A estrutura do solo está relacionada com o arranjo das partículas, agregados e poros que constituem este meio poroso. As influências estruturais do solo atuam em diversas escalas tanto macroscópicas como microscópicas. Mudanças estruturais em escala microscópica são importantes porque causam alterações no arranjo das partículas do solo e, conseqüentemente, mudanças na distribuição de poros. A qualidade das amostras de solo está diretamente relacionada a sua estrutura, a qual é extremamente importante devido à influência que exerce no desenvolvimento das raízes, fauna do solo, movimento e retenção de água e gases, etc. As alterações que ocorrem na estrutura do solo podem ser induzidas tanto por forças naturais quanto pela ação humana. Ciclos de umedecimento e secamento (U-S) causam grandes modificações na estrutura do solo, especialmente na distribuição do tamanho de poros, a qual reflete a distribuição espacial e temporal da umidade do solo. Conseqüentemente, estes processos podem afetar a retenção e o movimento de água e nutrientes no solo, tendo importantes conseqüências práticas em determinações de armazenamento e potencial mátrico da água no solo, amplamente usados em irrigação. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi aplicar as técnicas de tomografia computadorizada, atenuação de raios gama e análise micromorfológica como ferramentas na compreensão de como a estrutura do solo pode ser afetada por procedimentos de amostragem e ciclos de umedecimento e secamento. Foi feita uma análise crítica sobre o comportamento da estrutura do solo quando submetido a sucessivos ciclos de U-S e qual o impacto que possíveis alterações estruturais podem ocasionar na retenção de água pelo solo. Foram usadas amostras de três diferentes solos coletadas em anéis volumétricos. Cada amostra foi submetida à aplicação de três e nove ciclos de U-S. As amostras controle não foram submetidas a nenhum ciclo de U-S. O tomógrafo usado é de primeira geração equipado com uma fonte radioativa de 241Am e permitiu a obtenção de perfis de unidades tomográficas e imagens em 2-D das amostras de solo. O sistema de atenuação de raios gama é equipado com a mesma fonte radioativa do tomógrafo e possibilitou medidas de densidade e umidade do solo. A análise micromorfológica tornou possível quantificar a distribuição do formato, tamanho e arranjo dos poros dos solos. As análises realizadas através da técnica não invasiva de atenuação de raios gama permitiram determinar curvas de retenção usando um único umedecimento da amostra. Obteve-se também uma maior exatidão na definição do tempo de equilíbrio e redução do tempo requerido para obtenção da curva no intervalo de potencial mátrico de 0 a ?100 kPa. As análises usando-se a técnica de tomografia computadorizada tornaram possível mostrar o impacto de diferentes procedimentos de amostragem na estrutura do solo, alterações ocorridas nesta estrutura oriundas dos ciclos de U-S e investigar a qualidade de amostras de solo usadas em medidas de densidade. A partir da análise das imagens tomográficas ficou evidenciado que procedimentos de amostragem causam compactações próximo às bordas em amostras coletadas com anéis volumétricos e que quanto menor a dimensão do anel, maior é a deformação sofrida pela amostra. Com relação aos ciclos de U-S, a tomografia tornou possível acompanhar as modificações na estrutura com a evolução dos ciclos e permitiu identificar aumentos na porosidade do solo e desenvolvimento de grandes macroporos. A análise micromorfológica permitiu uma investigação da estrutura do solo em escala micrométrica. Através desta técnica foi possível a realização de um exame minucioso das modificações no arranjo, formato e distribuição dos poros das amostras de solos submetidas aos ciclos de U-S e procedimentos de amostragem. Os resultados mostraram que a estrutura do solo sofre mudanças importantes tanto no formato como na distribuição de tamanho dos poros, corroborando os resultados obtidos pela técnica tomográfica. Finalmente, foram realizadas ainda análises do impacto das mudanças na estrutura do solo na retenção de água. Os resultados permitiram mostrar que todos os solos apresentam variações na curva de retenção à medida que sofrem a aplicação de sucessivos ciclos de U-S. Esta informação é importante pelo fato de que os dados da curva são usados em simulações do transporte de água e produtos químicos ao longo do solo, em estimativas da quantidade de água a ser usada para irrigação e na predição de taxas de infiltração / Soil structure is related to the arrangement of soil particles, aggregates, and pores, which makes part of this porous media. The influence of structure on soil physical phenomena ranges from macro to microscope scale. Structure changes in microscope scale are important because affect the soil particle arrangement and, consequently, the pores distribution. Soil sample quality is directly related to soil structure, which is one of the most important properties that influences root development, water and gas movement and retention, soil fauna, etc. Natural forces and human action are the main factors that affect soil structure. Wetting and drying (W-D) cycles cause strong modifications on soil structure, especially in the pore size distribution, which reflects the temporal and spatial distribution of soil water and, consequently, these processes can affect soil water and nutrient retention and movement; having important practical consequences when calculating soil water storages and matric potentials, widely used in irrigation management. The main objective of this work was to use computed tomography (CT), gamma-ray attenuation, and micromorphologic analysis techniques as tools to investigate how soil structure can be affected by soil sampling procedures and wetting and drying cycles. A critical