Plant model systems are needed to properly conduct basic laboratory studies prior to field applications of phytoremediation. In vitro plant cultures are a useful tool for such research. This study focuses on the removal and/or degradation of 24 persistent organic pollutants under in vitro conditions by Helianthus annuus L (sunflower). The main purpose of exploiting this plant for phytoremediation process is due to its strong adaptability to adverse environments conditions such as resistance to pests, disease, and others. The study of bioremediation effects of all chemical molecules under in vitro conditions showed promising results. Sixteen out of twenty-four compounds evaluated reached up to 87% for remediation. The highest accumulation of pollutants was observed in the roots, showing that these results are consistent with the current literature. Through the study, it was observed effective absorption of POPs with logKow ranging from 4.50 to 6.91. Sunflower phytoremediation process efficiently detected heptachlor, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, trans-chlordane, chlordane, dieldrin, DDE, DDT, methoxychlor, mirex and decachlorobiphenyl.

Seeds Citrus oils (C. sinensis, C. limon and C. reticulata) extraction with hexane in a soxhlet apparatus and through supercritical fluid (CO2) were done. Besides triglycerides, the oils obtained with hexane comprised volatile compounds such as terpenes and fatty alcohols, esters, and aldehydes. However, the oils obtained by extraction with supercritical fluid presented only triglycerides. These results indicate that the extraction using supercritical fluid presents better selectivity. The activity of the oils on the development of the ant symbiotic fungus, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, showed week activity and the topic insecticide assay showed better activity for the tangerine seed oil.

No presente trabalho apresentamos um sistema para extração com fluido supercrítico (SFE)" home-made" utilizado em extrações de resíduos de pesticidas de diversas matrizes. Os pesticidas estudados foram extraídos usando-se como fluido extrator CO2 no estado supercrítico com ou sem modificadores. Os resultados obtidos mostraram-se mais vantajosos do que aqueles obtidos por métodos convencionais de extração.

In the present work, we describe a SFE home-made system used for pesticide residue extraction in food products. The pesticides were extracted using CO2 in the supercritical state as extracting fluid with and without modifiers. The results obtained by SFE have been better than those obtained by conventional extraction method.