Caracterização e análise das propriedades da fibra de Macambira (Bromelia Laciniosa)

Concern for the environment and the exploitation of natural resources has motivated the development of research in lignocellulosic materials, mainly from plant fibers. The major attraction of these materials include the fact that the fibers are biodegradable, they are a renewable natural resource, low cost and they usually produce less wear on equipment manufacturing when compared with synthetic fibers. Its applications are focused on the areas of technology, including automotive, aerospace, marine, civil, among others, due to the advantageous use in economic and ecological terms. Therefore, this study aims to characterize and analyze the properties of plant fiber macambira (bromelia laciniosa), which were obtained in the municipality of Ielmo Marino, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the region of the Wasteland Potiguar. The characterization of the fiber is given by SEM analysis, tensile test, TG, FTIR, chemical analysis, in addition to obtaining his title and density. The results showed that the extraction of the fibers, only 0.5% of the material is converted into fibers. The results for title and density were satisfactory when compared with other fibers of the same nature. Its structure is composed of microfibrils and its surface is roughened. The cross section has a non-uniform geometry, therefore, it is understood that its diameter is variable along the entire fiber. Values for tensile strength were lower than those of sisal fibers and curauá. The degradation temperature remained equivalent to the degradation temperatures of other vegetable fibers. In FTIR analysis showed that the heat treatment may be an alternative to making the fiber hydrophobic, since, at high temperature can remove the hemicellulose layer, responsible for moisture absorption. Its chemical constitution is endowed with elements of polar nature, so their moisture is around 8.5% which is equivalent to the percentage of moisture content of hydrophilic fibers. It can be concluded that the fiber macambira stands as an alternative materials from renewable sources and depending on the actual application and purpose, it may achieve satisfactory results

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de soluções ternárias água-glicerol-propilenoglicol como fluido refrigerante secundário

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Identificação e caracterização de um isolado de Hydrangea ringspot virus em hortênsia no Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Descarga em barreira dielétrica: construção de um reator DBD e caracterização mediante análises ópticas e elétricas do plasma produzido

The plasma produced by Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) is a promising technique for producing plasma in atmospheric pressure and has been highlighted in several areas, especially in biomedical and textile industry, this is due to the fact that the plasma generated by DBD not reaches high temperatures, enabling use it for thermally sensitive materials. But still it is necessary the development of research related to understanding of the chemical, physical and biological interaction between the non-thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure with cells, tissues, organs and organisms. This work proposes to develop equipment DBD and characterize it in order to obtain a better understanding of the process parameters of plasma production and how it behaves under the parameters adopted in the process, such as distance, frequency and voltage applied between electrodes. For this purpose two techniques were used to characterize distinct from each other. The first was the method of Lissajous figures, this technique is quite effective and accurately for complete electrical characterization equipment DBD. The second technique used was Optical Emission Spectroscopy (EEO) very effective tool for the diagnosis of plasma with it being possible to identify the excited species present in the plasma produced. Finally comparing the data obtained by the two techniques was possible to identify a set of parameters that optimize the production when combined DBD plasma atmosphere in the equipment was built precisely in this condition 0.5mm-15kV 600Hz, giving way for further work

Caracterização genética de populações de Egeria najas presentes no reservatório de Jupiá e rios afluentes

A Egeria najas é uma espécie aquática submersa nativa da bacia hidrográfica do rio Paraná. Com o represamento das águas do rio para geração de energia elétrica a espécie tem mudado seu comportamento de colonização dos leitos dos rios e ocorrido em grandes maciços dentro da represa de Jupiá e rios afluentes. Essa planta tem causado problemas por obstruir a passagem de água para as turbinas de geração de energia elétrica. Coletas de material vegetativo foram realizadas na represa e afluentes do rio Paraná para análise da variabilidade isoenzimática e de DNA. A análise isoenzimática mostrou haver somente quatro classes de diferentes biotipos. No entanto, utilizando-se os procedimentos de RAPD, observou-se que a espécie possui grande variabilidade genética. O represamento das águas também está permitindo o acumulo de variabilidade no local e promovendo um aumento de variabilidade por meio de possíveis cruzamentos entre genótipos diferentes. Os resultados também possibilitaram inferir sobre as possíveis rotas de migração de material genético para colonização da represa e rios afluentes.

