Integração dos processos de flotação e foto-fenton para redução de óleos e graxas de água produzida em campos de petróleo

During production of oil and gas, there is also the production of an aqueous effluent called produced water. This byproduct has in its composition salts, organic compounds, gases and heavy metals. This research aimed to evaluate the integration of processes Induced Air Flotation (IAF) and photo-Fenton for reducing the Total Oils and Greases (TOG) present in produced water. Experiments were performed with synthetic wastewater prepared from the dispersion of crude oil in saline solution. The system was stirred for 25 min at 33,000 rpm and then allowed to stand for 50 min to allow free oil separation. The initial oil concentration in synthetic wastewater was 300 ppm and 35 ppm for the flotation and the photo-Fenton steps, respectively. These values of initial oil concentration were established based on average values of primary processing units in Potiguar Basin. The processes were studied individually and then the integration was performed considering the best experimental conditions found in each individual step. The separation by flotation showed high removal rate of oil with first-order kinetic behavior. The flotation kinetics was dependent on both the concentration and the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of the surfactant. The best result was obtained for the concentration of 4.06.10-3 mM (k = 0.7719 min-1) of surfactant EO 2, which represents 86% of reduction in TOG after 4 min. For series of surfactants evaluated, the separation efficiency was found to be improved by the use of surfactants with low HLB. Regarding the TOG reduction step by photo-Fenton, the largest oil removal reached was 84% after 45 min of reaction, using 0.44 mM and 10 mM of ferrous ions and hydrogen peroxide, respectively. The best experimental conditions encountered in the integrated process was 10 min of flotation followed by 45 min of photo-Fenton with overall TOG reduction of 99%, which represents 5 ppm of TOG in the treated effluent. The integration of processes flotation and photo-Fenton proved to be highly effective in reducing TOG of produced water in oilfields

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

Evolução da biodegradabilidade da matéria orgânica em um sistema de lagoas de estabilização

Waste stabilization ponds (WSP) have been widely used for sewage treatment in hot climate regions because they are economic and environmentally sustainable. In the present study a WSP complex comprising a primary facultative pond (PFP) followed by two maturation ponds (MP-1 and MP-2) was studied, in the city of Natal-RN. The main objective was to study the bio-degradability of organic matter through the determination of the kinetic constant k throughout the system. The work was carried out in two phases. In the first, the variability in BOD, COD and TOC concentrations and an analysis of the relations between these parameters, in the influent raw sewage, pond effluents and in specific areas inside the ponds was studied. In the second stage, the decay rate for organic matter (k) was determined throughout the system based on BOD tests on the influent sewage, pond effluents and water column samples taken from fixed locations within the ponds, using the mathematical methods of Least Squares and the Thomas equation. Subsequently k was estimated as a function of a hydrodynamic model determined from the dispersion number (d), using empirical methods and a Partial Hydrodynamic Evaluation (PHE), obtained from tracer studies in a section of the primary facultative pond corresponding to 10% of its total length. The concentrations of biodegradable organic matter, measured as BOD and COD, gradually reduced through the series of ponds, giving overall removal efficiencies of 71.95% for BOD and of 52.45% for COD. Determining the values for k, in the influent and effluent samples of the ponds using the mathematical method of Least Squares, gave the following values respectively: primary facultative pond (0,23 day-1 and 0,09 day-1), maturation 1 (0,04 day-1 and 0,03 day-1) and maturation 2 (0,03 day-1 and 0,08 day-1). When using the Thomas method, the values of k in the influents and effluents of the ponds were: primary facultative pond (0,17 day-1 and 0,07 day-1), maturation 1 (0,02 day-1 and 0,01 day-1) and maturation 2 (0,01 day-1 and 0,02 day-1). From the Partial Hydrodynamic Evaluation, in the first section of the facultative pond corresponding to 10% of its total length, it can be concluded from the dispersion number obtained of d = 0.04, that the hydraulic regime is one of dispersed flow with a kinetic constant value of 0.20 day-1

