The objective of this study was to analyze how the use of four different carrier agents (modified starch, gum arabic, maltodextrin and hydrolyzed collagen) and different concentrations (10, 20 and 30%) influence the white açaí powder produced by lyophilization and in a bed of gush. Yield, moisture, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, hygroscopicity, solubility, fluidity, color, chemical structure, and morphology were the responses evaluated. In freeze-drying, the yield of the process (≥ 75.40%) and the moisture content of white açaí powder (≤ 4.93 g 100 g1) did not differ statistically (p ≤ 0.05), regardless of the agent carrier used. In spouted bed drying, the addition of modified starch or hydrolyzed collagen promoted higher process yield (≥ 42.70%). However, the white açaí produced with hydrolyzed collagen was the only one that had a moisture content ≥ 6.00 g 100 g-1. In both drying processes, powders produced with modified starch were less soluble (≤ 48.96%), despite low hygroscopicity (≤ 13.73 g 100 g-1). Samples produced with maltodextrin or gum arabic showed higher levels of total polyphenols (≥ 8.52 mg EAG g-1) and antioxidant activity (≥ 42.75 μmol ET g-1). In addition, they were more soluble (≥ 94.36%), fluid (11 to 15% according to the carr index), and better preserved the original color of the pulp to the detriment of other formulations. The chemical structure of white açaí powders obtained with different carrier agents was like that of the pulp, indicating efficient encapsulation of bioactive compounds and good preservation of functional groups present in the original raw material, even after drying processes.

Bone tissue is one of the most important tissues in the human body. Unfortunately, some traumatic events can cause fractures that can lead to temporary or permanent disability. Scaffolds are some of the materials that help in the treatment of these fractures, as they play an important role in the bone repair process and can be manufactured by 3D printing. Polylactic acid (PLA), as it is biodegradable, is one of the materials used in the production of scaffolds. Furthermore, the association of PLA and hydroxyapatite (HA) in the manufacture of scaffolds has shown excellent results, accelerating bone regeneration and reducing healing time. Another promising material for making scaffolds are carbon nanotubes (CNT), which have excellent mechanical properties and also accelerate bone growth. Thus, the main objective of this study was to produce scaffolds by additive manufacturing from polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA) and carbon nanotubes (CNT), to be applied in the regeneration of bone tissue and characterized through mechanical and biological. Hydroxyapatite was synthesized by wet means and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), presenting characteristic phases of HA, characteristic groups and a morphology with a porous surface with particle size varied, important characteristics for a biomaterial. The pure PLA, PLA/HA and PLA/NTC scaffolds were produced by additive manufacturing with 1 mm and 2 mm squarebar boxes and characterized through mechanical tests and biological tests. Furthermore, samples of PLA/NTC scaffolds were impregnated with HA on the surface by thermal and chemical treatment to evaluate the interference of ceramics on the composite surface. The micrograph of the scaffolds showed that the addition of CNT made the PLA surface rougher compared to the sample containing HA; The TGA curves suggested that temperature may favor the thermal stability of PLA/NTC scaffolds impregnated with HA on the surface; Ramam showed an interaction between hydroxyapatite on the CNT surface and a possible structural transformation of PLA/CNT; In compression tests, PLA/NTC scaffolds with 1 mm squarebar boxes showed better compression resistance; In biological tests, more than 85% of the cells remained viable after 48h of incubation, and the groups that had NTC in their composition showed the best results, both for heat treatment (more than 95% cell viability) and for treatment chemical (acetone). Given the results presented, it is concluded that PLA scaffold reinforced with HA and CNT may be promising as a biomaterial used to aid in the regeneration of bone tissue.

The installed power generation capacity in renewable energy has stood out in Brazil lately. The Anuário Estatístico Energético Nacional 2022 reported that wind energy improved by 26.7% from 2020 to 2021. Nevertheless, the Brazilian North region has 990,000 people without access to public energy services. So, researchers have performed studies on renewable energy, especially on the design and performance analysis of small wind turbines, among other actions to mitigate socioeconomic inequality. Hence, research has not been conducted on the dynamic starting behavior of small wind turbines with different blade curvatures in wind power systems. In this sense, the main objective of this work is to analyze the influence of different angles of blade curvature on the dynamic response on starting the coupled turbine-generator set. Newton's second law, the blade element theory, and the extension of the Palmgren method are applied to obtain the wind turbine behavior at starting. The dynamic behavior measurements available in the literature at starting of the straight-blade wind turbines has applied as a reference baseline to validate the methodology. Numerical simulations demonstrate that during start-up, turbines with straight blades and forward-swept blades start in less time, are approximately 19.9% faster at start-up, and require 10.7% less wind speed than turbines with backward-swept blades. Compared to straight-blade turbines, backward-swept blade turbines increase the dissipative torque by up to 5.86% and the dynamic efforts by 22%. These results indicate the significance of blade geometry on turbine performance and the existence of a swept angle at which the turbine performs better than other angles of the swept blade.

The development of mathematical models and direct methods has made it possible to predict hydrological phenomena such as rainfall-runoff-sediment yield. In order to complement the simulation model, inverse problems can be used to determine the properties of these phenomena and estimate parameters that cannot be measured directly. Therefore, this study was carried out in a small catchment in the Amazon with precipitation data and parameters estimated using the Kineros2 (K2) / direct model (DM). The study proposes solutions to the inverse problem (IP) characterized by the rainfall-runoff-sediment yield phenomenon for events with scarce data, with the aim of estimating the inflow rate, estimating the physical parameters, the runoff depth and the sediment yield of the basin analyzed. The sediment yield data comes from the sediment gauge station in the small catchment. For a more precise and detailed analysis of the model's behavior, combinations of information from observations and the K2 model were also carried out simultaneously with IP. The results showed a good fit between the observed and predicted data via IP, as Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients above 0.70 and RMSE between 0.27 and 1.99 were obtained in the calibration and validation of the rainfall-runoff-sediment yield model. The simulation of the runoff depth and sediment yield showed a 95% degree of reliability, which is consistent with the observed data.

Air conditioning systems represent one of the main electricity demands in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The use of a photovoltaic air conditioning system represents an attractive application for this demand, due to the reduction in the use of non-renewable energy sources, as well as the hourly match between the daytime cooling load demand and the availability of solar resources. Additionally, unlike most Brazilian households where electricity is considered an almost obvious resource, in many locations in the Amazon, children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly live without one of the main inputs for the development of productive, educational, and leisure activities. Therefore, this work proposes an energetic, exergetic, and techno-economic analysis of an air conditioning system directly coupled to a photovoltaic system, via a DC-DC converter and an Electronic Speed Controller, without the use of battery banks or grid support, operating according to the natural regulation of solar energy in Amazon climatic conditions, for two different irradiance profiles, i.e., a sunny day and a cloudy day. The modeling of the photovoltaic and air conditioning systems, as well as the thermal load survey of the environment, enabled the evaluation of the combined system's performance. The installed capacity of the photovoltaic generator assumes values of 700, 1000, and 1400 Wp, where the simulation results showed that the combined system with a 1400 Wp generator would be sufficient to regulate the internal temperature within international comfort standards, in the range of 20 °C to 26 °C and relative humidity between 40% and 80%. Simulations and analyses also showed that the exergy destruction increases throughout the day for the system components, being more significant for the photovoltaic system, followed by the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and expansion valve, for the sunny day. Furthermore, the results indicated that the exergetic efficiency for the analyzed systems ranged from 2.57% to 19.32% for the air conditioning system, from 11% to 13.83% for the photovoltaic system, and from 0.35% to 2.14% for the combined system. Techno-economic analysis of the proposed system, operating in parallel with another system powered by the conventional electrical grid, to verify the possibility of the photovoltaic air conditioning system's contribution to energy consumption savings in the grid-powered system, was also conducted, where the results showed that the economic viability of the parallel application of the systems is strongly influenced by the tariff value practiced by the energy utility and that the photovoltaic air conditioning system presented a solar energy contribution to the grid consumption reduction of 60.76%. Finally, the proposed simulations and analyses can be used to estimate the performance of air conditioning systems directly coupled to photovoltaic systems, based solely on the natural regulation of solar energy under specific climatic conditions.

Dust emissions resulting from handling and transporting particulate materials are a problem in the mining industry. These emissions are more accentuated when the materials are not very humid because the reduced humidity makes the particles lighter and more susceptible to dispersion. Faced with these issues, this study proposes a methodology for the theoretical and experimental study of the drying process that occurs when iron ore fines are transported in wagons or stored in piles in the open. The objective is to clarify the effect of surface moisture in the process of dragging wind iron ores on moist surfaces, such as those found when transporting iron ore in open wagons and in ore pile storage yards. In this study, wind tunnel tests were carried out using a wagon model with fine iron ore and an iron ore pile model. A fixed bed drying study at low velocity is also presented using a wind tunnel dryer. A numerical CFD model was developed, and the results agreed well with the experimental results. The numerical model allowed the evaluation of the drying behavior for different values of air flow velocity and the prediction of the thermal conditions that influence the drying process.

Harnessing the remaining energy downstream of dams has recently attained great
attention as the kinetic energy transported by the water current is indeed considerable.
This work develops a study on the performance of a horizontal-axis hydro turbine under
diffuser effect, in order to quantify the energy gain by comparing both turbines with and
without diffuser. A 3-bladed hydro turbine with 10 m diameter shrouded by a flanged
conical diffuser is employed. A numerical modeling using computational fluid dynamics
is carried out based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes formulation, using the K-
ω SST (Shear Stress Transport) turbulence model. The results yield good agreement with
experimental and theorical data available in literature.

In this work, the effect of reaction time and biomass-to-H2O ratio on the structural evolution of hydrochar and kinetic of by hydrothermal processing of corn Stover with hot compressed H2O, have been systematically investigated. The experiments were carried out at 250 °C, heating rate of 2.0 °C/min, biomass-to-H2O ratio of 1:10, and reaction times of 60, 120, and 240 minutes, and at 250 °C, 240 minutes, heating rate of 2.0 °C/min, and biomass-to-H2O water ratio of 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20, using a pilot scale stirred tank reactor of 5 gallon. The characterization of solid phase products performed by thermo-gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray 7 diffraction, and elemental analysis (C, N, H, S). The physical-chemistry properties of solid phase analyzed in terms of dry matter (DM), total organic content (TOC), and ash. The yields of solid and gas phases decrease linearly with decreasing biomass-to-H2O ratio, while that of liquid phases increases linearly. For constant biomass-to-H2O ratio, the yields of solid, liquid, and gaseous reaction products varied between 52.97 and 35.82% (wt.), 44.84 and 54.59% (wt.), and 2.19 and 9.58% (wt.), respectively. The yield of solids decreases expo-nentially by decreasing the reaction time, while the yields of liquid and gas phases increase exponentially. For constant biomass-to-H2O ratio, TG/DTG curves shows that reaction time of 60 minutes was not enough to carbonize corn Stover. For constant reaction time, TG/DTG curves shows that increasing the H2O-to-biomass ratio worse the carbonization of corn Stover. For constant biomass-to-H2O ratio, the SEM images show the main morphological structure of the corn Stover remains practically unchanged, while for constant reaction time, SEM images show that plant microstructure retains part of its original morphology, demonstrating that a decrease on biomass-to-H2O ratio worse the carbonization of corn Stover. For constant biomass-to-H2O ratio, the EDX analysis shows that the carbon content in hydrochar increases with reaction time, while for constant reaction time, the carbon content decreases with increasing biomass-to-H2O ratio. The kinetic of corn Stover degradation was correlated with a pseudo-first order exponential model, exhibiting a root-mean-square error (r2) of 1.000, demonstrating that degradation kinetics of corn Stover with hot compressed H2O, expressed as hydrochar formation, is well described by an exponential decay kinetics.

Bone involvement promoted by aging and accidents has aroused interest in biomaterials and technologies for bone regeneration purposes. Thus, 3D printing technology gained prominence in the production of scaffolds due to its versatility in the production of complex geometries with interconnected pores. In this work, scaffolds composed of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), bioglass (BV) and carbon nanotubes (NTC) were produced by 3D printing, using hexagonal geometry, similar to honeycomb, interleaved. Poly (lactic acid) is a biopolymer already used in biomaterials, while bioglass has proven to be an excellent strategy for use in bone regeneration due to its excellent properties of biocompatibility, bioactivity and osteointegration, however they have low mechanical resistance and carbon nanotubes have shown excellent mechanical reinforcement in composite biomaterials. Thus, the main objective of this study was to produce a biocomposite of PLA, bioglass and carbon nanotubes by 3D printing and to study its chemical structure, crystallineity and morphology, using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The thermal stability of the composite was evaluated by thermogravimetry, mechanical properties by compression tests and cell viability was determined by the Alamar Blue test. The bioglass was synthesized by sol-gel method presenting bioactive phases of silicate. The scaffolds were produced by 3D printing with hexagonal structures in honeycomb in PLA, PLA/BV and PLA/NTC that were impregnated with bioglass on its surface. The results of the scaffolds demonstrated interconnected and
viii
well-defined pores, ranging from 130 μm to 800 μm. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the interaction of BV in the polymer matrix through new peaks in the spectrum between 1400 and 2600 cm-1 and the presence of the D, G and 2D bands of NTC. In the compression assay, PLA scaffolds with 2 mm diameter showed higher compression stress of 14.88 ± 2.35 MPa, while PLA/NTC higher modulus of apparent compression, 0.58 ± 0.36 GPa. In cell viability, statistical tests showed that there was no significant difference between scaffolds with 2 and 4 mm diameter. The results reveal promising results for the use of 3D printed composites in bone repair in vertebral, ribs, skull and articular bones, however, application in implants remains limited in relation to osteogenic integration.

