This thesis assesses and describes two main current trends appearing at the crude oil market, specifically re-entry of Iran back to the crude oil market after termination of economic sanctions and current oil glut. First part of this thesis is devoted to the crude oil as resource, it focuses mainly on the history, formation and mining of crude oil. Second part of this thesis focuses on the international trade with crude oil. It analyses data regarding reserves, production, consumption, export and import of crude oil, as well as it describes the OPEC organization. Third part is devoted to the organization of the market with crude oil and describes three main motives of entering to the crude oil market. There are analyzed current trends on the crude oil market in the last part of this thesis.

Building relations with China is a topic of broad and current interest, when it comes to establishing and deepening new economic cooperation between Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions. This thesis analyses current economic cooperation between these two regions with the prevailing emphasis on the African partner. The thesis is formally divided into five chapters. The first two chapters focus on selected theoretical and factual starting points related to the main topic of the thesis, which create a foundation stone for the other chapters. In the third chapter of the thesis, selected statistical data about current trade and investment cooperation between both partners are introduced. The main goal of the following fourth chapter is to analyze real impact of mutual cooperation on the selected country of Sub-Saharan region. The last chapter of the thesis analyses a relatively problematic and widely discussed issue: the classification and allocation of financial flows from China in the Sub-Saharan Africa.

To mitigate the problems of depleting and soaring price of fossil fuels, the production and use of renewable energy have been vigorously promoted. In Europe, the role of biologically-derived fuels and in particular biodiesel is gradually increasing in prominent. Rapeseed biodiesel is the most widely produced in Europe. As a consequence, enormous amount of by-products from production processes are being generated. Current strategies for managing these by-products (mainly rapeseed meal and crude glycerol) seem not to be economically sustainable. More efficient utilisation could add more value to the production chain which in turn would raise the competitiveness of biodiesel compared to petro-diesel. The aim of the project reported in this thesis was to study the feasibility of producing a value added product, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), from by-products generated from rapeseed biodiesel production processes as well as to investigate the effects of methanol, a major impurity in crude glycerol, on growth of Cupriavidus necator, a PHB-producing micro-organism.The preliminary study of C. necator growth in crude glycerol based media revealed that optimum concentration of crude glycerol was in a range 15-25 g/L. It was also found that slight changes in the carbon to nitrogen ratio of the feedstock did not significantly affect the growth while methanol at concentrations beyond 10 g/L did. A model based on a saturation equation was developed and used to successfully predict the inhibition of growth by methanol. From the developed model, mechanisms of the inhibition were proposed. The model could also be used to predict satisfactorily growth or productivity rates in other systems containing short-chain alcohols. The growth in solutions derived from rapeseed meal (designated as hydrolysate) via solid-state fermentation by Aspergillus oryzae followed by hydrolysis of the fermented solids was also studied. The biomass production was found to increase as a function of initial free amino nitrogen (FAN) concentration presented in the hydrolysate. However, at higher initial FAN concentrations, a lower conversion of nitrogen to biomass was observed. PHB production was studied using a feedstock which was a mixture of the hydrolysate and crude glycerol. Total biomass concentration reached 28.8 g/L at 120 h with 86% PHB content. PHB productivity and PHB yield on glycerol were 0.21 g/L•h and 0.32 g/g respectively. These results were comparable with those obtained when pure glycerol and synthetic crude glycerol were used, suggesting that, technically, the use of the generic rapeseed- and crude glycerol-based feedstock to produce PHB is feasible.Overall, the feasibility of producing PHB from rapeseed biodiesel by-products has been demonstrated. The satisfactory result leads to the more important outlook that the generic feedstock derived from rapeseed biodiesel by-products has the potential to be used to produce a wide range of products depending on the micro-organism used. Further development of this process to improve nutrient production efficiency as well as product yields and subsequent integration of the process into the biodiesel production process could well be an important contribution in the development of a sustainable biodiesel industry.

Conflict in Libya was the most serious of a series of uprising at the beginning of the year 2011 in the Middle East and North Africa. Following the current situation of world production and consumption of oil, the work focuses on the reaction of oil markets to the conflict and estimates the future development of the oil industry. The aim is to analyze how much the Libyan Civil War influences the development of oil prices on world markets. The second main point of this work is to determine to what extent the current situation in the country could damage the Libyan economy. Much of the information comes from documents and statistics of the U. S. Energy Information Administration, the International Energy Agency and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the disappearance of crude fiber and lignin from the digestive tracts of healthy young college women consuming a self-selected diet.

