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O fosfeto de manganês, MnP, é um composto rico em fases magnéticas, exibindo uma variedade de transições de fase. Essas transições e a estrutura das fases magnéticas têm sido objetos de muitas investigações experimentais nas últimas duas décadas. Com o campo externo aplicado ao longo dos eixos intermediário e duro (eixos b e a, respectivamente) foram estudadas as geometrias das fronteiras nos pontos onde as fases moduladas se encontram com a fase ferromagnética no diagrama de fase Temperatura vs. Campo Magnético. Este estudo, realizado por meio de medidas de suscetibilidade magnética, visa esclarecer se as fronteiras das fases encontram-se formando um ângulo ou não, pois isto pode ser um indicativo da natureza desses pontos \"triplos\". Na situação em que o campo é aplicado ao longo do eixo intermediário, mostramos que a forma com que as três fronteiras se encontram é consistente com a atribuição feita anteriormente a esse ponto, isto é, trata-se de um ponto triplo ordinário no qual as três fronteiras de fase são de primeira ordem. Para a configuração em que o campo é aplicado ao longo do eixo duro, os resultados obtidos para o diagrama de fase, na região onde as duas fases moduladas e a fase ferromagnética se encontram, são consistentes com a existência de um ponto crítico terminal de uma linha de transições de segunda ordem separando as fases moduladas. / Manganese phosphide is a rich compound in magnetic phases and exhibits a variety of phase transitions which have been the subject of many experimental investigations for more than a decade. With the external magnetic field H applied along the b and a axes (intermediate and hard axis, respectively) the geometry of the boundaries in the points where the modulated phases meet with ferromagnetic phase in the phase diagram T x H were studied. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility were realized to elucidate if the phase boundaries meet at an angle or not thus indicating the nature of these triple points. For the case of H applied along the intermediate axis it is shown that the shape in which the phase boundaries meet is consistent with the geometry of an ordinary triple point. With H parallel to the a axis the results are consistent with the existence of critical end point in which the modulated phases boundary close.

O fosfeto de manganês, MnP, é um composto rico em fases magnéticas, exibindo uma variedade de transições de fase. Essas transições e a estrutura das fases magnéticas têm sido objetos de muitas investigações experimentais nas últimas duas décadas. Com o campo externo aplicado ao longo dos eixos intermediário e duro (eixos b e a, respectivamente) foram estudadas as geometrias das fronteiras nos pontos onde as fases moduladas se encontram com a fase ferromagnética no diagrama de fase Temperatura vs. Campo Magnético. Este estudo, realizado por meio de medidas de suscetibilidade magnética, visa esclarecer se as fronteiras das fases encontram-se formando um ângulo ou não, pois isto pode ser um indicativo da natureza desses pontos \"triplos\". Na situação em que o campo é aplicado ao longo do eixo intermediário, mostramos que a forma com que as três fronteiras se encontram é consistente com a atribuição feita anteriormente a esse ponto, isto é, trata-se de um ponto triplo ordinário no qual as três fronteiras de fase são de primeira ordem. Para a configuração em que o campo é aplicado ao longo do eixo duro, os resultados obtidos para o diagrama de fase, na região onde as duas fases moduladas e a fase ferromagnética se encontram, são consistentes com a existência de um ponto crítico terminal de uma linha de transições de segunda ordem separando as fases moduladas. / Manganese phosphide is a rich compound in magnetic phases and exhibits a variety of phase transitions which have been the subject of many experimental investigations for more than a decade. With the external magnetic field H applied along the b and a axes (intermediate and hard axis, respectively) the geometry of the boundaries in the points where the modulated phases meet with ferromagnetic phase in the phase diagram T x H were studied. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility were realized to elucidate if the phase boundaries meet at an angle or not thus indicating the nature of these triple points. For the case of H applied along the intermediate axis it is shown that the shape in which the phase boundaries meet is consistent with the geometry of an ordinary triple point. With H parallel to the a axis the results are consistent with the existence of critical end point in which the modulated phases boundary close.

