ABSTRACT: The use of microalgae as a source of raw material for biofuel production has been highly targeted. Compared to other biological options for the capture and use of CO2, microalgae crops have the following advantages: high productivity, lack of competition with feed and food-based products, use of unproductive and non-arable land, and allowance of the use of wastewater for its cultivation. The use of wastewater from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sewage has been indicated as an alternative means to reduce the cost of crops, since such waste is generally released into the environment without previous treatment. This work addresses the use of petrochemical wastewater (ARP) from effluent produced at the Gabriel Passos Refinery (Petrobrás refinery unit) for the cultivation of a strain of Scenedesmus obliquus BR003. Twelve experimental units of 20 L each were constructed in the experimental area of the Biofuel Laboratory of the Federal University of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil in an uncontrolled environment, and the cultures were evaluated by quantification of total carbohydrates, total lipids, dry biomass, and growth evaluated by absorbance. The results showed that the wastewater from petrochemical effluent is an efficient growth medium for the growth of Scenedesmus obliquus BR003 microalgae for large-scale cultivation on land that is not suitable for other agricultural crops.

ABSTRACT The implementation of the ozonation process in the milling industry to control insect pests and improve wheat flour qualities requires understanding the behavior of ozone during ozonation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the reaction kinetics of ozone gas in wheat flour. Wheat flour ozonation at concentrations of 0.54, 1.07, 1.61 and 2.14 mg L−1 was used in a prototype consisting of a cylinder and a mixing system with a helical thread. The iodometric titration method was used to quantify the ozone concentration in the air stream. The reaction kinetics were characterized by determining the saturation time and the decomposition kinetics (decay rate and half-life time). With increasing ozone concentration, less time was required to saturate the wheat flour. The saturation times were 812, 434, 370 and 342 min for ozone concentrations of 0.54, 1.07, 1.61 and 2.14 mg L−1, respectively. Increasing the ozone concentration did not influence the constant decay rate and half-life time. The ozone decomposition kinetics could be represented by a first-order model, with a decay rate constant of 0.23±0.008 min−1 and a half-life time of 3.02±0.081 min.

Objetivou-se, com o presente trabalho, avaliar o efeito do estádio de maturação dos frutos sobre o rendimento em massa de matéria seca e óleo das sementes de pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) , e sobre a qualidade do óleo extraído. Frutos de pinhão-manso foram classificados em quatro diferentes estádios de maturação, de acordo com sua coloração: verde, amarela, marrom-amarela e marrom. Amostras dos frutos de cada estádio foram retiradas para a determinação do teor de água, dimensões principais, volume e contagem de sementes por fruto. As sementes foram extraídas para determinação do teor de água, dimensões principais, volume, massa seca de mil sementes, percentual em massa de óleo e percentual de ácidos graxos livres do óleo extraído. A colheita de frutos de pinhão-manso com coloração marrom-amarelo e marrom, proporcionou maior rendimento em massa seca das sementes e em conteúdo de óleo. A colheita dos frutos com coloração marrom-amarelo além de possibilitar bons rendimentos em óleo e em matéria seca, permite a obtenção de óleo com índice de acidez menor, sendo o estádio de maturação mais indicado para a realização da colheita dos frutos e sementes de pinhão-manso para fins industriais.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ripening stage of the fruits on the increase in dry matter and oil content of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds. The quality of the oil was also investigated and related to the ripening stage. The fruits were classified in four classes of colors: green, yellow, brown-yellow and brown (dry fruits). Samples of fruits were collected for each ripening stage and the analysis of water content, size, volume and numbers of seeds were performed. For the seeds, water content, size, volume, mass of thousand seeds, oil content and acid value were evaluated. The harvest of brown-yellow and brown fruits provided higher yields in dry matter and oil of seeds. The brown-yellow fruits presented higher oil yield and dry matter, lower acid value, so it represent the more suitable ripening stage for harvesting fruits and seeds for industrial uses.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a cinética de decomposição do ozônio em grãos de amendoim. Para avaliar a cinética de decomposição do gás, utilizaram-se amostras de 1 kg de amendoim, com teores de água de 7,1 e 10,5% base úmida (b.u.), acondicionadas em recipientes de vidro com capacidade de 3 L. Os grãos de amendoim foram ozonizados na concentração de 450 µg L-1, nas temperaturas de 25 e 35 ºC, e vazões do gás de 1,0 e 3,0 L min-1. Determinou-se o tempo de saturação, quantificando-se a concentração residual do ozônio após a passagem do gás pela massa de grãos, até que a mesma se mantivesse constante. A cinética de decomposição foi avaliada depois da saturação da massa de grãos com o gás. Nessa etapa, obteve-se a concentração residual do ozônio, depois de períodos de repouso, durante os quais o gás reagia no meio poroso, e dessa forma, era decomposto. Um modelo cinético de primeira ordem foi ajustado aos dados da concentração residual em função do tempo, após linearização. A partir dos valores da constante da taxa de decomposição, definida como a inclinação da reta referente ao modelo cinético de primeira ordem linearizado, foi possível obter a meia-vida do ozônio em grãos de amendoim. Para os grãos de amendoim com teor de água de 7,1% (b.u.), nas temperaturas de 25 e 35 °C, e vazões de 1,0 e 3,0 L min-1, os valores obtidos de tempo de saturação do gás permaneceram na faixa entre 173 e 192 min, com concentração de saturação de aproximadamente 260 µg. L-1. Para os grãos com teor de água de 10,5% b.u., obteve-se maior concentração residual do gás na temperatura de 25 ºC, sendo igual a 190 µg. L-1. No que se refere ao tempo de meia-vida do ozônio, o maior valor obtido foi equivalente a 7,7 min para os grãos ozonizados na temperatura de 25 ºC, enquanto para aqueles com 10,5% de teor de água, na temperatura de 35 ºC, foi de 3,2 min. Concluiu-se que, no processo de decomposição do ozônio em grãos de amendoim, o fator determinante é a temperatura. Observou-se que o aumento de 10 ºC na temperatura dos grãos implica decréscimo de, pelo menos, 43% no tempo de meia-vida do gás.

