In this research we are following the thermo-chemical degradation of wood in the absence of oxygen. The objectives are to evaluate the influence of heating rates on pyrolysis products obtained from wood pyrolysis and to evaluate the influence of acid pre-treatment on pyrolysis products. Depending on the wood heating rates, pyrolysis can be categorized as Flash pyrolysis, Fast pyrolysis, and Slow pyrolysis. We have evaluated the volatile products obtained at different heating rates and the volatile products obtained from sulfuric acid pre-treatment by using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We have also performed thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) of raw wood samples and sulfuric acid pre-treated wood samples of Yellow Pine to determine the changes in weight in relation to change in temperature. Our results indicated that by using the Flash, Fast, and Slow heating rates, the overall volatile products obtained from wood pyrolysis (i.e. the overall list of all the compounds obtained from different temperature ranges in wood pyrolysis by using different heating rates) were the same, but the volatile products obtained at different temperature ranges like Room temperature-300°C, 300°C - 400°C, and 400°C -500°C in Flash, Fast, and Slow pyrolysis were different. Most of the volatile products obtained from the pyrolysis of untreated wood were phenols. Our results also indicated that the pretreatment of wood with sulfuric acid alters the charcoal properties and releases gaseous products including furan derivatives that are useful as fuels or fuel additives. The sulfuric acid (10%) pretreatment of wood followed by slow pyrolysis produced maximum yield of charcoal, indicated by the lowest mass % decrease of 58.234. The production of furan derivatives increased by using sulfuric acid pre-treatment, which is a good improvement for the production of Furanics, the furan based biofuels. The furan based biofuels are of increasing research interest because of their significant advantages over the first generation biofuels. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicated that the acid pre-treatment altered the decomposition rate of pyrolysis and lowered the onset of temperature for decomposition. The use of thermal degradation of plants for creating chemicals and fuels is seeing renewed interest across the globe as it is considered carbon-neutral and it uses a renewable feedstock. The information obtained from this research work will also be valued by industries, such as charcoal and activated carbon producers, which currently perform biomass pyrolysis, by allowing them to form approaches that optimize their energy use and minimize waste.

In this study, an attempt has been made to hydrometallurgical extraction of cobalt and nickel by atmospheric pressure sulphuric acid leaching and a pug-roast-leach process using two stage roasting for lateritic ore. The ore used in the study was obtained from &Ccedil / aldag Lateritic Ore, Manisa, Turkey. The metal contents of the ore are 2.1 % Ni, 0.12 % Co, 32.45 % Fe, 1.01 % Mn, 2.58 % Cr, 0.78 % Mg and 1.01 % Al. The reserve of lateritic ore deposit is approximately 40 million tonnes. In the study, first sulphuric acid leaching was applied at atmospheric pressure for leaching the &Ccedil / aldag lateritic ore. The effect of various parameters, such as leaching time, leaching temperature, particle size, pulp density and acid strength on Ni and Co extractions were determined. By leaching at 80oC for 40 wt % H2SO4 addition of ore, 1/3 pulp density, Ni and Co extractions were found 44.49 % and 53.03 % respectively, yielded a pregnant solution containing 3.11 g/L Ni and 0.12 g/L Co. But the result of atmospheric pressure sulphuric acid leaching was considered insufficient from the recovery point of view. In the pug-roast-leach process, which is consisted of a two stage roasting followed by water leaching, decomposition temperature differences of sulphates of cobalt, nickel and iron are exploited. In this process, amount of acid, sulphatization and decomposition temperature, sulphatization and decomposition time, leaching temperature and time, solid/liquid ratio, and the effect of water addition during pugging were optimized. Under the optimized conditions (sulphuric acid: 25 wt % of ore / moisture: 20 wt % of ore / sulphatization temperature: 450oC / sulphatization time: 30 minutes / decomposition temperature: 700oC / decomposition time: 60 minutes / leaching temperature: 70oC / leaching time: 30 minutes and solid-liquid ratio: 1/4 by weight), Co and Ni extractions were found 91.4 and 84.4 percent, respectively. A pregnant solution containing 3.084 g/L Ni and 0.185 g/L Co was obtained. These results were considered sufficient for the leaching of lateritic nickel ores.

<p> The sulphur dioxide converter of the contact sulphuric acid plant ~f the Hamilton Works of Canadian Industries Ltd., is optimized using the so2 conversion as the objective function to be maximized. The simulation model used is fitted to the plant data. The number of beds, the inlet temperatures, the catalyst bed depths and the air addition are the variables considered in this work. The effect due to the imposition of a constraint on the system is also examined. </p> <p> Four integration techniques are studied to solve the set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations that simulates the transformation in a bed. The Runge-Kutta third-order is found to be the most efficient. </p> <p> Four optimization techniques, namely, dynamic programming, gradient search, direct search of Hooke and Jeeves and discrete maximum principle, are used. Their applicability and efficiency are compared. </p> <p> A very flat response (conversion) surface is found in the neighbourhood of the optimum. </p> <p> The optimal operating conditions are compared with the simulation of the C.I.L. operation. The reachability of these optimal conditions in the plant is also considered. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

