Contribution of sugar-cane harvesting season to atmospheric contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Araraquara city, Southeast Brazil

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

A new fluorescence method for determination of ozone in ambient air

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Thermal behavior of cellulose acetate produced from homogeneous acetylation of bacterial cellulose

Cellulose acetate (CA) is one of the most important cellulose derivatives and its main applications are its use in membranes, films, fibers, plastics and filters. CAs are produced from cellulose sources such as: cotton, sugar cane bagasse, wood and others. One promissory source of cellulose is bacterial cellulose (BC). In this work, CA was produced from the homogeneous acetylation reaction of bacterial cellulose. Degree of substitution (DS) values can be controlled by the acetylation time. The characterization of CA samples showed the formation of a heterogeneous structure for CA samples submitted to a short acetylation time. A more homogeneous structure was produced for samples prepared with a long acetylation time. This fact changes the thermal behavior of the CA samples. Thermal characterization revealed that samples submitted to longer acetylation times display higher crystallinity and thermal stability than samples submitted to a short acetylation time. The observation of these characteristics is important for the production of cellulose acetate from this alternative source. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopic studies on glassy Ni(II) and Co(II) polyphosphate coacervates

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

Substâncias húmicas: sistema de fracionamento sequencial por ultrafiltração com base no tamanho molecular

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

Extração de amônio de filtros de amostragem, coleta e determinação pelo método da gota suspensa

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

Reintegração dos finos provenientes do beneficiamento de argila no processo de produção de revestimentos via seca

Na região de Rio Claro (SP), localiza-se o Pólo Cerâmico de Santa Gertrudes, responsável por cerca de 50% da produção nacional de revestimentos. Durante o beneficiamento da argila e preparação da massa, cerca de 2 a 3% argila fina é colocada em suspensão no ar, sendo quase toda retida nos filtros de manga. Esse material fino, por problemas de homogeneização ou tecnológico, representa perda de material e se constitui em um potencial agente de contaminação do ar e da água, necessitando ser armazenado. A presente pesquisa buscou viabilizar o aproveitamento do pó retido nos filtros, no próprio processo, através da granulação da massa por aspersão de barbotina preparada com o pó. Investigaram-se a composição ideal da barbotina e a influência dessa metodologia no produto final, comparando a massa granulada por aspersão com a massa-padrão.

Remoção de substâncias húmicas por meio da oxidação com ozônio e peróxido de hidrogênio e FiME

A filtração em múltiplas etapas (FiME) se apresenta como uma alternativa para realizar o tratamento de água de comunidades de pequeno porte, entretanto, a eficiência quanto à remoção de cor verdadeira associada ao carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD) ou às substâncias húmicas, tem sido questionada ou relatada como baixa. A presente pesquisa avaliou a remoção de substâncias húmicas na FiME com pré-oxidação, com ozônio e peróxido de hidrogênio, utilizando para essa avaliação parâmetros indiretos como cor verdadeira, absorvância UV (254 nm) e COD. Foram realizados cinco ensaios, utilizando quatro filtros lentos, sendo dois com camada de carvão ativado granular (CAG). Foram ensaiadas várias alternativas de pré-oxidação com ozônio e peróxido de hidrogênio. Foram obtidos bons resultados, tendo como principal conclusão que os filtros lentos com CAG, precedidos de oxidação com ozônio e depois peróxido de hidrogênio, apresentaram remoção média de cor verdadeira de 64%, mas que o peróxido de hidrogênio afeta o desenvolvimento da camada biológica, interferindo no desenvolvimento da perda de carga, na remoção de turbidez, na remoção de coliformes e na remoção de substâncias húmicas.

Tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura em reator UASB e filtro anaeróbio em série seguidos de filtro biológico percolador

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

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from wood pyrolyis in charcoal production furnaces

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were measured in smoke samples from wood carbonization during charcoal production, in both particulate matter (PM) and gaseous phases. Samples were acquired using a medium-volume air sampler at 1.5 m distance from the furnace. Particle-bound PAH were collected on Fluoropore polytetrafluoroethylene filters and gas-phase PAH were collected into sorbent tubes with XAD-2 resin. PAH were extracted with dichloromethane-methanol and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed total emission from the furnace of 26 mu g/m(3) for the 16 PAH and 2.8 mu g/m(3) for the 10 genotoxic PAH (from fluoranthene to benzo[g,h,i]perylene). High emission of 16 PAH in the first 8 h of wood carbonization was detected (64 mu g/m(3); 56% of the total emission). Associated with PM, 11% of the total emission of 16 PAH (in both phases) and 60% of 10 genotoxic PAH were found. Relative ratios (for example, [Phe]/[Phe] + [Ant]) for the PAH of the same molecular weight were obtained and compared with the published data. The concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) were estimated using the list of toxic equivalent factors suggested by Nisbet and LaGoy, 1992. The values of 0.30 and 0.06 mg/m3 were obtained for the total concentrations of BaPeq in PM and gaseous phase, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Long-term histopathologic evaluation of inferior vena cava after modified Greenfield filter implantation - Experimental study in sheep

