Evaluation of the QuEChERS Method and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis Pesticide Residues in Water and Sediment

A method for the determination of pesticide residues in water and sediment was developed using the QuEChERS method followed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, specificity, linearity, detection and quantification limits. The recovery percentages obtained for the pesticides in water at different concentrations ranged from 63 to 116%, with relative standard deviations below 12%. The corresponding results from the sediment ranged from 48 to 115% with relative standard deviations below 16%. The limits of detection for the pesticides in water and sediment were below 0.003 mg L(-1) and 0.02 mg kg(-1), respectively.

Characterization of organic matter from composting of different residues by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods

Chemical and spectroscopic methods were used to characterize organic matter transformations during the composting process. Four different residue mixtures were studied: P1 - garden trimmings (GT) only, P2 - GT plus fresh cattle manure, P3 - GT plus orange pomace and P4 - GT plus filter cake. The thermophilic phase was not reached in PI compost, but the P2, P3 and P4 composts showed all three typical process phases. The thermophilic phase and CEC/C ratio stabilized after 90 days, while C/N ratio and the ash content stabilized after 60 days. The increasing E(4)/E(6) ratio indicated oxidation reactions occurring during the process in the material from P2, P3 and P4. The (13)C NMR and FTIR results suggested extraction of both pectin and lignin in the HA-like fraction. The CEC/C ratio, temperature and E(4)/E(6) ratio showed that within 90 days P2, P3 and P4 composts were humified. However, material from P1 did not show characteristics of humified compost. From these data, it is apparent that C/N ratio and ash content are not reliable methods for monitoring the composting process. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of solid residues removed from a mangrove swamp in the Sao Vicente Estuary, SP, Brazil

Mangrove swamps are found in estuaries along the coastal plains of tropical regions and have be subjected to heavy occupation and use pressure due to their privileged locations and abundance of biological resources. The present work evaluated the ecological characteristics and solid wastes accumulated in eight areas along the Santos - Sao Vicente Estuary Complex. The superficially deposited residues at each sampling site were collected and subsequently washed, drained, counted, weighed and separated into classes according to their composition and predominant use. The predominant litter type in terms of density was plastic (62.81%) and, by weight, wood (55.53%). The greatest deposition of residues was associated with areas that were less inclined and that had low plant density levels, indicating that the presence of obstacles was not critical for retaining floating residues in mangrove areas. The presence of the most frequently encountered types of solid waste residues could be explained by local activities. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Desempenho de um trator agrícola equipado com pneus radiais e diagonais com três níveis de lastros líquidos

A utilização correta de pneus em tratores, tanto em relação ao seu tipo quanto à calibração de sua pressão interna, e a lastragem ideal para cada condição de carga são fatores que influem significativamente no desempenho do trator. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo comparar o desempenho de um trator equipado com pneus radiais e com pneus diagonais, para três condições de lastragem líquida (0%, 40% e 75% de água), em três condições superficiais de um Nitossolo Vermelho distrófico (superfície firme, preparada e com cobertura vegetal de resto de milho) e em três velocidades teóricas de deslocamento (4 km h-1, 5 km h-1 e 7 km h-1), informadas no painel do trator, correspondendo às marchas B1, B2 e C1. O melhor desempenho do trator, equipado com pneu diagonal, ocorreu na condição de 75% de água nos pneus, apresentando maior velocidade de deslocamento, menor patinhagem do trator, menor consumo horário de combustível e gerando maior potência na barra de tração. Com pneus radiais, o melhor desempenho do trator ocorreu na condição de 40% de água nos pneus, proporcionando maiores velocidades de deslocamento do trator, menores patinhagens, menores consumos, horário e específico de combustível, e maiores potência e rendimento na barra de tração.

