Da bancada ao Bureau: análise do desenvolvimento da biotecnologia no Nordeste Brasileiro sob o enfoque de Sistema Regional de Inovação

The starting point of the present work consisted of investigating the development of biotechnology in the Northeast region of Brazil from the perspective of a Regional Innovation System (RIS). The theoretical framework adopted relied on the approaches and concepts presented by the Neo-Schumpeterian perspective. This framework was chosen because, by means of the Innovation System concept, this literature allows us to analyze the relationships and configurations of actors, as well as the role of the state and of social, science and technology, and economic policies in the studied region. The analysis considered four selected dimensions: physical infrastructure, human capital, scientific production, and funding. These variables were chosen because they allow us to verify the possibilities and limitations of developing a biotechnology RIS in the Northeast of Brazil, and these elements would help in answering the question behind this dissertation. The location of the physical infrastructure was determined by means of bibliographic and documental research and interviews with heads of institutions that do biotechnology research. Regarding human capital, the analysis focused on resource training in biotechnology, highlighting graduate courses and research groups in the area. To measure knowledge production, we delimited scientific collaboration among researchers in the field of biotechnology as the focus of this category. For the funding dimension, information was gathered from reports available at the websites of national and state funding agencies. The data was analyzed through method triangulation, involving quantitative and qualitative research stages. To back the analyses, we revisited the integration policies in the area of Science, Technology and Innovation. Our analysis has shown that these policies play a crucial role in the development of biotechnology in the region being studied. The data revealed that the physical infrastructure is concentrated in only three states (Bahia, Ceará, and Pernambuco). In this regard, the Northeast Biotechnology Network (Renorbio) stands out as a strategic actor, enabling states with poor infrastructure to develop research through partnerships with institutions located in another state. We have also verified that the practices involving human resource training and knowledge production are factors that enable the emergence of a regional system for biotechnology in the studied region. As limitations, we have verified the low immersion level of regional actors, the heterogeneity of socioeconomic indicators, the lack of financial resources, and a low innovation culture in the business sector. Overall, we have concluded that the development of a Regional Innovation System in Biotechnology, based on the current regional dynamics, depends on an effective change in the behavior of the social agents involved, both in the national and regional dimensions as well as in the public and private spheres

Desenvolvimento da cultura do feijoeiro submetida a dois sistemas de manejo de irrigação e de cultivo

A cultura do feijoeiro apresenta elevada importância no contexto agrícola nacional. Além de ser uma cultura que atende às características da agricultura familiar, também é cultivada em áreas extensivas com alta tecnologia. Pesquisas relacionadas ao desenvolvimento do feijoeiro frente às variantes edafoclimáticas regionais vêm assumindo papel de destaque, principalmente por se tratar de uma planta sensível tanto ao déficit quanto ao excesso hídrico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a cultura do feijoeiro de 'inverno' submetida a dois métodos de manejo de irrigação, em pivô central, um via solo por meio de tensiômetros, outro via clima por meio do tanque Classe 'A', em dois sistemas de plantio, convencional e direto, no primeiro ano. Foram avaliados o índice de área foliar (IAF), massa seca total (MS) de plantas e a variação do potencial mátrico de água no solo. Concluiu-se que os manejos de irrigação e os sistemas de plantio não resultaram em diferenças no IAF e nem no acúmulo de matéria seca total ao longo do ciclo da cultura; o manejo da irrigação por tensiometria acarretou maior variação no potencial mátrico de água no solo do que o método via clima por meio do tanque Classe 'A'.

