Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/01/12). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-245).

Under normal conditions, cathodically protected mild steel in seawater is protected by a precipitated film of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide, the so-called calcareous film. This study has attempted to investigate the dynamics of calcareous deposit formation during cathodic protection and the composition of calcareous deposits formed under different applied current densities, and also the role played by the initial current density in forming a good quality calcareous deposit. In addition, an under protection situation can occur where current demand values are under estimated, or where structures are approaching the end of their design lives. In these conditions, a calcareous film might well occur but complete protection is probably not possible. These situations have also been studied. At low insufficient current densities where steel corrosion is still occurring, a clear correlation exists between the iron containing corrosion product and the overlaying magnesium hydroxide layer. Such effects have also been investigated using pH titration analysis, where the effect of co-precipitation of the iron and magnesium oxides/hydroxides has been shown. At higher current densities a layered precipitate has been shown to occur consisting of an inner magnesium containing layer and an outer calcium containing layer. At obvious overprotection current densities, the mechanical stresses involved in hydrogen evolution are assumed to give rise to film cracking. To augment and compliment the study on calcareous calcium/magnesium films formed during cathodic protection, a calcium-magnesium containing pigment has also been investigated in aqueous solutions at open circuit as a possible corrosion inhibitor. Another study looked at the same inhibitor in conjunction with a sacrificial zinc anode. Very effective inhibition has been shown with the film containing not only magnesium, calcium and phosphorous but also zinc. In all the investigations electrochemical methods have been used together with various surface analytical techniques.

Wetlands are important elements of watersheds that influence water storage, surface water runoff, groundwater recharge/discharge processes, and evapotranspiration. To understand the cumulative effect wetlands have on a watershed, one must have a good understanding of the water-level fluctuations and the storage characteristics associated with multiple wetlands across a region. An improved analytical method is presented to describe the storage characteristics of wetlands in the absence of detailed hydrologic and bathymetric data. Also, a probabilistic approach based on frequency analysis is developed to provide insight into surface and groundwater interactions associated with isolated wetlands. The results of the work include: 1) a power-function model based on a single fitting parameter and two physically based parameters was developed and used to represent the storage of singular or multiple wetlands and lakes with acceptable error, 2) a novel hydrologic characterization applied to 56 wetlands in west-central Florida provided new information about wetland hydroperiods which indicated standing water was present in the wetlands 62% of the time and these wetlands were groundwater recharge zones 59% of the time over the seven year study, 3) the smallest extreme value probability distribution function was identified as the best-fit model to represent the water levels of five wetland categories in west-central Florida, 4) representative probability models were developed and used to predict the water levels of specific wetland categories, averaging less than 10% error between the predicted and recorded water levels, and 5) last, based on this probability analysis, the various wetland categories were shown to exhibit similar means, extremes and ranges in water-level behavior but unique slopes in frequency distributions, a here to for new finding. These results suggest that wetland types may best be differentiated by the regular variability in water levels, not by the mean and/or extreme water levels. The methods and analytical techniques presented in this dissertation can be used to help understand and quantify wetland hydrology in different climatological or anthropogenic stress conditions. Also, the methods explored in this study can be used to develop more accurate and representative hydrologic simulation models.