Orientadores: Marcos Nogueira Eberlin, Alexandra Christine Helena Frankland Sawaya / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T16:06:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Schmidt_EduardoMorgado_D.pdf: 4816547 bytes, checksum: a63a426882376e7714bd6aea39b9f5ba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A espectrometria de massas é uma técnica analítica que atualmente permite desde a análise de um único íon molecular até um perfil da distribuição de íons em amostras complexas. Isso vem sendo possível por meio da análise direta com diferentes fontes de ionização e também ao desenvolvimento de analisadores de massas de altíssima resolução tais como o FT-ICR e Orbitrap. Para amostras complexas como o petróleo a fonte de ionização mais adequada para análise dos compostos polares é o Eletrospray (ESI) devido a sua estabilidade e consequentemente reprodutibilidade. Uma alternativa foi testada com a fonte ionização V-EASI, no entanto, as respostas obtidas não foram satisfatórias. O analisador de massas FT-ICR foi utilizado para análise direta de petróleo bruto e permitiu monitorar e investigar o petróleo e seus derivados adicionando novas informações desde a exploração até o refino e, ainda, em um aspecto forense como em derrame de petróleo bruto e investigação de diferentes óleos de motor. Nesse trabalho avaliou-se pela primeira vez o analisador MegaOrbitrap (ainda em fase experimental) para análise de petróleo bruto, que se mostrou tão eficiente senão melhor que o já consagrado FT-ICR. Deixando a parte amostras complexas e retornando para a análise de um único íon, em uma abordagem forense, essa técnica permite a caracterização da composição de corantes utilizados na impressão de notas de Real genuínas e falsas, e ainda, de corantes utilizados para marcar notas de real furtadas de caixas eletrônicos quando estes são violados. Sendo assim, esta tese mostra resultados obtidos da análise de petróleo bruto por ambos os analisadores de massa citados, fato esse inédito na literatura, e também resultados de análises forenses de petróleo, notas de Real falsificadas e também com indicio de furto por meio de corantes e resíduos de explosivos / Abstract: Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that currently allows from the analysis of a single molecular ion to a profile of the distribution of ions in complex samples. This has been possible through direct analysis with different sources of ionization and also the development of ultra-high resolution mass analyzers such as the FT-ICR and Orbitrap. For complex samples such as oil, the most appropriate source of ionization is the electrospray (ESI) due to its stability and consequently reproducibility. Even though an alternative has been tested with the EASI-V ionization source, the responses obtained were not satisfactory. The analyzer FT-ICR mass is already being used for direct analysis of crude oil and allows monitoring and investigating of the crude oil and its derivatives. This new data about polar compounds may be useful to add new information starting from the oil crude exploration until refining. Additionally, it may also be useful in forensic analysis such as in crude oil spills and in the investigation of the compliance of different motor oils (mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic) with their labels. In this study we have evaluated for the first time the MegaOrbitrap analyzer (still experimental) for crude oil analysis, which has proved to be as effective, if not better than, the widely used FT-ICR. Dealing with the analysis of a single ion in a forensic aspect, this technique allows the characterization of the dye composition used in the actual printing of genuine and counterfeit banknotes, and further, the dyes used to mark Real banknotes stolen from ATMs after they have exploded. Thus, this thesis shows results obtained from crude oil analysis performed by both mass analyzers mentioned, a fact unprecedented in the literature, and also forensic analysis results of oil, derivatives, Brazilian fake banknotes and also banknotes with theft indicators applied by explosives / Doutorado / Quimica Inorganica / Doutor em Ciências