Experimentação, inovação cultura oganizacional: estudo de caso em uma indústria

A experimentação industrial é um método científico de aprendizagem que visa aprimorar conhecimentos sobre o funcionamento de sistemas, almejando redução de variabilidade e incertezas nos processos produtivos. Em inovação, constitui-se como uma oportunidade de teste e pré-implementação, permitindo à empresa aperfeiçoar seus projetos de inovação antes de levá-los ao mercado. Contudo, para que empresas obtenham sucesso em inovar, faz-se necessário um ambiente favorável à inovação, considerando que a cultura organizacional impacta diretamente no potencial inovador. Uma cultura de inovação bem desenvolvida demanda o envolvimento de todos os líderes da empresa atuando como facilitadores do processo. Nesse contexto, esta pesquisa tem como propósito avaliar o perfil da cultura organizacional visando o uso de experimentação no processo de inovação em uma indústria do ramo alimentício no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Para tanto, busca-se, por meio de fundamentação teórica, ampliar a compreensão da relação existente entre os temas experimentação, inovação e cultura organizacional, e tem-se como método de pesquisa, uma abordagem quanti-qualitativa em um estudo de caso. Os dados para análise da pesquisa são coletados por meio de entrevistas e aplicação de questionários. Para avaliar a cultura organizacional, utiliza-se como instrumento o questionário baseado no Modelo de Valores Competitivos, desenvolvido por Cameron e Quinn (2006), aplicado com os líderes na empresa em estudo. Este instrumento, denominado OCAI (em inglês Organizacional Culture Assessment Instrument), permite diagnosticar o perfil da cultura organizacional e da cultura da qualidade no cenário atual e no contexto ideal, a partir da percepção dos líderes da organização. Para análise dos dados, utiliza-se a técnica de análise de agrupamento, que permite avaliar a homogeneidade das opiniões dos líderes. Os resultados apontam, conforme a visão dos líderes, a necessidade de mudança no perfil cultural organizacional da empresa em estudo, de uma cultura em que predominam elementos da cultura de mercado (cenário atual) para uma cultura com maior ênfase em elementos da cultura clã e inovadora (cenário ideal), bem como uma cultura de qualidade que estimule a inovação, favorável à geração de ideia e conhecimento, a melhoria contínua e a busca por soluções criativas

Desenvolvimento de sistemas a base de tensoativos para recuperação avançada de petróleo

Petroleum is a complex combination of various classes of hydrocarbons, with paraffinic, naphtenic and aromatic compounds being those more commonly found in its composition. The recent changes in the world scenario, the large reserves of heavy oils and also the lack of new discoveries of large petroleum fields are indications that, in the near future, the oil recovery by conventional methods will be limited. In order to increase the efficiency of the extraction process, enhanced recovery methods are cited in applications where conventional techniques have proven to be little effective. The injection of surfactant solutions as an enhanced recovery method is advantageous in that surfactants are able to reduce the interfacial tensions between water and oil, thus augmenting the displacement efficiency and, as a consequence, increasing the recovery factor. This work aims to investigate the effects of some parameters that influence the surfactant behavior in solution, namely the type of surfactant, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the surface and interface tensions between fluids. Seawater solutions containing the surfactants PAN, PHN and PJN have been prepared for presenting lower interfacial tensions with petroleum and higher stability under increasing temperature and salinity. They were examined in an experimental apparatus designed to assess the recovery factor. Botucatu (Brazil) sandstone plug samples were submitted to assay steps comprising saturation with seawater and petroleum, conventional recovery with seawater and enhanced recovery with surfactant solutions. The plugs had porosity between 29.6 and 32.0%, with average effective permeability to water of 83 mD. The PJN surfactant, at a concentration 1000% above CMC in water, had a higher recovery factor, causing the original oil in place to be recovered by an extra 20.97%, after conventional recovery with seawater

Desenvolvimento de sistemas micro e nanoestruturados de quitosana/MDI para aplicações cosméticas

Currently, studies in the area of polymeric microcapsules and nanocapsules and controlled release are considerably advanced. This work aims the study and development of microcapsules and nanocapsules from Chitosan/MDI, using a new technique of interfacial polycondensation combined to spontaneous emulsification, for encapsulation of BZ-3. It was firstly elaborated an experimental design of 23 of the particle in white without the presence of BZ-3 and Miglyol, where the variables were the concentrations of MDI, chitosan and solvent. Starting from the data supplied by the experimental design was chosen the experiment with smaller particle diameter and only added like this BZ-3 and Miglyol. The suspension containing concentrations of 6.25 mg/mL, 12.5 mg/mL, 18.75 mg/mL, 25 mg/mL of BZ-3 were prepared, nevertheless, during the storage time, these formulations presented drug precipitates in the suspensions of 18.75 mg/mL and 25 mg/mL of BZ-3. This apparition of precipitate was attributed to the diffusion of BZ-3 for the aqueous phase without any encapsulation, suggesting so the use of the smaller concentrations of the BZ-3. The suspension containing 6.25mg/mL of BZ3 presented average size of 1.47μm, zeta potential of 61 mV, pH 5.64 and this sample showed an amount of BZ-3 and drug entrapment of 100 %. The suspension containing 12.5mg/mL of BZ-3 presented average size of 1.76μm, zeta potential of 47.4 mV, pH 5.71 and this sample showed an amount of BZ-3 and drug entrapment of 100 %. Then, showing such important characteristics, these two formulations were chosen for futher continuity to the study. These formulations were also characterized by the morphology, FTIR, stability for Turbiscan, DSC and a study of controlled release of the BZ-3 was elaborated in different receiving means