Dehydration of dedo de moça pepper: kinetics and phytochemical concentration

A pimenta vermelha é rica em vitamina C e outros fitoquímicos e pode ser consumida como produto desidratado. A avaliação das melhores condições de secagem pode garantir melhor qualidade do produto. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito da temperatura do ar de secagem (55, 65, 75 ºC) sobre a cinética de secagem, conteúdos de vitamina C e fenólicos totais e cor do produto desidratado, comparando-os à pimenta in natura. A desidratação foi feita por convecção forçada em estufa. A cinética de secagem foi determinada por pesagens periódicas até peso constante. A umidade da pimenta in natura foi de aproximadamente 86%. As curvas de secagem foram ajustadas por três modelos diferentes, avaliados na literatura. O modelo de Page apresentou o melhor ajuste para este processo. A análise de variância mostrou que a temperatura de secagem influenciou significativamente (p < 0,05) os parâmetros de qualidade (conteúdo de vitamina C, conteúdo de fenólicos totais, cor) da pimenta desidratada quando comparados aos da pimenta in natura. Após a secagem, a retenção de vitamina C aumentou com a redução da temperatura de secagem. de maneira geral, a qualidade do produto foi favorecida na secagem com menor temperatura, devido à redução nas perdas de compostos bioativos.

Properties of a new fungal b-galactosidase with potential application in the dairy industry

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

Remoção de matéria orgânica em sistemas de lagoas de estabilização no Nordeste brasileiro

Stabilization pond is the main technology used for treatment wastewater, in northeast Brazil, due to lower cost of deployment, operation and maintenance compared to other technologies. Most systems of stabilization ponds has been in operation for some time, on average 10 years of operation, receiving high organic loads and do not have good removal efficiencies of the main parameters for which have been designed. Therefore it is necessary to work to quantify the efficiency of current systems. This study evaluated the biodegradability of organic matter in raw sewage, the removal of organic matter in reactors and determination of the kinetic constant removal of organic matter (k), both in reactors and in raw sewage, based on the analysis made in the laboratory and through mathematical methods proposed in the literature, in nine systems stabilization ponds, located in Rio Grande do Norte. In relation the degradation kinetics in stabilization ponds, it was observed that many papers published in the literature were obtained in pilot-scale systems, which often, due to the action of external factors such as wind and temperature, these can t be considered as a reference in the analysis of the kinetic constant K, so the need for more research into systems of scale. This study had three distinct phases and simultaneous, routine monitoring, study of the daily cycle and the determination of kinetic constant of degradation of organic matter (K). The monitoring showed that the removal efficiencies of organic matter on most systems were lower than suggested by the literature, the best efficiencies of around 76% (BOD) and 72% (COD) and the worst of the order of 48% (BOD) and 55% (COD). The calculation of K in raw sewage (Ke) was within the range of variation expected in the literature (0.35 to 0.60 days-1). Already for the results obtained for K in the reactors (Kr), there were well below the values recommended in the literature (0.25 to 0.40 d-1 for complete mix and from 0.13 to 0.17 d-1 for flow dispersed), in line with the overloads that organic systems are subject

A natureza da alma e o clinamen: ação e liberdade em Lucrécio

The concept of freedom and his presupposition, the free will or libera voluntas in Lucretius relies on the notion of clinamen (declination), an occasional and random motion of atoms, inaccessible to experience. It is endowed with a complex movement provided by spontaneity, without the need for mechanical causes. The action of perceiving (sensus) is selfconsciousness, according to which this will, illuminated by previous experiences (sensory, intellectual or emotional) of the soul, takes advantage of the freedom and own spontaneity of atomic motions to drive them to a perceived direction and chosen. On the other hand, if we consider that the declination has a predominant role for the acts of will, we are facing other problems and questions. There is always the choice of a determined action and, therefore, even if the individual is facing a need to act, is possible choose to do not continue finish this action. Thereby, the will is related to conditions that are originate, ultimately, from the images formed randomly in space and impress the soul: the simulacra of desire and pleasure. The declination itself is a very important notion in this research, in order to emphasize the relationship between the freedom and the kinetic of elements. The approach developed in this work had as main objective to investigate the philosophy of nature and the soul in Lucretius, their constituents and movement, as well as demonstrating how the notion of clinamen articulates with the concepts of image, desire and pleasure, proposing a possible interpretation for the declination as an indeterminate and ethical foundation of freedom

Otimização de ELISA empregando a proteína Tc85-11 e planejamento fatorial

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

Triatomíneos rupestres infectados por Trypanosomatidae, coletados em Quaraí, Rio Grande do Sul, 2003

Foram capturados triatomíneos rupestres em seis localidades do município de Quaraí-RS, com o intuito de verificar o índice de infecção por Trypanosomatidae, bem como o animal reservatório. A captura ocorreu no ambiente silvestre, sendo coletados 453 exemplares, os quais foram identificados e separados por estádio ninfal. Coletaram-se 421 (92,9%) exemplares de Triatoma rubrovaria, 26 (5,7%) de Triatoma circummaculata e 6 (1,3%) de Panstrongylus tupynambai. Dentre as três espécies coletadas, somente Triatoma rubrovaria mostrou-se positivo para Trypanosomatidae, num total de 13 (4,2%) exemplares. Após a inoculação em camundongos e meio de cultura LIT, isolaram-se cinco cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi. Dos triatomíneos infectados com Trypanosomatidae, 4 (30,8%) tiveram a reação de precipitina não reagente para os anti-soros testados, 4 (30,8%) positivos para anti-soro de roedor, 4 (30,8%) para anti-soro de cabra e 1 (7,7%) para anti-soro de porco e humano.