Caracterização do óleo de carnaúba para uso como biolubrificante

Lubricant is responsible for reducing the wear on the friction protect the metal against oxidation, corrosion and dissipates excess heat, making it essential for the balance of a mechanical system, consequently prolonging the useful life of such a system. The origin of lubricating oils is usually mineral being extracted from the petroleum. But the search for a new source of production of lubricants and fuels it is necessary to meet future demands and reduce the possible environmental damage. For this reason, looking alternative means to produce certain products derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, for example. Returning to the realm of lubricants, also one realizes this need for new raw materials for their production. Vegetable oil is a renewable resource and biodegradable, and its use entails advantages in environmental, social and economic. The development of this project aims to characterize the carnauba oil as a lubricant plant, or biolubricant. To analyze the oil carnauba tests as checking density, flash point, fire point, viscosity, viscosity, acid number, pH, copper corrosion, thermal conductivity and thermal resistivity were developed. In addition, for conducting the wear on the friction and the gradient of the system temperature, the analysis equipment is designed for wear on the friction. Based on these results, it is observed that the oil carnauba show good correlation to its application as biolubricant

Obtenção e caracterização de um compósito de poliuretano de mamona e pó de vidro para aplicações em insolantes térmicos

Thermal insulation is used to protect the heated or cooled surfaces by the low thermal conductivity materials. The rigid ricin polyurethane foams (PURM) are used for thermal insulation and depend on the type and concentration of blowing agent. Obtaining PURM occurs by the use of polyol, silicone, catalyst and blowing agent are pre -mixed, reacting with the isocyanate. The glass is reusable, returnable and recyclable heat insulating material, whose time of heat dissipation determines the degree of relaxation of its structure; and viscosity determines the conditions for fusion, operating temperatures, annealing, etc. The production of PURM composites with waste glass powder (PV) represents economical and renewable actions of manufacturing of thermal insulating materials. Based on these aspects, the study aimed to produce and characterize the PURM composites with PV, whose the mass percentages were 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt%. PURM was obtained commercially, while the PV was recycled from the tailings of the stoning process of a glassmaking; when the refining process was applied to obtain micrometer particles. The PURM + PV composites were studied taking into account the standard sample of pure PURM and the influence of the percentage of PV in this PURM matrix. The results of the chemical, physical and morphological characterization were discussed taking into account the difference in the microstructural morphology of the PURM+PV composites and the pure PURM, as well the results of the physicochemical, mechanical e thermophysical tests by values obtained of density, hardness, compressive strength, specific heat, thermal conductivity and diffusivity. In general, the structure of pure PURM showed large, elongated and regular pores, while PURM+PV composites showed irregular, small and rounded pores with shapeless cells. This may have contributed to reducing their mechanical strength, especially for PURM - PV50. The hardness and density were found to have a proportional relationship with the PV content on PURM matrix. The specific heat, thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity showed proportional relationship to each other. So, this has been realized that the increasing the PV content on PURM matrix resulted in the rise of diffusivity and thermal conductivity and the decrease of the specific heat. However, the values obtained by the PURM composites were similar the values of pure PURM, mainly the PURM-PV5 and PURM-PV10. Therefore, these composites can be applied like thermal insulator; furthermore, their use could reduce the production costs and to preserve the environment

Avaliação mecânica e microestrutural de compósitos de poliéster com adição de cargas minerais e resíduos industriais

With the current growth in consumption of industrialized products and the resulting increase in garbage production, their adequate disposal has become one of the greatest challenges of modern society. The use of industrial solid residues as fillers in composite materials is an idea that emerges aiming at investigating alternatives for reusing these residues, and, at the same time, developing materials with superior properties. In this work, the influence of the addition of sand, diatomite, and industrial residues of polyester and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), on the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites, was studied. The main objective was to evaluate the mechanical properties of the materials with the addition of recycled residue fillers, and compare to those of the pure polyester resin. Composite specimens were fabricated and tested for the evaluation of the flexural properties and Charpy impact resistance. After the mechanical tests, the fracture surface of the specimens was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that some of the composites with fillers presented greater Young s modulus than the pure resin; in particular composites made with sand and diatomite, where the increase in modulus was about 168 %. The composites with polyester and EVA presented Young s modulus lower than the resin. Both strength and maximum strain were reduced when fillers were added. The impact resistance was reduced in all composites with fillers when compared to the pure resin, with the exception of the composites with EVA, where an increase of about 6 % was observed. Based on the mechanical tests, microscopy analyses and the compatibility of fillers with the polyester resin, the use of industrial solid residues in composites may be viable, considering that for each type of filler there will be a specific application

