Thesis (M.Eng.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 174-183.

Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Acidic soils are a major limitation to agriculture worldwide. The Highveld in South Africa has many acidic soils and several coal burning power stations. These coal burning power stations generate alkaline fly ash as a waste material and it can thus serve as an ameliorant to the surrounding acidic soils. A two year field trial was undertaken to compare fly ash and other calcium ameliorants to alleviate the effects of subsoil acidity on maize root development. The field trail was established on Beestepan Farm in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. It consisted of 24 treatments, each done in triplicate, rendering a total of 72 plots. The materials used were unweathered fly ash (CCE 10%), calcitic lime (CCE 77%) and Calmasil (a calcium silicate slag, CCE 99%). Calmasil and lime were applied at rates of 0-, 1-, 2-, and 4t/ha, while fly ash was applied at 0-, 7-, 14- and 28t/ha. These treatments were applied to an acidic sandy loam soils in the presence or absence of 4t/ha gypsum. Beans were harvested after the first season following the application of amendments and maize was harvested in the second season. Yield, root length, leaf and soil analysis was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the different liming materials. The effect of the treatments on fertility indicators such as pH, exchangeable acidity, Ca and Mg was investigated. Results indicated that all liming materials increased topsoil pH, soil nutrient and base status and crop yield in both seasons. Calmasil was the superior liming material in all respects. Fly ash increased pH minimally but reduced exchangeable acidity by 12% and 24% in the first and second seasons, respectively. Fly ash increased topsoil Ca levels from 74 to 102mg/kg and subsoil Ca from 61 to 114mg/kg. Topsoil Mg levels were increased from 7.3 to 16mg/kg and subsoil Mg was increased from 9.4 to 13mg/kg. The consequence of these increased nutrients was the subsequent increased foliar uptake of Ca and Mg. The substantial increase in bean yield from 958 to 1724kg/ha and maize yield from 5569 to 7553kg/ha following ash application compared well with results obtained from lime and Calmasil application. This may partly be due to the presence of additional plant nutrients such as P and K in the fly ash. Dissolution behaviour of fly ash indicates that upon exposure to acidity the release of micronutrients like B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mo, Mn and Zn occurs, and preliminary data shows that there is comparatively little concern regarding heavy metal accumulation in crops. The application of 4t/ha gypsum had no effect on pH and decreased subsoil acidity only minimally however, subsoil Ca status and acid saturation levels were considerably improved which would possibly account for the overall beneficial effect on maize yield, increasing by an average of 1071kg/ha. It was not possible to make any conclusions relating treatment application and maize root length. This field trial has confirmed that fly ash can be used as an efficient liming material and that it compares well with traditional liming materials. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suurgronde is ‘n groot beperking tot landbou wêreldwyd. Die Suid Afrikaanse Hoëveld het menigte suurgronde en verskeie steenkool-aangedrewe kragstasies. Hiedie kragstasies produseer alkaliese vliegas as ‘n afvalproduk. Hierdie vliegas kan dus dien as ‘n grondverbeteringsmiddel vir die aangrensende suurgronde. ‘n Tweejarige veldproef was onderneem om vliegas met ander kalsium-bevattende grondverbetereringsmiddels te vergelyk om die effek van ondergrondse suurheid op mielies op te hef. Hierdie veldproef was opgeset te Beestepan plaas in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. Dit het bestaan uit 24 behandelings wat drie keer herhaal was en lewer dus ‘n totaal van 72 persele. Die kalkmateriale wat gebruik was, is onverweerde vliegas (KKE 10%), kalsitiese kalk (KKE 77%) en Calmasil (‘n kalsium silikaat slak, KKE 99%). Calmasil en kalk was toegedien teen 0-, 1-, 2-, en 4t/ha, en vliegas teen 0-, 7-, 14- en 28t/ha. Hierdie behandelinge was toegedien tot ‘n suur leemsand met of sonder gips. Gips was toegedien teen 4t/ha. Een jaar nadat behandelinge toegedien was, is boontjies geoes en mieles was die daaropvolgende jaar geoes. Opbrengs, wortel lengte blaar- en grondontledings was uitgevoer om effektiwiteit te evalueer. Die effek van die behandelinge op indikatore van grondvrugbaarheid soos pH, uitruilbare suurheid, Ca en Mg was ondersoek. Resultate dui daarop dat alle kalkmateriale die grond se voedingstof- en