[pt] A injeção química, principalmente de surfactantes, é um dos métodos mais utilizados na recuperação melhorada de petróleo. Uma das principais limitações deste método é a perda devido à partição do surfactante para o óleo presente no reservatório. O estudo do equilíbrio de partição água-óleo de formulações de surfactantes torna-se relevante devido a perda existente nos reservatórios, afetando a inviabilidade econômica e ambiental da aplicação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o coeficiente de partição de surfactantes entre as fases água e óleo através de diferentes métodos analíticos. Foram estudados os surfactantes dodecilbenzeno sulfonato de sódio (SDBS, de tipo aniônico) e o polioxietileno (9- 10) p-teroctil fenol (Triton X-100, de tipo não iônico), e foi utilizado hexadecano como óleo modelo. Com o objetivo de identificar qual seria o melhor procedimento para a quantificação dos surfactantes na fase aquosa e, por conseguinte determinar o coeficiente de partição, foram desenvolvidas três metodologias de quantificação utilizando diferentes técnicas (medidas de tensão interfacial, medidas de absorbância UV-Vis e HPLC com detecção UV). Testes iniciais de solubilidade mostraram que o SDBS é praticamente insolúvel em presença de sal, pelo qual só foram realizados experimentos com este surfactante, em ausência de sal. Para ambos os surfactantes os resultados mostraram uma baixa partição para a fase oleosa, tanto na ausência quanto na presença de sal. Em algumas soluções foi identificada a formação de emulsões devido à concentração do surfactante e a proporção água/óleo utilizada, o qual interferiu com o método espectrofotométrico. Adicionalmente, se estabeleceu uma comparação entre os resultados obtidos pelas metodologias desenvolvidas que permitiram identificar que o melhor dos métodos estudados para a avaliação do equilíbrio de partição foi a cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC). A partir destes resultados, pode-se concluir que os surfactantes estudados possuem um baixo valor de coeficiente de partição para a fase óleo, tornando o método de injeção química favorável para a recuperação avançada de petróleo. / [en] Chemical injection, mainly of surfactants, is one of the most used methods for improved oil recovery. One of the main limitations of this method is the loss due to partitioning of the surfactant into the oil present in the reservoir. The study of the water-oil partition balance of surfactant formulations becomes relevant due to the existing loss in the reservoirs, affecting the economic and environmental unfeasibility of the application. The objective of this work was to determine the partition coefficient of surfactants between the water and oil phases using different analytical methods. The surfactants sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS, anionic type) and polyoxyethylene (9-10) p-teroctyl phenol (Triton X-100, nonionic type) were studied, and hexadecane was used as model oil. In order to identify which would be the best procedure for the quantification of surfactants in the aqueous phase and, therefore, to determine the partition coefficient, three quantification methodologies were developed using different techniques (interfacial tension measurements, UV-Vis absorbance measurements, and HPLC with UV detection). Initial solubility tests showed that SDBS is practically insoluble in the presence of salt, so experiments with this surfactant were only carried out in the absence of salt. For both surfactants, the results showed a low partition for the oil phase, both in the absence and in the presence of salt. In some solutions, the formation of emulsions was identified due to the surfactant concentration and the water/oil ratio used, which interfered with the spectrophotometric method. In addition, a comparison was established between the results obtained by the developed methodologies, which allowed to identify that the best method for the evaluation of the partition equilibrium was the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). From these results, it can be concluded that the studied surfactants have a low partition coefficient for the oil phase, making the chemical injection method favorable for advanced oil recovery.

This research applies stochastic decision tree analytical techniques to a decision of the type a small community may face when choosing a solid waste disposal system from among several alternatives. Specifically targeted are those situations in which a community finds itself (1) lying at or near the boundary of a central planning area, (2) in a position to exercise one of several disposal options, and (3) has access to the data base on solid waste which has been systematically developed by a central planning agency. The options available may or may not be optimal in terms of total cost, either to the community or to adjacent communities which participate in centrally coordinated or jointly organized activities. The study suggests that stochastic simulation models, drawing upon a data base developed by central planning agencies in cases where local data are inadequate or not available, can be useful in evaluating disposal alternatives at the community level. Further, the decision tree can be usefully employed to communicate results of the analysis. Some important areas of further research on the small community disposal system selection problem are noted.

