No / Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and bulk carbon isotope determinations have been performed on samples ('cemented organic residues', charcoal, sediment and fire-cracked rock) excavated from twelve slab-lined pits from various locations in Arctic Norway to test the premise that these archaeological features were used for the extraction of oil from the blubber of marine mammals, such as seal, whale and walrus. A wide range of lipid compound classes were detected especially in the cemented organic residues and in the charcoal samples. The presence of long-chain unsaturated and isoprenoid fatty acids together with oxidation and thermal alteration products of unsaturated acids such as dicarboxylic acids, dihydroxyfatty acids and ω-(o-alkylphenyl)alkanoic acids suggests that these features were used for marine oil extraction at elevated temperatures. Notably the location of the hydroxyl groups in the dihydroxyfatty acids provides a record of the positional isomer of the precursor fatty acid and allows confirmation that 11-docosenoic (cetoleic) acid, the most abundant C22:1 isomer in marine oil, was a major component of the original lipid. Further information was provided by the presence of long-chain fatty acyl moieties in surviving triacylglycerols and the presence of cholesterol. A fungal metabolite, mycose (trehalose), was found in all samples apart from a fire-cracked rock and points to microbiological activity in the pits. Bulk isotope analysis conducted on the 'cemented organic residues' is consistent with modern reference samples of blubber and oil from seal and whale. These data provide clear analytical evidence of the function of slab-lined pits in the archaeological record and suggest widespread exploitation of marine mammals for producing oil for heating, lighting and myriad other uses in the past.

Yes / The analysis of organic residues from archaeological materials has become increasingly important to our understanding of ancient diet, trade and technology. Residues from diverse contexts have been retrieved and analysed from the remains of food, medicine and cosmetics to hafting material on stone arrowheads, pitch and tar from shipwrecks, and ancient manure from soils. Research has brought many advances in our understanding of archaeological, organic residues over the past two decades. Some have enabled very specific and detailed interpretations of materials preserved in the archaeological record. However there are still areas where we know very little, like the mechanisms at work during the formation and preservation of residues, and areas where each advance produces more questions rather than answers, as in the identification of degraded fats. This chapter will discuss some of the significant achievements in the field over the past decade and the ongoing challenges for research in this area. / Full text was made available in the Repository on 15th Oct 2015, at the end of the publisher's embargo period.

Although ground stone artifacts comprise a substantial portion of the archaeological record, their use as an important source of information about the past has remained underdeveloped. This is especially true for milling tools (mortars, pestles, grinding slabs and handstones) used by hunter-gatherers. Three studies that apply novel techniques and approaches to prehistoric milling technology are presented here. Together they demonstrate that substantial opportunities exist for new avenues of inquiry in the study of these artifacts. The first combines a simple optimization model from behavioral ecology with experimental data to weigh manufacturing costs against gains in grinding efficiency for mobile hunter-gatherers. Results run counter to widespread assumptions that mobile hunter-gatherers should not spend time shaping grinding surfaces on milling tools. Next, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is used to analyze lipid preservation in modified rock features in dry caves at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico. A high concentration of lipids, derived from processing a seed resource, was recovered from a grinding surface in these caves. The lipid content in this surface is comparable to amounts recovered from select pottery sherds that have been used for radiocarbon dating. The third study uses synchronic and diachronic variability in morphology, use-wear, and symbolic content to analyze ground stone milling tools from mortuary contexts in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Archaeological and ethnographic evidence supports the inferred association of certain mortars with feasting and ritual activities. Differences in the representation of some of these forms in male and female graves may reflect changes in the roles of women and men in community ritual and politics.