basisstatus, bogrond pH asook gewasopbreng verhoog het. Calmasil was die beste kalkmateriaal in alle opsigte. Vliegas het die pH minimaal verhoog, terwyl dit die uitruilbare suurheid verminder het met 12% en 24% in die eerste en tweede jaar onderskeidelik. Vliegas het bogrond Ca vlakke vanaf 74 tot 102mg/kg vermeer, sowel as ondergrond Ca vanaf 61 tot 114mg/kg. Bogrond Mg was vermeer vanaf 7.3 tot 16mg/kg, asook ondergrond Mg vanaf 9.4 tot 13 mg/kg. Die gevolg van hierdie verhoogde voedingstowwe was die toename van Ca en Mg in die blare van die gewasse. Die beduidende toename in opbrengste van boontjies vanaf 958 tot 1724mg/kg en mielies vanaf 5569 tot 7553kg/ha na die toediening van vliegas vergelyk goed met die resultate van kalk en Calmasil. Dit is gedeeltelik toe te skryf aan die teenwoordigheid van addisionele plantvoedingstowwe soos P en K in vliegas. Oplossingstudies van vliegas dui op die teenwoordigheid van mikrovoedingstowwe soos B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mo, Mn en Zn. Aanvanklike data wys dat daar relatief min kommer oor swaarmetaal akkumulasie in gewasse is. Alhoewel 4t/ha gips geen effek op pH gehad het nie, en ondergondrondse suurheid minimaal verminder het, het ondergrondse Ca en gevolglik suurversadiging heelwat verbeter. Dit mag moontlik as verduideliking dien vir die oorhoofse voordelige effek van gips op mielie opbrengste, wat verhoog het met ‘n gemiddelde 1071kg/ha. Oorvleuende omstandighede het daartoe gelei dat geen konkrete afleidings gemaak kon word oor die wortel lengte van die mielies nie. Hierdie veldproef bevestig dat vliegas as ‘n effektiewe kalkmateriaal gebruik kan word en goed vergelyk met tradisionele kalkmateriale.

No description available.

Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / Soil acidity is one of the greatest limitations to crop production in most soils of the world. The increasing high costs of conventional liming materials have made it necessary to explore the possibilities of using cheaper substitutes. In South Africa, 16 million hectares of land are naturally acid while on the other hand, the country’s coalfired power plants generate 28 million tons of mostly alkaline coal ash per year, disposal of which is increasingly becoming difficult. The use of coal ash as an agricultural soil amendment while solving the liming needs of local farmers, may also present a safe and more economical disposal option. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of coal ash as an agricultural liming material. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using maize as test crop. A field experiment was also established on Beestepan Farm in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Province using dry beans as test crop for the first season. In both experiments, fresh unweathered coal ash from Duvha power station (CCE 10%), dolomitic lime (CCE 77%) and calmasil (calcium silicate slag, CCE 99%) were applied to acidic sandy loam soils in the presence or absence of gypsum. Both calmasil and dolomitic lime were applied at equivalent rates of 0, 1, 2, and 4 tons/ha, and rates of 0, 7, 14 and 28 tons/ha were used for ash. Gypsum was applied at a rate of 4 tons/ha. All treatments were applied in three replications. Results showed that liming increased soil pH, improved soil nutrient status and plant uptake of base cations, and enhanced yield. In the greenhouse, coal ash decreased exchangeable acidity from 13.0 mmolc/kg to 6.67 mmolc/kg, increased Ca levels from 200 mg/kg to 379 mg/kg, and increased Mg levels from 25.9 mg/kg to 42.0 mg/kg. Nitrate levels were also raised from 4.4 mg/kg to 14.8 mg/kg hypothetically as a result of the increase in the activity of nitrifying bacteria following a decrease in soil acidity after ash application. Maize yield in the greenhouse was not significantly affected by ash or by other liming materials, and the sufficient watering and consequent elimination of aluminium-induced drought stress is put forward as having masked crop responses to acidity. In the field, coal ash reduced exchangeable acidity from 10.0 mmolc/kg to 5.88 mmolc/kg, increased Ca levels from 71 mg/kg to 132 mg/kg, and increased Mg levels from 7.3 mg/kg to 17 mg/kg. The increase in bean yield from 958 kg/ha to 1724 kg/ha by ash was similar to that realized by dolomitic lime and calmasil. Gypsum had little effect on soil acidity, but it substantially improved soil Ca and sulfate levels, and enhanced bean yield in the field experiment. The study demonstrated that coal ash could be effective as a liming material, and underscores the need for a cost-benefit assessment of ash use necessitated by the relatively higher rates of ash required to obtain significant soil and plant responses.

Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The soils of north-west Zambia are largely unexplored and are regarded by local residents as problematic in providing sufficient nutrients for the staple crop of maize in the area. The area is semi-tropical, with an average rainfall of 1300mm annum-1 falling predominantly in the summer. The undulating landscape is dominated by miombo woodland interspersed with savanna grassland. Little work has been done on these soils and further information is required to understand their origin and their fertility status. The main objectives of this thesis were: 1) to classify and sample soils from a large number of small-scale agricultural lands, 2) to develop a better understanding of these soils chemical characteristics, 3) to determine the effect of vegetation clearance on soil fertility by sampling adjacent uncultivated land, and 4) to test locally derived rock dust as a soil ameliorant in pot trial. Soils from 100 agricultural and adjacent bush/forest sites were classified and analysed to determine their fertility status. They were tentatively classified according to the WRB system and are dominated by Arenosols, Acrisols and Ferralsols with infrequent occurrences of Lixisols. Most of these soils have a sandy texture. The clay fraction comprises of gibbsite, kaolinite and hydroxyl-Al interlayered vermiculite (HIV), with a few soils also having some mica present. The soils are consistently acidic with 42% of soils sampled having a pH (KCl) <4.3. Furthermore, the subsoils proved to be equally if not more acidic than the topsoils. Low nutrient levels are invariably associated with the soil acidity, with 84% of soils having <15mg/kg P, 59% of soils <50 mg/kg K, 80% soils <300 mg/kg Ca, and 44% soils <80 mg/kg Mg. Comparisons between cultivated and bushland soils showed no consistent changes to the soil acidity and fertility. This is contrary to research that was reviewed but is likely to have been affected by the spatial variability of these soils arising from the termite dominated landscape and the soils having been derived from different parent materials. Amelioration of these soils is required in order to increase yields. It is thought that lime, used with an N, P, K, Zn and B fertilizer, will best remedy the deficiencies found in these soils. Using these nutrients could raise the yields of <1t.ha-1 to in excess of 5 t.ha-1. Local soil ameliorants of crushed rock, ash, compost, green manure and termite mounds were also considered with pulverised granite being tested through factorial pot trials to determine its usefulness as a source of K and alkalinity. It raised both soil pH and K levels but is of limited value as these rises were not significant enough to affect yield. It is recommended that future research should: 1) strategically sample across the district, classify soils and determine their fertility status; 2) compile a soil yield potential map and 3) undertake field trials to test the quantities and effectiveness of fertilizers alongside local soil ameliorants.

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is adapted to soils with high organic matter and acidic pH. Composts provide organic matter and nutrients for growing blueberry in mineral soils, but many composts are high in pH and soluble salts. Acidification with elemental sulfur (S°) can remedy high pH, but the process further increases compost salinity. The objectives of this study were to: i) determine the effects of diverse composts on blueberry growth and nutrient uptake, ii) determine whether S° acidification can ameliorate the negative effects of high compost pH, and iii) develop and validate a simple titration method to determine pH buffering capacity of compost. In our first study, ten composts were evaluated under greenhouse conditions with one-year-old blueberry. Each compost was either acidified or not with S° and then mixed 30% by volume with silt loam soil before planting. Controls were sawdust incorporation or soil only. Plants were managed with a low rate of fertilization to emphasize compost effects on nutrient supply. Compost inorganic nitrogen (N) ranged from 0.1 to 4.1 g∙kg⁻¹, and NO₃-N to NH₄-N ratios were greater than 20:1. Aboveground plant growth and nutrient uptake, including N, phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and boron (B) were higher in soil with compost than in soil with sawdust or soil only. Composts with pH < 7.5 produced more shoot growth than those with higher pH, and composts with EC > 2 dS∙m⁻¹ produced less root growth than those with lower EC. Adding S° reduced compost pH by an average of 1.9 units, and acidification increased shoot and root growth in the composts as well as uptake of many nutrients. Plant growth and N uptake were not correlated with compost N supply. Composts with greater amounts of plant-based feedstocks produced more total shoot growth than manure-based composts. In our second study, 3.7 L