analysis about the behavior of soil structure when submitted to W-D cycles and the impact of possible structure changes on water retention was made. Core samples were collected from profiles of three soils with volumetric rings. Each soil sample was submitted to the application of three and nine W-D cycles. For the soil samples called control, none W-D cycle was applied. The CT scanner used is a first-generation system with a fixed source-detector arrangement and translation/rotational movements of the samples, equipped with a radioactive gamma-ray source of 241Am. The CT system permitted to obtain 2-D soil sample images and tomographic unit profiles. The gamma-ray attenuation system is equipped with the same radioactive source of the tomograph and it was used to evaluate soil density and water content. The pore size distribution, arrangement, and size of pores were analyzed through the micromorphologic analysis technique. By the analyses carried out through the non-invasive gamma-ray attenuation technique it was possible to evaluate soil water retention curves using a unique wetting cycle. The results allow to conclude that the nuclear method presents some advantages in relation to the traditional method (Richards method), like the higher accuracy in the determination of time of equilibrium, and reduction in the time required for the retention curve determination at the matric potential range of 0 to -100 kPa. The analyses using the CT technique allowed to confirm that soil compaction near the volumetric ring wall occur and that the effects of sampling procedures on soil structure need to be taken into account. It was showed that the size of the volumetric rings is very important and that small ones cause strong modifications on soil structure. Regarding the wetting and drying cycles, on the one hand, the technique allowed following the modifications on soil structure induced by these cycles, on the other, it makes possible to identify increases in soil porosity and development of some large macropores with the cycles. The micromorphologic analysis allowed an investigation of soil structure in a micrometric scale. This technique was particularly valuable because it was possible to analyze the changes in soil particle arrangement, shape, and pore distribution of samples submitted to W-D cycles and different sampling procedures. The results showed that soil structure is a dynamic property, suffering important changes on shape and pore size distributions, confirming the results obtained by the CT technique. Finally, analyses of soil structure changes during water retention curve determinations were made. By the results it was possible to conclude that the soil water retention curve is affected by sequences of W-D cycles. This sort of information is valuable because the water retention curve data are used in simulations of water and chemical products transport through the soil, and evaluations of soil water storages and matric potentials, widely used in irrigation management

Esta tese foi desenvolvida para avaliar os impactos das mudanças climáticas ao longo deste século sobre as demandas futuras de água para irrigação da soja na região Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul sob uma abordagem estocástica e considerando diferentes projeções de modelos climáticos para o período de 2011-2100, comparando com o passado (1961-1990). As demandas de água para irrigação da soja (IWR) foram obtidas por simulação com o modelo SWAP. O aspecto estocástico desta avaliação foi conduzido pela incorporação da variabilidade espacial da condutividade hidráulica do solo (Ksat) e dos parâmetros da curva de retenção de água no solo (CR). Inicialmente, foi realizada uma análise estocástica destes atributos físico-hidráulicos na bacia do Arroio Donato (1,1 Km2), a qual serviu de área representativa dos solos e do uso do solo da região Noroeste. Foi empregada a técnica de simulação sequencial Gaussiana (SSG) para geração de 100 campos aleatórios de cada variável. Os resultados revelaram maiores incertezas para Ksat e o parâmetro α da CR e permitiu identificar que a grande heterogeneidade espacial e temporal das variáveis analisadas pode estar associada a fatores tais como clima, manejo e cobertura do solo, erros de amostragem, adensamento da malha amostral e também ao grau de compactação do solo. Em seguida foi feita uma investigação para detectar mudanças nos padrões de temperatura (T) e precipitação (P) na região Noroeste do RS (~65.000 Km2) pelo uso de diferentes modelos climáticos de circulação geral e regional (MCGs e MCRs, respectivamente). Sete distintas localizações na região foram consideradas, para as quais há dez diferentes projeções climáticas destes modelos. Adicionalmente, também foram investigadas a frequência e a intensidade de eventos de precipitação extrema utilizando-se de índices de eventos extremos. As projeções indicam um aumento na média anual de temperatura de quase 3ºC até o final do século, bem como um aumento na precipitação anual. Também foi realizada uma análise sazonal de T e P, a qual demonstrou que os maiores aumentos de temperatura são projetados para o inverno e início da primavera e, portanto, não coincidem com os meses de verão da principal cultura da região (soja). De posse das informações anteriores, o modelo SWAP foi utilizado para estimar as demandas de água para irrigação da soja (IWR), sem considerar perdas devido à eficiência de qualquer método de irrigação. Foram feitos também testes de hipóteses sobre as séries de IWR simuladas e os resultados suportam a premissa de que IWR a curto prazo (2025s) não será estatisticamente diferente do período base (1961-1990). Por outro lado, as IWR em 2055s e 2085s rejeitam esta hipótese. Por fim, avaliou-se a influência da distribuição espacial da condutividade