Treatment of waste dye by electroflocculation: an experiment for undergraduate in chemistry

This paper describes the use of a simple experiment of electroflocculation for classroom in Chemistry. Parameters such as electrode material, current density and temperature direct influence the process efficiency. Due to the process low cost and efficient color removal, the methodology proposed has shown good potential for use in wastewater treatment. In addition, the proposed experiment allows discussion about environmental electrochemistry, introduction to concepts of water contamination by industry and university, and also about different alternatives in wastewater treatment used nowadays. Finally, the very easy operation make possible to easy adapt this experiment for high school and elementary school.CNPqCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

The kinetic behavior of dehydrogenase enzymes in solution and immobilized onto nanostructured carbon platforms

This paper describes the kinetic behavior of alcohol (ADH) and aldehyde (AldDH) dehydrogenases in solution and immobilized onto carbon platform via polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. All the kinetic constants achieved for soluble ADH and AldDH are in agreement with literature data. The influence of pH and temperature was evaluated. Results showed that physiological conditions and ambient temperature can satisfactorily be applied to systems containing dehydrogenase enzymes, so as to ensure an environment where both ADH and AldDH display good activity. It is noteworthy that the affinity between both ADH and AldDH and their substrates and coenzyme is retained after the immobilization process. Investigation of the influence of the storage time demonstrated that there was no appreciable reduction in enzymatic activity for 50 days. Results showed that the PAMAM dendrimers provide a good environment for immobilization of dehydrogenase enzymes and that the affinity observed between the enzymes and their substrates and coenzymes seems to be retained, despite the considerable loss of enzymatic activity after immobilization. Furthermore, the anchoring methodology employed herein, namely layer-by-layer (LbL), required very low catalyst consumption.FAPESPCNPqCAPE

Electro-oxidation of glyphosate herbicide and commercial formulations: a comparison between different electrochemical process

Este trabalho investigou a oxidação eletroquímica do herbicida glifosato e suas formulações comerciais em eletrodos do tipo anodo dimensionalmente estáveis (ADE) a base de RuO2 e IrO2. As eletrólises foram feitas em modo galvanostático em função de parâmetros como pH, eletrólito suporte e densidade de corrente. A influência da composição eletródica na degradação do HG se mostra significante na ausência de cloreto. Nestas condições o anodo Ti/Ir0.30Sn0.70O2 foi o melhor material para degradação do herbicida. A degradação do HG é favorecida em baixos valores de pH. O uso de cloreto como eletrólito suporte aumentou significativamente a eficiência do processo, e, no entanto, a composição eletródica já não apresentou tanta influência. Aplicando-se 30 mA cm-2 por 4 h, observa-se completa remoção do HG é obtida. Em meio de cloreto, aplicando-se 50 mA cm-2 elevados valores de mineralização do herbicida são obtidos (liberação de íons fosfato = 91 %) para todas as composições estudadas. Os parâmetros, que podem influenciar na formação de compostos organoclorados (AOX) foram também avaliados. São apresentados os efeitos da concentração de cloreto, composição eletródica, densidade de corrente e tempo de eletrólise. Os resultados mostram que existe uma estreita relação entre a composição eletródica e a formação de AOX. As formulações comerciais apresentam uma menor taxa de degradação comparada à amostra padrão e levam a formação de maiores quantidades de AOX. Em elevadas concentrações de cloreto, tem-se além do aumento na mineralização uma relação direta com a formação de AOX, sendo que apenas em baixas concentrações de cloreto, a quantidade de AOX fica abaixo do limite permitido no Brasil. A formação de AOX durante a eletrólise aumenta significativamente com a corrente aplicada e mesmo após longo tempo de eletrólise, ainda tem-se a formação espécies organohalogenadasThis paper has investigated the electrochemical oxidation of glyphosate herbicide (GH) and its formulations on RuO2 and IrO2 DSA® electrodes. Electrolysis was achieved under galvanostatic control as a function of pH, supporting electrolyte, and current density. The influence of the oxide composition on GH degradation seems to be significant in the absence of chloride; Ti/Ir0.30Sn0.70O2 is the best electrode material to oxidize GH. GH oxidation is favored at low pH values. The use of chloride medium increases the oxidizing power and the influence of the oxide composition is meaningless. At 30 mA cm-2 and 4 hours of electrolysis, complete GH removal from the electrolyzed solution has been obtained. In chloride medium, application of 50 mA cm-2 leads to virtually total mineralization (release of phosphate ions = 91%) for all the evaluated oxide materials. Parameters that could influence the formation of organochloride compounds during electrolysis are studied. The effects of chloride concentration, electrodic composition, current density, and electrolysis time are reported. The results shows a straight relationship between anode composition and AOX formation. Commercial herbicide formulations have lower degradation rates and lead to the formation of a larger quantities of organochloride compounds. In high chloride concentrations there is a significant increase in organic mineralization, and the relationship between chloride concentration and AOX formation is direct. Only in low chloride concentrations is AOX detected above the limit values allowed in Brazil. AOX formation during electrolysis increases significantly with the applied current. Even during long term electrolysis a large amount of organochloride compounds is formed

