Alexandro M.M. Vargas

Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from a new raw lignocellulosic material: Flamboyant (Delonix regia) pods

Activated carbons were prepared from flamboyant pods by NaOH activation at three different NaOH:char ratios: 1:1 (AC-1), 2:1 (AC-2), and 3:1 (AC-3). The properties of these carbons, including BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameter, were characterized from N(2) adsorption isotherms. The activated carbons obtained were essentially microporous and had BET surface area ranging from 303 to 2463 m(2) g(-1).(13)C (CP/MAS and MAS) solid-state NMR shows that the lignocellulosic structures were completely transformed into a polycyclic material after activation process, thermogravimetry shows a high thermal resistance, Boehm titration and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy allowed characterizing the presence of functional groups on the surface of activated carbons. Scanning electron microscopy images showed a high pore development. The experimental results indicated the potential use of flamboyant pods as a precursor material in the preparation of activated carbon.

The antioxidant activity of teas measured by the FRAP method adapted to the FIA system: optimising the conditions using the response surface methodology.

This study proposes a FRAP assay adapted to FIA system with a merging zones configuration. The FIA system conditions were optimised with the response surface methodology using the central composite rotatable design. The optimisation parameters studied were: the carrier flow rate, the lengths of the sample and reagent loops, and reactor length. The conditions selected in accordance with the results were: carrier flow rate of 1.00 ml/min, length of the loops 18.2 cm and length of the reaction coil 210.1 cm. The detection and quantification limits were, respectively, 28.6 and 86.8 μmol/l Fe(2+), and the precision was 1.27%. The proposed method had an analytical frequency of 30 samples/h and about 95% less volume of FRAP reagent was consumed. The FRAP assay adapted to the FIA system under the optimised conditions was utilised to determine the antioxidant activity of tea samples.

Effects of daily nickel intake on the bio-accumulation, body weight and length in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Nickel pollution is a serious environmental problem, and its effects may provoke alterations in the ecosystem and in organism of animals and humans. Dermatitis, eczema, and asthma are some illnesses caused by Ni2+ poisoning. In this work, fish fed either Ni2+-enriched pellets or commercial pellets were studied. The amount of Ni2+ in fish were measurements by adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) with dimethylglyoxime as a complexing agent. The analysis of Ni2+ in fish by AdSV established that its accumulation occurs principally in viscera (670.86 ± 5.82 µg g−1), in the head (697.12 ± 2.77 µg g−1) and in the muscle (405.82 ± 3.26 µg g−1), both after 12 months of experiments. Ni2+ adsorbs preferentially in organs such as the stomach, the intestine, and the kidneys and acts in the central nervous system as well. Tilapia growth and mass were significantly affected by Ni2+ poisoning. From statistical analysis, observed that the results for lengths, weights and metal concentration were different for each sampling at significance level of p < 0.05. The Ni2+ concentration in tilapia was enough to cause the death of tilapias; however, it did not occur because the presence of Zn2+ might act as protective agent of heavy metals.

Phytotoxicity and distribution of copper in tropical soil amended with sewage sludge and copper sulfate

Abstract A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate phytotoxicity and distribution of Cu in a tropical soil amended with sewage sludge (Sw) and copper sulfate (CuSO4.5H2O). Samples of a clay soil from the State of Paraná, Brazil were collected at depth of 0–20; 20–40 and 40–60 cm, and brought to the laboratory to be properly accommodated in experimental units (PVC tubes). The Cu treatments were performed by the application of Sw (10 t ha-1) amended with Cu (SB-T), and by CuSO4. H2O (WB-T). Lettuce plants were cultivated in the amended soil in order to predict the toxicity of the Cu. The experiment was conducted for 70 days, and then the lettuce plants and soil samples were collected for analysis. A sequential method was used to separate soil Cu into following fractions: exchangeable, amorphous iron oxide bound, crystalline iron oxide bound, organic matter bound and residual bound. The experimental results showed that Fe, Zn, K, P, Cu and organic matter amounts of the soil increased with the treatment SB-T. The toxic phyto-available Cu content in the soil for the lettuce plants was 80.00 mg kg-1. A percolation study showed that the Cu contents were larger for the first 20 cm of depth, indicating that the metal was not transported down the soil profile. The Cu content of different fractions declined in an order residual > amorphous iron oxide > crystalline iron oxide > organic matter > exchangeable, regardless of treatment performed. Additionally, the Cu contents added from treatments were determined mainly in amorphous iron oxide fraction.