hidráulica saturada (Ksat) e dos parâmetros do modelo da curva de retenção de água no solo (α, n e sat) sobre as demandas futuras de água para a irrigação da soja (IWR), segundo uma abordagem estocástica. Os valores simulados pelo método geoestatístico de simulação sequencial Gaussiana foram utilizados como dados de entrada no modelo SWAP. Como dados meteorológicos foram consideradas apenas as projeções do modelo climático regional ETA 20 e ETA 40 CTRL, bem como as projeções dadas pelo modelo climático global HADCM3 nas sete localizações na região. As estimativas obtidas pelo método estocástico foram então comparadas com as estimativas de IWR obtidas sem considerar a variabilidade espacial dos atributos físico-hidráulicos do solo. Os resultados indicaram grande variabilidade espacial dos valores de IWR. Além disso, observou-se que as menores incertezas de IWR foram obtidas a partir das projeções do modelo de melhor resolução espacial, o ETA 20, enquanto o modelo HADCM3 revelou as maiores diferenças entre os períodos futuros e o período atual (base). Os resultados também demonstraram que a maior incerteza é devido aos modelos climáticos, pois a abordagem estocástica praticamente não agregou incerteza aos valores de IWR simulados anteriormente. Por fim, as séries de IWR obtidas pela abordagem determinística e estocástica foram comparadas pelo teste de hipóteses de Kolmogorov-Smirnov, o qual comprovou que as séries só não diferem a curto prazo (2025s) e que, portanto, a variabilidade espacial do solo não pode ser negligenciada nas estimativas desta variável. / This Thesis has been developed to assess the impacts of climate change throughout this century on future water demands for soybean irrigation in the Northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul under a stochastic approach and considering different projections of climate models for the period 2011-2100, compared to the past (1961-1990). The water demands for irrigation (IWR) were obtained by simulation with the SWAP model. The stochastic aspect of this evaluation was conducted by incorporating the spatial variability of the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and the parameters of the soil water retention curve (CR). Initially, a stochastic analysis of soil physical-hydraulic attributes (Ksat and CR parameters) in the Donato basin (1,1 Km2) was carried out. This basin served as a representative area of soils and land uses of the Northwest region. The Sequential Gaussian Simulation (SSG) technique was used to generate 100 random fields of each variable. The results revealed greater uncertainty for Ksat and for α parameter of the CR and identified that the large spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the variables may be associated with factors such as climate, management and land cover, sampling error, spatial density of the sampling grid and also the degree of soil compaction. After, an investigation was made to detect changes in temperature (T) and precipitation (P) patterns in the Northwest region of RS (~65.000 Km2) by using different global and regional circulation models (GCM and RCM, respectively). Seven distinct locations in the region were considered, for which there are ten different climate projections of these models. Additionally, it was also investigated the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events using extreme event indices. Projections indicate an increase in average annual temperature of almost 3 °C by the end of this century, as well as an increase in annual precipitation. It was also performed a seasonal analysis of T and P, which showed that the largest temperature increases are projected for the winter and early spring and, therefore, do not coincide with the summer months the main crop in the region (soy). Making use of the above information, the SWAP model was applied to estimate the water demand for soybean irrigation (IWR), excluding losses due to the efficiency of any method of irrigation. A hypothesis test for the simulated IWR series and the results supports the premise that in short-term IWR (2025s) is not statistically different from base period (1961-1990). On the other hand, IWR in 2055s and 2085s reject this hypothesis. Finally, the influence of the spatial distribution of the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and the parameters of the soil water retention curve (α, sat and n) on IWR was evaluated, according to a stochastic approach. The simulated values form the geostatistical method of Sequential Gaussian Simulation (SGS) were used as input data in the SWAP model. Input data of meteorological information were provided by the projections of regional climate model ETA 20 and ETA 40 CTRL, as well as the projections given by global climate model HADCM3 for the seven locations in the region. Estimates obtained by the stochastic method were then compared with the IWR estimates obtained without considering the spatial variability of physical and hydraulic soil properties. The results indicated large spatial variability of IWR values. Furthermore, it was observed that the smallest uncertainties of IWR were obtained from the projections with better spatial resolution, the ETA 20 model, while the HADCM3 model revealed the highest differences between future periods and the current period (baseline). The results also showed that the greatest uncertainties are probably due to climate models, since the stochastic approach did not add uncertainties to the IWR values simulated previously. Finally, the series of IWR obtained by stochastic and deterministic approaches were compared by the hypothesis test of Kolmogorov-Smirnov, which proved that only the series in the short term (2025s) differ, and, therefore, the soil spatial variability may not be neglected when estimating this variable.

