Abstract This paper discussed the synthesis of LTA zeolite from Pinheiro clay (PIN) aiming for adsorption of CO2. To obtain the LTA-PIN zeolite, the PIN was submitted to acid treatment, followed by calcination and hydrothermal treatment. These treatments promoted the reorganization of the crystalline structure of the PIN, leading to the LTA-PIN zeolite with 95.79% purity confirmed by XRD, SEM, XRF, and FTIR results. The performance of the LTA-PIN zeolite was similar to the one of the standard LTA zeolite. The CO2 adsorption by the zeolites could be properly described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models, suggesting that physisorption was the main mechanism responsible for the deposition of CO2 at the surface of the zeolites. According to regeneration results, LTA-PIN zeolite can be reused five times without significant loss of CO2 adsorption capacity, contrary to the 12% reduction in CO2 adsorption capacity presented by the LTA-standard zeolite.

Filtration under an ultrasonic field is a technique that is gaining importance in the wastewater treatment research field, not only due to its ability as a cleaning mechanism, but also as a filtration intensifier. The main objective of this research was the study of the influence of ultrasonic waves on the filtration of theoilfield wastewater (known as produced water) in order to increase the operation performance and filter medium regenerative effectiveness. A 0.016 m² hollow cylindrical porous ceramic filter was submitted to the filtration of produced water by two mechanisms: conventional filtration under vacuum and filtration under theinfluence of ultrasonic waves. Experiments were carried out using synthetic produced water by analyzing the variables oil and grease content (O&G) and total suspended solids (TSS) for each filtration run. Backwashing of the filter medium with distilled water was also performed to evaluate the regeneration efficiency. During conventional filtration, permeate flux decreased gradually, becoming stable around 0.06 cm³.cm-2.s-1. Furthermore, in the filtration assisted by ultrasound, the permeate flux was around 0.15 cm³.cm-2.s-1. Therefore, ultrasonic waves provided an increase of about 150% in the permeate flux. Moreover, the sonication improved filter medium regeneration effectiveness, even under conditions of high TSS and O&G contents. Taking into consideration the very positive results associated with the application of ultrasonicwaves, this filtration technique is likely to become an important industrial process.

A moving bed bioreactor containing cubes of polyether foam immersed in a synthetic wastewater (an aqueous mixture of meat extract, yeast extract, dextrose, meat peptone, ammonium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, potassium mono-hydrogen-phosphate and magnesium sulphate) was used to evaluate bacterial growth and biomass yield parameters based on Monod's equation. The wastewater was supplied in the bottom of the equipment flowing ascending in parallel with a diffused air current that provided the mixing of the reactor content. Suspended and attached biomass concentration was measured through gravimetric methods. Good agreement was found between experimental kinetic parameters values and those obtained by other researchers. The only significant difference was the high global biomass content about 2 times the values obtained in conventional processes, providing high performance with volumetric loading rates up to 5.5 kg COD/m³/d.

A função do desenvolvimento de Chrysonilia sitophila em pranchas de cortiça, durante o processo de fabrico de rolhas de cortiça, não está ainda claramente clarificada. Neste trabalho são descritos os primeiros resultados que demonstram a potencialidade daquele fungo para metabolizar suberina ( um constituinte da cortiça constituido por uma parte aromática ligada a cadeias alifáticas de ácidos gordos, esterificadas ou não). A actividade lipolítica de C. sitophila foi claramente demonstrada em culturas líquidas e em culturas sólidas do fungo.

The role of the development of Chrysonilia sitophila on cork slabs, during the manufacturing process of cork stoppers, is not clearly understood. This work describes the first results demonstrating the potential of that mould to metabolize suberin. Lipolytic activity was clearly observed in solid and liquid cultures of C. sitophila.

