Estudo químico e atividade antibacteriana do caule de Aristolochia esperanzae kuntze (Aristolochiaceae)

From the ethanolic extract of the stem of A. esperanzae ethyl and methyl fatty acid esters, fatty acids, aristolochic I and II acids, and β-cubebin were isolated. In addiction asarinin, populifolic and 2-oxo-populifolic acids, aristolactams AIa and AII, and sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were also isolated and firstly described in the species. Asarinin and β-cubebin showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and aristolochic acid I against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocitogenes.

Constituintes químicos das folhas de Senna spectabilis (DC) Irwin & Barneby var. excelsa (Schrad.) Irwin & Barneby

From leaves of Senna spectabilis var. excelsa were isolated caffeine, the triterpenes lupeol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, cycloeucalenol, friedelin and ursolic, oleanolic and betulinic acids, besides the steroids sitosterol and stigmasterol and their respective glucosides. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis including two-dimensional NMR methods and comparison with published spectral data. This paper deals with the first report of these compounds in S. spectabilis var. excelsa.

Síntese e avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana de furanonas halogenadas e de compostos análogos aos nostoclídeos

Considering the broad spectrum of biological activity of gamma-butyrolactone derivatives, we presented the synthesis of 3,4-dihalo-5-arylidenefuran-2(5H)-ones (17-21) and analogues (24-28) of the natural product nostoclide (7,8). Furanones 17-21 were synthesized from the condensation of aromatic aldehydes with lactones 14 and 15, that were obtained from mucobromic and mucochloric acids. Lactone 15 was converted into the intermediate 23 in 36% overall yield. Compound 23 was then transformed into the nostoclide analogues 24-28. Some of the compounds prepared showed antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus comparable to commercial antibiotics.

Constituintes químicos de Hyptidendron canum (Pohl ex Benth.) R. Harley (Lamiaceae)

Chemical investigation of Hyptidendron canum stems resulted in the isolation of betulinic, ursolic and euscaphic acids. From the leaves were isolated 3β-O-β-galactopiranosilsitosterol, ursolic aldehyde, and mixtures of maslinic acid and 2α-hydroxyursolic acid, α and β-amyrin, uvaol and erythrodiol, sitosterol and stigmasterol, spathulenol and globulol. Hexane and chloroform leave fractions as well as ursolic and betulinic acids showed antifungal activities against the yeast form of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Validação de método para determinação de ácidos orgânicos voláteis em efluentes de reatores anaeróbios empregando cromatografia líquida

This work deals with the method validation for the determination of acetic, propionic and butyric acids (VFAs) in wastewaters from anaerobic reactors by HPLC-DAD. Separation was performed using a C18 column and the mobile phase composition were water pH 3.0 and methanol 90:10 (v/v). The detection and quantification was carried out at 220 nm. The method shows good linearity (r²>0.996), with adequate accuracy (89-102%) and relative standard deviations lower than 18%. The matrix effect was considered low (-4.1, -3.9 and 1.4%). The developed method is fast, simple and cheap; and it was applied in wastewater samples from anaerobic reactor.

Correlação entre precursores e voláteis em café arábica brasileiro processado pelas vias seca, semiúmida e úmida e discriminação através da análise por componentes principais

The influence of pre-processing of arabica coffee beans on the composition of volatile precursors including sugars, chlorogenic acids, phenolics, proteins, aminoacids, trigonelline and fatty acids was assessed and correlated with volatiles formed during roasting. Reducing sugars and free aminoacids were highest for natural coffees whereas total sugars, chlorogenic acids and trigonelline were highest for washed coffees. The highest correlation was observed for total phenolics and volatile phenolics (R= 0.999). Experimental data were evaluated by Principal Components Analysis and results showed that washed coffees formed a distinct group in relation to semi-washed and natural coffees.

Revisão dos tratamentos químicos da fibra natural para mistura com poliolefinas

The use of natural fibers as reinforcement in polymer composites has been a focus of interest. However, these composites exhibit lower mechanical properties than those of pure polymers because of the low interfacial interactions between the hydrophobic polymer matrix and the hydrophilic fiber. To overcome this problem, different chemical treatments applied to the fibers have been reported. One of the most used treatments is mercerization, which can improve adhesion between the fiber and polymeric matrix. Another chemical treatment involves the use of acids (stearic and oleic acids). The chemically treated fibers used in composite materials showed improved mechanical properties.