Leveduras oleaginosas possuem a capacidade de sintetizar grande quantidade de lipídeos em suas células, gerando produtos de alto valor agregado através de um processo sustentável. Um perfil de ácidos graxos poli-insaturados é de grande interesse por parte das industrias alimentícia e farmacêutica e têm sido alvo de diversos estudos em relação à sua produção e efeitos benéficos à saúde. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo produzir ácidos graxos poli-insaturados pela levedura Meyerozyma guilliermondii BI281 utilizando glicose, glicerol residual e permeado de soro de queijo como fontes de carbono. Avaliou-se o metabolismo da levedura em meios de cultivo com diferentes composições (“meio A” e “base YM”) e comparou-se o seu desempenho em razões C/N 100: 1 e 50:1. A levedura foi capaz de metabolizar todos os substratos testados e o meio de cultivo “A” com glicerol residual e razão C/N 50:1 mostrou-se o mais adequado, obtendo valores de 5,67 g.L-1 de biomassa e 1,04 g.L-1 de lipídeos, representando aproximadamente 18 % do peso da massa seca de biomassa. Esta condição foi escalonada para biorreator de 2 L, onde condições de aeração e controle de pH puderam ser avaliadas, apresentando quantidade semelhante de lipídeos (1,08 g.L-1) e uma maior produção de biomassa (7,05 g.L-1). Os ácidos graxos sintetizados apresentaram em sua composição ácido láurico (C12:0), ácido mistírico (C14:0), ácido palmítico (C16:0), ácido pamitoleico (C16:1), ácido esteárico (C18:0), ácido oleico (C18:1 n-9), ácido linoleico (C18:2 n-6) e ácido linolênico (C18:3 n-3). / Oleaginous yeasts are able to synthesize high amounts of lipids in their cells, producing high added-value products through a sustainable process. Food and pharmaceutical companies have great interest in polyunsaturated fatty acids depending on their profiles and many studies related to their production and health benefits have been carried out. The aim of this study was to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids by the yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii BI281A using glucose, crude glycerol, and cheese whey permeate as carbon sources. Yeast metabolism was evaluated in different compositions of culture media (“A” and “YM”) and at different C/N ratios (100:1 and 50:1). The yeast was able to assimilate all substrates tested, and medium “A” with crude glycerol as carbon source at a C/N ratio of 50:1 had the most efficient result with biomass production of 5.67 g.L-1 and lipid production of 1.08 g.L-1, which represented 18 % of dry cell weight. This composition was scaled-up to a 2 L bioreactor, where it was possible to measure pH and aeration conditions, and showed similar lipid production (1.08 g.L-1) and higher biomass production (7.05 g.L-1). Fatty acids profile obtained was composed by lauric acid (C12:0), myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid(C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6), and linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3).

Anaerobic digestion can be used to sustainably treat the organic byproducts of the biodiesel process (crude glycerol and biodiesel wastewater) while generating a renewable natural gas to be used for heating or electricity generation. The purpose of this thesis was to (1) investigate the possibility of co-digestion of biodiesel byproducts without use of external substrates or pretreatment and (2) assess the impact of various acclimatization rates on the stability and efficiency of such a system. Two inocula (effluent from a wastewater treatment plant digester and from an agro-industrial waste digester) and two acclimatization rates were studied. The results showed that co-digestion of crude glycerol and biodiesel wastewater at high organic loading rates(up to 6.8 g COD L-1day-1)is possible without addition of other substrates or pretreatment.Thecumulative biogas production of the digesters using inoculum from the agro-industrial waste digester was statistically greater than the digesters using the wastewater treatment plant digester, indicating that similar inoculum could be useful for additional experiments.In addition,maximum efficiency due to a slower rate of acclimatization was higher for both inocula, up to a maximum average daily biogas yield of 621 mL biogas g-1COD added.Finally, comparison of two methods for measuring gas production (mass difference and volumetrically using a syringe) revealed a reasonable correlation(R2= 0.97)between the methods. Additional validation could lead to use of the mass difference method as a validation method or an alternative gas production measurement method.

Abstract embargoed until 2030-11-11

Genomic modifications occur slowly across generations, whereas short-term epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adaptive phenotypes may be immediately beneficial to large numbers of individuals, acting as a bridge for survival when adverse environments occur. In this study we used dietary exposure to crude oil as an example of an environmental stressor to assess its effects from the molecular to the organismal levels in piscine and avian animal models. In addition, we assessed the role of the parental exposures on their offspring F1 generation. The research developed in this dissertation has contributed to several areas of investigation including molecular biology, animal physiology, and evolutionary biology. The quantitative information from these studies may be utilized to supplement information regarding the proximate and ultimate effects of environmental stressors on fish and bird populations. Furthermore, this information may be used as additional support for understanding the conservation of the responses from the molecular to the whole organismal levels across the vertebrate taxa, as well as their implications for population survival and maintenance. Additionally, the zebrafish (Danio rerio), the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) and the king quail (Coturnix chinensis) have proven to be excellent models to start building a strong basis for understanding the effects of environmental stressors and transgenerational epigenetic phenomena using a multi-level approach. Furthermore, as more raw data and information is discovered, the concatenation of development, organismal variation, epigenetics inheritance, natural selection, speciation and evolution is being slowly decrypted.