Neste trabalho o aerossol atmosférico, presente em diferentes localidades da região Amazônica, foi caracterizado. Foram estudadas as emissões biogênicas naturais da floresta, bem como as emissões de material particulado para a atmosfera, devido à ocorrência em larga escala de queimadas na Amazônia durante a estação seca. O aerossol atmosférico foi coletado durante um período de aproximadamente três anos em duas diferentes regiões da Amazônia, utilizando-se amostradores de particulado fino e grosso. As amostragens foram realizadas na região de Alta Floresta (MT) e de Serra do Navio (AP). Essas regiões são representativas de condições atmosféricas distintas: as emissões de queimadas são pouco significativas para a composição do aerossol atmosférico de Serra do Navio, dominada pela emissão biogênica natural da floresta. A atmosfera de Alta Floresta caracteriza as regiões da Amazônia onde o impacto das queimadas é expressivo durante a estação seca. Em Alta Floresta foram realizadas amostragens em casas de queima de ouro, caracterizando as emissões de mercúrio para o particulado atmosférico relacionadas com as atividades garimpeiras na Amazônia. Aeronaves foram utilizadas para a amostragem de aerossóis durante as estações secas de 1992 e 1993, caracterizando as concentrações atmosféricas dos aerossóis de queimadas ao longo de vastas regiões da Amazônia. As amostras foram analisadas utilizando-se diversas técnicas analíticas nucleares: \"Particle lnduced X-ray Emission\", para a quantificação dos elementos traços com número atômico superior a 11; \"Induced Gamma-ray Emission\", para a quantificação de Na; \"Scanning Proton Microprobe\", para a caracterização de partículas individuais de aerossol. A técnica de reflectância foi utilizada na quantificação de \"black carbon\" e a concentração total de aerossóis atmosféricos foi determinada por análise gravimétrica. \"Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy\" foi utilizada na quantificação de mercúrio presente no particulado atmosférico nas casas de queima de ouro de Alta Floresta. Para as amostras de particulado fino de Serra do Navio, constituintes iônicos do aerossol foram quantificados utilizando-se cromatografia iônica. Técnicas estatísticas multivariadas foram utilizadas na identificação e na caracterização das fontes de aerossol atmosférico presentes nas diferentes regiões. Observaram-se elevadas concentrações de aerossóis atmosféricos em vastas regiões da Amazônia devido às emissões de queimadas para o período compreendido entre os meses de junho e setembro. As emissões de queimadas são predominantes na fração fina do aerossol atmosférico, sendo caracterizadas por grandes emissões de \"black carbon\", S e K. As elevadas emissões de aerossóis pelas queimadas estão correlacionadas com o aumento do \"Aerosol Optical Thickness\" da atmosfera durante a estação seca na Amazônia. O aerossol de Serra do Navio é caracterizado por emissões biogênicas, apresentando forte influência marinha. Foi observada uma semelhança entre as composições do aerossol de origem biogênica presentes em Serra do Navio e em Alta Floresta. A presença de elementos traços característicos de partículas de solo associados à contribuição marinha para o aerossol de Serra do Navio indica o transporte de aerossóis provenientes da África para a América do Sul. Observaram-se elevadas concentrações de mercúrio associadas ao aerossol atmosférico presente no interior das casas de queima de ouro de Alta Floresta. A concentração de mercúrio, associada ao particulado atmosférico, representa cerca de 3% da concentração total de mercúrio no interior das casas de queima. Uma fração substancial do mercúrio está associada ao particulado fino, facilitando o seu transporte juntamente com o aerossol emitido nas queimadas. A fração não volátil do mercúrio associado ao aerossol é considerável, estando fortemente ligada às partículas em suspensão na atmosfera. / This work presents the characterization of the atmospheric aerosol collected in different places of the Amazon Basin. We studied both the biogenic emission from the forest and the particulate material which is emitted to the atmosphere due to the large scale man-made burnings during the dry season. The samples were collected during a three year period at two different locations in the Amazon, namely the Alta Floresta (MT) and Serra do Navio (AP) regions, using stacked unit filters. These regions represent two different atmospheric compositions : the aerosol is dominated by the forest natural biogenic emission at Serra do Navio, while at Alta Floresta it presents an important contribution from the man-made burnings during the dry season. At Alta Floresta we took samples in gold shops in order to characterize mercury emission to the atmosphere related to the gold prospection activity in Amazon. Airplanes were used for aerosol sampling during the 1992 and 1993 dry seasons to characterize the atmospheric aerosol contents from man-made burnings in large amazonian areas. The samples were analyzed using several nuclear analytic techniques: Particle Induced X-ray Emission for the quantitative analysis of trace elements with atomic number above 11; Particle Induced Gamma-ray Emission for the quantitative analysis of Na; and Proton Microprobe was used for the characterization of individual particles of the aerosol. Reflectancy technique was used in the black carbon quantification, gravimetric analysis to determine the total atmospheric aerosol concentration and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of mercury in the particulate from the Alta Floresta gold shops. Ionic cromatography was used to quantify ionic contents of aerosols from the fine mode particulate samples from Serra do Navio. Multivariated statistical analysis was used in order to identify and characterize the sources of the atmospheric aerosol present in the sampled regions. High atmospheric aerosol concentrations were observed in large amazonian areas due to emission from man-made burnings in the June-September period. The emission from burnings dominate the fine mode of the atmospheric aerosol with characteristic high contents of black carbon, S and K. Aerosols from biomass burnings are correlated to the increase in the Aerosol Optical Thickness of the atmosphere during the Amazonian dry season. The Serra do Navio aerosol is characterized by biogenic emissions with strong marine influence. The presence of trace elements characteristic of soil particulate associated with this mar\'ine contribution indicates the existence of aerosol transport from Africa to South America. We observed common composition characteristics in the biogenic emission aerosols from Serra do Navio and Alta Floresta. High mercury concentrations associated to the atmospheric aerosol inside the Alta Floresta gold shops were observed. About 3% of the total mercury concentration inside the gold shops is associated to the atmospheric particulate. A substantial part of this mercury is associated to the fine mode, easing its transportation with the biomass burnings aerosol. A large fraction of the mercury associated to the aerosol is non-volatile, being strongly tied to the particulate in suspension in the atmosphere.

