Accelerated soil erosion and the subsequent decline in soil depth has negative environmental, and consequently financial, impacts that have implications across all land cover classifications and scales of land management. Ironically, although attempts to quantify soil erosion nationally have illustrated that soil erosion can occur in the UK, understanding whether or not the UK has a soil erosion problem still remains a question to be answered. Accurately quantifying rates of soil erosion requires capturing both the volumetric nature of the visible, fluvial pathways and the subtle nature of the less-visible, diffuse pathways, across varying spatial and temporal scales. Accordingly, as we move towards a national-scale understanding of soil erosion in the UK, this thesis aims to explore some of the multiple techniques available for developing an understanding of soil erosion in the UK. The thesis first explored the information content of existing UK-based soil erosion studies, ascertaining the extent to which these existing data and methodological approaches can be used to develop an empirically derived understanding of soil erosion in the UK. The second research chapter then assessed which of two proximal sensing technologies, Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Structure-from-Motion Multi-view Stereo (SfM-MVS), is best suited to a cost-effective, replicable and robust assessment of soil erosion within a laboratory environment. The final research chapter built on these findings, using both Rare Earth Oxide tracers and SfM-MVS to elucidate retrospective information about sediment sources under changing soil erosion conditions, also within a laboratory environment Given the biased nature of the soil erosion story presented within the existing soil erosion research in the UK, it is impossible to ascertain if the frequency and magnitude of soil erosion events in the UK are problematic. However, this study has also identified that without ‘true’ observations of soil loss i.e. collection of sediment leaving known plot areas, proxies, such as the novel techniques presented in the experimental work herein and the methods used in the existing landscape scale assessments of soil erosion as included in the database chapter, are not capable of providing a complete assessment of soil erosion rates. However, this work has indicated that despite this limitation, each technique can present valuable information on the complex and spatially variable nature of soil erosion and associated processes, across different observational environments and scales.

No description available.

Elektron 43 (WE43C) is a modern magnesium rare earth alloy (Mg-RE) with potential light-weighting applications in wrought civil aerospace components. Rare earth elements are known to improve mechanical properties and weaken texture of wrought Mg-RE alloys, but for Elektron 43 the parameters of thermomechanical processing (TMP) that produce optimum microstructure development are not well understood. A large data-set of Elektron 43 flow stress data was collected in an extensive range of hot compression tests at typical TMP temperatures (350-500°C) and strain rates (0.001-100\s). Friction parameters were determined in a ring compression study. Material data was corrected for friction, strain rate and temperature variations. Parameters were fit for a sinh constitutive equation. The corrected material data and used to develop an initial finite element model in the commercial software package QForm. Further work to calibrate the heat transfer parameters is required. The effect of two extrusion parameters (temperature and ram speed) on microstructure and mechanical properties was explored. Extrusion of 60 mm diameter Elektron 43 billets to 20 mm diameter rods (ER=9.92) was conducted at three temperatures (380°C, 420°C and 460°C) and a range of ram speeds (~0.1-15 mm/s). An approximate extrusion limit diagram was formed from empirical relations for extrusion load and hot cracking. Extruded microstructures were bi-modal consisting of dynamically recrystallised (DRX) grains and elongated deformed grains. The typical `prismatic' deformation texture (extrusion direction ED||) was weakened by increasing DRX fraction, concomitant of increased ram speed and temperature. Small DRX grains at low temperature/ram speed had very weak preferences for the 'RE component' with ED||. Increase in ram speed/temperature resulted in a rarely reported 'c-axis' RX texture (ED||) becoming increasingly prominent. This texture dominated at high temperatures and speeds. C-axis grains were larger than those of the RE and prismatic orientations, with the relative difference increasing with DRX fraction. Thus a growth advantage of c-axis grains has been demonstrated: it is postulated these grain boundaries have higher boundary mobility (considering the 90° misoreintation with the deformation texture) and driving pressure (as they are not well oriented for basal slip). Suppression of all RE texture modification followed extrusion at 460°C, 0.16 mm/s. The RX texture was typical of non-RE Mg alloys: ED||. It is argued that at this condition solute segregation is suppressed. Extrusions showed low ambient yield asymmetry. The highest measured yield stresses were correlated with partial RX. These two observations can be explained by a balance of texture, Hall-Petch strengthening and work hardening. One unexplained observation of note is that the maximum observed yields generally correspond to a reversed yield asymmetry.