Obtenção e caracterização de extrato microencapsulado de resíduo agroindustrial de acerola

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C.) is a red fruit widely cultivated in Brazil, especially in the Northeastern region. Its increasing demand is attributed to its high ascorbic acid contents. Besides ascorbic acid, widely known by its health-benefit effects, acerola is rich in anthocyanins, which contribute for the antioxidant power of the fruit. Acerola processing produces a bright-red pomace, usually discarded. The further processing of this pomace, in order to explore its antioxidant compounds, could enhance acerola market value and rentability of its processing. Both ascorbic acid and anthocyanins are highly susceptible to degradation, that can be delayed by microencapsulation, which consists on packing particles (core) in an edible matrix (wall material). This work has been made with the purpose of producing a microencapsulated acerola pomace extract, which could be used by the food industry as a functional ingredient with antioxidant and coloring properties. Antioxidant compounds were recovered by pressing the pomace diluted in a solvent (a citric acid aqueous solution), by using a central composite design, with two variables: citric acid concentration in the solvent (0-2%), and solvent: pomace mass ratio (2:1-6:1). The acerola pomace extract was then microencapsulated by spray drying. A central composite design was adopted, with three variables: inlet temperature of the spray dryer (170o-200oC), wall material: acerola solids mass ratio (2:1-5:1), and degree of maltodextrin replacement by cashew tree gum as wall material (0-100%). The cashew tree gum was used because of its similarity to arabic gum, which is regarded as the wall material by excellence. The following conditions were considered as optimal for extraction of anthocyanins and ascorbic acid: solvent/pomace ratio, 5:1, and no citric acid in the solvent. 82.47% of the anthocyanins were recovered, as well as 83.22% of the ascorbic acid. Anthocyanin and ascorbic acid retentions were favored by lower inlet temperatures, higher wall material: acerola solids mass ratio and higher maltodextrin replacement by cashew tree gum, which was presented as a promising wall material. The more adequate microencapsulation conditions, based not only on retention of antioxidant compounds but also on physical properties of the final powder, were the following: inlet temperature, 185oC; wall material: acerola solids mass ratio, 5:1, and minimum degree of maltodextrin replacement by cashew tree gum, 50%

Extração do óleo e caracterização dos resíduos da borra de petróleo para fins de reuso

The petroleum industry, in consequence of an intense activity of exploration and production, is responsible by great part of the generation of residues, which are considered toxic and pollutants to the environment. Among these, the oil sludge is found produced during the production, transportation and refine phases. This work had the purpose to develop a process to recovery the oil present in oil sludge, in order to use the recovered oil as fuel or return it to the refining plant. From the preliminary tests, were identified the most important independent variables, like: temperature, contact time, solvents and acid volumes. Initially, a series of parameters to characterize the oil sludge was determined to characterize its. A special extractor was projected to work with oily waste. Two experimental designs were applied: fractional factorial and Doehlert. The tests were carried out in batch process to the conditions of the experimental designs applied. The efficiency obtained in the oil extraction process was 70%, in average. Oil sludge is composed of 36,2% of oil, 16,8% of ash, 40% of water and 7% of volatile constituents. However, the statistical analysis showed that the quadratic model was not well fitted to the process with a relative low determination coefficient (60,6%). This occurred due to the complexity of the oil sludge. To obtain a model able to represent the experiments, the mathematical model was used, the so called artificial neural networks (RNA), which was generated, initially, with 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 neurons in the hidden layer, 64 experimental results and 10000 presentations (interactions). Lesser dispersions were verified between the experimental and calculated values using 4 neurons, regarding the proportion of experimental points and estimated parameters. The analysis of the average deviations of the test divided by the respective training showed up that 2150 presentations resulted in the best value parameters. For the new model, the determination coefficient was 87,5%, which is quite satisfactory for the studied system

