>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Rapid industrialization growth without appropriate emission standards for discharging environmental pollutants had exposed the ecosystem to detrimental effect. Due to their bioaccumulation propensity in organisms, toxicity and non-biodegradable aspect, heavy metal spoliation is currently a significant ecological obligation. Owing to their natural abundance and extensive use, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), among different heavy metals, are the predominant toxic metals. The intrusion of Cd and Pb metal ions into the ecosystem is accomplished by widely accepted methods such as anticorrosive coating of steel, electronic circuit and batteries. / 2023

Lavender is an important medicinal plant that is sensitive to various environmental factors. Lavender essential oils have been shown to improve human health in response to many diseases. Lavender is grown all over the world, which indicates its ability to adapt to different climates. There are no reports of its commercial cultivation in Mississippi. It has been proven that there are many factors that directly affect the plant growth and concentration of essential oils in lavender. Studying these factors that affect plant growth and essential oils will be beneficial for lavender producers. The aim of this study is to increase the production of essential oil through cultural techniques and analyze the active compounds of three Lavandula species (L. intermedia, L. angustifolia, L. stoechas) using HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography, Mass spectrometer) technology. Applications of gibberellic acid, iron chelate, Mycorrhizae, humic acid, DAP, and potash fertilizer were studied to promote plant growth and production of essential oils. The essential oils were extracted using a Soxhlet distillation. The quantity and quality of the essential oils was also evaluated using HPLC and GC-MS. The linalool, linalyl acetate, and other compounds from Lavandula may be considered natural raw material source for pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products. These vital components of the essential oil of lavender leaves, flowers, and stems (linalool, linalyl, and other compounds) were affected by chelated iron treatments, gibberellin, humic acid, and mycorrhizae. The essential oil compounds of L. angustifolia and L. x intermedia cultivars make them worth cultivating.

No description available.

Activated sludge influent and effluent from five municipal wastewater treatment plants were analyzed to further elucidate the roles of aluminum, iron, and the monovalent to divalent cation ratio (M/D) on the influent and effluent characteristics of the systems. The size distribution of organic nitrogen, organic carbon, protein, humic acid, and polysaccharide was examined with respect to the concentration of cations in the activated sludge influent. It was found that the majority of organic nitrogen, organic carbon, protein and polysaccharides were found in material larger than 0.45μm in activated sludge influent. Humic acids were mostly found in material smaller than 0.45μm. Protein was the largest contributor to organic nitrogen and humic acids were the largest contributor to organic carbon. Using 0.45μm as a division between particulate and soluble material, the ratio of soluble to particulate material in activated sludge influent was found to be negatively correlated with the ratio of iron to aluminum. In activated sludge effluent, the majority of the organic nitrogen and protein was found in material larger than 0.45μm, while the majority of the organic carbon, humic acid, and polysaccharide were found in material smaller than 30kDa. Influent aluminum concentration had no observable effect on the concentration or distribution of organic nitrogen or organic carbon. Influent iron appeared to play a role in the flocculation of organic nitrogen and protein containing material between 0.45μm and 1kDa in size. A high monovalent to divalent cation ratio appeared to play a role in deflocculating organic nitrogen containing material larger than 1.5μm and increased the concentration of TOC smaller than 1kDa and the total polysaccharide concentration. Tertiary depth filtration removed all organic nitrogen and protein in material larger than 0.45μm, but a poor job of removing organic carbon from and an inconsistent job of removing polysaccharide from effluent Eight lab-scale activated sludge reactors were also run, but the data was not consistent enough for analysis and comparison with the municipal wastewater treatment plants. This thesis contains a series of four papers that each deal with a different aspect of the role of cations on activated sludge influent and effluent. The first paper focuses on activated sludge influent characteristics, the second on effluent organic nitrogen and organic carbon, the third on effluent EPS, and the last on the lab-scale reactors. The papers were divided in this way because of the unique analytical obstacles that were encountered with each set of data. / Master of Science

