Ferro zero: uma nova abordagem para o tratamento de águas contaminadas com compostos orgânicos poluentes

Anthropogenic pollution of groundwater and surface water has become a very serious environmental problem around the world. A wide range of toxic pollutants is recalcitrant to the conventional treatment methods, thus there is much interest in the development of more efficient remediation processes. Degradation of organic pollutants by zero-valent iron is one of the most promising approaches for water treatment, mainly because it is of low cost, easy to obtain and effective. After a general introduction to water pollution and current treatments, this work highlights the advances, applications and future trends of water remediation by zero-valent iron. Special attention is given to degradation of organochloride and nitroaromatic compounds, which are commonly found in textile and paper mill effluents.

Taninos: uma abordagem da química à ecologia

Tannins are compounds of great interest in chemistry and ecology. They have various effects on food digestibility and the performance of animals. In this work, the chemistry, the biological activity and the ecology of tannins are examined. A brief discussion of several analytical methods for the determination of tannins is presented.

Inibidores da HIV-integrase: potencial abordagem farmacológica para tratamento da AIDS

AIDS has the HIV as its etiological agent. Researches has been done to find new pharmacological agents to be used in therapy, because of problems of resistance and side effects. The HIV-integrase inhibitors are some of those new agents that are being studied. This updating focusses on the fundamental information about HIV and HIV-integrase and the main methods being used to develop these new drugs, with examples for each case.

Alquilbenzeno sulfonato linear: uma abordagem ambiental e analítica

The environmental impact of detergents and other consumer products is behind the continued interest in the chemistry of the surfactants used. Of these, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LASs) are most widely employed in detergent formulations. The precursors to LASs are linear alkylbenzenes (LABs). There is also interest in the chemistry of these hydrocarbons, because they are usually present in commercial LASs (due to incomplete sulfonation), or form as one of their degradation products. Additionally, they may be employed as molecular tracers of domestic waste in the aquatic environment. The following aspects are covered in the present review: The chemistry of surfactants, in particular LAS; environmental impact of the production of LAS; environmental and toxicological effects of LAS; mechanisms of removal of LAS in the environment, and methods for monitoring LAS and LAB, the latter in domestic wastes. Classical and novel analytical methods employed for the determination of LAS and LAB are discussed in detail, and a brief comment on detergents in Brazil is given.

Hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos como traçadores da queima de cana-de-açúcar: uma abordagem estatística

In this study atmospheric particulates of PAHs were measured in Araraquara, Piracicaba and São Paulo in July 2003 (sugarcane harvest season in Araraquara and Piracicaba) and in Araraquara in March of 2003. The results were normalized to the total PAH concentrations. Comparison among the sites and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to investigate possible tracers of emission. Fluoranthene and pyrene concentrations were higher in Piracicaba and Araraquara samples. These PAH were also responsible for the largest negative loadings on the second principal component and account for the negative scores and for the formation of the Araraquara and Piracicaba group.

Síntese de complexo ferro(II)-nitrogênio: abordagem dos conceitos de reatividade e retro-doação para alunos de graduação em química

There has been a considerable interest in coordination complexes of molecular nitrogen (N2), partly due to a possible relationship between such complexes and the nitrogen activation process in nature. The present paper describes the synthesis and infrared spectroscopic characterization of an iron-nitrogen derivative with ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (edta) as an experiment for an undergraduate course. The topics covered here include synthesis, reactivity and spectroscopy.

Desenvolvimento de abordagem objetivando a síntese da 3-desidroxi-4-metoxi-tubastrina

We report the synthesis of amino(2-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylamino)methaniminium (14) as a direct precursor of a tubastrine derivative (3-dehydroxy-4-methoxytubastrine). The synthetic steps involved functional group interconversions starting from 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone to obtain the guanidine-protected derivative 13. Tentative dehydration of 13 with SiOH-adsorbed CuSO4 resulted in guanidine deprotection only. This was an unexpected result, since there are no reports of CuSO4.SiOH as Boc-deprotecting of guanidines. The product 14 was obtained in five steps and 5.4 % overall yield, and constitutes a direct precursor of 3-dehydroxy-4-methoxytubastrine.

Uma abordagem simplificada do método Monte Carlo Quântico: da solução de integrais ao problema da distribuição eletrônica

The paper presents an introductory and general discussion on the quantum Monte Carlo methods, some fundamental algorithms, concepts and applicability. In order to introduce the quantum Monte Carlo method, preliminary concepts associated with Monte Carlo techniques are discussed.

