Elucidating the adsorption mechanism of Rhodamine B on mesoporous coconut coir-based biosorbents through a non-linear modeling and recycling approach.

The search for renewable adsorbent materials has increased continuously, being the agro-wastes an interesting alternative. This work aimed to elucidate the mechanism of adsorption of Rhodamine B on crude and modified coconut fibers from aqueous systems and the feasibility of reusing the biosorbents. The chemical modification of crude coconut fiber was carried out by the organosolv process. The biosorbents were characterized by lignocellulosic composition, FTIR, TGA, WCA, SEM, nitrogen adsorption/desorption (BET-BJH), and pH of zero point of charge (pHPZC) analyses. The batch adsorption tests evaluated the effects of the adsorbent and adsorbate dosages, contact time, and temperature on Rhodamine B adsorption. For elucidating the adsorption mechanisms involved in the process, the non-linear forms of kinetic and isotherm models were used. The regeneration of the biosorbents was evaluated by carrying out the desorption experiments. Modified coconut fiber had an increase in the amount of α-cellulose, which influenced its structural, morphological, surface, and porous properties. The removal efficiency of Rhodamine B was about 90% for modified coconut fiber and 36% for crude coconut fiber. The dye adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic for both biosorbents, showing higher spontaneity and affinity with the adsorbate for biosorbent modified. Therefore, the coconut fiber can be considered an alternative to the traditional adsorbent materials that allows the reuse by four times without performance loss, in which its adsorptive capacity has increased through its chemical modification by a biorefinery process.

Tailored organosolv banana peels lignins: Improved thermal, antioxidant and antimicrobial performances by controlling process parameters.

There is a growing environmental concern in the world for replacing the traditional petroleum-based products. The aim of this work was to evaluate the structure - property relationship of banana peel lignins (BPLs) as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents by controlling the parameters of organosolv process. The milled banana peel was hydrolyzed using an aqueous acetic acid solution (70, 80 and 90% v/v) and 2.0% v/v HCl at 110 °C for 1, 2 and 3 h. BPLs were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 1H13C HSQC, 31P NMR, GPC and TGA. The antioxidant capacity of BPLs was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS and H2O2 assays, comparing their performance with that of ascorbic and gallic acid. The antimicrobial activity of BPLs was evaluated against E. coli. The reaction time and acetic acid/water ratio had significant effects on the yield and purity of BPLs. The composition of organosolv solution also affected their total amount of hydroxyls (0.71-0.82 mmol g-1), Mw (2759-3954 g mol-1), Tonset (232-254 °C), antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. It can be concluded that the control of organosolv parameters can be a useful tool for tuning the structural features of lignins and to maximize their performance.

Organic solvent fractionation of acetosolv palm oil lignin: The role of its structure on the antioxidant activity.

Pressed palm oil mesocarp fibers (PPOMF) are by-products from oil palm industry and represents a potential source of lignocellulosic biomass. In order to add value to this agro-waste, dewaxed palm oil acetosolv lignin (DPOAL) was extracted under eco-friendly pulping method. The chemical composition and structural characteristics of DPOAL were investigated. The results showed elevated yield (48.5%) and high purity (94.3%), besides a moderate average molecular weight (1394 g mol-1) and narrow polydispersity index (1.88). Structural characterization via FT-IR, 1H13C HSQC and 31P NMR indicated that DPOAL was a typical HGS-type lignin. In addition, to increase the phenolic hydroxyl contents and improve DPOAL's antioxidant properties through a simple method, a fractionation process with methanol, ethanol and acetone was carried out, obtaining the methanol (MeOH-F), ethanol (EtOH-F) and acetone (ACT-F) soluble fractions. These were characterized by FT-IR, DSC, 1H13C HSQC and 31P NMR, which showed higher values of phenolic and aliphatic hydroxyls groups compared to DPOAL. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the free radical scavenging activity of 2,2­diphenyl­1­picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH·) and compared with commercial antioxidants, such as BHT and Irganox 1010. Interestingly, lignin samples had significantly lower IC50 values compared to commercial antioxidants, what suggests a great potential as novel natural antioxidant.

Avaliação da vulnerabilidade ambiental de reservatórios à eutrofização / Evaluation of reservoirs environmental vulnerability to eutrophication

Esse trabalho apresenta uma ferramenta de análise da vulnerabilidade de reservatórios à eutrofização, visando subsidiar ações de controle e remediação desse processo. Foram analisadas três subbacias de açudes - Araras, Edson Queiroz e Jaibaras, da bacia do Acaraú, CE, Brasil. A análise multiatributo usada na definição de indicadores ambientais de vulnerabilidade dos açudes à eutrofização, considerou sua sensibilidade e fatores de pressão nas suas sub-bacias que acarretam o transporte de sedimentos e nutrientes para os reservatórios. Foi utilizado um Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG) com a ferramenta álgebra de mapas para manipular dados de uso e ocupação do solo, declividade do terreno e erodibilidade do solo. Foi identificada alta vulnerabilidade à eutrofização nos três açudes pelas susceptibilidades à erosão, alta carga poluidora principalmente pela pecuária extensiva na região e baixa profundidade relativa dos reservatórios.

This work presents a tool to analyze the vulnerability of reservoirs to eutrophication, aiming to subsidize control and remediation actions related with this process. It was analyzed the water basins of Araras, Edson Queiroz and Jaibaras reservoirs, located in the Acaraú watershed, Ceará, Brazil. The multi-criteria analyses methodology used, in order to define environmental vulnerability indicators to reservoir eutrophication, considered reservoir sensibility and pressure factors in the water basin responsible for the transport of sediments and nutrients to the reservoir. A Geographic Information System (GIS) with map algebra as major tool was applied to soil use and occupation, declivity and erosion indicators. It was identified high vulnerability to eutrophication in the three mentioned reservoirs because of the waterbasins susceptibility to erosion, high phosphorous load mainly from the extensive cattle raising and low relative depth of the reservoirs.