Biodiesel wastes: An abundant and promising source for the preparation of acidic catalysts for utilization in etherification reaction

Environmentally friendly sulfonated black carbon (BC) catalysts were prepared from biodiesel waste, glycerol. These black carbons (BCs) contain a high amount of acidic groups, mainly sulfonated and oxygenated groups. Furthermore, these catalysts show a high catalytic activity in the glycerol etherification reaction with tert-butyl alcohol, the activity being larger for the sample prepared with a higher glycerol:sulfuric acid ratio (1:3). The yield for mono-tert-butyl glycerol (MTBG), di-tert-butyl glycerol (DTBG) and tri-tert-butyl-glycerol (TTBG) were very similar to those obtained using a commercial resin, Amberlyst-15. Furthermore, experimental results show that the carbon with the lowest acidic surface group content, BC prepared in minor glycerol:sulfuric acid ratio (10:1), can be chemically treated after carbonization to achieve an improved catalytic activity. The activity of all BCs is high and very similar, about 50% and 20% for the MTBG and DTBG + TTBG, respectively.This work was supported by FAPESP-Brazil (Project number 2011/22264-4, 2011/14626-3)

ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

Mapeamento genético no camarão marinho Litopenaeus Vannamei (Crustacea, Decapoda)

Two genetic linkage maps were constructed referent to two full-sib families (G1 and G2) of the marine shrimp species Litopenaeus vannamei, and the integration of these maps was accomplished. The mapping was based on polymorphic markers derived from nine AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) primers. A total of 103 and 59 segregating polymorphic markers were used in the construction of the maps for families G1 and G2, respectively. The G1 family map consisted of 14 linkage groups, with estimated genome coverage of approximately 350 cM. The G2 map presented 4 linkage groups, with genome coverage of around 300 cM. The integration of the maps evidenced eight AFLP anchor markers in a same linkage group (LG1) in both families, to which 66 markers were allocated, leading to a well saturated linkage group, with estimated genome coverage of 874.16 cM.Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisDois mapas genéticos de ligação foram construídos referentes a duas famílias de irmãos completos (G1 e G2) da espécie de camarão marinho Litopenaeus vannamei e foi realizada a integração desses mapas. O mapeamento foi baseado em marcadores polimórficos derivados de nove primers AFLP (Polimorfismo no Comprimento de Fragmentos Amplificados). Um total de 103 e 59 marcadores polimórficos segregantes foram utilizados respectivamente para a construção dos mapas das famílias G1 e G2. O mapa da família G1 consistiu de 14 grupos de ligação, com cobertura estimada do genoma de aproximadamente 350 cM. O mapa da G2 apresentou 4 grupos de ligação, com cobertura do genoma de aproximadamente 300 cM. A integração dos mapas evidenciou 8 marcadores âncoras AFLP em um mesmo grupo de ligação (GL1) em ambas as famílias, no qual foram alocados 66 marcadores, o que conduz um grupo de ligação bem saturado, com estimativa de cobertura do genoma de 874,16 cM

UTILIZATION OF BIODIESEL WASTE FOR ACID CARBON PREPARATION WITH HIGH CATALYST ACTIVITY IN THE GLYCEROL ETHERIFICATION REACTION

Environmentally friendly acid carbon (CG) catalysts, containing a high amount of sulfonated and oxygenated groups, were prepared from glycerin, a biodiesel waste. CGs were produced by glycerin carbonization in the presence of H2SO4 at 1:3 m:m ratio in a closed autoclave at 180ºC for different times: 0.25; 1; 3 and 6 hours (CG-0.25h; CG-1h; CG-3h and CG-6h, respectively). The catalyst properties for all carbons were evaluated in the glycerol etherification reaction with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). The yield for mono-tert-butyl glycerol (MTBG), di-tert-butyl glycerol (DTBG) and tri-tert-butyl-glycerol (TTBG) was high and very similar for all CGs, of about 43% and 20% for the MTBG and DTBG + TTBG, respectively. Furthermore, the activity of these catalysts were close to those obtained using a commercial resin, Amberlyst-15, of about 50% and 27% for MTBG and DTBG + TTBG, respectively

Fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (fAFLP) analyses and genetic diversity in Litopenaeus vannamei (Penaeidae)

The Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Penaeidae), represents about 95% of all Brazilian shrimp production. The Brazilian L. vannamei foundation broodstock was made up of specimens collected from different American Pacific sites, but little information was collected on the genetic structure of the broodstock. We used the fluorescence amplified fragment length polymorphism (fAFLP) method to study the genetic diversity of L. vannamei broodstock lines 03CMF1 and 03CBF1 originally produced by breeder-shrimps imported mainly from Panama and Ecuador, although wild individuals from other localities may also have been used in producing these two lines. Our results showed a total of 93 polymorphic bands ranging from 50 to 500 bp, the mean Nei's genetic diversity calculated for the total sample was 13.4% and identity and genetic distance analyses indicated high genetic homogeneity within and between both the broodstock lineages studied which suggests that they had similar genetic structure. These results may represent an important tool for the appropriate management of L. vannamei broodstocks. Copyright by the Brazilian Society of Genetics