Experimento didático sobre cromatografia gasosa: uma abordagem analítica e ambiental

This paper describes an experiment to teach the principles of gas chromatography exploring the boiling points and polarities to explain the elution order of a series of alcohols, benzene and n-propanone, as well as to teach the response factor concept and the internal standard addition method. Retention times and response factors are used for qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of a hypothetical contamination source in a simulated water sample. The internal standard n-propanol is further used for quantification of benzene and n-butanol in the water sample. This experiment has been taught in the instrumental analysis course offered to chemistry and oceanography students.

Um panorama sobre a abordagem ambiental no currículo de cursos de formação inicial de professores de química da região sudeste

This work analysed the contents of 701 disciplines from 22 chemistry courses that prepare chemistry teachers in 16 public Universities in Southeastern Brazil. Only a small number (23) of disciplines showed an explicit relationship between human activities and the environment. A total of 11 theoretical and 193 experimental disciplines explored to some extent scientific and technological aspects related to the environment, but did not include their relationship with society. As the experimental disciplines supposedly include some kind of waste treatment, this may explain why secondary school chemistry teachers work mainly on recycling programs and waste issues at their schools. The aim of this work is to provide information on which to base a much needed discussion about how to better prepare our chemistry teachers to act as Environmental Educators at school, as the Brazilian Education Legislation requires.

Termocromismo em soluções de alcóxidos de Vanádio(IV): uma abordagem pela modelagem molecular

The thermochromic behavior exhibited by vanadium(IV) alkoxides, [V2(μ-OPr i)2(OPr i) 6] and [V2(μ-ONep)2(ONep)6 ], OPr i = isopropoxide and ONep = neopentoxide, was studied by molecular modeling using DFT, TDDFT and INDO/S methods. The vibrational and electronic spectra calculated for [V2(μ-OPr i)2(OPr i) 6] were very similar to the experimental data registered for crystalline samples of the complex and for its solutions at low temperature (< 210 K), while spectra recorded at high temperature (> 315 K) were compatible with those calculated for the monomeric form, [V(OPr i)4]. These results consistently point to a monomer/dimer equilibrium as an explanation for the solution thermochromism of {V(OPr i)4}n. In spite of the structural similarity between [V2(μ-ONep)2(ONep)6 ] and [V2(μ-OPr i)2(OPr i) 6] in the solid state, the thermochromic behavior of the former could not be explained by the same model, and the possibility of tetranuclear aggregation at low temperatures was also investigated.

Alteração da atividade enzimática em organismos aquáticos por poluentes de origem agrícola: uma abordagem geral e sobre a suscetibilidade da fosfatase ácida

The input of agrochemicals in the aquatic compartment can results in biochemical injuries for living organisms. In this context, the knowledge of alterations of enzymatic activities due the presence of agriculture pollutants contributes for the elucidation of the mechanisms of toxicity, implementation of economic methods for monitoring purposes and establishment of maximum allowed concentrations. In the present work, the above considerations are discussed, and data concerning changes in enzymatic function by pesticides and fertilizer contaminants are reviewed. Also, we focused on the acid phosphatase due its susceptibility to several pollutants and diversity in cellular functions.

Estimativa da incerteza de medição em análise cromatográfica: abordagem sobre a quantificação de carbamato de etila em cachaça

The measurement uncertainty is useful to estimate the confidence of analytical results. Nowadays, a result without the uncertainty statement cannot be considered reliable, but the scientific literature still lacks examples of the estimate of the measurement uncertainty. This paper presents a practical and reliable description of the measurement uncertainty estimation of the analytical determination of ethyl carbamate in cachaça by GC-IDMS. The isotope dilution technique (ID) associated with GC-MS was used to improve the accuracy. The uncertainty estimated corresponds to 10% of the mass fraction of ethyl carbamate (115 ± 11) ng/g, which is in agreement with ppb level.

Calorímetro de gelo: uma abordagem histórica e experimental para o ensino de química na graduação

In addition to the usual advantage of an ice calorimeter of being able to measure slow heat changes, the instrument described here is extremely simple to construct and operate. Specific heat of aluminum, copper, lead and tin metals were determined using the ice calorimeter made with easily accessible materials. The values obtained from specific heat are near to those found in the literature and were 0.204; 0.030; 0.086; 0.046 cal/g °C with an error of theoretical values of 6.84; 1,64; 5.49 and 8.00% for aluminum, copper, lead and tin, respectively.

Receptores A3 da adenosina: uma nova abordagem terapêutica no câncer

Cancer is a multi-factorial disease linked with different initiating causes, cofactors and promoters, and several types of cellular damage. Advancing knowledge on the cellular and molecular biology of the processes that regulate cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cellular responses to external signals, has provided a wealth of information about the cancer cell and how it differs from a normal one. These findings make available a number of potential targets for new therapeutic approaches. The Medicinal Chemistry artwork performed so far in the development of selective and potent adenosine receptor A3 ligands, a current cancer target, will be highlighted in this work.