As características macro e micromorfológicas dos horizontes diagnósticos superficiais e subsuperficiais de Latossolos e Neossolos Quartzarênicos das superfícies Sul-Americana e Velhas foram estudadas em perfis sob cobertura de vegetação nativa, visando estabelecer um referencial para futuras comparações com áreas similares sob constante intervenção antrópica em termos de sustentabilidade. Com os solos referenciados por sub-região e pela superfície geomórfica que representam, três agrupamentos foram constituídos: Grupo 1: solos de textura argilosa a muito argilosa e hipo a mesoférricos; Grupo 2: solos de textura média a arenosa e hipoférricos, e Grupo 3: solos de textura argilosa a muito argilosa e férricos. O horizonte Bw dos Latossolos argilosos e muito argilosos estudados (Grupos 1 e 3), com relações cauliníticas/(caulinita + gibbsita) variando de 0,27 a 0,77, apresentaram grande coincidência de estrutura e microestrutura, respectivamente, forte muito pequena granular e de microagregados. Os solos do Grupo 2, Latossolos de textura média e um Neossolo Quartzarênico, apresentaram o plasma preferencialmente como películas aderidas aos grãos que dominam o fundo matricial. A presença marcante de agregados na fração areia, resistentes ao tratamento para dispersão da terra fina, se deu apenas nos Latossolos argilosos e muito argilosos do Grupo 3 (com caráter férrico) e em parte do Grupo 1 (naqueles mais gibbsíticos). No leste de Goiás, o horizonte Bw dos perfis de G2, Latossolos Amarelos de mineralogia gibbsítica e isenta de hematita, apresentaram feições observadas em lâmina delgada de cor vermelha e agregados residuais da fração areia com hematita detectada pela difração de raios-X, aspectos que corroboram a hipótese de um pedoambiente mais úmido dessa posição na paisagem relativamente à posição G1, com perfis de Latossolos Vermelhos.

The macro and micromorphological characteristics of the surface and subsurface diagnostic horizons of Oxisols and Quartzipsamments of the South American and Velhas geomorphic surfaces were analyzed in profiles under native vegetation cover, in order to establish a reference for future comparisons with similar areas under ongoing human intervention. The soils in their respective subregions and geomorphic surfaces were classified in three groups: Group 1: hypo to mesoferric, clayey to very clayey soils; Group 2: hypoferric; sandy to sandy loam soils, and Group 3: ferric, clayey to very clayey soils. The Bw horizons of the studied clayey and very clayey Oxisols (Groups 1 and 3), with kaolinite/(kaolinite + gibbsita) ratio varying from 0.27 and 0.77, present elevated similarity in macrostructure and microstructure, which are granular. The soil plasma of Group 2 (sandy loam Oxisols and a Quartzipsament) is film-like and is adhered to grains that are dominant in the matrix background. The marked presence of dispersion resistant aggregates in the sand fraction occurred only in Group 3 ferric clayey Oxisols and in more gibsitic Oxisols of Group 1. In Bw horizons of yellowish gibsitic Oxisols of the G2 profiles from eastern Goiás, red colored thick sections and residual aggregates of the sand fraction with presence of hematite detected by X-ray diffraction were observed. These features corroborate the hypothesis of a more humid pedoenvironment at this landscape position compared to that at position G1, where reddish Oxisol profiles are found.

Com o intuito de avaliar diferenças de comportamento entre solos das superfícies geomórficas Sul-Americana e Velhas da região dos Cerrados, todos sob uso atual de cobertura vegetal nativa, foram realizadas caracterizações físicas, químicas e mineralógicas, bem como feitas análises de componentes principais desses atributos. Com os solos referenciados por sub-região e pela superfície geomórfica que representam, três agrupamentos foram constituídos: Grupo 1: solos de textura argilosa a muito argilosa e hipo a mesoférricos; Grupo 2: solos de textura média a arenosa e hipoférricos; e Grupo 3: solos de textura argilosa a muito argilosa e férricos. A retenção de água dos horizontes superficiais dos solos estudados foi positivamente correlacionada com os teores de argila e carbono orgânico. Os solos do Grupo 3 apresentaram a maior oferta de bases trocáveis dos horizontes superficiais, o que foi relacionado, em grande parte, com a maior reciclagem imposta pela formação florestal local, quando comparada à da formação de cerrado, presente em 31 dos 33 perfis de solos dos Grupos 1 e 2. O Grupo 3, diferenciado pelos elevados teores de Fe herdados do material de origem, é o grupo mais homogêneo em termos mineralógicos, com todos os perfis hematíticos. Os Grupos 1 e 2 apresentam sobreposição de composição mineralógica, sendo o Grupo 1, em termos médios, mais gibbsítico do que o Grupo 2. A maior eficácia do Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos, relativamente ao Soil Taxonomy, em discriminar os solos estudados é resultante do uso do caráter férrico concomitantemente a outros atributos comuns aos dois sistemas. A análise de componentes principais auxiliou no entendimento das diferenças e similaridades dos ambientes pedológicos separados no campo.

