Removal of the hormones 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol from aqueous solutions employing a decomposed peat as adsorbent material

REMOVAL OF THE HORMONES 17b-ESTRADIOL AND 17a-ETHINYLESTRADIOL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS EMPLOYING A DECOMPOSED PEAT AS ADSORBENT MATERIAL. This paper describes the adsorption of 17b-estradiol (E2) and 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2) from aqueous solution by decomposed peat. The peat presented a good adsorption process, close to 76.2% for E2 removal and approximately 55.0% for EE2. Moreover, the results indicated a probable multi-layered process. Adsorption isotherms were well fitted by Freundlich model. The data were evaluated considering the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order approaches, being the second more significant mechanism in the rate-controlling step. Thermodynamic data revealed that hormones adsorption onto peat is spontaneous under the employed experimental conditions. The results confirmed the potential of this adsorbent to be employed for effluents treatment

Chemical and spectroscopic characterization of humic acids extracted from the bottom sediments of a Brazilian subtropical microbasin

International audienceHumic substances (HS) perform a fundamental role in aquatic environments, exhibiting different levels of reactivity in retaining metal ions and organic pollutants. Also, they control the primary production of these ecosystems and act in the carbon sequestering process. In order to improve our understanding vis-à-vis the structural and functional features of HS from aquatic systems, this study aimed to chemically and spectroscopically characterize humic acids (HA) isolated from bottom sediment samples of a stream in a Brazilian subtropical microbasin by elemental analysis, and infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet and visible (UV-Vis) and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (CP-MAS 13C NMR) spectroscopies, thermogravimetry (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although all samples originated from the same environment, the data showed that the HA have distinct chemical and spectroscopic properties, and that the location and characteristics of the sampling points from which the sediments were collected played an important role in the differences observed. Furthermore, vascular plant matter is probably the main contributor to these samples

Avaliação do Ensino de Empreendedorismo entre Estudantes Universitários por meio do Perfil Empreendedor

Entrepreneurship is a socioeconomic phenomenon that has been valued for its influence on the growth and development of regional and national economies. The main promoter of this phenomenon are entrepreneurs, subjects endowed with multiple features that make up their profiles. They are dynamic and results oriented, benefitting from the fruits of their own personal efforts. Entrepreneurial education is highlighted as one of the most efficient ways to promote an entrepreneurial culture and train new entrepreneurs. However, some difficulty has been observed in assessing the effectiveness of teaching and learning this subject. The objective of this study was to analyze, by means of multivariate techniques, an instrument whose function is to measure the learning of Entrepreneurship, verifying the change in entrepreneur profiles of 407 college students participating or not in an entrepreneurial training process. The results showed that students who participated in Entrepreneurship educational training activities showed significant changes in their entrepreneurial profiles. The main contributions showed growth in the Self-realization, Planner, Innovative and Risks Assumed dimensions

Structural description of humic substances from subtropical coastal environments using elemental analysis, FT-IR and 13C-solid state NMR data

Elemental composition and spectroscopic properties (FT-IR and CP/MAS 13C-NMR) of sedimentary humic substances (HS) from aquatic subtropical environments (a lake, an estuary and two marine sites) are investigated. Humic acids (HA) are relatively richer in nitrogen and in aliphatic chains than fulvic acids (FA) from the same sediments. Conversely, FA are richer in carboxylic groups and in ring polysaccharides than HA. Nitrogen is mostly present as amide groups and for lake and marine HS the FT-IR peaks around 1640 cm-1 and 1540 cm-1 identify polypeptides. Estuarine HS exhibit mixed continental-marine influences, these being highly influenced by site location. Overall, the data suggest that aquatic and mixed HS are more aliphatic than has been proposed in current models and also that amide linkages form an important part of their structural configuration

Evaluation of vulcanization nanoactivators with low zinc content: characterization of zinc oxides, cure, physico-mechanical properties, Zn 2+ release in water and cytotoxic effect of EPDM compositions

International audienceThe aim of this work is to evaluate the impact of the reduction of zinc content in Ethylene, Propylene and Diene Monomer (EPDM) elastomeric compositions. Vulcanization nanoactivators ZnO 30 (ZnO dispersed in CaCO3) and ZnO 40 (active ZnO) were used as reinforces in the elastomers, and both the properties and the cytotoxicity were investigated and compared to those of EPDM with a standard zinc oxide (sZnO) commonly used in the bus rubber profile industry. After a complete description of the physico-chemical characteristics of whole zinc oxides, the vulcanization activators were dispersed in EPDM. Although elastomers with sZnO display a cytotoxic behavior, EPDM formulations containing ZnO 30 and ZnO 40 appeared to be environmental friendly while displaying similar mechanical properties to that with sZnO composition. ZnO 30 represents the most interesting vulcanization activator to replace sZnO allowing a reduction of 77% in the zinc content without any loss of mechanical properties. Moreover, the formulations associating this nanoactivator show the lowest release of Zn2+ in water with a poor cytotoxicity in comparison to sZnO

Structural description of humic substances from subtropical coastal environments using elemental analysis, FT-IR and C-13-solid state NMR data

Elemental composition and spectroscopic properties (FT-IR and CP/MAS '3C-NMR) of sedimentary humic substances (HS) from aquatic subtropical environments (a lake, an estuary and two marine sites) are investigated. Humic acids (HA) are relatively richer in nitrogen and in aliphatic chains than fulvic acids (FA) from the same sediments. Conversely, FA are richer in carboxylic groups and in ring polysaccharides than HA. Nitrogen is mostly present as amide groups and for lake and marine HS the FT-IR peaks around 1640 cm-1 and 1540 cm-1 identify polypeptides. Estuarine HS exhibit mixed continental-marine influences, these being highly influenced by site location. Overall, the data suggest that aquatic and mixed HS are more aliphatic than has been proposed in current models and also that amide linkages form an important part of their structural configuratio

Characterization of Brazilian peat samples by applying a multimethod approach

Peat is a mixture of compounds formed by the decomposition of plant residues and mineral materials that have accumulated at the bottom of ponds and flooded depressions in riverine areas. Due to their extreme heterogeneity and natural variety, the physical and chemical properties of peat can vary widely within or between deposits, and the characterization of isolated samples is still a challenging task that requires the combination of several chemical and spectroscopic methodologies. In this study, the structural characteristics of two Brazilian peat samples were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental (CHNS-O) and thermal (TGA) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and infrared (FT-IR) and solid-state 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectroscopies. Although the samples originated from the same peatland, the data showed that the studied samples have distinct chemical properties and that the stage of decomposition played an important role in the differences observed