A produção de resíduos orgânicos tem aumentado em anos recentes e uma alternativa para o seu aproveitamento é o processo de compostagem, no qual se desenvolvem reações bioquímicas para estabilização do material que estão diretamente associadas com a humificação da matéria orgânica. Considerando a complexidade das transformações no processo de humificação e a importância de se conhecer com maior precisão estas reações e as características dos materiais gerados, foi proposto neste trabalho um estudo detalhado do processo de compostagem. A combinação de métodos convencionais e técnicas espectroscópicas permitiu o monitoramento contínuo da compostagem, de diferentes resíduos orgânicos. Para execução dos experimentos foram montadas 6 leiras (L) de 3,6 m3 com os seguintes resíduos: poda de árvores, esterco bovino fresco, bagaço de laranja, torta de filtro e solução de ácido pirolenhoso (como possível catalisador do processo). O monitorado foi realizado por 7 meses com medidas diárias de temperatura, controle semanal do teor de umidade e coletas mensais das amostras para extração de ácidos húmicos e análises químicas. Foram observadas as fases típicas da temperatura em todas as leiras, exceto na L1 (constituída apenas de poda de árvores). Na fase termofílica a temperatura atingiu os 60 o C e esta fase permaneceu por, aproximadamente, 90 dias. Este também foi o tempo necessário para a estabilização da relação da capacidade de troca catiônica pelo teor de carbono do composto (CTC/C), que alcançou valores acima de 2,2 mmolc g-1 . As análises de macro e micronutrientes evidenciaram o potencial fertilizante dos compostos produzidos, cujos valores, para alguns elementos, estão acima dos limites exigidos pela Instrução Normativa no 23 do Ministério de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Já nas análises espectroscópicas foram encontrados índices de estabilização a partir dos espectros de fluorescência de luz UV - Vis. Estes apresentaram boa correlação com a razão C/N e os radicais livres orgânicos do tipo semiquinona, detectados por Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica. As correlações dos índices com a razão C/N mostraram que este último parâmetro tem limitação para monitorar a compostagem, pois a partir de 60 dias a relação C/N estabiliza, ainda na fase termofílica do processo, enquanto que os índices espectroscópicos continuam variando, indicando que o processo não se estabilizou completamente. Dentre as informações obtidas por fluorescência, foi possível identificar reações de transformação de moléculas orgânicas mais simples para estruturas mais complexas, detectadas através da diminuição de intensidade das bandas de emissão em comprimentos de onda menores (em torno de 300 nm) com simultâneo aumento da intensidade em regiões de maiores comprimentos de onda (próximos de 400 nm). Este comportamento também foi observado nos espectros de absorção UV - Vis. A partir dos dados de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN de 13 C) foi possível evidenciar a decomposição de estruturas como carboidratos, polissacarídeos e grupos alquil, assim como um aumento das estruturas aromáticas, durante o processo de humificação. Assim através da combinação das análises por métodos convencionais e espectroscópicos foram propostos indicadores analíticos mais sensíveis para o monitoramento e a caracterização da compostagem de resíduos orgânicos. / The production of organic residues has increased in recent years and an alternative to their recycling is the composting process, where various biochemical reactions are developed for the material stabilization. These reactions are directly associated with organic matter humification. Considering the complexity of the transformations occurred during the humification process and the importance of knowing these reactions and the characteristics of the produced materials more precisely, this work has proposed a detailed study of the composting process. The combination of conventional methods and spectroscopic techniques allowed the continuous composting assessment and monitoring from different organic residues. Six piles (P) of 3.6 m3 were assembled using the following residues: garden trimming, fresh cattle manure, orange pomace, filter cake and pyroligneous acid solution (used as possible catalyst of the process). The process was monitored for 7 months with daily measurements of temperature, weekly moisture control and monthly collection of samples for humic acid (HA) extraction and chemical analyses. Typical phases of temperature in all piles were observed, except for P1 (composed only garden trimming). In the thermophilic phase the temperature reached 60 o C and this phase remained for about 90 days. This was also the time necessary for stabilization of cation exchange capacity and total carbon ratio (CEC/C), which reached values above of 2.2 mmolc g-1 . The macro- and micronutrient analyses showed the fertilizer potential of the produced composts. Concentration values for same elements are above those required by Normative Instruction number 23 of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Food Supply. As a result of the spectroscopic analyses, stabilization indices were obtained from fluorescence spectra of UV-Visible light. These indices showed good correlation with C/N ratio and with the semiquinone-type free radical, detected by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The correlation of the indices with C/N ratio showed that the latter parameter has limitation to monitor the composting, because after 60 days the C/N ratio stabilizes and this occurs during the thermophilic phase, while the spectroscopic indices continue to change, which is an indicative that the process was not completely stabilized. Among several observations by fluorescence of UV-Visible light it was possible to identify transformation reactions of simpler organic molecules to more complex structures, which were detected by decrease in emission band intensity in shorter wavelengths (near 300 nm) with simultaneous increase in band intensity in longer wavelengths (near 400 nm). This behavior was also observed in the UV - Visible absorption spectra. It was possible to show the decomposition of carbohydrate type structures, polysaccharides and alkyl groups and the increase in aromatic structures, by 13 C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR), during humification process of the organic residues. Therefore, more sensible analytic indicators were proposed for monitoring and characterization of the composting of organic residues through the combination of conventional and spectroscopic methods.

