Kinetic parameters estimation using the Paired Equivalent Isothermal Exposures (PEIE) Method under non-isothermal heating conditions

With the purpose of testing the recently developed Paired Equivalent Isothermal Exposures (PETE) method, to determine reaction kinetic parameters under nonisothermal conditions, continuous pasteurizations were carried out with a nectar of a tropical fruit [25% of Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum) pulp and 15% of sugar] in order to estimate the ascorbic acid thermal degradation kinetic parameters. The experimental ascorbic acid thermal degradation activation energy (96±13kJ/mol) estimated by the PETE, compared well with the previously determined value (74±5kJ/mol) for the same product under isothermal conditions. The PETE method is a reliable, easy and faster method to estimate first order reactions activation energy

Dry matter and area partitioning, radiation interception and radiation-use efficiency in open-field bell pepper

The objective of this study was to determine some key components of a model for bell pepper growth and yield under non-limiting water and nutrient conditions using data from field trials conducted in Southern Portugal. DM partitioning, at least before fruiting, and specific area indices for leaves, stems and fruits were conservative in relation to normalized thermal time. The interception model had a good performance. It was based on the exponential extinction of radiation on the area covered by the plants, the ellipsoidal leaf-angle distributionmodel (X-parameter 2.48 and 2.89), and absorptivities of the leaves for PAR and NIR, 0.8 and 0.2, respectively. Radiation-use efficiency (RUE) was determined and presented in four different forms. RUE did not change substantially throughout the growing season. RUE of irrigated pepper crops grown in our experiments was around 1.6 g MJ 1 of intercepted PAR. The models and parameter values presented in this study may be useful to simulate the development and growth of fieldgrown pepper cro

Arithmetic fuchsian groups and space time block codes

In the context of space time block codes (STBCs) the theory of arithmetic Fuchsian groups is presented. Additionally, in this work we present a new class of STBCs based on arithmetic Fuchsian groups. This new class of codes satisfies the property full-diversity, linear dispersion and full-rate. Mathematical subject classification: 18B35, 94A15, 20H10

Comparison of different lipid extraction procedures applied to three microalgal species

6th International Conference on Energy and Environment ResearchThe increase in the world’s energy demand has contributed to the emergence of new sustainable energy sources, such as microalgae, with their great potential to provide biofuels and other high value co-products for the food and health’s markets. However, current biorefinery methodologies are either too complex to extract the targeted components such as high-value products, or require solvents with toxicity for humans and the environment. This work aims to evaluate different lipid extraction approaches applied to three microalgal species: Chlorella zofingiensis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Arthrospira platensis, while employing less toxic and more economical solvents for the lipids extraction. Experimental results showed a promising outcome to tune current biorefinery methodologies, enhancing product yield as well as decreasing potential hazards.Authors thank the financial support of the project IF/01093/2014/CP1249/CT0003 and research grantsIF/01093/2014 and SFRH/BPD/112003/2015 funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES, Portugal, and projectUID/EQU/00305/2013 - Center for Innovation in Engineering and Industrial Technology - CIETI, Portugal. This work was financially supported by : project UID/EQU/00511/2019 - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy - LEPABE funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC), Portugal; Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006939 (Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy - LEPABE, UID/EQU/00511/2013) funded by FEDER, Portugal through COMPETE2020-POCI and by national funds through FCT, Portugal; Project “LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION” - NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000005, funded by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), Portugal , under PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Authors also acknowledge the “Grupo Interdisciplinario de Biotecnología Marina (GIBMAR) and “Convenio de Desempeño Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Bioeconomía” from University of Concepción, Chile, for providing the support to P. tricornutum biomass production.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of cultivation conditions on the bioenergy potential and bio-compounds of Chlorella vulgaris

This study aims to evaluate the influence of cultivation conditions on the bioenergy and high value biocompounds contents of Chlorella vulgaris. Results show that the use of nitrate rich media, from 170.7 mg/L, favors a faster biomass growth, reaching values above 800 mg/L biomass. In addition, it favors higher pigments concentrations with more emphasis for the cultures with a nitrate concentration of 569 mg/L, where chlorophyll-a and carotenoids reached maximum concentrations of 6 and 2 mg/L, respectively. As regards the lipid content, nitrate deprivation (<28.4 mg/L) favors the accumulation of lipid content by microalgae (around 42%). The use of media with lower iron concentrations (0.5 mg/L) was favorable for obtaining biomass with higher concentrations of chlorophyll-a, at an initial stage, with values varying from 0.2 to 0.6 mg/L. In the tests carried out under mixotrophic conditions (addition of glucose), it was observed that contamination occurred in all the cultures, possibly due to the high concentration of carbon source that had values between 0.5 and 1.5 g/L of glucose, and consequently, growth decreased.Authors thank the financial support of the project IF/01093/2014/CP1249/CT0003 and research grants IF/01093/2014 and SFRH/BPD/112003/2015 funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES, and project UID/EQU/00305/2013 – Center for Innovation in Engineering and Industrial Technology – CIETI. This work was financially supported by: project UID/EQU/00511/2019 – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy – LEPABE funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC); Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006939 (Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy — LEPABE, UID/EQU/00511/2013) funded by FEDER through COMPETE2020-POCI and by national funds through FCT; Project “LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION” — NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000005, funded by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A life cycle inventory of microalgae-based biofuels production in an industrial plant concept

