The present work proposed the application of a multivariate regression model based on image data to monitor the decolorization process. Thus, a PLS regression based on the color histogram was applied to monitor the methylene blue degradation by the Fenton reaction. The results obtained by the digital imaging and UV-Vis methods were compared and the initial (Cº) and final (C) methylene blue concentrations, as well as the kinetic parameters, coefficients of determination (R2), half time degradation (t½), intercept (ρ), and slope (σ), were evaluated. From our results, the digital imaging and UV-Vis methods have equivalent potential to monitor the color removal profile, similar kinetic term, and low measurement errors. While the coefficient of determination (R(2)) of all PLS models and kinetics curves are close to 1.00, the half time degradation (t½) parameter ranged between 0.29 to 1.39 min for the UV-Vis model, and 0.80 min to 2.17 min for the digital imaging model. Furthermore, the efficiency of methylene blue removal ranged between 92.04% and 97.78% for the UV-Vis model and 91.30% to 93.72% for the digital imaging model. Then, based on statistical comparison tests, it was concluded that the digital imaging method is an alternative to monitor dye degradation processes.

RESUMO Atualmente um dos impactos ambientais de maior preocupação, as emissões de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) influenciam as tomadas de decisão provenientes tanto do setor privado como do governamental. Nessa preocupação, encontra-se o processo de crescimento da produção de biodiesel de soja que ocorre no Brasil, e no Rio Grande do Sul, um dos principais produtores dessa matéria-prima. Baseado nisso, a quantificação das emissões de GEE da cultura da soja e seus prováveis impactos passam pela realização de um inventário que contemple a aproximação maior para a realidade dessa região. Assim, neste trabalho, as emissões de GEE provenientes da mudança do uso da terra (MUT) para produção de soja foram investigadas considerando dados históricos de 20 anos da produção da cultura no Rio Grande do Sul (entre 1992 e 2013). Nesta pesquisa, verificou-se o crescimento da cultura predominantemente sobre lavouras temporárias, o que repercute em uma quantificação diferente do que é apresentada nos inventários atuais, em que é apresentado um avanço da soja sobre florestas. Neste caso, o trabalho em questão verificou que, conforme metodologia do Painel Intergovernamental sobre Mudança do Clima (IPCC), a MUT ocorreu somente em 15,4% da área em que a soja avançou. Não menos importante, o trabalho sugere discussões futuras para metodologias que contemplem o avanço da soja sobre áreas de várzea, conforme evidenciado neste estudo.

ABSTRACT One of the environmental impacts that presents great concern nowadays, the green-house gases (GHG) emissions affect decision-making from both government and private sector. Within this concern is the soybean biodiesel production growing that takes place in Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul State, this last one of main producers of soybean. Based on this, GHG emissions accounting from soybean cultivation and their potential environmental impacts depend on an inventory performing that presents a reality as close as possible in relation to Rio Grande do Sul State. Thus, this work aimed to trace how the soybean cultivation has developed for 20 years at Rio Grande do Sul State (between 1992 and 2013). During this research, a soybean growing, mainly on temporary croplands, that results in a different accounting in relation to current inventories that show soybean cultivation moving forward on forests areas was found. In this case, it was verified that this work, following The Intergovernmntal Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology, the land use change (LUC) occurred in only 15.4% of the area, where soybean cultivation moved forward for 20 years. Finally, this work suggests future discussion for methodologies that encompass soybean cultivation advanced over wetland areas according to what is pointed out in this study.

Biodiesel purity expressed as fatty esters content is one of its most important quality parameters. Although several instrumental methods have been employed, gas chromatography with internal standard calibration has been the most used. Biodiesel is a very complex matrix, therefore finding a suitable internal standard (IS) is not straightforward. EN14103:2003 standard established methyl heptadecanoate (C17:0) as IS. Since this fatty ester is naturally present in some biodiesel feedstock as tallow, that standard was reviewed in 2011, and methyl nonadecanoate (C19:0) became the new IS. In turn, C19:0 produces a peak on the chromatogram that is difficult to resolve from methyl linoeate (C18:2) and metyl linolenate (C18:3) ones. In this paper, a GC-FID method for the determination of the esters content in methyl and ethyl biodiesel from canola and soy oils, using hexadecyl acetate as a new internal standard was validated. EN14103:2003 was used as reference method. Method selectivity, accuracy (t student parameter < 2.18 from both methods), repeatability (0.1 - 0.4%), intermediate precision (0.2 - 1.8%), and robustness (0.1 - 1.6%) were investigated and considered appropriate for the scope.

Embora tecnologias de captura e armazenamento de carbono (CCS) estejam recebendo grande atenção para a mitigação do efeito estufa, ainda existem muitas desvantagens, tais como o aumento dos custos e gastos de energia associados à sua implementação. No entanto, o uso de CO2 como bloco de construção C1 em síntese orgânica pode ser muito atraente para o desenho de processos ecológicos. Neste trabalho, foram estudados a sorção de CO2 e atividades catalíticas de alguns líquidos iônicos (ILs) base imidazólio para síntese de carbonato cíclico. O trabalho demonstra que a presença de um grupo nucleófilo no sistema catalítico pode melhorar seu desempenho, através da utilização de um IL com ânion halogenado ou por mistura de co-catalisador halogenado com ILs. A última abordagem permitiu a obtenção de um sistema de captura de CO2 eficaz, constituída por IL fluorado mais ZnBr2 que realiza a síntese de carbonato cíclico com 90% de rendimento e 82% de seletividade.

Although the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are receiving great attention for mitigation of greenhouse gas effect, the increasing costs and energy penalties associated to its implementation are still major drawbacks. However, the use of CO2 as a C1 building block in organic synthesis can be very attractive for the design of environmentally friendly processes. In this work, we have studied both the CO2 sorption and catalytic activities of some imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs) for cyclic carbonate synthesis. The work demonstrates that the presence of a nucleophilic group in the catalytic system can enhance its performance by the use of an IL with a halide anion or by mixing a halide co-catalyst with ILs. The latter approach allowed to obtain an effective system for CO2 capture constituted by a fluorinated IL plus ZnBr2 that performs cyclic carbonate synthesis with 90% yield and 82% of selectivity.

Rising anthropogenic CO2 emissions are considered a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. There are several options for reducing atmospheric CO2 levels, and among these alternatives, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been identified as an effective and promising approach. This work investigated the feasibility of using serpentinite as a vehicle for carbon storage presenting a source-sink match. The main results of the work confirmed that serpentinite is appropriate for the carbonation process due to the high concentration of Mg in its composition.