In this dissertation, I discuss the role of organic residue analysis in identifying economic activities and subsistence practices associated with the first uses of pottery in the Middle East, and present the results of my analyses of 280 potsherds recovered from 22 Neolithic and early Chalcolithic settlements dating between 7300 and 4300 cal BC. The adoption of pottery vessels in the early agricultural villages and pastoral encampments of the Middle East was not a uniform phenomenon, with this new technology not immediately of benefit, apparently, to all human groups. Results of my analyses have demonstrated that ‘conventional’ solvent extraction and alkaline hydrolysis techniques have limited utility in the recovery of diagnostic organic compounds from pottery from early ceramic horizons in the Middle East (Gregg et al. 2007), and that increased yields can be achieved through the use of a microwave-assisted liquid chromatography protocol (Gregg et al. 2009; Gregg and Slater in press). My research has established that there is greater diversity in the fractionation of stable carbon isotopes associated with the synthesis of fatty acids in domesticated animals than has previously been reported. In many instances, the ranges of modern isotopic values that have been used to categorize animal fats in archaeological potsherds in northern Europe cannot distinguish between the ∂13C ratios of ancient dairy residues and carcass fats of ruminant and non-ruminant species in central Europe or the Middle East (Gregg et al. 2009; Gregg and Slater in press). In light of these results, I evaluate the diagnostic potential and limitations of different methodological approaches in the recovery and characterization of organic residues, and propose a series of measures that will allow more confident categorization of the substances in early pottery vessels from the Middle East. I also make a number of recommendations for archaeologists considering the use of organic residue analysis, and suggest some practical ideas on how to develop the degree of confidence necessary to assess the methods used in acquisition of molecular and isotopic data, and ultimately, to evaluate the adequacy of the analytical criteria used to address specific archaeological research questions.

