A efetiva consolidação da piscicultura depende do escoamento da produção, que por sua vez depende da demanda. Para que o consumo de pescado no Brasil seja ampliado, é necessário que haja oferta de produtos com a qualidade exigida pelo consumidor. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo a obtenção de um novo produto, tipo alimento de conveniência - tilápia minimamente processada, estabelecendo a vida útil deste, por monitoramento dos componentes físico-químicos e avaliação sensorial e microbiológica. Foram utilizados peixes provenientes de áreas de cultivo do Estado de São Paulo, da região de Jaú, da espécie tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus, os quais foram submetidos à depuração, eviscerados, filetados, acondicionados em bandejas de poliestireno e recobertos com filmes plásticos de etileno-álcool-vinílico - EVOH (controle); também foi feito o embalamento sob atmosfera modificada - EAM (60%CO2+40%O2) e a vácuo. Parte dos peixes foi submetida ao tratamento químico, por imersão em ácido acético a 1%. As amostras embaladas foram mantidas sob refrigeração, na faixa de 1 ± 1 o C, quando foram submetidas às análises, no 1 o dia de experimento e aos 7, 13 e 20 dias de armazenamento refrigerado. Os tratamentos aplicados não apresentaram diferenças significativas para composição centesimal, nitrogênio não protéico - NNP, bases nitrogenadas voláteis totais - BNVT e pH. A EAM associada ou não ao ácido acético apresentou valores mais elevados de TBA (ácido tiobarbitúrico), sendo detectada a presença de ranço pelos provadores, integrantes da equipe de análise sensorial. Os filés tratados com ácido acético apresentaram-se descoloridos e com textura menos firme, em relação aos demais tratamentos. Durante o período de armazenamento não detectou-se a presença de Salmonella, Clostridium sulfito-redutores e E. coli. Os tratamentos embalados em EAM e a vácuo, associados ou não ao ácido acético, inibiram o desenvolvimento de S. aureus, coliformes totais e psicrotróficos proporcionando uma vida útil de 20 dias. O embalamento a vácuo associado ao ácido acético foi o tratamento que manteve as características físico-químicas, microbiológicas e sensoriais mais estáveis até o término do experimento. / The effective aquaculture consolidation depends on the production sale, which in the other hand, depends on the demand. In order to increase Brazilian fish consumption, it is necessary to offer products with quality demanded by the consumers. The purpose of this research was to obtain a new convenience product - minimally processed tilapia. The shelf-life of the product were determining by monitoring physical-chemical components, sensory and microbiological analysis. With this intent, aquacultured Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised in farms located in the Jau region, Sao Paulo State, was depurated, gutted, filleted, packed in polyestirene trays and covered with ethylene-vinyl-alcohol (EVOH) plastic films (control). It was also made packing with modified atmosphere (MAP) 60%CO2+40%O2 and vacuum packing. Part of the fish was chemically treated by immersing in a 1% acetic acid solution. The packed samples were storage under a temperature which ranged from 1 ± 1 oC and had been analyzed at the 1st day of experiment and to the 7th , 13th and 20th days. No significant differences were verified among treatments for the centesimal composition, non-protein nitrogen (NPN), total volatile bases nitrogen (TVBN) and pH as well. The use of the MAP, whether associated with acetic acid or not, promoted the TBA (thiobarbituric acid) increasing. It was detected rancidity the team responsible for the sensory evaluation. The fillets treated with acetic acid were fainted colors and showed less firm texture, when compared to the non-treated ones. Salmonella, Clostridium sulfite-reducing and E. coli were not detected during the storage period. Treatments using MAP and vacuum packing, whether associated with acetic acid or not, inhibited the development of S. aureus, total coliforms and psychrotrophic, maintaining the shelf life to 20 days. However, the treatment combining vacuum packing and acetic acid maintained the physical-chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics stabler until the end of the experiment.