Aim. The authors assess a modified Greenfield filter (GF) for the long-term patency, filter tilting and histopathologic alterations of the inferior vena cava (IVC).Methods. Adult sheep (n=7) underwent modified GF placement in the IVC. Cavograms were obtained every 3 months and pulmonary angiography at 12 months. Histopathologic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed on the IVC explanted at 12 months.Results. Cavograms showed that all IVC were patent at the end of the study. Filter tilting occurred in 2/7 animals and extrusion of struts was not observed. Macroscopic examination at explantation showed minimal venous wall thickening. Microscopic examination showed minimal IVC fibrosis and intimal hyperplasia. SEM showed endothelium on the IVC surface at the filter implantation site and a presumed endothelial layer covering partially or totally the struts. The interface filter-IVC was covered by deposits of leucocytes and platelets. No signs of pulmonary embolism were found in all pulmonary angiograms of both groups.Conclusion. The modified filter presented good biocompatibility, stability and absence of thrombogenicity at 12 months. It presented low tendency to tilting and extrusion of struts. The long-term histopathologic alterations in vena caval wall were minimal and the appearance of the studied filters in the IVC was similar to stents placed in the arterial system.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other selected organic compounds in ambient air of Campo Grande City, Brazil

Fourteen samples of particulate matter and semi-volatile organic compounds were collected during 6 months in the city of Campo Grande, South Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were collected on Fluoropore PTFE filters and gas-phase PAHs were collected into sorbent tubes with XAD-2 resin. Both types of samples were extracted with a dichloromethane/methanol mixture (4:1 v/v), then the extracts were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. PAHs, oxidized PAH (oxy-PAHs), phenols and methoxyphenols were identified by use of GC retention indices and MS files. The average value obtained for the sum of 15 PAHs was 21.05 ng m(-3) (range: 8.94-62.5 ng m(-3)). The presence of specific tracers and calculations of characteristic ratios (e.g. [Phe]/[Phe] + [Ant]) were used to identify the sources of the emissions of PAHs in the atmospheric samples. Levoglucosan (the anhydride of beta-glucose), retene (1-methyl-7-isopropylphenanthrene) and methoxyphenols (derivatives of syringol and guaiacol) and tracers for wood burning were identified. This study demonstrates that biomass burning from the rural zone is the main source of PAHs and emissions of other substances in the investigated site of Campo Grande. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electronic ballast for multiple fluorescent lamp systems

An electronic ballast for multiple tubular fluorescent lamp systems is presented. The proposed structure has a high value for the power factor, a dimming capability, and soft switching of the semiconductor devices operated at high frequencies. A zero-current switching pulse width modulated SEPIC converter is used as the rectifying stage and it is controlled using the instantaneous average input current technique. The inverting stage consists of classical resonant half-bridge converter with series-resonant parallel-loaded filters. The dimming control technique is based on varying the switching frequency and monitoring the phase shift of the current drained by the filters and lamps in order to establish a closed loop control. Experimental results are presented that validate the theoretical analysis.

PhotoLin: a program to identify and analyze linear structures in aerial photographs, satellite images and maps

A computer program, PhotoLin, written for an IBM-PC-compatible microcomputer is described which detects linear features in aerial photographs, satellite images and topographic maps. The program accepts images saved to PCX files as input and applies noise correction and smoothing filters and thinning routines. The output consists of a skeleton containing the median lines of linear features which can be represented on a map. The branches of the skeleton can be broken into sections of constant length for which the mean orientations are obtained for the preparation of rose diagrams. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pattern recognition theory in nonlinear signal processing

A body of research has developed within the context of nonlinear signal and image processing that deals with the automatic, statistical design of digital window-based filters. Based on pairs of ideal and observed signals, a filter is designed in an effort to minimize the error between the ideal and filtered signals. The goodness of an optimal filter depends on the relation between the ideal and observed signals, but the goodness of a designed filter also depends on the amount of sample data from which it is designed. In order to lessen the design cost, a filter is often chosen from a given class of filters, thereby constraining the optimization and increasing the error of the optimal filter. To a great extent, the problem of filter design concerns striking the correct balance between the degree of constraint and the design cost. From a different perspective and in a different context, the problem of constraint versus sample size has been a major focus of study within the theory of pattern recognition. This paper discusses the design problem for nonlinear signal processing, shows how the issue naturally transitions into pattern recognition, and then provides a review of salient related pattern-recognition theory. In particular, it discusses classification rules, constrained classification, the Vapnik-Chervonenkis theory, and implications of that theory for morphological classifiers and neural networks. The paper closes by discussing some design approaches developed for nonlinear signal processing, and how the nature of these naturally lead to a decomposition of the error of a designed filter into a sum of the following components: the Bayes error of the unconstrained optimal filter, the cost of constraint, the cost of reducing complexity by compressing the original signal distribution, the design cost, and the contribution of prior knowledge to a decrease in the error. The main purpose of the paper is to present fundamental principles of pattern recognition theory within the framework of active research in nonlinear signal processing.