Unexpected seasonality in quantity and composition of Amazon rainforest air reactivity.

The hydroxyl radical (OH) removes most atmospheric pollutants from air. The loss frequency of OH radicals due to the combined effect of all gas-phase OH reactive species is a measureable quantity termed total OH reactivity. Here we present total OH reactivity observations in pristine Amazon rainforest air, as a function of season, time-of-day and height (0?80 m). Total OH reactivity is low during wet (10 s1) and high during dry season (62 s1). Comparison to individually measured trace gases reveals strong variation in unaccounted for OH reactivity, from 5 to 15% missing in wet-season afternoons to mostly unknown (average 79%) during dry season. During dry-season afternoons isoprene, considered the dominant reagent with OH in rainforests, only accounts for B20% of the total OH reactivity. Vertical profiles of OH reactivity are shaped by biogenic emissions, photochemistry and turbulent mixing. The rainforest floor was identified as a significant but poorly characterized source of OH reactivity.

Estudo da síntese e propriedade magnética de ferritas de manganês/cobalto dopadas com níquel

For the chemical method of synthesis of co-precipitation were produced ferrite powders manganese-cobalt equal stoichiometric formula Mn (1-x) Co (x) Fe2O4, for 0 < x < 1, first reagent element using as the hydroxide ammonium and second time using sodium hydroxide. The obtained powders were calcined at 400 ° C, 650 ° C, 900 ° C and 1150 ° C in a conventional oven type furnace with an air atmosphere for a period of 240 minutes. Other samples were calcined at a temperature of 900 ° C in a controlled atmosphere of argon, to evaluate the possible influence of the atmosphere on the final results the structure and morphology. The samples were also calcined in a microwave oven at 400 ° C and 650 ° C for a period of 45 minutes possible to evaluate the performance of this type of heat treatment furnace. It was successfully tested the ability of this group include isomorphic ferrite with the inclusion of nickel cations in order to evaluate the occurrence of disorder in the crystalline structures and their changes in magnetic characteristics.To identify the structural, morphological, chemical composition and proportions, as well as their magnetic characteristics were performed characterization tests of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric (TG), vibrating sample magnetometry (MAV) and Mössbauer spectroscopy. These tests revealed the occurrence of distortion in the crystal lattice, changes in magnetic response, occurrence of nanosized particles and superparamagnetism

Estudo de reatores eletroquímicos para remoção de Cu2+ , Zn2+, Fenol e BTEX em água produzida

The production of water has become one of the most important wastes in the petroleum industry, specifically in the up stream segment. The treatment of this kind of effluents is complex and normally requires high costs. In this context, the electrochemical treatment emerges as an alternative methodology for treating the wastewaters. It employs electrochemical reactions to increase the capability and efficiency of the traditional chemical treatments for associated produced water. The use of electrochemical reactors can be effective with small changes in traditional treatments, generally not representing a significant additional surface area for new equipments (due to the high cost of square meter on offshore platforms) and also it can use almost the same equipments, in continuous or batch flow, without others high costs investments. Electrochemical treatment causes low environmental impact, because the process uses electrons as reagent and generates small amount of wastes. In this work, it was studied two types of electrochemical reactors: eletroflocculation and eletroflotation, with the aim of removing of Cu2+, Zn2+, phenol and BTEX mixture of produced water. In eletroflocculation, an electrical potential was applied to an aqueous solution containing NaCl. For this, it was used iron electrodes, which promote the dissolution of metal ions, generating Fe2+ and gases which, in appropriate pH, promote also clotting-flocculation reactions, removing Cu2+ and Zn2+. In eletroflotation, a carbon steel cathode and a DSA type anode (Ti/TiO2-RuO2-SnO2) were used in a NaCl solution. It was applied an electrical current, producing strong oxidant agents as Cl2 and HOCl, increasing the degradation rate of BTEX and phenol. Under different flow rates, the Zn2+ was removed by electrodeposition or by ZnOH formation, due the increasing of pH during the reaction. To better understand the electrochemical process, a statistical protocol factor (22) with central point was conducted to analyze the sensitivity of operating parameters on removing Zn2+ by eletroflotation, confirming that the current density affected the process negatively and the flow rate positively. For economical viability of these two electrochemical treatments, the energy consumption was calculated, taking in account the kWh given by ANEEL. The treatment cost obtained were quite attractive in comparison with the current treatments used in Rio Grande do Norte state. In addition, it could still be reduced for the case of using other alternative energy source such as solar, wind or gas generated directly from the Petrochemical Plant or offshore platforms

A Study of the Microwave Carbothermic Reduction of Chromite Ore

Microwave reduction testing using activated charcoal as a reducing agent was performed on a sample of Black Thor chromite ore from the Ring of Fire deposit in Northern Ontario. First, a thermodynamic model was constructed for the system. Activity coefficients for several species were found in the literature. The model predicted chromium grades of 61.60% and recoveries of 93.43% for a 15% carbon addition. Next, reduction testing on the chromite ore was performed. Tests were performed at increasing power levels and reduction times. Testing atmospheres used were air, argon, and vacuum. The reduced product had maximum grades of 72.89% and recoveries of 80.37%. These maximum values were obtained in the same test where an argon atmosphere was used, with a carbon addition of 15%, optimal power level of 1200 W (actual 1171 W), and a time of 400 seconds. During this test, 17.53% of the initial mass was lost as gas, a carbon grade of 1.95% was found for the sintered core product. Additional work is recommended to try and purify the sintered core product as well as reduce more of the initial sample. Changing reagent schemes or a two step reduction / separation process could be implemented.

Heterogeneous Catalysts: Design, Applications and Research Insights

The cyclization of pseudoionone yields a mixture of alpha-ionone, beta-ionone and gamma-ionone. By careful control of reagent and reaction conditions, either the alpha- and beta- isomer can be favoured. The alpha-ionone has violet odour and is widely used in perfumery and flavours. beta-Ionone is the main precursor of Vitamin A and beta-carotene. Traditionally, strong homogeneous catalysts, like sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid have been used. These problems can be overcome by the use of solid acid catalysts. This work reports the cyclization of pseudoionone over USY zeolites, at 80ºC. USY It is observed that the initial activity increases with the Si/Al ratio of zeolite until a maximum, which is obtained with USY3. With higher Si/Al ratio, a decrease in the catalytic activity is observed. Selectivity to ionone isomers is around 42 %, at 75% of pseudoionone conversion, after 24 h of reaction. USY3 zeolite was reused four times with the same catalyst sample in the same condicions. It was observed a stabilization of the catalytic activity, after the second use.

THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ALTERATIONS OF CASSAVA STARCH GRANULES INDUCED BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, UV RAYS AND MICROWAVE

Starches are applied in several fields of industry. Amylose and amylopectin (natural polymers) constitute the starch in vegetable cells. In some processes native starches cannot support high stress conditions (high temperatures/acidity). Then, modification methods are developed aiming the improving of starch technological utilization. Oxidative modification with H2O2 has been the subject of many researches. UV rays as well microwave irradiation can be used. The aim was to confirm possible thermogravimetric alterations in native cassava starch (A) granules due to a double starch modification: 1st step) H2O2 standard solutions 0.1 mol L-1 (B), 0.2 mol L-1 (C) and 0.3 mol L-1 (D) and UV rays exposure for 1h; 2nd step) microwave irradiation for 5 min. The results of thermogravimetric curves (TG-DTA) show that the behaviors of the starch proprieties were modified. Highlighting, the modified samples C and D showed a decrease on the thermal stability step. This alteration turned them suitable to many field of industry like the paper one.