Resumo: Existem vários extratores que avaliam a disponibilidade de silício no solo. Nos Estados Unidos utiliza-se como extrator químico o ácido acético 0,5 mol L-1 , o qual já foi usado no Brasil, mas recentemente foi substituído pelo cloreto de cálcio 0,01 mol L-1, o mesmo utilizado na Austrália. Os extratores, de forma geral, são dependentes das características físicas do solo, principalmente do teor de argila, e podem subestimar ou superestimar os teores de silício no solo. Na literatura não há relatos de extratores de silício que se assemelhem às raízes das plantas, como é o caso da resina trocadora de ânions usada na extração do fosfato do solo. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar extratores químicos que correlacionem o silício disponível no solo com o silício absorvido por plantas de cana-de-açúcar, cultivada em solos de textura arenosa, média e argilosa. Foram avaliados 8 extratores com o objetivo de selecionar aqueles que melhor avaliam os diferentes tipos de solos encontrados no Brasil. Os extratores utilizados foram CaCl2 0,01 Mol L-1 (Padrão), CaCl2 0,01 Mol L-1 (modificado), ácido acético 0,5 Mol L-1, KCl 0,01 Mol L-1, resina trocadora de íons, água, tampão acetato de sódio pH 4,0 e HCl 0,01 Mol L-1. As amostras foram coletadas entre março e dezembro de 2007 em áreas cultivadas com a cultura da cana-de-açúcar nas Usinas Guairá (Guairá-SP) e Colombo (Ariranha - SP). No momento do corte de cana-de-açúcar, em cada unidade experimental, foram realizadas coletas de solo nas profundidades 0-0,20 m e 0,20-0,40 m, para avaliação de pH, M.O. H+Al, P, K, Ca, Mg, Si, Fe2O3, Al2O3, SiO2 e textura do solo. Na mesma época, coletou-se a parte aérea de 10 plantas inteiras de cana-de-açúcar para determinação da produtividade e do silício acumulado nas plantas. As texturas dos solos... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Many extractants evaluated silicon availability in soil. In the United States, the acetic acid 0.5 mol L-1 is the most used. This Si extractant has already been used in Brazil, but it was recently replaced by the calcium chloride 0.01 mol L-1, the same used in Australia. The extractants generally depend on soil physical characteristics, mainly clay content, and thus may underestimate or overestimate Si levels in soil. There are no references in literature about silicon extractants that simulate the behavior of plant roots, like the anion exchange resin used to extract phosphate in soil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate chemical extractants that correlate Si available in soil with Si uptaken by sugar cane plants, cropped in sandy, sandy-loam and clayey soils. Eight Si extractants were tested with the aim to select the ones that most accurately evaluate different soil types in Brazil. The extractants were CaCl2 0.01 Mol L-1 (standard), CaCl2 0.01 Mol L-1 (modified), acetic acid 0.5 Mol L-1, KCl 0.01 Mol L-1, ion exchange resin, water, sodium acetate buffer pH 4.0 and HCl 0.01 Mol L-1. Samples were taken in Guaíra-SP, Brazil (Usina Guaíra) and Ariranha-SP, Brazil (Usina Colombo) between March and December of 2007 from areas cropped with sugar cane. At harvest, soil samples were taken from each experimental unit in the depths 0-0.20 m and 0.20-0.40 m to evaluate pH, organic matter (O.M.), H+Al, P, K, Ca, Mg, Si, Fe2O3, Al2O3, SiO2 and soil texture. Also, 10 plant shoots were harvested to determine yield and Si accumulation. Soil texture, iron oxide and aluminum oxide levels significantly influence on Si availability in soil. The acetic acid and buffer pH 4.0 extracted more silicon from soil, mainly in the clayey texture, that showed high levels of iron and aluminum oxides, highly correlating with Si accumulated in plant... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol / Coorientador: Dirceu Maximino Fernandes / Banca: Iraê Amaral Guerrini / Banca: Gaspar Henrique Korndorfer / Mestre

