ABSTRACT: Polymer coatings are used to control the rate of release of plant available nutrients from fertilizers as well as to reduce nutrient losses such as ammonia (NH3) volatilization. Although the literature presents several examples of materials used to coat urea, little is known about nitrogen (N) release properties such as the mechanism involved and phenomena (e.g., pore opening) in the polymer coating. Thus, this study investigated urea release from polyurethane (PU) derived from two renewable raw materials (castor oil and soybean oil), to explain how the oil structure and coating microstructure influence release and urea-N dynamics in soil. The results demonstrated that the profile of urea release and the urea-N mineralization in the soil could be controlled by altering the thickness of the coating on the urea granules. Coating by eco-friendly polymer was efficient in controlling urea release in soil to reduce volatilization of ammonia and increase the availability of N in the soil.

This paper describes the procedures for analysing pollutant gases emitted by engines, such as volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene) by using high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC). For IC engine burning, in a broad sense, the use of the B10 mixture reduces drastically the emissions of aromatic compounds. Especially for benzene the reduction of concentrations occurs at the level of about 24.5%. Although a concentration value below 1 µg mL-1 has been obtained, this reduction is extremely significant since benzene is a carcinogenic compound.

Os teores de vários nutrientes foram determinados em 35 amostras de cafés verdes e torrados, por espectrometria de absorção atômica em chama (Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn e Zn), fotometria de emissão atômica em chama (Na e K) e pelo método Kjeldahl (N) após preparação das amostras por dois procedimentos de decomposição via úmida: i) sistema aberto (bloco digestor) e ii) sistema fechado (forno de microondas convencional com controle de pressão e temperatura). A exatidão dos procedimentos foi verificada analisando-se três materiais de referência certificados do National Institute of Standards and Technology (SRM 1573a Folha de Tomateiro; SRM 1547 Folha de Pessegueiro; SRM 1570a Espinafre). A análise dos dados após a aplicação do teste-t mostrou que os resultados obtidos no procedimento que empregou decomposição assistida por microondas em frascos fechados foram mais exatos do que os obtidos por bloco digestor com frascos abertos no nível de 95% de confiança. Além da exatidão, outras características favoráveis encontradas foram menores valores de branco analíticos, menor consumo de reagentes e menor tempo de decomposição das amostras. Análises exploratórias dos dados empregando-se Análise por Componentes Principais (PCA) e Análise por Agrupamentos Hierárquicos (HCA) mostraram que os elementos Na, K, Ca, Cu, Mg e Fe foram os principais responsáveis na diferenciação das amostras de cafés verde e torrado.

The contents of some nutrients in 35 Brazilian green and roasted coffee samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn), flame atomic emission photometry (Na and K) and Kjeldahl (N) after preparing the samples by wet digestion procedures using i) a digester heating block and ii) a conventional microwave oven system with pressure and temperature control. The accuracy of the procedures was checked using three standard reference materials (National Institute of Standards and Technology, SRM 1573a Tomato Leaves, SRM 1547 Peach Leaves, SRM 1570a Trace Elements in Spinach). Analysis of data after application of t-test showed that results obtained by microwave-assisted digestion were more accurate than those obtained by block digester at 95% confidence level. Additionally to better accuracy, other favorable characteristics found were lower analytical blanks, lower reagent consumption, and shorter digestion time. Exploratory analysis of results using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) showed that Na, K, Ca, Cu, Mg, and Fe were the principal elements to discriminate between green and roasted coffee samples.

Um eletrodo de pasta de carbono modificado com dióxido de chumbo imobilizado em uma resina de poliéster foi desenvolvido para a determinação voltamétrica de pulso diferencial simultânea de L-dopa e carbidopa em formulações farmacêuticas. As curvas analíticas foram lineares em uma faixa de concentração de 2,6 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-4 a 1,2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-3 mol L-1 e de 3,2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-5 a 1,5 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-4 mol L-1 para L-dopa e carbidopa, respectivamente. Os limites de detecção foram 2,5 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-5 mol L-1 e 3,7 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-6 mol L-1 para L-dopa e carbidopa, respectivamente e as recuperações de L-dopa e carbidopa em duas amostras variaram de 98,1 a 103%. Os desvios padrão relativos foram menores que 2,5% para soluções 1,2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-4 e 1,2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-3 mol L-1 dessas catecolaminas e os resultados obtidos para L-dopa e carbidopa em formulações farmacêuticas usando o procedimento voltamétrico proposto estão em boa concordância com os valores rotulados ou com aqueles teores determinados empregando-se um procedimento enzimático a um nível de confiança de 95%.

A carbon paste electrode modified with lead dioxide immobilized in a polyester resin has been developed for simultaneous differential pulse voltammetric determination of L-dopa and carbidopa in pharmaceutical formulations. The analytical curves were linear in the concentration ranges from 2.6 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-4 to 1.2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-3 mol L-1 and from 3.2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-5 to 1.5 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-4 mol L-1 for L-dopa and carbidopa, respectively. The detection limits were 2.5 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-5 mol L-1 and 3.7 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-6 mol L-1 for L-dopa and carbidopa, respectively and recoveries of L-dopa and carbidopa from two samples ranged from 98.1 to 103% of the added amount. The relative standard deviations were lower than 2.5% for 1.2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-4 and 1.2 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-3 mol L-1 of these catecholamines solutions and the results obtained for L-dopa and carbidopa in pharmaceutical formulations using the proposed voltammetric procedure are in close agreement with the labeled values and/or those obtained using an enzymatic method at the 95% confidence level.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho é estabelecer relação entre alguns conceitos relevantes sobre o uso de práticas agro-ecológicas na produção de alimentos. Em um tópico especial, a Teoria da Trofobiose bem como os princípios da Dissolução Ativa de Rochas são considerados como importantes ferramentas na implementação da sustentabilidade no processo de Agriculturas Orgânica e Biodinâmica.