The water is the most important factor and, at the same time, the more limitant than the plant needs for its development. Short periods of hidric stress can reduce crop productivity. In this way, the importance of knowing the rainfall amount that is retained in plant, straw and soil is fundamental to calculating the exact amount of water requested by the plant in their different growth stages. The objective of this work was to determine the water retention in the straw, in the soil and in the plants dossal after a precipitation, in the initial phase of growth of corn and bean crops. The drybeans (cv Rio Tibagi) and corn (hybrid Pioneer 30R53) were sowed in no-till (2, 4 and 6 t straw ha-1) and conventional (0 t of straw in covering) during 2006 agricultural year. The experimental design for corn was a bifatorial (2x4) and 3 replications, and for bean was a factorial and 3 replications. For corn two row spacings were tested (45 and 75 cm). Artificial rains were applied using a portable simulator of multiple nozzles, which applied 4 to 8 mm, with 30 mm h-1 rain intensity. They were made ridges in the area, (with steepness to drain the water) and a plastic canvas covered the soil surface, so that water that arrived to the plastic drained for the surface until a collector placed among two plants rows. Straw rugs were made with different amounts of straw (0, 2, 4 and 6 t ha-1) and put among the plants rows above soil surface (plastic canvas). The determination of the amount of water retained was made through the differences of weightings. The amount of applied water with the simulator was known using pluviometers; the straw rugs were weighed before and after rain simulation (for difference, it was obtained the value of water retention in straw). The water that passed through straw and was drained until the plastic was collected after the rain, in the collector placed between the plants lines and measured with a test tube, and obtained the amount of water that arrived to the soil, that in practice corresponds to the water that infiltrates in the soil. For difference, was obtained the water that was retained in the dossal. Statistical analysis the variance analysis, with regression in level of 5%. Water retention in the initial phase of corn was larger in the soil, for all straw amounts, and, in the final phase, water retention in plants dossal was increased. The largest water retention in straw was with 6 t ha-1, being the largest retention in the spacing of 45 cm among rows. In the dossal, the retention was smaller in the beginning and larger at the end, with the plants development (larger leaf area index). In the soil, water retention was larger where there was less straw in the initial phase. The retention was larger where there was more straw covering and in the smallest spacing (45 cm), being the soil retention larger without covering and with 75 cm among lines. In the dossal, retention was larger in the spacing 45 cm. In the black bean, water retention in straw was larger in the initial phase and with larger amount of straw, and in soil the largest water retention happened without covering (7,4mm). In the plants dossal water retention increased according to crop development. / A água é o fator mais importante e, ao mesmo tempo, o mais limitante que a planta necessita para o seu desenvolvimento. Curtos períodos de deficiência hídrica podem reduzir a produtividade das culturas. Assim, a importância de saber a quantidade de água que fica retida na planta, na palha e no solo é fundamental na hora de calcular a quantidade exata de água requerida pela planta nos seus diferentes estágios de crescimento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a retenção de água no solo, na palha e no dossel de plantas após uma precipitação, na fase inicial de crescimento das culturas do milho e feijão. O feijão (cv Rio Tibagi) e o milho (híbrido Pioneer 30R53) foram semeados no sistema plantio direto (2, 4 e 6 t palha ha-1) e convencional (0 t de palha em cobertura) durante o ano agrícola de 2006. O delineamento experimental para o milho foi um bifatorial (2 x 4) e três repetições, e o do feijão foi um fatorial com três repetições. No milho foram testados dois espaçamentos entre linhas (45 e 75 cm). As chuvas artificiais foram aplicadas utilizando-se um simulador estacionário de bicos múltiplos e oscilantes, o qual aplicou de 4 a 8 mm, numa intensidade de 30 mm h-1. Foram feitos camalhões na área, (com declividade para dar escoamento a água) e na superfície do solo foi colocada uma lona plástica para que a água escoasse pela superfície do solo até um coletor colocado entre duas linhas de plantas. Foram confeccionados tapetes de palha com diferentes quantidades de palha (0, 2, 4 e 6 t ha-1) e colocados entre as linhas de plantas acima da superfície do solo (lona plástica). A determinação da quantidade de água retida foi feita através das diferenças de pesagens. A quantidade de água aplicada pelo simulador era conhecida através de pluviômetros; os tapetes de palha eram pesados antes de serem colocados entre as linhas de plantas e após a chuva simulada (por diferença, era obtido o valor da água retida na palha); a água que passava pela palha e escoava até o plástico era coletada após a chuva no coletor colocado entre as linhas de plantas e medida com proveta, e, assim obtido o valor da quantidade de água que chegava ao solo, que na prática corresponde a água que infiltra no solo. Por diferença foi calculada a água que ficou retida no dossel. Foi realizada análise da variância, com regressão em nível de 5%. A retenção de água na fase inicial da cultura do milho foi maior no solo, para todas as quantidades de palha, e, na fase final aumentou a retenção no dossel de plantas. A maior retenção de água na palha foi na quantidade de 6 t ha-1, sendo a maior retenção no espaçamento de 45 cm entre linhas. No dossel, a retenção foi menor no início e maior no final, com o desenvolvimento da mesma (maior Índice de área foliar). No solo, a retenção foi maior onde havia menos palha na fase inicial. A retenção foi maior onde havia mais palha na cobertura e no menor espaçamento (45 cm), sendo a retenção no solo maior onde não havia cobertura e a 75 cm entre linhas. No dossel, a retenção foi maior no espaçamento 45 cm, com menor quantidade de palha em cobertura. No feijão, a retenção na palha foi maior na fase inicial e com maior quantidade de palha em cobertura, sendo que no solo a maior quantidade de água chegou onde não havia cobertura. No dossel de plantas a retenção de água foi aumentando conforme o desenvolvimento da cultura.