Visual demonstration of the ionic strength effect in the classroom: the Debye-Hückel limiting law

The effects of ionic strength on ions in aqueous solutions are quite relevant, especially for biochemical systems, in which proteins and amino acids are involved. The teaching of this topic and more specifically, the Debye-Hückel limiting law, is central in chemistry undergraduate courses. In this work, we present a description of an experimental procedure based on the color change of aqueous solutions of bromocresol green (BCG), driven by addition of electrolyte. The contribution of charge product (z+|z-|) to the Debye-Hückel limiting law is demonstrated when the effects of NaCl and Na2SO4 on the color of BCG solutions are compared.

Chemical profiling of six samples of Brazilian propolis

Six samples of Brazilian propolis from Minas Gerais and Paraná states were analyzed to identify the constituents (GC/MS and HPLC/MS) and to determine their contents (HPLC and external standardization). All samples contained characteristic constituents of green propolis, but the samples from Minas Gerais had higher contents of prenylated phenylpropanoids and caffeoylquinic acids. Kaempferide and two other flavonoids were among the major constituents of the samples from Minas Gerais. Luteolin 5-O-methyl ether was detected only in samples from Paraná. Baccharis dracunculifolia was a source of resins for all samples analyzed, but the samples from Paraná had more complex plant origin.

Validação de um método para determinação simultânea de quatro ácidos orgânicos por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência em polpas de frutas congeladas

Validation of a rapid method for the determination of ascorbic, citric, fumaric and tartaric acids in stored pulp fruit and its application as a quality parameter was performed. The validation parameters showed that for the four evaluated acids, the method presented low limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), indicating good precision and accuracy, thus representing an important tool for quality assessment of stored fruit pulp. The results showed that the concentration of organic acids generally decreased with longer storage time in the fruit pulp under study. Amongst all the organic acids under investigation, ascorbic proved the least stable.

Caracterização físico-química de resíduos oleosos do saneamento e dos óleos e graxas extraídos visando a conversão em biocombustíveis

Oily waste from sanitation processes was characterized for its potential use in the generation of biofuels. The waste residues studied showed high levels of oil and grease, reaching up to 87% (m/m) in a grease trap of a food company, showing that these residues can be utilized for the production of biofuels. The results revealed high levels of moisture and saponification as well as high levels of free fatty acids (FFA). Analysis of chromatographic profiles (HPLC) showed great heterogeneity of the fatty acids contained in the sample, and a predominance of palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids.

Simultaneous determination of four phenolic compounds in extracts of aerial parts of Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br. (Convolvulaceae) by HPLC-UV

Among other applications, Ipomoea pes-caprae is popularly used to treat jellyfish stings, supporting the development of a product for dermatological use. Hydroethanolic spray-dried extract was chosen for the further development of phytomedicines, and a stability-indicative HPLC-UV method was developed and validated for the determination of isoquercitrin and isochlorogenic acids A, B and C. The method was developed using a C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with an acetonitrile:water mobile phase at pH 3.0 in a gradient run. The four constituents and other unidentified components of the extract were appropriately resolved without interference of degradation products after stress tests (acid, alkali, neutral, oxidant, photolysis). The method showed linearity in the isoquercitrin concentration range from 5.0-50.0 µg mL-1, with adequate precision (RSD% < 2.5% for the intra- and inter-day studies), accuracy (recovery of 100.0 ± 2.0%), and robustness. Both the herbal drug and spray-dried extract of I. pes-caprae were subjected to stability studies in accelerated and long-term conditions over four months. The samples maintained their characteristics and marker contents (< 10% of variation).

Hydroksihappojen erotus mustalipeästä nanosuodatuksella

Hydroksihapoille on olemassa useita käyttömahdollisuuksia teollisuudessa, joten niiden hyödyntäminen sellunvalmistuksen sivuvirrasta eli mustalipeästä on suuren kiinnostuksen kohteena. Tässä työssä selvitettiin, onko hydroksihappojen erotus ja puhdistus mustalipeästä mahdollista nanosuodatuksella. Kokeellisessa osassa suodatettiin emäksisen mustalipeän lisäksi hapotettua ja jäähdytyskiteytettyä mustalipeää, johon oli lisätty liuotinta. Mustalipeäsuodatuksissa käytettiin viittä erilaista nanosuodatusmembraania (Microdyn Nadir® NP010 ja NP030, Dow Chemical Company NF-90, Woongjin Chemical NE-70 sekä Ge-Osmonics Desal 5 DK). Kirjallisuusosassa käsiteltiin puun sisältämien yhdisteiden kemiallista koostumusta, sellun valmistuksen pääperiaatteita, mustalipeän ja hydroksihappojen ominaisuuksia sekä hydroksihappojen käyttömahdollisuuksia. Lisäksi tarkasteltiin erilaisia hydroksihappojen erotusmenetelmiä, nanosuodatuksen teoriaa ja prosessiin sopivan membraanin valintakriteerejä. Työn kokeellisessa osassa tutkittiin emäksisen mustalipeän monivaiheisen nanosuodatuksen tehokkuutta hydroksihappojen erotuksessa. Hapotetun ja jäähdytyskiteytetyn mustalipeän suodatuskokeissa tutkittiin erityyppisten membraanien erotuskykyä sekä syötön liuotinlisäyksen vaikutusta hydroksihappojen erottumiseen. Lisäksi tarkasteltiin membraanien kestävyyttä ja foulaantumista suodatusolosuhteissa. Työn tulokset osoittivat, että hydroksihappoja voidaan fraktioida mustalipeästä nanosuodatuksella. Hydroksihappojen fraktiointiin vaikuttaa merkittävästi mustalipeässä käytetyn liuottimen läsnäolo sekä suodatuspaine. Lisäksi koetulosten perusteella havaittiin, että monivaiheisella nanosuodatuksella hydroksihapot läpäisevät membraanin ja permeaattiin saavutetaan puhtaampi happojae.