Experimentally measured L-shell x-ray production cross sections are presented for 8-36-MeV oxygen-ion bombardment of Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, Dy, and Ho; for 4-32-MeV carbon-ion bombardment of La and Yb; for 6-32-MeV carbon-ion bombardment of Pr, Nd, Sm, and Dy; and for ll-29-MeV carbon-ion bombardment of Ce, Eu, Gd, and Ho. Theoretical predictions via the plane wave Born approximation (PWBA) with corrections for increased binding of target electrons and Coulomb deflection of the incident projectile tend to underestimate the experimental data; and this underestimation tends to get worse at the low- and high-energy ends of the range of energies used in this work.

O elemento químico neodímio (Nd) atualmente está em evidência pois é parte fundamental em aplicações produzidas por empresas ligadas a tecnologias limpas e de ponta. Porém, é classificado como crítico pelo departamento de energia dos EUA em função do monopólio chinês atuante em sua exploração e comercialização. Devido à crescente demanda frente à restrita disponibilidade, a recuperação deste metal está em ascensão. Uma das aplicações do neodímio é o ímã permanente de neodímio-ferro-boro, utilizado em hard disk drives (HDs) de computadores. Desta forma, este estudo visou caracterizar os ímãs provenientes de HDs de computadores e estabelecer uma rota de recuperação do neodímio por meio de processos mecânicos e hidrometalúrgicos. Por meio da pesagem dos HDs e seus ímãs obteve-se massa média de 3,04 g e 7,91 g para laptop e desktop, respectivamente, representando menos de 3% da massa total do HD. A desmagnetização foi atingida por meio de aquecimento até a temperatura de Curie, em torno de 312 °C, e a cominuição realizada em moinho de facas, onde foram obtidas três granulometrias classificadas em frações A, B e C. Qualitativamente as amostras, foram analisados por meio de difração de raios-X (DRX), onde a fase tetragonal Nd2Fe14B foi o constituinte dominante, e por meio de análise em microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV). Semi-quantitativamente os ímãs, seus revestimentos e o precipitado final foram avaliados por meio de espectrometria de fluorescência de raios-X (FRX). A composição média de 21,5% de neodímio e 65,1% de ferro em massa, além de outros elementos químicos, obtida por meio de espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma (ICP-OES), mostrou teor de neodímio superior aos minérios explorados, tornando este resíduo interessante em relação à recuperação deste metal. O procedimento hidrometalúrgico adotado envolveu a lixiviação das amostras em ácido sulfúrico 2M e a variação de três parâmetros: razão sólido/líquido, temperatura e tempo, em dois níveis. Posteriormente foi realizada a precipitação seletiva por meio de NaOH, formando o duplo sal NaNd(SO4)2.nH2O. Os resultados mostraram que a lixiviação de neodímio atingiu eficiência média acima de 94%, porém todos os experimentos apresentaram material não lixiviado, majoritariamente composto por níquel e cobre. / The chemical element neodymium (Nd) currently is in evidence as it is a fundamental part in applications manufactured by clean and advanced technology companies. However, it is classified as critical by the United States Department of Energy due to Chinese monopoly in its exploration and commercialization. Due to increasing demand in contrast with scarce supply, the recovery of neodymium is growing. One of the applications of this metal is the neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet, used in hard disk drives (HDDs) of computers. Therefore, this study aimed magnets characterizing from HDDs of computers and then establishing a recovery route for neodymium by mechanical and hydrometallurgical processes. By weighing the HDDs and their magnets it was obtained the average weight of 3.04 g and 7.91 g for laptop and desktop, respectively, representing less than 3% of the HDDs total mass. Demagnetizing was achieved by heating up to Curie temperature of around 312 °C, and the comminution in knives mill resulted in three granulometries classified into fractions A, B and C. Qualitatively, magnets were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), where the tetragonal phase Nd2Fe14B was the dominant constituent of the sample, and through analysis in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Semi-quantitatively, the magnets, its covers, and the final precipitate were evaluated by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The average composition of neodymium and iron showed 21.5% and 65.1% by weight, respectively, among other chemical elements. This results were obtained by optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), representing a higher neodymium content compared to the ores content, which makes this waste interesting from a neodymium recovery point of view. The procedure adopted involved hydrometallurgical leaching of the samples in 2M sulfuric acid varying three parameters: liquid/solid ratio, temperature and time, each one on two levels. Subsequently, the selective precipitation by NaOH was performed to form the double salt NaNd(SO4)2.nH2O. The results showed that neodymium leaching efficiency reached above 94%, but the experiments showed as well some material left, mainly composed of nickel and copper.