Dois modelos descrevendo sistemas magnéticos modulados são estudados na presença de um campo magnético. Na primeira parte consideramos um modelo de Ising com interações competitivas numa única direção espacial (modelo ANNNI). A superfície crítica, a linha tricrítica, a estrutura das fases moduladas, e os diagramas de fases são determinados na aproximação de campo médio. O comportamento crítico e tricrítico é analisado através do método de Grupo de Renormalização. Na segunda parte estudamos um modelo adequado à descrição do composto MnP. Cálculos realizados na aproximação de campo médio e através do método de Grupo de Renormalização contribuem para esclarecer os resultados experimentais acerca do ponto de Lifshitz observado neste composto. / Two models describing modulated magnetic systems are studied in the presence of a magnetic field. The first part is dedicated to the study of an Ising model with competing interactions along one of the spatial directions (ANNNI model). The critical surface, the tricritical line, the structure of the modulated phases, and the phase diagrams are determined in the mean field approximation. The critical and the tricritical behaviour is analised by the Renormalization Group method. The second part is concerned with a model suitable for the description of the compound MnP. Calculations carried out in the mean field approximation and through the Renormalization Group method provide a better understanding of the experimental results on the Lifshitz point observed in this compound.

Dois modelos descrevendo sistemas magnéticos modulados são estudados na presença de um campo magnético. Na primeira parte consideramos um modelo de Ising com interações competitivas numa única direção espacial (modelo ANNNI). A superfície crítica, a linha tricrítica, a estrutura das fases moduladas, e os diagramas de fases são determinados na aproximação de campo médio. O comportamento crítico e tricrítico é analisado através do método de Grupo de Renormalização. Na segunda parte estudamos um modelo adequado à descrição do composto MnP. Cálculos realizados na aproximação de campo médio e através do método de Grupo de Renormalização contribuem para esclarecer os resultados experimentais acerca do ponto de Lifshitz observado neste composto. / Two models describing modulated magnetic systems are studied in the presence of a magnetic field. The first part is dedicated to the study of an Ising model with competing interactions along one of the spatial directions (ANNNI model). The critical surface, the tricritical line, the structure of the modulated phases, and the phase diagrams are determined in the mean field approximation. The critical and the tricritical behaviour is analised by the Renormalization Group method. The second part is concerned with a model suitable for the description of the compound MnP. Calculations carried out in the mean field approximation and through the Renormalization Group method provide a better understanding of the experimental results on the Lifshitz point observed in this compound.

Cette thèse est dédiée à l’étude des matériaux InMnP et GaMnP fabriqués par implantation ionique et recuit thermique. Plus précisément nous avons investigué la possibilité de former par implantation ionique des matériaux homogènes (alliages) de InMnP et GaMnP contenant de 1 à 5 % atomiques de Mn qui seraient en état ferromagnétique, pour des possibles applications dans la spintronique. Dans un premier chapitre introductif nous donnons les motivations de cette recherche et faisons une revue de la littérature sur ce sujet. Le deuxième chapitre décrit les principes de l’implantation ionique, qui est la technique utilisée pour la fabrication des échantillons. Les effets de l’énergie, fluence et direction du faisceau ionique sur le profil d’implantation et la formation des dommages seront mis en évidence. Aussi dans ce chapitre nous allons trouver des informations sur les substrats utilisés pour l’implantation. Les techniques expérimentales utilisées pour la caractérisation structurale, chimique et magnétique des échantillons, ainsi que leurs limitations sont présentées dans le troisième chapitre. Quelques principes théoriques du magnétisme nécessaires pour la compréhension des mesures magnétiques se retrouvent dans le chapitre 4. Le cinquième chapitre est dédié à l’étude de la morphologie et des propriétés magnétiques des substrats utilisés pour implantation et le sixième chapitre, à l’étude des échantillons implantés au Mn sans avoir subi un recuit thermique. Notamment nous allons voir dans ce chapitre que l’implantation de Mn à plus que 1016 ions/cm2 amorphise la partie implantée du matériau et le Mn implanté se dispose en profondeur sur un profil gaussien. De point de vue magnétique les atomes implantés se trouvent dans un état paramagnétique entre 5 et 300 K ayant le