Influência das condições de cultivo na produção de antígenos recombinantes de Leishmania i. chagasi utilizando Escherichia coli M15 cultivada em incubador rotativo e biorreator

Escherichia coli has been one of the most widely used hosts in recombinant protein production, in both laboratory and industrial scale since the advent of recombinant DNA technology. Despite the substantial progress of studies on the molecular biology and immunology of infections, there is currently no medication-based prophylaxis capable of preventing leishmaniasis. As such, there is a great need to identify specific antigens for the development of vaccines and diagnostic kits against visceral leishmaniasis. Thus, the primary goal of the present study is to assess the influence of cultivation conditions on the production of Leishmania chagasi antigens, carried out in a rotating incubator and bioreactor. To that end, several assays were conducted to evaluate the kinetic behavior of antigens (648, 503) of Leishmania. i. chagasi in two different compositions of media (2xTY, TB), with and without an inducer. In order to improve expression, assays were performed in a benchtop bioreactor using the best conditions obtained in a rotating incubator, in addition to assessing the influence of stirring speed. Results show that high complexity of the cultivation medium favored kinetic growth of clones (648, 503). However, in assays submitted to induction by IPTG, this elevated complexity did not promote the expression of recombinant proteins. Expression of antigens 648 and 503 exhibited behavior associated with growth and, in terms of location, proteins 648 and 503 are intracellularly stored. Lactose may be the most adequate inducer in protein expression, when considering factors, cost, toxicity and stability. Elevated stirring may increase cell growth in clone 53, although it may not result in high concentrations for the protein of interest. On the other hand, positive results were obtained for all recombinant clones (648, 503) tested, confirmed by the electrophoretic profile

Estudo dos óxidos A2B2O7 e ABO3 a base de terras raras, para aplicações térmicas e catalíticas a altas temperaturas

Rare earth elements have recently been involved in a range of advanced technologies like microelectronics, membranes for catalytic conversion and applications in gas sensors. In the family of rare earth elements like cerium can play a key role in such industrial applications. However, the high cost of these materials and the control and efficiencies associated processes required for its use in advanced technologies, are a permanent obstacle to its industrial development. In present study was proposed the creation of phases based on rare earth elements that can be used because of its thermal behavior, ionic conduction and catalytic properties. This way were studied two types of structure (ABO3 and A2B2O7), the basis of rare earths, observing their transport properties of ionic and electronic, as well as their catalytic applications in the treatment of methane. For the process of obtaining the first structure, a new synthesis method based on the use of EDTA citrate mixture was used to develop a precursor, which undergone heat treatment at 950 ° C resulted in the development of submicron phase BaCeO3 powders. The catalytic activity of perovskite begins at 450 ° C to achieve complete conversion at 675 ° C, where at this temperature, the catalytic efficiency of the phase is maximum. The evolution of conductivity with temperature for the perovskite phase revealed a series of electrical changes strongly correlated with structural transitions known in the literature. Finally, we can establish a real correlation between the high catalytic activity observed around the temperature of 650 ° C and increasing the oxygen ionic conductivity. For the second structure, showed clearly that it is possible, through chemical processes optimized to separate the rare earth elements and synthesize a pyrochlore phase TR2Ce2O7 particular formula. This "extracted phase" can be obtained directly at low cost, based on complex systems made of natural minerals and tailings, such as monazite. Moreover, this method is applied to matters of "no cost", which is the case of waste, making a preparation method of phases useful for high technology applications

Determinação de Dados de Equilíbrio Líquido-Vapor para Sistemas Hidrocarbonetos e Desenvolvimento de uma Nova Célula Dinâmica

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 Humberto Neves Maia de Oliveira Tese de Doutorado PPGEQ/PRH-ANP 14/UFRN 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