Estudos têm mostrado a incidência de mastite bovina associada à alga Prototheca zopfii. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a interação da P. zopfii com neutrófilos recuperados de leite bovino e avaliar o efeito do sistema ácido indol-3-acético/peroxidase de raiz forte (AIA/HRP) sobre a viabilidade deste microrganismo em experimentos in vitro. A P. zopfii foi recuperada de vacas com mastite clínica e, no laboratório, foram realizadas a caracterização molecular, morfológica e crescimento exponencial do microrganismo. Em seguida, neutrófilos recuperados de leite bovino foram incubados na ausência e na presença de P. zopfii opsonizada e foram avaliadas a produção de peróxido de hidrogênio, enzimas antioxidantes dos neutrófilos e microrganismo, e a capacidade fagocitária. Em outro estudo, a P. zopfii foi incubada com o sistema AIA/HRP e foram avaliadas a viabilidade por unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC), atividade de enzimas antioxidantes, integridade de membrana por exclusão com azul de Trypan e integridade do DNA. Os resultados foram analisados pela análise de variância com significância de 5% usando o teste Tukey. Foram observados diversos tamanhos celulares da P. zopfii, presença de autofluorescência, crescimento exponencial ao longo do tempo de incubação em que não foi possível determinar o início da fase de morte. Ainda, foram encontrados os genótipos 1, 2 e 3 nos isolados em estudo. A produção de peróxido de hidrogênio pelos neutrófilos na presença da alga foi estimulada 5 vezes em relação ao controle, estimulou a atividade das enzimas catalase (CAT) em 21% e glutationa redutase (GR) em 27% e não houve diferença significativa quanto à atividade de CAT, GR e superóxido dismutase (SOD) produzido pela P. zopfii. Também foi verificado que a P. zopfii não foi englobada pelo neutrófilo. O sistema AIA/HRP inibiu o crescimento do microrganismo em 45, 82 e 88% nos tempos de 4, 6 e 9 horas de incubação; a atividade da SOD, CAT, Glutationa Peroxidase (GPx) e GR aumentou respectivamente em 90, 120, 150% e 3,4 vezes; houve redução da viabilidade da P. zopfii em 10, 15, 20, 25 e 32% após os tempos de 4, 6, 8, 10 e 12 horas de incubação; e não afetou a integridade do DNA após 6 horas de incubação. Conclui-se que a P. zopfii é altamente resistente frente aos neutrófilos e demonstrou ser susceptível quanto ao efeito microbicida do sistema AIA/HRP. / Studies have shown the incidence of bovine mastitis associated with the algae Prototheca zopfii. The objective of this work was to study the interaction of P. zopfii with neutrophils recovered from bovine milk and to evaluate the effect of system indole-3-acetic acid/horseradish peroxidase (IAA/HRP) on the viability of this microorganism in vitro experiment. P. zopfii was recovered from cows with clinical mastitis and both the molecular and morphological characterization were performed besides the evaluation of exponential growth of the microorganism in the laboratory. Next, neutrophils recovered from bovine milk were incubated in the absence and presence of opsonized P. zopfii and were evaluated the production of hydrogen peroxide, antioxidant enzymes on neutrophils and microorganism, and phagocytic capacity. In another study, P. zopfii was incubated with the system IAA/HRP and the viability assessed by colony forming units (CFU), antioxidant enzymes activity, membrane integrity by exclusion with Trypan blue and DNA integrity. The results were analyzed by analysis of variance with a 5% significance using the Tukey test. Results from P. zopfii characterization showed various cellular sizes, presence of autofluorescence, exponential microorganism growth throughout the incubation time and was not possible to determine the beginning of the death. Moreover it was found genotypes 1, 2 and 3 in the isolates in study. The production of hydrogen peroxide by neutrophils in the presence of algae was stimulated 5 times compared to the control, increase the activity of catalase (CAT) in 21% and glutathione reductase (GR) in 27% was seen in neutrophils; and there was no significant difference in CAT, GR and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity produced by P. zopfii. P. zopfii was not engulfment by neutrophils. The system IAA/HRP inhibited the growth of the microorganism in 45, 82 and 88% in the times of 4, 6 and 9 hours of incubation, the activity of SOD, CAT, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and GR increased respectively by 90, 120, 150%, and 3.4 times, decreased the viability of P. zopfii 10, 15, 20, 25 and 32% after the times of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours of incubation, and did not affect the integrity of DNA after 6 hours of incubation. As a conclusion, P. zopfii is highly resistant to the neutrophils and demonstrated to be susceptible to the effect microbicidal of system IAA/HRP.