spin 5/2. Dans le chapitre 7 nous présentons les propriétés des échantillons recuits à basses températures. Nous allons voir que dans ces échantillons la couche implantée est polycristalline et les atomes de Mn sont toujours dans un état paramagnétique. Dans les chapitres 8 et 9, qui sont les plus volumineux, nous présentons les résultats des mesures sur les échantillons recuits à hautes températures : il s’agit d’InP et du GaP implantés au Mn, dans le chapitre 8 et d’InP co-implanté au Mn et au P, dans le chapitre 9. D’abord, dans le chapitre 8 nous allons voir que le recuit à hautes températures mène à une recristallisation épitaxiale du InMnP et du GaMnP; aussi la majorité des atomes de Mn se déplacent vers la surface à cause d’un effet de ségrégation. Dans les régions de la surface, concentrés en Mn, les mesures XRD et TEM identifient la formation de MnP et d’In cristallin. Les mesures magnétiques identifient aussi la présence de MnP ferromagnétique. De plus dans ces mesures on trouve qu’environ 60 % du Mn implanté est en état paramagnétique avec la valeur du spin réduite par rapport à celle trouvée dans les échantillons non-recuits. Dans les échantillons InP co-implantés au Mn et au P la recristallisation est seulement partielle mais l’effet de ségrégation du Mn à la surface est beaucoup réduit. Dans ce cas plus que 50 % du Mn forme des particules MnP et le restant est en état paramagnétique au spin 5/2, dilué dans la matrice de l’InP. Finalement dans le dernier chapitre, 10, nous présentons les conclusions principales auxquels nous sommes arrivés et discutons les résultats et leurs implications. / This thesis is dedicated to the study of InMnP and GaMnP materials fabricated by ion implantation and thermal annealing. More precisely we have investigated the possibility of forming by ion implantation homogeneous InMnP and GaMnP materials (alloys), containing up to 5 at. % of Mn, that would be in a ferromagnetic state for possible applications in spintronics. In the first introductive chapter we give the motivations for this research and briefly comment the literature existent on this subject. The second chapter describes the principles of ion implantation, which is the technique used for the fabrication of the samples. The effects of the energy, fluency and direction of the ion beam on the implantation profile and the formation of damages will be highlighted. Also in this chapter we shall find information concerning the semiconducting substrates used for the implantation. The experimental techniques used for the structural, chemical and magnetic characterisation of the samples, together with their limitations are discussed in the third chapter. Some theoretical principles of magnetism necessary for the understanding of the magnetic measurements are presented in chapter 4. The fifth chapter is dedicated to the study of the morphology and magnetic properties of the substrates used for implantation and the sixth chapter to the study of samples implanted with Mn without thermal annealing. In particular we’ll see in this chapter that Mn implantation at more then 1016 ions/cm2 makes amorphous the implanted layer and the Mn atoms are distributed in depth following a Gaussian profile. The implanted Mn atoms are in a paramagnetic state between 5 and 300 K having the spin value of 5/2. In chapter 7 we present the properties of samples annealed at low temperatures. We shall see that in these samples the implanted layer is polycristalline and the Mn atoms are still in a paramagnetic state. In the chapters 8 and 9 that contain most of the results of this thesis, we present the measurements on samples annealed at high temperatures: in chapter 8 one shall find results on InP and GaP implanted with Mn and in chapter 9 one shall see results on InP co-implanted with Mn and P. Firstly, in chapter 8 we’ll see that thermal annealing at high temperatures leads to an epitaxial recrystallization of InMnP and GaMnP. But most of the Mn atoms diffuse to the surface due to a segregation effect. In the regions at the surface, highly concentrated in Mn, the XRD and TEM measurement identify the formation of MnP and In crystalline. The magnetic measurements identify also the presence of ferromagnetic MnP. Moreover in these measurements one finds that 60 % of the implanted Mn is in a paramagnetic state with the spin value reduced with respect to that found in un-annealed samples. In the InP samples co-implanted with Mn and P we have only a partial recrystallization but, the effect of segregation of Mn at the surface is much reduced. In this case more than 50 % of the implanted Mn forms ferromagnetic MnP and the rest of it is diluted in InP, in a paramagnetic state with spin 5/2. Finally, in the last chapter 10 we present the principal conclusion that we have reached and discuss the results and their implications.