Chapter 2: Germination and Growth of Radish (Raphanus sativus) and Lettuce (Lactuca sativus) Exposed to Arsenite and Arsenate in Hydroponic Growth Solution Little information is available on the survival, uptake, and dry mass production of vegetable seedlings and maturing plants in arsenic enriched environments. Such information is however very important to many vegetable growers in areas of subsistent agricultural like Bangladesh or home-gardeners in closer proximity of As sources such as metal smelters. Accordingly we conducted research investigating (i) the germination and radical formation of radish and lettuce seeds at varying As (V) and As (III) concentrations and (ii) radish and lettuce plants in solution culture. Seed germination studies demonstrated that 0.1mM and 0.025mM are toxic threshold levels of As (III and V) for radishes and lettuce, respectively, while As (V) is more toxic to radish seeds than As (III). Arsenic (III and V) impacted both germination and radical development in radish seeds. For lettuce we observed that As had no impact on germination but reduced radical length significantly (p < 0.01). At most equimolar concentrations, As (III) was more toxic than As (V) in lettuce seeds (0.025 - 0.10mM As), a result contrary to those obtained in radish seeds (0.05 - 0.5mM As). The hydroponic growth studies showed that losses and increases in dry weight are a function of absorbed As and are dependent on the source of As: As (V) or As (III). Moreover, the effect of absorbed As (V) or As (III) on dry weight reductions and increases differed between root and shoot portions of the plants and are crop dependent. Tissue-As (originally solution As (V)) was more toxic at the radish root level and tissue-As (originally solution As (III)) was more toxic at the radish shoot level. Conversely for lettuce, As (III) caused reductions in dry weight, while As (V) had a stimulating effect on biomass production. Lower As (V) concentrations in plant tissue throughout the lettuce study and at low As (V) concentrations (0.02mM) in the radish study may be explained by the molar ratio of P:As of approximately 5. From a food nutrition safety standpoint, studies need to concentrate on sub-lethal levels in order to ensure the proper formation of the harvestable portion of the plant. Chapter 3: Adsorption of Arsenate (V) and Arsenite (III) on Goethite in the Presence and Absence of Soluble Organic Carbon The environmental fate of arsenic is of utmost importance as the U.S. EPA has recently proposed to tighten the arsenic drinking water standard from 50 ppb to 5 ppb. In natural systems the presence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) may compete with As for adsorption to mineral surfaces, hence increasing its potential bioavailability. Accordingly, the adsorption of arsenate As (V) and As (III) on goethite (α-FeOOH) was investigated in the presence of either a peat humic acid (Hap), a Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (FA) (IHSS) or citric acid (CA). Adsorption edges and kinetic experiments were used to examine the effects of equimolar concentrations of organic adsorbates on arsenic adsorption. Adsorption envelopes were conducted over a pH range of 11 to 3, while the kinetic studies were conducted at pH 6.5 for As (V) and pH 5.0 for As (III). Arsenate adsorption was inhibited in the order of Hap > FA > CA while arsenite adsorption was inhibited in the order of CA > FA > Hap. Humic acid reduces As V adsorption starting at pH 9, with a maximum reduction at pH 6.5. Fulvic acid slightly inhibited As (V) adsorption starting at pH 5, and this inhibition increased with a decrease in pH. No effect was observed in the presence of CA. Arsenite adsorption is inhibited by HA starting a pH 7 and increases with a decrease in pH, while FA and CA reduce As (III) adsorption beginning at pH 8, with a continuous reduction as the pH decreases. The differential extent of As V adsorption in the presence of the organic acids suggests that the distribution and the respective densities of the abundant functional groups (phenol/ catechol OH or COO⁻) are significant in the adsorption of As (V). Furthermore, larger organic acids may hydrophobically partition to surfaces via a more favorable entropy driven reaction mechanism which may influence As (V) diffusion and its subsequent adsorption