words, high ambient fragility, being this result due to the use and occupation of the soil, propitiating this way, vulnerability in the vegetal cover of the area, despite it disposes of a low agriculture cultivation percentage. Already in the Coast Ambient Tray, is emphasized the medium ambient fragility, despite of the high index of cultivated area. In a general way, the total area of the hydrographic basin of Punaú river and adjacent areas presented ambient impacts over the tolerance limit, indicating the necessity of a review of the practices of use and handling of the soil, reforesting of the water courses edges, control of erosion and contamination of the aqueous in the perspective to reduce the effects of the impacts due to the use and occupation of the basin in regard. The present search evaluated the ambient impacts diagnosised in the hydrographic basin of Punaú river and adjacent areas, pointing the causes and the probable consequences of the damages caused by these impacts to the basin ambient. From the analysis of these data, if was possible to become explicit how they are fundamental as key elements in the process of decision taking in the ambient questions

O licenciamento ambiental da mineração no Quadrilátero Ferrífero de Minas Gerais: uma análise da implementação de medidas de controle ambiental formuladas em EIAs/RIMAs

Instrumento de política pública ligado ao licenciamento ambiental prévio de projetos de empreendimentos potencialmente degradadores do ambiente, a Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental (AIA), atualmente, apresenta algumas inconsistências. Dentre elas, autores registram a disparidade no que se refere à indicação e à efetiva implantação das medidas de controle ambiental estabelecidas nos EIA/RIMAs. Diante disso, o presente trabalho analisa a implantação das medidas mitigadoras estabelecidas para empreendimentos minerais licenciados pela Fundação Estadual do Meio Ambiente (FEAM) do Estado de Minas Gerais, para a região do Quadrilátero Ferrífero. No estudo, constata-se que intervenções ambientais são hoje partes integrantes dos projetos minerais; porém, como na mineração a operação impõe certo dinamismo ao empreendimento, verifica-se que parte das medidas mitigadoras apontadas no EIA acaba não sendo executada, como o previsto e o aprovado na fase da Licença Prévia (LP), enquanto outras apenas ficam listadas como propostas de mitigação de impactos, deixando de ser efetivamente executadas.

Estudo da atividade acaricida de ésteres de sacarose em ácaros (Acari) de Hevea brasiliensis Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntese de templates para aplicação em piezocerâmicas livre de chumbo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Impactos no meio físico da bacia hidrográfica do Córrego das Almas, Pouso alegre (MG): subsídios para a educação ambiental

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Análise dos impactos na construção civil: avaliação do ciclo de vida em chapas de partículas para forros

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Gerenciamento de resíduos como instrumentos de gestão ambiental em laboratórios de análises e pesquisa da área química. -

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comunidade e lugar: o caso do horto florestal de Limeira - SP

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

Parque estadual do Rio Turvo: um estudo sobre a percepção e interpretação ambiental da comunidade moradora do entorno da BR 116

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

Apresentação de um método experimental de traumatismo dentoalveolar em ratos para realização de experimentos de movimentação dentária induzida

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Otimização e validação de método cromatográfico para determinação de 17 'beta'- estradiol, estrona e estriol em solo tratado com esterco animal e iodo de ETE

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)