Nas últimas décadas, o desenvolvimento urbano trouxe como consequência a produção desequilibrada de materiais poliméricos como resíduos, resíduos estes que podem ser reaproveitados como matéria-prima de um novo ciclo produtivo. Este trabalho apresenta como proposta a produção de materiais de placas para serem utilizadas como pisos sustentáveis, blocos ecológicos para vedação com manta termo acústica e telhas sustentáveis. Utilizaram-se resíduos de polímeros termoplásticos para a confecção destes elementos construtivos (piso e telha) e compósitos de matriz reciclada carregada com fibra de caroço de açaí (bloco). Os materiais utilizados para o desenvolvimento do compósito foram copos descartáveis de poliestireno (PS), modelados e processados blocos ecológicos de polipropileno (PP) e polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD) reciclada por rotomoldagem a partir de embalagens pós-consumo apropriados ao processo de reciclagem adotado e posteriormente avaliados os resultados físicos e mecânicos. As paredes foram montadas por blocos de encaixe e produto comercial para assentamento e sobreposição. Após as análises, a utilização da rotomoldagem como modelo de reciclagem de materiais descartados no meio ambiente será capaz de gerar destinação adequada e revalorização, proporcionando renda familiar para catadores de aterros sanitários e aumento do ciclo de vida desses materiais, produzindo produto ecológico na construção civil. Para isso, foi realizada uma seleção de descartes plásticos a partir das etapas básicas da reciclagem mecânica e das características físicas e mecânicas dos reciclados formados. Os resultados foram comparados aos obtidos com os reciclados reforçados e aos de literatura.

In this work, it is accomplished a tecno-economic assessment of the production of biooil, coke and gas, via thermos-catalytic pyrolysis followed by distillation. The raw materials were: lipid-base material (residual fat/scum from fat retention box of the University Restaurant at the Federal University of Pará - UFPA), lignin-cellulosic material Açaí seed (Euterpe oleracea. Mart), palm oil and neutrilzing sludge palm oil. From the literature is made a review of the physic-chemical analysis of the raw materials, of the bio-oil and of chemical composition of the biofuels produced (biogasoline, bioquerosene, light-diesel and heavy-diesel). Are also presented the bio-oil yields for each experiment of pyrolysis and distillation and compared with the literature. The economic indicators demonstrated feasibility of the all projects, with exception with the use of açaí seeds. The indicators used to analysis the projects were: a) simple payback criterion, b) discounted payback, c) net present value (NPV), d) internal rate of return (IRR), and e) index of profitability (IP). The minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) obtained is this work for the biofuels was of 1.34 US$/L for all projects, with exception to the palm oil, which was 1,59 US$/L. The sensibility analysis demonstrated that the pyrolysis and distillation yields are the most important variables to affect the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP).

The State of Pará is the largest national producer of bauxite, representing 85% of the Brazilian production of the ore and, because of this large production, it also represents the largest accumulator of tailings from the processing of this ore, which are deposited in lagoons and/or dams. The intense presence of silica-aluminates in this material, such as kaolinite, for example, demonstrates the great potential for the civil construction industry, that is, the possibility of producing geopolymer materials from this waste. Bauxite washing, after calcination, turns into amorphous material, more specifically into metakaolinite, which can be even more potentiated when mixed with other residues as an additional source of Al and Si, which in this case is called kaolin. Flint. This material has already been the subject of other research projects, becoming known and used to obtain geopolymer materials. As the waste from the bauxite wash has a limited amount of kaolinite, calcined kaolin flint was added to increase the metakaolinite content, helping in the geopolymerization reaction process. The raw materials and geopolymer samples underwent characterization and the main analyzes involved were X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Compressive strength tests were also carried out on the geopolymer samples to assess the degree of polymerization since the more polymerized the structure, the greater the strength. With 28 days of curing, the geopolymer paste of the 80_RLBC formulation reached a compressive strength of 36 MPa and, of the 90_RLBC formulation, approximately MPa at 28 days. The best results were obtained with samples activated with 9 mol/l of NaOH in the mixture with sodium silicate. The results obtained through the characterization analyzes of the samples were satisfactory and demonstrated that the waste from the washing of bauxite and calcined kaolin flint, when activated with sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, are a viable alternative to produce geopolymer materials.

This work aims to explore the potential of energy generation and storage existing in hydroelectric plants and dams, especially in the case of Tucuruí, in which the transposition system (Locks) and the islands formed in the upper reservoir offer an additional opportunity for the implementation of systems renewable. In the world context, similar systems in the southern countries are researched, in a literature review, with emphasis on the cases of Brazil and Africa. In the case studies presented, for the Locks, the feasibility of implementing a hybrid solar photovoltaic system with pumped storage to meet the energy demand for operation is evaluated, compared with a purely photovoltaic proposal. On the studied island, a system similar to this is proposed to replace the one installed on site. The advantages of using pump as turbines as a means of energy production and storage are analyzed. Both cases studied showed interesting results from a technical and economic point of view, presenting below average paybacks in similar energy systems, reduced initial investments, ease of maintenance, total demand, with the possibility of absorbing photovoltaic fluctuations. The physical structure of the already existing locks and dams is favorable to these systems, which are environmentally responsible and technologically mature, as they offer the hydraulic head, reducing initial costs.

Residual fat; Activated carbon pellets; Chemical activation; Thermal catalytic cracking; Catalyst bed reactor, Liquid hydrocarbons. 

A região amazônica do Brasil é um grande produtor de bauxita e caulim, sendo o estado do Pará responsável por uma grande quota nacional da produção destes materiais. O processamento destas matérias-primas gera quantidades consideráveis de resíduos que são depois armazenados em tanques de sedimentação o que podem causar sérios danos ambientais, por conseguinte, é muito importante explorar métodos razoáveis de utilização da lama vermelha e do resíduo de caulim, e assim reduzir os seus volumes dos aterros. Muitos estudos recentes têm sido realizados e apresentados várias formas de utilização abrangente destes resíduos. Os compósitos reforçados com fibras naturais, com inserção destes resíduos industriais, têm recebido nas últimas décadas uma atenção crescente, pois boas propriedades mecânicas específicas podem ser alcançadas e os resíduos industriais podem ser reduzidos e utilizados numa forma útil. Neste trabalho, foram fabricados materiais compósitos de matriz poliéster reforçados por fibras de juta e malva na configuração continuas e alinhadas a 0° e a 90° na direção de carregamento, e materiais compósitos com inserção de resíduos industriais. A matriz poliéster utilizada foi a ortofitálica pré-acelerada e curada a temperatura ambiente com peróxido de metil-etil-cetona 1,0% em massa. As fibras de juta e malva foram cortadas manualmente no comprimento de 300 mm e dispostas manualmente de forma contínua e alinhadas na direção de carregamento e sem tratamento superficial. Os compósitos com fibras foram produzidos por laminação manual assistido a vácuo / ensacamento a vácuo. As proporções da fração de volumétrica das fibras variaram em 5, 15 e 25%. Os compósitos com resíduos de caulim e lama vermelha foram confeccionados pelo processo manual na forma de silicone. Variaram-se as proporções das frações mássicas dos resíduos em 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30 %. Os resíduos foram caracterizados quanto ao aspecto físico, morfológico e químico e as fibras quanto ao aspecto físico e mecânico e os valores experimentais são semelhantes aos apresentados em pesquisas anteriores. Assim como os compósitso fabricados tiveram suas massas específicas determinadas o que resultou no aumento no valor médio da massa especifica dos compósistos com inserção de resíduos de lama vermelha e caulim. No caso dos compósistos reforçados com fibras, de juta e malva, apresentaram uma redução no valor médio quando comparado com a matriz. As propriedades de tração e cisalhamento foram observadas para os compósitos com resíduos industriais, lama vermelha e caulim. O compósito 5RC exibiu valor de resistência a tração mais próximo a matriz, assim como para 5RLV, 10RLV e 15 RLV que exibiram mesmo comportamento. Para a resistência ao cisalhamento os compósitos 10RLV e 15 RLV foram mais próximo a matriz. Assim como os compósitos reforçados com fibras de juta 0° apresentaram a maior resistência a tração foram 0J5, 0J15 e 0J25, excedendo em 2%, 150% e 166% a resistência à tração do poliéster. Para os compósitos reforçados com fibras de malva 0º apresentaram a maior resistência a tração foram 0M15 e 0M25, excedendo em 67% e 96% a resistência à tração do poliéster. Para resistência ao cisalhamento os compósitos reforçados com fibras de juta (0J15 e 0J25) e malva (0M15 e 0M25) excederam a matriz em 201%, 206%, 71% e 144%, respectivamente. A resistência a tração dos compósitos trifásicos (0JRLV, 0JRC, 0MRLV e 0MRC) excederam a matriz em 129%, 100%,54% e 21%, respectivamente. Para resistência ao cisalhamento excederam em 49%, 47%, 63% e 52% a matriz. Os compósitos com fibras alinhadas a 0 apresentaram comportamento mecânico satisfatório para aplicação em materiais compósitos apresentando características de reforço.

Health professionals deal directly with several complex situations in the care of sick people. Among these, there are skin wounds that can harm the patient's clinical condition, in addition to costly treatment for healing. Skin wounds require dressings to protect against pathogenic microorganisms and to accelerate the healing process. With the emergence of biomaterials available for use in wound treatment, chitosan has become an effective choice, easily found in a natural and renewable form with healing potential. The chitosan membrane presents ideal conditions in the treatment of wounds, such as absorption, protection, biocompatibility and antimicrobial potential. To increase its healing effects, natural oils have been incorporated into the polymer matrix, such as copaiba, which has a high anti-inflammatory action. In this context, the work aimed to obtain and characterize chitosan membranes by emulsion and nanoemulsion of copaiba oil to treat skin wounds. The chitosan membranes with oil addition by emulsion and nanoemulsion were synthesized by the solvent evaporation technique. They were evaluated by macroscopic analysis and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, swelling percentage, humidity, contact angle. An in vitro assay of antibacterial activity against the bacterium S.aureus was carried out. The membranes had an apparently thin appearance, little malleability, relative opacity, continuous and good handling. He observed more porosity on the surfaces of membranes synthesized by nanoemulsion of copaiba oil, in addition to a more amorphous behavior. He noticed a better interaction between chitosan and oil constituents when the oil synthesis was prepared by nanoemulsion, resulting in improved stability of the material produced. The swelling percentages were higher in the MQCoN-0.1 (214±3.22%) compositions when immersed in water and the MQCoN-5.0 composition (220±6.83%) in the PBS solution. The wetter behavior was significant in membranes composed of 0.1% (0.80±1.37%) and 0.5% (3.00 ±0.79%) copaiba oil nanoemulsions. There was no great influence on the contact angle between syntheses and compositions. The chitosan membrane with 1.0% (v/v) of emulsified oil and the chitosan membrane with 0.5% (v/v) of nanoemulsified oil were the most hydrophilic membranes. All membranes were able to inhibit bacterial growth, except the chitosan membrane with 1.0%(v/v) oil emulsion. Materials obtained by nanoemulsion have ideal attributes for application in the use of skin wounds.

Once the influence of welding imperfections in the form of distortions and residual stresses on the resistance of stiffened panels has been proven, monitoring the levels of these imperfections becomes a safety criterion, in view of the uncertainty of the real resistance losses of the panel, without having to measure the magnitudes of these welding imperfections. Thus, this work deals with the measurement of distortion levels and residual stresses by X-ray diffraction and ultrasonic birefringence in stiffened panels. First, the best of three welding sequences were selected using robotic FCAW welding. Sequence 03 showed distortion levels up to 10 times less and a residual stress level closer to neutrality (±100 MPa) compared to sequences 01 and 02. Then, using sequence 03, panels were welded using the CW-FCAW process with 40% cold wire and welding speeds of 100 m/min and 120 m/min. The results showed that the percentage of cold wire with high welding speeds did not reduce distortions, but influenced the level of residual stresses, leading to stresses closer to the neutral line (±100 MPa) on average.