Cette thèse est dédiée à l’étude des matériaux InMnP et GaMnP fabriqués par implantation ionique et recuit thermique. Plus précisément nous avons investigué la possibilité de former par implantation ionique des matériaux homogènes (alliages) de InMnP et GaMnP contenant de 1 à 5 % atomiques de Mn qui seraient en état ferromagnétique, pour des possibles applications dans la spintronique. Dans un premier chapitre introductif nous donnons les motivations de cette recherche et faisons une revue de la littérature sur ce sujet. Le deuxième chapitre décrit les principes de l’implantation ionique, qui est la technique utilisée pour la fabrication des échantillons. Les effets de l’énergie, fluence et direction du faisceau ionique sur le profil d’implantation et la formation des dommages seront mis en évidence. Aussi dans ce chapitre nous allons trouver des informations sur les substrats utilisés pour l’implantation. Les techniques expérimentales utilisées pour la caractérisation structurale, chimique et magnétique des échantillons, ainsi que leurs limitations sont présentées dans le troisième chapitre. Quelques principes théoriques du magnétisme nécessaires pour la compréhension des mesures magnétiques se retrouvent dans le chapitre 4. Le cinquième chapitre est dédié à l’étude de la morphologie et des propriétés magnétiques des substrats utilisés pour implantation et le sixième chapitre, à l’étude des échantillons implantés au Mn sans avoir subi un recuit thermique. Notamment nous allons voir dans ce chapitre que l’implantation de Mn à plus que 1016 ions/cm2 amorphise la partie implantée du matériau et le Mn implanté se dispose en profondeur sur un profil gaussien. De point de vue magnétique les atomes implantés se trouvent dans un état paramagnétique entre 5 et 300 K ayant le spin 5/2. Dans le chapitre 7 nous présentons les propriétés des échantillons recuits à basses températures. Nous allons voir que dans ces échantillons la couche implantée est polycristalline et les atomes de Mn sont toujours dans un état paramagnétique. Dans les chapitres 8 et 9, qui sont les plus volumineux, nous présentons les résultats des mesures sur les échantillons recuits à hautes températures : il s’agit d’InP et du GaP implantés au Mn, dans le chapitre 8 et d’InP co-implanté au Mn et au P, dans le chapitre 9. D’abord, dans le chapitre 8 nous allons voir que le recuit à hautes températures mène à une recristallisation épitaxiale du InMnP et du GaMnP; aussi la majorité des atomes de Mn se déplacent vers la surface à cause d’un effet de ségrégation. Dans les régions de la surface, concentrés en Mn, les mesures XRD et TEM identifient la formation de MnP et d’In cristallin. Les mesures magnétiques identifient aussi la présence de MnP ferromagnétique. De plus dans ces mesures on trouve qu’environ 60 % du Mn implanté est en état paramagnétique avec la valeur du spin réduite par rapport à celle trouvée dans les échantillons non-recuits. Dans les échantillons InP co-implantés au Mn et au P la recristallisation est seulement partielle mais l’effet de ségrégation du Mn à la surface est beaucoup réduit. Dans ce cas plus que 50 % du Mn forme des particules MnP et le restant est en état paramagnétique au spin 5/2, dilué dans la matrice de l’InP. Finalement dans le dernier chapitre, 10, nous présentons les conclusions principales auxquels nous sommes arrivés et discutons les résultats et leurs implications. / This thesis is dedicated to the study of InMnP and GaMnP materials fabricated by ion implantation and thermal annealing. More precisely we have investigated the possibility of forming by ion implantation homogeneous InMnP and GaMnP materials (alloys), containing up to 5 at. % of Mn, that would be in a ferromagnetic state for possible applications in spintronics. In the first introductive chapter we give the motivations for this research and briefly comment the literature existent on this subject. The second chapter describes the principles of ion implantation, which is the technique used for the fabrication of the samples. The effects of the energy, fluency and direction of the ion beam on the implantation profile and the formation of damages will be highlighted. Also in this chapter we shall find information concerning the semiconducting substrates used for the implantation. The experimental techniques used for the structural, chemical and magnetic characterisation of the samples, together with their limitations are discussed in the third chapter. Some theoretical principles of magnetism necessary for the understanding of the magnetic measurements are presented in chapter 4. The fifth chapter is dedicated to the study of the morphology and magnetic properties of the substrates used for implantation and the sixth chapter to the study of samples implanted with Mn without thermal annealing. In particular we’ll see in this chapter that Mn implantation at more then 1016 ions/cm2 makes amorphous the implanted layer and the Mn atoms are distributed in depth following a Gaussian profile. The implanted Mn atoms are in a paramagnetic state between 5 and 300 K having the spin value of 5/2. In chapter 7 we present the properties of samples annealed at low temperatures. We shall see that in these samples the implanted layer is polycristalline and the Mn atoms are still in a paramagnetic