by Kui Chi Fai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstracts --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.v / Abbreviations --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- METALLATION OF AMINOPYRIDINE AND AMINOQUINOLINE / Chapter 1.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- General Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- A Brief Review on Sodium and Potassium Amides --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Preparation of Sodium and Potassium Amides --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2 --- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- "Synthesis of [NH(SiButMe2)(R)] [ R = 2-C5H3N-6-Me, 8-C9H6N ] as Ligand Precursors" --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Synthesis of Sodium and Potassium Amido Complexes Containing the Pyridine-Functionalized Amido Ligand [N(SiButMe2)(2-C5H3N-6-Me)]- --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Sodium Pyridyl Amido Complexes --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Potassium Pyridyl Amido Complexes --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Synthesis of Sodium and Potassium Amido Complexes Containing the Quinoline-Functionalized Amido Ligand [N(SiButMe2)(8-C9H6N)]- --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Sodium Quinolyl Amido Complexes --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Potassium Quinolyl Amido Complexes --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Physical Characterization of Compounds 3-9 --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- "Molecular Structures of Compounds 3, 5 and 7" --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3 --- EXPERIMENTALS FOR CHAPTER 1 --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3 --- REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER 1 --- p.36 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- "Synthesis,Structures, and Catalytic Properties of Lanthanide Metal Amides Containing the Pyridine - Functionalized Amido Ligand [N(SiButMe2)(2-C5H3N-6-Me)]-" / Chapter 2.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- General Background --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- A Brief Review on Rare Earth Amido Complexes --- p.40 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- General Preparation Methods to Lanthanide Metal Amides --- p.44 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Objectives of This Work --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2 --- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Synthesis and Physical Properties --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Homoleptic Lanthanide Metal Amides 10-18 --- p.49 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Heteroleptic Lanthanide Metal Amides 19-22 --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Molecular Structures --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Molecular Structures of Homoleptic Lanthanide Metal Amides 10-18 --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Molecular Structures of Heteroleptic Lanthanide Metal Amides 19-22..