Biomaterials must enable the surrounging healthy cells to grow and replace the matrix that constitutes the material. The application of other bioactives is being widely studied, as well as the incorporation of phytosan into chemical removal films in wound healing by different techniques. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize chitosan membranes, green banana peel extract and andiroba oil for application in epithelial devices. Membranes were made in different compositions and characterization tests were carried out on the synthesizer. Andiroba oil was added in pure form or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion in the chitosan solution. Higher in chitosan membranes with emulsion O/W, being 978.79 % e 423.64 %, in Nano M6 and Nano M11, respectively, after 24 hours of life in water. The highest percentage of moisture was in M7 (24.9 ± 3.8 %) and the lowest in Nano M7 (13.46 ± 0.8 %). All samples are hydrophilic, with lower values with banana peel extracts from the first decoction, M1 (24.0° ± 1.9°) and Nano M6 (23.7° ± 4.3°). Diffractograms are mostly amorphous material, for the most part. Thermal analysis has greater stability of chitosan membranes synthesized with banana peel extract and addition of andiroba oil. Spectroscopy showed characteristic peaks and bands of sample components and interaction between these components, as well as suggestion or encapsulation of the oil. The material first presented characteristics of absorption of liquids and synthesized, in particular the membranes of banana extraction of the day of decoction interaction and with addition of O/W emulsions, with greater possibility of duration of its healing of composting epithelial deficiencies.

Since the decade of 1950 the Amazonian and Brazilian transportation complex prioritized the model of road transport. Past studies point that the regular roadway system that is integrated to a clandestine roadway complex is strongly related to the Amazon forest deforestation. Thus, in this work we performed a quantitative analysis of the variables related to the process of deforestation of the Amazon forest, a natural resource of great environment and economic significance, and the socioeconomic development of the region in the period between 1988 and 2018. The geographical study area is the State of Pará, located in the Oriental Amazon, the second largest State of Brazil in territorial extension and the most devastated. We used machine learning in the modeling of the quantitative variables related to the transportation infrastructure, social variables and economic variables, e.g., the devastated area. The random forest model presented the best performance with the generated function (using least squares method). It was estimated the devastated area for the years of 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050. Sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the devastated area after the implementation of the roads BR-163 and BR-210 in the north of Pará. The results show that given the current scenario the devastation tends to continue intensively in the next three decades, with a 25.77% increase over the current region albeit with decreasing ten-year rates of forestation loss, and the estimation of the deforested area caused by the implementation of federal roadway networks goes from 4,703.43 km2 to 6,567.48 km2 .

The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, caused the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by a high rate of contamination, propagation capacity and lethality rate. In this work, we approach the use of phthalocyanines as a possible inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2, as they present properties of Cobalt (CoPc), Copper (CuPc) and non-metallic group (NoPc) phthalocyanines as which can interact with SARS-CoV-2 , cut potentially used as adsorption filtration in paints on walls, masks, clothing and air conditioning filters. Molecular modeling techniques through Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics were used, where the target was the external structures of the virus, but specifically with the proteases E-pro, M-pro and S-gly. Using the g_MM-GBSA module, and with it the molecular docking studies that the ligands have characteristics capable of adsorbing the structures. Through molecular dynamics we obtain information on the deviation of the root mean square of atomic positions with values between 1 and 2,5. The generalized Born implicit solvation model, Gibbs free energy and solvent accessible surface area approach were used. Among the results obtained through molecular dynamics, it is sought that interactions occur, since phthalocyanines were able to bind to the active residues of macromolecules, demonstrating good interactions; in particular with a CoPc. Molecular couplings and excellent free energy for S-gly active site residues interacted strongly with phthalocyanines with values of -182,443 kJ / mol (CoPc), 158,954 kJ / mol (CuPc), and -129,963 kJ / mol ( NoPc). The possible interactions of phthalocyanines with SARS-CoV-2 may predict some promising candidates for antagonists to the virus, which if confirmed through experimental approaches, could contribute to resolve the global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The development of new technologies has enabled and created new ways of using kaolin, besides the already known applications. One of these known uses is the use as starting material for zeolitic synthesis, a type of kaolin with great potential for this purpose is called hard kaolin. Due to the low crystalline structural degree, the hard kaolin is naturally more reactive for zeolitic synthesis. Having this condition available, the study in question aims to resort to this condition and evaluate the possibility of synthesis and reproducibility of the synthesis of zeolite using kaolin in natura, without previous thermal or chemical treatments and consecutive cationic calcium and lithium exchange. The conformation of the synthesized zeolitic product in various formats for subsequent application as an adsorbent product in a fixed bed column, also developed in the study for the adsorption of ammonium ion and subsequent desorption, with the intention of investigating the potential of the conformed product as a slow release fertilizer for agricultural purposes. X-ray diffractometry of the zeolitic product indicated the presence of crystalline peaks of zeolite A, sodalite and anatase. The electronic microscopy images presented a morphology analogous to wool balloons, characteristic of sodalite. The adsorption capacity obtained from the experiments performed in the fixed bed column developed in the study indicated good results with potential optimization of the adsorption system at different concentrations and ions

The species Lippia thymoides occurs in Brazil and is widely described for its medicinal properties, however, there are still few studies describing applications of its essential oil. This study presents a review of the microencapsulation of essential oils and the importance of these natural products and their applications. Besides, the leaves of L. thymoides were subjected to drying in an oven at 40, 50 and 60°C and it was evaluated the drying kinetics and the influence of the drying process on the chemical composition, yield, and antioxidant profile of the essential oils. The chemical composition was performed using the GC/MS and GC-FID. After obtaining and characterization, the essential oil of L. thymoides was microencapsulated by the spray drying process. The biopolymer arabic gum was used as encapsulating material, in a ratio of 1:6 to the essential oil content. During the process, the inlet temperature was 140°C, the feeding rate was equal to 0.5 L/h and the atomization pressure was 4.5 bar. After the microencapsulation, it was carried out the physical-chemical and flow characterization. Also, the surface and chemical composition of the microcapsules were analyzed. According to the results obtained in the drying study, the Midilli model was the most appropriate to describe the drying kinetics and thymol was the main compound in all conditions analyzed, highlighting that the highest percentages were identified in the essential oil extracted from the fresh leaves (62.78 ± 0.63%). On average, essential oils showed an inhibition of the DPPH radical equivalent to 73.10 ± 12.08% and the fresh leaves showed the highest percentage of inhibition (89.97 ± 0.31%). The microencapsulation process resulted in a powder yield in the range of 51.44 ± 0.68% and the microcapsules presented a safe moisture content (3.92 ± 0.64%), good solubility in water (71.26 ± 6.26%), and encapsulation efficiency equal to 87.20 ± 3.00%. The thymol content in the microcapsules increased 2x concerning the percentage quantified in the oil before encapsulation and, therefore, based on the properties analyzed, the microencapsulation was efficient and capable of providing microcapsules rich in thymol, a constituent of high commercial interest.

This work aims to investigate systematically the influence of process temperature, biomass-to-water ratio, and production scales (laboratory and pilot) on the chemical composition of aqueous and gaseous phases and mass production of chemical by hydrothermal processing of Açaí (Euterpe Oleraceae, Mart.) seeds. The hydrothermal carbonization carried out at 175, 200, 225, and 250 °C, 2 °C/min, biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, and at 250 °C, 2 °C/min, and biomass-to-water ratios of 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20, in technical scale, as well as at 200, 225, and 250 °C, 2 °C/min, biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, in laboratory scale. The elemental composition (C, H, N, S) of solid phase determined to compute the HHV. The chemical composition of aqueous phase determined by GC and HPLC and the volumetric composition of gaseous phase by using an infrared gas analyzer. For the experiments in pilot scale with constant biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, the yields of solid, liquid, and gaseous phases varied between 53.39 and 37.01% (wt.), 46.61 and 59.19% (wt.), and 0.00 and 3.80% (wt.), respectively. The yield of solids shows a smooth exponential decay with temperature, while that of liquid and gaseous phases a smooth growth. By varying the biomass-to-water ratios, the yields of solid, liquid, and gaseous reaction products varied between 53.39 and 32.09% (wt.), 46.61 and 67.28% (wt.), and 0.00 and 0.634% (wt.), respectively. The yield of solids decreases exponentially with increasing water-to-biomass ratio and that of liquid phase increases in a sigmoid fashion. For constant biomass-to-water ratio, the concentrations of Furfural and HMF decrease drastically with increasing temperature, reaching a minimum at 250 °C, while that of phenols increases. In addition, the concentrations of CH3COOH and total carboxylic acids increase, reaching a maximum at 250 °C. For constant process temperature, the concentrations of aromatics vary smoothly with the temperature. The concentrations of furfural, HMF, and cathecol decrease with temperature, while that of phenols increases. The concentrations of CH3COOH and total carboxylic acids decrease exponentially with temperature. Finally, for the experiments with varying water-to-biomass ratios, the productions of chemicals (furfural, HMF, phenols, cathecol, and acetic acid) in the aqueous phase is highly dependent on the biomass-to-water ratio. For the experiments in laboratory scale with constant biomass-to-water ratio of 1:10, the yields of solid ranged between 55.9 and 51.1% (wt.), showing not only a linear decay with temperature, but also a lower degradation grade. The chemical composition of main organic compounds (furfural, HMF, phenols, cathecol, and acetic acid) dissolved in the aqueous phase in laboratory scale shows the same behavior of those in obtained in pilot scale.

Kaolin waste from kaolin industry sedimentation ponds for paper and sterile kaolin or flint belonging to the same mine, in the Capim region, in northeastern Pará, were used in the synthesis of the SAPO-34 molecular sieve. The precursor materials and those produced were characterized by: DRX, FRX, TG-DSC-DTG, FTIR, ASEBET and MEV. First, the use of R-metakaolin as a precursor was evaluated, varying the SiO2 / Al2O3 ratio in the formulation of the SAPO-34 molecular sieve. The adjustment in the value of this molar ratio showed a positive effect on the formation of the desired zeolite, which showed formation of the CHA structure, in less time and with good thermal stability. In relation to the use of F-metakaolin, the effect of the amount of SDA and crystallization time (nucleation and crystal growth) on the formation of the CHA structure was evaluated and, later, that zeolitic product formed with less amount of SDA was used for a detail evaluation, in which the influence of Fe and Ti ions type impurities was studied. The results revealed a positive effect of the greater amount of SDA in the formation of SAPO-34 (CHA), but in a shorter time and, consequently, contribution in the Si distribution in the structure. When comparing the zeolitic products derived from F-metakaolin and a high purity kaolinitic pattern, the zeolitic product obtained from the kaolinitic sterile showed thermal resistance where the calcined product's DRX pattern maintained the CHA diffractometric profile, but with reduced crystallinity. It was also observed that before calcination, the zeolitic product obtained with F-metakaolin showed a smaller displacement to a 2θ (º) angle, indicating an increase in the interplanar distance with reference to the d101 plane, possibly due to interferences of the present impurities (Fe and ions). Ti), however after the calcination for decomposition of the SDA this displacement was not evidenced, thus indicating interference of the SDA used. That product considered the best, based on crystallochemical parameters, was used in the performance evaluation in methylene blue adsorption, which showed good adsorption capacity. In the evaluation of the adsorption kinetics, the pseudo-second order model (R2 = 0.998) was the one that best fit the experimental data. The optimization of the synthesis using tailings through the planning of Box-Behnken experiment and response surface methodology. It was concluded that the use of Amazon waste and/or flint kaolin is viable for the production of SAPO-34 zeolite (CHA).

Erosion is a process of direct impact in urban and rural environments. The understanding of this process requires the use of models and techniques of geoprocessing and field, for approximate estimation of the realized one, since it is a phenomenon with many variables to be taken into account. For the present study, two models were used to generate data in a small Amazon basin. The USLE (universal soil loss equation) and also the modified MUSLE version. For both models, the common factors (K, LS, C and P) were determined. For USLE, the calibration occurred for rain erosivity, which is the differential factor of this model. After USLE application with calibrated R factor, the model was applied to the study area with an average soil loss of 1.99 ton. ha-1.year-1, for a period of 21 years. For MUSLE, the differential variables are the hydrological variables (Q and qp) were determined by analyzing the hydrographs observed with the aid of a digital filter. Two methods of calibration and validation have been done for MUSLE. Method 1 calibrated the factors ɑ and b, with sediment production data measured from 62 flood events from 2012 to 2014. The values found for factors ɑ and b were equal to 19.90 and 0.60, respectively. MUSLE was validated with sediment production data measured from 62 flood events in the years 2014 and 2015. The validated MUSLE equation represented in a satisfactory way, in more than 70%, the data of soil loss observed in the hydrographic basin of the Igarapé da Prata. Method 2 calibrated only the value of a, using the solid discharge curve with potential regression for the years 2012 and 2013, which showed R² of 0.70 and 0.68, respectively. The value of ɑ obtained was 17.25, and was applied to MUSLE, keeping the value of b at 0.56, the original value of the model. The validation for the latter method proved to be adequate, with an R² of 0.69. These results validate the empirical models for the region with experimental activities, which corroborates for the production of sediment information in the Amazon region, as a way of maturing and the search for new research, for the understanding of the impacts arising from the transport of soil between areas and in the water environment.

