Energy trends and the water-energy binomium for Brazil

According to the demands of energy saving and carbon emission reduction, the water vs. energy nexus has become a major concern worldwide. Brazil occupies a singular position in the global energy system. A major portion of the Brazilian occupancies has electricity and the energy system expansion that, at first, possesses adequate means for supporting the economic growing may experience some turnovers. The Brazil determination through alternative fuels was a natural choice, given its large hydropower potential and land agricultural base. In the transportation sector Brazil has developed its energy matrix towards an important rate of ethanol and biodiesel. Although those fuels are low carbon emitter, they may probably not be an affordable alternative regarding land use, food security and water footprint. In this way, considering the recent advances in the exploration of oil from Pre-salt (9-15 million barrels) and the discovery of shale gas wells up to 245 tcf, together to unfavorable social and environmental issues associated to biofuels, the Brazilian energy matrix might turn back to the fossil fuels again. These represent challenges to the Brazilian policymakers and how they will be solved will reflect not only in Brazil but also to the world at large

Energy trends and the water-energy binomium for Brazil

According to the demands of energy saving and carbon emission reduction, the water vs. energy nexus has become a major concern worldwide. Brazil occupies a singular position in the global energy system. A major portion of the Brazilian occupancies has electricity and the energy system expansion that, at first, possesses adequate means for supporting the economic growing may experience some turnovers. The Brazil determination through alternative fuels was a natural choice, given its large hydropower potential and land agricultural base. In the transportation sector Brazil has developed its energy matrix towards an important rate of ethanol and biodiesel. Although those fuels are low carbon emitter, they may probably not be an affordable alternative regarding land use, food security and water footprint. In this way, considering the recent advances in the exploration of oil from Pre-salt (9-15 million barrels) and the discovery of shale gas wells up to 245 tcf, together to unfavorable social and environmental issues associated to biofuels, the Brazilian energy matrix might turn back to the fossil fuels again. These represent challenges to the Brazilian policymakers and how they will be solved will reflect not only in Brazil but also to the world at large

Determinação das composições físico-químicas de cachaças do sul de minas gerais e de suas misturas Determination of the physical-chemical composition of homemade cachaças produced in the South of Minas Gerais and their mixtures

Este trabalho teve por objetivo a determinação da composição físico-química de cachaças artesanais produzidas no sul do Estado de Minas Gerais e suas misturas. Foram analisados os teores de etanol, acidez volátil, aldeídos, cobre, ésteres, álcoois superiores totais e metanol, além dos álcoois propanol-1, isobutanol e 3-metil-butanol-1. Os resultados apresentam o perfil peculiar desta bebida, que apresentou teores satisfatórios de álcoois superiores, ésteres e aldeídos. O teor de cobre apresenta-se como preocupante já que algumas amostras excederam o limite de 5 mg.L-1. A produção de misturas foi estudada e esta apresenta-se como uma alternativa viável ao produtor e cooperativas.<br>The present study sought the physical-chemical composition of homemade cachaças produced in the south of the state Minas Gerais and of mixtures of the same cachaça samples. The ethanol, aldehyde, copper, higher alcohol, volatile acid and methanol concentrations were determined, in addition to the individual propanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol concentrations. The results demonstrated the characteristic profile of this beverage, which presented satisfactory concentrations of higher alcohols, esters, and aldehydes. The copper concentrations of some samples exceeded the limit of 5 mg. L-1. The mixtures produced from some of the cachaça samples presented a viable alternative for the producers and cooperatives because the concentrations of the components were more adequate for exportation