… --- p.76 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Reactivity Studies --- p.89 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- "Reaction with 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (dbcH2)" --- p.89 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Ring-Opening Polymerization of s-Caprolactone --- p.95 / Chapter 2.3 --- EXPERIMENTALS FOR CHAPTER 2 --- p.100 / Chapter 2.4 --- REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER 2 --- p.108 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- Preparation of Pyridine Adducts of Zinc(II) Chloride and Low-coordinate Zinc(II) Dithiolate and Bis(aryloxide) Compounds / Chapter 3.1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.111 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- General Background --- p.111 / Chapter 3.2 --- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION --- p.115 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Synthesis of Pyridine Adducts of Zinc(II) Chloride --- p.115 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Synthesis of Novel Three-Coordinate Zinc(II) Dithiolate and Bis(aryloxide) --- p.116 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Physical Characterization of Compounds 23-26 --- p.118 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Molecular Structures of Compounds 23-25 --- p.122 / Chapter 3.3 --- EXPERIMENTALS FOR CHAPTER 3 --- p.129 / Chapter 3.4 --- REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER 3 --- p.133 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- Summary of this Research Work --- p.135 / Appendix 1 General Procedures and Physical Measurements --- p.137 / "Appendix 2 Table A-l. Selected Crystallographic Data for Compounds 3, 5，7，10 and 11" --- p.139 / Table A-2. Selected Crystallographic Data for Compounds12-16 --- p.140 / Table A-3. Selected Crystallographic Data for Compounds17-21 --- p.141 / Table A-4. Selected Crystallographic Data for Compounds22-25 --- p.142

Neste trabalho foi estudado as ligas La0,7-xMgx Pr0,3Al0,3Mn0,4Co0,5Ni3,8 (x = 0 a 0,7) como eletrodo negativo de baterias de níquel - hidreto metálico. A hidrogenação das ligas foi realizada com duas pressões de H2 (2 bar e 10 bar) e temperaturas (ambiente e 500°C). A capacidade de descarga das ba terias de níquel hidreto metálico foram analisadas pelo equipamento de testes elétricos ARBIN BT-4. As ligas, no estado bruto de fusão, foram analisadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), espectroscopia de energia dispersiva (EDS) e difração de Raios-X. Com o aumento da concentração de Mg nas ligas aumenta-se a capacidade de descarga, porém nota-se a diminuição a estabilidade cíclica das baterias. A capacidade de descarga máxima obtida foi para a liga Mg0,7Pr0,3Al0,3Mn0,4Co0,5Ni3,8 (60 mAh) e a bateria que apresentou a melhor performance foi La0,4Mg0,3Pr0,3Al0,3Mn0,4Co0,5Ni3,8 (53 mAh e 150 ciclos). A capacidade de absorção de hidrogênio diminui quando se adiciona Mg, não ocorrendo tal efeito para a liga Mg0,7Pr0,3Al0,3Mn0,4Co0,5Ni3,8. / In this work were studied of La0.7-xMgx Pr0.3Al0.3Mn0.4Co0.5Ni3.8 (x = 0 and 0.7) alloys for negative electrodes of the nickel-metal hydride batteries. The hydrogenation of the alloys was performed varying pressing of H2 (2 and 10 bar) and temperature (room and 500°C). The discharge capacity of the nic kel-metal hydride batteries were analyzed in ARBIN BT- 4 electrical test equipment. The as-cast alloys were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy disperse spectroscopy (EDX) and X-Ray diffraction. The increasing Mg addition in the alloy increases maximum discharge capacity but decrease cycle life of the batteries. The maximum discharge capacity was obtained with the Mg0.7Pr0.3Al0.3Mn0.4Co0.5Ni3.8 alloy (60 mAh) and the battery which presented the best performance was La0.4Mg0.3Pr0.3Al0.3Mn0.4Co0.5Ni3.8 alloy (53 mAh and 150 cycles). The H2 capability of absorption was diminished for increased Mg addition and no such effect occurs for Mg0.7Pr0.3Al0.3Mn0.4Co0.5Ni3.8 alloy.