This work presents an analysis of the molecular dynamics between several illicit drugs: benzoylmethylecgonine, diacetylmorphine, 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, DDeoxefedrine, lysergic acid diethylamide and, interacting with a section of carbon nanotubes at low initial simulation temperature, corresponding to 10 −3 K, and under a uniform electric field, as a drug detection system. In addition to the analysis of the behavior of natural gas molecules and SYNGAS interacting with a carbon nanotube at an initial simulation temperature of 300K, with all systems being relaxed for 50 ps outside the carbon nanotube, describing each possible arrangement for catch; a constant external electric field was then applied to the systems, longitudinally, along the length of the carbon nanotube, promoting an evanescent effect, capable of trapping them orbiting the carbon nanotube. Simulations for electric field intensities within a range of 10-5 to 10-1 ua were performed to verify the behavior of drugs, while for the molecules that comprise natural gas and syngas, a range of 10-8 to 10-1 ua was adopted. Average orbital radii were estimated, in addition to a number of thermodynamic properties. Our results indicate that the combination of a uniform external electric field and van der Walls interactions in a carbon-derived nanotube is sufficient to create an evanescent field of attractive potential, presenting it as a system for the detection of drug temperatures and rays.

This work aims to use slow pyrolysis in biomass residues (EFB) as an energy potential in the production of biofuels. The raw material was obtained from agribusiness and subjected to washing, drying and crushing. The experiments were carried out in a fixed bed reactor and the central rotational composite design was used to optimize the variables temperature (459, 500, 600, 700, 741 ° C) and nitrogen flow (0,259; 0,3; 0,4; 0,5 and 0,541 L / min), in order to identify the ideal conditions for obtaining bio-oil (BO). From the optimized result, the products were characterized using various techniques (FTIR, CG / MS, CCDAE, NMR, MEV, Karl Fischer, CHNO). Temperature was the most influential parameter in relation to liquid and solid yields, and the combination of variables influenced the yield in gas. There was a higher yield in BO (45,29%) whose composition showed a large amount of fatty acids, alkanes, alkenes and phenolic compounds, the latter with high antioxidant capacity. Biochar showed low yield (27,52%), but good energy capacity, the gas yield was 27,89%. The calorific value of the BO was 24,48 MJ / kg and the biochar was 19,27 MJ / kg. The results of the techniques used, prove the use of EFB as a renewable source in obtaining biofuels.

Sewage treatment stations receive various effluents and perform the selective filtering of
molecules that can, if they persist in the water, contaminate or the environment. Selection
processes initiated by larger sections down to nanoparticles. Among the molecules called
emerging contaminants are hormones and heavy metals that impact on graves consequences on
organisms by endocrine-disrupting action. When surface waters receive effluents with traces of
contamination and hormones or heavy metals, they will cause diseases in living beings,
especially in pregnant women and children, as well as interfering in the chains of DNA, also
affecting the next generations. This study of molecular tests carried out with nanofiltration:
water with hormones and water with heavy metals filtered through carbon nanotubes and boron
nitrogen, under the action of 8 (eight) electric fields lasting 100 (hundred) picoseconds. The
study hormones were: estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, ethinylestradiol, levonorgestrel,
diethylbestrol, and heavy metal ions: lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and mercury. Each of the
hormone molecules and the heavy metal were filtered through two nanotubes, under the same
boundary conditions. The selected results that allow creating nanofiltration systems that can be
removed micropollutants using carbon nanotubes or boron nitride activated by the electric fields
from 10-5 to 10-8 atomic units.

The hybrid numerical-analytical approach known as the Generalized Integral Transform Technique (GITT) is employed in solving the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes and energy equations in a wavy plates channel. The flow is considered laminar and incompressible for a Newtonian fluid with temperature-independent physical properties, while the walls temperatures are kept uniform along the channel length. The streamfunction-only formulation is adopted, which eliminates the pressure field and automatically satisfies the continuity equation. A thorough convergence analysis is performed for both the streamfunction and Nusselt number to demonstrate the method robustness. The verification of the present GITT results is also performed by comparing the centerline velocity, skin-friction coefficient, average temperature, and local Nusselt number with equivalent results from the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation platform, with overall good agreement. The influence of the governing parameters such as Reynolds number and wavy-wall amplitude on the velocity, temperature and entropy fields are also analyzed, demonstrating their importance for the convective heat transfer prediction and energy optimization

The determination of the usable volume of an elevated water tank is an important step in projects of gravity flow water systems. Engineers often apply traditional methods to design such water tanks for practical reasons, which, in their simplicity, do not consider important information, such as the physical and operational characteristics of the pumping stations. In this paper, an alternative procedure is presented for determining the usable capacity of an elevated water tank, in which are considered both the characteristics of the system and the operation of pumps in parallel, making an economic comparison with traditional methods. Five different designs of Gravity Flow Water Systems (GFWS) were sized and simulated, a case study with capacity to serve 10,000 inhabitants. The systems sized with the proposed method featured higher economic attractiveness than those sized with traditional methods.

Research Area: Transformation of Natural Resources

In this study, we analyzed the thermodynamic properties of soy biodiesel, the most widely used biodiesel source among the world's largest consumers, and rapeseed biodiesel, a source with significant employment in the European Union and biodiesel additives. Also, the study of ordinary diesel was carried out to simulate the situations in which this fuel is in mixtures with different concentrations of biodiesel blends. The objective of this work is to study the thermodynamic properties of the fuels mentioned. Based, where possible, on experimental results to validate the expansion of theoretical results and point out the most appropriate methodology for this type of approach. To this end, computational simulations were carried out with theoretical support in the Density Functional Theory combined with the canonical ensemble model. The functional used in the simulations was type B3LYP with bases 6-31 + (d) and 6-311 + g (d), in addition to the composite method CBS-QB3. The calculated enthalpy values are higher in the biofuels in relation to diesel and the same happened with Entropy. When we analyze the change of Gibbs Free Energy, the largest variations were noted for biofuels. The coefficient of adiabatic expansion revealed lower degrees of freedom until 400 K temperature in both types of biodiesel, from that point all fuels have the same behavior for this property. The lowest relative error was found with the B3LYP/6-311 +g(d) method, with a value of 0.15% for the combustion of ordinary diesel. In relation to biofuels, the same method provided 0.48% relative error in the combustion of rapeseed biodiesel as the best result. Regarding the effects of temperature on these fuels, the results showed that both types of biodiesel are less susceptible to heating than ordinary diesel at all calculated points, always requiring more energy to raise their temperature. The results in the additives showed that the antioxidant pyrogallol that most interferes in the biodiesel properties

In this study, the pyrolysis process of waste tires was analyzed in the laboratory and pilot scales. In the lower scale, the temperature variation, the type of catalyst commercially obtained (CaCO3, Na2CO3 and Ca(OH)2), the type of catalyst synthesized / treated from industrial waste (LV 1M HCl, LV 2M HCl and zeolite of kaolin) and the concentration of the NaOH solution impregnated into the tire (0.5, 1 and 2M) in the yields and compositions of the tire pyrolysis oil (TPO). In the larger scale, the evolution of the physicochemical and compositional properties of the TPO’s during the thermal cracking process (T = 400 °C, T = 450 °C and T = 500 °C) was evaluated in order to obtain a liquid product with characteristics of fossil fuels and / or compounds of high commercial value. The results showed that the yield of the TPO's are influenced by the increase in process temperature, by the type of catalyst and by the chemical treatment in the raw material. Being the process at 500 °C and with kaolin zeolite as the catalyst which most optimized the process for the yield and production of aliphatic compounds in the TPO. The use of catalysts led to the reduction of aromatic compounds and sulfur compounds in the liquid fraction. On the smaller scale, the behavior of the aliphatic compounds in thermocatalytic processes and chemical impregnation of the raw material was strongly influenced by the composition of d-limonene in the oils of pyrolysis of tires. The results of the pilot scale allowed us to conclude that there were variations in the physicochemical and rheological properties during the cracking process, but tend to stabilize in 65 minutes of process, presenting low acidity and low viscosity. The main substances identified throughout the process were d-limonene, BTX (benzene, toluene and xylenes) and cymenes. In the fractionation of TPO’s, the fraction of gasoline (C8 to C10) and kerosene (C8 to C17) are essentially hydrocarbons, while light diesel (C15 to C21) and heavy diesel (C17 to C23) by heteroaromatics. It is also concluded that sulfur and halogen compounds tend to be separated from the light diesel range.

This work proposes the mathematical model and the estimation of the kinetic parameters of red mud leaching using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method with the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. Firstly, the red mud, from the Amazon region, Brazil, was characterized and leached with sulfuric acid at 20 and 30% in v/v at the temperatures of 60, 80 and 90 ºC, in two different hydrometallurgical routes: calcined at 900 ºC and form in natura. During the leaching, samples were collected every 30 minutes, which were centrifuged to obtain the leachate (liquid phase) and the concentrates (solid phase). In the liquid samples, the leached quantities of iron and titanium were measured using the uv-vis absorption spectrophotometry technique. For the characterization of the solid phase, the X-ray diffraction and fluorescence techniques were used. Based on the shrinking core model, a mathematical model was proposed, in terms of a system of coupled differential equations, aiming to represent the kinetics of red mud leaching. The leaching mechanism of iron, titanium and aluminum oxides presented, on average, chemical reaction order values of 1.52; 2.96 and 2.05, respectively. The values of the activation energies presented values in the range of 64 to 176 (kJ / mol). The proposed mathematical model was validated when reproducing the experimental data and the use of the Bayesian statistic was adequate.

In order to mitigate the damages caused to the environment, companies are adopting asphalts with recycled materials, known as ecological asphalt. The main objective of this work is a technological evaluation of the insertion of hard wood associated with rubber in asphalt coatings. Wood sawdust for construction use and ground tire rubber was used to prepare the wood/rubber compound. The available binder for the AC 50/70 produced by PETROBRAS came from the Fazenda Alegre field in the state of Espírito Santo and is processed by LUBNOR in Fortaleza, Ceará. The aggregates were supplied by the company ETECOM LTDA. A graduation used for mixtures for Range C of DNIT. The design of conventional asphalt mixtures and the incorporation of wood/tire rubber were defined and analyzed following a Marshall methodology. The characteristics and the capacity of the mixtures were evaluated: Marshall stability and flow, mixture density, air voids, bitumen-void ratio, resilience modulus, tensile strength. In a previous study, the mixing project consistent with the incorporation of the wood/tire rubber compound has a air voids equal to 3.7%, in this case, according to field studies, a relation of volume, and a decrease in the bitumen ratio may compromise the durability of the coating. A replacement of a portion of the mineral aggregates by the wood/tire rubber compound causes the asphalt mixture to increase flexibility in the asphalt mixing of an increase in resistance and reduction in the resilience modulus of HMA blends with the wood/tire rubber. For the projected asphalt mixtures, a lower ratio of resilient modulus and tensile strength (Mr/Rt) was obtained in hot mix asphalt (HMA) with a wood/tire rubber value of 5159.26, compared to conventional non-value HMA of 6607.67. The experimental section with asphalt concrete and the incorporation of wood/tire rubber to the dry process is not a difficulty in knowing more about when it is done conventional coatings and using modifiers. Issues involving research on recycled rubber and the reduction of unsanitary sawdust stock has been gaining ground and may be more than proven in this work, a new additive incorporated in asphalt pavements that reduces the degradation of the environment in which we live.

This work aims to synthesize a zeolite product composed of zeolite type "A" plus sodalite using as filler kaolin starting material. The synthesis of Zeolites was carried out in a short time and in a system with agitation, in a reactor of stainless steel with a volume of approximately 0.001 m3 , that is, in semi-pilot scale. The system was heated by steam from a boiler. The X ray diffraction (XRD), X ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Granulometric Analysis and Differential and Gravimetric Thermal Analysis (DTA and TG) were identified and characterized. In the synthesis process the metakaolin was used as the source of silica and alumina, which was obtained at 600 ° C for 2 hours of calcination in a muffle furnace. A 5M sodium hydroxide solution was used as the sodium source. Several syntheses were carried out for a maximum duration of 180 minutes. Every 30 minutes aliquots of the product were taken for the study of reaction kinetics. The results of the zeolite syntheses were satisfactory and the product obtained was applied to the adsorption of Cu2+ ions, in which the influence of the variables: time, temperature, pH and adsorbent quantity were evaluated. The determination of the best adsorption model was performed by the Monte Carlo method via Markov Chain in simulation performed in the MATLAB software and through the Akaike Information Criterion the isotherms that were closest to the presented results were established. The results obtained were compared with other studies available in the literature and showed significant values, which characterize the process of zeolite production and adsorption as promising and efficient.