Avaliação da temperatura de cristalização da parafina em sistemas: parafina, solvente e tensoativo

The formation of paraffin deposits is common in the petroleum industry during production, transport and treatment stages. It happens due to modifications in the thermodynamic variables that alter the solubility of alkanes fractions present in petroleum. The deposition of paraffin can provoke significant and growing petroleum losses, arriving to block the flow, hindering to the production. This process is associated with the phases equilibrium L-S and the stages and nucleation, growth and agglomeration the crystals. That process is function of petroleum intrinsic characteristics and temperature and pressure variations, during production. Several preventive and corrective methods are used to control the paraffin crystallization, such as: use of chemical inhibitors, hot solvents injection, use of termochemistry reactions, and mechanical removal. But for offshore exploration this expensive problem needs more investigation. Many studies have been carried through Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT) of paraffin; therefore the formed crystals are responsible for the modification of the reologics properties of the oil, causing a lot off operational problems. From the determination of the WAT of a system it is possible to affirm if oil presents or not trend to the formation of organic deposits, making possible to foresee and to prevent problems of wax crystallization. The solvent n-paraffin has been widely used as fluid of perforation, raising the production costs when it is used in the removal paraffin deposits, needing an operational substitute. This study aims to determine the WAT of paraffin and the interference off additives in its reduction, being developed system paraffin/solvent/surfactant that propitiates the wax solubilization. Crystallization temperatures in varied paraffin concentrations and different solvents were established in the first stage of the experiments. In the second stage, using the methodology of variation of the photoelectric signal had been determined the temperature of crystallization of the systems and evaluated the interferences of additives to reduction of the WAT. The experimental results are expressed in function of the variations of the photoelectric signals during controlled cooling, innovating and validating this new methodology to determine WAT, relatively simple with relation the other applied that involve specific equipments and of high cost. Through the curves you differentiate of the results had been also identified to the critical stages of growth and agglomeration of the crystals that represent to the saturation of the system, indicating difficulties of flow due to the increase of the density

Determinação experimental e modelagem termodinâmica do ponto de turbidez de sistemas aquosos com tensoativos nonilfenolpolietoxilados

The nonionic surfactants are composed of substances whose molecules in solution, does not ionize. The solubility of these surfactants in water due to the presence of functional groups that have strong affinity for water. When these surfactants are heated is the formation of two liquid phases, evidenced by the phenomenon of turbidity. This study was aimed to determine the experimental temperature and turbidity nonilfenolpoliethoxyled subsequently perform a thermodynamic modeling, considering the models of Flory-Huggins and the empirical solid-liquid equilibrium (SLE). The method used for determining the turbidity point was the visual method (Inoue et al., 2008). The experimental methodology consisted of preparing synthetic solutions of 0,25%, 0,5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 12,5%, 15%, 17% and 20% by weight of surfactant. The nonionic surfactants used according to their degree of ethoxylation (9.5, 10, 11, 12 and 13). During the experiments the solutions were homogenized and the bath temperature was gradually increased while the turbidity of the solution temperature was checked visually Inoue et al. (2003). These temperature data of turbidity were used to feed the models evaluated and obtain thermodynamic parameters for systems of surfactants nonilfenolpoliethoxyled. Then the models can be used in phase separation processes, facilitating the extraction of organic solvents, therefore serve as quantitative and qualitative parameters. It was observed that the solidliquid equilibrium model (ESL) was best represented the experimental data.

