Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) are typical electromechanical transducing materials suitable for use as soft actuators, bioinspired artificial muscles and sensors. However, IPMC produced with platinum films has the great disadvantage of the large number of cracks and wrinkles, which reduce the performance of the electrode. Polyaniline (PANI) is a promising conductive polymer that can address this issue, especially when it is electropolymerized on the platinum surface. An IPMC/PANI actuator was developed by potentiostatic electropolymerization of PANI at 0.9 V in 0.1 M and 0.3 M aniline solution. The characterization revealed that PANI is preferentially electropolymerized in the platinum film cracks and improve the electronic conduction mechanisms, which is not reported so far. The maximum tip displacement of the IPMC/PANI under 5 V was 8.3 mm, while for the IPMC was equal 5.2 mm. These results provide a simple and effective method to repair IPMCs and enhance their electromechanical performances.

This research was aimed to obtain biodegradable polymeric films with antifungal action against Aspergillus niger, through the addition of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) in the commercial polymer (Ecoflex®) and to evaluate its mechanical, morphological, biodegradation, and copper release properties. The microbiological results showed that the films with 4 wt% CuO-NPs inhibited 97.57% the growth of the fungus growth of 1×105 spores·mL-1 compared to the control. The morphological characterization revealed that the CuO-NPs presented irregular form with particles size of 50 to 400 nm and the XRD showed characteristic peaks of copper oxide. The addition of CuO-NPs to Ecoflex® provided increased maximum and rupture tension, strain, and elasticity modulus the obtained films with 1 wt% CuO-NPs and did not alter the biodegradability of the films. It can be said that, through the addition of CuO-NPs to Ecoflex®, it was possible to add antifungal activity for Aspergillus niger without compromising its biodegradability, meeting the safety standards established by legislation regarding the release of copper.

The Montmorillonite-Erucamide nanocomposite (MMT-EU) can be used to reduce and to control the values of coefficient of friction of low-density polyethylene films (LDPE), widely used by the food industry. In this work, the effect of the addition of 5 wt% and 10 wt% of MMT-EU on the mechanical properties of LLDPE films involving the weld region was investigated. The MMT-EU concentration range was defined considering its possible technological application as an additive to stabilize the friction coefficient of polymeric films. The result shows a significant improvement in the values of stiffness, strength and ductility of polymeric films. In addition, it did not change the coefficient of friction, but the brightness of the LLDPE films decreased and the opacity increased, due to the increase in the crystallinity degree of the LLDPE polymer promoted by MMT-EU, not being a problem for the application of these films.

Composites based on green high-density polyethylene (G-HDPE) and hydroxyapatite (HA) compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted high-density polyethylene (HDPE-g-MAH) were developed in this work. The main objective was to evaluate the effects of HA and HDPE-g-MAH contents on the mechanical and thermal properties and hydrolytic degradation of composites through design of experiments and statistical analysis, as well as to evaluate the hemolytic stability. Hydroxyapatite acts as a reinforcing agent for the G-HDPE matrix while the HDPE-g-MAH acts as a compatibilizing agent, improving the dispersion of the HA particles in the polymer matrix and thus increasing the mechanical properties. The crystallization temperature and the degree of crystallinity of the polymer matrix were increased with the addition of HA, suggesting the filler acts as a heterogeneous nucleating agent. Hemolysis tests performed on a composite sample with best mechanical performance did not indicate significant hydrolytic degradation, which suggests this composite is a promising material to be used in bone tissue engineering, for application in implants and bone grafts. highdensity high density GHDPE G HDPE (G-HDPE (HA HDPEgMAH g MAH (HDPE-g-MAH work analysis stability engineering grafts