blueberry transplants were grown outdoors for 119 d in pots containing compost and soil. Manure feedstocks included separated dairy solids or horse stall cleanings. Plant feedstocks included urban yard trimmings, leaves from street sweeping, conifer bark conditioned with municipal biosolids, or peppermint distillation residue. Control treatments were sawdust amendment or soil only. Plant-based compost treatments had less effect on soil pH and produced 20% greater plant growth than manure-based compost treatments. Plant growth was not different with plant-based composts vs. the sawdust amendment control. Elemental S addition at potting did not acidify soil enough to overcome the increase in pH resulting from compost addition. In our third study, we titrated eight composts with dilute H₂SO₄ to predict response to S° acidification. Our objective was to develop and validate a simple method to determine the pH buffering capacity of compost. Compost pH decreased linearly with laboratory acid addition. Compost pH buffering capacity (linear slope of titration curve) was 0.16 to 0.39 mol H⁺ per kg dry compost per pH unit. To determine correlation between titration and S° acidification, composts samples were incubated with S° at 22° C for 70 d. The majority of the decrease in pH from S° addition occurred within 28 d. Compost pH at 28 d was closely predicted by the laboratory titration. Because of the linearity of compost response to acid addition, a 2-point titration method (one rate of acid addition) is an effective alternative to the 7-point method we used. We conclude that compost pH is the primary limiting factor affecting blueberry response to compost. Compost incorporation provided benefit to blueberry, especially under low N management, and generally increased plant growth and nutrient uptake when compared with plants grown in mineral soil only. Composts made from plant-based feedstocks, rather than manure-based feedstocks, tend to have characteristics which favor blueberry growth, including low buffering capacity, pH, and soluble salts. Feedstocks which showed promise include deciduous leaves, yard debris, bark, and horse bedding with low manure content. Acidification of composts with S° increased plant growth and nutrient uptake, and is a promising technology for eliminating the negative effects of high compost pH. Our method of laboratory titration with dilute acid addition was effective in determining pH buffering capacity of compost, and predicted the compost acidification by S° and the effect of compost on soil pH. / Graduation date: 2012

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemical Engineering / Keith L. Hohn / The autothermal reforming and partial oxidation of hexadecane via Pt/Ni bimetallic nanoparticles on various ceria-based supports were investigated. Nanoparticles with Pt/Ni molar ratios ranging from 0/100 to 10/90 were loaded on ceria-based supports including cerium oxide, gadolinium-doped cerium oxide and cerium-doped zirconium oxide. The effect of the Pt/Ni molar ratio and the promotional effect of the support were studied by comparing the hydrogen yield. TPR and XPS analysis showed that there was a strong interaction between Ni and the CeO₂-ZrO₂ support, which led to enhancement of catalyst performance when the Pt/Ni ratio was low. The strong interaction between Ni and CeO₂-ZrO₂ support was induced by the formation of a solid solution between NiO and ZrO₂. In the case of bimetallic catalysts loaded on Gd₂O₃-CeO₂, no significant improvement in the catalytic activity of autothermal reforming was achieved until the Pt/Ni ratio reached 10/90. With C-snarf-1 as a pH-sensitive fluorescent probe, the local acidity on the surface of gradient aluminosilicate thin films and in the pore structure of mesoporous silicate films was explored. The single molecule emission ratio (I₅₈₀/I₆₄₀) of C-snarf-1 on the gradient aluminosilicate films showed similar results as previously reported for aluminosilicate mesoporous films. As the Al/Si ratio increases, the emission ratio declines, indicative of increased material acidity. In the case the mesoporous silicate films, much broader distributions of emission ratios were observed and are suggestive of significant heterogeneity in the pore structure of these films. The average emission ratio increased with a rise in pH until pH 6 or 7. A further rise in pH leads to a decline in emission ratio. Molecules with high mobility showed a narrow distribution and slightly lower average emission ratio when compared to data from all detected molecules. This observation implies a reduced heterogeneity for mesopores in which the molecules rapidly diffuse. The narrow distribution and lower average value of emission ratio at low pH, combined with the decrease in emission ratio induced by an increase in ionic strength may further indicate that the interaction between dye molecules and the pore surface impacts the emission ratio of the dye molecules.