Variação da qualidade da água de chuva no início da precipitação

One of the most evident and actual concern, not only in the scientific means, but also of the public knowledge in general, is the lack problem of the potable water, that come increasing more each time, motivated mainly for the po llution of the sources, the bad use of the water and the increase of the population. In such a way, the necessity of looking for new water sources and the development of techniques to use sources minus explored is becoming even more important and urgent. T he rainwater comes being used since a long time like a supplying source, but, due the few knowledge of its characteristics, the generated preconception and the discrimination around its consumption and to the bad use of the technique of collection and stor age, it comes being little used, wasting consequently a significant parcel of this source. Trying to develop the knowing of some characteristics of the rainwater, the present work looks for to define the curve of variation of the quality of the rainwater i n three points with distinct characteristics of the city of Natal -RN, in the course of the precipitation, in some situations of time and space. For describe the curve of variation of the water s quality, some variables must be analyzed, and to be identifie d when they modify themselves in the endurance of rain, showing in which moment the purification of the water is more or less quickly. The pH, the Turbidity and the Electric Conductivity can be related with a big part of the physicist -chemistries variables found in the water and, like its analyses don't spend any material, they have easy access and measurement. The present work analyzes the curves of decline of these three variables, in three points with distinct characteristics in the city of Natal -RN, being these points: one next to the sea, another one in region with great buildings concentration and the last point in a less polluted area. For the studied region, it was during the five first millimeters of rain that occurs the biggest reduction of the exi sting impurities in the atmosphere, mainly between the first and the second millimeter, and after the five first millimeters the values of the variables stabilize. With exception of the University Campus, where initially the rainwater already has very good quality, the values of Turbidity and Electric Conductivity suffer a brusque reduction after the first millimeter of rain

DFA e análise de agrupamento aplicadas a perfis de porosidade neutrônico em poços de petróleo

Peng was the first to work with the Technical DFA (Detrended Fluctuation Analysis), a tool capable of detecting auto-long-range correlation in time series with non-stationary. In this study, the technique of DFA is used to obtain the Hurst exponent (H) profile of the electric neutron porosity of the 52 oil wells in Namorado Field, located in the Campos Basin -Brazil. The purpose is to know if the Hurst exponent can be used to characterize spatial distribution of wells. Thus, we verify that the wells that have close values of H are spatially close together. In this work we used the method of hierarchical clustering and non-hierarchical clustering method (the k-mean method). Then compare the two methods to see which of the two provides the best result. From this, was the parameter � (index neighborhood) which checks whether a data set generated by the k- average method, or at random, so in fact spatial patterns. High values of � indicate that the data are aggregated, while low values of � indicate that the data are scattered (no spatial correlation). Using the Monte Carlo method showed that combined data show a random distribution of � below the empirical value. So the empirical evidence of H obtained from 52 wells are grouped geographically. By passing the data of standard curves with the results obtained by the k-mean, confirming that it is effective to correlate well in spatial distribution

Micropartículas de quitosana estruturadas com aerosil®: estabilidade, adsorção, encapsulação e liberação de substâncias ativas

Biodegradable microspheres used as controlled release systems are important in pharmaceutics. Chitosan biopolymer represents an attractive biomaterial alternative because of its physicochemical and biological characteristics. Chitosan microspheres are expected to become promising carrier systems for drug and vaccine delivery, especially for non-invasive ways oral, mucosal and transdermal routes. Controlling the swelling rate and swelling capacity of the hydrogel and improving the fragile nature of microspheres under acidic conditions are the key challenges that need to be overcomed in order to enable the exploration of the full pharmaceutical potential use of these microparticles. Many studies have focused on the modification of chitosan microsphere structures with cross-linkers, various polymers blends and new organic-inorganic hybrid systems in order to obtain improved properties. In this work, microspheres made of chitosan and nanosized hydrophobic silica (Aerosil R972) were produced by a method consisting of two steps. First, a preparation of a macroscopically homogeneous chitosan-hydrophobic silica dispersion was prepared followed by spray drying. FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the microspheres. Also, the were conducted acid stability, moisture sorption capacity, release properties and biological assays. The chitosan-hydrophobic silica composite microspheres showed improved thermal degradation, lower water affinity, better acid stability and ability to retard rifampicin and propranolol hydrochloride (drug models) release under simulated physiological conditions. In vitro biocompatibility studies indicated low cytotoxicity and low capacity to activate cell production of the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide. The results show here encourage further studies on the use of the new chitosan-hydrophobic silica composite microspheres as drug carrier systems via oral or nasal routes.

Otimização da síntese do AlSBA-15 para produção de biodiesel por transesteri-ficação do óleo de coco

