Tellurium in organic synthesis: a new approach to trisubstituted gamma-butyrolactones with trans-trans relative stereochemistry. Total enantioselective synthesis of (-)-Blastmycinolactol, (+)-Blastmycinone, (-)-NFX-2, and (+)-Antimycinone

The total synthesis of (-)-Blastmycinolactol, (+)-Blastmycinone, (-)-NFX-2, and (+)-Antimycinone was accomplished in few steps in high yields and ee, starting from enantiomerically enriched (S)-Z-vinylic hydroxytellurides. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Rapid method for the determination. of organic acids in wine by capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection

A capillary electrophoresis method for organic acids in wine was developed and validated. The optimal electrolyte consisted of 10 mmol/L 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (DNB) at pH 3.6 containing 0.2 mmol/L cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as flow reverser. DNB was chosen because it has an effective mobility similar to the organic acids under investigation, good buffering capacity at pH 3.6, and good chromophoric characteristics for indirect UV-absorbance detection at 254 nm. Sample preparation involved dilution and filtration. The method showed good performance characteristics: Linearity at 6 to 285 mg/L (r > 0.99); detection and quantification limits of 0.64 to 1.55 and 2.12 to 5.15 mg/L, respectively; separation time of less than 5.5 min. Coefficients of variation for ten injections were less than 5% and recoveries varied from 95% to 102%. Application to 23 samples of Brazilian wine confirmed good repeatability and demonstrated wide variation in the organic acid concentrations. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The use of polyacrylamides (PAMs) for removing natural organic matter (NOM) from Paraiba do Sul River (Brazil)

This work assesses the efficiency of polyacrylamides for natural organic matter (NOM) removal from Paraiba do Sul River (Brazil) raw water for drinking purposes. Jar tests were performed following an experimental design protocol. Three kinds of polyacrylamides (anionic, cationic, and non-ionic) at 0.2 mg L(-1) were tested. After coagulation, turbidity, DOC, UVA(254) and SCAN (UV-absorbing material) were determined. Color and pH were also measured. It was found that polyacrylamides did not reduce the amounts of alum and lime needed in the process and that the amount of alum alone for removing UV-absorbing organic matter is significantly higher. Efficiency of the coagulation process decreased as follows: non-ionic -> cationic -> anionic -> no polyacrylamide. Removal efficiencies for the best case were: 100%, 90%, 83%, and 68% for turbidity, DOC, UVA(254), and SCAN, respectively.

Organic additive-copper(II) complexes as plating precursors

Cu(II) ions previously coordinated with typical electroplating organic additives were investigated as an alternative source of metal for plating bath. The coordination complexes were isolated from reaction between CuSO(4) and organic additives as ligands (oxalate ion, ethylenediamine or imidazole). Deposits over 1010 steel were successfully obtained from electroplated baths using the complexes without any addition of free additives, at pH = 4.5 (H(2)SO(4)/Na(2)SO(4)). These deposits showed better morphologies than deposits obtained from CuSO(4) solution either in the absence or presence of oxalate ion as additive (40 mmol L(-1)), at pH = 4.5 (H(2)SO(4)/Na(2)SO(4))It is suggestive that the starting metal plating coordinated with additives influences the electrode position processes, providing deposits with corrosion potentials shifted over + 200 mV in 0.5 mol L(-1) NaCl (1 mV s(-1)). The resistance against corrosion is sensitive to the type of additive-complex used as precursor. The complex with ethylenediamine presented the best deposit results with the lowest pitting potential (-0.27 V vs 3.0 mol L(-1) CE). It was concluded that the addition of free additives to the electrodeposition baths is not necessary when working with previously coordinated additives. Thus, the complexes generated in ex-situ are good alternatives as plating precursors for electrodeposition bath. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of organic matter from composting of different residues by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods

Chemical and spectroscopic methods were used to characterize organic matter transformations during the composting process. Four different residue mixtures were studied: P1 - garden trimmings (GT) only, P2 - GT plus fresh cattle manure, P3 - GT plus orange pomace and P4 - GT plus filter cake. The thermophilic phase was not reached in PI compost, but the P2, P3 and P4 composts showed all three typical process phases. The thermophilic phase and CEC/C ratio stabilized after 90 days, while C/N ratio and the ash content stabilized after 60 days. The increasing E(4)/E(6) ratio indicated oxidation reactions occurring during the process in the material from P2, P3 and P4. The (13)C NMR and FTIR results suggested extraction of both pectin and lignin in the HA-like fraction. The CEC/C ratio, temperature and E(4)/E(6) ratio showed that within 90 days P2, P3 and P4 composts were humified. However, material from P1 did not show characteristics of humified compost. From these data, it is apparent that C/N ratio and ash content are not reliable methods for monitoring the composting process. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of chemometric methods in the evaluation of chemical and spectroscopic data on organic matter from Oxisols in sewage sludge applications

Chemometric methods can contribute to soil research by permitting the extraction of more information from the data. The aim of this work was to use Principal Component Analysis to evaluate data obtained through chemical and spectroscopic methods on the changes in the humification process of soil organic matter from two tropical soils after sewage sludge application. In this case, humic acids extracted from Typic Eutrorthox and Typic Haplorthox soils with and without sewage sludge application for 7 consecutive years were studied. The results obtained for all of the samples and methods showed two clusters: samples extracted from the two soil types. These expected results indicated the textural difference between the two soils was more significant than the differences between treatments (control and sewage sludge application) or between depths. In this case, an individual chemometric treatment was made for each type of soil. It was noted that the characterization of the humic acids extracted from soils with and without sewage sludge application after 7 consecutive years using several methods supplies important results about changes in the humification degree of soil organic matter, These important result obtained by Principal Component Analysis justify further research using these methods to characterize the changes in the humic acids extracted from sewage sludge-amended soils. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization by Fluorescence of Organic Matter from Oxisols under Sewage Sludge Applications

Sewage sludge from wastewater treatment contains organic matter and plant nutrients that can play an important role in agricultural production and the maintenance of soil fertility, The present study has aimed to evaluate the degree of humification following sewage sludge application of soil organic matter by laser-induced fluorescence and humic acids using ultraviolet-visible fluorescence, and including comparison with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Sewage sludge applications to the soil caused a decrease in the degree of humification of the soil organic matter and humic acids for both a Typic Eutrorthox (clayey) soil and a Typic Haplorthox (sandy) soil of around 14 and 27%, respectively. This effect is probably clue to incorporation of newly formed humic substances from the sewage sludge into the characteristics of less humified material, and to the indigenous soil humic substances. The minor alterations observed in the clay soil probably occurred due to both the greater mineral association, which better stabilized the indigenous soil organic matter, and the higher microbial activity in this soil, which accelerated sewage sludge mineralization. Sewage sludge applications increased the C content for the clay and sandy soils by 7.4 and 15.4 g kg(-1), respectively, suggesting a positive effect on these two soils.

One rapidly growing market of Sweden: organic food : A qualitative study portraying some consumers’ decision to purchase organic food

In recent years there has been a significantly rising trend amongst consumers for health and environmental issues, which has resulted in greater attention for and sales of organic food. Organic food production strives to use natural resources, such as land, energy and water in a sustainable way and the products does not contain artificial fertilizers or chemical pesticides. However, organic food products are also often more expensive and less available in comparison to conventional food products. Despite this, interest for and sales of organic food products have increased around the globe, and in Sweden particularly, the increase in sales has grown largely from an international perspective. This thesis is of qualitative character and is focused on studying some consumers from the Swedish market of organic food. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute with a better understanding on the buying decision process regarding organic food purchase. To achieve this, the authors have studied some consumers that purchase organic food and have searched for patterns that could be identified in the decision process. The consumer buying decision process model has been used for portrayal of the chosen consumers’ decision to purchase organic food products. Interviews with six Swedish consumers were conducted, whereas each respondent continuously purchase organic food products. Results show that the purchase of organic food products begins with discovering an unsatisfied need state, which the consumers of this study desired to change with the purchase of organic food products. This study show how six consumers reason when passing through the stages of the buying decision process, in order to satisfy their desired need state. The authors found that the respondents feel satisfied with purchasing organic food products, which lead them in to continuously buying these products. Altogether, the findings contribute with knowledge that can come to be helpful when wanting to understand more about the consumer decision to purchase organic food.

Organic Farms and Local Food Retailers in Maine

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Organic Farms and Agricultural Chemicals in Maine

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