Efeitos interfaciais em heteroestruturas quânticas nô-abruptas: GaAs/ALxGa1-xAs

Um minuncioso estudo das propriedades de confinamento em heterostructuras bidimensionais(poços quânticos) GaAs/AlxGa1_xAs, com interfaces graduais é realizado. Um modelo teórico que represente bem a variação da fração molar do alumínio nas interfaces, resultante do aparecimento de micro-rugosidades e ilhas durante os processos de crescimento e recozimento pós-crescimento da amostra, é elaborado. Vários perfis desta fração molar de alumínio nas interfaces são considerados. Soluções analíticas da equação de Schrodinger, na aproximação da massa efetiva constatne nas interfaces, resultando em equações transcendentais, que possibilitam a obtenção dos níveis de energia dos portadores, decorrentes do seu confinamento quântico, são apresentadas. Energias de ligação e de confinamento de excitons 2D, utilizando-se um método analítico e numerérico e a aproximação do potencial efetivo, são também calculadas. Resultados numéricos para os níveis de energia dos portadores e para as energias de ligação e de confinamento dos excitons 2D, em poços quânticos GaAs/Al0.35Ga0.65As não-abruptos, sem e com a presença de campo elétrico aplicado para vários perfis interfaciais da fração de molar, são mostrados. Para a obtenção desses resultados, faz-se uso do método dos degraus múltiplos e da técnica da matriz de transferência, e adota-se, como operador de energia cinética, o de Ben-Daniel e Duque para uma massa efetiva dependente da posição. Conclui-se que um modelo que leva em conta a existência de interfaces não-abruptas e seus diversos perfis é indispensável para uma melhor descrição das propriedades opto-eletrônicas de poços quânticos GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs, enquanto que a aproximação das interfaces abruptas apresenta-se bastante limitada

Freqüência de hemolisinas anti-A e anti-B em doadores de sangue do Hemocentro de Botucatu

O Sistema ABO foi descoberto em 1900 e permanece até hoje como sendo o sistema mais importante dentro da prática transfusional. A transfusão ABO incorreta pode resultar na morte do paciente, com uma reação hemolítica intravascular, seguida de alterações imunológicas e bioquímicas. Os anticorpos ABO estão presentes nos soros dos indivíduos, dirigidos contra os antígenos A e/ou B ausentes nas hemácias. Embora as transfusões com pequenas quantias de plasmas incompatíveis sejam geralmente consideradas uma prática segura, alguns casos de reações hemolíticas por plasma incompatível são encontrados na literatura. Tendo em vista a pequena quantidade de estudos sobre as hemolisinas anti-A e anti-B e a importância desses anticorpos na prática transfusional, objetivamos neste trabalho verificar a freqüência dessas hemolisinas em doadores de sangue do Hemocentro da Unesp de Botucatu. Foram analisadas 600 amostras de soros de doadores do grupo O para presença ou ausência das hemolisinas anti-A e anti-B. Desses doadores, 77 (12,8%) foram classificados como perigosos por apresentarem em seu soro altos títulos de hemolisinas e 523 (87,2%) como não perigosos por apresentarem baixos títulos. No grupo dos doadores perigosos, 45 (58,4%) foram reativos para hemolisina anti-A, 11 (14,2%) reativos para hemolisina anti-B e 21 (27,2%) reativos para ambas. O título de aglutininas superior a 1/100 já considera o doador O como perigoso. Assim, o teste realizado em nossa rotina é suficiente para detecção de altos títulos fazendo com que os pacientes dos outros grupos sangüíneos não corram o risco de reação transfusional se necessitarem de transfusão sangüínea não-isogrupo.