Determinação de dados de equilíbrio líquido-vapor a altas pressões para sistemas de hidrocarbonetos assimétricos

Crude oil is a complex liquid mixture of organic and inorganic compounds that are dominated by hydrocarbons. It is a mixture of alkanes from the simplest to more complex aromatic compounds that are present derivatives such as gasoline, diesel, alcohol, kerosene, naphtha, etc.. These derivatives are extracted from any oil, however, only with a very high quality, in other words, when the content of hydrocarbons of low molecular weight is high means that production of these compounds is feasible. The American Petroleum Institute (API) developed a classification system for the various types of oil. In Brazil, the quality of most of the oil taken from wells is very low, so it is necessary to generate new technology to develop best practices for refining in order to produce petroleum products of higher commercial value. Therefore, it is necessary to study the thermodynamic equilibrium properties of its derivative compounds of interest. This dissertation aims to determine vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data for the systems Phenilcyclohexane - CO2, and Cyclohexane - Phenilcyclohexane - CO2 at high pressure and temperatures between 30 to 70oC. Furthermore, comparisons between measured VLE experimental data from this work and from the literature in relation to the Peng- Robinson molecular thermodynamic model, using a simulation program SPECS IVCSEP v5.60 and two adjustable interaction parameters, have been performed for modeling and simulation purposes. Finally, the developed apparatus for determination of phase equilibrium data at high pressures is presented

Extração de ferro da cera de carnaúba utilizando sistemas microemulsionados

The constant search for biodegradable materials for applications in several fields shows that carnauba wax can be a viable alternative in the manufacturing of biolubricants. Carnauba wax is the unique among the natural waxes to have a combination of properties of great importance. In previous studies it was verified the presence of metals in wax composition that can harm the oxidative stability of lubricants. Considering these factors, it was decided to develop a research to evaluate iron removal from carnauba wax, using microemulsion systems (Me) and perform the optimization of parameters, such as: extraction pH, temperature, extraction time, among others. Iron concentration was determined by atomic absorption and, to perform this analysis, sample digestion in microwave oven was used, showing that this process was very efficient. It was performed some analysis in order to characterize the wax sample, such as: attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and melting point (FP). The microemulsion systems were composed by: coconut oil as surfactant, n-butanol as cosurfactant, kerosene and/or heptanes as oil phase, distilled water as water phase. The pH chosen for this study was 4.5 and the metal extraction was performed in finite experiments. To evaluate Me extraction it was performed a factorial design for systems with heptane and kerosene as oil phase, also investigating the influence of temperature time and wax/Me ratio, that showed an statistically significant answer for iron extraction at 95% confidence level. The best result was obtained at 60°C, 10 hours contact time and 1: 10 wax/Me ratio, in both systems with kerosene and heptanes as oil phase. The best extraction occurred with kerosene as oil phase, with 54% iron removal

Desenvolvimento de sistemas de pastas leves para aplicação em cimentação de poços petrolíferos com baixo gradiente de fratura

All around the world, naturally occurring hydrocarbon deposits, consisting of oil and gas contained within rocks called reservoir rocks , generally sandstone or carbonate exists. These deposits are in varying conditions of pressure and depth from a few hundred to several thousand meters. In general, shallow reservoirs have greater tendency to fracture, since they have low fracture gradient, ie fractures are formed even with relatively low hydrostatic columns of fluid. These low fracture gradient areas are particularly common in onshore areas, like the Rio Grande do Norte basin. During a well drilling, one of the most favorable phases for the occurrence of fractures is during cementing, since the cement slurry used can have greater densities than the maximum allowed by the rock structure. Furthermore, in areas which are already naturally fractured, the use of regular cement slurries causes fluid loss into the formation, which may give rise to failures cementations and formation damages. Commercially, there are alternatives to the development of lightweight cement slurries, but these fail either because of their enormous cost, or because the cement properties were not good enough for most general applications, being restricted to each transaction for which the cement paste was made, or both reasons. In this work a statistical design was made to determine the influence of three variables, defined as the calcium chloride concentration, vermiculite concentration and nanosilica concentration in the various properties of the cement. The use of vermiculite, a low density ore present in large amounts in northeastern Brazil, as extensor for cementing slurries, enabled the production of stable cements, with high water/cement ratio, excellent rheological properties and low densities, which were set at 12.5 lb / gal, despite the fact that lower densities could be achieved. It is also seen that the calcium chloride is very useful as gelling and thickening agent, and their use in combination with nanosilica has a great effect on gel strength of the cement. Hydrothermal Stability studies showed that the pastes were stable in these conditions, and mechanical resistance tests showed values of the order of up to 10 MPa