It is known surrounding a turbine with diffuser may significantly increase its power. This effect has attained considerable attention as it shows theoretically the possibility of achieving a power coefficient about 2 times greater than an ordinary turbine. However, the effect of the diffuser efficiency has not been implemented into blade element momentum yet. Hence, this paper presents a novel approach to design diffuseraugmented hydro turbines considering the diffuser efficiency. Based on the blade element momentum, new expressions for the axial induction factor and thrust are obtained. In addition, both efficiency and load generated on a diffuser are considered to the extension of existing formulation to determine power coefficient in cases where diffuser losses are taken into account through efficiency (ηd) and area ratio (β). To assess the proposed model, a comparative evaluation of two different diffusers (flanged conical diffuser and flanged lens diffuser) is performed. Numerical and theoretical results are compared for a shrouded turbine equipped with 83% efficiency diffuser. The relative difference observed for the maximum power coefficient between the proposed model and an actuator disk model with diffuser is about 5.3%. For the hydro turbine with flanged conical diffuser, ix the mass flow rate is about 20% higher than for a bare turbine, while for the turbine with flanged lens diffuser the increase is only 2.4%. Also, for the flanged conical diffuser the power is increased by 53%. Furthermore, it is observed that the proposed blade element momentum with diffuser achieved good agreement with the numerical model, providing improved results compared to other models available in the literature.

 Reuse, Industrial waste, mortars, cement composites.

The use of natural gas as an energy source has received considerable attention due to major advances in oil well drilling technology, its low pollutant emissions compared to other fossil fuels and the enormous availability of reserves. In this scenario, this work is concerned with studies regarding hydrogen production from natural gas, using a commercial alpha-alumina supported nickel catalyst in a reforming reactor. The overall process comprises feeding methane, oxygen and water vapor into the reactor. This process is known as Autothermal Reforming. From the obtained results, a kinetic model of reaction rates per component was solved. Therefore, it was possible to estimate all the kinetic parameters (reaction, equilibrium and adsorption constants). The estimations were performed at temperatures of 700 and 750°C for each molar feeding ratio employed. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method was applied for the estimations. The acquired results are presented with regard to the estimated reaction rates, which were compared to the experimental rates. The estimated parameters were compared to results available in the literature.

In this work we perform the characterization of thermodybanuc potentials, obtaining predictions based on Density Functional Theory and statistical thermodynamics, through the canonical ensemble model. The study compared two theoretical methods, B3lyp/6-311 ++ g(d.p) and the semi-empirical method PM3, with the experimental values of the termodynamic property of Cp with the objective of validating the method with better precission. All simulations were perfomed conformation of the global minimus and optimizations of the molecules in the thermal equilibrium and for a temperature range of 0.5 - 1500 K. We will analyze the thermal properties, such as energy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, entropy, heat capacity at constant pressure with respect to temperature. In the combustion enthalpy the following methods were userd: B3lyp/6-311 ++ g(d,p), B3lyp/6-31+g(d), CBS-QB3, G3, G4 and the G3/G4 mean, obtaining results that show a good agreement with the experimental values, and verifying which of the methods best predicts the thermodynamic properties for reactions of combustion of the kerosene and bioquerosene. Also, a theoretical analysis was performed in DFT to calculate the thermodynamic properties of three molecules of additives. We simulated a composition of JP-8 with mixtures of the three additives togheter and separeted in order to observe its efficiency over other existing methods. Then, the termodynamics properties of the gasoline with additives were predicted under the same conditions already described. These calculated amounts included standard gasoline mixed with the following oxygenated additives: methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl tert-butyl ether, diisopropyl ether, ethanol and methanol. it is possible to estimate some relevant fuel properties in the injection and combustion stage, showing substantial agreement with the experimental data, presenting relative errors of less than 2%, thus establishing an excellent method to calculate and predict the thermodynamic properties of the combustion reactions for with additives. in the last stage of this work, we present a theory of a simulated sensor device to identify explosive molecules that is of extreme interest for the area of public security in the fight against terrorism. For this, an armchair-type carbon nanotube (CNT) was modeled under the action of an external, longitudinal an uniform eletric field, causing the molecules of the explosives: 2, 4, 6 octogen and pentaerytritol tretanitrate. Turn around the CNT, behaving as a sensor depending on the temperature and the radius of rotation of the molecules. In this way, we study the physico-chemical properties of interactions of the molecules with the CNT  

The electronic structures and optical properties of transphenylated doped graphene-functionalized triphenylamine using water as solvent were investigated theoretically to verify the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production with the use of different doping. The density functional theory (DFT), applied in the Gaussian 09W software, using the B3LYP functional for all structures, and the base 6-31g (d) for the H, C and N atoms, and the based LANL2DZ, applying the Core Effective Potentials method, for the transition metals. Through the DOS of each structure it is observed that there was an increase of accessible states in the valence layer, in addition to the decrease of the gap for all the doping and for the structure with two and three radicals of Triphenylamine. Through the UV-vis absorption spectrum, there was an improvement in absorption in the range of 490 nm to 615 nm, for single doping with Ni, Pd or Os, and for mixed doping of Ni and Pd or Ni and Pd, Os, Ni and Pd or Ni and Pt, as new catalysts applied in the conversion of solar energy and the production of photocatalytic hydrogen, as they improve the absorption of solar energy in the range of interest and reduces the overpotential required for the production of hydrogen gas through water which can be used as an energy source. Another analysis, in the sense of energy generation, raised in this work will be to evaluate the thermodynamic potential of Butanol properties, along with their isomers, as complementary fuel or even substitute for ethanol and gasoline. For this, once again, the Gaussian09W allied to the DFT was used, but combined with the functional, hybrid B3LYP with the base set 6-311 ++ G (d, p) and 6-31 + G (d) , G3 and G4, as well as the compounds CBS / QB3. By means of the software, the optimization calculations were carried out in order to find the fundamental frequencies of the molecules, with the parameters found together with the set of bases and functional ones, we found the thermodynamic properties as: the specific heat molar at constant pressure, the enthalpy and entropy. All the simulations were at temperatures in the range of 100K-1500K and constant pressure of 1atm, in addition the combustion enthalpies of the butanol isomers were obtained, several ternary mixtures were also proposed where it was possible to compare the enthalpy variations between the fuels: gasoline , ethanol and n-butanol.

In this work we performed a thermodynamic characterization of natural gas, synthesis gas and of the mixtures of these two fuels, obtaining predictions based on the density functional theory and in statistical thermodynamics, through the canonical ensemble model. The study initially focused on verifies what method of the Density Functional Theory is more suitable for the thermodynamic analysis of natural gas, where properties, such as the following thermodynamic potentials, were obtained: internal energy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy and entropy. After concluding that the B3LYP functional, along with the basis sets 6-311++g(d,p) corresponds to the most recommended method for the thermodynamic prediction of this fuel, the thermodynamic properties of the synthesis gas were analyzed, as well as the effects caused by the synthesis gas when mixed with natural gas. The results showed that the synthesis gas is shown as a possible anti-knock additive, where a mixture containing up to 30% of synthesis gas is capable of raising the resistance of natural gas to heating, reducing only about 15% of its energy released in the combustion.

Key words: Natural gas; Synthesis gas; Density Functional Theory; Canonical ensemble.

This work aims to study the use of beef tallow as raw material for the production of bio
fuel through the process of catalytic thermal cracking reaction. Three catalytic thermal
cracking experiments were carried out in a 143 liters reactor, operating in discontinuous
mode at 450 °C at atmospheric pressure, using sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as the catalyst.
Two experiments were carried out with crude beef tallow (5 and 10 % Na2CO3 -
mass/mass) and one with bovine tallow soap (5 % Na2CO3 - mass/mass). The organic
liquid products obtained from the reactions were analyzed through physicochemical
analysis and chemical composition. Fractional distillation was also realized in order to
obtain fractions of petrol, kerosene and light diesel similar to petroleum. In order to follow
the reactions over time, aliquots were withdrawn every 10 minutes up to a total of 10
samples with the first point collected within 30 minutes of reaction. For the collected
samples physicochemical analysis and identification of the chemical compounds were
realized. The results showed a tendency to obtain higher yields in organic liquid product
(OLP) using the catalyst in larger quantities with the crude sample. The chemical
identification showed the amount of hydrocarbons present (paraffins and olefins) ranging
from 89.28 to 92.23 % and oxygenates (ketones) from 7.77 to 10.72 %. After the
distillations, a predominance was observed in the diesel fraction (235-305 °C) while the
petrol and kerosene fractions were lower, this behavior was repeated in all experiments.
Regarding the samples collected over the time of the reactions it is possible to verify an
increase in the acidity index and formation of oxygenates up to 60/70 minutes indicating
the occurrence of the primary cracking and then, until the end of the reaction, a decrease
in these values evidencing the secondary cracking.

The main problems related to the generation of waste are focused on the effects that this material can have on human health and the environment. And in the particular case of the bauxite residue (RB) generated through the Bayer process, there is a gigantic production of this residue besides the high alkalinity present, which is configured as a barrier to the reuse of this material in other processes. In this context, this thesis aims to analyze the influence of the addition of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide in the reduction and stabilization of the alkalinity of the RB, over a monitoring period. To this end, it was proposed to add Ca and Mg prior to the carbonation of the bauxite residue to increase the precipitation of stable components in the long run and thereby achieve a lower pH stabilization, i.e. carbonated the suspension of RB added CaO or MgO in a CO2 bubbling reactor and the residue was then stored in sealed vials, providing analyzes of this residue by monitoring the pH over time. Such storage is intended to boost the precipitation of stable compounds in this carbonated RB over time, thus favoring pH stabilization. The use of the additives of Ca and Mg to the residue is justified by a low concentration of these chemical elements in the RB itself, in its natural (in natura) form. Therefore, the alkalinity of the RB remained with a mean value of stabilization of pH≈9,5 for both the RB added of Ca and the added Mg, after a minimum period of 12 months of monitoring, proving the efficacy of the process.

The flow of solid-liquid mixture per pipeline depends on a large number of variables
and parameters, which are related to the solid to be transported (granulometry,
density, shape and hardness); to the carrier fluid (density and viscosity); the
installation (inner diameter of the pipe, length, slope, roughness, inclination angles,
singularities and etc); the mixture (density and solids concentration) and the system
(tons of solid to be transported, flow velocity and pressure drop).
In this context, aiming to understand the influence of Paragominas bauxite
characteristics on pulp transport, a series of experiments involving pumping loop,
permeametry and rheology were carried out in addition to standard granulometry
tests, laser diffraction granulometry (Malvern) and characterization in MEV and XRF.
Pulps named thick, thin and composite, in the concentrations of solids by weight
(60%, 50%, 40% and 30%) were worked out in the tests.
The objective of this study was to study rheological and flow of these fractions of
bauxite pulp in turbulent transport by pipelines, verifying the effect of particle size,
particle shape and composition and solids concentration on the drop of working
pressure, in the determination of the friction factors and deposition velocities of the
solids, in order to measure the interrelationships and similarities between these
fractions.
Finally, the results of experimental friction factors for Power L
aw fluids (in the laminar and turbulent regimes) and Bingham fluids (in the laminar
and turbulent regimes) are compared to the friction factors calculated according to
Fanning's equation (1877); Dodge and Metzner correlation (1959); Buckingham
Reiner's equation (1921) and empirical correlation developed by Darby & Melson
(1981).
By means of the results presented and discussed in this work, it was possible to
evaluate the variables involved in the movement of these fractions of pulps through
pipes, proving that these variables can be related in accordance with Graf,

The present work aims to obtain açai powder dye produced by drying technique spray dryer. In the drying process, maltodextrin 20DE and modified manioc starch were used as carrier agents. It analyzed the drying of açaí extract based on the statistical design, considering as input variables: input air temperature and feeding volumetric flow rate on the response variables: humidity, powder recovery, anthocyanin retention and antioxidant activity the product. Input air temperature and feeding volumetric flow were found to be the statistically significant sources of variation on the responses. It has been estimated the optimum condition of drying based on statistical analysis and with the aid of simultaneous optimization technique called global Desirability Function From the conditions set out in this work, it was reached a great value Desirability Function acceptable and excellent. With getting the açai dye from its optimal point, the sorption isotherms were built. Thermodynamic sorption parameters were evaluated from the GAB model and through relations Clausius-Clapeyron and Gibbs-Helmholtz. The compensation theory enthalpy-entropy was properly applied to the isotherms, indicating that the moisture sorption phenomenon of dye in açaí powder is controlled by enthalpy. Was evaluated also stability and it is concluded that the photodegradation of dye acai powder occurred more slowly and evenly in the absence of light. The dye obtained can provide the use in various industrial forms (cosmetic, pharma and food).