Soil CO2 emission as related to incorporation of sugarcane crop residues and aggregate breaking after rotary tiller

O preparo do solo é um dos processos que aceleram a decomposição da matéria orgânica, transferindo carbono para atmosfera, principalmente na forma de CO2. Neste trabalho, investigou-se o efeito do preparo com enxada rotativa sobre as emissões de CO2 do solo durante 02 semanas após o preparo do solo, incluindo-se a presença de resíduos vegetais sobre a superfície. As emissões foram avaliadas por 15 dias após preparo em 3 parcelas: 1) sem preparo e sem palha superficial (SPs); 2) preparo com enxada rotativa sem a presença de palha na superfície (ERs), e 3) preparo com enxada rotativa com a presença de palha superficial (ERc). As emissões provenientes da ERc foram superiores às demais (0,777 g CO2 m-2 h-1), sendo as menores emissões registradas na parcela SPs (0,414 g CO2 m-2 h-1). As emissões totais indicaram que a diferença de C-CO2 emitida à atmosfera corresponde a 3% do total de carbono adicional presente na palha, na parcela ERc, quando comparado à parcela ERs. O aumento da emissão da parcela SPs para ERs foi acompanhado de uma modificação na distribuição do tamanho de agregados, especialmente aqueles com diâmetro médio inferior a 2 mm. O aumento da emissão da parcela ERs para ERc esteve relacionado a uma diminuição da massa de palha na superfície, com fragmentação e incorporação da mesma no interior do solo. Quando se analisa a correlação linear entre emissão de CO2 versus temperatura e umidade do solo, somente a emissão da ERc foi significativamente correlacionada (p<0,05) à umidade do solo.

Co-accumulation of microbial residues and particulate organic matter in the surface layer of a no-till Oxisol under different crops

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

Production of fibrolytic enzymes by Aspergillus japonicus C03 using agro-industrial residues with potential application as additives in animal feed

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

Nitrogen washing from C3 and C4 cover grasses residues by rain

Crop species with the C-4 photosynthetic pathway are more efficient in assimilating N than C-3 plants, which results in different N amounts prone to be washed from its straw by rain water. Such differences may affect N recycling in agricultural systems where these species are grown as cover crops. In this experiment, phytomass production and N leaching from the straw of grasses with different photosynthetic pathways were studied in response to N application. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) with the C-4 photosynthetic pathway, and black oat (Arena Strigosa) and triticale (X Triticosecale), with the C-3 photosynthetic pathway, were grown for 47 days. After determining dry matter yields and N and C contents, a 30 mm rainfall was simulated over 8 t ha(-1) of dry matter of each plant residue and the leached amounts of ammonium and nitrate were determined. C-4 grasses responded to higher fertilizer rates, whereas N contents in plant tissue were lower. The amount of N leached from C-4 grass residues was lower, probably because the C/N ratio is higher and N is more tightly bound to organic compounds. When planning a crop rotation system it is important to take into account the difference in N release of different plant residues which may affect N nutrition of the subsequent crop.

Desenvolvimento de material compósito a base de raspa de pneu e látex para isolamento térmico

The process of recycling has been stimulated by the markets for several reasons, mainly on economical and environmental. Several products have been developed from recycled materials that already exist as well as several residues have been studied in different forms of applications. The greater majority of the applications for thermal insulation in the domestic, commercial and industrial systems have been elaborated in the temperature ranges between low to medium reaching up to 180oC. Many materials such as glass wool, rock wool, polystyrene are being used which are aggressive to the environment. Such materials in spite of the effectiveness in the retention of heat flow, they cost more and when discarded take several years to be absorbed by the nature. This way, in order to adapt to a world politics concerning the preservation of the environment, the present study was intended to develop a material composed of natural/biodegradable materials and industrial residues. The development of such a product in the form of a composite material based on tyre scrapes and latex for thermal insulation is presented in this research work. Thermal and physical properties of the tire scrapes as well as latex were studied in order to use them as raw materials for the manufacture of the intended composite to be applied as a thermal insulator in hot and cold systems varying between 0ºC and 200oC, respectively. Composite blankets were manufactured manually, in weight proportions of 1:1 (50:50%); 1:2 (33:67%) and 2:1 (67:33%) (tire scrapes: latex) respectively. Physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were analyzed to obtain data about the viability of using the composite as a thermal insulator. The analyses carried out were based on standards ABNT, ASTM and UL. The maximum temperature obtained for the composite as a thermal insulator was 200ºC, which meets the range of applications that could be used as a thermal insulator in domestic as well as industrial purposes. The experimental results prove that the composite can be used as a thermal insulator on heated or cooled surface