In this dissertation, I discuss the role of organic residue analysis in identifying economic activities and subsistence practices associated with the first uses of pottery in the Middle East, and present the results of my analyses of 280 potsherds recovered from 22 Neolithic and early Chalcolithic settlements dating between 7300 and 4300 cal BC. The adoption of pottery vessels in the early agricultural villages and pastoral encampments of the Middle East was not a uniform phenomenon, with this new technology not immediately of benefit, apparently, to all human groups. Results of my analyses have demonstrated that ‘conventional’ solvent extraction and alkaline hydrolysis techniques have limited utility in the recovery of diagnostic organic compounds from pottery from early ceramic horizons in the Middle East (Gregg et al. 2007), and that increased yields can be achieved through the use of a microwave-assisted liquid chromatography protocol (Gregg et al. 2009; Gregg and Slater in press). My research has established that there is greater diversity in the fractionation of stable carbon isotopes associated with the synthesis of fatty acids in domesticated animals than has previously been reported. In many instances, the ranges of modern isotopic values that have been used to categorize animal fats in archaeological potsherds in northern Europe cannot distinguish between the ∂13C ratios of ancient dairy residues and carcass fats of ruminant and non-ruminant species in central Europe or the Middle East (Gregg et al. 2009; Gregg and Slater in press). In light of these results, I evaluate the diagnostic potential and limitations of different methodological approaches in the recovery and characterization of organic residues, and propose a series of measures that will allow more confident categorization of the substances in early pottery vessels from the Middle East. I also make a number of recommendations for archaeologists considering the use of organic residue analysis, and suggest some practical ideas on how to develop the degree of confidence necessary to assess the methods used in acquisition of molecular and isotopic data, and ultimately, to evaluate the adequacy of the analytical criteria used to address specific archaeological research questions.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-07-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:09:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 cordeiro_gq_me_sjrp.pdf: 852634 bytes, checksum: afdbb4ebc0a0867ed2c6991e1508045a (MD5) / A manipueira, resíduo gerado durante o processamento da mandioca para a produção de fécula ou farinha, é um líquido bastante poluente e tóxico. Para evitar o descarte no meio ambiente, vários estudos estão sendo conduzidos visando minimizar seus efeitos negativos. Um processo bem estudado é o tratamento anaeróbio com separação de fases, uma vez que os reatores em uma única fase mostram-se muito instáveis quanto ao controle da relação acidez/alcalinidade. Para tanto, têm sido utilizados dois reatores, um na fase acidogênica e outro na fase metanogênica para facilitar o controle do processo. Porém, isso acarreta um aumento de espaço de tratamento, uma vez que são duas unidades e a necessidade do controle da alimentação de ambas as fases. Visando eliminar esses inconvenientes, propõe-se o uso de um reator compartimentado, consistindo em uma única unidade e uma única alimentação. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência no tratamento da manipueira em 10 um reator compartimentado, conhecido na literatura como Anaerobic Baffled Reactor, através da variação da concentração de alimentação e do tempo de residência do sistema. Para isso, utilizou-se um reator de vidro com volume útil de 4,6 litros, constituído de três compartimentos (cada um deles com uma zona descendente e outra ascendente), com cerca de 32% do volume do reator de lodo anaeróbio proveniente de um reator do tipo UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor ou reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo) da planta de tratamento de efluentes da Indústria Arco Íris de Refrigerantes. Após uma etapa de aclimatação, o reator foi alimentado com concentrações crescentes de manipueira (DQO de 1000 a 5000 mg DQO L-1) em diferentes Tempos de Residência Hidráulicos (2 a 6 dias).... / The manipueira, residue generated during the processing of the cassava for the production of starch or flour, it is a sufficiently pollutant and toxic liquid. To prevent the discarding in the environment, some studies are being lead aiming to minimize its negative effect. A well studied process is the anaerobic treatment with separation of phases, a time that the reactors in only phase reveal very unstable unto the control of the relation acidity/alkalinity. For it in such a way, they have been used two reactors, one in the acidogenesis phase and another one in the metanogenesis phase to facilitate the control of the process. However, this causes an increase of treatment space, a time that are two units, the necessity of control and feeding of both phases. Aiming at to eliminate these inconveniences, the use of a baffled reactor is considered, consisting of an only unit and an only 13 feeding. Thus, the present work had as objective to evaluate the efficiency in the treatment of the manipueira in a reactor, known in literature as Anaerobic Baffled Reactor, through the variation of the concentration of feeding and the residence time of the system. For this, a glass reactor was used with useful volume of 4.6 liters, constituted of three compartments (each one of them with a descending zone and another ascendant), with about 32% of the volume of the reactor filled with anaerobic sludge proceeding from a reactor of type UASB (up flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor) of the effluent treatment plant of the Industry Arco Iris of Cooling. After passing at an acclimatization stage, the reactor was fed with increasing concentrations of manipueira (COD at 1000 to 5000 mg COD L-1) in different Hydraulical Residence Times (2 to 6 days). The control of initial pH was made after two months of experiment, with the sodium bicarbonate addition...(Complete abstract, click electronic address below).

