Abstract Bisphenol A is an endocrine interfering compound, produced and used on a large scale worldwide. Chemical and biologic methods can be used to remove it from the environment. Biological methods are considered less costly, safer and, according to green chemistry definitions, an environmentally correct method. Considering the use of a crude enzyme broth, without any downstream process, the costs could be mostly reduced. Thus, the removal of bisphenol A by Pleurotus sajor-caju crude enzyme broth was investigated. Initially, the agro-industrial wastes were characterized and, the composition of the culture medium and the bioreactor culture conditions were defined. The enzyme produced in the highest concentration was characterized and the crude broth used in the bisphenol A removal assays. The OXI45 culture medium presented the highest laccase activity (1,850.7 U L-1, 350 rpm). Greater laccase stability was observed at 20 - 40 oC and pHs 5 - 7. Vanillin and ferulic acid (considered mediator compounds) were identified in the crude broth, probably helping on the obtention of the high value of removal effectiveness (0.052 mg U-1 h-1). The results indicate the potential use of the Pleurotus sajor-caju crude enzyme broth to obtain an enzymatic formulation for application in the environmental area.

Abstract The essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Amaranthaceae, was obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger apparatus and characterization was performed using chromatographic and spectroscopic assays (GC-FID, GC/MS, 1H NMR). Two major compounds were identified: p-cymene (42.32%) and ascaridole (49.77%). The ethanolic extract and hydrolate were fractionated by liquid–liquid partitioning and the compounds were characterized by GC/MS. The essential oil, ethanol extract and fractions by partitioning with dicloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol were tested in tumor cell lines (K562, NALM6, B15, and RAJI). Significant cytotoxic activity was found for essential oil (IC50 = 1.0 µg/ml) for RAJI cells and fraction dicloromethane (IC50 = 34.0 µg/ml) and ethanol extract (IC50 = 47.0 µg/ml) for K562 cells. The activity of the essential oil of C. ambrosioides is probably related to the large amount of ascaridol, since the other major compound, p-cymene, is recognized as a potent anti-inflammatory and has low cytotoxic activity.

A conversão de biomassas agroindustriais em bioetanol com consequente valorização de rejeitos e resíduos, tem sido objeto de estudos de várias pesquisas realizadas no Brasil e no mundo. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a potencialidade do uso da polpa e da casca da banana (Musa cavendishii ), tanto in natura como previamente hidrolisada por ácido e enzimas, como substrato da fermentação alcoólica. Os rendimentos médios em bioetanol (em base úmida de biomassa) obtidos com a polpa (0,48 ± 0,05 g g-1) e com a casca (0,34 ± 0,11 g g-1), ambos in natura, possibilitaram a eficiência do processo de conversão, da ordem de 95% do rendimento teórico. A produtividade máxima alcançada em bioetanol foi de 3,0 ± 0,7 g L-1 h-1 com o uso da polpa e de 1,32 ± 0,03 g L-1 h-1 com a casca. Nas condições operacionais avaliadas o pretratamento dos resíduos com ácido sulfúrico não é recomendado para a produção de bioetanol.

The conversion of agroindustrial biomasses in bioethanol with consequent enrichment of wastes has been the object of various research projects conducted in Brazil and around the world. This study evaluated the potential of the Musa cavendishii banana pulp and peels using in natural state and also waste previously hydrolyzed by acid and enzimes, as substrate of alcoholic fermentation. The mean bioethanol yields (on wet biomass base), obtained with the pulp (0.48 ± 0.05 g g-1) and with the peels (0.34 ± 0.11 g g-1), both in natural state, enabled a conversion process efficiency to the order of 95% of theoretical yield. Maximum value reached in bioethanol was 3.0 ± 0.7 g L-1 h-1 with pulp and 1.32 ± 0.03 g L-1 h-1 with peels. Under the evaluated operating conditions, the pre-treatment of wastes with sulfuric acid is not recommended for bioethanol production.

Propôs-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a potencialidade do uso de resíduos lignocelulósicos da bananicultura como substrato de fermentação do processo de metanização. Os resíduos casca de banana, engaço, folhas e pseudocaule da bananeira Musa cavendischii, foram biodegradados a 30 °C e pH 7,2, em diferentes volumes de trabalho, empregando-se como biodigestor frascos Erlenmeyer, garrafas plásticas e biorreator de bancada. A composição ideal do substrato para a metanização foi definida como: 50% m m-1 de cascas, 25% de folhas e 25% de pseudocaule. O engaço, por apresentar baixa velocidade de biodegradação em comparação com as demais biomassas, não foi recomendado para a metanização conjunta dos resíduos. A hidrólise ácida prévia do substrato foi prejudicial à produção de biogás visto que, além de conduzir à formação de H2S no biogás gerado, inibiu a formação de CH4. O rendimento máximo em biogás, obtido em biodigestor de bancada empregando-se substrato in natura, foi de 244 LCNTP kg-1ST com 66,8% v v-1 de CH4.

This study aimed to evaluate the capability of using lignocellulosic residues from banana cultivation as a fermentation substrate of the methanization process. The following Musa cavendischii residues were evaluated: bananas peels, stalk, leaves and the pseudostem. The fermentation studies were developed at 30 ºC and pH 7.2 with different working volumes in Erlenmeyers flasks, plastic bottles and bioreactor bench. The ideal composition of the methanization substrate was set containing: 50% (w/w) of peels, 25% of leaves and 25% of pseudostem. The stalk, presenting a lower rate of biodegradation in comparison to other biomasses, was not recommended for the methanization together with such residues. The acid hydrolysis advance of the substrate was detrimental to the production of biogas. In addition to making possible the production of H2S in biogas generated, it inhibited the formation of CH4. The maximum yield of biogas, obtained in biodigestor bench of employing substrate in nature, was 244 LCNTP kg-1ST with 66.8% (v/v) of CH4.