Dentre os vários processos que concorrem para o amadurecimento da banana, a degradação do amido e sua conversão em açúcares solúveis, principalmente sacarose, são dois dos processos mais relevantes para a obtenção o sabor doce característico do fruto maduro. Embora venha sendo estudado há anos, ainda não foram esclarecidos quais os mecanismos regulatórios e os possíveis sinais hormonais envolvidos no controle da degradação do amido e na síntese da sacarose. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do ácido indol-3-acético (AIA), um hormônio da classe das auxinas com reconhecido efeito retardador do amadurecimento, sobre o metabolismo amido-sacarose e algumas enzimas correlacionadas, em bananas. Observou-se um forte efeito retardador do hormônio sobre a degradação do amido no amido durante o amadurecimento de fatias de bananas infiltradas com uma solução contendo AIA em manitol, em comparação com fatias controle infiltradas apenas com manitol. As atividades de alfa e ß-amilase e alfa-1,4-glicosidase neutra foram afetadas pelo AIA, apresentando atraso no desenvolvimento de suas atividades durante o amadurecimento, quando comparadas às fatias controle. A atividade da fosforilase de amido aparentemente não foi afetada. A transcrição do mRNA da ß-amilase foi atrasada pelo AIA e pôde ser correlacionada ao atraso na degradação do amido Os resultados sugerem que o atraso na mobilização do amido provocado pelo AIA deve decorrer de seus efeitos sobre as enzimas amilolíticas. O trabalho também sugere a relevância da ß-amilase para o processo e que esta enzima, ao menos em parte, é regulada por transcrição. No sentido da síntese de sacarose, as atividades de SuSy e SPS não mostraram alterações significativas. A transcrição do mRNA da SuSy e da SPS não foram afetadas. O atraso no acúmulo da sacarose, observado nas fatias infiltradas com o hormônio, pode ser conseqüência da limitação de substrato para a síntese deste açúcar devido ao atraso na degradação do amido. Medidas de etileno revelaram que a produção deste hormônio não foi afetada pelo AIA, sugerindo que a degradação do amido, pelo menos em parte possa ser um evento etileno- independente. Medidas da forma livre do AIA endógeno nas fatias controle e em bananas inteiras, mostraram que os níveis desta auxina decrescem durante o amadurecimento, atingindo os menores valores durante a mobilização do amido. Nas fatias tratadas, as medidas da forma livre do AIA e de seus conjugados mostraram a existência de um eficiente sistema capaz de mobilizar o excesso do hormônio no tecido e acomodando os níveis da forma livre aos mesmos encontrados nas fatias controle e nas bananas inteiras. Esta observação pode ser temporalmente correlacionada ao atraso na degradação do amido. O presente estudo mostrou não apenas a capacidade do AIA em afetar o metabolismo amido-sacarose em bananas mas também sugere que este hormônio pode ser parte dos sinais que regulam o madurecimento em bananas. / During banana ripening, starch degradation and sucrose formation are important processes responsible for the sweetening of ripe fruit. Although has been studied for several years, the regulation and hormonal signals that control these metabolic processes still remains not clear. The objective of this work has been evaluate the effect of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), an auxin with inhibitory effect on ripening, on starch-to-sucrose metabolism and some correlated enzymes. The results showed a delay on starch degradation in slices infiltrated with IAA plus mannitol comparing to slices infiltrated only with mannitol. The activities of alfa- and ß-amylase and alfa-1,4-glucosidase was delayed. Starch phosphorylase was not affected. These results suggest that IAA can delay starch degradation inhibiting, at least partially, the amylolitic activity. Synthesis of ß-amylase mRNA was strong delayed on IAA-treated slices comparing to control slices, indicating that this enzyme could be, at least partially, regulated at the transciptional level. In sucrose synthesis direction, sucrose synthase (SuSy) and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) activities and mRNA transcription were not affected. This suggests that delay on sucrose formation could be a consequence of lack of substrate, since starch degradation was inhibited. Ethylene measurements didn\'t reveal any significant differences between control and IAA-treated slices suggesting that starch degradation on banana ripening could be a ethylene-independent event. Free endogenous IAA measurements on control slices and whole banana fruit showed that this IAA fraction decrease continuously in the pulp of banana during ripening, reaching the lowest levels at the same time that starch degradation begun. On IAA-treated slices, the free plus conjugate IAA showed the existence of an efficient system that mobilized the hormone excess and brought the free IAA to the same levels of control and whole fruit. This could be timely correlated with the delay on starch degradation. This work shows not only that IAA can delay the starch degradation but also suggest that IAA could be part of regulatory signals involved on banana ripening.

