Orientador: Jorge de Lucas Junior / Banca: Mauro Dal Secco de Oliveira / Banca: Roberto Alves de Oliveira / Banca: Mônica Sarolli Silva de Mendonça Costa / Banca: Giovana Tommaso / Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar a adição de caldo de cana-de-açúcar em substratos contendo dejetos de vacas em lactação submetidos à biodigestão anaeróbia (BA) em biodigestores batelada e contínuos, para aumento da produção de biogás. Avaliaram-se as produções e qualidade do biogás e dos biofertilizantes. Parâmetros como pH, alcalinidade, redução de sólidos totais (ST) e sólidos voláteis (SV), potenciais de produção de biogás e de metano por unidade de ST e SV adicionados, SV reduzidos e de dejetos foram analisados. Realizaram-se ensaios preliminares de doses de caldo de cana-de-açúcar (CCA) a serem adicionados nos dejetos e de quantificação e caracterização dos dejetos produzidos por vacas da raça Holandesa em lactação que receberam dietas contendo diferentes volumosos. Menores produções diárias de dejetos foram de vacas que receberam cana-de-açúcar hidrolisada com cal hidratada na dieta, com média de 26,60 kg, contendo o dobro de cálcio em relação aos dejetos oriundos das demais dietas. Os dejetos foram submetidos à BA segundo as dietas e, naqueles dejetos de vacas que receberam cana-de-açúcar, foram adicionados 6% de CCA. Os ensaios mostraram que 6% de CCA em dejetos de animais que receberam cana-de-açúcar in natura, aumentaram a produção de biogás em até 42,03 e 44,89%, em biodigestores batelada e contínuo, respectivamente. Dejetos oriundos de dietas contendo cana-de-açúcar in natura e hidrolisada, com 6% de CCA, produziram 0,254 e 0,262 L de CH4 g-1 de SV adicionados em biodigestores batelada, respectivamente. Dejetos oriundos de dietas contendo cana-de-açúcar in natura, com 6% de CCA, produziram 0,208 L de CH4 g-1 de SV adicionados em biodigestores contínuos. Nesses biodigestores as dietas fornecidas aos animais e o uso de CCA nos dejetos não influenciaram os teores de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio nos biofertilizantes, com médias de 2,60; 1,99 e 2,09%, respectivamente. / Abstract: The aim of this work was evaluate the sugarcane juice addition on substrates containing dairy cow manure submitted to anaerobic digestion (AD) under batch and continuous digesters, in order to increase biogas production. The production and quality of biogas and fertilizers were evaluated. Parameters such as pH, alkalinity, total solids (TS) and volatile solids (VS) reduction, biogas production by added TS and added VS, reduced VS and manure were evaluated. Doses of sugarcane juice (SJ) were evaluated in preliminary trials. The quantification and characterization of manure produced by lactating Holstein cows receiving diets containing different forages was evaluated. Lower daily manure production from cows that received hydrolyzed sugarcane (hydrated lime) in the diet, average 26.60 kg, with a doubling of calcium in relation to manure from the other diets. The manure was submitted to AD according to the diets. Manure from cows feed with sugarcane, had 6% of the SJ addition on it. The trials showed that 6% of SJ was able to increase biogas. The biogas production increased up to 42.03 and 44.89% in batch and continuous digester, respectively. Manure from diets containing in nature and hydrolyzed sugarcane, with 6% of SJ, produced 0.254 and 0.262 L CH4 g-1 added VS in continuous digester. In such digesters, the diets and the use of SJ in the manure did not affect the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in fertilizers, the means were 2.60, 1.99 and 2.09%, respectively. / Doutor

Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar, a partir de ensaios de laboratório, o comportamento mecânico de misturas de fosfogesso e cal destinadas à construções de bases e sub-bases rodoviárias. O fosfogesso é um resíduo resultante da produção do ácido fosfórico, principal componente de fertilizantes fosfatados. O fosfogesso é gerado em grande escala, originando sérios problemas de armazenagem. Restrições de leis ambientais e o aumento do custo de espaço para a armazenagem do fosfogesso têm estimulado pesquisas para a aplicação desse material. Entre as pesquisas, encontra-se, o aproveitamento desse resíduo como material de construção de bases e sub-bases rodoviárias. As amostras destas misturas foram submetidas a ensaios de compressão simples, compressão diametral e CBR. Nos ensaios de compressão simples e compressão diametral, os corpos de prova foram ensaiados sem imersão e após imersão prévia em água por quatro horas. Para todos os teores de cal utilizados (0%, 3%, 5%, 7% e 10%) os corpos-de-prova foram compactados na energia equivalente ao Proctor modificado. Para cada teor de cal os corpos-de-prova passaram por processo de cura de 0, 3, 7 e 28 dias. Quatro réplicas foram moldadas para cada condição de ensaio, obtendo-se a média dos resultados pelo método estatístico de GRUBBS. Concluiu-se com esses ensaios que valores crescentes de tempo de cura e de teor de cal conduziram a maiores valores de resistência e de rigidez. Além disso, ensaios realizados após a imersão em água apresentaram valores de resistência à compressão simples, resistência à compressão diametral e rigidez menores do que os obtidos sem imersão. Observou-se também que as misturas de fosfogesso e cal, no geral, apresentaram melhores resultados de resistência à compressão simples, resistência à compressão diametral e coesão do que as misturas de solo cal. Entretanto as misturas compostas por fosfogesso e cimento obtiveram valores superiores de resistência e rigidez se comparada com as misturas de fosfogesso e cal. / This work has the aim of study, considering laboratory experiments, the mechanical behavior of a mixture of phosphogypsum and lime to be used in bases and sub-bases of road construction. The phosphogypsum is a solid waste result of the phosphoric acid production, main component of phosphor fertilizers. The phosphogypsum is generated in large scale, causing serious problems of storage. Restriction of environment laws and the increasing cost of the area needed for the phosphogypsum storage have stimulated researches to this material application. Among these researches, there is the reutilization of this waste as construction material of road bases and sub-bases. The samples of theses mixtures were submitted to tests of unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength and California bearing ratio. In the tests of unconfined compressive strength and indirect tensile strength, the specimens were submitted to two test conditions: without immersion and with immersion in water for four hours. It was used 0%, 3%, 5%, 7% e 10% of lime in the mixtures. All specimens were compacted in the energy modified Proctor. Each specimens get through to a process of curing time of the 0, 3, 7 and 28 days. For each condition test 4 copies were molded and the result got by the statistic method of GRUBBS. With this tests, it was concluded that higher values of time of cure and the line content led to higher strength and stiffness values. Besides, test performed after immersion in water presented strength values for the unconfined compressive, diametral compression strength and stiffness lower than those obtained without immersion. It also can be observed that phosphogypsum and lime mixtures got better results of unconfined compressive strength and diametral compression strength than soil and lime mixtures. However, phosphogypsum and cement mixtures got better results of strength and stiffness than phosphogypsum and lime mixtures.

Yuan, Wenxiang = CCTO陶瓷材料的制备和性质研究 / 苑文香. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-67). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Yuan, Wenxiang = CCTO tao ci cai liao de zhi bei he xing zhi yan jiu / Yuan Wenxiang. / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Contents --- p.v / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Structure --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Models --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Parallel RC --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Two parallel RCs in series --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Motivation --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5 --- Our work --- p.7 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Experiment --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Sources and substrate --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2 --- Preparation of the CCTO samples --- p.8 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Experimental equipment --- p.13 / Chapter 3.1 --- Furnace --- p.13 / Chapter 3.2 --- X-ray diffraction (XRD) --- p.13 / Chapter 3.3 --- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) --- p.16 / Chapter 3.4 --- Impedance analyzers --- p.17 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Selections of the experimental conditions --- p.18 / Chapter 4.1 --- Selection of calcining-process conditions --- p.18 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Experimental results --- p.18 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Comparison with the results of other research groups --- p.21 / Chapter 4.2 --- Selection of sintering-process conditions --- p.22 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- CuO volatilization --- p.22 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- CCTO decomposition --- p.24 / Chapter 4.3 --- Optimizing of the Cu/Ca ratio --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Results and discussion --- p.31 / Chapter 5.1 --- Properties of CCTO ceramics sintered at different temperatures for 10 h --- p.32 / Chapter 5.2 --- Properties of CCTO ceramics sintered for different durations at 1000°C --- p.43 / Chapter 5.3 --- Properties of CC3+ΧTO ceramics --- p.52 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.58 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions --- p.61 / References --- p.63