to surfaces. The decrease in As (III) adsorption is caused by its reduced affinity for the surface at pH values lower than 9, and the simultaneous increase in surface activity by the organic substances' via their COO⁻ functional groups. The results of these experiments suggests that dissolved organic carbon substances are capable of increasing the bioavailability of As in soil and water systems in which the dominant solid phase is a crystalline iron oxide. Chapter 4: Adsorption of Arsenate and Arsenite on Ferrihydrite in the Presence and Absence of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) The adsorption of As (V) and As (III) on synthetic 2-line ferrihydrite in the presence and absence of a peat humic acid (Hap), Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (FA) or citric acid (CA) was investigated. Previous work with goethite has demonstrated the ability of DOC materials to reduce As (V) and As (III) adsorption. In this study, a batch technique was used to examine the adsorption of arsenic (III and V) and DOCs on ferrihydrite in the pH range from 3 to 11. The results obtained demonstrated that As (V) adsorption on ferrihydrite was reduced only in the presence of CA. Arsenate reduced the adsorption of all organic acids except Hap. Both FA and CA reduced As (III) adsorption on ferrihydrite, while Hap had no effect. Fulvic and citric acid adsorption on ferrihydrite was reduced in the presence of As (III), however, adsorption increases of FA and CA were observed at lower pH, which is consistent with a decrease in As(III) adsorption. The peat humic acid had no effect on As (III) adsorption, and we believe that the adsorption process of Hap and As (III and V) on ferrihydrite are independent of each other. The observed differences between this study and the study on goethite are believed to be an intricate function of ferrihydrite's surface characteristics, which affects the mechanisms of surface adsorption and hence the affinity of organic acids such as Hap, FA, and CA for the ferrihydrite surface. As such, the adsorption of DOCs to ferrihydrite are assumed to be energetically less favorable and to occur with a fewer number of ligands, resulting in lower surface coverage of weaker bond strength. Additional factors for the observed differences are discussed. This work demonstrates the importance of the solid phase in adsorption processes and functional group composition, as noticeable differences are observed in comparison to a crystalline Fe-oxide solid phase. / Master of Science

Water stress is the most critical environmental factor limiting crop production in the US Piedmont. The presence of humic substances in composted organic amendments may increase crop tolerance to water stress through their hormone-like effects on plant metabolism. The objectives of this study were to calculate N mineralization rates of composted and non-composted organic materials used in this long-term field study, and to determine differences in soil physiochemical properties, corn and soybean leaf physical and biochemical properties yield and seed quality between organically amended and inorganically fertilized treatments. Nitrogen mineralization rates were greatest in the poultry litter (21%) and Panorama yard waste compost (4.5%) amended plots. Nitrogen uptake (120 mg/pot, 133 mg/pot, respectively) in these treatments were greater than that in the control (0N) (91.3 mg/pot) treatment. Wolf Creek biosolids compost and Huck's Hen Blend yard waste compost induced N immobilization (-5.0% and 0.18%, respectively), and had N uptake values similar to the control (92.6 mg/pot and 95.7 mg/pot). Rivanna biosolids compost immobilized N (-14.8%) but N uptake (136 mg/pot) was greater than that in the control due to the relatively high inorganic N content in the amendment. The total N concentration and C:N values were less reliable variables in predicting N mineralization when a significant portion of the total N was in the inorganic form. The annual application of poultry litter, Rivanna biosolids compost, and Panorama yard waste compost at 100% agronomic nitrogen and 30 % agronomic nitrogen rates in the field study improved soil fertility and increased total organic and humified carbon contents relative to the inorganically fertilized and control treatments. The amended treatments had slightly greater plant available water contents (average 10.0 cm/15 cm) than the control (8.38 cm/15 cm). Leaf water potential measurements revealed that neither crop experienced water stress during the sampling season. Treatment differences in leaf antioxidant activity were only observed in corn. All corn plants that were fertilized with amendments supplying the crop's nitrogen needs, regardless