Submitted by FRANCISCO XAVIER DE CAMPOS null (franciscoxc1@hotmail.com) on 2017-03-01T22:20:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Francisco_Versão Final.pdf: 6434767 bytes, checksum: 1bd6138a771979437fdd6c3bb6d33b68 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-07T17:39:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 campos_fx_dr_araiq.pdf: 6434767 bytes, checksum: 1bd6138a771979437fdd6c3bb6d33b68 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-07T17:39:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 campos_fx_dr_araiq.pdf: 6434767 bytes, checksum: 1bd6138a771979437fdd6c3bb6d33b68 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Foram sintetizados os compostos Ln(Mef)3, sendo que Ln representa os lantanídeos trivalentes (La ao Lu e o ítrio (Y) e o Mef representa o mefenamato (C15H14NO2-). Os compostos foram sintetizados por adição de solução de mefenamato de sódio sobre solução dos cloretos de lantanídeos e ítrio, sob agitação e aquecimento, e consequentemente foi feita a filtragem, lavagem e secagem dos compostos. A caracterização dos compostos no estado sólido, foi realizada utilizando as técnicas de difratometria de raios X pelo método do pó, complexometria, espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e pelas técnicas termoanalíticas: termogravimetria e calorimetria exploratória diferencial simultâneas (TG-DSC), e análise dos gases desprendidos (EGA) por espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (EGA: TG-FTIR). Os resultados forneceram informações sobre o comportamento térmico, estequiometria dos compostos estudados, cristalinidade, sítios de coordenação e também foi possível identificar os principais produtos gasosos desprendidos durante o aquecimento. / The Ln(Mef)3 compounds, where Ln represents the trivalent lanthanides (La to Lu) and yttrium (Y), and Mef represents mefenamate (C15H14NO2 -), were synthesized. The synthesis was perfomed by addition of sodium mefenamate solution to the lathanides and yttrium chloride solutions, with stirring and heating, and the compounds were filtered, washed and dried. The characterization of the compounds in the solid state was carried out using the techniques of X-ray diffraction powder pattern, complexometry, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and by thermoanalytical techniques: simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and evolved gas analysis (EGA) by infrared spectroscopy (EGA: TG-FTIR). The results provided information on the thermal behavior of the studied compounds as stoichiometry, crystallinity and coordination sites. It was also possible to identify the main gaseous products evolved during the heating.

Submitted by Elesbão Santiago Neto (neto10uepb@cche.uepb.edu.br) on 2016-09-13T19:52:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Hamana Karlla Gomes Dias.pdf: 1355111 bytes, checksum: f28369379557e5717eab669569a90e36 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-13T19:52:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Hamana Karlla Gomes Dias.pdf: 1355111 bytes, checksum: f28369379557e5717eab669569a90e36 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-30 / CAPES / This study aims to analyze the formation of the panel, under the WTO framework, driven by the United States, European Union and Japan against China, having as its main subject China's policy of restrictions on exports of rare earths, a fact that undermines technological development of these countries, because China holds the monopoly on the production of these minerals. This research also aims to understand the importance and application of rare earths in the contemporary world and whether the rules of the WTO will be able to resolve the conflict of economic and strategic interests of the parts involved in the dispute. With this aim, we are going to make a case study, presenting the question and we will analyze, from the perspective of WTO, its ability to resolve the conflict. This is a qualitative academic work, based on analysis of the process in the WTO, statements and official reports of the Organization, the U.S., European Union, Japan and China, as well as papers that address the issue. We conclude that the controversy not only covers the purely economic aspects, but starts a relevant discussion on the geopolitical world that leaves the question about conflict resolution beyond the scope of the WTO. / O presente trabalho tem como principal objetivo analisar a formação do Painel, no âmbito da OMC, movido pelos Estados Unidos, União Europeia e Japão contra a China, tendo como matéria principal a política chinesa de restrições de exportação de terras raras, fato este que compromete o desenvolvimento tecnológico desses países, pois a China detém o monopólio da produção desses minerais. O trabalho visa ainda compreender a importância e aplicação das terras raras no mundo contemporâneo e saber se as regras estabelecidas no âmbito da OMC serão capazes de resolver o conflito de interesses econômicos e estratégicos das partes envolvidas no diferendo. Para esse fim, faremos um estudo de caso, apresentando a questão e analisaremos, sob o prisma da OMC, a sua capacidade de solucionar o conflito. Trata-se de um trabalho acadêmico qualitativo, pautado na análise do processo na OMC, de declarações e relatórios oficiais da Organização, dos EUA, União Europeia, Japão e China, assim como artigos científicos que abordam a questão. Conclui-se que a controvérsia não abrange apenas os aspectos puramente econômicos, mas que dá início a uma relevante discussão no âmbito da geopolítica mundial que deixa a questão além das possibilidades da OMC quanto à solução do conflito.