Lime-induced chlorosis has been recognized for many years as a problem where plants are grown on calcareous soils. There are many factors associated with and influencing this form of iron chlorosis and because of this it has been very difficult to determine the relationship between the factors and chlorosis. There are high concentrations of bicarbonate in calcareous soils. Because of this high concentration, it was believed that the presence of the bicarbonate ion was causing chlorosis. It has been proposed that the pH of the growth medium was the causitive factor of lime-induced chlorosis. Most calcareous soils have a pH range around 8.0. At this pH the solubility of iron is very low, and it was believed that chlorosis was a result of iron being insoluble at a high pH. Iron chlorosis has been induced in plants by increasing the phosphorus concentration in the growth medium. Iron phosphates have a low solubility and it was believed that the available iron was precipitated by the phosphates. The interference of metals such as calcium, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and copper appears to be a factor affecting the absorption of iron by plants. It was thought that an interfering ion (Ni, Co, Ca, Zn) may interfere with the translocation of iron in the malic or malonic acid complexes (Tiffin and Brown, 1962).

ABSTRACT ANALYSIS OF STABILIZED ADOBE IN RURAL EAST AFRICA Grace Ying Yu Chen This project seeks to assist people in rural East Africa by proposing sustainable building methods which implement affordable and durable adobe bricks for construction. Adobe, one of the oldest sustainable building materials in the world, is strong when dry but lacks structural integrity when exposed to moisture. Chemical additives such as cement and lime are added into the adobe mix to protect the brick against moisture decomposition. Once the chemicals are added and the mix is formed into a brick, a stabilized adobe brick is formed. Cement, a stabilizer, is locally available in East Africa, but is generally unaffordable for families in rural areas. Lime is also locally available and costs about half the price of cement. This project investigates reducing the amount of cement to produce an economical and stabilized brick. The tested brick mixes, measured by volume, were • 10% cement • 5% cement • 5% cement+5% lime • 7% lime with sand • 7% lime with clay only • 10% lime with sand After testing these bricks by water jet, submersion, modulus of rupture, and compression, the 5% cement+5% lime mix and the 7% lime with clay mix proved to be viable options for economical and durable bricks. The second half of this project contains summaries of research related to stabilized adobe and other soil building methods. A literature search shows that lime mixed with soil containing small particles rich in calcium carbonate and quartz produces proper cementation in the mix called carbonation.

Thesis (M.Sc. Agric (Soil Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Knowledge and management of soil pH, particularly soil acidity across spatially variable soils is important, although this is greatly ignored by farmers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The significance of understanding spatial variability of soil acidity is the implementation of best and site-specific management strategies because when soil acidity is poorly managed, toxicity and nutrient deficiency problems in the soil are inevitable. The objective of the study was to evaluate in-field spatial variability of soil pH, and compare the efficiency of managing soil pH through site-specific method vs. uniform lime application. The study was conducted in 3 site years (23o50’ S; 29 o40’ E and 23o59’ S and 28o52’ E) with site year I, and II adjacent to each other in the semi-arid regions of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Soil samples were taken in four replicates within a 1 m radius from geo-referenced locations in 3 study sites to sampling depths of 0-20 cm on a regular grid of 30m using differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). Soils were analyzed for pH, and SMP buffer pH for lime recommendations. Lime requirement to achieve a soil pH of 6.5 for a 20 cm plough layer per hectare was calculated using CalciumCarbonateequivalent, efficiency factor (fineness factor), and neutralizing index of the liming materials. The spatial maps for SMP buffer pH and lime requirement maps were produced with surfer version 8.0 (Surfer Version 8, Golden Software, Golden, CO). The soil pH datasets from systematic unaligned randomly sampled soils on a 30-m grid were interpolated using inverse distance weighing (IDW) in Surfer software version 8.0 (Surfer Version 8, Golden Software, Golden, CO). Soil pH varied from strongly acidic to slightly acidic with minimum values of 4.22, 3.93, and 4.74 and maximum values of 6.11, 7.00, and 6.82 in site I, II, and II respectively. In Site I, II, and III, the areas of the field that had soil pH values of less than 6.0 were 99.43, 82.61, and 62.89% of the field. When lime was recommended for application using a conventional method of uniform lime application based on an average value derived from samples collected in the whole field, the results of the study showed a waste of lime in excess of lime recommended for individual grids. An excess amount of lime as high as 10, 30, and 7 tons/ha recommended on sites I, II and III respectively under uniform application. These recommendations were in excess on field areas that needed little or no lime applications. Again, the fields showed under applications of lime as much as 30, 35, and 13 tons/ha in site I, II, and III respectively for uniform liming applications. This under- and over recommendations of lime based on average soil pH values suggests that uniform soil acidity management strategy is not an appropriate strategy to be adopted in these fields. Again, in both of these sites as shown in the maps, the areas that required high amount of lime and those that require little or no lime are clearly defined, such that the fields can be divided into lime application zones. When a field is divided into lime application zones, management of soil acidity becomes easier because instead of applying variable rates of lime for every grid, lime rates are applied per zone. These zones could be areas in a field that require, (i) high rates of lime, (ii) low rates of lime, and (iii) areas that requires no lime at all. Agricultural fields that exhibit spatial variability of soil acidity must not be managed or treated as uniform when lime is applied in the field. Keywords: Lime requirement, Site specific management and Soil pH.