of the source, had greater leaf nitrogen (+29%), chlorophyll (+33%), and protein contents (+37%), lower superoxide dismutase (-29%) and ascorbate peroxidase (-17%) activities, and lower malondialdehyde (-33%) contents relative to the control and low nitrogen treatments. There were no observed differences in catalase activity, which was likely due to the evolutionary advantage of C4 metabolism. Yield was strongly related to midseason leaf nitrogen contents (R2=0.87, p<0.0001) and not soil humified carbon (R2=0.02, p=0.0543). There were no observed treatment differences in soybean leaf physiology and metabolism. Differences, however, were observed over time. As the leaves senesced, leaf chlorophyll, protein, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities decreased, and the malondialdehyde content increased. Ascorbate peroxidase activity slightly increased with time. Catalase activity in soybean was primarily driven by the oxidation of glycolate, a product of photorespiration, and not the formation of reactive oxygen species in the chloroplasts. The organically amended treatments had higher yields (9-21% increase), greater protein contents (4-9% increase), and seed weights (5-14% increase) relative to the fertilizer and control treatments. It was concluded that differences in soybean yield and seed quality were due to non-nutritive benefits of the organic amendments and not available water or plant nutrition. / Master of Science

No presente trabalho focalizou-se a atenção nas propriedades de substâncias húmicas, em particular a fração de ácido húmico (AH), o qual foi obtido de duas fontes, sendo uma comercial e outra isolada de sedimentos do Rio Tietê, coletados no reservatório de Barra Bonita (SP). O isolamento do AH do sedimento foi realizado segundo o procedimento proposto pela Sociedade Internacional de Substâncias Húmicas (S.I.S.H.). Ambas amostras foram caracterizadas em paralelo através de análise elementar, absorção molecular no visível (razão E4/E6) e infravermelho e teores de cinzas. As propriedades ácido-base das amostras foram estudadas por titulação potenciométrica, adotando-se o modelo de distribuição de sítios discretos, empregando-se funções de Gran modificadas para tratamento dos dados. Foi possível caracterizar seis classes de grupos tituláveis em força iônica 0,1 (NaCI), com pKa entre 3 e 10. Constatou-se maior contribuição de grupos carboxílicos (grupos titulados com pKa < 7) do que fenólicos e amínicos em ambas amostras. Os resultados foram comparados com os métodos clássicos do acetato de cálcio e barita, assim como por titulação condutométrica. Estudou-se as propriedades de complexação dos AHs com íons Cu2+,Pb2+, Cd2+ e Zn2+ através de titulação potenciométrica com eletrodo íon-seletivo de membrana sólida para o CU2+ e de amálgama para os demais íons. Constatou-se a seguinte ordem de estabilidade para os complexos formados com ambos AHs: log K AH-Cu > log K AH-Pb > log K AH-Cd aproximadamente igual a log K AH-Zn. Quanto a capacidade de complexação (Cc), observou-se que CcPb > CcCu > CcCd aproximadamente igual a CcZn. / The aim of the present work was to study the humic substances, with emphasis to the humic acid (HA) fraction isolated from sediments of the Tietê River, collected at the Barra Bonita reservoir. The extraction of the humic acid was performed according to the procedure proposed by the International Humic Substances Society (I.H.S.S.). A commercial humic acid from Aldrich was studied in parallel. Both HA samples were characterized by elemental analysis, molecular absorption in the visible (E4/E6 ratio) and infrared regions, and ash contents. The acid-base properties of both humic acids were studied by potentiometric titrations, adopting the discrete site distribuition model and the modified Gran functions for data fitting. Six classes of titratable groups were characterized in 0,1 mol.L-1 (NaCI) ionic medium, with pKa values between 3 and 10. The sum of carboxylic groups (titratable groups with pKa < 7) was greater than the sum of aminic and phenolic groups for both humic acids. These results were compared with those provided by classical methods such as baryta adsorption and calcium acetate, as well as condutometric titration. The complexing properties were studied with regard to Cu2+,Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+, by potentiometric titration with solid membrane copper ion-selective electrode and amalgam electrodes for the other ions. The following stability was observed for both HAs complexes: log KHA-Cu > log KHA-Pb > log KHA-Cd approximately equal to log KHA-Zn. With regard the complexing capacity (Cc),the following order was observed: CcPb > CcCu > CcCd approximately equal to CcZn.