Validação da escala de fatigabilidade percebida para avaliação da fadiga em idosas

The term fatigability concerns the degree of fatigue associated with performing an activity of any type (physical, mental, emotional and / or social). Recently scales for assessing fatigue in the English language were created, however, gaps exist regarding the validity of these scales in relation to oxygen consumption and levels of perceived fatigue. Objective: To investigate the validity of perceived fatigability scale in older women frail and non-frail by the expired gases kinetics. Methods: This is a study of type validation, where were evaluated 48 elderly. The evaluation was conducted at two different sessions. In the first, data were collected demographic partners, as well as assessment of cognitive function, physical health, and the phenotype of frailty. The second was composed by the test 6-minute walk (6MWT) associated the expired gases kinects and assessment of perceived fatigability. Statistical analysis was performed a descriptive analysis and then we used the Pearson correlation test to evaluate the relationship between the measure of perceived fatigue and variables oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER)before and after 6MWT. We used a linear regression model initially considering the following explanatory variable: age, Body Mass Index (BMI), presence of frailty, comorbidities, level of physical activity, distance covered in the 6MWT , the energy cost of walking and severity of fatigability on performance. Results: The final sample consisted of 44 elderly women, 4 elderly were excluded because they didn t complete all phases of this study. The mean age obtained was 75 years (± 7.2 years). There was no significant correlation between fatigability measures and the values of VO2 ( r = .09 , p = .56 ) , VCO2 ( r = .173 , p = .26 ) , RER ( r = - .121 , p = .43 ). The final linear regression model showed that the energy cost of walking, the usual level of physical activity and the performance severity of fatigability explained 83.5 % (R2 = 0.835, p < 0.01) of the variation in the perceived fatigability. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a relationship between greater severity of fatigability and lower levels of physical activity and increased energy cost in walking, suggesting that the fatigability analyses using a simple numeric scale is valid and viable for assessment of fatigue in older women

Indicadores de cálcio e de voltagem codificados geneticamente na detecção de potenciais de ação e inputs sinápticos em cultura de neurônios hipocampais

Recently, genetically encoded optical indicators have emerged as noninvasive tools of high spatial and temporal resolution utilized to monitor the activity of individual neurons and specific neuronal populations. The increasing number of new optogenetic indicators, together with the absence of comparisons under identical conditions, has generated difficulty in choosing the most appropriate protein, depending on the experimental design. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to compare three recently developed reporter proteins: the calcium indicators GCaMP3 and R-GECO1, and the voltage indicator VSFP butterfly1.2. These probes were expressed in hippocampal neurons in culture, which were subjected to patchclamp recordings and optical imaging. The three groups (each one expressing a protein) exhibited similar values of membrane potential (in mV, GCaMP3: -56 ±8.0, R-GECO1: -57 ±2.5; VSFP: -60 ±3.9, p = 0.86); however, the group of neurons expressing VSFP showed a lower average of input resistance than the other groups (in Mohms, GCaMP3: 161 ±18.3; GECO1-R: 128 ±15.3; VSFP: 94 ±14.0, p = 0.02). Each neuron was submitted to current injections at different frequencies (10 Hz, 5 Hz, 3 Hz, 1.5 Hz, and 0.7 Hz) and their fluorescence responses were recorded in time. In our study, only 26.7% (4/15) of the neurons expressing VSFP showed detectable fluorescence signal in response to action potentials (APs). The average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained in response to five spikes (at 10 Hz) was small (1.3 ± 0.21), however the rapid kinetics of the VSFP allowed discrimination of APs as individual peaks, with detection of 53% of the evoked APs. Frequencies below 5 Hz and subthreshold signals were undetectable due to high noise. On the other hand, calcium indicators showed the greatest change in fluorescence following the same protocol (five APs at 10 Hz). Among the GCaMP3 expressing neurons, 80% (8/10) exhibited signal, with an average SNR value of 21 ±6.69 (soma), while for the R-GECO1 neurons, 50% (2/4) of the neurons had signal, with a mean SNR value of 52 ±19.7 (soma). For protocols at 10 Hz, 54% of the evoked APs were detected with GCaMP3 and 85% with R-GECO1. APs were detectable in all the analyzed frequencies and fluorescence signals were detected from subthreshold depolarizations as well. Because GCaMP3 is the most likely to yield fluorescence signal and with high SNR, some experiments were performed only with this probe. We demonstrate that GCaMP3 is effective in detecting synaptic inputs (involving Ca2+ influx), with high spatial and temporal resolution. Differences were also observed between the SNR values resulting from evoked APs, compared to spontaneous APs. In recordings of groups of cells, GCaMP3 showed clear discrimination between activated and silent cells, and reveals itself as a potential tool in studies of neuronal synchronization. Thus, our results indicate that the presently available calcium indicators allow detailed studies on neuronal communication, ranging from individual dendritic spines to the investigation of events of synchrony in neuronal networks genetically defined. In contrast, studies employing VSFPs represent a promising technology for monitoring neural activity and, although still to be improved, they may become more appropriate than calcium indicators, since neurons work on a time scale faster than events of calcium may foresee