Analytical or hybrid solutions based on the integral transformation technique are proposed to treat the problem of three-dimensional drawdown of confined, leaky or unconfined aquifers using fully penetrating vertical wells (FPVW) or radial collector wells (RCW) between parallel rivers with semi-permeable streambeds, with pumping rates varying in Time and initial condition varying in space. Favoring the technique employed, the scheme of ordering the eigenvalues was adopted and the extensive analysis of the convergence of the solutions was performed. A pseudo-stationary filter
was used in the solution to absorb information from the source term, defined by the well, which considerably accelerated the convergence of the solution in series, eliminating the oscillating convergence caused by the Gibbs phenomenon. In order to validate the obtained results, comparisons were made with the results in the literature, where the efficiency of the proposed solution is demonstrated. It was verified the influence of the pumping rate on the rates of depletion, leakage, release and gravimetric drainage of the aquifer and observing how in long-term drainage activities the rates of river exhaustion are equal to the variation of the pumping rate, that is, stream depletion rates on long-term activities can be managed by itself pumping the well flow.

With the advancement of new technologies in the dye market, it is already possible to
find substitute alternatives like many artificial variations. Dyes are a vegetable base, like
fruits, give the product a more natural appearance, as opposed to synthetic shades. In
view of the context, the objective is to study the drying process of the aqueous dye
mixture extracted from the unripe genipap fruit (Genipa americana L.) and the transport
agent (cassava starch) in the spouted bed as a viable alternative to obtain dye powder,
based on statistically planned experiments, evaluating the efficiency of powder
production, stability, final moisture contents, as well physicochemical characteristics. In
order to favor the fluid-particle contact and a cyclic standard movement, providing a
control over the effective of the process, the inert particles (low density polyethylene)
were used, for this technique it is possible to operate with large particles. Initially a
physical characterization of unripe fruits of genipap is carried out and it extracts a blue
dye from its endocarp by means of processes of induced oxidation and solvent, using
water, oxygen and controlled temperature, like catalyst. In this sense, spouted bed
drying of the solution composed of the blue dye mixture of genipap and cassava starch,
leads to a significant reduction in water activity and, consequently, in its conservation
and stabilization of its coloring properties, which makes it a viable alternative as It
happens to the artificial blue dyes. To evaluate the stability of the dye extract against
temperature and temperature degrades, and to study the rheological behavior of aqueous
dye suspensions, as a function of concentration and temperature, aiming to establish as
conditions for their transport in pipelines.

With the development of industrial society, the demand for raw material has been increasing steadily over the last decades. Linked to this development occurs the generation of residues, which in the case of copper approximately 1% of the soil is exploited and transformed into commercial copper, the other 99% become waste of the process, being deposited in containment basins, where it is estimated 90 million tons the quantity contained in the Canaã dos Carajás plant, from where the residue of this work was obtained. This leads to high construction and maintenance costs, as well as generating a hazardous environmental liability. The objective of this work was to evaluate the addition of copper mining residue in replacement of the small aggregate in CA. In the dosage design it was verified that the content of 10% of residue in substitution to the small aggregate, more precisely 7.73% (obtained by regression), as the proportion that best suited the Marshall properties, even with lower CAP content In relation to the others, fact this provided by the type of fines of the residue. In general, the measured mechanical properties were not altered by the presence of the residue, except for the fatigue data, where the 20% and 25% mixtures showed superior performance, mainly because the resilience modulus values were statistically the same. The rheological data, compared to Superpav classification, were also unchanged, as well as the coating thickness given in the simulation in the SisPav, being in the order of 5 cm. In analyzing the potential for the use of waste, a positive conclusion was reached regarding the technological, environmental and economic aspects, with the possibility of consumption of more than 1.500.000 tons in roads close to the project, besides the economy with CAP consumption and Portland cement for trace correction.

Açaí is one of the most popular functional foods of the Amazon, widely consumed in Brazil and became known in other countries, especially due to the many benefits it has for a wide use in the growing market for nutraceuticals. Açaí extracts derived have a number of components with antioxidant, vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory and energy. Among the appropriate technologies in the processes, supercritical technology has become advantageous to obtain extracts with higher quality, adding value to products and by-products of the process. This work presents as objective a study of the supercritical extraction process of acai pulp to obtain extracts rich in bioactive compounds. A evaluation of the variables of the supercritical extraction process with CO2 (temperature, pressure, and solvent density) of Açai pulp showed the conditions that maximize the amount extracts (lipid fraction) obtained, and enable the concentration anthocyanins in açai pulp defatted for subsequent extraction of these compounds. The extracts obtained from extraction with CO2 were evaluated for fatty acid composition and allelopathic activities. The overall yield isotherms showed that the maximum amount of extract obtained in the process was in the condition of 70°C/490 bar followed by the condition of 50°C/350 bar.

Keyword: supercritical extraction, global yield, allelopathic activities, Euterpe oleracea.

The rechearch proposed to use solid wastes from kaolin and bauxite mining and metallurgical regional industries in a composite of sandwich structure to apply as internal divider panel environments. The blade was of unsaturated polyester matrix, double jute fabric and, kaolin waste (20 wt% polyester) and, the core, of polyurethane expansive and red mud (bauxite waste at process to get alumina), from 0 to 50 wt% PU (increasing by 10 to 10 wt%), in a total of 6 different treatments). The tests carried out were: blade density (ASTM C271/271M – 11), sandwich structure bulk density apparent, sandwich structure porosity, tensile test on the blade (ASTM D5083-10), flatwise tensile test on sandwich structure (ASTM C297/C297M - 04), edgewise compressive test on sandwich structure (ASTM C364/C364M–07), flatwise compressive test on sandwich structure (ASTM C297/C297M - 04), 3-point flexural test on sandwich structure (ASTM D7250/D7250M – 06 e ASTM C393/C393M – 11), Charpy impact test on sandwich structure (ASTM D6110 – 10), flammability test on blade and on sandwich structure (UL 94 - 96) and sound transmission loss test on sandwich structure (ISO 140-3:1995 - E). The results indicated that the choise of polymeric matrices was suitable to reduce weight of such structure mainly the use of a PU expansive. Increasing red mud not contributed to significant increase of sandwich structure bulk density apparent. Kaolin waste reinforcement increased resistance to blade on tensile test. Red mud reinforcement reduced sandwich structure resistance on flatwise tensile, flexural and impact tests. Increasing of red mud didn’t influenced sandwich structure edgewise compressive and flatwise compressive tests but, but it´s use at this sandwich structure, decreased their resistance at the first test and increased at the second test. The PU high flammability was delayed for being cloistered by two blades of polyester and kaolin, proving flame retardant property of kaolin waste. And about sound transmission loss test, the increase of red mud increased that until 20% concentration, after this, stabilized at 25 dB (STC) until 50% red mud. The composite, as a whole, presented feature of a sandwich structure, with a low density core,
x
contributing to reduce structure weight and with higher resistant blades, providing it the desired structural feature to be a divider indoor panel.

Os agregados sintéticos vêm sendo empregados na construção civil como uma medida para redução do extrativismo mineral. Dentro desse contexto, a reciclagem de resíduos industriais configurasse hoje como a base da maioria dos processos de redução da exploração dos recursos minerais. Este trabalho apresenta a formulação de um processo de caráter ambiental e autossustentável do ponto de vista energético, parâmetros para desenvolver um processo para produção de agregado sintético a partir de cinza volante e biomassa, em reator de leito fixo. Dessa forma, para a produção do agregado foram confeccionadas pelotas com uma mistura de argila, cinza volante e carvão vegetal em proporções fixas. Preencheu-se o reator com 20% de pelotas (6,35 mm > pelota ≥ 4 mm) e 80% de carvão vegetal (3,36 mm > carvão ≥ 1,70 mm) classificados para promover a eficiência das reações de combustão e consequente processo de sinterização em diferentes velocidades de ar (Darcy a 20 ºC) de 0,0059 m.s-1 (1º Experimento), 0,0098 m.s-1 (2º Experimento) e 0,017 m.s-1 (3º Experimento). Por meio de difração de raios-X e microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi identificada a presença de mulita no agregado sintético. Este material é caracterizado como agregado leve, de acordo com as normas vigentes. Com os agregados sintéticos fabricou-se concretos leves, segundo a norma estabelecida, sem função estrutural na construção civil, mas com aplicações de resistência moderada, podendo ser utilizados em contrapiso. O processo se mostrou interessante para a sinterização de agregados com boa aderência à matriz de cimento, podendo ser facilmente controlado pela composição, granulometria, gradiente de temperatura e fluxo gasoso, reduzindo os impactos ambientais, à medida que o material produzido implica na não extração de agregados naturais.

Fazendo uso da equação de Darcy e suas correções de Brinkman e Forchheimer

foi avaliada a convecção natural em cavidades parcialmente preenchidas com meio

poroso, utilizando para isso a técnica da Transformada Integral Generalizada – GITT.

No primeiro momento foi analisado o problema do escoamento unidimensional em

canal parcialmente preenchido com meio poroso, sem o efeito da convecção natural de

forma a entender a metodologia de solução da técnica para problemas com interfaces

fluido/poro. Foi usada a equação conhecida como Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer para

descrever o perfil de velocidade no canal, utilizando-se da Técnica da Transformada

Integral Generalizada – GITT para resolver o problema proposto. Na segunda etapa do

trabalho utilizou-se da GITT para estudar o problema da convecção natural térmica em

cavidade retangular parcialmente preenchida com meio poroso, com paredes laterais

diferencialmente aquecidas, utilizando a formulação matemática de Darcy-Brinkman-

Forchheimer modificada para descrever o escoamento no meio poroso e no meio fluido,

através do uso de um parâmetro binário que ao encontrar-se no meio fluido transforma a

equação de Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer na equação de Navier-Stokes. A equação da

conservação da energia foi utilizada para descrever o perfil de temperatura na cavidade,

sendo possível avaliar a influência dos diversos parâmetros que caracterizam esse tipo

vii

de problema, como por exemplo, a influência da permeabilidade da camada porosa

sobre o escoamento global e a transferência de calor global. Por fim foi realizado o

estudo da convecção natural termosolutal em uma cavidade retangular parcialmente

preenchida com meio poroso, que de forma resumida é a convecção natural derivada

dos efeitos térmicos e de massa concorrentes entre si na formação do fluxo, foi utilizada

a formulação de Darcy-Brinkman modificada para descrever o escoamento em toda a

cavidade, que como já mencionado anteriormente assume a forma da equação de

Navier-Stokes quando avaliada em meio totalmente fluido. A equação da conservação

da energia foi utilizada para descrever o perfil de temperatura na cavidade e a equação

da conservação das espécies foi utilizada para descrever o perfil de concentração. O

estudo avalia também a eficiência da GITT em resolver sistemas de equações acopladas,

com alto grau de não-linearidade envolvendo interface fluido/poro, foi usada a

formulação Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer para descrever o perfil de velocidade no

canal.

Neste trabalho foram confeccionadas placas de matriz de poliéster insaturada isoftálica puras, compósitos com fibras vegetais (sisal, malva e juta), compósitos com resíduos industriais (lama vermelha, caulim e cinzas) e compósitos híbridos com resíduos e fibras. Os resíduos foram utilizados com granulometria inferior a 100 mesh e as fibras nos comprimentos de 15 mm, dispostas randomicamente dentro da matriz. As fibras foram caracterizadas quanto às suas propriedades físicas, mecânicas e morfológicas. Os compósitos foram confeccionados pelo processo manual (hand lay-up) na forma de placas retangulares em molde metálico e prensados. Variaram-se as proporções das frações mássicas dos resíduos em 10 % até a saturação dentro da matriz, a fração mássica de fibras foi fixada em 5 %. Os compósitos foram caracterizados fisicamente (porosidade aparente, absorção de água e massa específica aparente), mecanicamente (tração, flexão e impacto), termicamente (termogravimetria - TGA), mineralogicamente (difração de raios-X - DRX), retardância à chama e morfologicamente (microscopia eletrônica de varredura - MEV). Constatou-se que com a inserção de resíduos e fibras nos compósitos houve incremento das suas propriedades físicas, mecânicas, térmicas e resistência a chama. As propriedades físicas de porosidade aparente, absorção de água e massa específica aparente aumentaram significativamente (6,7 % a 33 %) com a adição dos constituintes (resíduos e fibras). Nos compósitos somente com fibras e nos compósitos de (10 %) resíduos com fibras houve aumento (15 % a 95 %) de suas resistências mecânicas (tração, flexão e impacto). Evidenciou-se uma melhora na estabilidade térmica (10 % a 50 %) dos compósitos com adição dos resíduos. Somente os compósitos com lama vermelha apresentaram uma capacidade de retardo de chama, obtendo classificação V-2 de acordo com a norma UL-94. As análises morfológicas das superfícies de fraturas foram eficientes na identificação dos mecanismos de falhas e características presentes nos materiais. Os compósitos confeccionados apresentaram boas propriedades, o que os torna bons candidatos a certos tipos de aplicações, tais como painéis, forros, paredes divisórias e portas internas, revestimento interno de automóveis, calhas residenciais e outros tipos de aplicações desta natureza, respeitando as características de aplicações destes materiais.