Behavior differences between soils of the South-American and Velhas geomorphic surfaces of the Cerrado region, all of them under native vegetation cover, were evaluated by physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterizations, and principal component analyses. According to their sub-region and geomorphic surfaces, the soils were separated in three groups: 1. clayey to very clayey texture, low- and mesoferric; 2. medium to sandy texture, lowferric; 3. clayey to very clayey texture, ferric. Water retention in the surface horizons of the studied soils was positively correlated with the clay and organic carbon contents. Soils of Group 3 showed the greatest amount of exchangeable bases in the surface horizons, which is mainly a consequence of the greater recycling efficiency imposed by the local forest formation when compared to the Cerrado formation (verified in 31 of the 33 soil profiles of Groups 1 and 2). Soils of Group 3, formed from mafic rocks, were the most homogeneous in mineralogical terms, since all profiles were hematitic. In averages, Groups 1 and 2 presented an overlapping mineralogical composition, though Group 1 is more gibbsitic than Group 2. In comparison to the US Soil Taxonomy, the efficacy of the Brazilian Soil Classification System at discriminating the studied soils is higher owing to the use of the ferric character in conjunction with the other attributes both systems have in common. The principal component analysis supported the understanding of the pedologic environment differences and similarities identified in the field.

Avaliaram-se as perdas de solo e água por erosão hídrica em sistemas florestais, relacionando-as com os limites admissíveis de perdas para as principais classes de solo nos Tabuleiros Costeiros da região de Aracruz (ES), com vistas em obter indicativos da adequação do manejo deste sistema de produção. O experimento foi instalado em parcelas em Argissolo Amarelo textura média/argilosa (PA1), Plintossolo Háplico (FX) e Argissolo Amarelo moderadamente rochoso (PA8), com declividade variando de 1,8 a 8,2 %; 1,3 a 12,4 % e 28,8 a 35,5 %, respectivamente, contemplando três situações: eucalipto, mata nativa e solo descoberto. As perdas de solo por erosão hídrica para o sistema com eucalipto apresentaram a seguinte ordem: PA8 > PA1 > FX. As perdas de água por enxurrada para o sistema com eucalipto apresentaram a seguinte ordem: PA8 > FX > PA1, com uma variação de 9,09 a 70,48 mm, correspondendo a 0,79 e 6,1 % da precipitação total anual, respectivamente. As perdas de solo para o povoamento de eucalipto foram bem abaixo dos limites de tolerância para os solos referentes a cada classe, indicando a adequação do manejo deste sistema de produção em relação à erosão hídrica. O fato de as perdas de solo para o eucalipto ficarem relativamente próximas daquelas da mata nativa indica a sustentabilidade daquele ambiente no contexto de erosão.

Soil and water losses by erosion were measured in forest ecosystems and were related to the calculated maximum tolerable soil losses. Main soil classes in the Coastal Plains of the region of Aracruz (ES) were studied, with the aim of obtaining indicators of management adequacy for this production system. The experimental plots were set on loamy/clayey Yellow Argisol (PA1), Haplic Plinthosol (FX), and moderately rocky Yellow Argisol (PA8). The slopes ranged from 2-8 %, 1-12 %, and 29-36 %, for each soil class. Three soil covers were studied of each soil class: eucalyptus trees, native forest, and bare soil. Soil and water losses under eucalyptus followed the order: PA8 > PA1 > FX. Water losses ranged from 9-70 mm, equivalent to 1-6 % of the total annual rainfall. Soil losses in the eucalyptus plots lay well below the calculated maximum tolerable soil losses in all soil classes, which indicates adequacy of management in this production system regarding water erosion. The fact that soil losses in eucalyptus were relatively close to those in native forest indicates the sustainability of the former environment regarding erosion.