In the 1980s, the meadows around Senotín in southern Bohemia were drained by subsurface pipe drainage. After considerable drought in 1992, this area was subjected to extensive research. In 1995, a part of the drained area was revitalized. The drainage pipeline was interrupted by seven clay screens, over four of them country lanes and shallow depressions were built. The research of this site was realized after revitalization and focused on the water regime of the soil and on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. This thesis describes the state of water regime, physical and chemical parameters of soil in undrained, drained and revitalized areas 20 years after revitalization and compares them with data from research performed in the past. The rainfall and runoff data was measured in the catchment area, and soil samples were collected in the regular network. Research has shown that between 1998 and 2014 there has been a reduction in river runoff. However, a more detailed data analysis has identified the vegetation transpiration as the main factor. There has been no increase in soil retention or soil moisture. None of the investigated soil parameters on the revitalized area (bulk density, carbon and nitrogen content, C:N ratio, pH, and conductivity of the aqueous extract) is...

Les éthers de cellulose (EC) sont des agents rétenteurs d'eau très utilisés dans les matériaux de construction: ils limitent fortement la perte d'eau due principalement à l'absorption dans le substrat pendant la cure, favorisant ainsi les réactions d'hydratation du ciment nécessaires à la prise qui assurent de bonnes propriétés mécaniques pour le matériau final. Cependant les causes exactes de ce phénomène de rétention d'eau restent encore incomprises à ce jour. Dans ce travail de thèse, afin d'analyser les mécanismes de la rétention, nous tentons de mieux comprendre pourquoi et comment les transferts hydriques sont modifiés en présence d'EC. Dans un premier temps, nous montrons, grâce à des tests de filtration et par les méthodes usuelles de caractérisation (microscopie, diffusion de la lumière) que les EC en solution forment des agrégats polydisperses de plusieurs dizaines de microns de diamètre. Nous montrons ensuite qu'une solution d'EC passant à travers un matériau poreux modèle (tamis) bouche progressivement ce tamis, même si la taille de maille est nettement supérieure à celle des agrégats, du fait d'un effet de blocage statistique. Cet effet de coincement se produit également lors de l'écoulement à travers un milieu poreux 3D (empilements de billes de verre), ce qui conduit à l'arrêt du fluide après une certaine hauteur de pénétration dans le milieu. Enfin, en revenant aux tests standards de rétention avec le matériau réel (mortier) puis en les comparant au test de filtration à travers un tamis nous montrons que ce dernier est un bon test alternatif qui permet de caractériser la capacité de rétention des EC / In building materials, such as mortars, cellulose ethers (CE) are used as water-retention agents. They prevent the loss of water due to absorption into the substrate during curing stage. They maintain wet conditions for proper hardening and final properties. However, the cause of retention remains unknown. First, we show through filtration tests and usual characterization methods (microscopy, light scattering) that CE solutions are composed of polydisperse aggregates of several tens of microns in diameter. We then show that a CE solution passing through a model porous medium (sieve) progressively block the sieve, even if the mesh size is much larger than the aggregates diameter, due to a statistical effect of blocking. This jamming effect also occurs during the flow through a 3D porous medium (stacks of glass beads), which led to the stopping of the fluid after a certain penetration depth of the medium. Finally, coming back to the retention standard tests with the real material (mortar) and comparing them to the filtration test we show that the latter is a good alternative test to characterize the CE retention capacity

[EN] Sustainability is nowadays an investment for the future of any economic activity. The current situation of crisis has had an adverse impact in most industries, including the agri-food sector. However, this industry has been relatively the least affected when compared with other industrial sectors. This is mainly attributed to the fact that food products continue to be basic for consumers despite the economic downturn. Therefore, the agri-food sector is a key element in the European economy and can play a crucial role in the achievement of the objectives set in the EU's strategy for 2020: ensuring a sustainable framework of growth of a more competitive economy. The European agri-food industry has focused on energy efficiency and on reducing greenhouse gases emissions, along with better management of their resources as a way to improve its industrial competitiveness. In this sense, the search for solutions to transform the by-products generated in high value-added ingredients, is a priority. In this context, the juice industry, as fundamental sub-sector within the food sector, and large waste generator, must exploit the opportunity to transform their by-products into useful and profitable products for society. This transformation presents some difficulties which impede the profitability of the process. These difficulties are associated with the by-product, such as its compositional variability and its seasonality, and current techniques of transformation as the high energy cost in dehydration processes. This thesis represents an innovative