Este trabalho trata de um modelo para gerenciamento de usos múltiplos da água, visando minimizar conflitos de uso, relacionados com a operação de sistemas de reservatórios em aproveitamentos hidrelétricos de bacias hidrográficas. O modelo SOUMA – “Sistema de Otimização de Usos Múltiplos da Água”, que consiste em um modelo estocástico de otimização baseado em programação não linear, foi desenvolvido e estruturado em GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System) com o emprego do solver MINOS. Foram desenvolvidos dois modelos auxiliares. O primeiro é um modelo estocástico do tipo ARIMA para a previsão de níveis de água ou de vazões com dados pretéritos. O segundo é um modelo RNA do tipo chuva-vazão para a previsão de vazões afluentes a reservatórios. O modelo ARIMA na calibração e na validação apresentou R² médio acima de 0,90 e RMSE abaixo de 0,16, capturando de forma satisfatória o comportamento das séries de vazão e de níveis d’água. O modelo chuva-vazão que foi empregado na composição da vazão afluente ao reservatório, com a utilização de arquitetura RNA oferecendo 5 e 10 neurônios na camada escondida, apresentou melhor desempenho que o modelo ARIMA, com R² médio de 0,954 e RMSE médio de 0,098. O modelo SOUMA foi aplicado à bacia do rio Tapajós para o futuro Aproveitamento Hidro Energético – AHE São Luiz do Tapajós, Itaituba, PA. Foram criados sete cenários que serviram de parâmetros na otimização e minoração dos conflitos. Vazões afluentes ao reservatório foram obtidas e simuladas, para os cenários hidrológicos seco, médio e úmido e para os cenários climáticos El Niño, Neutro e La Niña. O dimensionamento hidroenergético do AHE foi aferido com base em MME (2004). Para geração de energia e profundidade de navegação, considerando as afluências dos cenários hidrológicos seco, médio e úmido, o SOUMA evidenciou, em relação aos níveis de referência dos cenários de navegação baixo, médio e alto, a ocorrência de profundidades abaixo da mínima, para gerações médias abaixo de 2.411 MW, 2.939 MW e 3.586 MW, respectivamente. Para geração de energia e capacidade de carga transportada, considerando as afluências dos cenários hidrológicos seco, médio e úmido, o SOUMA demonstrou, em relação aos níveis de referência dos cenários de navegação baixo, médio e alto, que gerações médias acima de 2.869 MW, 3.508 MW e 4.740 MW, respectivamente, não geram ganhos de capacidade de carga transportada e que gerações médias abaixo de 1.344 MW, 1.622 MW 2.056 MW, respectivamente, inviabilizam o transporte de carga. Para geração de energia e cota de inundação, considerando as afluências dos cenários hidrológicos seco, médio e úmido, o SOUMA mostrou, em relação aos níveis de referência dos cenários de controle de inundação baixo, médio e alto, a ocorrência de inundações a jusante, para gerações médias acima de 4.978 MW, 6.057 MW e 7.390 MW, respectivamente. Retiradas consuntivas são significativas apenas no período de junho a outubro. Considerando a média das demandas consuntivas mensais (145 m³/s), para afluências do cenário hidrológico seco, médio e úmido, o SOUMA evidenciou uma perda mensal na geração de energia elétrica de 50 MW, 47 MW e 44 MW, respectivamente. Os resultados aferidos evidenciam que os modelos desenvolvidos são ferramentas de fundamental importância à otimização operacional de sistemas de reservatórios com usos múltiplos, permitindo a otimização de gerações e de defluências em AHE, em períodos de cheia e de estiagem e de grandes demandas energéticas, com a manutenção de condições de navegabilidade em trechos a jusante de barramentos, através de simulações operacionais sustentáveis que minoram conflitos de uso. 

Advisor: João Nazareno Nonato Quaresma Research Area: Use and Transformation of Natural Resources The present study evaluate numerically the heat transfer from the swirling flow cylindrical cavity with rotating ends. The generalized integral transform technique (GITT) was used for the solution of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in terms of streamfunction formulation and energy in the cylindrical coordinate system, in which the Boussinesq approximation was used for the buoyancy force. Results for the temperature and velocity fields are presented for a range of parameters: the Reynolds number (Re), 100 ≤ Re ≤ 2000; the Richardson number (Ri), 0 ≤ Ri ≤ 1; and the Prandt number (Pr), Pr = 1,0. The parameter counter rotation of the angular velocity of the top disk is, st, -1 ≤ st ≤ 1 and various aspect ratio of the cavity. The numerical part of the solution was solved using the DBVPFD subroutine IMSL library and the results generated are compared with data available in the literature showing excellent agreement.

Neste trabalho foi fabricada uma matriz hipoeutética de Al-2%Ni e adicionado nela concentrações variadas de Nanotubos de Carbono, com o objetivo de verificar a evolução da resistência mecânica do novo material processado. O processo de fabricação do material estudado se deu por fundição e resfriamento brusco unidirecional ascendente, com extração transiente de fluxo de calor e determinação de variáveis térmicas de solidificação. Imagens de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura mostram oarranjo dos nanotubos na matriz e com a Espectroscopia Raman foi possível determinar as bandas “D” e “G” e analisar a ação do processo sobre os mesmos. Por meio de ensaios metalográficos e mecânicos foi possível caracterizar o comportamento macro, microestrutural e as propriedades mecânicas. O acréscimo de pequenas concentrações de nanotubos aumentou significativamente a resistência mecânica da matriz.

Neste trabalho foram produzidos compósitos de poliéster isoftálico, utilizando-se
a lama vermelha (LV) e fibras de curauá cardada (FCC) alinhadas e orientadas
randomicamente, com e sem LV. Os compósitos foram fabricados pelo processo hand
lay up e a moldagem por compressão. Foram produzidas placas de poliéster isoftálico,
compósitos com a matriz de poliéster e LV e os compósitos com LV e FCC. Foram
avaliadas as propriedades físicas, térmicas e mecânicas, dos compósitos. Constatou-se
que o aumento de LV em 30% (v/v) melhora as propriedades mecânicas, térmicas e
físicas dos compósitos. A adição de 25% (v/v) de FCC e LV a 5% (v/v) recupera em
84% o módulo de elasticidade comparado ao compósito com 10% (v/v) de FCC e 5% de
LV. Em compósitos com 5% de FCC orientado randomicamente e 30 % (v/v) de LV
apresenta recuperação de 29% do módulo de elasticidade. Em compósitos com 25%
(v/v) de LV evidencia-se efetivo retardo de chama. Constata-se a influência da LV na
condutividade térmica dos compósitos de poliéster isoftálico, com aumento de (92% a
0°C), (71% a 25°C) e (69% a 50°C) em compósitos com 30% de LV comparados com a
matriz. A lama vermelha e a fibra de curauá podem ser insumos importantes na
produção de compósitos de poliéster isoftálico, para a produção de painéis, paredes,
divisórias internas e portas para construção civil.

Neste trabalho, investigou-se as seguintes etapas: (1) etapa de produção dos biocombustíveis via craqueamento térmico catalítico; (2) etapa de fracionamento dos biocombustíveis e (3) etapa de tratamento dos biocombustíveis através da aplicação da extração líquido-líquido e da adsorção como alternativas a desacidificação dos biocombustíveis. Os resultados da etapa de produção de biocombustíveis mostram que a conversão variou de 86 a 97%. O rendimento em PLO aumentou de 41 a 76% e as propriedades físico-químicas como o NAT, diminuíram com o aumento da porcentagem de catalisador. Os resultados de GC-MS mostram que o aumento da porcentagem de catalisador promove um aumento no teor de hidrocarbonetos e diminuição de compostos oxigenados no PLO. As olefinas foram as principais classes de hidrocarbonetos presentes no PLO. O fracionamento do PLO mostrou que a principal fração destilada é a fração de diesel pesado seguida do diesel leve, atingindo rendimento máximo de 36,37 e 30,51%, respectivamente. Em relação à etapa de desacidificação por extração líquido-líquido, os resultados mostram que o aumento da concentração de água no solvente provoca uma diminuição na razão de partição do ácido. O álcool metílico foi o único solvente que apresentou aumento na sua capacidade de remoção de AGL com o aumento da temperatura. Em relação à desacidificação das frações destiladas por adsorção, os resultados indicam que as lamas vermelhas ativadas quimicamente com 0,25, 1 e 2 M HCl apresentam alto potencial para aplicações nos processos adsortivos de AGL, uma vez que o qt destes adsorventes foi superior a 2000 mg/g.

A variedade de feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.),conhecida como
feijão manteiguinha, é nativa da região Amazônica, seu cultivo é realizado
principalmente por pequenos produtores, onde predomina a agricultura familiar. A
qualidade fisiológica das sementes de feijão manteiguinha, no que diz respeito ao poder
germinativo e índice de velocidade de emergência, estão diretamente ligados ao teor de
umidade nas sementes, por tanto, são necessários estudos que avaliem o comportamento
das sementes deste tipo de feijão quanto ao seu potencial higroscópico e às condições de
secagem. Com o intuito de contribuir para melhorias na produtividade agrícola de
feijões-caupi, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade de sementes de
feijões manteiguinha, após processo de secagem em leito de jorro convencional. Neste
sentido, primeiramente foram definidas as características físicas, químicas e fisiológicas
das sementes in natura seguindo para obtenção de suas isotermas de sorção de umidade
nas temperaturas de 40, 55 e 70 °C. Os parâmetros termodinâmicos de sorção, como
calor isostérico, entropia e variação da energia livre de Gibbs, foram avaliados a partir
do modelo de GAB e por meio das relações de Clausius-Clapeyron e Gibbs-Helmholtz.
A teoria de compensação entalpia-entropia foi adequadamente aplicada às isotermas
indicando que o fenômeno de sorção de umidade nas sementes de feijão manteiguinha é
controlado pela entalpia. Para dar seguimento ao processo de secagem foram definidas
as condições de operação do leito de jorro por meio da análise dos parâmetros
fluidodinâmicos (queda de pressão máxima, queda de pressão no jorro estável, queda de
pressão no mínimo jorro e a velocidade de mínimo jorro). Na execução dos ensaios de
secagem foi aplicada a técnica de planejamento de experimentos Box-Behnken e por
meio de análise estatísticas dos dados experimentais foi possível avaliar influência das
variáveis de entrada: Temperatura do ar (Tar), velocidade do ar (Uar) e tempo de
secagem (t), sobre as respostas, razão de umidade (XR), percentual de germinação (G) e
índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE). O ponto ótimo do processo de secagem,
estimado pela função desejabilidade global, foi obtido quando o leito de partículas
operava na temperatura e velocidade do ar de secagem de 57°C e 0,934 m/s,
respectivamente, por um período de 240 minutos. Nestas condições são obtidas
sementes com umidade final 0,12 kg de água/kg de sólido seco, germinação de 82,53%
e índice de velocidade de emergência de 14,73.

Com o avanço de novas tecnologias o mercado de corantes naturais vem se expandindo
com o objetivo de substituir os corantes artificiais utilizados, considerados prejudiciais à
saúde. Os corantes naturais a base de frutas, conferem ao produto uma aparência mais
natural, ao contrário do que acontece com as tonalidades sintéticas. Nesse contexto,
realiza-se a extração do corante de pitaya, contido na polpa do fruto, por imersão em
água destilada, em seguida faz-se a caracterização física e físico-química da polpa, o
estudo da estabilidade a luz e a temperatura da concentração de betacianina e da cor do
corante, quantificando os teores de betacianina por meio de espectrofotometria UV e da
cor por colorimetria triestímulo, utilizando o sistema CIE L*a*b*. Avalia-se também o
comportamento reológico da polpa da pitaya diluída em água destilada na proporção de
1:1 por meio de modelos matemáticos com auxílio dos programas ReoWin e Statistica®
7.0. Por fim, é feito o estudo da higroscopicidade do corante em pó obtido por
liofilização em diferentes concentrações de maltodextrina, analisando também o corante
puro, verificando através de curvas de sorção as melhores condições de armazenamento
para corante de pitaya.

Neste trabalho foram produzidos compósitos de matriz de poliéster insaturado reforçados por fibras de curauá, juta e palha da costa, dispostas na forma de tecido em estilo plano e fibras alinhadas. Os compósitos foram fabricados pelo processo de infusão de resina, estudando-se os principais parâmetros que governam o método de fabricação, como a permeabilidade e porosidade do reforço e arquitetura de infusão. As fibras naturais foram caracterizadas quanto às suas propriedades físicas, morfológicas e mecânicas. Os compósitos reforçados com fibras de curauá foram fabricados utilizando-se as fibras in natura e tratadas em solução alcalina de NaOH em diferentes concentrações. Os compósitos foram caracterizados em ensaios de resistência à tração e impacto Charpy, além da determinação de suas propriedades físicas, como massa específica, porosidade e frações volumétricas dos constituintes. Os resultados demonstraram que os compósitos que obtiveram melhor desempenho em tração e impacto foram aqueles reforçados com fibras alinhadas de curauá, fabricados sob vácuo de 101,3 kPa. A avaliação da seção transversal dos corpos de prova mostrou que os compósitos podem apresentar saturação parcial dos fios ou fibras de reforço em função do nível de vácuo utilizado, principalmente nos reforços em forma de tecido com diâmetro de fios relativamente maiores. O processo de infusão se mostrou um bom método de fabricação de compósitos reforçados com fibras naturais, pois, além de ser ambientalmente mais favorável por ser um processo de molde fechado, possibilitou a fabricação de produtos com elevado teor de fibra e boas propriedades mecânicas.