A ensilagem da cana-de-açúcar sem o controle da produção de etanol resulta em silagens de baixa qualidade, podendo reduzir o consumo voluntário e o desempenho animal. O valor nutritivo de silagens de cana-de-açúcar e seus efeitos sobre o desempenho e o comportamento ingestivo de cabras em lactação e de cordeiros confinados foram avaliados em diferentes ensaios. Trinta e nove cabras da raça Saanen foram utilizadas para avaliar o consumo de matéria seca (CMS), a produção e composição do leite, os componentes sangüíneos e o comportamento ingestivo. Trinta cordeiros da raça Santa Inês foram confinados para avaliar o desempenho, as características da carcaça e o comportamento ingestivo. Os animais foram alimentados com rações compostas de 50% de volumoso e 50% de concentrado, diferindo quanto ao tipo do volumoso utilizado: cana-de-açúcar in natura, silagem de cana-de-açúcar sem aditivo e silagem de cana-de-açúcar aditivada com L. buchneri (5x104 ufc/g MV), constituindo os tratamentos experimentais SC, SCS e SCS+Lb, respectivamente. O comportamento ingestivo foi realizado individualmente, com observações feitas a cada cinco minutos. Amostras das silagens foram analisadas para matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), carboidratos solúveis (CHOS), ácido acético e etanol, e as médias foram comparadas com a cana-de-açúcar in natura. A estabilidade aeróbia foi avaliada através do controle da temperatura, pH e perdas de MS das silagens expostas ao ar. Para determinar os coeficientes de digestibilidade e o balanço de nitrogênio das rações utilizadas na avaliação de desempenho, 12 borregos foram mantidos em gaiolas para ensaios de metabolismo. O CMS foi maior (P<0,01) para as cabras que receberam o tratamento SC. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para a produção de leite e produção de leite corrigida para 3,5% de gordura. Os teores de gordura e de sólidos totais no leite foram maiores para as dietas contendo silagem, sendo superior (P<0,01) para o tratamento SCS+Lb. A concentração plasmática de ácidos graxos não esterificados (AGNE) e o tempo despendido com ruminação (min/g MS) foi maior (P<0,05) para os animais alimentados com as silagens. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para o CMS, ganho de peso vivo, conversão alimentar e parâmetros de carcaça dos cordeiros. O tempo de ingestão (min/g FDN) e a eficiência de ruminação foram inferiores (P<0,05) nos cordeiros alimetados com silagem de cana-de-açúcar. A ensilagem da cana-de-açúcar resultou em redução (P<0,01) no teor de carboidratos solúveis e aumento (P<0,01) nas concentrações da FDN, FDA, hemicelulose e ácido acético. Os teores de MS, CHOS e ácido acético foram maiores (P<0,01) para o tratamento SCS+Lb. Não houve diferença (P>0,01) no teor de etanol entre as silagens. A silagem aditivada apresentou menores (P<0,05) perdas de MS, manutenção do pH e maior (P<0,05) estabilidade durante o período de avaliação em aerobiose. O consumo e a digestibilidade aparente da FDN, FDA e hemicelulose foram maiores (P<0,05) para a rações contendo silagem. / Sugar cane ensiled without controlling ethanol production results in low quality roughage and may decrease voluntary feed intake and animal performance. Sugar cane silages nutritive value and their effects on performance and ingestive behavior of lactating goats and feedlot lambs were evaluated in different trials. Thirty-nine Saanen does were used to evaluate dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and composition, blood parameters and ingestive behavior. Thirty Santa Ines ram lambs were penned to evaluate performance, carcass characteristics and ingestive behavior. Animals were fed a 50:50 (concentrate:roughage ratio) total mixed ration, with different roughages: fresh sugar cane, sugarcane silage without additive and sugar cane silage treated with Lactobacillus buchneri (5x104 cfu/g wet basis) corresponding to the experimental treatments SC, SCS and