state. In the chapters 8 and 9 that contain most of the results of this thesis, we present the measurements on samples annealed at high temperatures: in chapter 8 one shall find results on InP and GaP implanted with Mn and in chapter 9 one shall see results on InP co-implanted with Mn and P. Firstly, in chapter 8 we’ll see that thermal annealing at high temperatures leads to an epitaxial recrystallization of InMnP and GaMnP. But most of the Mn atoms diffuse to the surface due to a segregation effect. In the regions at the surface, highly concentrated in Mn, the XRD and TEM measurement identify the formation of MnP and In crystalline. The magnetic measurements identify also the presence of ferromagnetic MnP. Moreover in these measurements one finds that 60 % of the implanted Mn is in a paramagnetic state with the spin value reduced with respect to that found in un-annealed samples. In the InP samples co-implanted with Mn and P we have only a partial recrystallization but, the effect of segregation of Mn at the surface is much reduced. In this case more than 50 % of the implanted Mn forms ferromagnetic MnP and the rest of it is diluted in InP, in a paramagnetic state with spin 5/2. Finally, in the last chapter 10 we present the principal conclusion that we have reached and discuss the results and their implications.

O aumento da produção suinícola trouxe consigo uma grande quantidade de dejetos que, muitas vezes, são destinados à agricultura ou piscicultura. Sendo os suínos, na maioria das vezes, portadores assintomáticos de Salmonella sp., excretam a bactéria nas fezes. Desta forma, no meio ambiente torna-se uma importante fonte de transmissão e, consequentemente, fonte de risco à produção animal e à saúde pública. A contaminação das bacias hidrográficas e do ambiente, de maneira geral, tem provocado cada vez mais preocupação nas comunidades rurais e urbanas. Neste experimento, compararam-se três metodologias para a quantificação de Salmonella sp. a fim de determinar a melhor técnica da estimativa do Número Mais Provável (NMP) a ser aplicado em efluentes de sistemas de tratamento de dejetos. Na primeira fase deste estudo, utilizaram-se quatro amostras de água de um tanque de piscicultura da Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS e uma de água peptonada tamponada, todas artificialmente contaminadas. Também foram realizadas análises físico-químicas (pH, condutividade, fósforo total, fosfato, DQO, alcalinidade total, amônio, nitratos, nitrito, sólidos totais e temperatura) das amostras do tanque de piscicultura. Na segunda fase, utilizaram-se as três metodologias de NMP em três amostras de intestino de suínos coletadas em um frigorífico do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Comparado às contagens bacterianas do inoculo de Salmonella Typhimurium (105 a 106 UFC), verificou-se que o NMP médio (4,441 UFC) no método A é bastante próximo a estas (P>0,05). Por outro lado, o NMP médio observado nos métodos B (1,380 UFC) e C (3,204 UFC) diferem estatisticamente daquelas (P<0,001 e P<0,01, respectivamente). Na segunda fase do experimento não houve crescimento de Salmonella sp. nas três amostras analisadas. Como o método A foi aquele que demonstrou valores mais próximos de NMP das quantidades inoculadas, sugere-se a utilização desta metodologia para análise de efluentes. / The increase in swine production has increased the amount of effluents destined, most of times, to agriculture or aquaculture. Given the fact swine are very often asymptomatic hosts of Salmonella sp., they excrete this bacterium in their faeces, which, once in the environment, become an important source of transmission and, consequently, a risk to animal production and public health. The contamination of hydrographic basins and the environment has become an increasing cause for concern in rural and urban communities. In this experiment, three methodologies for quantifying Salmonella sp. were compared, so as to determine the best estimation technique of the Most Probable Number (MPN) to be applied in liquid waste from effluent treatment systems. In the first stage of this study, four water samples from an aquaculture tank from the Faculty of Agronomy of UFRGS and one sample of buffered peptone water were used, all of them artificially contaminated. Physical-chemical analyses of samples from the aquaculture tank were also performed (pH, conductivity, total phosphorus, phosphate, COD, total alkalinity, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, total solids and temperature). In the second stage, three MPN methodologies were used in samples from three swine intestines, collected from a slaughterhouse in the Rio Grande do Sul State. Compared to the bacterial count of the Salmonella Typhimurium’s inoculum (105 a 106 CFU), it was verified that the average MPN (4.441 CFU) in method A is very similar to those counts (P>0.05). On the other hand, the average MNP observed in method B (1.380 CFU) and C (3.204 CFU) are statistically different from them (P<0.001 and P<0,01, respectively). In the second stage of the experiment, no Salmonella sp. growth was observed in the three analysed samples. Considering that method A was the one to present MNP values closest to the inoculated amounts, the employment of this methodology is suggested for the analysis of effluents.