O complexo estuarino-lagunar de Cananéia-Iguape, localizado na porção sul do litoral do Estado de São Paulo, integra uma importante reserva ambiental e um ecossistema costeiro extremamente produtivo. A região abriga o canal do Valo Grande, construído há mais de 160 anos, o qual favorece a introdução água doce do rio Ribeira de Iguape diretamente no sistema estuarino contribuindo à importantes alterações biogeoquímicas como o aporte de nutrientes, metais e outros elementos pouco solúveis, que acabam tendo como destino os sedimentos. No presente trabalho foi realizada a coleta de amostras da coluna de água e de sedimentos de superfície ao longo do complexo estuarino-lagunar de Cananéia-Iguape e ambientes contíguos. Também houve a realização de perfis de sedimento na região sul do estuário, considerada mais preservada. O objetivo principal foi avaliar os processos que regem a distribuição dos Elementos Terras Raras (ETR) nos sedimentos do sistema, conhecendo as propriedades hidroquímicas do sistema, associando e comparando os ETR a outros elementos presentes em baixas concentrações, de modo natural ou resultantes de alterações de origem antrópica, utilizando padrões de fracionamento, anomalias e assinatura geoquímica de minerais que atuam na distribuição dos ETR verificando seu potencial para evidenciar a origem e interpretar níveis naturais e efeitos antrópicos aos quais o Complexo está submetido. Os resultados mostraram que as características hidroquímicas na região norte do Complexo encontram-se fortemente influenciadas pelo aporte de águas fluviais via Valo Grande e pelos processos biogeoquímicos associados a ele, enquanto a região sul apresentou-se mais conservada, mostrando equilíbrio biogeoquímico natural de sistemas estuarinos, oferecendo maior suporte à produção primária. Nos sedimentos de superfície, as concentrações elementares de Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hg, Hf, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Th, U, Zn, Zr e ETR* apresentaram distribuição bastante relacionada às características deposicionais/texturais, de forma que a maioria destes elementos tiveram maiores concentrações em regiões de baixa energia hidrodinâmica, no interior do rio Ribeira de Iguape e no mar Pequeno. Considerando como referência os valores guias de qualidade dos sedimentos canadenses (TEL e PEL), os elementos As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg e Zn apresentaram concentração abaixo dos valores que indicam frequente ocorrência de efeitos adversos nos organismos aquáticos (PEL), mas foi observado que em alguns locais, As, Cr, Pb e Zn superaram os valores de concentração que indicam uma baixa probabilidade de ocorrência de efeitos adversos à biota (TEL). Fatores de enriquecimento calculados com relação à crosta continental superior (FEUCC) e ao background geoquímico regional (FEBG) apontaram regiões onde ocorrem concentrações de Pb, P e Sb acima dos níveis considerados naturais, entretanto evidenciaram que os altos valores de As e Cr estariam relacionados a um enriquecimento natural dos sedimentos na região. No caso dos ETR, o FEUCC e FEBG indicaram enriquecimento na região do mar adjacente ao estuário e em estações no rio Ribeira e no Valo Grande. A aplicação de modelagem através da regressão múltipla linear mostrou que os valores, que seriam normalmente considerados anômalos, são naturais e refletem a presença de minerais pesados nestes locais. Outros elementos que parecem naturalmente enriquecidos onde há ocorrência minerais pesados são: As, Ca, Cr, Th, U, além dos elementos ditos sinalizadores, como Hf e Zr. Anomalias de Ce mostraram a possível relação com processos de oxidação de Ce+3 a Ce+4 mediada biológicamente nas zonas mais produtivas do estuário. Dos quatro perfis de sedimento obtidos na região sul do estuário, três mostraram seções com valores de FEUCC e FEBG para Pb que sugerem contribuição antrópica. Tais padrões decrescem em direção ao sul do sistema, porém praticamente não mostram variação temporal. Nenhuma concentração de Pb superou o valor de TEL nos testemunhos estudados. Zn e Hg mostraram enriquecimentos pontuais em diferentes seções do testemunho T3. Com relação aos ETR, houve novamente a observação de enriquecimento causado por minerais pesados, e os teores modelados parecem refletir níveis naturais para estes elementos nos quatro testemunhos. Tais informações podem ser utilizadas na ampliação do uso de ferramentas biogeoquímicas de avaliação e prevenção de riscos aos quais o sistema estudado está sujeito, e na tomada de decisão pelo poder