Fine phosphate feed is considered to be slime and normally disposed of as a discard in settling ponds or dumped as landfill. The purpose of this research was to establish whether commercially acceptable qualities and yields could be obtained from this material using dry separation methods. The results obtained from the electrostatic separation of <105 µm phosphate ore are presented. An existing separator was upgraded in order to improve on product and flotation concentrate recovery, to test different mineral, and to reduce particle residence time between the charging chamber and the separating zone of the separator. The operating conditions were varied according to the charges imparted to the particles in the electric field, and according to other device parameters. Parameters such as splitter position, charge reversal, rotation speed, charging voltage and separating voltage. The <105 µm phosphate feed was concentrated under both triboelectrification and inductive charging. The use of inductive charging and charge reversal resulted in a significant increase in grade for <105 µm phosphate feed, with the P2O5 grade increasing from about 12 per cent to 20.50 per cent, and a recovery of 26.30 per cent under a single stage of separation. It was found that better separation was achieved at rotation speed of 6000 r/min, -8 kV charging voltage, and 25 kV separating voltage.

Foram realizados experimentos objetivando selecionar materiais e revestimentos que tenham características antiincrustantes contra o bivalve invasor Limnoperna fortunei, para uso em usinas geradoras de energia. Diferentes tipos de materiais foram utilizados como corpos-de-prova: aço carbono, aço cobreado, aço inoxidável, aço galvanizado e acrílico. Sobre os corpos-de-prova em aço carbono, foram também testados diversos tipos revestimentos à base de óxidos em diferentes concentrações. Foram utilizados o óxido de cobre, o óxido de zinco e a combinação dos mesmos. Os corpos-de-prova foram submersos na coluna d’água, por um ano entre outubro de 2007 e setembro de 2008, no reservatório da Usina Hidrelétrica de Ibitinga, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Os seguintes materiais e revestimentos apresentaram as menores densidades de mexilhões incrustados: aço carbono revestido com tinta a base de resina epóxi poliamina com adição de óxido de zinco convencional 5%, aço carbono revestido com tinta a base de resina epóxi poliamina com adição de óxido de cobre convencional 10%, aço carbono revestido com tinta a base de resina epóxi poliamina com adição de óxido de zinco nanométrico 10%. Estes materiais são recomendados para a utilização no controle da incrustação do mexilhão dourado, após a realização de estudos complementares sobre a solubilidade, lixiviação e ecotoxicidade, temas que serão abordados em nova fase da pesquisa.

Experiments were carried out aiming to select materials and coatings with antifouling properties against the exotic bivalve Limnoperna fortunei at power plants. Different kinds of materials were used as sample: carbon steel, metallic copper, stainless steel, galvanized steel and acrylic. Tests were also performed with several kinds of oxide based coatings at different concentrations on carbon steel samples. Copper oxide, zinc oxide and a combination of them were used. The samples were immersed in water column along a year, from October/2007 to September/2008, at Ibitinga Hydroelectric Power Plant Reservoir in São Paulo State, Brazil. The following materials and coatings showed the lower densities of golden mussel fouling: carbon steel coated with epoxy-polyamine resin based ink with addition of conventional zinc oxide 5%, carbon steel coated with epoxy-polyamine resin based ink with addition of conventional copper oxide 10% and carbon steel coated with epoxy-polyamine resin based ink with addition of nanometric zinc oxide 10%. These materials are recommended for use in golden mussel fouling control, after complementary studies about solubility, lixiviation and ecotoxicity, issues that will be considered in the new stage of the research.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a proteção contra a descarbonetação de diferentes revestimentos de pintura de tijolos refratários MgO-C usados em panelas de aciaria. A oxidação de tijolos refratários MgO-C leva à perda de espessura dos tijolos e, conseqüentemente, à diminuição da vida útil dos mesmos. Neste trabalho, foram testados três tipos de revestimentos (A, B e C), preparados em laboratório, os quais foram aplicadas sobre tijolos MgO-C. Estes revestimentos foram testados em relação à proteção contra a descarbonetação nas temperaturas de 850, 950 e 1050ºC. A partir dos resultados obtidos, verificou-se que a aplicação de revestimentos para pintura sobre refratários MgO-C apenas minimiza a descarbonetação, já que estes revestimentos vitrificam em temperaturas superiores ao início da oxidação. Além disso, notou-se que a espessura da camada descarbonetada é diretamente proporcional à temperatura de queima. Entre os revestimentos avaliados, o que apresentou melhores resultados foi o C, devido as suas características de escorrimento e viscosidade, além de vitrificar em temperatura inferior a dos revestimentos A e B.

This work aims to evaluate the utilization of different coatings to prevent the decarburization of refractory bricks MgO-C used in ladles. This oxidation causes the loss of thickness of the bricks and the reduction of its useful live. The three types of coatings A, B e C were prepared in laboratory and then were applied on MgO-C bricks. The samples were tested at temperatures of 850ºC, 950ºC and 1050ºC. It was verified that the three tested coatings only minimize the decarburization, since they vitrify and become effective at temperatures higher to the beginning of the oxidation temperature. Moreover, it was noticed that the thickness of the decarburized layer is directly proportional to the firing temperature. The coating that presented better results was C, which showed better characteristics of flowing and viscosity. Besides that, it vitrified at lower temperature comparing to coatings A and the B.