This study was conducted to evaluate the decomposition kinetics of gaseous ozone in peanut grains. This evaluation was made with 1-kg peanut samples, moisture contents being 7.1 and 10.5% wet basis (w.b.), placed in 3-liter glass containers. The peanut grains were ozonated at the concentration of 450 µg L-1, at 25 and 35 ºC, with gas flow rates of 1.0 and 3.0 L min-1. Time of saturation was determined by quantifying the residual concentration of ozone after the gas passed through the grains to constant mass. The decomposition kinetics of ozone was evaluated after the grain mass was ozone-saturated. For the peanut grains whose moisture content was 7.1% (w.b.), at 25 and 35ºC and with flow rates of 1.0 and 3.0 L min-1, the values obtained for time of saturation of gaseous ozone ranged between 173 and 192 min; the concentration of saturation was approximately 260 µg L-1. For the grains whose moisture content was 10.5% (w.b.), a higher residual concentration of gaseous ozone was obtained at 25 ºC, that of 190 µg L-1. As regards the half-life of ozone, the highest value obtained was equivalent to 7.7 min for grains ozonated at 25 ºC, while for those with moisture content of 10.5% at 35 ºC, half-life was 3.2 min. In the process of ozone decomposition in peanut grains, temperature was concluded to be the key factor. An increase of 10 ºC in the temperature of the grains results in a decrease of at least 43% in the half-life of ozone.

Neste trabalho o propósito foi avaliar o transporte do isotiocianato alilo (AITC), por meio do estudo do mecanismo de sorção e da difusão do AITC, nos grãos de milho. O procedimento experimental para o estudo da sorção foi conduzido pela injeção de AITC em frascos de vidro contendo os grãos. Modelos cinéticos de ordem zero, de primeira e de segunda ordem, foram ajustados aos dados de concentração do AITC com a finalidade de determinar a taxa de sorção (k). Para o estudo da difusão utilizou-se um protótipo em que os componentes são uma câmara de gás e uma coluna cilíndrica, para contenção dos grãos. A cada 110 min amostras na câmara e na coluna foram coletadas e imediatamente injetadas no cromatógrafo a gás. Para determinar o valor do coeficiente efetivo de difusão (Def) do AITC através de grãos de milho adicionou-se, à equação de difusão, o termo referente à taxa de sorção. O modelo cinético, foi o de primeira ordem e k foi 6,26 x 10-4 s-1. O Def do AITC através dos grãos, foi de 7,2 x 10-3 cm² s-1. Concluiu-se que o transporte do AITC por meio dos grãos de milho é lento devido ao baixo valor do Def e à elevada taxa de sorção deste componente pelos grãos.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the transport of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) by means of the sorption mechanism and the diffusion of AITC through maize grains. The experimental procedure to study the sorption mechanism was conducted by injection of AITC in glass flasks containing the grains. Kinetic models of zero, first and second order were fitted to AITC concentration data, with the purpose of determining the sorption rate (k). For the study of diffusion, a prototype was utilized in which the components are a gas chamber and a cylindrical column in which the grains were stored. At the interval of 110 min, samples in the chamber and in the column were collected, which were immediately injected into the gas chromatograph. In order to determine the effective diffusion coefficient (Def) of AITC through maize grains, the term referring to the sorption rate was added to the diffusion equation. The kinetic model of the first order was the one that best fitted the experimental data for the sorption mechanism, and k was 6.26 x 10-4 s-1. The Def of AITC through grains was 7.2 x 10-3 cm² s-1. It was concluded that the transport of AITC through maize grains is slow, due to the low value of Def and high sorption rate of this component by the grains.