O aumento da produção suinícola trouxe consigo uma grande quantidade de dejetos que, muitas vezes, são destinados à agricultura ou piscicultura. Sendo os suínos, na maioria das vezes, portadores assintomáticos de Salmonella sp., excretam a bactéria nas fezes. Desta forma, no meio ambiente torna-se uma importante fonte de transmissão e, consequentemente, fonte de risco à produção animal e à saúde pública. A contaminação das bacias hidrográficas e do ambiente, de maneira geral, tem provocado cada vez mais preocupação nas comunidades rurais e urbanas. Neste experimento, compararam-se três metodologias para a quantificação de Salmonella sp. a fim de determinar a melhor técnica da estimativa do Número Mais Provável (NMP) a ser aplicado em efluentes de sistemas de tratamento de dejetos. Na primeira fase deste estudo, utilizaram-se quatro amostras de água de um tanque de piscicultura da Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS e uma de água peptonada tamponada, todas artificialmente contaminadas. Também foram realizadas análises físico-químicas (pH, condutividade, fósforo total, fosfato, DQO, alcalinidade total, amônio, nitratos, nitrito, sólidos totais e temperatura) das amostras do tanque de piscicultura. Na segunda fase, utilizaram-se as três metodologias de NMP em três amostras de intestino de suínos coletadas em um frigorífico do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Comparado às contagens bacterianas do inoculo de Salmonella Typhimurium (105 a 106 UFC), verificou-se que o NMP médio (4,441 UFC) no método A é bastante próximo a estas (P>0,05). Por outro lado, o NMP médio observado nos métodos B (1,380 UFC) e C (3,204 UFC) diferem estatisticamente daquelas (P<0,001 e P<0,01, respectivamente). Na segunda fase do experimento não houve crescimento de Salmonella sp. nas três amostras analisadas. Como o método A foi aquele que demonstrou valores mais próximos de NMP das quantidades inoculadas, sugere-se a utilização desta metodologia para análise de efluentes. / The increase in swine production has increased the amount of effluents destined, most of times, to agriculture or aquaculture. Given the fact swine are very often asymptomatic hosts of Salmonella sp., they excrete this bacterium in their faeces, which, once in the environment, become an important source of transmission and, consequently, a risk to animal production and public health. The contamination of hydrographic basins and the environment has become an increasing cause for concern in rural and urban communities. In this experiment, three methodologies for quantifying Salmonella sp. were compared, so as to determine the best estimation technique of the Most Probable Number (MPN) to be applied in liquid waste from effluent treatment systems. In the first stage of this study, four water samples from an aquaculture tank from the Faculty of Agronomy of UFRGS and one sample of buffered peptone water were used, all of them artificially contaminated. Physical-chemical analyses of samples from the aquaculture tank were also performed (pH, conductivity, total phosphorus, phosphate, COD, total alkalinity, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, total solids and temperature). In the second stage, three MPN methodologies were used in samples from three swine intestines, collected from a slaughterhouse in the Rio Grande do Sul State. Compared to the bacterial count of the Salmonella Typhimurium’s inoculum (105 a 106 CFU), it was verified that the average MPN (4.441 CFU) in method A is very similar to those counts (P>0.05). On the other hand, the average MNP observed in method B (1.380 CFU) and C (3.204 CFU) are statistically different from them (P<0.001 and P<0,01, respectively). In the second stage of the experiment, no Salmonella sp. growth was observed in the three analysed samples. Considering that method A was the one to present MNP values closest to the inoculated amounts, the employment of this methodology is suggested for the analysis of effluents.