A study was conducted in 2006 to investigate the long-term effects of air pollution on soil properties in the vicinity of the Arnot power station, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Fifteen sites were re-sampled and the soil chemical properties compared to baseline data gathered in 1996, resulting in a ten year period after which changes in soil properties were investigated. A spatial gradient was incorporated into the study in order to better understand the deposition of pollutants with increasing distance from the power station. The study indicates that long-term acidic deposition has led to detectable changes in soil chemical properties. Three chemical properties, namely the concentrations of calcium and magnesium in both the topsoils and the subsoils, as well as the effective cation exchange capacity in the subsoils showed a significant increase since 1996. However, five soil chemical properties, namely soil pH (K2SO4), the concentration of hydrogen and aluminium and total sulphur in both the topsoils and the subsoils, as well as extractable sulphate in the topsoils and soluble sulphate in the subsoils, all show that the soils have become more acidic over the ten years. The acidic components in the soil override the basic components, as shown by the ratio of basic cations to acidic cations in the soils. The spatial gradient generally indicates that at approximately 8 km from the power station, there is a decrease in the concentration of acidic soil properties and one explanation for this may be a reduction in the acidic components of atmospheric deposition at this site. However, this needs further investigation. Two significant relationships with distance were found, namely a significant negative relationship with soluble sulphate and a significant positive relationship with acid neutralising capacity. This research will form part of a database for other long-term monitoring programmes and will allow data to be compared to other data from this area of research. It will also provide information to important industry leaders such as Eskom.

Foram analisadas 72 amostras de leite humano cru recebidas do Banco de Leite do Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba, com valores de acidez conhecidos. Quarenta e oito delas tinham acidez aceitável (até 8º D) e outras 24 amostras com acidez acima desse limite. Foram realizadas contagens bacterianas: bactérias lácticas, lipolíticas, coliformes totais e fecais, microrganismos aeróbios mesófilos totais e Staphylococcus coagulase positiva. Quarenta e nove questionários de freqüência alimentar foram aplicados em lactantes doadoras de leite com o propósito de estabelecer correlação entre microbiologia, acidez e nutrição das lactantes. Nas amostras com valor de acidez < 8°D as populações microbianas encontradas foram: para o grupo dos microrganismos mesófilos aeróbios totais e bactérias lácticas a população máxima encontrada ficou na ordem de 106 UFC/mL. Já para bactérias lipolíticas este valor não ultrapassou 1,9x105UFC/mL. Os coliformes totais foram isolados em 47,2% (34 amostras) das amostras analisadas, destas 87,5% confirmaram também a presença de E.coli. Para Staphylococcus coagulase positiva o valor máximo encontrado foi 1x104 UFC/mL e foi similar às amostras ácidas e não ácidas. Nas amostras rejeitadas (acidez > 8ºD) as contagens máximas tanto para o grupo de mesófilos como de bactérias lácticas foram da ordem 107 UFC/mL. As bactérias lipolíticas foram encontradas em 53,52% (13 amostras) do total de amostras analisadas e o grupo dos coliformes foi detectado em 52,94% das amostras ácidas, destas 33,33% apresentaram crescimento de E. coli. Os dados foram avaliados pela correlação de Pearson entre as variáveis: população de microrganismos mesófilos aeróbios totais e acidez Dornic. O nível de significância foi estabelecido em p<0,05. Os valores de acidez Dornic não mostraram correlação (R = 0,215) estatisticamente significativa com a população de microrganismos mesófilos aeróbios totais (UFC/mL) para as amostras analisadas. De acordo os dados nutricionais, pequenas diferenças são observadas em relação ao consumo de alimentos e alteração de acidez do leite humano. Pelos valores encontrados não foi possível detectar correlação entre a nutrição da lactante e os valores de acidez encontrados nas amostras de leite humano. / Seventy two samples of human breastmilk obtained from the Milk of the Hospitals Group of Sorocaba were analyzed, prior to pasteurization. Dornic acidity was titrated in duplicate for each sample. Forty eight of them had acceptable acidity (up to 8° D) and other 24 samples with acidity above of that limit. Quantifying the initial population: lactic bacteria, lipolitics bacteria, total coliforms and Escherichia coli, aerobic mesofilic microorganisms and Staphylococcus positive coagulase. Forty nine questionnaires of alimentary frequency were applied in lactic donors of milk with the purpose of to detect correlation