Reaproveitamento e caracterização dos resíduos orgânicos provenientes do Programa MESA DA SOLIDARIEDADE da CEASA/RN

As an auxiliary tool to combat hunger by decreasing the waste of food and contributing for improvement of life quality on the population, CEASA/RN has released from August/03 to August/05 the program MESA DA SOLIDARIEDADE. Despite of the positive results of this program, that has already distributed around 226 tons of food, there is still food being thrown in the trash as the deliver of the same food in its natural form would be a health risk to those who would consume it and only the correct processing of this food can make it edible. This work has as a goal the reuse of solid residues of vegetal origin generated by the CEASA/RN, through the Program MESA DA SOLIDARIEDADE and the characterization of the product obtained so it might be used as a mineral complement in the human diet. To the collecting of samples (from September until December /2004) it was developed a methodology having as a reference the daily needs of mineral salts for infants at the age of seven to ten. The sample was packed in plastic bags and transported in an ambient temperature to the laboratory where it was selected, weighted, disinfected, fractionated and dried to 70ºC in greenhouse. The dry sample was shredded and stored in bottles previously sterilized. The sample in nature was weighted in the same proportion of the dry sample and it was obtained a uniform mass in a domestic processor. The physical-chemical analyses were carried out in triplicate in the samples in nature and in the dry product, being analyzed: pH, humidity, acidity and soluble solids according to IAL (1985), mineral salts contents (Ca, K, Na, Mg, P and Fe) determined by spectrophotometry of Atomic Absorption, caloric power through a calorimetric bomb and presence of fecal traces and E. coli through the colilert method (APHA, 1995). During this period the dry food a base of vegetables presented on average 5,06% of humidity, 4,62 of pH, acidity of 2,73 mg of citric acid /100g of sample, 51,45ºBrix of soluble solids, 2.323,50mg of K/100g, 299,06mg of Ca/100g, 293mg of Na/100g, 154,66mg of Mg/100g, 269,62mg of P/100g, 6,38mg of Fe/100g, caloric power of 3,691Kcal/g (15,502KJ/g) and is free of contamination by fecal traces and E..coli. The dry food developed in this research presented satisfactory characteristics regarding to its conservation, possessing low calories, constituting itself a good source of potassium, magnesium, sodium and iron that can be utilized as a food complement of these minerals

Caracterização da qualidade de água e sedimento na UHE Americana relacionados à ocorrência de plantas aquáticas

Este trabalho foi realizado na UHE Americana, pertencente à Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz, e faz parte de um projeto de pesquisa e desenvolvimento realizado em conjunto com a Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (UNESP) de Botucatu. Foram realizadas amostragens de água e sedimento nos meses de outubro e dezembro de 2003 e fevereiro, abril e junho de 2004. Selecionaram-se seis pontos de coleta no reservatório, sendo cinco a montante da barragem e um a jusante. Levantamentos de flora foram realizados nos meses de dezembro de 2003 e abril e julho de 2004, sendo constatados elevados teores de nitrogênio e fósforo nas amostras de água, com valores médios de 3,867 mg L-1 para nitrato, 0,706 mg L-1 para amônia, 1,372 mg L-1 para nitrito e 151,979 µg L-1 para fosfato dissolvido na água. O sedimento apresentou elevado nível de fertilidade, com médias de 32,18 g kg-1 para matéria orgânica, 68,87 mg dm-3 para P, 36,96 mmol dm-3 para Ca e 11,88 mmol dm-3 para Mg. Espécies marginais e flutuantes foram as principais infestantes do reservatório, destacando-se Brachiaria subquadripara, Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes e Salvinia auriculata.

Caracterização da comunidade de plantas aquáticas de dezoito reservatórios pertencentes a cinco bacias hidrográficas do Estado de São Paulo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de avaliar e comparar a composição florística de 18 reservatórios pertencentes a cinco bacias hidrográficas do Estado de São Paulo. Os levantamentos foram realizados no período de fevereiro a setembro de 2002, com o auxílio de um barco. Percorreu-se a margem dos reservatórios das bacias hidrográficas dos rios Paraíba, Paraná, Paranapanema, Grande e Tietê, à velocidade de 30 km h-1. A cada 20 minutos, estabeleceu-se um ponto de amostragem, determinando-se sua posição por meio de GPS. em cada ponto, em área de 1.000 m², identificaram-se as espécies ocorrentes e respectivas densidades, em porcentagem da área amostrada. Foram identificadas 39 espécies, distribuídas em 21 famílias, destacando-se as flutuantes Salvinia auriculata, Eichhornia crassipes, Eichhornia azurea e Pistia stratiotes e as emersas Polygonum lapathifolium, Brachiaria arrecta,Brachiaria mutica, Cyperus sp. e Typha latifolia, considerando as quatro espécies com maior freqüência em cada bacia. O maior índice de similaridade (0,71) ocorreu entre as bacias dos rios Paranapanema e Grande, e o menor (0,49), entre as bacias dos rios Paraíba e Tietê.