Esta investigación, estudia el efecto que produce el cemento, cal, geomalla y principalmente la ceniza de madera como componente mejorador de un suelo arcilloso, con el fin de evaluar las deformaciones verticales en la subrasante de un pavimento convencional a los 7 y 21 días de cura. La ceniza de madera es un residuo que proviene de la quema de materiales orgánicos en los hornos de las ladrilleras artesanales presentes en todo el Perú, los cuales el carbón, aserrín y madera, son los más utilizados. La disposición de éste material, genera problemas ambientales. Se realizaron ensayos de laboratorio para caracterizar la ceniza de madera, la mezcla de arcilla-ceniza, la mezcla arcilla-cemento, arcilla-cal y el refuerzo con la geomalla para luego modelarlo con la ayuda de la herramienta computacional Plaxis 8.2, software de elementos finitos, y obtener las deformaciones verticales. Se comprueba que con la geomalla biaxial se obtuvieron las menores deformaciones seguido por la mezcla arcilla-cemento. Con respecto a la arcilla-ceniza (21 días) se obtuvo un comportamiento similar a la mezcla de arcilla-cal (7días) siendo este resultado muy significativo ya que la ceniza al ser un material residuo de las ladrilleras puede llegar a un comportamiento mecánico tan igual como la cal. / This research studies the effect produced by cement, lime, geogrid and mainly wood ash as an improving component of a clayey soil, in order to evaluate the vertical deformations in the subgrade of a conventional pavement at 7 and 21 days after cure. Wood ash is a residue that comes from the burning of organic materials in the kilns of artisanal brickmakers present throughout Peru, which coal, sawdust and wood, are the most used. The disposition of this material generates environmental problems. Laboratory tests were carried out to characterize the wood ash, the clay-ash mixture, the clay-cement mixture, the clay-lime and the reinforcement with the geogrid, and then model it with the help of the computer tool Plaxis 8.2, elements software finite, and get the vertical deformations. It is verified that with the biaxial geogrid the smallest deformations were obtained followed by the clay-cement mixture. With respect to ash-clay (21 days) a behavior similar to the clay-lime mixture (7 days) was obtained, this result being very significant since the ash being a material residue of the brickworks can reach such a mechanical behavior just like lime. / Tesis