Drug instability in solid dosage forms includes chemical or physical processes involving covalent or polymorphic transformations wherein different polymorphs possess crystal structure differences. Gabapentin chemically degrades by intramolecular cyclization to gabapentin-lactam (lactam) in the solid-state. Additionally, gabapentin undergoes polymorphic solid-state transformations. A kinetic model was developed to describe the environmental and excipient effects on chemical and physical instability associated with milling induced stress and subsequent storage under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Reaction mixtures were generated by co-milling gabapentin Form II with various excipients. The effects of environmental conditions were studied by storing reaction mixtures at 40-60 ºC and 5-50 %RH. The chemical and polymorphic compositions of the reaction mixtures were measured as a function of time using a combination of chromatographic method, 13C ssNMR and XRPD. Degradation models that describe the relationship between polymorphs and degradation product in a series of sequential or parallel steps were devised based on analysis of the resultant concentration time profiles. Model parameters were estimated using non-linear regression and Bayesian methods and evaluated in terms of their quantitative relationship to compositional and conditional variations. In reaction mixtures composed of co-milled gabapentin and excipients, gabapentin was found to exist in three forms: anhydrous polymorph II and III and gabapentin-lactam. A fourth form (II*) was observed based on initial degradation kinetics and was hypothesized to be a crystal-disordered form generated by mechanical stress. The effect of environment moisture was to decrease the net rate of lactam formation by facilitating polymorphic transformation kinetics and crystal annealing. However, excipient blocked the catalytic moisture effect on polymorphic transformations. The key features of our model are first-order physical state transitions of II* and III to II, first-order degradation of II* to lactam and autocatalytic lactamization of II and III. For chemical transitions, no humidity effect was present but the catalytic effects of excipients on the conversion of II and III → lactam were observed. For physical transitions, excipient primarily influenced the physical state transitions of II*and III → II through its ability to interact with humidity and the degree of contact between excipient and substrate.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-04-11T14:02:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Laianne Carla Batista Alencar.pdf: 76493536 bytes, checksum: 81979c4a19d0b51b9825af83908d898c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2018-04-23T20:27:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Laianne Carla Batista Alencar.pdf: 76493536 bytes, checksum: 81979c4a19d0b51b9825af83908d898c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-23T20:27:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Laianne Carla Batista Alencar.pdf: 76493536 bytes, checksum: 81979c4a19d0b51b9825af83908d898c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The development of a new pharmaceutical form involves a number of preliminary analyzes, which constitute the pre-formulation study, which will be gathered information about the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the formulation constituents. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the compatibility of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients of the final product by means of thermoanalytical and non-thermal techniques as possible interactions can alter and compromise the efficacy, safety and quality of the product. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to assess the compatibility of the active pharmaceutical inputs dipyrone, and caffeine citrate orfenandrina each other and excipients. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed in ratios of 2, 5 and 10 ° C / min^-1, coupled with differential thermal analysis (DTA), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). All DSC curves were obtained melting points of the active pharmaceutical ingredients, especi ally the values of the melting point found in the heating rate of 2 ° C / min, which were 237.75 ° C, 222.36 ° C and 140 , 41 ° C for caffeine, dipyrone and orphenadrine citrate, respectively. While, in the cooling curves was not identified any polymorphism. The quaternary DTA curves evaluated aerosil selection at the expense of pregelatinized starch and microcrystalline cellulose 101. From the curves of the binary mixture, those containing dipyrone showed greater mismatch indication, whereas the mixtures of the active pharmaceutical ingredients from themselves were compatible, since the characteristic peaks thereof were identified without changing considerably, its thermal events. In the infrared spectra there is a chemical interaction of carboxymethylcellulose with caffeine, moreover, the spectra containing the binary mixtures dipyrone there was suppression on the free hydroxyl