Stimulus encouraging the production and consumption of biodiesel favors the policy of pre-serving the environment, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas reducing climate change. The current trend of research in this field focuses on improving these processes with the use of heterogeneous catalysts, seeing has significant advantages such as: low contamination of products, ease of separation of the catalyst from the reaction medium, possibili-ty of reuse of the catalyst, decreased corrosion problems. The objective of this research was to optimize the synthesis of AlSBA-15 for the production of biodiesel through transesterification process via ethyl route. For the optimization of hydrothermal synthesis of type AlSBA-15 catalyst has assembled a 23 factorial experimental matrix with eleven trials. The stoichiometric amounts of starting materials were varied according to different ratios Si / Al which is a factor in the experimental design, in addition to the time and temperature of aging of the synthesis gel. The material showed the best results of characterization (SBET = 591.7 (m2 / g), Vp = 0.83 (cm3 / g), Dp = 5.59 (nm), w = 6.48 (nm) was synthesized at 100 ° C for 24 hours, with a ratio Si / Al = 10.This material was applied as a heterogeneous catalyst in the reaction of ethyl transesterification as raw coconut oil in natura. Coconut oil presented suitable for obtaining biodiesel via ethyl route.The visual aspects and physical-chemical characteristics of the reaction products show that AlSBA-15 catalyst favored the reaction. According to physical-chemical analysis the order of oxidative stability of the product of the transesterification reaction was: catalytic reaction at 1500 ° C> non-catalytic reaction at 100 ° C> 100 ° C catalytic> catalytic reaction at 200 ° C Reaction. The results of oxidative stability and kinematic viscosity shows that the biodiesel produced in the catalytic sandblasting held at 150 ° C which was maintained within the ABNT NBR 7148, ABNT NBR 10441 and EN 14112.

Avaliação de floculante natural à base de Moringa oleifera no tratamento de água produzida na indústria do petróleo: aplicação da técnica combinada floculação/flotação

The principal effluent in the oil industry is the produced water, which is commonly associated to the produced oil. It presents a pronounced volume of production and it can be reflected on the environment and society, if its discharge is unappropriated. Therefore, it is indispensable a valuable careful to establish and maintain its management. The traditional treatment of produced water, usualy includes both tecniques, flocculation and flotation. At flocculation processes, there are traditional floculant agents that aren’t well specified by tecnichal information tables and still expensive. As for the flotation process, it’s the step in which is possible to separate the suspended particles in the effluent. The dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a technique that has been consolidating economically and environmentally, presenting great reliability when compared with other processes. The DAF is presented as a process widely used in various fields of water and wastewater treatment around the globe. In this regard, this study was aimed to evaluate the potential of an alternative natural flocculant agent based on Moringa oleifera to reduce the amount of oil and grease (TOG) in produced water from the oil industry by the method of flocculation/DAF. the natural flocculant agent was evaluated by its efficacy, as well as its efficiency when compared with two commercial flocculant agents normally used by the petroleum industry. The experiments were conducted following an experimental design and the overall efficiencies for all flocculants were treated through statistical calculation based on the use of STATISTICA software version 10.0. Therefore, contour surfaces were obtained from the experimental design and were interpreted in terms of the response variable removal efficiency TOG (total oil and greases). The plan still allowed to obtain mathematical models for calculating the response variable in the studied conditions. Commercial flocculants showed similar behavior, with an average overall efficiency of 90% for oil removal, however it is the economical analysis the decisive factor to choose one of these flocculant agents to the process. The natural alternative flocculant agent based on Moringa oleifera showed lower separation efficiency than those of commercials one (average 70%), on the other hand this flocculant causes less environmental impacts and it´s less expensive

Elaboração de pós de ferrita de cobalto, CoFe2O4, nanoestruturados e hierarquizados: influência da morfologia sobre a detecção e oxidação catalítica de gases poluentes

This thesis is part of research on new materials for catalysis and gas sensors more active, sensitive, selective. The aim of this thesis was to develop and characterize cobalt ferrite in different morphologies, in order to study their influence on the electrical response and the catalytic activity, and to hierarchize these grains for greater diffusivity of gas in the material. The powders were produced via hydrothermal and solvothermal, and were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (electron diffraction, highresolution simulations), and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The catalytic and electrical properties were tested in the presence of CO and NO2 gases, the latter in different concentrations (1-100 ppm) and at different temperatures (room temperature to 350 ° C). Nanooctahedra with an average size of 20 nm were obtained by hydrothermal route. It has been determined that the shape of the grains is mainly linked to the nature of the precipitating agent and the presence of OH ions in the reaction medium. By solvothermal method CoFe2O4 spherical powders were prepared with grain size of 8 and 20 nm. CoFe2O4 powders exhibit a strong response to small amounts of NO2 (10 ppm to 200 ° C). The nanooctahedra have greater sensitivity than the spherical grains of the same size, and have smaller response time and shorter recovery times. These results were confirmed by modeling the kinetics of response and recovery of the sensor. Initial tests of catalytic activity in the oxidation of CO between temperatures of 100 °C and 350 °C show that the size effect is predominant in relation the effect of the form with respect to the conversion of the reaction. The morphology of the grains influence the rate of reaction. A higher reaction rate is obtained in the presence of nanooctahedra. In order to improve the detection and catalytic properties of the material, we have developed a methodology for hierarchizing grains which involves the use of carbonbased templates.

