Avaliação química e microbiológica do capim-elefante, cultivar taiwan A-148, preparado para ensilagem com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), was cut after nine weeks of regrowth and mixed with 10, 20, 30 and 40% of sugar cane bagasse (SCB) with the objective of reducing the moisture content of the ensiled mass. Willing of the grass for eight and twelve hours was used as a comparative treatment. Initial dry matter of the grass (13%) increased in the forage mass to 17, 23, 24 and 27% by the addition of 10, 20, 30 and 40% of the SCB respectively. Wilting for eight and twelve hours increased initial dry matter to 18 and 24% respectively. Buffering capacity of elephant grass was reduced by the addition of 40% of SCB. Clostridium spores in the ensiled mass tended to be lower due to the effect of the two pre-treatments. Initial dry matter and number of spores of Clostridium were negatively correlated although without statistic significance. The addition of SCB reduced (P < 0.0.5) soluble carbohydrates and crude protein percentages in the ensiled mass. It was concluded that wilting is more effective than the addition of SCB in the practice of ensiling elephant grass.

Edible coatings from native and modified starches retain carotenoids in pumpkin during drying

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of edible coating pre-treatments on the retention of provitamin A during pumpkin drying. The coatings used were based on native and modified maize and cassava starch. To evaluate the effects of these coatings, slices of 'Dry Rajada' pumpkin were dried at 70 °C both with and without starch coatings applied at 30 and 80-90 °C. Carotenoid content was determined through HPLC using a C 30 column. Significant losses (12-15%) of trans-α-carotene and trans-β-carotene were observed when slices were dried without the coating. Significant improvement of carotenoid content was observed for dehydrated slices that were previously coated with a native maize starch solution at 90 °C, as well as with a modified maize starch solution at 30 °C and also with a modified cassava starch solution at 90 °C. The application of these starch solutions probably produced a more uniform film that adhered to the slices, minimizing carotenoid degradation during pumpkin drying and, as a consequence, resulting in a product that can be considered a good source of provitamin A. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Produção de enzimas celulolíticas pelos fungos thermoascus aurantiacus CBMAI 756, thermomyces lanuginosus, Trichoderma reesei QM9414 e Penicillium viridicatum RFC3 e aplicação na sacarificação do bagaço de cana de açucar com diferentes pré-tratamentos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cinética de secagem de abóboras (Curcubita moschata) pré-tratadas osmoticamente em soluções contendo sacarose

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da desidratação de mamão utilizando métodos combinados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito protetor da vitima E(ɑ-TOCOFEROL) contra a atividade citotóxica do peróxido de hidrogenênio

Pós-graduação em Reabilitação Oral - FOAR

Estudo de pré-tratamentos de bagaço de cana para produção de etanol celulósico por hidrólise enzimática

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

Germinação de sementes, adubação e níveis de sombreamento no desenvolvimento de mudas de jatobá (Hymeneae courbaril L. var. Stilbocarpa)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Efeito do pré-tratamento da dentina bovina na resistência ao cisalhamento de um cimento de ionômero de vidro resina modificado

Pós-graduação em Odontologia Restauradora - ICT

Obtenção e caracterização de nanocelulose a partir de fibras de Chorisia speciosa St. Hil

Natural fibers have been highlighted as a renewable material that can replace materials from oil and its derivatives. In this context, Brazil becomes the perfect setting because of the diversity of fibers found in its territory, such as sugarcane, sisal, rice, cotton, coconut, pineapple, among others. The paineiras (Chorisia speciosa St. Hil) are typically Brazilian trees, which produce paina as fruit. These fruits are still little studied as a source of lignocellulose by research groups. This project aimed obtaining and characterization of cellulose nanofibers from the fibers from the paina fibers. Obtaining nanocellulose is practically made through simplified chemical processes. First, was performed out pre-treatments to removal of waxes, lignin and hemicellulose. The first stage of pre-treatment was carried out by alkaline aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 5wt%, where the fibers were under constant agitation for 1h at 70°C. Through alkali treatment it was possible to remove most of the lignin, hemicellulose, waxes and extractives. After the alkaline treatment was done bleaching with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to 4wt% and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to 24wt% 1:1 during 2h with constant stirring to 50 °C. Through bleaching was possibe to remove residual lignin, and got cellulose with 72% of crystallinity. Nanocellulose of paina fibers was extracted using different conditions of acid hydrolysis with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to 50wt%. After acid hydrolysis, the suspensions were centrifuged during 30 min and dialyzed in water to remove excess acid until neutral pH (6-7). Then the suspensions were passed by ultrasonification in an ultrasound 20 kHz during 1h in an ice bath. Untreated, alkalinized and bleached fibers as well as cellulose nanoparticles were characterized by the techniques of thermogravimetry ... (Complete abastract click electronic access below)

