Rutin is found in several plant sources and has therapeutic effects with excellent healing potential. Its use is restricted due to its low aqueous solubility, requiring a carrier matrix that allows an adequate delivery system. Biopolymer matrices can release the active ingredient in a controlled manner, keeping it within the therapeutic range and minimizing side effects. This study used babassu mesocarp starch films prepared by different routes as Arrabidaea brachypoda DC Bureau (AB) leaf extract carrier matrices to produce a controlled release system. The films were produced by the casting method, and the AB extract was incorporated in the proportion of 0.5% m/m of dry starch. The presence of the extract in the matrix was identified with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) data and functional analyses. The in vitro release of the AB extract was carried out in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, and adapted to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, with coefficients of determination (R2) ≥ 0.9018. The release exponents (n) revealed that the release mechanism is diffusion controlled. Different kinetic constant values (k) indicated that the treatments employed allowed slower and more controlled release profiles, according to the route chosen for matrix preparation. Thus, the materials produced emerge as a new approach to releasing vegetable extracts.

The present work presents a strategic sequential experimental planning to evaluate the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous medium by electrocoagulation combined with dissolved air flotation. Effect of electrode pairs, electrode spacing, contact time, initial pH, voltage, and pressure were optimized according to the following response variables: color, final pH, turbidity, and dye removal. The best-achieved optimized conditions were: 4 pairs of electrodes, 2.5 cm spacing, electrolysis time of 203 min, initial pH 4, voltage of 32 V, and no pressure by dissolved air injection. Among the experimental results, it was possible to obtain a maximum removal of 95.1% of the dye. The analysis of the response surfaces showed that the initial pH has a great influence on the final characteristic of the treated effluent. Through the study of optimization, synthetic effluents have been obtained that meet the discharge standards according to the current Brazilian environmental legislation.

A novel and simple electroanalytical method for the determination of Cu2+ in biodiesel samples by stripping voltammetric analysis was developed. The method employs a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with Vulcan carbon, previouly functionalized with carbazone (CBZ). The CPE/Vulcan-CBZ sensor promoted a significant increase in the analytical signal obtained from copper as compared to unmodified CPE, and the CPE modified with Vulcan carbon (CPE/ Vulcan). Vulcan-CBZ, Vulcan and CBZ materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique. The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave anodic stripping voltammetric (SWASV) techniques. The CPE/Vulcan-CBZ modified electrode showed excellent response and was able to detect Cu2+ at nanomolar levels. The electrochemical method is based on preconcentration of Cu2+ ions on the CPE/Vulcan-CBZ at 0.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl(sat) in 0.2 mol L-1 ammonium sulfate solution ((NH4)2SO4), pH 3.5, during 120 s, followed by subsequent chemical stripping. The analytical signal showed a linear response for Cu2+ concentrations in the range from 6 to 190 nmol L-1 (r = 0.998), with a detection limit of 1.2 nmol L-1. The sensor was successfully applied for the determination of Cu2+ in biodiesel and the average recovery varied between 97.0 and 102.8% for the soybean biodiesel samples and between 109.6 and 111.0% for the babassu biodiesel samples showing a good accuracy for the proposed method.

Eletrodo de carbono vítreo quimicamente modificado por filme fino de hexacianoferrato de rutênio (RuHCF) foi preparado pelo método da evaporação da gota. O eletrodo modificado RuHCF exibiu quatro processos redox em meio ácido forte (pH 1,5) atribuídos ao íon Fe(CN)6(3-) e três formas de rutênio (Ru(II), Ru(III) e Ru(IV)), características do óxido de rutênio. O eletrodo modificado mostrou excelente atividade eletrocatalítica para oxidação de etanol na região de potenciais onde os processos eletroquímicos Ru(III)-O-Ru(IV) e Ru(IV)-O-Ru(VI) ocorrem. Dados de espectroscopia de impedância mostraram que a resistência de transferência de carga diminui com o aumento do potencial aplicado e da concentração de etanol, indicando o uso do eletrodo modificado RuHCF como sensor para etanol. Em condições otimizadas, este sensor respondeu linearmente e rapidamente para etanol na faixa de concentração entre 0,03 e 0,4 mol L-1 com um limite de detecção de 0,76 mmol L-1, indicando uma sensibilidade adequada em análises de etanol.

Ruthenium-based hexacyanoferrate (RuHCF) thin film modified glassy carbon electrode was prepared by drop evaporation method. The RuHCF modified electrode exhibited four redox couples in strong acidic solution (pH 1.5) attributed to Fe(CN)6(3-) ion and three ruthenium forms (Ru(II), Ru(III) and Ru(IV)), characteristic of ruthenium oxide compounds. The modified electrode displayed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards ethanol oxidation in the potential region where electrochemical processes Ru(III)-O-Ru(IV) and Ru(IV)-O-Ru(VI) occur. Impedance spectroscopy data indicated that the charge transfer resistance decreased with the increase of the applied potential and ethanol concentration, indicating the use of the RuHCF modified electrode as an ethanol sensor. Under optimized conditions, the sensor responded linearly and rapidly to ethanol concentration between 0.03 and 0.4 mol L-1 with a limit of detection of 0.76 mmol L-1, suggesting an adequate sensitivity in ethanol analyses.