Preparation and characterization of bioanodes for ethanol/O2 biofuel cell

Este trabalho descreve a preparação e caracterização de bioanodos para biocélula a combustível etanol/O2 utilizando enzimas desidrogenases, tanto com transferência eletrônica mediada como com transferência eletrônica direta. Na primeira etapa do trabalho, os resultados de cinética enzimática com as enzimas comerciais álcool desidrogenase e aldeído desidrogenase em solução e imobilizada mostraram claramente que os vários parâmetros cinéticos analisados devem ser considerados, a fim de se obter atividade máxima com os biocatalisadores; além disso, os resultados obtidos com as diferentes metodologias de imobilização empregadas (adsorção passiva e automontagem) confirmaram que tal etapa é crucial para a obtenção de um sistema viável. Os testes de semi-célula e estabilidade com transferência eletrônica mediada mostraram que o dendrímero PAMAM se mostra bastante atrativo na preparação de bioanodos para biocélula a combustível enzimática com ambas as metodologias testadas. Na segunda parte do trabalho, os resultados obtidos com os bioanodos preparados com as enzimas desidrogenases contendo o grupamento pirroquinolina quinona extraídas da bactéria Gluconobacter sp. 33 e purificadas em laboratório mostraram que ambos os protocolos de imobilização empregados nesta etapa (dendrímero PAMAM e Nafion-modificado) foram capazes de proporcionar um ambiente no qual as enzimas são capazes de realizar transferência eletrônica diretamente com superfícies de ouro e carbono. Com base nos resultados de caracterização eletroquímica, observou-se que a reação de interesse ocorre mais facilmente na presença de nanotubos de carbono, onde se acredita que os grupamentos heme-c permanecem em um arranjo mais adequado que facilita o processo de transferência eletrônica e consequentemente fornece maiores correntes catalíticas. Os testes de semi-célula etanol/O2 com transferência eletrônica direta mostraram que os bioanodos preparados tanto com a membrana Nafion-modificada quanto com o dendrímero PAMAM se mostraram capazes de gerar densidades de potência competitivas em relação a outros métodos de imobilização.This work describes the preparation and characterization of bioanodes for ethanol/O2 biofuel cell using dehydrogenases enzymes, using either mediated electron transfer or direct electron transfer. First, investigation of the enzymatic kinetics of the commercial enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase in solution and immobilized onto carbon platforms clearly showed that the analyzed kinetic parameters must be considered for achievement of maximum activity. The results obtained by using different immobilization methodologies (passive adsorption and self-assembly) confirmed that this step is crucial for attainment of a viable system. The half-cell and stability tests employing mediated electron transfer showed that PAMAM dendrimers seem to be very attractive for the preparation of bioanodes for enzymatic biofuel cell using the tested protocols. In the second part of the work, the results obtained with the bioanodes prepared with dehydrogenases enzymes containing the pyrroloquinoline quinone group, extracted from the bacteria Gluconobacter sp. 33 and purified in our laboratory, revealed that both immobilization protocols employed in this step (PAMAM dendrimers and modified-Nafion) were able to provide an environment in which the enzymes undergo direct electron transfer with gold and carbon surfaces. The electrochemical characterization results evidenced that the reaction of interest occurs more easily in the presence of carbon nanotubes. We believe that the c-heme groups remain in a more suitable arrangement in the nanotubes, which facilitates the electron transfer process and provides higher catalytic currents. Ethanol/O2 half-cell tests with direct electron transfer showed that both the bioanodes prepared with modified-Nafion membrane and PAMAM dendrimers were capable of generating competitive power densities as compared to other immobilization methods

New Energy Sources: The Enzymatic Biofuel Cell

The continuous search for alternative energy sources, imposed by economic and environmental concerns, has motivated investigations into clean and efficient alternatives for energy production. Studies have shown that fuel cells are a potentially efficient strategy for energy conversion. Biofuel cells constitute a subclass of fuel cells with promising application in low-power devices (generally in the order of micro to milli watts). Instead of metallic catalysts, biological power sources employ biological molecules such as enzymes, organelles, or microorganisms to convert chemical energy into electricity. Biofuel cells offer several advantages over traditional batteries, including the use of renewable and non-toxic components, reaction selectivity, fuel flexibility, and ability to operate at lower temperatures and near neutral pH. Indeed, recent papers have demonstrated the promising characteristics of these devices; however, some challenges remains to be faced despite the several advances in this area. This review aims to provide the readers of the Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society with an overview of enzymatic biofuel cells, their development since its first description in 1964, and the most recent outcomes. The latest papers in this field (including implantable technology) and an outlook for future research in this area are also presented

Scientia Agricola Energy generation in a Microbial Fuel Cell using anaerobic sludge from a wastewater

ABSTRACT: In microbial fuel cells (MFCs), the oxidation of organic compounds catalyzed by microorganisms (anode) generates electricity via electron transfer to an external circuit that acts as an electron acceptor (cathode). Microbial fuel cells differ in terms of the microorganisms employed and the nature of the oxidized organic compound. In this study, a consortium of anaerobic microorganisms helped to treat the secondary sludge obtained from a sewage treatment plant. The microorganisms were grown in a 250 mL bioreactor containing a carbon cloth. The reactor was fed with media containing acetate (as the carbon source) for 48 days. Concomitantly, the electrochemical data were measured with the aid of a digital multimeter and data acquisition system. At the beginning of the MFC operation, power density was low, probably due to slow microorganism growth and adhesion. The power density increased from the 15 th day of operation, reaching a value of 13.5 μW cm -2 after ca. 24 days of operation, and remained stable until the end of the process. Compared with data in the literature, this power density value is promising; improvements in the MFC design and operation could increase this value even further. The system investigated herein employed excess sludge as a biocatalyst in an MFC. This opens up the possibility of using organic acids and/or carbohydrate-rich effluents to feed MFCs, and thereby provide simultaneous effluent treatment and energy generation