among microbiology, acidity and nutrition of the lactic ones. The samples with value of acidity <8°D the found populations of microorganism were: group of the microorganisms mesofilic total aerobic and lactic bacteria the found maximum population was 106 CFU/mL. Although for lipolitics bacteria this value did not cross 1,9x105 CFU/mL. The group of total coliforms were isolated in 47,2% (34 samples) of the analyzed samples, of these 87,5% they also confirmed the presence of E.coli. In Staphylococcus positive coagulase the detect maximum value was 1x104 CFU/mL and it was similar to the acid samples and no acid. In the samples with acidity above 8ºD (rejected) the maximum population so much for the mesofilic group as of lactic bacteria they were 107 CFU/mL. The lipolitics bacteria were found in 53,52% (13 samples) of the total of analyzed samples and the group of the coliforms was detected in 52,94% of the acid samples, of these 33,33% they presented growth of E. coli. Data were analyzed to detect correlation between variables: population of aerobic mesofilic microorganisms and acidity Dornic, using Pearson`s coefficient. The level of significance was set at p <0,05. The values of acidity Dornic did not show correlation (R = 0,215) statistically significant with the population of aerobic mesofilic microorganisms (CFU/mL) for the analyzed samples. According to the data nutritional, small differences are noticed regarding to the consumption of foods and alteration of acidity of the human milk. For the found values it was not possible to detect correlation between the nutrition of the lactic and the values of acidity found in the samples of human milk.

Submitted by Eunice Novais (enovais@uepg.br) on 2018-07-24T17:40:36Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) EDUARDO L. MIRANDA.pdf: 667563 bytes, checksum: a26ce019073169bce213e38345cf54b2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-24T17:40:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) EDUARDO L. MIRANDA.pdf: 667563 bytes, checksum: a26ce019073169bce213e38345cf54b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-28 / A demanda por energia no mundo está cada vez mais crescente. Uma alternativa é a produção de biodiesel de soja, que além dar um destino ao subproduto do grão também é fonte de energia renovável. As indústrias de biodiesel seguem padrões de classificação de grãos, onde realizam descontos para grãos avariados em casos de ultrapassagem dos limites pré-estabelecidos pelas normas. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar se os descontos normatizados para grãos avariados procedem; comparando a qualidade do óleo para produção de biodiesel proveniente de grãos de soja (Glycine max) classificados como partidos e sem defeitos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente aleatorizado. Os tratamentos consistiram nas análises de óleo degomado de grãos partidos e sem defeitos de dez cultivares de soja. Foram realizadas três repetições por tratamento. As variáveis analisadas foram: acidez, índice de estabilidade oxidativa do óleo e o teor de óleo de grãos. Concluiu-se que a qualidade do óleo de soja para produção de biodiesel, proveniente de grãos de soja classificados como sem defeitos e partidos diferiu significativamente em mais de 70% das dez cultivares testadas. Os resultados foram semelhantes apenas para uma das cultivares analisadas (NA 5909 16/17) em duas variáveis (acidez e índice de estabilidade oxidativa) e diferindo para o teor de óleo. / The world’s demand for energy is constantly increading. One of the alternatives is the production of the biodiesel from source of soy. The biodiesel from the soy provides the benefits of being a great use of the grain itself, and also is a great source of renewable energy. The industry follow specific standards to classify the quality of the grains. In case the grains present results outside of the standards estipulated by the industry, a discount is determined to buy the cargo. The purpose of this study is to verify and analize the discount established by the industry for the gain of soy (Glycine max), comparing the quality of the oil for the purpose of production of biodiesel classified as “broken” and/or without any defects. The experimental design used for statistics purposes was the Entirely Randomized. The study analized the degummed oil in the production of ten diferente samples of biodiesel from gain of soy “broken” and without any deffects. The variables analized were: acidity, oil oxidative stability index, and grain oil content. The conclusion presented results comparing both qualities of the grain of soy (i.e. “broken” and without any defects), showing a discrepancy of 70% in the quality index, analizing the ten different samples randomly extracted and tested. The results were similar only for one of the analyzed cultivars (NA 5909 16/17) in two variables (acidity and oxidative stability index) and differing for the oil content.