Analisa-se experimentalmente a produção de biodiesel a partir do processamento das oleaginosas amazônicas compadre-do-azeite (Plukenethia polyadenia) e comadre-do-azeite (Onphalea diandra), como uma alternativa potencialmente viável para compor  a matriz energética. Desde a Revolução Industrial no século XIX, a matriz energética mundial sempre foi baseada em combustíveis fósseis. Com a escassez desses combustíveis, a elevação de preços muito ocasionada com os constantes conflitos nas principais regiões produtoras, tem tornado as pesquisas em fontes renováveis cada vez mais atrativas. O estudo de novas fontes de óleos vegetais como alternativa energética é importante para o País, particularmente para os amazônicos; possibilitando estruturar cadeias produtivas de oleaginosas na região, gerando emprego no campo, efeitos distributivos na economia regional e, um vetor de desenvolvimento sustentável na Amazônia, sem agressão ao meio ambiente. A proposta deste trabalho é estudar duas espécies da família euphorbiaceae, as lianas Plukenethia polyadenia e Onphalea diandra, mais conhecidas como compadre-do-azeite e comadre-do-azeite respectivamente, produtoras de óleo; extrair e caracterizar os mesmos, sugerindo possíveis aplicações e utilizando-os para a produção de biodiesel através de uma transesterificação metílica, utilizando hidróxido de potássio como catalisador, tratando-se o processo com base em ensaios estatisticamente planejados. Verifica-se a influência das variáveis de entrada: concentração óleo/álcool, temperatura e concentração de catalisador na resposta rendimento em biodiesel, através da metodologia de superfície de resposta (RSM) empregando o planejamento de Box-Behenken. Visa-se dessa forma agregar valor a um rejeito da indústria de beneficiamento de caulim, utilizando zeólitas produzidas desse material como catalisador em substituição ao KOH, comparando as eficiências dos dois tratamentos. O planejamento de Box-Benhken se mostrou eficiente para otimizar a catálise homogênea dos biodieseis, concluindo-se que a concentração do catalisador foi a variável controladora do processo de produção dos biodieseis, e o aumento de sua concentração causa influência negativa e indesejável ao rendimento do produto. 

Na região Amazônica, um dos fatores que impede o conhecimento mais
abrangente dos recursos hídricos é a falta de dados hidrológicos (vazão e precipitação)
das pequenas e médias bacias hidrográficas. Isto se dá principalmente em virtude
dimensão da região, o que aumenta os custos de implantação e operacionalização da
rede. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento de um
modelo de regionalização e estimativa de chuvas para estado do Pará. Assim, foi
aplicada uma metodologia para delimitação de regiões homogêneas de precipitação,
através da análise de agrupamento, em seguida foi determinada a probabilidade de
ocorrência de lâminas de chuva para região pluviometricamente homogênea obtida com
a análise de agrupamento, através da aplicação de funções de probabilidade; e por
último foram determinadas estimativas de lâminas de chuvas, utilizando-se modelos de
regressão múltipla. Para todas as etapas, utilizaram-se valores precipitações médias
anuais e mensais, de uma série histórica com 31 anos (período de 1960 - 1990), obtidos
no site do Centro de Pesquisa Climática, Departamento de geografia, Universidade de
Delaware, Newark, DE, E.U.A. Dentre os anos analisados, foram selecionados anos
com ocorrência do fenômeno El Niño e La Niña. Utilizando-se o método hierárquico
aglomerativo de Ward, tendo como medida de similaridade a distância euclidiana, para
precipitações médias anuais e mensais, foram encontradas seis regiões homogêneas de
precipitação, exceto para precipitações médias mensais para séries com ocorrência de El
Niño e La Niña, que apresentaram quatro e cinco regiões homogêneas, respectivamente. 

Após a definição das regiões homogêneas, modelos de probabilidades (Normal, Gumbel
e Exponencial) foram ajustados para a determinação de lâminas de chuvas nas três
sequências de séries históricas, sendo aplicado o teste Qui-quadrado para esta
verificação. Após a etapa de calibração, para precipitações médias anuais, constatou-se
que o modelo de distribuição Normal ajustou-se melhor a probabilidade de excedência
observada; já para precipitações médias mensais o modelo de distribuição Gumbel
obteve melhor aderência às frequências de excedência. Os modelos supracitados foram
validados, utilizando as séries pluviométricas de 12 estações da Agência Nacional de
Águas (ANA), consideradas como estações alvo. Nesta etapa, foi observado que para
precipitação média anual, ocorreu aderência dos dados a todas as estações
pluviométricas alvo, pois apresentaram resultados da aplicação do teste qui-quadrado
inferior a 3,84 (para funções de distribuição normal). E também se constatou que para
precipitação média mensal, houve aderência dos dados a todas as estações
pluviométricas alvo. Para simulação de lâminas de precipitação, foram testados na
calibração, modelos de Potência, segundo modelo de Potência e Linear através do
método de regressão múltipla. Como critério de desempenho dos modelos, foi utilizado
o erro relativo percentual. Para série histórica contendo todos os anos e séries com
ocorrência de La Niña, o modelo que apresentou menor erro relativo percentual foi o
Linear. Já para séries com ocorrência de El Niño, o modelo de Potência apresentou
menores erros. Assim como, para os modelos probabilísticos, os resultados da
calibração dos modelos de regressão múltipla, foram validados com a utilização de
estações pluviométricas da ANA. Na etapa de validação para séries contendo todos os
anos os erros percentuais variaram de 0,2-39,2%, já quando utilizado em anos de El
Niño houve um aumento do erro, variando 1,9-54,8%, e em anos de La Niña de 8,555,9%.
Apesar de algumas estimativas terem erros consideráveis, acima de 50%, os
resultados obtidos, de forma geral, demonstraram que a metodologia pode ser uma boa
opção como ferramenta numérica para regionalização e estimativa de chuvas. Os
resultados da aplicação dessa metodologia são importantes para um melhor
entendimento do regime pluviométrico do Estado do Pará e da Amazônia, podendo
servir como ferramenta para um melhor planejamento e gestão de recursos hídricos da
região.

Este trabalho estudou a extração de cobre utilizando contactores com membranas como
alternativa ao processo SX convencional. Foram investigados os parâmetros relevantes
do processo como, tipo e concentração de extratante, solvente, solução de strip, tempo e
pH de operação. Além disso, foi desenvolvido um modelo matemático a partir de um
sistema de equações diferenciais parciais resultantes do balanço de massa no sistema de
contactor com membranas, utilizando como metodologia de solução a Técnica das
Integrais Acopladas (CIEA). Os estudos experimentais realizados neste trabalho
mostraram que uso de contactores com membranas na extração líquido-líquido de cobre
é uma tecnologia promissora e viável, tendo potencial para substituir o método de
extração por solvente por contato direto adotado atualmente obtendo-se 100% de
extração de cobre utilizando LIX 84I 20% (v/v) como extratante, querosene como
solvente, H2SO4 como solução de strip, em um tempo de operação de 80 minutos. Os
resultados obtidos através da modelagem matemática e simulação do problema físico
analisado neste trabalho foram comparados com os resultados experimentais e mostramse
satisfatórios, demonstrando a capacidade da CIEA em tratar problemas de
transferência de massa em sistema de contactor com membranas.

O tecido fibroso do fruto do açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) é descartado cerca de 1.200 t/dia, na Região Metropolitana de Belém (PA) após a produção de suco. Esse resíduo agroindustrial com pouca frequência é utilizado em caldeiras como fonte de cogeração de energia. Visando o aproveitamento da fibra do fruto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar processos de extração das fibras e tratamento por meio da maceração biológica: espontânea e induzida e mercerização química: com NaOH, com e sem autoclave. Para tanto, foi realizada caracterização anatômica, química, física e mecânica das fibras de açaí com o intuito de utilizálas para o desenvolvimento de novos materiais compósitos alternativos para indústria da construção civil. Para obtenção das fibras foram utilizados processos manuais e mecânicos. Para maceração biológica espontânea foi utilizada a água
do Rio Guamá (AG) e a água da Cosanpa (AC) e na condição experimental biológica induzida foi utilizada a raspa da mandioca (MD). As concentrações de água e de raspa de mandioca foram 2%, 4% e 6% em massa. O tratamento químico alcalino foi realizado de duas formas: (1) utilizou-se uma solução alcalina de NAOH com as seguintes concentrações em massa: 0,5%, 1% e 2%; (2) parte das fibras tratadas foram colocadas no autoclave. Para o estudo anatômico o tecido fibroso foi macerado e analisado em microscopia ótica e eletrônica de
varredura, para caracterizar os constituintes celulares. Para caracterização mecânica foi realizado o ensaio de tração axial das fibras de açaí, para a obtenção da resistência à tração máxima. Na caracterização química das fibras foram realizadas análises químicas do conteúdo total de lignina, celulose e hemicelulose.
Após os tratamentos de maceração biológica e alcalina foram analisados estatisticamente os resultados dos ensaios mecânicos para escolher o melhor tratamento para as fibras que foram usadas na produção ecopainéis de partículas homogêneas aglomeradas com resina poliuretana bicomponente a base de óleo
de mamona. Após a fabricação dos ecopainéis com a resina poliuretana foi  realizada a caracterização físico-mecânica e microestrutural que compreendeu a determinação das propriedades físicas: densidade aparente-(Dap), inchamento em espessura (IE) e absorção de água (Abs); e propriedades mecânicas: módulo de elasticidade (MOE), módulo de ruptura (MOR), resistência à adesão interna (RAI) e arrancamento de parafuso na superfície (RAsup) e no topo (RAtop). Os resultados das caraterização das fibras indicaram a grande quantidade de esclereídes e fibrotraqueídes constituídos de numerosos apêndices presentes nas superfícies das fibras celulósicas (feixes vasculares) os quais são responsáveis pela resistência mecânica das fibras. As fibras apresentaram 30% de lignina, 44 %- 46% de celulose e 18% -20% de hemicelulose. As fibras do processo de mercerização alcalina NaOH com 0,5% em massa e autoclave foi selecionada para a fabricação dos ecopainéis. Os resultados das propriedades físicas, apresentaram ecopainéis de partículas homogêneas classificados como de média densidade na faixa de 713 a 745 kg/m3.. Os valores médios dos ecopainéis com fibras tratadas de inchamento em espessura foram em média 36% e 40% inferiores, após 2 e 24 h, respectivamente, dos ecopainéis com as fibra não tratadas. As mesmas reduções de 35% e 17% nos valores de absorção de água, após 2 h e 24 h, respectivamente, foram observadas. As propriedades mecânicas dos ecopainéis com fibras tratadas apresentaram valores superiores em 31% no MOR, 89% no RAI e 54% no RAtop, comparado com os ecopainéis referência (fibras sem tratamento). Tais resultados sugerem a potencialidade da fibra do açaí, com tratamento alcalino e submetido a autoclave, como matéria prima na produção de ecopainéis homogêneos particulados de media densidade (MDP) para uso comercial na indústria da construção civil e moveleira.

Desenvolvimento de sistema computacional para avaliação de lodo de esgoto sanitário como biomassa na geração de energia em processos de combustão, considerando normas técnicas e ambientais brasileiras. No sistema foram criadas e implementadas classes para avaliação do potencial energético do lodo e considerados limites estabelecidos nas normas NBR 10004/04, NBR 10004/87 e Resolução nº 316/2002 do CONAMA para impactos ambientais adversos, danos ou riscos à saúde pública, identificando a viabilidade de aplicação desse resíduo como biomassa na geração de energia em processos de combustão. O sistema foi desenvolvido com padrão de arquitetura de software Model-View-Controller (MVC), com método representado por regras de lógica, tendo como dados de entrada os resultados de determinações laboratoriais de amostras de lodo de esgoto, processamento em testes e encadeamentos lógicos das regras e relatórios para possibilitar a tomada de decisão do usuário. Para a validação do sistema foram utilizados resultados de trabalhos técnicos de aplicação de lodo de esgoto como biomassa na geração de energia em escala experimental, sendo constatado como adequados os parâmetros adotados no sistema para avaliar o potencial energético do lodo amostrado, a toxicidade e a poluição atmosférica; que as mensagens de alerta e explicativas foram claramente emitidas; que o encadeamento lógico das regras foi executado progressivamente; e que os valores obtidos no sistema foram compatíveis com os dos trabalhos utilizados para validação. Finalizando, foi concluído que o sistema desenvolvido pode ser aplicado para agilizar a tomada de decisão, especialmente em estações de tratamento de esgoto com grande volume de lodo.