RESUMO O estudo da atividade metanogênica específica (AME) constitui uma importante ferramenta para o controle operacional de reatores anaeróbios, pois apresenta parâmetros de monitoramento da eficiência e estabilidade de um reator biológico. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho visou determinar a AME de lodos provenientes de reatores anaeróbios de fluxo ascendente (UASB - upflow anaerobic slugde blanket) de duas indústrias cervejeiras (lodos A e B), uma de processamento de grãos (lodo C), uma leiteira (lodo D) e uma de processamento de couro (lodo E). Os ensaios foram conduzidos em batelada, em ambiente aclimatado a 35°C, utilizando um equipamento para monitorar a geração de biogás em função do tempo de digestão. Também foi realizada a qualificação do gás metano presente no biogás gerado pelos diferentes lodos. O maior valor de AME obtido e a maior porcentagem do gás metano produzido, para uma concentração de biomassa de 5,0 gSTV.L-1 e 4,0 gDQO.L-1 de glicose, foram para o lodo B: 0,36 gDQO-CH4.gSTV-1.d-1 e 58,9%, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT The study of Specific Methanogenic Activity (SMA) is an important tool for operational control of anaerobic reactors, as it presents parameters to monitor the efficiency and stability of a biological reactor. For this reason, the present article aimed to determine the SMA of sludges from UASB reactors, of two different brewing industries (sludges A and B), a grain processing industry (sludge C), a dairy industry (sludge D), and a leather processing industry (sludge E). Assays were performed in batch, at an acclimatized environment (35°C), using a device equipment to monitor the generation of biogas due to digestion time. Also, the quantity of methane gas was measured in the biogas generated by the different sludges. The best SMA value obtained and the greater percentage of methane gas generated, with a biomass concentration of 5.0 gSTV.L-1, and a glucose concentration of 4.0 gCOD.L-1, were for sludge B, with 0.36 gCOD-CH4.gSTV-1.d-1 and 58.9%, respectively.

Tetracycline is used to treat various diseases in animals and humans, so its high use causes this substance to be frequently found in effluents and in potable water reservoirs, causing serious problems for human health and the environment. Many processes are applied and evaluated in an attempt to removal tetracycline found in environment, such as adsorption. The application of iron-carbon nanoparticles with core-shell structure (Fe3O4@C) as adsorbent, can be an alternative to removal of these contaminants. In the present study Fe3O4@C nanoparticles were synthesized and used to adsorb tetracycline in aqueous solutions. The core-shell characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction techniques, infrared spectroscopy, surface area, chemical analysis and morphology, and adsorption capacity through isotherms. The results indicated that Fe3O4@C nanoparticles presented good tetracycline removal capability, 73.3%, when applied an initial concentration of antibiotic of the 30 mg L-1 and 0.5 g of adsorbent.

Zinc is an important chemical element in many metabolic mechanisms at low concentrations, but can be toxic when administrated in doses higher than 500 µg·g-1 or 3 mg·L-1. This metal has been detected in many aquatic environments due to several industry activities and swine manure effluents. Thus, the contaminant removal of water and wastewater has been a major challenge. Many processes are applied and evaluated in an attempt to removal zinc found in environment, such as adsorption. In the present study Fe3O4@C core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized and used to adsorb ionic zinc species in aqueous solutions. The core-shell nanoparticles exhibited excellent zinc removal capacity, with a maximum efficiency equal 65% where applied in an aqueous solution containing 10 mg·l-1 of this ionic metal.

Civil construction is one segment responsible for major environmental and social impacts. Among its raw materials, Portland cement, which is produced by the burning and subsequent grinding of a composition of clays and limestones. This manufacturing process causes great environmental damage, both by the exploitation of deposits and by the process of clinkering (burning of raw materials), which emits a significant amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Therefore, there is a need for research on materials that reduce these impacts on the environment and that can be used by civil construction to the partial replacement of cement. Thus, this research had as objective to produce settlement mortar through the partial replacement of the Portland cement by filler powder, in different proportions and to study its mechanical properties. The results show that the partial replacement of the cement by the residue has acceptable behavior in the mortar.

ABSTRACT This work describes the second of a series of studies of the effects of injection molding conditions on the mechanical and thermal properties of Polyamide 6/Glass Fiber/Montmorillonite (PA6/GF/MMT) composites and was motivated by the lack of information about how the processing variables influence on the properties of three-phase composites containing fiber glass. By this time, the effects of the injection molding temperature associated with the fiber glass percentage on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite are investigated. Some samples were processed, following a statistical experimental factorial planning, varying the mold temperature and the fiber glass percentage and maintaining 5 wt % of the MMT. The samples were submitted to tensile and flexural tests, XRD, SEM and DSC. The studies showed that an increase in the mold temperature and the fiber percentage improves the maximum tensile and flexural stresses. The increased mold temperature slows the cooling rate, which, over time, decreases the degree of crystallinity. However, there is an increase in the intercalation of the polymeric chains and the nanoclay lamellae, and the structure forms with fewer defects.