Eloízio Júlio Ribeiro

Biodegradation of diesel oil and gasoline contaminated effluent employing intermittent aeration.

We examined the effects of aeration interval and agitation speed in an effort to optimize the biodegradation of effluent contaminated with diesel oil and gasoline. The biodegradation process employed a C(1) mixed culture and intermittent aeration. Optimization was performed using central composite design (CCD). The independent variables were aeration interval (X(1)) and agitation speed (X(2)) and the dependent variable was the degree of removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). The optimum aeration interval (33h) and agitation speed (110rpm) resulted in TPH removal of 75.9% after 3 days. Five hydrocarbons classes were identified using gas chromatography: paraffins, isoparaffins, olefins, naphthenics, and aromatics. The following reductions were observed: 91.8% for the paraffins, 83.3% for the isoparaffins, 80.9% for the olefins, 39.3% for the naphthenics, and 80.9% for the aromatics. In comparative studies performed under constant aeration (CA), without aeration (WA), and intermittent aeration (IA) conditions, intermittent aeration resulted in the highest TPH removals, with 90% reduction after 22 days. Under the IA condition, the degradation percentages were 99.6% for the paraffins, 94% for the isoparaffins, 95.4% for the olefins, 70.8 for the naphthenics, and 83.4% for the aromatics.

Microbial rennet produced by Mucor miehei in solid-state and submerged fermentation

The aim of this work was to study the e ffect of carbon and nitrogen sources in submerged fermentation, and the casein effect on solid-state fermentation on rennin production by Mucor miehei. Biomass peaks reached 6.7; 8.1 and 8 g/L and enzymatic production peaks of 1,066; 857 and 480 Soxhlet Units (S.U.) for glucose concentration of 18; 25 and 35 g /L respectively. Flasks with b affles s howed biomass peaks of 6.7; 8.3 and 1 0 g /L and enzyme activity peaks of 648; 279 and 300 S.U. for the same glucose concentration. The values of 923 and 667 S.U. were obtained when corn steep liquor and Proflo (Cottonseed Nutrients from Traders ®) were used. In SSF system the enzymatic activities were 414, 264 and 167 S.U., when using HCl 0.2 N, 0.3 N and 0.4 N respectively. SSF experiments using 1 and 2 g of casein/gram wheat bran (10% moisture) showed an increase in the enzymatic production (966 and 1,117 S.U.). The results suggested that increase in glucose concentration affected the enzyme synthesis, and casein was the prime factor in the enzyme synthesis induction. SSF showed to be a good system for rennin production.

Evaluation of hexavalent chromium removal in a continuous biological filter with the use of central composite design (CCD)

Hexavalent chromium is frequently found in industrial effluents as a result of the industrial applications of this compound and its anti-corrosive features. However, hexavalent chromium is extremely toxic, and its discharge in water is regulated, with a maximum limit of 0.1 mg/L in accordance with legislation established by CONAMA-Brazil (no. 397, April 3, 2008). To achieve lower discharge values, it is necessary to reduce from Cr(VI) to Cr(III), which is less toxic, and an economic alternative involves biological removal of this compound. Residence time distributions (RTDs) were measured to evaluate the behavior of actual biofilter operation conditions in a biofilter flow. The medium residence time distributions used were 8 and 24 h (recommended by the legislation). To optimize this process, a central composite design was used, considering the initial chromium concentration and pH as the independent variables and the removal of hexavalent chromium as the response. The boundary curves and surface response showed optimal behavior at 3.94 mg/L [Cr(0)] and a pH of 6.2. The removal process of hexavalent chromium is mathematically described by the Michaelis-Menten kinetic model. This model appropriately represents the variation of chromium concentration along the bioreactor.

Optimization of the immobilization process of β-galatosidade by combined entrapment-cross-linking and the kinetics of lactose hydrolysis

The immobilization of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase was achieved by entrapment in sodium alginate and gelatin and cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. The optimal concentrations of the aforementioned variables in the immobilization process were determined using an orthogonal central composite design with an orthogonal axial value of 1.35313. The concentrations of alginate, gelatin and glutaraldehyde that provided the greatest enzymatic activity were 6.60%, 4.05% and 3.64% (w/v), respectively. The stability of the immobilized enzyme under the optimal conditions was evaluated through daily activity assays. After 25 uses, a 20% decrease in the enzymatic activity was observed, indicating that the immobilization process could be used to produce a stable biocatalyst. This study investigates the influence of lactose and product concentrations on kinetic reaction hydrolysis. The concentration ranges for the studied variables were 10 to 56 g/L for lactose and 0 to 11.5 g/L for glucose and galactose. Only galactose presented a competitive inhibitory effect.

Sedimentation of mixed cultures using natural coagulants for the treatment of effluents generated in terrestrial fuel distribution terminals.

This study evaluated the use of natural coagulants (Moringa oleifera and chitosan) under different conditions with a mixed culture (C1 mixed culture). This culture was used for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons present in the effluent from fuel distribution terminals contaminated with diesel oil and gasoline. The biodegradation was evaluated by two central composite design (CCD) experiments: the first with varying concentrations of Moringa oleifera (MO), drying temperatures (TE) and seed drying times (TI); the second with varying concentrations of chitosan and the hydrochloric acid in which chitosan had been solubilized. The responses monitored in the CCD experiments included the sludge volume index (SVI), the turbidity removal (TR) and the specific rate of oxygen uptake (SOUR). Subsequently, the biodegradation was monitored in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) under the optimal conditions obtained for each CCD experiment. The results indicated that the best coagulant was chitosan solubilized in 0.25 N HCl at a concentration of 50mg/L. Within five cycles with chitosan as a coagulant, the total organic carbon (TOC) removal increased from 77±1.0% to 82±0.5%, the volatile suspended solids (VSS) increased from 1.4±0.3 to 2.25±0.3 g/L and the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal increased from 75±1.0% to 81±0.5%.