Submitted by Lívia Cristina Ribeiro null (lcribeiro@fca.unesp.br) on 2018-03-26T17:48:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissertacaoLivia2018FINALrevisado.pdf: 3287641 bytes, checksum: 272285a876fee2636fe8b642c0886890 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Lucia Martins Frederico null (mlucia@fca.unesp.br) on 2018-03-26T18:13:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ribeiro_lc_me_botfca.pdf: 3287641 bytes, checksum: 272285a876fee2636fe8b642c0886890 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-26T18:13:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ribeiro_lc_me_botfca.pdf: 3287641 bytes, checksum: 272285a876fee2636fe8b642c0886890 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O uso do lodo de esgoto na agricultura é uma alternativa ambiental e economicamente viável para o resíduo. A compostagem propicia a eliminação de patógenos nocivos à saúde humana, viabilizando o uso do lodo de esgoto como fertilizante orgânico. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho caracterizar o processo de compostagem de lodo de esgoto misturado com diferentes fontes de carbono (bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, casca de arroz e casca de eucalipto) e analisar a bioestabilização dos compostos produzidos. A compostagem foi realizada em estufa durante 90 dias, em delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, com 4 repetições. A partir dos 40 dias de compostagem, foram realizadas coletas a cada 10 dias para avaliar as características químicas, físicas e biológicas dos compostos. As misturas de lodo de esgoto com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e lodo de esgoto com casca de eucalipto proporcionaram a compostagem e a bioestabilização dos compostos no período de 90 dias, sendo verificado ao final do processo temperatura dos materiais próxima a temperatura ambiente, ausência de odor, presença de macronutrientes e micronutrientes disponíveis para as plantas, relação C/N abaixo de 20 e índices favoráveis no teste de germinação. A mistura de lodo de esgoto e casca de arroz não proporcionou a compostagem e o material não foi bioestabilizado no período de 90 dias. / The use of sewage sludge in agriculture is an environmentally and economically viable alternative. Composting can promote the elimination of pathogens harmful to human health, making possible the use of sewage sludge as an organic fertilizer. This study aimed at characterize the process of composting sewage sludge mixed with different carbon sources (sugarcane bagasse, rice husk and eucalyptus bark) and to analyze the biostabilization of the compounds produced. The composting was carried out in a greenhouse for 90 days in a randomized block design with four repetitions. From 40 days of composting, samples was colected every 10 days to evaluate the quimical, physical and biological characteristics of the compounds. The mixtures of sewage sludge with sugarcane bagasse and sewage sludge with eucalyptus bark provided the composting and biostabilization of the compounds in the period of 90 days. At the end of the process, the temperature of the materials was close to room temperature, absence of odor, presence of macronutrients and micronutrients available to the plants, C/N ratio below 20 and favorable rates in the germination test. The mixture of sewage sludge and rice husk did not provide composting and the material was not biostabilized within 90 days.