6th International Conference on Energy and Environment Research, ICEERMicroalgae have been reported as a promising alternative for biofuels production. However, the use of microalgae for biofuels is still a challenge due to the intense energy use and the generation of a significant amount of biomass residues in the process. In order to analyze the environmental impacts of different technological processes for the production of biodiesel from microalgae, several studies have been published making use of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, which allows the recognition of the process bottlenecks and supports the identification of alternatives for a more efficient use of the feedstock. Therefore, in this study, a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) is compiled, based on real pilot-scale process data, which was scaled-up to a microalgae biomass industrial plant for biofuel production. Values of energy, nutrients, water, and materials consumption are used to create an inventory of inputs and outputs for biomass cultivation and biodiesel production, in order to acquire data to conduct a complete LCA modeling in future studies. According to this model, to produce 1 kg of biodiesel it is necessary about 12 kg of dried algae biomass. This study supports the decision-making process in biofuel production to promote the development of sustainable pilot and large-scale algae-based industry, through the identification of critical factors.This work was funded by: project IF/01093/2014/CP1249/CT0003 and research grants IF/01093/2014 and SFRH/BPD/112003/2015 funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES, Portugal, and project UID/EQU/00305/2013 – Center for Innovation in Engineering and Industrial Technology – CIETI. This work was financially supported by: project UID/EQU/00511/2019 – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy – LEPABE funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES, Portugal (PIDDAC); Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006939 (Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy – LEPABE, UID/EQU/00511/2013) funded by FEDER through COMPETE2020-POCI and by national funds through FCT, Portugal ; Project “LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION” – NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000005, funded by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) . Authors also acknowledge the “Grupo Interdisciplinario de Biotecnología Marina (GIBMAR) and “Convenio de Desempeño Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Bioeconomía” from University of Concepción, Chile, for supporting the experimental data collection at the pilot-plant in Concepción, Chile, during the Research Visit of M. Branco-Vieira.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Use Of Organic Compost Containing Waste From Small Ruminants In Corn Production

Composting is a useful way of transforming livestock waste into organic fertilizer, which is proven to increase soil nutrient levels, and thus crop yield. Remains from production and slaughter of small ruminants can become a source of important elements for plant growth, such as N, after microorganism-driven decomposition.The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of this compost on soil fertility and on the nutritional status and yield of the corn crop. The experiment was conducted in a Haplic Luvisol in a randomized block design with six treatments and five application rates of the organic compound in Mg ha-1: 3 (half the standard rate), 6 (standard rate), 9 (one and a half times the standard rate), 12 (twice the standard rate), and 24 (four times the standard rate) and an additional treatment with mineral fertilizers (110, 50 e 30 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively), with four blocks. Evaluations were performed for two harvests of rainfed crops, measuring soil fertility, nutritional status, and grain yield. The compost increased P, K, Na and Zn values in the 0.00-0.20 m layer in relation of mineral fertilization in 616, 21, 114 and 90% with rate 24 Mg ha-1 in second crop. Leaf N, Mg, and S contents, relative chlorophyll content, and the productivity of corn kernels increased in 27, 32, 36, 20 e 85%, respectively, of low rate (3 Mg ha-1) to high rate (24 Mg ha-1) with of application of the compost. Corn yield was higher with application of organic compost in rate of 24 Mg ha-1 than mineral fertilizer combination in second crop. © 2016, Revista Brasileira de Ciencia do Solo. All rights reserved.4

Arithmetic fuchsian groups and space time block codes

In the context of space time block codes (STBCs) the theory of arithmetic Fuchsian groups is presented. Additionally, in this work we present a new class of STBCs based on arithmetic Fuchsian groups. This new class of codes satisfies the property full-diversity, linear dispersion and full-rate. Mathematical subject classification: 18B35, 94A15, 20H10.48549