and sustainable solution for overcoming the disadvantages associated with the high costs of stabilization, turning this by-products into high value-added ingredients, from both, nutritional and technological, points of view. The aim is to develop a microwave coupled with hot air drying technique allowing maximizing profits by using the following strategy: reducing time and operational costs, producing a new ingredient rich in dietary fiber, with interesting technological properties for the development of healthy foods, studying the proposed comprehensive process and analyzing the new generated by-products. The methodological approach of the thesis been focused, on the one hand, on studying phenomena that govern the internal transport of water and energy through the orange peel during its dehydration applying thermodynamics. On the other hand, the energy consumption of the drying process, the technological and sensory properties of the fiber obtained and its potential use as a fat substitute have been compared with the conventional hot air drying method. Finally, the integrated process, including both the combined drying technique and the pretreatments needed for colour and bitter compounds extraction, is proposed as a new route of valorization, in which the new by-products obtained, polyphenols and carotenoid rich extracts, are analysed. This study has analyzed the microwave coupled with hot air process, developing tools that allow the adequate upscaling of the drying operation by adapting it to the best standards of quality of the final product. A monitoring system that ensures these standards has been designed. The quality and the energy consumption of the dietary fiber production process has been improved. The properties associated with its inclusion in food matrices have been optimized. An innovative and sustainable process for the stabilization of industrial by-products and for their further conversion into dietary fiber and other bioactive compounds, applying microwave coupled with hot air drying, has been developed. / [ES] La sostenibilidad es una de las apuestas de futuro en cualquier actividad económica. La situación de crisis ha tenido un impacto adverso en la mayoría de las industrias, incluyendo las de ámbito agroalimentario. Sin embargo, ésta ha sido relativamente la menos afectada cuando se compara con otros sectores industriales. Esto se atribuye al hecho de que los productos alimenticios continúan siendo básicos para los consumidores a pesar de la desaceleración económica. Por lo tanto, esta industria es un pilar fundamental en la economía europea y puede jugar un papel crucial en la consecución de los objetivos marcados en la Estrategia de la UE para 2020: asegurar un marco sostenible de crecimiento de una economía más competitiva. La industria agroalimentaria europea ha apostado por la eficiencia energética y la reducción de emisiones de gases invernadero, junto con una mejor gestión de sus recursos como vía para la mejora de su competitividad industrial. La búsqueda de soluciones para transformar los subproductos generados en ingredientes de alto valor añadido, es una de las prioridades. En este contexto, la industria productora de zumos, como subsector fundamental dentro del sector alimentario, y gran generador de residuos, tiene la oportunidad de transformar sus subproductos en productos útiles y rentables para la sociedad. Esta transformación presenta algunas dificultades que impiden la rentabilidad del proceso. Estas dificultades están asociadas al subproducto, como su variabilidad composicional o su estacionalidad, y a las técnicas actuales de transformación como el elevado coste energético en procesos de deshidratación. Esta tesis se plantea como una solución innovadora y sostenible para, más allá de superar los inconvenientes asociados a los altos costes de estabilización, transformar este subproducto en un ingrediente de alto valor añadido, tanto nutricional como tecnológico. Para ello se propone desarrollar una técnica de secado combinado por aire caliente y microondas que permita maximizar beneficios mediante la siguiente estrategia: reducir el tiempo y el coste energético de la operación, produciendo un nuevo ingrediente rico en fibra dietética con propiedades tecnológicas de interés para el desarrollo de alimentos más saludables, estudiando el proceso integral propuesto y analizando los nuevos subproductos generados. El enfoque metodológico de la tesis ha estado dirigido, por una parte, a estudiar los fenómenos que gobiernan el transporte interno de agua y energía a través de la piel de naranja durante su deshidratación, aplicando termodinámica. Por otra parte, el consumo energético del proceso de secado, las propiedades tecnológicas y sensoriales de la fibra obtenida y su potencial uso como ingrediente sustituto de grasa, se han comparado con el método de secado convencional por aire caliente. Finalmente, el proceso integrado, incluyendo tanto el secado combinado como las etapas previas de extracción de color y compuestos amargos, se propone como una nueva ruta de valorización, en la que se analizan posibles subproductos de interés tales como extractos ricos en polifenoles y carotenoides. En este estudio se ha analizado el proceso combinado de secado con aire caliente y microondas, desarrollando herramientas que permiten dimensionar adecuadamente la operación de secado adaptándola a los estándares óptimos de calidad del producto final. Se ha diseñado un sistema de monitorización que asegure dichos estándares. Se ha mejorado el proceso de obtención de fibra alimentaria respecto a su calidad y a su gasto energético. Se han