Avaliação microscópica dos fragmentos ósseos obtidos por diferentes métodos de osteotomia e de irrigação em aloenxertos irradiados e congelados de coelho

Oral and facial bone defects can undertake appearance, psychosocial well-being and stomathognatic function of its patients. Over the yerars several strategies for bone defect regeneration have arised to treat these pathologies, among them the use of frozen and irradiated bone allograft. Manipulation of bone grafts it s not determined yet, and several osteotomy alternatives can be observed. The present work evaluated with a microscope the bone fragments obtained from different osteotomy methods and irrigation on rings and blocks allografts irradiated and frozen at 80° negative in a rabbit model. The study is experimental in vitro and it sample was an adult male New Zealand rabbit. The animal was sacrificed to obtain long bones, that were submitted to freezing at 80º negative and irradiated with Cobalt- 60. Then the long bones were sectioned into 24 bone pieces, divided into 4 groups: G1 (n=06) osteotomy was performed with bur No. 6 forming rings with 5 mm thickness with high-speed handpiece with manual irrigation; G2 (n=06) osteotomy was performed with bur No. 6 forming rings with 5 mm thick with surgical motor with a manual irrigation rotation 1500 rpm; GA (n=06), osteotomy with trephine using manual irrigation with saline; and GB (n=06), osteotomy with trephine using saline from peristaltic pumps of surgical motor. Five bone pieces of each group were prepared for analysis on light microscopy (LM) and one on electronic scan electronic microscopy (SEM). On the SEM analysis edges surface, presence of microcracks and Smear Layer were evaluated. Analyzing osteotomy technics on SEM was observed: increased presence of microcracks cutting with high speed; increased presence of areas covered by Smear Layer when cutting with motor implant. The irrigation analysis with SEM was observed: that the presence of microcracks does not depend on the type of irrigation; on manual irrigation, there was greater discrepancy between the cutting lines. The descriptive analysis of the osteotomy and irrigation process on LM showed: histological analysis showing the bony margins with clear tissue changed layer, composed of blackened tissue of charred appearance near to the cortical bone; on the edges of the bony part, bone fragments that were displaced during the bone cut and bone irregularities were observed. After analysis of results we can conclude: that there was greater regularity of the bone cut using high-speed handpiece than using motor implant; the cut with trephine using saline irrigated from peristaltic pumps of surgical motor showed greater homogeneity when compared with manual irrigation; charred tissue was found in all obtained bone samples, whit no significant statistically difference on the proportion of carbonization of the two analysed technics

Comprovação da real comunicação entre o endodonto e o periodonto através do canal cavo inter-radicular e sua prevalência em molares inferiores humanos

The neurovascular system of the pulp and of the periodontium is interconnected and among the possible intercommunications between these two tissues, there is the cavo inter-radicular canal. It is a small canal that goes through any inter-radicular dentine and arises in the furca region of the multi-radicular teeth. Its predominance has been studied in the literature, by several methodologies, with divergent results. The objective of this work was to establish, in vitro, the predominance of the cavo inter-radicular canal, in human lower molars, through the diaphanization technique and dye leakage. For this research, 140 teeth (100 first and second 40 lower molars) were selected, extracted due to different reasons, belonging to a teeth bank of the Endodontics discipline of the Dentistry College at Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. The teeth were preserved in formol until the moment of use and immersed in physiological solution. Had the endodontic access fulfilled and the whole external surface, except for the furcation, sealed with two layers of nail enamel. The cleaning of the pulpar chamber floor was carried out with sodium hypochlorite solution 5%, being this solution renewed every 5 minutes, during 1 hour. The teeth were immersed in Indian dye and, after drying of the dye, they had their crowns split up in the amelo-cemental junction. Then, they were examined in a stereomicroscope, where marks of the coloring were observed in the furcation and on the pulpar floor. After this recording, the sample was diaphanized and with the transparent teeth, it was possible to observe in the stereomicroscope, the true inter-radicular canals. As a result of this experiment, the presence of these canals was observed in 13 % of the first and 7, 5 % of the second evaluated molars. The study showed that both the presence of the cavo inter-radicular canal is real and the diaphanization and dye leakage is an efficient method for this type of research