SCS+Lb, respectively. Ingestive behavior was evaluated individually every 5 minutes for 24 h. Silages were sampled and analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), soluble carbohydrates (CHOS), acetic acid and ethanol and compared with fresh sugar cane. Aerobic stability was evaluated by controlling the temperature, pH and dry matter losses of silages exposed to air for a period of ten days. To evaluate apparent digestibility and N metabolism of diets used in the performance trials, 12 ram lambs were placed in metabolism crates. DMI was higher (P<0.01) for goats fed SC. Milk production (MP) and fat corrected milk yield were similar (P>0.05). Milk fat and total solids were greater for diets containing silages. Does fed SCS+Lb diet had higher (P<0.01) milk fat content than SCS. NEFA concentration and time spent with rumination (min/g DM) was higher (P<0.05) for animals fed silage diets. There were no differences (P>0.05) on dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion and carcass parameters of the feedlot lambs. Eating time (min/g NDF) and rumination efficiency (g DM/h) were lower (P<0.05) for lambs fed silage diets. Sugar cane silage decreased (P<0.01) soluble carbohydrates concentrations and increased (P<0.01) NDF, ADF, hemicelulose and acetic acid levels. DM, soluble carbohydrates and acetic acid were higher (P<0,01) for SCS+Lb. There was no difference (P>0.01) on ethanol levels between silages. SCS+Lb treatment had lower (P<0.01) dry matter losses, unchanged pH and greater (P<0.05) aerobic stability. NDF, ADF and hemicelulose intakes and apparent digestibility were higher (P<0.05) for silage treatments.

With increasing environmental awareness, the desire to protect human beings and the environment from adverse effects induced by dispersed metals has become an issue of great concern and interest. New policies, such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) within the European Community, have been implemented to reduce hazards posed by the use of chemicals on producers and downstream users. The generation of exposure assessment data and relevant test procedures able to simulate realistic scenarios are essential in such legislative actions. This doctoral study was initiated to fill knowledge gaps related to the metal release process of stainless steels. A wide range of stainless steel grades, fourteen in total, were investigated. They cover a very broad range of applications, and the focus in the thesis was to simulate a few selected exposure scenarios: precipitation, the human body and food intake. Comparisons were made between metal release from stainless steel alloys and the pure metals that constitute each stainless steel in order to explore the differences between alloys and pure metals, and to provide quantitative data on metal release rates of different alloy constituents. Because of similar surface properties between stainless steel and pure chromium, this metal exhibits similar release rates, whereas iron and nickel exhibit significantly lower release rates as alloy components than as pure metals. Detailed studies were also performed to elucidate possible relations between metal release and steel surface properties. Key parameters turned out to be chromium enrichment of the self-passivating surface film, surface roughness, the electrochemically active surface area and the microstructure of the steel substrate. The degree of metal release increased with decreasing chromium content in the surface oxide, increasing surface roughness, and increasing presence of inhomogeneities in the bulk matrix. More detailed studies were initiated to possibly correlate the nucleation of metastable pits and the extent of metal release. Evidence was given that metastable pits exist even when the stainless steel is passive, and may cause extremely short-lived bursts of released metal before the surface film repassivates again. / QC 20100810

No description available.