Orientador: Vanildo Luiz Del Bianchi / Banca: Tânia Maria Alberte / Banca: Crispin Humberto Garcia Cruz / Resumo: A manipueira, resíduo gerado durante o processamento da mandioca para a produção de fécula ou farinha, é um líquido bastante poluente e tóxico. Para evitar o descarte no meio ambiente, vários estudos estão sendo conduzidos visando minimizar seus efeitos negativos. Um processo bem estudado é o tratamento anaeróbio com separação de fases, uma vez que os reatores em uma única fase mostram-se muito instáveis quanto ao controle da relação acidez/alcalinidade. Para tanto, têm sido utilizados dois reatores, um na fase acidogênica e outro na fase metanogênica para facilitar o controle do processo. Porém, isso acarreta um aumento de espaço de tratamento, uma vez que são duas unidades e a necessidade do controle da alimentação de ambas as fases. Visando eliminar esses inconvenientes, propõe-se o uso de um reator compartimentado, consistindo em uma única unidade e uma única alimentação. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência no tratamento da manipueira em 10 um reator compartimentado, conhecido na literatura como Anaerobic Baffled Reactor, através da variação da concentração de alimentação e do tempo de residência do sistema. Para isso, utilizou-se um reator de vidro com volume útil de 4,6 litros, constituído de três compartimentos (cada um deles com uma zona descendente e outra ascendente), com cerca de 32% do volume do reator de lodo anaeróbio proveniente de um reator do tipo UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor ou reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo) da planta de tratamento de efluentes da Indústria Arco Íris de Refrigerantes. Após uma etapa de aclimatação, o reator foi alimentado com concentrações crescentes de manipueira (DQO de 1000 a 5000 mg DQO L-1) em diferentes Tempos de Residência Hidráulicos (2 a 6 dias)...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo). / Abstract: The manipueira, residue generated during the processing of the cassava for the production of starch or flour, it is a sufficiently pollutant and toxic liquid. To prevent the discarding in the environment, some studies are being lead aiming to minimize its negative effect. A well studied process is the anaerobic treatment with separation of phases, a time that the reactors in only phase reveal very unstable unto the control of the relation acidity/alkalinity. For it in such a way, they have been used two reactors, one in the acidogenesis phase and another one in the metanogenesis phase to facilitate the control of the process. However, this causes an increase of treatment space, a time that are two units, the necessity of control and feeding of both phases. Aiming at to eliminate these inconveniences, the use of a baffled reactor is considered, consisting of an only unit and an only 13 feeding. Thus, the present work had as objective to evaluate the efficiency in the treatment of the manipueira in a reactor, known in literature as Anaerobic Baffled Reactor, through the variation of the concentration of feeding and the residence time of the system. For this, a glass reactor was used with useful volume of 4.6 liters, constituted of three compartments (each one of them with a descending zone and another ascendant), with about 32% of the volume of the reactor filled with anaerobic sludge proceeding from a reactor of type UASB (up flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor) of the effluent treatment plant of the Industry Arco Iris of Cooling. After passing at an acclimatization stage, the reactor was fed with increasing concentrations of manipueira (COD at 1000 to 5000 mg COD L-1) in different Hydraulical Residence Times (2 to 6 days). The control of initial pH was made after two months of experiment, with the sodium bicarbonate addition...(Complete abstract, click electronic address below). / Mestre

A produção de resíduos orgânicos tem aumentado em anos recentes e uma alternativa para o seu aproveitamento é o processo de compostagem, no qual se desenvolvem reações bioquímicas para estabilização do material que estão diretamente associadas com a humificação da matéria orgânica. Considerando a complexidade das transformações no processo de humificação e a importância de se conhecer com maior precisão estas reações e as características dos materiais gerados, foi proposto neste trabalho um estudo detalhado do processo de compostagem. A combinação de métodos convencionais e técnicas espectroscópicas permitiu o monitoramento contínuo da compostagem, de diferentes resíduos orgânicos. Para execução dos experimentos foram montadas 6 leiras (L) de 3,6 m3 com os seguintes resíduos: poda de árvores, esterco bovino fresco, bagaço de laranja, torta de filtro e solução de ácido pirolenhoso (como possível catalisador do processo). O monitorado foi realizado por 7 meses com medidas diárias de temperatura, controle semanal do teor de umidade e coletas mensais das amostras para extração de ácidos húmicos e análises químicas. Foram observadas as fases típicas da temperatura em todas as leiras, exceto na L1 (constituída apenas de poda de árvores). Na fase termofílica a temperatura atingiu os 60 o C e esta fase permaneceu por, aproximadamente, 90 dias. Este também foi o