optimizado las propiedades asociadas a su inclusión en matrices alimentarias. Se ha desarrollado un proceso innovador y sostenible para la estabilización de subproductos vegetales de origen industrial y para su posterior conversión en fibra dietética y otros compuestos bioactivos, aplicando la tecnología de secado por aire caliente y / [CAT] La sostenibilitat és una de les apostes de futur en qualsevol activitat econòmica. L'actual situació de crisi ha tingut un impacte advers en la majoria de les indústries, incloent les d'àmbit agroalimentari. No obstant això, la indústria agroalimentària ha sigut relativament la menys afectada quan es compara amb altres sectors industrials. Açò s'atribuïx principalment al fet de que els productes alimentaris continuen sent bàsics per als consumidors a pesar de la desacceleració econòmica. Per tant, esta indústria és un pilar fonamental en l'economia europea i pot jugar un paper crucial en la consecució dels objectius marcats en l'Estratègia de la UE per a 2020: assegurar un marc sostenible de creixement d'una economia més competitiva. La indústria agroalimentària europea ha apostat per l'eficiència energètica i la reducció d'emissions de gasos d'efecte hivernacle, junt amb una millor gestió dels seus recursos com a via per a la millora del seu vaig competirtu En este sentit, la busca de solucions per a transformar els subproductes generats en ingredients d'alt valor afegit, és una de les prioritats. En este context, la indústria productora de sucs, com subsector fonamental dins del sector alimentari, i gran generador de residus, té el deure i l'oportunitat de transformar els seus subproductes en productes útils i rendibles per a la societat. Esta transformació presenta algunes dificultats que impedixen la rendibilitat del procés. Estes dificultats estan associades al subproducte, com la seua variabilitat composicional o la seua estacionalitat, i a les tècniques actuals de transformació com l'elevat cost energètic en processos de deshidratació. Esta tesi es planteja com una solució innovadora i sostenible per a, més enllà de superar els inconvenients associats als alts costos d'estabilització, transformar este subproducte en un ingredient d'alt valor afegit, tant nutricional com tecnològic. Per a això es proposa desenvolupar una tècnica de'assecat combinat per aire calent i microones que permeta maximitzar beneficis per mitjà de l'estratègia següent: reduir el temps i el cost energètic de l'operació, produint un nou ingredient ric en fibra dietètica amb propietats tecnològiques d'interés per al desenvolupament d'aliments més saludables, estudiant el procés integral proposat i analitzant els nous subproductes generats. L'enfocament metodològic de la tesi ha estat dirigit, d'una banda, a estudiar els fenòmens que governen el transport intern d'aigua i energia a través de la pell de taronja durant la seua deshidratació, aplicant termodinàmica. D'altra banda, el consum energètic del procés de d'assecat, les propietats tecnològiques i sensorials de la fibra obtinguda i el seu potencial ús com a ingredient substitut de greix, s'han comparat amb el mètode d'assecat convencional per aire calent. Finalment, el procés integrat, incloent tant l'assecat combinat com les etapes prèvies d'extracció de color i compostos amargs, es proposa com una nova ruta de valoració, en la que s'analitzen possibles subproductes d'interés com ara extractes rics en polifenoles i carotenoides. En este estudi s'ha analitzat el procés combinat d'assecat amb aire calent i microones, desenvolupant ferramentes que permeten dimensionar adequadament l'operació d'assecat adaptant-la als estàndards òptims de qualitat del producte final. S'ha dissenyat un sistema de monitorització que assegure els dits estàndards. S'ha millorat el procés d'obtenció de fibra alimentaria respecte a la seua qualitat i al seu consum energètic. S'han optimitzat les propietats associades a la seua inclusió en matrius alimentàries. S'ha desenvolupat un procés innovador i sostenible per a l'estabilització de subproductes vegetals d'origen industrial i per a la seua posterior conversió en fibra dietètica i altres compostos bioactius, aplicant la tecnologia d'assecat por aire calent i microones. / Talens Vila, C. (2015). DESARROLLO DE TÉCNICAS COMBINADAS DE SECADO CON AIRE CALIENTE Y MICROONDAS EN LA PRODUCCIÓN DE FIBRA ALIMENTARIA A PARTIR DE SUBPRODUCTOS CÍTRICOS [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/54114 / TESIS

Humic acids were extracted from South Moravian lignit. That humic sample was oxidized by either H2O2 or HNO3. In next step, oxidized humic acids were polymerized by formaldehyde in order to obtain cross-linked structures with improved water retention capacity. Affinity to water and water retention capacity of obtained products were studied by thermal analysis (DSC – differential scanning calorimetry and TGA – thermogravimetric analysis). In order to study above-mentioned parameters two different methods were used. First approach represented sorption of water to humic acids from three controlled humidities, for description of those processes TGA measurement was used. Second study was based on the DSC monitoring of water excess sorption. Results obtained from TGA measurements showed an increasing sorption ability with increasing relative humidity of the environment. DSC measurerents in hermetically sealed containers resulted in an increasing content of water bound by humic acids structures. All the modified samples of humic acids (oxidized as well as oxidized and modified by formaldehyde) gave higher retention capacity in comparion with the parental humic sample.