bands glycolate starch, carboxymethylcellulose, starch and croscarmellose sodium, a similar result occurred with the starch glycolate opposite orphenadrine citrate. The XRD patterns did not identify displacement or removal of significant robins to characterize some sort of incompatibility. Through evaluation by different analytical techniques across the various preparations, it was observed that the IFA may be sold simultaneously in view of their physical and chemical compatibility. / O desenvolvimento de uma nova forma farmacêutica envolve um conjunto de análises preliminares, que constituem o estudo de pré-formulação, onde serão reunidas informações a respeito das características físicas, químicas e mecânicas dos constituintes da formulação. Para tanto, faz-se necessário investigar a compatibilidade entre os insumos farmacêuticos ativos e os excipientes do produto final, por meio de técnicas termoanaliticas e não térmicas, visto que possíveis interações podem alterar e comprometer a eficácia, segurança e a qualidade do medicamento. Portanto, o objetivo precípuo desse estudo consiste em avaliar a compatibilidade dos insumos farmacêuticos ativos dipirona, cafeína e citrato de orfenandrina entre si e os excipientes. A calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) foi realizada nas razões de 2, 5 e 10 °C/min^-1, aliada a análise térmica diferencial (DTA), espectroscopia de infravermelho(FTIR) e difração de -1 , aliada a raio X (DRX). Nas curvas de DSC foram obtidos os pontos de fusão dos insumos farmacêuticos ativos, destacando-se os valores do ponto de fusão encontrados na razão de aquecimento de 2 °C/min, que foram de 237,75 ºC, 222,36 ºC e 140,41 ºC para cafeína, dipirona e citrato de orfenadrina, respectivamente. Enquanto que, nas curvas de resfriamento não foi identificado nenhum tipo de polimorfismo. As curvas quaternárias da DTA avaliaram a seleção do aerosil em detrimento do amido pre-gelatinizado e celulose microcristalina 101. A partir das curvas das mistura binárias, as que continham dipirona apresentaram maiores indícios de incompatibilidade, enquanto que, as misturas dos insumos farmacêuticos ativos entre si foram compatíveis, uma vez que os picos característicos dos mesmos foram identificados sem alterar, consideravelmente, seus eventos térmicos. Nos espectros de infravermelho verificou-se interação química da carboximetilcelulose com a cafeína, além disso, nos espectros contendo as misturas binarias de dipirona houve supressão nas bandas de hidroxila livre de amido glicolato, carboximetilcelulose, amido e croscarmelose sódica, resultado semelhante ocorreu com o amido glicolato frente ao citrato de orfenadrina. Os difratogramas não identificaram deslocamentos ou supressão de piscos significantes para caracterizar algum tipo de incompatibilidade. Por meio da avaliação por diferentes técnicas analíticas frente a várias preparações, foi observado que os IFA podem ser comercializados concomitantemente, tendo em vista a sua compatibilidade física e química.

Neste trabalho o aerossol atmosférico, presente em diferentes localidades da região Amazônica, foi caracterizado. Foram estudadas as emissões biogênicas naturais da floresta, bem como as emissões de material particulado para a atmosfera, devido à ocorrência em larga escala de queimadas na Amazônia durante a estação seca. O aerossol atmosférico foi coletado durante um período de aproximadamente três anos em duas diferentes regiões da Amazônia, utilizando-se amostradores de particulado fino e grosso. As amostragens foram realizadas na região de Alta Floresta (MT) e de Serra do Navio (AP). Essas regiões são representativas de condições atmosféricas distintas: as emissões de queimadas são pouco significativas para a composição do aerossol atmosférico de Serra do Navio, dominada pela emissão biogênica natural da floresta. A atmosfera de Alta Floresta caracteriza as regiões da Amazônia onde o impacto das queimadas é expressivo durante a estação seca. Em Alta Floresta foram realizadas amostragens em casas de queima de ouro, caracterizando as emissões de mercúrio para o particulado atmosférico relacionadas com as atividades garimpeiras na Amazônia. Aeronaves foram utilizadas para a amostragem de aerossóis durante as estações secas de 1992 e 1993, caracterizando as concentrações atmosféricas dos aerossóis de queimadas ao longo de vastas regiões da Amazônia. As amostras foram analisadas utilizando-se diversas técnicas analíticas nucleares: \"Particle lnduced X-ray Emission\", para a quantificação dos elementos traços com número atômico superior a 11; \"Induced Gamma-ray Emission\", para a quantificação de Na; \"Scanning Proton Microprobe\", para a caracterização de partículas individuais de aerossol. A técnica de reflectância foi utilizada na quantificação de \"black carbon\" e a concentração total de aerossóis atmosféricos foi determinada por análise gravimétrica. \"Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy\" foi utilizada na quantificação de mercúrio presente no particulado atmosférico nas casas de queima de ouro de Alta Floresta. Para as amostras de particulado fino