tempo necessário para a estabilização da relação da capacidade de troca catiônica pelo teor de carbono do composto (CTC/C), que alcançou valores acima de 2,2 mmolc g-1 . As análises de macro e micronutrientes evidenciaram o potencial fertilizante dos compostos produzidos, cujos valores, para alguns elementos, estão acima dos limites exigidos pela Instrução Normativa no 23 do Ministério de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Já nas análises espectroscópicas foram encontrados índices de estabilização a partir dos espectros de fluorescência de luz UV - Vis. Estes apresentaram boa correlação com a razão C/N e os radicais livres orgânicos do tipo semiquinona, detectados por Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica. As correlações dos índices com a razão C/N mostraram que este último parâmetro tem limitação para monitorar a compostagem, pois a partir de 60 dias a relação C/N estabiliza, ainda na fase termofílica do processo, enquanto que os índices espectroscópicos continuam variando, indicando que o processo não se estabilizou completamente. Dentre as informações obtidas por fluorescência, foi possível identificar reações de transformação de moléculas orgânicas mais simples para estruturas mais complexas, detectadas através da diminuição de intensidade das bandas de emissão em comprimentos de onda menores (em torno de 300 nm) com simultâneo aumento da intensidade em regiões de maiores comprimentos de onda (próximos de 400 nm). Este comportamento também foi observado nos espectros de absorção UV - Vis. A partir dos dados de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN de 13 C) foi possível evidenciar a decomposição de estruturas como carboidratos, polissacarídeos e grupos alquil, assim como um aumento das estruturas aromáticas, durante o processo de humificação. Assim através da combinação das análises por métodos convencionais e espectroscópicos foram propostos indicadores analíticos mais sensíveis para o monitoramento e a caracterização da compostagem de resíduos orgânicos. / The production of organic residues has increased in recent years and an alternative to their recycling is the composting process, where various biochemical reactions are developed for the material stabilization. These reactions are directly associated with organic matter humification. Considering the complexity of the transformations occurred during the humification process and the importance of knowing these reactions and the characteristics of the produced materials more precisely, this work has proposed a detailed study of the composting process. The combination of conventional methods and spectroscopic techniques allowed the continuous composting assessment and monitoring from different organic residues. Six piles (P) of 3.6 m3 were assembled using the following residues: garden trimming, fresh cattle manure, orange pomace, filter cake and pyroligneous acid solution (used as possible catalyst of the process). The process was monitored for 7 months with daily measurements of temperature, weekly moisture control and monthly collection of samples for humic acid (HA) extraction and chemical analyses. Typical phases of temperature in all piles were observed, except for P1 (composed only garden trimming). In the thermophilic phase the temperature reached 60 o C and this phase remained for about 90 days. This was also the time necessary for stabilization of cation exchange capacity and total carbon ratio (CEC/C), which reached values above of 2.2 mmolc g-1 . The macro- and micronutrient analyses showed the fertilizer potential of the produced composts. Concentration values for same elements are above those required by Normative Instruction number 23 of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Food Supply. As a result of the spectroscopic analyses, stabilization indices were obtained from fluorescence spectra of UV-Visible light. These indices showed good correlation with C/N ratio and with the semiquinone-type free radical, detected by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The correlation of the indices with C/N ratio showed that the latter parameter has limitation to monitor the composting, because after 60 days the C/N ratio stabilizes and this occurs during the thermophilic phase, while the spectroscopic indices continue to change, which is an indicative that the process was not completely stabilized. Among several observations by fluorescence of UV-Visible light it was possible to identify transformation reactions of simpler organic molecules to more complex structures, which were detected by decrease in emission band intensity in shorter wavelengths (near 300 nm) with simultaneous increase in band intensity in longer wavelengths (near 400 nm). This behavior was also observed in the UV - Visible absorption spectra. It was possible to show the decomposition of carbohydrate type structures, polysaccharides and alkyl groups and the increase in aromatic structures, by 13 C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR), during humification process of the organic residues. Therefore, more sensible analytic indicators were proposed for monitoring and characterization of the composting of organic residues through the combination of conventional and spectroscopic methods.