José Eduardo dos Santos

Thermal behavior of alginic acid and its sodium salt

Uma avaliacao da hidratacao e de decomposicao termica do HAlg e seu sal de sodio foi realizada usando termogravimetria (TG) e a calorimetria exploratoria diferencial (DSC). As curvas TG em N2 e ar, para o acido alginico apresentaram duas etapas de perda de massa correspondendo a saida de agua e posterior decomposicao do polimero. Ja para o alginato de sodio, a decomposicao termica ocorreu em tres etapas. A primeira corresponde a liberacao de agua, seguida da formacao de residuo carbonizado e formacao do carbonato de sodio. As curvas DSC concordam com os eventos observados em TG. Na regiao do infravermelho, o acido alginico apresentou bandas em 1730 e 1631 cm-1, enquanto o alginato de sodio apresentou duas bandas em 1614 e 1431 cm-1, evidenciando a presenca de grupos carboxilicos salificados.

Caracterização de quitosanas comerciais de diferentes origens

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide obtained from the deacetylation of chitin. The physico-chemical properties of chitosan dependent on the average degree of acetylation () and of the average molar mass (). Several applications of chitosan have been proposed in the literature, mainly in water treatment, cosmetic and drug manufacturing, food additives, semipermeable membranes and development of biomaterials. In this work, three commercial chitosan samples were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), conductimetric titration and thermal analysis (TG and DSC) in order to compare commercial chitosans from different supplies. The average viscosimetric molecular weight Mv was estimated from the intrinsic viscosity. The results confirmed remarkable differences in relation to the mean degree of acetylation () (or desacetylation, ). The thermal analysis data permitted to follow the dehydration, decomposition, and glass transition temperature (Tg).

The value of the Ecological Station of Jataí's ecosystem services and natural capital

The capacity of a given natural ecosystem to provide certain goods and services that satisfy human needs depends on its environmental characteristics (natural processes and components). It was described the availability of these goods and services (environmental functions) controlled and sustained by ecological processes operating in Ecological Station of Jataí (Luiz Antônio, SP). The environmental functions identified were grouped in four main categories. To make environmental values an integrated factor in planning and decision making it was assessed their socio-economic importance in qualitative terms and, if possible their monetary value. The combined potential annual return from identified functions of Ecological Station of Jataí is at least US

Environmental analysis and zoning for an urban park management purpose

708.83/ha/year. In comparison to calculations made for other natural ecosystems this is a rather moderate estimate. The Ecological Station of Jataí is poorly protected and managed, it too is still threatened by human activity (agriculture) and many development plans. Although present day market economics do not recognize the monetary value of most environmental functions, such calculations do provide a revealing insight into the great socio-economic importance of Ecological Station of Jataí. More awareness of these values may provide an important incentive for their preservation and sustainable use.

Environmental diagnosis of risk areas related to gas stations

Environmental analysis and zoning were carried out for management purpose of the Longines Malinowski Municipal Park (LMMP). With an area of 24.85 ha, this urban park includes a patch of sub-tropical humid forest, completely surrounded by residential and commercial areas in the City of Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul State,Brazil. Landscape features derived from aerophotogrametric maps, based on the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS-IDRISI), resulted in several thematic maps, through which a proposal of environmental zoning was perfomed, observing the definition of five zones of use. The environmental diagnosis identified several types of activities potentially harmful to the biodiversity of the LMMP and citys environmental quality. The implementation of a management plan would be essential to maintain and preseve this urban park, aiming to ensure its participation in the urban quality of life.