Hydrogen production from cassava processing wastewater in an anaerobic fixed bed reactor with bamboo as a support material

Attempting to associate waste treatment to the production of clean and renewable energy, this research sought to evaluate the biological production of hydrogen using wastewater from the cassava starch treatment industry, generated during the processes of extraction and purification of starch. This experiment was carried out in a continuous anaerobic reactor with a working volume of 3L, with bamboo stems as the support medium. The system was operated at a temperature of 36°C, an initial pH of 6.0 and under variations of organic load. The highest rate of hydrogen production, of 1.1 L.d-1.L-1, was obtained with application of an organic loading rate of 35 g.L-1.d-1, in terms of total sugar content and hydraulic retention time of 3h, with a prevalence of butyric and acetic acids as final products of the fermentation process. Low C/N ratios contributed to the excessive growth of the biomass, causing a reduction of up to 35% in hydrogen production, low percentages of H2 and high concentrations of CO2in the biogas.

Metallien eluointi kelatoivasta ioninvaihtimesta

Kelatoivat ioninvaihtimet ovat yleensä makrohuokoisia hartseja, joiden avulla metalleja poistetaan ja otetaan mahdollisesti talteen teollisuuden puhdistettavista jätevirroista. Ne muodostavat metalli-ionien kanssa komplekseja runkomateriaaliin kovalenttisesti liitettyjen aktiivisten funktionaalisten ryhmiensä välityksellä. Ioninvaihtimen selektiivisyys eri metalli-ioneja kohtaan vaihtelee riippuen siihen liitetystä kelatoivasta ryhmästä. Työssä tutkitaan metallien tarttumista kelatoiviin ioninvaihtimiin, sekä niiden eluoitumista adsorbentistaan. Kelatoivat ioninvaihtimet sitovat metalli-ioneja tehokkaasti ligandiensa monihampaisuudesta johtuen. Metallien tarttuminen kelatoivaan ioninvaihtimeen ei kuitenkaan ole yksiselitteistä, vaan siihen vaikuttaa muun muassa pH yhdessä monen muun tekijän kanssa. Ioninvaihtimien selektiivisyyttä tarkastellaan työssä lähinnä kovien ja pehmeiden happojen ja emästen HSAB -teorian näkökulmasta. Regeneroinnilla ioninvaihdin saadaan jälleen alkuperäiseen muotoonsa, minkä jälkeen se voidaan käyttää uudelleen. Yleensä regenerointi suoritetaan kemiallisesti. Tässä työssä ioninvaihtimien regenerointia ja kohdemetallin eluointia tarkastellaan paitsi teoriassa, myös kokeellisessa osuudessa. Kokeellisessa osuudessa tutkitaan kuparin (Cu2+) eluoitumista kelatoivasta Dowex M-4195 kationinvaihtohartsista. Kokeissa hartsi ladattiin kuparilla erillisessä panoksessa kuparin ollessa syöttöliuoksessa kuparisulfaattina. Eluointiliuoksina käytettiin 2 ja 5 molaarista rikkihappoa, sekä 2 molaarista ammoniumhydroksidia. Eluointi suoritettiin panostoimisena kolonniajona ja eluaatista otetut näytteet analysoitiin atomiadsorptiospektrofotometrillä. Analyysitulokset esitetään läpäisykäyrinä, joiden perusteella 2M ammoniumhydroksidi on kolmesta tutkitusta eluentista tehokkain eluoimaan kuparia Dowex M-4195 hartsista.