público no sentido da conservação ambiental da região. / The estuary-lagoon complex of Cananéia-Iguape, in the southern portion of the coast of São Paulo state, is part of an important environmental reserve and an extremely productive coastal ecosystem. The region encloses the Valo Grande channel, built more than 160 years ago, which favors the introduction of fresh water from Ribeira de Iguape river directly into the estuarine system contributing to important biogeochemical changes in the region. Through this channel, many nutrients arrive at the estuary, as well as, metals and other slightly soluble elements, that end up as sediments. In this research, samples of the water column and surface sediments were collected in the estuary-lagoon complex of Cananéia-Iguape and contiguous environments, as well as, sediment profiles in the south of the estuary, considered to be the most conserved region. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the processes that govern the distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in the sediments of the system, associating and comparing them to other elements, both essential and toxic, using fractionation patterns, anomalies and the geochemical signature of minerals that act in the distribution of REE to evaluate the origin and interpret natural levels and the amplitude of possible anthropic effects to which the Complex is submitted. The results show that the hydrochemical characteristics in the northern region of the complex are strongly influenced by the provision of fresh water through Valo Grande channel and its resulting biogeochemical processes, while the southern region is more conserved, showing the natural biogeochemical balance of estuarine systems, offering greater support to primary production. The elemental concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hg, Hf, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Th, U, Zn, Zr and REE* in the surface sediments, show distribution related to depositional/textural characteristics, in such a way most of these elements presented their highest concentrations in regions of recognized low hydrodynamic energy, in the Ribeira de Iguape river and Mar Pequeno region. A comparison of the values obtained for As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg and Zn with the Canadian sediment quality guidelines (TEL and PEL) shows that none of the evaluated elements reached concentrations indicating a frequent occurrence of negative effects on aquatic organisms (PEL), however, As, Cr, Pb and Zn have sometimes exceeded concentration values indicating a low probability of occurrence of adverse effects on biota (TEL). Enrichment factors calculated in relation to the upper continental crust (FEUCC) and the regional geochemical background (FEBG) pointed out regions where Pb, P and Sb accumulated above the levels considered natural, however have shown that the high values of As and Cr are related to a natural enrichment of the sediments in the region. For the REE, FEUCC and FEBG indicated enrichment in the sea region adjacent to the estuary and at stations in Ribeira de Iguape river and Valo Grande. Data modeling through linear multiple regression showed that the values, which would normally be considered anomalous, are natural and reflect the presence of heavy minerals at these sites. Other elements that appear to be naturally enriched where there is the indication of occurrence of such minerals are As, Ca, Cr, Th, U, in addition to the signaling elements Hf and Zr. Ce anomalies showed a possible relationship with biologically mediated Ce+3 to Ce+4 oxidation processes in the most productive areas of the estuary. Out of the four sediment profiles obtained in the southern region of the estuary, three showed sections with FEUCC and FEBG values for Pb suggesting anthropogenic contribution. Such values decrease towards the south of the system, however showed a small time variation. None of the obtained Pb values overcame the values of TEL for such sediment profiles. Zn and Hg showed one-off enrichments in different sections of T3 sediment core. Regarding REE, there was again the observation of enrichment caused by heavy minerals in one of the sediment cores, and the modeled contents seem to reflect natural levels for these elements in the four cores. Such information can be used in the expansion of the biogeochemical tools for assessment and prevention of the risks to which the studied system is subject and in the decision making by the public sector towards the environmental preservation of the region.