Soil Solution as Affected by Plant Residues and Nitrogen Rates

Cation mobility in acidic soils with low organic-matter contents depends not only on sorption intensity but also on the solubility of the species present in soil solution. In general, the following leaching gradient is observed: potassium (K+) magnesium (Mg2+) calcium (Ca2+) aluminum (Al3+). To minimize nutrient losses and ameliorate the subsoil, soil solution must be changed, favoring higher mobility of M2+ (metal ions) forms. This would be theoretically possible if plant residues were kept on the soil surface. An experiment was conducted in pots containing a Distroferric Red Latosol, with soil solution extractors installed at two depths. Pearl millet, black oat, and oilseed radish residues were laid on the soil surface, and nitrogen (as ammonium nitrate) was applied at rates ranging from 0 to 150mgkg-1. Corn was grown for 52 days. Except for K+ and ammonium (NH4 +), nitrogen rates and plant residues had little effect upon the concentrations and forms of the elements in the soil solution. Presence of cover crop residues on soil surface decreased the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on Ca leaching. More than 90% of the Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ were found as free ions. The Al3+ was almost totally complexed as Al(OH3)0. Nitrogen application increased the concentrations of almost all the ions in soil solution, including Al3+, although there was no modification in the leaching gradient.

Composito de poliuretano de mamona e residuo industrial para isolacao termica e absorcao sonora

This work proposes the development of an innovative material made from a vegetable polyurethane matrix and load of industrial waste, from retread tires, for thermal insulation and environmental comfort. Experimental procedures are presented, as well as the results of the thermal and acoustic performance of this composite material, made from an expansive foam derived from the castor seed oil and fiber of scrap tires. The residue was treated superficially with sodium hydroxide, to eliminate contaminants, and characterized macroscopically and microscopically. Samples were produced with addition of residues at levels of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by weight, for determination of thermal properties: conductivity, heat capacity and thermal diffusivity, sound absortion index and density. The results were compared to commercially available thermal insulation and sound absorbing products. According to the analysis of results, it was concluded that the developed composite presents characteristics that qualify it as a thermal insulation with superior performance, compared to commercial available insulation, and sound absorption capacity greater than the castor oil polyurethane s, without addition of the residue

Physiochemical analysis and centesimal composition of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom grown in residues from the Amazon

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a composição nutricional dos cogumelos produzidos em substratos alternativos à base de resíduos agrícolas e agroindustriais da Amazônia. Determinou-se C, N, pH, umidade, sólidos solúveis, proteína, lipídios, fibra total, cinzas, carboidratos e energia. Os substratos foram formulados a partir de serragem de Simarouba amara Aubl. (marupá), Ochroma piramidale Cav. ex. Lam. (pau de balsa) e do estipe de Bactris gasipaes Kunth (pupunheira) e de Saccharum officinarum (cana-de-açúcar). Os resultados demonstraram que: a composição nutricional do P. ostreatus variou com o substrato de cultivo e; O P. ostreatus pode ser considerado um importante alimento devido suas características nutricionais: altos teores de proteínas, carboidratos metabolizáveis e fibras; baixos teores de lipídios e de calorias.

Exchangeable basic cations and nitrogen distribution in soil as affected by crop residues and nitrogen

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

Taurine bromamine: A potent oxidant of tryptophan residues in albumin

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

Structural modeling and mutational analysis of yeast eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A reveal new critical residues and reinforce its involvement in protein synthesis

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is a protein that is highly conserved and essential for cell viability. This factor is the only protein known to contain the unique and essential amino acid residue hypusine. This work focused on the structural and functional characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF5A. The tertiary structure of yeast eIF5A was modeled based on the structure of its Leishmania mexicana homologue and this model was used to predict the structural localization of new site-directed and randomly generated mutations. Most of the 40 new mutants exhibited phenotypes that resulted from eIF-5A protein-folding defects. Our data provided evidence that the C-terminal alpha-helix present in yeast eIF5A is an essential structural element, whereas the eIF5A N-terminal 10 amino acid extension not present in archaeal eIF5A homologs, is not. Moreover, the mutants containing substitutions at or in the vicinity of the hypusine modification site displayed nonviable or temperature-sensitive phenotypes and were defective in hypusine modification. Interestingly, two of the temperature-sensitive strains produced stable mutant eIF5A proteins - eIF5A(K56A) and eIF5A(Q22H,L93F)- and showed defects in protein synthesis at the restrictive temperature. Our data revealed important structural features of eIF5A that are required for its vital role in cell viability and underscored an essential function of eIF5A in the translation step of gene expression.