A produção de rolhas de cortiça ocupa um lugar relevante na indústria transformadora Portuguesa, e na economia nacional uma vez que Portugal é o maior produtor mundial de cortiça. O processo de fabrico engloba um período de repouso das pranchas de cortiça após cozedura, designado por maturação, onde os bolores cobrem totalmente as pranchas. Este processo é utilizado tradicionalmente desde há décadas, mas recentemente as rolhas de cortiça são alvo de várias acusações, todas elas fundamentadas na ocorrência do chamado “gosto a rolha” em vinhos. Apesar dos vários compostos correlacionados com este defeito, actualmente, a designação “gosto a rolha” tende a ser confundida com o aparecimento em vinhos do composto 2,4,6-tricloroanisol, que é o principal factor responsável por este problema em vinhos, mas não o único. A complexidade do problema, e o aparecimento de novos dados justificam uma revisão cuidada do tema com vista a esclarecer os investigadores, os industriais e os consumidores. Face aos primeiros dados que evidenciaram a capacidade de alguns bolores isolados a partir de amostras de cortiça produzirem cloroanisóis por metilação dos clorofenóis correspondentes, provou-se recentemente que Chrysonilia sitophila não utiliza esta estratégia como a principal via para metabolisar clorofenóis. C. sitophila aparece sistematicamente associada ao processo de maturação das pranchas de cortiça, sendo identificado como o bolor branco rosado que cobre as pranchas em maturação, o que tradicionalmente constituía um indicador de qualidade. Este artigo resume o estado actual dos conhecimentos neste domínio, incluindo alguns resultados importantes do nosso trabalho nesta área.

La production de bouchons en liège occupe une place importante dans l’industre Portugaise de la transformation, ainsi que dans l’économie national puisque le Portugal est le plus grand producteur mondial de liège. Le procédé de fabrication comprend une étape de stabilisation des planches de liège après bouillage, appelé également maturation, durant lequel la croissance des moisissures recouvre totalement les planches. Ce procédé de fabricaion, traditionnellement utilisé depuis plusieurs décennies, ainsi que les bouchons en liège, ont récemment été accusés à tort d’être responsables du “ goût de bouchon ”. L’origine du “ goût de bouchon ” a été sujette à différentes interprétations. Bien qu’il existe une grande quantité de composés qui contribuent à ce phénomène, de nos jours, le terme “ goût de bouchon ” est généralement associé à la présence du 2,4,6-trichloroanisole qui en est le principal facteur responsable mais pas l'unique. La complexité du problème et l’apparition de nouvelles données expérimentales, justifient par conséquent une révision soignée de l’état de l’art, afin d’éclairer les chercheurs, les industriels et les consommateurs. En face des premiers résultats qui ont mis en évidence l’aptitude de certaines moisissures isolées à partir d’échantillons de liège à produire des chloroanisoles, il apparaît clairement que Chrysonilia sitophila ne fait quasiment pas appel à cette stratégie pour métaboliser des chlorophénols. C. sitophila est systématiquement associée au procédé de maturation, et a été identifiée comme la moisissure blanche aux spores de couleur saumon, qui recouvre les planches en maturation, ce qui traditionnellement est interprété comme un indicateur de qualité. Ce rapport et un revision bibliographique des connaissances part le sujet et rassemble les résultats les plus importants de nos travaux dans ce domaine.

The manufacture of cork stoppers in Portugal holds a relevant position within it’s manufacturing industries, as well as within the national economy of Portugal due to Portugal being the major cork stopper producer, world wide. The manufacturing process includes a stabilisation period of the cork slabs following boiling, designated the maturation period, during which mould growth completely covers the cork slabs. This process has been traditionally used for several decades and recently cork stoppers are being targeted with several false accusations, all concerning the problem of “cork taint”. The origin of “cork taint” has suffered different interpretations. Although there is a high variety of compounds already correlated with this problem, nowadays the term “cork taint” is somehow automatically confused with the presence of the compound 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, which is the main responsible factor in wine, although not exclusively so. The complexity of this problem, and the most recent results, justify a careful revision of this matter in order to clarify the researchers, the producers and the consumers. Confronting the first results that have previously shown the ability of certain moulds isolated from cork, to methylate chlorophenolic compounds and producing the corresponding chloroanisole, it is now clear that Chrysonilia sitophila does not use this metabolic strategy as it’s principal method to metabolise chlorophenols. C. sitophila is systematically associated with the maturation step of cork stopper manufacture, and has been identified as the white and salmon mould that covers the cork slabs during this stage. This has traditionally meant good quality. This report summarises the actual state of knowledge concerning this matter, including the most important results obtained recently from our work.