O aumento da produção suinícola trouxe consigo uma grande quantidade de dejetos que, muitas vezes, são destinados à agricultura ou piscicultura. Sendo os suínos, na maioria das vezes, portadores assintomáticos de Salmonella sp., excretam a bactéria nas fezes. Desta forma, no meio ambiente torna-se uma importante fonte de transmissão e, consequentemente, fonte de risco à produção animal e à saúde pública. A contaminação das bacias hidrográficas e do ambiente, de maneira geral, tem provocado cada vez mais preocupação nas comunidades rurais e urbanas. Neste experimento, compararam-se três metodologias para a quantificação de Salmonella sp. a fim de determinar a melhor técnica da estimativa do Número Mais Provável (NMP) a ser aplicado em efluentes de sistemas de tratamento de dejetos. Na primeira fase deste estudo, utilizaram-se quatro amostras de água de um tanque de piscicultura da Faculdade de Agronomia da UFRGS e uma de água peptonada tamponada, todas artificialmente contaminadas. Também foram realizadas análises físico-químicas (pH, condutividade, fósforo total, fosfato, DQO, alcalinidade total, amônio, nitratos, nitrito, sólidos totais e temperatura) das amostras do tanque de piscicultura. Na segunda fase, utilizaram-se as três metodologias de NMP em três amostras de intestino de suínos coletadas em um frigorífico do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Comparado às contagens bacterianas do inoculo de Salmonella Typhimurium (105 a 106 UFC), verificou-se que o NMP médio (4,441 UFC) no método A é bastante próximo a estas (P>0,05). Por outro lado, o NMP médio observado nos métodos B (1,380 UFC) e C (3,204 UFC) diferem estatisticamente daquelas (P<0,001 e P<0,01, respectivamente). Na segunda fase do experimento não houve crescimento de Salmonella sp. nas três amostras analisadas. Como o método A foi aquele que demonstrou valores mais próximos de NMP das quantidades inoculadas, sugere-se a utilização desta metodologia para análise de efluentes. / The increase in swine production has increased the amount of effluents destined, most of times, to agriculture or aquaculture. Given the fact swine are very often asymptomatic hosts of Salmonella sp., they excrete this bacterium in their faeces, which, once in the environment, become an important source of transmission and, consequently, a risk to animal production and public health. The contamination of hydrographic basins and the environment has become an increasing cause for concern in rural and urban communities. In this experiment, three methodologies for quantifying Salmonella sp. were compared, so as to determine the best estimation technique of the Most Probable Number (MPN) to be applied in liquid waste from effluent treatment systems. In the first stage of this study, four water samples from an aquaculture tank from the Faculty of Agronomy of UFRGS and one sample of buffered peptone water were used, all of them artificially contaminated. Physical-chemical analyses of samples from the aquaculture tank were also performed (pH, conductivity, total phosphorus, phosphate, COD, total alkalinity, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, total solids and temperature). In the second stage, three MPN methodologies were used in samples from three swine intestines, collected from a slaughterhouse in the Rio Grande do Sul State. Compared to the bacterial count of the Salmonella Typhimurium’s inoculum (105 a 106 CFU), it was verified that the average MPN (4.441 CFU) in method A is very similar to those counts (P>0.05). On the other hand, the average MNP observed in method B (1.380 CFU) and C (3.204 CFU) are statistically different from them (P<0.001 and P<0,01, respectively). In the second stage of the experiment, no Salmonella sp. growth was observed in the three analysed samples. Considering that method A was the one to present MNP values closest to the inoculated amounts, the employment of this methodology is suggested for the analysis of effluents.