de Serra do Navio, constituintes iônicos do aerossol foram quantificados utilizando-se cromatografia iônica. Técnicas estatísticas multivariadas foram utilizadas na identificação e na caracterização das fontes de aerossol atmosférico presentes nas diferentes regiões. Observaram-se elevadas concentrações de aerossóis atmosféricos em vastas regiões da Amazônia devido às emissões de queimadas para o período compreendido entre os meses de junho e setembro. As emissões de queimadas são predominantes na fração fina do aerossol atmosférico, sendo caracterizadas por grandes emissões de \"black carbon\", S e K. As elevadas emissões de aerossóis pelas queimadas estão correlacionadas com o aumento do \"Aerosol Optical Thickness\" da atmosfera durante a estação seca na Amazônia. O aerossol de Serra do Navio é caracterizado por emissões biogênicas, apresentando forte influência marinha. Foi observada uma semelhança entre as composições do aerossol de origem biogênica presentes em Serra do Navio e em Alta Floresta. A presença de elementos traços característicos de partículas de solo associados à contribuição marinha para o aerossol de Serra do Navio indica o transporte de aerossóis provenientes da África para a América do Sul. Observaram-se elevadas concentrações de mercúrio associadas ao aerossol atmosférico presente no interior das casas de queima de ouro de Alta Floresta. A concentração de mercúrio, associada ao particulado atmosférico, representa cerca de 3% da concentração total de mercúrio no interior das casas de queima. Uma fração substancial do mercúrio está associada ao particulado fino, facilitando o seu transporte juntamente com o aerossol emitido nas queimadas. A fração não volátil do mercúrio associado ao aerossol é considerável, estando fortemente ligada às partículas em suspensão na atmosfera. / This work presents the characterization of the atmospheric aerosol collected in different places of the Amazon Basin. We studied both the biogenic emission from the forest and the particulate material which is emitted to the atmosphere due to the large scale man-made burnings during the dry season. The samples were collected during a three year period at two different locations in the Amazon, namely the Alta Floresta (MT) and Serra do Navio (AP) regions, using stacked unit filters. These regions represent two different atmospheric compositions : the aerosol is dominated by the forest natural biogenic emission at Serra do Navio, while at Alta Floresta it presents an important contribution from the man-made burnings during the dry season. At Alta Floresta we took samples in gold shops in order to characterize mercury emission to the atmosphere related to the gold prospection activity in Amazon. Airplanes were used for aerosol sampling during the 1992 and 1993 dry seasons to characterize the atmospheric aerosol contents from man-made burnings in large amazonian areas. The samples were analyzed using several nuclear analytic techniques: Particle Induced X-ray Emission for the quantitative analysis of trace elements with atomic number above 11; Particle Induced Gamma-ray Emission for the quantitative analysis of Na; and Proton Microprobe was used for the characterization of individual particles of the aerosol. Reflectancy technique was used in the black carbon quantification, gravimetric analysis to determine the total atmospheric aerosol concentration and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of mercury in the particulate from the Alta Floresta gold shops. Ionic cromatography was used to quantify ionic contents of aerosols from the fine mode particulate samples from Serra do Navio. Multivariated statistical analysis was used in order to identify and characterize the sources of the atmospheric aerosol present in the sampled regions. High atmospheric aerosol concentrations were observed in large amazonian areas due to emission from man-made burnings in the June-September period. The emission from burnings dominate the fine mode of the atmospheric aerosol with characteristic high contents of black carbon, S and K. Aerosols from biomass burnings are correlated to the increase in the Aerosol Optical Thickness of the atmosphere during the Amazonian dry season. The Serra do Navio aerosol is characterized by biogenic emissions with strong marine influence. The presence of trace elements characteristic of soil particulate associated with this mar\'ine contribution indicates the existence of aerosol transport from Africa to South America. We observed common composition characteristics in the biogenic emission aerosols from Serra do Navio and Alta Floresta. High mercury concentrations associated to the atmospheric aerosol inside the Alta Floresta gold shops were observed. About 3% of the total mercury concentration inside the gold shops is associated to the atmospheric particulate. A substantial part of this mercury is associated to the fine mode, easing its transportation with the biomass burnings aerosol. A large fraction of the mercury associated to the aerosol is non-volatile, being strongly tied to the particulate in suspension in the atmosphere.