Obtenção e caracterização de nanocelulose a partir de fibras de Chorisia speciosa St. Hil

Natural fibers have been highlighted as a renewable material that can replace materials from oil and its derivatives. In this context, Brazil becomes the perfect setting because of the diversity of fibers found in its territory, such as sugarcane, sisal, rice, cotton, coconut, pineapple, among others. The paineiras (Chorisia speciosa St. Hil) are typically Brazilian trees, which produce paina as fruit. These fruits are still little studied as a source of lignocellulose by research groups. This project aimed obtaining and characterization of cellulose nanofibers from the fibers from the paina fibers. Obtaining nanocellulose is practically made through simplified chemical processes. First, was performed out pre-treatments to removal of waxes, lignin and hemicellulose. The first stage of pre-treatment was carried out by alkaline aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 5wt%, where the fibers were under constant agitation for 1h at 70°C. Through alkali treatment it was possible to remove most of the lignin, hemicellulose, waxes and extractives. After the alkaline treatment was done bleaching with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to 4wt% and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to 24wt% 1:1 during 2h with constant stirring to 50 °C. Through bleaching was possibe to remove residual lignin, and got cellulose with 72% of crystallinity. Nanocellulose of paina fibers was extracted using different conditions of acid hydrolysis with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to 50wt%. After acid hydrolysis, the suspensions were centrifuged during 30 min and dialyzed in water to remove excess acid until neutral pH (6-7). Then the suspensions were passed by ultrasonification in an ultrasound 20 kHz during 1h in an ice bath. Untreated, alkalinized and bleached fibers as well as cellulose nanoparticles were characterized by the techniques of thermogravimetry ... (Complete abastract click electronic access below)

An advanced analytical study on linseed oil paint binder

Drying oils, and in particular linseed oil, were the most common binding media employed in painting between XVI and XIX centuries. Artists usually operated some pre-treatments on the oils to obtain binders with modified properties, such as different handling qualities or colour. Oil processing has a key role on the subsequent ageing of and degradation of linseed oil paints. In this thesis a multi-analytical approach was adopted to investigate the drying, polymerization and oxidative degradation of the linseed oil paints. In particular, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), yielding information on the macromolecular scale, were compared with gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) and direct exposure mass spectrometry (DEMS) providing information on the molecular scale. The study was performed on linseed oils and paint reconstructions prepared according to an accurate historical description of the painting techniques of the 19th century. TGA revealed that during ageing the molecular weight of the oils changes and that higher molecular weight fractions formed. TGA proved to be an excellent tool to compare the oils and paint reconstructions. This technique is able to highlight the different physical behaviour of oils that were processed using different methods and of paint layers on the basis of the different processed oil and /or the pigment used. GC/MS and DE-MS were used to characterise the soluble and non-polymeric fraction of the oils and paint reconstructions. GC/MS allowed us to calculate the ratios of palmitic to stearic acid (P/S), and azelaic to palmitic acid (A/P) and to evaluate effects produced by oil pre-treatments and the presence of different pigments. This helps to understand the role of the pre-treatments and of the pigments on the oxidative degradation undergone by siccative oils during ageing. DE-MS enabled the various molecular weight fractions of the samples to be simultaneously studied, and thus helped to highlight the presence of oxidation and hydrolysis reactions, and the formation of carboxylates that occur during ageing and with the changing of the oil pre-treatments and the pigments. The combination of thermal analysis with molecular techniques such as GC-MS, DEMS and FTIR enabled a model to be developed, for unravelling some crucial issues: 1) how oil pre-treatments produce binders with different physical-chemical qualities, and how this can influence the ageing of an oil paint film; 2) which is the role of the interaction between oil and pigments in the ageing and degradation process.

Pretrattamenti termo-meccanici ed enzimatici su scarti dell'industria enologica per la produzione di Biogas