A aplicação de substâncias húmicas (SH) em misturas com ureia pode aumentar a eficiência do uso de N (EUN) em soqueiras e também melhorar a produtividade de cana-de-açúcar por favorecer a atividade de proteínas relacionadas ao processo de absorção de nutrientes. Neste sentido, experimentos de laboratório, casa-de-vegetação e de campo foram desenvolvidos com os seguintes objetivos: (i) Avaliar e caracterizar SH extraídas de turfa em misturas com soluções de N-ureia, quantificando teores de N-mineral e a volatilização de NH3. (ii) Quantificar a produtividade de colmos e atributos tecnológicos da cana-de-açúcar adubados com doses de SH, doses de ureia e misturas de doses ureia+SH em experimentos de campo. (iii) Estudar a eficiência de recuperação do 15N-ureia em misturas com SH e ácidos húmicos (AH) aplicados às folhas de cana-de-açúcar. (iv) Estimar a biomassa, acúmulo de nutrientes (N, P, K), particionamento (folhas secas, colmo e ponteiros) e a relação (N:P, N:K) destes nutrientes nas soqueiras de cana-de-açúcar com diferentes níveis de produtividade. Em experimento de laboratório, após a extração, purificação e caracterização das SH, foram preparadas as misturas com doses crescentes de ureia. Constatou-se a hidrólise de parte do N-amídico, transformando-o em N-NH4+ e que a concentração de ureia nas misturas pode interferir na hidrólise da mesma. A mistura da solução de ureia com SH (15% de N), com o pH corrigido (pH=7), possibilitou a redução nas perdas de NH3 por volatilização do solo. Em estudos de campo, com doses de N-ureia (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 kg ha-1), doses de SH (0, 100, 200, 300 e 400 L ha-1) e mistura destas doses: ureia+HS, verificou-se que em três áreas estudadas, duas houve resposta aos fertilizantes nitrogenados ureia e misturas ureia+SH. Em geral, as doses de ureia+SH promoveram aumento significativo de 6% de rendimento de colmos (TCH) e incremento de 4,5% da produção de açúcar (Mg ha-1) comparando somente com a aplicação de doses de ureia. Em dois experimentos de casa-de-vegetação foram realizadas aplicações às folhas de cana-de-açúcar de ureia, ureia+AH e ureia+SH. Na média dos dois experimentos, a recuperação de 15N (EUN) foi maior para a ureia + SH (49%) em comparação com ureia + AH (43%) e apenas ureia (37%). A fertilização foliar com ureia + SH aumentou o valor total de proteína (7, 24, 17 e 93%) quando comparado com aplicação somente de ureia após 96, 192, 360 e 720 horas da aplicação foliar, respectivamente. O particionamento dos nutrientes (N, P e K) nos órgãos da cana-de-açúcar (folha seca, ponteiros e colmos) indicam que maiores produtividades de colmo foram obtidas com elevados acúmulos desses nutrientes no ponteiro e maior equilíbrio da relação de N:P (6:1) e N:K (0,5:1). A mistura de ureia com SH é uma estratégia viável que promove aumento de rendimento de colmos, maior produção de açúcar e ainda aumento da EUN. No entanto, para sistemas com altas produtividades é necessário observar a relação e o equilíbrio dos nutrientes principalmente nos componentes com alta atividade fotossintética (ponteiros de cana-de-açúcar). / Humic substances (HS) in mixture with urea can improve N use efficiency (NUE) and sugarcane yield when applied in ratoon. In this regard, lab experiments, greenhouse and field studies have been developed with the following goals: (i) Evaluate and characterize HS extracted from peat in mixtures with urea solutions, quantifying N-mineral content and NH3 volatilization. (ii) Quantify sugarcane yield and technological attributes of sugarcane ratoon fertilized with HS rates, urea rates and mixtures of the fertilizers: HS+urea on field experiments. (iii) Evaluate the recovery efficiency of 15N-urea mixture with HS and humic acid (HA) applied on sugarcane leaf. (iv) To estimate the biomass, nutrient uptake (N, P, K), partitioning (dry leaves, stem and tops) and the ratio (N:P,N:K) of these nutrients in the sugarcane ratoon with different levels of productivity. In the lab, after extraction, purification and characterization of HS, mixtures with rates of urea were performed. It was observed that this mixture was promoted by urea hydrolysis transforming into N-NH4+ and concentration of N-urea may interfere in the hydrolysis. The experiment to evaluate the volatilization was observed that the mixture of HS and urea solution with a fixed pH (pH = 7) led to the reduction in losses by volatilization of NH3. In field studies, N-urea rates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1), HS rates (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 L ha-1) and mixing these doses: urea + HS. In two of the three studies there were response to the urea nitrogen fertilizers, urea and mixtures HS+urea. In general, urea doses + HS promoted significant increase of 6% yield of stalks (TCH) and 4.5% increase in sugar production (Mg ha-1) compared only with the application of urea. In greenhouse experiments applications were performed via foliar urea, urea+HA and urea+HS. The average of the two experiments, the recovery of 15N (NUE) was added to the HS + urea (49%) compared with HA+urea (43%) and only urea (37%). The foliar application of urea+HS increased the total protein value (7, 24, 17 and 93%) compared with the application of urea for only 96, 192, 360 and 720 hours following fertilizer application, respectively. In addition, there was a nutrient partitioning study (N, P and K) in the components of sugarcane (dry leaf, tops and stems). It was observed for nutrient partitioning process that dry leaves had lower nutrient content (N, P, and K) and broader N:P/N:K ratios when compared with tops and stalks. Greater sugarcane yield and narrowed N:P ratio (6:1) were documented for tops of sugarcane when increasing both N and P content. However, for high systems yields it is necessary check the ratio and balance of nutrients in the components with high photosynthetic activity (tops of sugarcane).