Estudo de sistemas microemulsionados utilizando água do mar na recuperação avançada de petróleo

Petroleum exists in the nature in certain underground formations where it is adsorbed into the rocks pores. For the conventional recovery methods usually only 30% of the oil is extracted and this can be credited, basically, to three aspects: high viscosity of the oil, geology of the formation and high interfacial tensions between the reservoir s fluids. The enhanced recovery methods use the injection of a fluid or fluids mixture in a reservoir to act in points where the conventional process didn't reach the recovery rates. Microemulsion flooding, considered an enhanced method, has the purpose to desorb the oil from the rock formation and to attain an efficient displacement of the oil emulsion. With this in mind, this work was accomplished with two main objectives: the study of the parameters effect that influence a microemulsified system (surfactant and cosurfactant types, C/S rate and salinity) and the evaluation of displacement efficiency with the microemulsions that showed stability in the rich aqueous area. For the analyzed parameters it was chose the microemulsions composition used in the recovery stage: 25% water, 5% kerosene, 46.7% of butanol as cosurfactant and 23.3% of BC or SCO cosurfactant. The core plugs of Assu and Botucatu sandstones were appraised in porosity and permeability tests and then submitted to the steps of saturation with seawater and oil, conventional recovery with water and enhanced recovery with the selected microemulsions. The Botucatu sandstone presented better recovery parameters, and the microemulsion composed with BS surfactant had larger recovery efficiency (26.88%)

Determinação de dados de equilíbrio de fases para sistemas aquosos com eletrólitos

In the present work are established initially the fundamental relationships of thermodynamics that govern the equilibrium between phases, the models used for the description of the behavior non ideal of the liquid and vapor phases in conditions of low pressures. This work seeks the determination of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data for a series of multicomponents mixtures of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, prepared synthetically starting from substances with analytical degree and the development of a new dynamic cell with circulation of the vapor phase. The apparatus and experimental procedures developed are described and applied for the determination of VLE data. VLE isobarics data were obtained through a Fischer s ebulliometer of circulation of both phases, for the systems pentane + dodecane, heptane + dodecane and decane + dodecane. Using the two new dynamic cells especially projected, of easy operation and low cost, with circulation of the vapor phase, data for the systems heptane + decane + dodecane, acetone + water, tween 20 + dodecane, phenol + water and distillation curves of a gasoline without addictive were measured. Compositions of the equilibrium phases were found by densimetry, chromatography, and total organic carbon analyzer. Calibration curves of density versus composition were prepared from synthetic mixtures and the behavior excess volumes were evaluated. The VLE data obtained experimentally for the hydrocarbon and aqueous systems were submitted to the test of thermodynamic consistency, as well as the obtained from the literature data for another binary systems, mainly in the bank DDB (Dortmund Data Bank), where the Gibbs-Duhem equation is used obtaining a satisfactory data base. The results of the thermodynamic consistency tests for the binary and ternary systems were evaluated in terms of deviations for applications such as model development. Later, those groups of data (tested and approved) were used in the KijPoly program for the determination of the binary kij parameters of the cubic equations of state original Peng-Robinson and with the expanded alpha function. These obtained parameters can be applied for simulation of the reservoirs petroleum conditions and of the several distillation processes found in the petrochemistry industry, through simulators. The two designed dynamic cells used equipments of national technology for the determination of VLE data were well succeed, demonstrating efficiency and low cost. Multicomponents systems, mixtures of components of different molecular weights and also diluted solutions may be studied in these developed VLE cells

Desenvolvimento de tensoativos e sistemas microemulsionados para recuperação de petróleo