Aplicação do Na2S2O8, H2O2 e ferro na remediação de solos (latossolo e areia destrófica) contaminados com diesel

Environmental liabilities from accidents in the retail petroleum industry, especially in urban areas, have represented a serious problem whose impact reaches the underground, people's health and even economic losses with the remediation process. In U.S.A. are estimated hundreds of billions of dollars invested in soil remediation processes. The results of the reports and investigative reports of liabilities in fuel stations distributed in the urban area of Natal-RN were used to estimate the local scenario of contamination. This database has been possible to determine the main contaminants (BTEX, PAHs, TOC), affected neighborhoods and types of potentially more impacted soils. Experiments were carried out in order to reverse contamination of this scenario, where the soil type was a factor in the planning, because it influences directly on the effectiveness of remediation techniques studied: Oxidation by hydrogen peroxide and oxidation by sodium persulphate. These oxidants are activated forming free radicals (HO•-, SO4 •-, HO2 • , O2 •-, S2O8 -2, etc) responsible for to mineralize the hydrocarbons and other organic compounds (releasing O2 e CO2). In the activation process, the ferrous ions (II) and ferric (III) were studied as well as hydrogen peroxide activation technique with sodium persulfate, the latter being presented the best efficiency among all the study, when activated with Fe+3. In addition to defining the most efficient technique, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different soils among oxidative techniques, characterizing the effect of the concentration of these oxidants and also the concentration of the catalysts. Exists in most scenarios evaluated the presence of intrinsic total iron soil matrix. The so-called latosols present microaggregates reddish indicating the presence of these reactive species like iron and clayey aspect. The kinetic study was conducted by experimental design and monitoring of the percentage of total carbon (SSM-5000A) in the solid and liquid phases, knowing that 82.4% of the diesel molecule is carbon. Yet organic carbon and pH of liquid samples were analyzed for technical, characterizing the influence of soil type and its operating condition. The Fenton-like technique H2O2 e Fe+2 presented satisfactory oxidation, including sandy soil, but well below the best result. The sodium persulphate only activated with temperature, even in the most favorable soil, did not provide good efficiency. The best technique in the study had the concentration profile with 2,2x10- 1mol.L-1 of Na2S2O8 activated with 6,53x10-1mol.L-1 of H2O2 and 2,5x10-2 Fe3+mol.L-1 which reduced in less than a day 96 contamination in red soil, initially with 66,667 mg of diesel per kg of clean soil

Estudo das forças capilar, viscosa e gravitacional através de grupos adimensionais na simulação da drenagem gravitacional assistida por gás (GAGD)

The distribution and mobilization of fluid in a porous medium depend on the capillary, gravity, and viscous forces. In oil field, the processes of enhanced oil recovery involve change and importance of these forces to increase the oil recovery factor. In the case of gas assisted gravity drainage (GAGD) process is important to understand the physical mechanisms to mobilize oil through the interaction of these forces. For this reason, several authors have developed physical models in laboratory and core floods of GAGD to study the performance of these forces through dimensionless groups. These models showed conclusive results. However, numerical simulation models have not been used for this type of study. Therefore, the objective of this work is to study the performance of capillary, viscous and gravity forces on GAGD process and its influence on the oil recovery factor through a 2D numerical simulation model. To analyze the interplay of these forces, dimensionless groups reported in the literature have been used such as Capillary Number (Nc), Bond number (Nb) and Gravity Number (Ng). This was done to determine the effectiveness of each force related to the other one. A comparison of the results obtained from the numerical simulation was also carried out with the results reported in the literature. The results showed that before breakthrough time, the lower is the injection flow rate, oil recovery is increased by capillary force, and after breakthrough time, the higher is the injection flow rate, oil recovery is increased by gravity force. A good relationship was found between the results obtained in this research with those published in the literature. The simulation results indicated that before the gas breakthrough, higher oil recoveries were obtained at lower Nc and Nb and, after the gas breakthrough, higher oil recoveries were obtained at lower Ng. The numerical models are consistent with the reported results in the literature

Aplicação da destilação simulada por cromatografia gasosa e da termogravimetria para a avaliação da influência da redução do teor de enxofre sobre as propriedades físico-químicas do óleo diesel