Spatial changes in the water quality of Itajaí-Açú Fluvial-Estuarine System, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Foram realizados a localizacao e o mapeamento dos postos de combustiveis da area urbana do municipio de Sao Carlos, SP, para um diagnostico ambiental relacionado aos riscos de contaminacao do solo e das aguas superficial e subterrânea em decorrencia de provaveis vazamentos dos tanques de armazenamento subterrâneo de combustivel. A area urbana da cidade de Sao Carlos apresenta um total de 64 postos de combustiveis, 58 dos quais com fins exclusivamente comerciais; um volume potencial de combustivel armazenado de 4.595.000 l associado a um total de 291 tanques de armazenamento subterrâneo, 40 % dos quais associados a postos que funcionam a mais de 15 anos; localizados em terrenos com caracteristicas geologicas de risco potencial para a contaminacao das aguas subterrâneas, e concentradas em areas urbanas com alta e media densidade populacional. Considerando que um dispostivo de restricao legal possibilita que a maioria das areas de uso publico (escolas, creches, postos de saude e hospitais) esteja localizada externa as areas criticas de riscos potenciais aos usuarios das mesmas, estas informacoes sao extremamente uteis para o desenvolvimento de programas voltados a reducao dos riscos a seguranca e a saude publica e a contaminacao do solo e da agua subterrânea.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of environmental damages through instauration and registers of lawful documents

This study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the spatial variation of the water quality in the Itajaí-Açú River estuary. Seven stations along the estuary were monitored on a weekly basis, from October 2003 to December 2004, plus two stations in tributaries (Itajaí-Mirim River, the main tributary, and one reference station). This monitoring included measurements of salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nutrients(NH+4,NO3-2,NO-3,PO3-4,H4SiO4) Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), total phosphorous and dissolved organic phosphorus (TP and DOP), particulate organic carbon (POC), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and chlorophyll-a (Cla). Multivariate analyses demonstrated the compartmentalization of the system based on the deterioration in water quality and marine influence. Urban development was the main factor responsible for the spatial variation of the monitored variables, resulting in increases in the indicators for organic matter and a progressive decrease in O2. Despite the effect of dilution by marine influence, there was an increase in ammonium, attributed to the influence of the municipal districts of Itajaí and Navegantes, close to the river mouth.

Land Use and Environmental Zoning of Mixed Ombrophilous Forests for Sustainable Use (Irati National Forest, Brazil Southern Region)

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the environmental damages occurrences was conducted through the lawful documents established for charging at the State Prosecution Service of Sao Carlos city, State of Sao Paulo, during 1991 - 2000, to understand the relationship between environmental problems and the current development actions. The environmental damage identified were grouped into nine classes, where deforestation was prevailing in each year along the period of study. Of the total number of deforestation occurrences, 180 was related to areas smaller than 5 ha. It corresponded to 110.35 ha of the total deforested area. The other 37 were associated with areas higher than 5 ha, equivalent to 1,013.27 ha. The registers of environmental damages in the period in a rough estimate, corresponded to a mediam loss of 5.91 ± 4.14 ha/occurrence and of 112.36 ± 91.73 ha/year of deforested area.

Análise estrutural da comunidade arbustivoarbórea de um cerradão

An environmental zoning proposal due to the demand to develop strategies to ensure biodiversity scenarios for the remaining mixed ombrophilous forests was carried out for the Irati National Forest, a legally protected area for sustainable use located in southern Brazil. To identify land use and cover, Ikonos PSM images dated from December 2004, based on the interpretation of visual character and vectorization of orbital data were used. Qualitative and quantitative classifications identified six types of land and cover use: native forest, forestry, capoeira grass, wetland, araucaria plantation, and anthropic. The native forest relative to the mixed ombrophilous forest was the prevailing type of land cover. The environmental zoning proposal defined seven zones of use, some that involved several potentially harmful activities to the biodiversity of the Irati National Forest. The environmental zone proposal, based on ecosystem conservation, outlined specific factors that enhanced ecosystem and community viability, supporting the design and evaluation of the management plan of the Irati National Forest.

Structural analysis of shrub and arboreal community of a cerradão

We evaluated the structure and growth stocks in an area of “cerradao” (arboreal savanna) absent from anthropogenic interference for four decades. The phytosociological stratification used was: canopy (h>3,0m e DLB>6,0cm), inferior (h 1.0cm at the base), medium (1.0 3.0m and DLB<6.0cm). We identified heterogeneity in the vertical structure of the community. Most populations show a high number of individuals from the superior and medium strata. These results suggest that the structural stability is mostly due to the maintenance of the process of establishment, growth and survival of the species, resulting from the absence of human activities in this area.