Algae is regarded as a good potential substrate for biogas production, due to high cells productivity, low cellulose and zero lignin content. Two parts were included in this study: first, cultivations of micro-algae (Chlorella sorokiniana and Tetraselmis suecica) at two different nitrate concentrations, also the effect of addition of CO2 on algae grow was investigated in this first part. Second, batch fermentations of the cultivated micro-algae as well as a powder Chlorella (obtained from Raw Food Shop) and a dry mix filamentous algae (collected in the pounds in the park at the back of the Tema-building and then dried) were performed. In this part also effects of thermo-lime pretreatment (room temperature, 80oC, 105oC and 120oC) on the algae biogas potentials was investigated. Both strains of micro-algae cultured at low nitrate gave more CH4 yield: 319 (±26) mL and 258 (±12) mL CH4 per added gVS was obtained during the degradation of Chlorella sorokiniana grown at 0.4mM-N and 2mM-N level, respectively. For Tetraselmis suecica 337 (±37) mL and 236 (±20) mL CH4 per added gVS was obtained at 2.4mM-N and 12mM-N level, respectively. Powder Chlorella gave the highest biogas production (719 ±53 mL/added gVS) and CH4 yields (392 ±14 mL/added gVS), followed by the dry filamentous algae (661 ±20 mL biogas and 295 ±9 mL CH4 per added gVS) and Tetraselmis suecica (12 mM-N; 584 ±7 mL biogas and 295 ±9 mL CH4 per added gVS). A negative effect of lime treatment at room temperature on CH4 yield of algal biomass was obtained. Lime treatment at 120oC showed the fastest degradation rate for Tetraselmis suecica and powder Chlorella during the initial 5 days of incubation. Chlorella sorokiniana and Tetraselmis suecica cultures flushed with biogas containing 70% and also CO2 enriched air (5% CO2) did not increase cells growth (measured as OD600) if compared to references grown under air. On the contrary, a clearly inhibition effect on the algal cells growth was observed in some cultures.

Organic matter is ubiquitous in the environment and exists in many different forms. Reactions involving organic matter are diverse and many have significant economic and environmental implications. In this research, calorimetric techniques were used to study organic- inorganic reactions in two different systems. The primary objectives were to elucidate potential mechanism(s) by which: (i) natural organic matter (NOM) influences strength development in lime-stabilized soils, and; (ii) plant-derived biochars reacts with cations in aqueous environments. Natural organic matter influenced strength development in lime-stabilized soils through the direct inhibition of the formation of pozzolanic reaction products. The degree of inhibition was dependent mainly on the type of pozzolanic reaction product, and the amount and source of organic matter. The formation of the pozzolanic reaction product, calcium silicate hydrate II (CSH2) was less affected by NOM, than was the formation of CSH1. For a given pozzolanic product, the inhibition increased with NOM content. The effect of organic matter source followed the order fulvic acid> humic acid&gt; lignite. Formation of CSH pozzolanic reaction products decreased by 50-100%, 20-80% and 20-40% in the presence of ?2% fulvic acid, humic acid and lignite, respectively. Cation interactions with plant-derived biochars were complex and depended both on the nature of the cation and biochar surface properties. Reactions involving the alkali cation, K+; occurred via electrostatic ion exchange, on deprotonated functional groups located on the biochar surface and; were exothermic with molar heats of reaction (?Hads) between -3 and -8 kJ mol-1. In contrast, reactions involving the transition metal cation, Cd2+ were endothermic with delta Hads between +10 and +30 kJ mol-1. Reaction mechanism(s) for Cd2+ varied from ion exchange/surface complexation in biochars formed at <350 oC, to an ion exchange/surface complexation/diffusion-controlled mechanism in biochars formed at >/=350 oC. For a given cation, differences in sorption characteristics were attributable to temperature-dependent or plant species dependent variations in the properties of the biochars.

Expansive soils are a worldwide problem that poses several challenges for civil engineers. Such soils swell when given an access to water and shrink when they dry out. The most common and economical method for stabilizing these soils is using admixtures that prevent volume changes. In this study the effect of using Bigadic zeolite (boron by-product) in reducing the swelling potential is examined. The expansive soil is prepared in the laboratory by mixturing kaolinite and bentonite. Bigadic zeolite (boron by-product) is added to the soil at 0 to 25 percent by weight. Grain size distribution, Atterberg limits and swell percent and rate of swell of the mixtures are determined. Specimens are cured for 7 and 28 days. As a result of the experimental study, it was seen that addition of Bigadic zeolite (boronby-product) decreased swelling potential and rate of swell of the artificially prepared expansive soil specimen at laboratory conditions. The swell percentage and rate of swell of the stabilized specimens are affected positively by curing.