One of the main problems related to the use of diesel as fuel is the presence of sulfur (S) which causes environmental pollution and corrosion of engines. In order to minimize the consequences of the release of this pollutant, Brazilian law established maximum sulfur content that diesel fuel may have. To meet these requirements, diesel with a maximum sulfur concentration equal to 10 mg/kg (S10) has been widely marketed in the country. However, the reduction of sulfur can lead to changes in the physicochemical properties of the fuel, which are essential for the performance of road vehicles. This work aims to identify the main changes in the physicochemical properties of diesel fuel and how they are related to reduction of sulfur content. Samples of diesel types S10, S500 and S1800 were tested according with the methods of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The fuels were also characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and subjected to physical distillation (ASTM D86) and simulated distillation gas chromatography (ASTM D2887). The results showed that the reduction of sulfur turned the fuel lighter and fluid, allowing a greater applicability to low temperature environments and safer for transportation and storage. Through the simulated distillation data was observed that decreasing sulfur content resulted in higher initial boiling point temperatures and the decreasing of the boiling temperature of the medium and heavy fractions. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a loss event mass attributed to volatilization or distillation of light and medium hydrocarbons. Based on these data, the kinetic behavior of the samples was investigated and it was observed that the activation energies (Ea) did not show significant changes throughout conversion. Considering the average of these energies, the S1800 had the highest Ea during the conversion and the S10 the lowest values

Síntese e caracterização de materiais mesoporosos para a captura de CO2: influência do óxido de níquel

Several materials are currently under study for the CO2 capture process, like the metal oxides and mixed metal oxides, zeolites, carbonaceous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOF's) organosilica and modified silica surfaces. In this work, evaluated the adsorption capacity of CO2 in mesoporous materials of different structures, such as MCM-48 and SBA- 15 without impregnating and impregnated with nickel in the proportions 5 %, 10 % and 20 % (m/m), known as 5Ni-MCM-48, 10Ni-MCM-48, 20Ni-MCM-48 and 5Ni-SBA-15, 10NiSBA-15, 20Ni-SBA-15. The materials were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TG and DTG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), N2 adsorption and desorption (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS. The adsorption process was performed varying the pressure of 100 - 4000 kPa and keeping the temperature constant and equal to 298 K. At a pressure of 100 kPa, higher concentrations of adsorption occurred for the materials 5Ni-MCM-48 (0.795 mmol g-1 ) and SBA-15 (0.914 mmol g-1 ) is not impregnated, and at a pressure of 4000 kPa for MCM-48 materials (14.89 mmol g-1) and SBA-15 (9.97 mmol g-1) not impregnated. The results showed that the adsorption capacity varies positively with the specific area, however, has a direct dependency on the type and geometry of the porous structure of channels. The data were fitted using the Langmuir and Freundlich models and were evaluated thermodynamic parameters Gibbs free energy and entropy of the adsorption system

Modelagem e simulação da solubilidade de sais em sistemas aquosos com Monoetilenoglicol

Primary processing of natural gas platforms as Mexilhão Field (PMXL-1 ) in the Santos Basin, where monoethylene glycol (MEG) has been used to inhibit the formation of hydrates, present operational problems caused by salt scale in the recovery unit of MEG. Bibliographic search and data analysis of salt solubility in mixed solvents, namely water and MEG, indicate that experimental reports are available to a relatively restricted number of ionic species present in the produced water, such as NaCl and KCl. The aim of this study was to develop a method for calculating of salt solubilities in mixed solvent mixtures, in explantion, NaCl or KCl in aqueous mixtures of MEG. The method of calculating extend the Pitzer model, with the approach Lorimer, for aqueous systems containing a salt and another solvent (MEG). Python language in the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Eclipse was used in the creation of the computational applications. The results indicate the feasibility of the proposed calculation method for a systematic series of salt (NaCl or KCl) solubility data in aqueous mixtures of MEG at various temperatures. Moreover, the application of the developed tool in Python has proven to be suitable for parameter estimation and simulation purposes

Análise espacial de reservatórios usando DFA de dados geofísicos

This research aims to set whether is possible to build spatial patterns over oil fields using DFA (Detrended Fluctuation Analysis) of the following well logs: sonic, density, porosity, resistivity and gamma ray. It was employed in the analysis a set of 54 well logs from the oil field of Campos dos Namorados, RJ, Brazil. To check for spatial correlation, it was employed the Mantel test between the matrix of geographic distance and the matrix of the difference of DFA exponents of the well logs. The null hypothesis assumes the absence of spatial structures that means no correlation between the matrix of Euclidean distance and the matrix of DFA differences. Our analysis indicate that the sonic (p=0.18) and the density (p=0.26) were the profiles that show tendency to correlation, or weak correlation. A complementary analysis using contour plot also has suggested that the sonic and the density are the most suitable with geophysical quantities for the construction of spatial structures corroborating the results of Mantel test