As limitações ao uso de antibióticos promotores de crescimento vêm aumentando a procura por aditivos substitutos para manter a performance animal, a saúde intestinal e a resposta imune de frangos de corte. Este experimento foi conduzido para comparar o efeito e a dose resposta do produto Ava Cid P (composto por substância húmica, butirato de sódio 30% protegido e uma pequena porção de acidificantes) suplementado na dieta, sobre a performance, resposta imune e saúde intestinal de frangos de corte. O experimento seguiu um design inteiramente casualizado, envolvendo um arranjo fatorial 2 x 5 (2 sexos e 5 tratamentos) com 7 repetições de 15 aves por tratamento. Os tratamentos seguiram a suplementação em diferentes fases de 1 a 49 dias: 1) Controle: dieta basal sem nenhuma suplementação; 2) AVA1-21: aves receberam 0,91 kg/t de Ava Cid P de 1 a 21 d; 3) AVA1-35: 0,91 kg/t de Ava Cid P de 1-21 d e 0,45 kg/t de 22-35 d; 4) AVA1-42: 0,91 kg/t de Ava Cid P de 1 a 21 d e 0,45 kg/t de 22- 42 d; 5) AVA1-49: 0,91 kg/t de Ava Cid P de 1 a 21 d, 0,45 kg/t de 22-35 d e 0,23 kg/t de 36-49 d. A suplementação com Ava Cid P não influenciou a performance de machos e fêmeas, nem mesmo a densidade de células caliciformes (P > 0,05). No entanto, o Ava Cid P foi capaz de modificar a morfometria intestinal, aumentando a altura de vilosidades aos 9 e 35 d (P < 0,05). A área superficial aparente dos vilos e altura de vilos, nas aves que receberam Ava Cid P durante todas as fases experimentais, foi superior à das aves suplementadas somente na fase inicial. No íleo, a área superficial aparente dos vilos também foi superior nas aves suplementadas aos 9 d. Além disso, a expressão do gene para mucina 2 (MUC2) e para o fator de necrose tumoral (TNF-α) diminuiu nas aves recebendo Ava Cid P aos 21 d (P < 0,05), mas não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas para interleucina-1 beta e interleucina-10. Os resultados sugerem que Ava Cid P pode alterar a expressão de mRNA de algumas citocinas e MUC2 e a morfometria intestinal de frangos de corte, aumentando a superfície aparente e a altura dos vilos, o que demonstra a potencialidade do produto como alternativa aos antibióticos promotores de crescimento. / The limitations of the antibiotic growth promoter’s (AGP) usage have been increasing the search for new products to improve poultry performance, gut healthy and immune response. This experiment was conducted to compare the effect and dose response of Ava Cid P (consisted of a humic substance, coated sodium butyrate 30% and a small acidifier portion) diet supplementation on performance, immune response and gut health of broilers. Five dietary regimens were used: 1) birds didn’t receive Ava Cid P in any phase (Control), 2) birds received 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1 to 21 d (AVA1-21), 3) 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1 to 21 d and 0.45 kg/t from 22 to 35 d (AVA1-35), 4) 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1 to 21 d and 0.45 kg/t from 22 to 42 d (AVA1-42), 5) 0.91 kg/t of Ava Cid P from 1 to 21 d, 0.45 kg/t from 22 to 35 d and 0.23 kg/t from 36 to 49 d (AVA1-49). They were applied in a completely randomized design, involving a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement with 2 sex and 5 levels of inclusion, and 7 replications with 15 birds each. The supplementation with Ava Cid P showed no influence on males and females growth performance and goblet cell density (P > 0.05). However, it modified the gut morphometry, increasing jejunum villi height at 9 and 35 days (P < 0.05). The apparent villus surface area and villi height on birds fed with Ava Cid P during all phases also increased in relation to those who received only in the early phase. The expression of mucin 2 (MUC2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) decreased on birds that received Ava Cid P at 21 days (P < 0.05), but no differences were seen for interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). The results suggest that Ava Cid P can alter the mRNA expression of some inter-leukins, MUC2 and intestinal morphometry in broilers, increasing apparent villus surface area and villi height, which demonstrates the product potential as an alternative growth promoter.