The primary objective of the present paper is to link some relevant concepts on the use of ecological agricultural practices to the production of food crops. In a special topic the Trofobiose Theory, as well as the principle of Active Dissolution of Rocks are considered as important tools in improving the sustainability of Organic, Biodynamic and Process Agricultures.

OBJETIVO: Estudar os efeitos de múltiplas esterilizações em formaldeido em baixa temperatura, na estrutura molecular (físico-químico) e no desenvolvimento de microorganismos na tela de polipropileno, utilizada na correção cirúrgica das diferentes hérnias da parede abdominal. MÉTODO: Utilizou-se tela de polipropileno plana padrão (Ethicon), de 15cm x 15cm, a qual foi recortada em fragmentos iguais de 2cm x 1cm, após múltiplas esterilizações. Foram denominadas amostras A (controle), A1 (uma esterilização) e A3 (três esterilizações); e B (controle), B1 (uma esterilização), B2 (duas esterilizações), B3 (três esterilizações), B4 (quatro esterilizações) e B5 (cinco esterilizações). As amostras A foram submetidas à análise por Espectroscopia no Infravermelho (FTIR) e Microscopia Eletrônica por Varredura (MEV) e as amostras B foram semeadas em meios de "Brain Heart Infusion" (BHI), Ágar Sabouraud Dextrosado e Ágar Chocolate (hemácias de carneiro a 5%). RESULTADOS: A análise comparativa das amostras A, A1 e A3 revela suficientes evidências experimentais de que sejam idênticas, do ponto de vista da composição, mantendo, inclusive, os mesmos padrões de porosidade. Nas amostras B1, B2, B3, B4 e B5 não houve desenvolvimento de microorganismos nos fragmentos submetidos até cinco esterilizações. CONCLUSÕES: A tela de polipropileno não sofre alterações na sua estrutura molecular, podendo ser submetida até cinco esterilizações, sem que ocorra o desenvolvimento de microorganismos nas amostras.

BACKGROUND: Our objective is to study the effects of multiples formaldehyde sterilizations at low temperature in the molecular structure (physical-chemical) as well as on microorganism growth in a polypropylene mesh used for the surgical correction of different hernias of the abdominal wall. METHODS: We used an even mesh (Ethicon) standard 15cm x 15cm, cutted into small 2cm x 1cm pieces after multiples sterilizations. They were named samples A (control), A1 (one sterilization), A3 (three sterilizations) and B (control), B1 (one sterilization) B2 (two sterilizations), B3 (three sterilizations), B4 (four sterilizations), B5 (five sterilizations).The meshes A were analysed by Spectroscopy in Infrared (FTIR) and Microscopy Electronic by Sweepings (MEV), and meshes B were incubated within Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), Agar Saboraud Dextrose and Agar Chocolate (red sheep cells at 5%). RESULTS: The sample comparative analyses A, A1, A3, showed to be identical according to the composition including the same pattern of porosity. Concerning samples B (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) no microorganism was found on the parts under up to five sterilizations. CONCLUSIONS: The polypropylene mesh is not altered as a molecular structure, and it can be sterilized up to five times with no chance for microorganisms on the samples.

The durability of wood is affected by several factors. For this reason, much research has been done on a variety of chemical compounds for impregnating wood, aimed at preserving it while simultaneously improving its properties. Recent studies of the properties of impregnated wood have demonstrated the possibility of substantially improving its mechanical characteristics. Thus, the purpose of this work was to compare the strength to parallel compression of wooden fibers (Eucalyptus grandis), both nonimpregnated and impregnated with a monocomponent resin, from the standpoint of pressure and impregnation time, aiming at its structural utilization. The results demonstrate that the compressive strength of impregnated test specimens is greater than that of nonimpregnated ones, indicating that monocomponent polyurethane resin can be considered suitable for impregnating wood, since it increases the compressive strength of eucalyptus.

The use of fluidized bed combustors to burn coal is largely studied to permit the addition of limestone to capture SO2. The particle size for coal and limestone is an important parameter in this process. Thermogravimetry (TG) is used to elucidate the combustion and sulfation processes, but the experimental parameters must be evaluated to be representative in fluidized bed combustors. In the present study the effect of particle size is analyzed in the calcination of limestones and the combustion of coal through the thermogravimetric curve for limestone and derivative thermogravimetric curve for coal. Small peaks representing mass losses between 400 and 500 ºC are observed due to the jumping of particles out of the crucible. This effect, recognized as decrepitation is observed for mid-sized particles provoked by the release of water vapor trapped within their lattice.

The SEC and VPO behaviour of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene resins was investigated using toluene as solvent and polybutadiene and polystyrene as standards. The results show that molar mass obtained depend on the nature of the standards used in the calibration, specialy in SEC analysis.

RESUMO: A distribuição dos isômeros configuracionais de polióis PBLH utilizados na fabricação de propelentes foi determinada por FTIR empregando-se a técnica de análise em solução e o método desenvolvido neste trabalho, envolvendo análise por filme líquido. Os resultados obtidos são concordantes entre si e com os fornecidos por análise ¹H NMR.

ABSTRACT: The configurational isomers distribution of HTPB polyols used in the manufacture of propellants was determined by FTIR employing the techniques of analysis in solution and the method developed in this paper, using FTIR analysis by liquid film. There are good agreement between these two results and both also agree with those obtained by ¹H NMR.