La diversificación de la industria azucarera es compleja y se ve limitada por condiciones biofísicas y socioeconómicas. Muchos trabajos han demostrado su potencial como biorrefinería y la utilización sostenible de los subproductos como materia prima. Sin embargo, pocos estudios se ha focalizado a través de la integración de indicadores productivos de un ingenio azucarero y cómo este potencial podría lograr transformar un ingenio azucarero convencional en una eficiente planta diversificada que contribuya a reducir el consumo de energía fósil y alcanzar la competitividad. Este trabajo presenta un marco de análisis o metodología basada en el conocimiento existente sobre la industria azucarera o el estado del arte, con la finalidad de evaluar la diversificación mediante el proceso de jerarquías analíticas (AHP) como una herramienta adecuada para el análisis de sistemas complejos, la identificación de alternativas y su discusión de manera que facilite la toma de decisiones colectivas. El análisis AHP obtenido en este estudio ofrece una discusión acerca de las variables que explican la capacidad para diversificar los procesos en un ingenio azucarero (rendimiento de fábrica: 0.332, productos derivados del ingenio azucarero: 0.327 y calidad de materia prima o caña de azúcar: 0.121). Los resultados obtenidos sirven de guía en la formulación de estrategias para la utilización óptima de los recursos derivados de un ingenio azucarero, mientras que la maximización de sus beneficios, para diversificar o reconvertir ingenios azucareros en biorrefinerías.

Sugar industry diversification is complex, being constrained by biophysical and socioeconomic conditions. Ongoing work has shown the sugarcane industry's potential as biorefinery or its sustainable use by offering products as raw material. However, few studies have studied how such potential could be achieved by promoting a conventional sugar mill through integrating its indicators for developing an efficient diversified processing plant which would contribute towards fossil energy saving and competitiveness. This paper presents a conceptual framework for analysis based on existing knowledge regarding sugar industry state-of-the-art for evaluating diversification, using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) as a tool for analysing complex systems, identifying alternatives to the current situation and discussing them to facilitate collective decision-making. Sugar mill AHP scores enabled discussion about the variables most affecting sugar mill diversification (0.332 factory yield, 0.327 sugar mill products and 0.121 sugarcane quality). The results serve as a useful guidance for formulating strategies for the optimum use of by-products in a sugar mill while maximising bene-fits to modify/convert a traditional sugar mill to a so-called bio-refinery.

Two selective chemieal treatments consisting of mixtures of (i) oxalic acid - ammonium oxalate at pH 3 (OX) and (ii) sodium citrate - ascorbic acid at pH 6 (CA) were used to selectively remove minerals from clay fractions of four volcanic soils: one from an Ultisol and three Andisols, of the southern Chile. Chemieal analysis shows that CA is more effective in removing iron from Ultisol, and OX extracts it more efficiently from Andisols. 6 K 57Fe-M6ssbauer data indícate that OX tends to remove all magnetically ordered species with low hyperfine fields; CA has no clear effect on the removal of those or the identified iron oxides in these volcanic soil materials

Vários autores têm estudado regionalmente os aqüíferos na zona nordeste da provincia de Buenos Aires, principalmente aqueles usados na agricultura, mas, como os dados de poços são limitados, torna-se necessário efetuar pesquisas locais já que há grandes variações segundo as diferentes bacías. Neste trabalho, realizaram-se explorações geofísicas (audio-magnetotelúricas) e análises geoquímicas na bacía de Pergamino. Pesquisou-se também a evolução hidroquímica na direção do fluxo regional da água no solo. Determinaram-se a profundidade e espessura da seção superior hidrológica , a Epiparaniana, incluindo os aqüíferos Pampeanos e Puelches. A profundidade do estrato condutivo correspondente aos Puelches salgados e o "Green Miocene", que limitam o uso da água na agricultura, resultou muito variável segundo a zona. As análises geoquímicas mostraram que a água Pampeana é bicarbonatada sódica com um incremento na condutividade, com conteúdo de sódio e bicarbonatos na zona de recarga local, que tem solos impermeáveis, má drenagem e um leve declive.

Aquifers in the northeastern zone of the Buenos Aires Province, mainly used for agricultural purposes, were studied regionally by several authors, but local studies are necessary because great variations may occur in different basins, and well data are limited. In this work, geophysical exploration by means of Audio-magnetotelluric soundings and geochemical analyses of some well data were carried out at the Pergamino rivulet basin. Depth and thicknesses of the upper hydrogeological section, the Epiparaniana, including the Pampeano and Puelches aquifers, were determined. Also, the hydro chemical evolution along the direction of regional groundwater flow was studied. The depth of the very conductive layer corresponding to the salty Puelches and the "Green Miocene", limiting the agricultural water usage, came out to be very variable depending on the zone. Geochemical analyses showed that the Pampeano aquifer has bicarbonate sodium water, with an increase of electrical conductivity, sodium and bicarbonates contents at a local recharge zone with impermeable and bad drainage soils and a topographical small slope.