A fundamental assumption for by-product from winery industy waste-management is their economic and commercial increase in value. High energetic value recovery from winery industry is an attractive economic solution to stimulate new sustainable process. Approach of this work is based about physic and biological treatment with grape stalks and grape marc to increase polysaccharides components of cell wall and energetic availability of this by-products. Grape stalks for example have a high percentage of lignin and cellulose and can’t be used, whitout pretreatment, for an anaerobic digestion process. Our findings show enzymatic and thermo-mechanical pre-treatments in combined application for optimise hydrolytic mechanism on winemaking wastes which represents 0,9 milion ton/year in Italy and on straw, cereal by-products with high lignin content. A screening of specifically industrial enzymatic complex for the hydrolysis lignocellulosic biomass were tested using the principal polysaccharides component of the vegetal cells. Combined thermo-mechanical and enzymatic pretreatment improve substrates conversion in batch test fermentation experiment. The conservation of the grape stalks, at temperature above 0°C, allow the growth of spontaneus fermentation that reduce their polysaccharides content so had investigated anarobic condition of conservation. The other objective of this study was to investigate the capability of a proprietary strain of L.buchneri LN 40177 to enhance the accessibility of fermentable forage constituents during the anaerobic conservation process by releasing the enzyme ferulate esterase. The time sequence study by batch tests showed that the L. buchneri LN-40177 inoculated grape stalk substrate was more readily available in the fermenter. In batch tests with grape stalk, after mechanical treatment, the L. buchneri LN41077 treated substrate yielded on average 70% more biogas per kg/DM. Thermo-mechanical, enzymatic and biological treatment with L. buchneri LN-40177 can increase the biogas production from low fermented biomasses and the consequent their useful in anaerobic biodigesters for agro-bioenergy production.

Methane production through anaerobic digestion of dedicated energy crops

Methane yield of ligno-cellulosic substrates (i.e. dedicated energy crops and agricultural residues) may be limited by their composition and structural features. Hence, biomass pre-treatments are envisaged to overcome this constraint. This thesis aimed at: i) assessing biomass and methane yield of dedicated energy crops; ii) evaluating the effects of hydrothermal pre-treatments on methane yield of Arundo; iii) investigating the effects of NaOH pre-treatments and iv) acid pre-treatments on chemical composition, physical structure and methane yield of two dedicated energy crops and one agricultural residue. Three multi-annual species (Arundo, Switchgrass and Sorghum Silk), three sorghum hybrids (Trudan Headless, B133 and S506) and a maize, as reference for AD, were studied in the frame of point i). Results exhibit the remarkable variation in biomass yield, chemical characteristics and potential methane yield. The six species alternative to maize deserve attention in view of a low need of external inputs but necessitate improvements in biodegradability. In the frame of point ii), Arundo was subjected to hydrothermal pre-treatments at different temperature, time and acid catalyst (with and without H2SO4). Pre-treatments determined a variable effect on methane yield: pre-treatments without acid catalyst achieved up to +23% CH4 output, while pre-treatments with H2SO4 catalyst incurred a methanogenic inhibition. Two biomass crops (Arundo and B133) and an agricultural residue (Barley straw) were subject to NaOH and acid pre-treatments, in the frame of point iii) and iv), respectively. Different pre-treatments determined a change of chemical and physical structure and an increase of methane yield: up to +30% and up to +62% CH4 output in Arundo with NaOH and acid pre-treatments, respectively. It is thereby demonstrated that pre-treatments can actually enhance biodegradability and subsequent CH4 output of ligno-cellulosic substrates, although pre-treatment viability needs to be evaluated at the level of full scale biogas plants in a perspective of profitable implementation.

Selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using monometallic and bimetallic supported nanoparticles

This work deals with the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) using metal supported catalysts. Catalysts were prepared from the immobilisation of preformed monometallic (Au, Pd) and bimetallic (AuCu, AuPd) nanoparticles on commercial oxides (TiO2, CeO2). Au-TiO2 catalyst was found to be very active for HMF oxidation; however, this system deactivated very fast. For this reason, we prepared bimetallic gold-copper nanoparticles and an increase in the catalytic activity was observed together with an increase in catalyst stability. In order to optimise the interaction of the metal active phase with the support, Au and AuCu nanoparticles were supported onto CeO2. Au-CeO2 catalyst was found to be more active than the bimetallic one, leading to the conclusion that in this case the most important feature is the interaction between gold and the support. Catalyst pre-treatments (calcination and washing) were carried out to maximise the contact between the metal and the oxide and an increase in the FDCA production could be observed. The presence of ceria defective sites was crucial for FDCA formation. Mesoporous cerium oxide was synthesised with the hard template method and was used as support for Au nanoparticles to promote the catalytic activity. In order to study the role of active phase in HMF oxidation, PdAu nanoparticles were supported onto TiO2. Au and Pd monometallic catalysts were very active in the formation of HMFCA (5-hydroxymethyl-2-furan carboxylic acid), but Pd was not able to convert it, leading to a low FDCA yield. The calcination of PdAu catalysts led to Pd segregation on the particles surface, which changed the reaction pathway and included an important contribution of the Cannizzaro reaction. PVP protected PdAu nanoparticles, synthesised with different morphologies (core-shell and alloyed structure), confirmed the presence of a different reaction mechanism when the metal surface composition changes.