Improvement of glycerin removal from crude biodiesel through the application of a sulfonated polymeric adsorbent material

The proposal of suitable processes for glycerin removal from crude biodiesel is an important task for making the overall biodiesel production process environmentally friendly and economically viable. In this article, we propose a dry purification process for biodiesel treatment with different polymeric materials [chitosan, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and sulfonated PVA]. Except for pure PVA, all of the proposed materials were able to reduce the free glycerin content of crude biodiesel from 0.03 wt % to values lower than 0.02 wt %. When the PVA was sulfonated, the glycerin removal increased from 12 to 82% compared that of pure PVA. The glycerin content in the biodiesel sample treated with sulfonated PVA was 0.0055 wt %. Mid‐IR spectrometric analysis showed that the sulfonation of PVA increased the band due to H? O? H stretching vibrations; this enabled greater hydrogen bonding between glycerol and the ? SO₃? groups of the sulfonated adsorbent. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45330.     

Direct drinking water treatment by spiral-wound ultrafiltration membranes

This paper presents the results of a research on direct drinking water treatment through an ultrafiltration pilot plant unit using spiral-wound membranes (3500 MWCO). The source of water is the Guarapiranga Reservoir, an eutrophicated water body located in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. The data were collected during a period of almost 3400 h, from August 2005 to January 2006. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the membrane production capacity and contaminant removal efficiency. It was verified that the system was able to produce a high quality permeate with a flow close to the specified by the membrane manufacturer. The average permeate flow was 19.7 L.h⁻¹.m⁻², at 467 kPa and 25°C, with a global water recovery of almost 85%. The removal efficiencies for TOC, UV light absorption, and turbidity were 85%, 56%, and 95%, respectively. The results provide substantial evidence of the technical feasibility of spiral-wound UF membranes for direct drinking water treatment from euthrophicated sources, as an alternative for conventional drinking water treatment systems.     

Understanding the effects of contextual constraints on performative behaviour in interactive media installations

In this article, we describe three interactive media installations, each evaluated in a distinctive environment. By following a research in and through design approach and studying the installations in public settings, we were able to identify an effect of contextual constraints—such as location, prominence of spectacle, length of interaction and spatial distribution of focal points—on the types of interactions encouraged through the installations. More specifically, we were able to formulate distinct content strategies for individual and group interactions while observing specific design parameters conducive to performative behaviour. We associate such parameters to three different categories of interaction with public media installations: performative interaction, ubiquitous interaction and a third hybrid scenario falling between those two, immersive interactions. We then present a framework for assessment of public interactive installations and key aspects to be considered when designing proactive contextual interventions in the public realm. Finally, we discuss how such aspects point to further investigation on formal principles underlying interactive experiences designed to facilitate specific levels of performance and spectacle.     

Characterization of ceramic bricks incorporated with textile laundry sludge

Solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatment of wastes is a suitable alternative to immobilize contaminants within a chosen material. This work proposes the mixing of textile laundry wastewater sludge with clay in order to produce bricks for civil construction. The applied sludge and clay were previously characterized in terms of their composition, microstructure and thermal behavior. Ceramic bricks were fabricated with different quantities of textile laundry sludge and they were evaluated in terms of their mechanical characteristics, besides environmental issues verified through leaching and solubilization tests. The obtained results showed that sludge can be incorporate until a concentration of 20% (mass basis) producing suitable bricks in terms of its mechanical properties. Besides, the produced brick are safe and inert according to the applied leaching and solubilization tests.     

Influence of sintering temperature on the morphology of ceramic hollow fibers prepared from niobium pentoxide

Ceramic hollow fibers were prepared by the phase inversion and sintering method using niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) as an innovative starting material. X-ray diffraction and Raman analyses revealed the same monoclinic crystalline phase for the ceramic material, H-Nb₂O₅, at all the evaluated sintering temperatures. According to SEM images, the starting material was composed of polydisperse particles of irregular size and shape with sizes ranging from 12.5 to 89.7 μm. The increase in the sintering temperature caused particles agglomeration. In the hollow fiber precursor (without sintering), Nb₂O₅ grains were surrounded by the coagulated polymer. The polymeric phase was eliminated when the fibers were sintered at temperatures above 600°C. When sintered at 1350°C, the outer surface of the fiber presented elongated crystals of well-defined shape, while agglomerated round shape grains were observed at the inner surface of the fiber. Formation of these elongated crystals was probable due to the material sintering at high temperatures (up to 1350°C) for more than 300 minutes. This study demonstrated the potential for general applicability of niobium pentoxide to fabricate ceramic hollow fiber membranes.     

The Metis project—education for health: a project report

Universal Access in the Information Society - Medical practice has changed since the classical paternalistic model to nowadays. Currently, the patient assumes a more important role in the decision...     

Effluent Zero Release Concept?The Brazilian Experience

Water scarcity is pushing the government, industries and researchers to the development of new strategies for water and wastewater management. An approach aimed at the optimization of the water use and minimization of effluent generation was developed at the Centro Experimental ARAMAR (CEA), a nuclear research facility, located in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bench scale tests followed by a pilot plant treating effluents from some nuclear research facilities have shown the results leading to the conclusion that the effluent zero release concept is feasible. Based on the gathered data, a project of an integrated effluent treatment system focusing on water recovery and environmental effluent release reduction has been developed.     

Aqueous two-phase systems: a new approach for the determination of p-aminophenol

A new method has been developed for the spectrophotometric determination of p-aminophenol (PAP) in water, paracetamol formulations and human urine samples with a recovery rate between 94.9 and 101%. This method exploits an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) liquid-liquid extraction technique with the reaction of PAP, sodium nitroprusside and hydroxylamine hydrochloride in pH 12.0, which produces the [Fe₂(CN)₁₀]¹⁰⁻ anion complex that spontaneously concentrates in the top phase of the ATPS (K[Fe₂(CN)₁₀]¹⁰⁻=97.7). The ATPS does not require an organic solvent, which is a safer and cleaner liquid-liquid extraction technique for the determination of PAP. The linear range of detection was from 5.00 to 500 μg kg⁻¹ (R ≥ 0.9990; n = 8) with a coefficient of variation of 2.11% (n = 5). The method exhibited a detection limit of 2.40 μg kg⁻¹ and a quantification limit of 8.00 μg kg⁻¹. The ATPS method showed a recovery that ranged between 96.4 and 103% for the determination of PAP in natural water and wastewater samples, which was in excellent agreement with the results of the standard 4-aminoantipyrine method that was performed on the same samples.     

Graphite coating on alumina substrate for the fabrication of hydrogen selective membranes

Development of composite membranes is a suitable alternative to improve the hydrogen flux through palladium membranes. The porous substrate should not represent a barrier to gas permeation, but the roughness of its surface should be sufficiently smooth for the deposition of a thin and defect-free metal layer. In this study, the performances of the modification of the outer surface of an asymmetric alumina hollow fibre substrate by the deposition of a graphite layer were evaluated. The roughness of the substrate outer surface was reduced from 120 to 37 nm after graphite coating. After graphite coating, the hydrogen permeance through the composite membrane produced with 2 Pd plating cycles was of 1.02 × 10^?3 mol s^?1 m^?2 kPa^?1 at 450 °C and with infinite H₂/N₂ selectivity. Similar hydrogen permeance was obtained with the composite membrane without graphite coating, also at infinite H₂/N₂ selectivity, but 3 Pd plating cycles were necessary. Thus, graphite coating on asymmetric alumina hollow fibres is a suitable alternative to reduce the required palladium amount to produce hydrogen selective membranes.