The high concentration of residual oil is one of the greatest problems found in petroleum mature fields. In these reservoirs, different enhanced oil recovery methods (EOR) can be used, highlighting the microemulsion injection. The microemulsion has showed to be efficient in petroleum recovery due to its ability to promote an efficient displacement of the petroleum, acting directly in the residual oil. In this way, this research has as objective the study of microemulsion systems obtained using a commercial surfactant (TP), determining microemulsion thermal stabilities and selecting points inside the pseudoternary phases diagram, evaluating its efficiencies and choosing the best system, that has the following composition: TP as surfactant (S), isopropyl alcohol as co-surfactant (C), kerosene as oil phase, water as aqueous phase, C/S ratio = 1, and 5% sodium p-toluenesulfonate as hydrotope; being observed the following parameters for the selection of the best pseudoternary phases diagram: C/S ratio, co-surfactant nature and addition of hydrotope to the system. The efficiency in petroleum recovery was obtained using two sandstone formation systems: Assu and Botucatu. The study of thermal stabilities showed that as the concentration of active matter in the system increased, the thermal stability also increased. The best thermal stability was obtained using point F (79.56 0C). The system that presented the best recovery percentile between the three selected (3) was composed by: 70% C/S, 2% kerosene and 28% water, with 94% of total recovery efficiency and 60% with microemulsion injection, using the Botucatu formation, that in a general way presented greater efficiencies as compared with the Assu one (81.3% of total recovery efficiency and 38.3% with microemulsion injection)

Estudo da secagem do pedúnculo do caju em sistemas convencional e solar: modelagem e simulação do processo

This work aims to study the drying of cashew-nut pulp with different lay-out of dryers using conventional and solar energy. It concerns with the use of exceeding of the regional raw material and the suitable knowledge for the applicability of the drying systems as pathway for food conservation. Besides, it used renewable sources as solar energy to dry these agroindustrial products. Runs were carried out using a conventional tray-dryer with temperature, air velocity control and cashew slice thickness of 55°C, 65°C, 75°C; 3.0; 4.5, 6.0 m s-1; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 cm, respectively, in order to compare the studied systems. To evaluate the conventional tray-dryer, it was used a diffusional model of 2nd Fick´s law, where the drying curves were quite well fitted to an infinite flat plate design. For the drying runs where the room temperature had no control, it was developed a phenomenological-mathematical model for the solar dryer with indirect radiation under natural and forced convection based on material and energy balances of the system. Besides, it was carried out assays in the in natura as well as dehydrated, statistic analysis of the experimental drying data, sensorial analysis of the final dry product and a simplified economical analysis of the systems studied

Estudo da cristalização de parafinas em sistemas solventes/tensoativos/água

The WAT is the temperature at the beginning of the appearance of wax crystals. At this temperature the first wax crystals are formed by the cooling systems paraffin / solvents. Paraffins are composed of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons of high molecular weight. The removal of petroleum from wells and the production lines means a surcharge on produced oil, thus solubilize these deposits formed due to modifications of thermodynamics has been a constant challenge for companies of oil exploration. This study combines the paraffin solubilization by microemulsion systems, the determination of WAT systems paraffin / solvent and performance of surfactant in reducing the crystallization. We used the methods: rheological and the photoelectric signal, validating the latter which was developed to optimize the data obtained due to sensitivity of the equipment used. Methods developed for description of wax precipitation are often in poor agreement with the experimental data, they tend to underestimate the amount of wax at temperatures below the turbidity point. The Won method and the Ideal solution method were applied to the WAT data obtained in solvent systems, best represented by the second interaction of Won method using the solvents naphtha, hexane and LCO. It was observed that the results obtained by WAT photoelectric signal when compared with the viscosity occur in advance, demonstrating the greatest sensitivity of the method developed. The ionic surfactant reduced the viscosity of the solvent systems as it acted modifying the crystalline structure and, consequently, the pour point. The curves show that the WAT experimental data is, in general, closer to the modeling performed by the method of Won than to the one performed by the ideal solution method, because this method underestimates the curve predicting the onset of paraffin hydrocarbons crystallization temperature. This occurs because the actual temperature measured was the crystallization temperature and the method proposes the fusion temperature measurement.