Petrochemical and fine chemical industries face a daunting problem in recovering acetic acid from its aqueous solutions. The recovery of acetic acid could be done through esterification reaction. However, esterification is an equilibrium limited reaction. Multi-functional reactors such as chromatographic reactor (CR) and reactive distillation column (RDC) are promising technologies mainly for equilibrium limited reactions wherein reaction and separation of products are carried out in a single equipment that tends to shift the equilibrium towards the desired direction which is not possible in a classical batch reactor. Physical and chemical characterisation of ion exchange resin catalysts such as scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, pore size distribution, elemental analysis, true density and particle size distribution were carried out to access the catalysts performance for n-hexyl acetate synthesis. Esterification of acetic acid with n-hexanol was studied with both dilute and concentrated acid in the presence of cation exchange resins (macroporous and gelular) in a jacketed stirred batch reactor to synthesise a value added ester, namely n-hexyl acetate and also to study the recovery of acetic acid from the waste aqueous streams. The effect of various parameters such as speed of agitation, catalyst particle size, feed mole ratio of n-hexanol to acetic acid, reaction temperature, catalyst loading and reusability of catalysts was studied for the optimisation of the reaction condition in a batch reactor. The non-ideality of each component in the reacting mixture was accounted for by using the activity coefficient via the use of the UNIFAC group contribution method. The kinetic data were correlated with both pseudo-homogeneous (PH) and adsorption based heterogeneous reaction rate models, e.g., Eley-Rideal (ER), Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW), and the modified LHHW (ML). Pseudo-homogeneous (PH) model gave the best representation of the kinetic data found experimentally. The feasibility of reactive distillation for the recovery of acetic acid using n-hexanol was evaluated through residue curve map (RCM) determination experiments. RCM provides information to a design engineer of the existence of separation boundaries imposed by the singular points corresponding to the reactive/non-reactive azeotropes, thus provides an insight into the feasibility of reactive distillation for this purpose. A laboratory scale batch chromatographic reactor was designed and constructed. Batch chromatographic reactor experiments were carried out using different parameters such as feed flow rate, feed mole ratio of n-hexanol to acetic acid, desorbent (n-hexanol) flow rate and reaction step to maximise the formation of n-hexyl acetate as well to achieve complete conversion of acetic acid. Continuous chromatographic reactor was designed, constructed and commissioned on the basis of the results obtained from the batch chromatographic reactor experiments. The experiments carried out in continuous chromatographic reactor correlated very well with the results from the batch chromatographic reactor for the optimised condition.

Cotton plant growth and development, as well as monitoring nutrient use efficiency were evaluated using hydroponic approach. Two set of experiments were conducted to determine the influence of phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and PK and exogenous application of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), zeatin (Z) and their combinations on growth and development of cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum) grown hydroponically. In the nutrient solution experiment, cotton vegetative growth was positively influenced by low P (half strength Hoagland standard solution), low K (one-sixth strength Hoagland standard solution) and high PK treatments (Hoagland standard solution). Phytohormone experiment negatively supported vegetative growth except root length at 43 days after transplanting (DAT). The nutrients levels applied significantly favoured NPK uptake by cotton plants while exogenous phytohormones application did not affect NPK uptake by cotton plants, except N uptake by stem. Low P and low K treatments estimated to have high nutrient use efficiency (NUE). For chlorophyll formation, low K and high PK significantly increased formation of chlorophyll a, b and total ab while the application of GA3, IAA, Z and IAA x GA3 x 2Z treatments significantly increased chlorophyll a, b and total ab at 80 DAT only. Low K and low P treatments stimulated endogenous phytohormone contents in the cotton plants. In the phytohormone experiment, cotton plants treated to IAA x GA3 x Z increased endogenous phytohormone contents in the cotton plants. Low P, low K, high PK treatments and phytohormones treatments significantly increased root area, root volume and root activity. Low P, low K and high PK treatments applied significantly influenced residual level of P and K in the hydroponics while phytohormone treatments did not affect residual level of P and K except at 43 DAT. Evapotranspiration rate was high at early and reproductive stages of plant growth. This report shows the response of mineral nutrients and phytohormones to support growth and development of cotton plants grown hydroponically. / Description as in abstract

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Biotechnology) / The yearly increase of global population will result in a greater demand for crop production, but with the climates changes and a lack of available agricultural land it will become increasingly more difficult to provide sufficient crops to feed everyone adequately. Application of the PGPE has proven over the past researches to be able enhance growth of plants via various growth promoting mechanisms. To identify suitable growth promoting bacteria candidate, E. plantagineum plant was used to isolate endophytes from the root after surface sterilization. The isolates bacteria were used to inoculate Brassica napus L seeds. The effects of isolate's ability to promote growth were evaluated based on the certain growth parameters after 42 days in the green house. Isolate CP5 produced highest results in all growth parameter. Isolates CP5 was selected as potential candidate as significant improvement was shown by this isolate. This isolate was tested for the ability to produce ACC deaminase, solubilize phosphate, synthesize IAA and siderophore production. Furthermore isolate CP5 growth promotion abilities was tested on Brassica napus L under antimony stress. / 2021-08-31