Caracterização físico-química, reológica e sensorial de iogurte obtido pela mistura dos leites bubalino e caprino

Milk from different animals can be used for dairy production. Yoghurt is a popular fermented milk product and considered to be one of the greatest importance in terms of consumer acceptance and consumption. The present research deals with the production of strawberry set-type yoghurt by mixing goat and buffalo s milk and it has the objective of taking advantage of the intrinsic characteristics of each milk to produce a final product with desirable attributes. It was conducted by analyzing five experimental groups with different proportions of goat and buffalo s milk: C 100% goat s milk; 7C3B - 70% goat s milk and 30% buffalo s milk, 5C5B - 50% goat s milk and 50% buffalo s milk, 3C7B 30% goat s milk and 70% buffalo s milk; B - 100% buffalo s milk. Each group was evaluated for total solids content and the acidification profile was monitored every 30 minutes by pH analysis. The yoghurt samples were analyzed for physical-chemical (pH, acidity, protein, fat, total and reducing sugars, ash and total solids), rheological (syneresis and viscosity) and sensory characteristics (appearance, odor, consistency and flavour). Samples with higher percentual of bubaline milk reached Vm faster, but the time necessary for pH 4.6 (Te) were similar between groups. Statistical differences (p<0.05) were observed for fat and total solids content of yoghurt, with superior values for groups higher proportions of buffalo s milk. The parameters of behavior reached by the model of Ostwald of Waale pointed yoghurt samples as non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic fluids. Yoghurt made only with goat s milk (C) had higher values (p<0.05) for syneresis, which can be explained by its fragile coagulum. Additionally, this group also had the lowest sensory scores for the attributes consistence and taste, while bubaline yoghurt (B) obtained the best acceptance indexes for all of the appraised parameters

Síntese e caracterização do carbeto de molibdênio nanoestruturado para fins catalíticos na reação de oxidação parcial do metano

The nanostructures materials are characterized to have particle size smaller than 100 nm and could reach 1 nm. Due to the extremely reduced dimensions of the grains, the properties of these materials are significantly modified relatively when compared with the conventional materials. In the present work was accomplished a study and characterization of the molybdenum carbide, seeking obtain it with particles size in the nanometers order and evaluate its potential as catalyst in the reaction of partial methane oxidation. The method used for obtaining the molybdenum carbide was starting from the precursor ammonium heptamolybdate of that was developed in split into two oven, in reactor of fixed bed, with at a heating rate of 5ºC/min, in a flow of methane and hydrogen whose flow was of 15L/h with 5% of methane for all of the samples. The studied temperatures were 350, 500, 600, 650, 660, 675 and 700ºC and were conducted for 0, 60, 120 and 180 minutes, and the percent amount and the crystallite size of the intermediate phases were determined by the Rietveld refinement method. The carbide obtained at 660ºC for 3 hours of reaction showed the best results, 24 nm. Certain the best synthesis condition, a passivating study was accomplished, in these conditions, to verify the stability of the carbide when exposed to the air. The molybdenum carbide was characterized by SEM, TEM, elemental analysis, ICP-AES, TG in atmosphere of hydrogen and TPR. Through the elemental analysis and ICP-AES the presence carbon load was verified. TG in atmosphere of hydrogen proved that is necessary the passivating of the molybdenum carbide, because occur oxidation in room temperature. The catalytic test was accomplished in the plant of Fischer-Tropsch of CTGAS, that is composed of a reactor of fixed bed. Already the catalytic test showed that the carbide presents activity for partial oxidation, but the operational conditions should be adjusted to improve the conversion