Huminové kyseliny představují hlavní součást půdní organické hmoty. Jedná se o všudypřítomné sloučeniny s komplexní chemickou a fyzikálně-chemickou strukturou. Předkládaná práce shrnuje několik způsobů modifikací huminových kyselin provedených za účelem úpravy jejich vlastností. V první části byl studován vliv vzdušné oxidace lignitu na velikost výtěžku a fyzikálně-chemický charakter produkovaných regenerovaných huminových kyselin. Druhý krok představoval snahu stabilizovat strukturu lignitických huminových kyselin a zlepšit zádrž vody. Bylo provedeno síťování pomocí formaldehydu a karbodiimidů, které předpokládá vznik nových kovalentních vazeb v různých částech struktury huminových kyselin. Produkce zesíťované struktury byla motivována snahou vytvořit systémy podobné hydrogelům, založené na huminových látkách s možností úpravy jejich reaktivity a retence vody. Chemické složení a fyzikálně-chemické vlastnosti připravených vzorků byly studovány různými metodami, mezi nejdůležitější patří DSC a NMR relaxometrie. Chemické složení bylo studováno pomocí FTIR a elementární analýzy za účelem posoudit a porovnat změny s původním neupraveným vzorkem. Stability vzorků byly stanoveny pomocí termogravimetrie. Nejdůležitějším sledovaným parametrem této práce byla změna hydratačních charakteristik. K jejich studiu jsme vyvinuli a aplikovali několik nových termoanalytických a NMR relaxometrických přístupů. Ve snaze napodobit přírodní procesy byla studována sorpce vody huminovými kyselinami z prostředí s kontrolovanou vzdušnou vlhkostí. Byly pozorovány kvalitativní a kvantitativní hlediska sorpce vody. Zesíťování za použití formaldehydu způsobilo snížení sorpční kapacity vlhkosti. Tato změna je připisována separaci funkčních skupin a menší strukturní kompaktnosti. Zesíťované huminové kyseliny dále vykazovaly rychlejší příjem vody a přibližně třikrát větší kapacitu zádrže vody než původní huminové kyseliny. V případě použití karbodiimidu (ve vodě rozpustného N-Ethyl-N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)karbodiimidu (EDC)) obsahovaly výsledné produkty 14–40 % původních karboxylových skupin. I přesto tyto látky překonaly schopnost sorpce vlhkosti původního nemodifikovaného vzorku o 10–14 % po kondiciaci v prostřední se 100% relativní vzdušnou vlhkostí. Navzdory rigidnější struktuře vykazovaly EDC deriváty rychlejší bobtnání a dosáhly téměř stejné kapacity zádrže vody po 18 dnech jako původní vzorek. Vzorky modifikované karbodiimidy vykazovaly známky degradace již po 3–9 dnech což částečně snižuje jejich využitelnost. Získané výsledky naznačují, že kapacita zádrže vody, kinetika bobtnání a schopnost sorpce vlhkosti huminových kyselin nejsou výhradně určeny koncentrací karboxylových skupin, nebo dalších polárních fragmentů, ale také jejich vzájemným rozmístěním a distribucí velikosti pórů na povrchu a také uvnitř struktury. Získané poznatky této studie mohou sloužit například k produkci půdních kondicionérů založených na huminových kyselinách, tj. remediačních preparátů s požadovanými, ale především nastavitelnými schopnostmi poutat a následně uvolňovat vodu do okolního prostředí. V neposlední řadě přispějí uvedené závěry ke zkvalitnění základního porozumění procesu hydratace v modifikovaných a původní vzorcích, což je přínosné ve vztahu k objasnění hydratace komplexních přírodních systémů a to zejména přírodní organické hmoty.

This thesis deals with the evaluation of influence of small water reservoirs on the extreme runoff events (floods and drought) in the upper Úpa River basin. It summarizes knowledge about both hydrological extremes and their manifestations in the basin of interest as well as about small water reservoirs in the sense of water retention measures and their possible importance during the periods of low flows or floods. In this thesis two localities of possible reservoirs at place of former splash dams in Obří důl and on the Lysečinský Brook were chosen. To assess the influence of small water reservoirs on runoff during two chosen flood events and two periods of drought, the hydrological model HEC-HMS was applied. The results of model simulation proved a positive influence of reservoirs on the reduction of flood peaks (except for a concurrence of transformed flood waves in the outlet that occurred during one flood event), but the effect was decreasing with the increasing catchment area and the intensity of precipitation and with smaller storage capacity of a reservoir. During the low flows, a positive influence of reservoirs was observed as well, relating to the release of stored water. However, the ability of a reservoir to reduce deficit volume and to balance the flow was decreasing with smaller...

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of two forms of polyacrylamide (PAM) conditioners (Cross-linked and Non-cross-linked PAM) on evaporation, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention, crust and crack formation of soils, seed germination, and seedling and tubeling growth. The two PAM conditioners, 0.2% concentration by weight, were mixed with seven soils of different textures (sandy loam, silt, silty clay loam, silt loam, fine sand, medium sand, and coarse sand) to investigate the effects on evaporation, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and water retention. Soil samples of different textures were brought to field capacity and placed in a growth chamber for two weeks to measure evaporation under a controlled environment. A second experiment was carried out in the field to determine the effects of the two PAM conditioners on seedling emergence of crested wheatgrass, Agropyron desertorum, as well as on soil cracking, penetrometer resistance, and soil moisture. The two PAMs were mixed with a silt loam Xerollic Calciorthid at 0.2% concentration by weight. Seedling emergence was monitored directly for two weeks. Soil moisture was measured by TDR. Cracking was described by photographic means. Penetrometer resistance was measured by a hand-held. penetrometer. The third experiment was also carried out in the field, using the same soil texture as in experiment 2, to investigate the effects of the two PAMs on soil moisture at depths between 25 to 45 cm and on sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) growth. Evaporation was found to be significantly lower in the fine-textured controls than under the two PAM treatments. The sandy loam and sandy soils experienced significantly higher evaporation from the controls. The two PAM conditioners significantly reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity on all soil textures. Water retention increased in the PAM-treated textures at the matric potential range used (0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 1.5 MPa) • The PAM application also did not improve grass seedling emergence or improve soil moisture, and did not have any significant affects on sagebrush growth. Larger cracks were found in the two plots treated with PAM than the controls. Lower penetrometer resistance occurred in the two PAM treatments compared to the untreated control. From this study, it can be concluded that the application of PAM conditioners, at relatively high concentrations used, could be more viable on sandy textures. Other researchers are advised to try lower application rates than used here, particularly with finer textured soils.