No presente trabalho focalizou-se a atenção nas propriedades de substâncias húmicas, em particular a fração de ácido húmico (AH), o qual foi obtido de duas fontes, sendo uma comercial e outra isolada de sedimentos do Rio Tietê, coletados no reservatório de Barra Bonita (SP). O isolamento do AH do sedimento foi realizado segundo o procedimento proposto pela Sociedade Internacional de Substâncias Húmicas (S.I.S.H.). Ambas amostras foram caracterizadas em paralelo através de análise elementar, absorção molecular no visível (razão E4/E6) e infravermelho e teores de cinzas. As propriedades ácido-base das amostras foram estudadas por titulação potenciométrica, adotando-se o modelo de distribuição de sítios discretos, empregando-se funções de Gran modificadas para tratamento dos dados. Foi possível caracterizar seis classes de grupos tituláveis em força iônica 0,1 (NaCI), com pKa entre 3 e 10. Constatou-se maior contribuição de grupos carboxílicos (grupos titulados com pKa < 7) do que fenólicos e amínicos em ambas amostras. Os resultados foram comparados com os métodos clássicos do acetato de cálcio e barita, assim como por titulação condutométrica. Estudou-se as propriedades de complexação dos AHs com íons Cu2+,Pb2+, Cd2+ e Zn2+ através de titulação potenciométrica com eletrodo íon-seletivo de membrana sólida para o CU2+ e de amálgama para os demais íons. Constatou-se a seguinte ordem de estabilidade para os complexos formados com ambos AHs: log K AH-Cu > log K AH-Pb > log K AH-Cd aproximadamente igual a log K AH-Zn. Quanto a capacidade de complexação (Cc), observou-se que CcPb > CcCu > CcCd aproximadamente igual a CcZn. / The aim of the present work was to study the humic substances, with emphasis to the humic acid (HA) fraction isolated from sediments of the Tietê River, collected at the Barra Bonita reservoir. The extraction of the humic acid was performed according to the procedure proposed by the International Humic Substances Society (I.H.S.S.). A commercial humic acid from Aldrich was studied in parallel. Both HA samples were characterized by elemental analysis, molecular absorption in the visible (E4/E6 ratio) and infrared regions, and ash contents. The acid-base properties of both humic acids were studied by potentiometric titrations, adopting the discrete site distribuition model and the modified Gran functions for data fitting. Six classes of titratable groups were characterized in 0,1 mol.L-1 (NaCI) ionic medium, with pKa values between 3 and 10. The sum of carboxylic groups (titratable groups with pKa < 7) was greater than the sum of aminic and phenolic groups for both humic acids. These results were compared with those provided by classical methods such as baryta adsorption and calcium acetate, as well as condutometric titration. The complexing properties were studied with regard to Cu2+,Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+, by potentiometric titration with solid membrane copper ion-selective electrode and amalgam electrodes for the other ions. The following stability was observed for both HAs complexes: log KHA-Cu > log KHA-Pb > log KHA-Cd approximately equal to log KHA-Zn. With regard the complexing capacity (Cc),the following order was observed: CcPb > CcCu > CcCd approximately equal to CcZn.