Estudo da produção de beta-galactosidase por fermentação de soro de queijo com Kluyveromyces marxianus

The enzymatic hydrolysis of lactose by b-galactosidase plays an important role in the processing of milky products such as the production of lactose-hydrolyzed milk for consumption by intolerant person to lactose and the prevention of the crystallization in dairy products. In this work, the influences of nutrient concentrations in the culture medium based on cheese whey were studied with the objective of producing b-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces marxianus. The fermentations were carried out in a shaker at 30°C and initial pH 5.5 under agitation, starting with an initial cellular concentration of 107 cells/mL, varying the initial concentrations of lactose and yeast extract. For extraction of the enzyme of the cells it was used autolysis with chloroform in potassium phosphate buffer. In the medium with a initial lactose concentration of 50g/L, supplemented with salts, yeast extract 12g/L, the enzymatic activity and cellular concentration were 28 UGl/mL and 5.3g/L respectively.

Production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids through hydrolysis of fish oil by Candida rugosa lipase immobilized and stabilized on different supports

Abstract This paper describes the fish oil hydrolysis performed to obtain Omega-3 fatty acids using Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) immobilized and stabilized on different supports. The enzyme was successfully immobilized, presenting higher thermal stability than the free enzyme. Besides, the cationic derivatives were more stable than the others derivatives and free enzyme in methanol, propanol and cyclohexane. Reactions of fish oil hydrolysis were carried out in organic aqueous medium using 10 U of biocatalyst per gram of oil, at 37 °C. After 96 h, the CRL immobilized on cyanogen bromide agarose rendered the lower fish oil hydrolysis, producing 218 μM of Omega-3, which was 1.1-fold more than the hydrolysis catalyzed by free enzyme, while the ionic derivatives rendered the highest fish oil hydrolysis producing 582 and 577 μM of Omega-3 using the carboxymethyl and sulfopropyl derivatives, respectively. The carboxymethyl and the sulfopropyl derivatives resulted in a 2.9-fold increase in the hydrolysis of fish oil, making these derivatives attractive for industrial applications.

The sedimentation of mixed cultures used in the treatment of effluents generated from terrestrial fuel distribution terminals.

This study evaluated the use of coagulants (ferric chloride and aluminium sulphate) and an anionic polyelectrolyte (polyacrylamide) in the settling of a mixed culture (C(1)), which was used for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons present in effluent of fuel distribution terminals contaminated with diesel oil and gasoline. In preliminary investigations conducted in jar tests, the optimal concentrations of coagulant were obtained for further studies. After preliminary tests, biodegradation was evaluated in a central composite design (CCD) with varying concentrations of ferric chloride and polyelectrolyte. Ferric chloride and polyelectrolyte concentrations ranged from 77.9 to 422.12 mg/L and 0.0 to 3.2mg/L, respectively. The responses monitored in CCD experiments included the sludge volume index (SVI), turbidity, and specific rate of oxygen uptake (SOUR), where values of 100mL/g, 840 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) and 58 mg O(2)/gh, respectively, were obtained. Subsequently, biodegradation was monitored in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The results indicated that within five cycles, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal increased from 75 ± 1.0% to 79 ± 0.5%, while the volatile suspended solids (VSS) increased from 1300 to 2500 mg/L.

Evaluation of process conditions in the performance of yeast on alcoholic fermentation

ABSTRACT This work studied the resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y904 to ethanol on an alcoholic fermentation process operated in fed-batch. The effect of temperature, inoculum size and substrate concentration on fermentation yield, productivity and residual sugars concentration was studied by a central composite design (CCD). Based on the CCD study, it was determined the optimum values of 240, 35 g/L, and 26°C for total reducing sugars, inoculum concentration and temperature, respectively. This set of conditions experimentally enabled a productivity of 6.0 g/L h, a yield of 93% and an alcohol content of 113.6 g/L, after 10 h of fermentation. When yeast cells were adapted at 4°C, the inoculum pH adjusted to 2.5 and sugarcane broth used as substrate, a 94% yield and a 10.1 g/L. h productivity were achieved.

Sucrose hydrolysis by invertase immobilized on Duolite A-568 employing a packed-bed reactor

ABSTRACT The conversion of sucrose to a highly concentrated commercial syrup by immobilized invertase by combining the processes of adsorption and cross-linking using Duolite A-568 as the carrier was studied. Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to assess the effect of glutaraldehyde concentration and cross-linking reaction time on immobilized enzyme activity throughout the hydrolysis of sucrose in a batch reactor. Cross-linking optimization allowed us to find the optimum conditions for activity with a glutaraldehyde concentration of 0.6 g · L−1 and a cross-linking time of 6 h. The temperature and pH that maximized the activity of the immobilized biocatalyst in the cross-linking process were 50°C and 4.0, respectively. Cross-linking allows the biocatalyst to be active at higher temperatures and lower pH. High-sucrose conversions to invert sugar using a continuous fixed-bed reactor were obtained. The immobilized biocatalyst also demonstrated greater thermal stability at low temperatures.