No / This paper aims to establish the acid concentration of finely dispersed droplets in hydrocarbon oils. Small quantities of aqueous sulphuric acid (H2SO4) were found to be trapped within hydrocarbon shells, making them inaccessible for concentration evaluation by titration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) used in the attenuated total reflection mode (ATR; FTIR-ATR) was applied to study the reaction products of squalane, C30H62, and an API Group I base oil with various concentrations of aqueous H2SO4. The absorbance comparison usually used for estimating acid concentrations was found to fail when small quantities of acid are trapped in the reaction product. It was found that the peak shift and changes in absorbance found for various pure aqueous acid concentrations were useful to establish the remaining concentration of the trapped H2SO4. This paper fulfils the identified need to study acid dissociation-dependent peak shifts of H2SO4 to find the acid concentration of finely dispersed droplets in hydrocarbon oils.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2001-05-11Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:21:33Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 custodio_cc_dr_rcla.pdf: 949090 bytes, checksum: ce573fa5d251d008182c97c388c3ba5b (MD5) / Espécies de Brachiaria são de grande importância, como forrageiras, sendo o Brasil um dos principais produtores e exportadores de sementes dessas espécies. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do ácido sulfúrico concentrado, sobre o potencial fisiológico das sementes de Brachiaria brizantha e Brachiaria humidicola, decorrente do uso imediato ou após armazenamento, isoladamente ou combinado ao uso de ácido giberélico e nitrato de potássio. O estudo compreendeu 5 experimentos sendo os 2 primeiros, com três lotes de cada espécie, preliminares, e os 3 últimos, com dois lotes de cada espécie, o estudo do tratamento das sementes com ácido sulfúrico concentrado e seus efeitos imediatos e após armazenamento destas, sendo feitas avaliações de porcentagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, atividades de peroxidase e amilase e teste de lixiviação de potássio. As sementes de Brachiaria brizantha respondem favoravelmente ao tratamento com ácido sulfúrico para superação de dormência, principalmente por 10 minutos, mesmo durante o armazenamento, podendo este ser utilizado para avaliação da germinação, em análises de sementes, ou em larga escala pela indústria de sementes, enquanto que, sementes de Brachiaria humidicola não devem ser tratadas com ácido sulfúrico. Sementes escarificadas com ácido sulfúrico podem ser armazenadas, por oito meses à 25ºC, sem redução da germinação e da velocidade de germinação, não diferindo, neste período, do armazenamento das sementes intactas. Os tratamentos com nitrato de potássio e ácido giberélico não foram efetivos para a superação da dormência. O teste de lixiviação de potássio e as determinações de atividades enzimáticas, foram importantes para avaliação do potencial fisiológico das sementes e do tratamento para superação de dormência com ácido sulfúrico. / Brachiaria species have a great importance as forage, being Brazil one of the main producers and exporters of these species seeds. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the treatment with sulphuric acid of Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria humidicola seeds, immediately or after storage, alone or combined with gibberelic acid or potassium nitrate. There were five experiments done. Preliminary, the first 2, with three seed lots of each species, and the last 3, the study of sulphuric acid treatment in seeds and its effects after treatment and after seed storage, with two seed lots of each species. Evaluations were made using germination percentages, germination speed index, peroxidase and amylase activities determination and potassium leakage studies. Brachiaria brizantha seeds had their highest germination after ten minutes of exposition to sulphuric acid, as dormancy breaking treatment, even when they were stored. Sulphuric acid treatment could be used for germination test, in seed analysis, or in wide scale by the seed industry. However, Brachiaria humidicola seeds did not allow sulphuric acid treatment. Sulphuric acid scarified seeds, could be stored, during eight months at 25ºC, without germination percentage or germination speed reduction in relation of intact seeds. Potassium nitrate and gibberelic acid treatment were not effective for dormancy breaking. Potassium leakage test and enzymatic activity determinations were important to evaluate the seeds physiological potential and the sulphuric acid dormancy breaking treatment.

O uso de membranas poliméricas vem sendo extensivamente estudado para operações de separação. O estudo de materiais e metodologias para desenvolvimento de tais membranas para redução de custos e melhora em propriedades, faz-se necessário frente a este cenário. No processo de preparação de membranas, materiais orgânicos, tais como polímeros, elastômeros, são empregados com a possibilidade de incorporação de materiais de reforço e para modificar as características de forma a favorecer determinados processos. Estas membranas são chamadas compósitas, obtidas pela dispersão física de um componente na matriz polimérica, sendo que as dimensões da fase dispersa variam da escala micrométrica a nanométrica e a interface entre as fases deve ser bem definida. As fibras naturais tem destaque como materiais de reforço, devido sua natureza renovável e sua vasta fonte de matéria-prima, além de apresentarem boas propriedades mecânicas e baixo custo. A celulose presente na parede celular de plantas pode ser purificada, isolada e incorporada a membranas atuando como agente de reforço. As técnicas de hidrólise são metodologias empregadas para isolar cristais de celulose, que utilizam diferentes ácidos, resultando em diferentes materiais. Neste trabalho foi empregada celulose 1kraft de Eucalyptus ssp seguindo duas metodologias para isolamento de micro (MCC) e nanocristais celulósicos (CNC) utilizando ácido clorídrico e ácido sulfúrico (HCl e H2SO4). A incorporação destes materiais em membranas de polissulfona (PSf) foi avaliada por fluxo de permeado, rejeição de proteínas, ângulo de contato e microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de transmissão. As nanoceluloses apresentaram diâmetro, comprimento definidos e razão de aspecto favorável a incorporação em membranas poliméricas. A solução de nanocelulose obtida pela hidrólise com H2SO4 pode ser considerada mais estável, pois apresentou menos aglomerações. A adição de microcelulose e nanocristais de celulose às membranas de polisulfona (PSf) se mostrou satisfatória para a preparação das membranas poliméricas. Ocorreu aumento na rejeição das proteínas submetidas, da seletividade e da hidrofilia para as membranas reforçadas, principalmente com nanocelulose obtida por hidrólise com HCl. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-03-04T17:08:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Diana Favero.pdf: 2660380 bytes, checksum: 03cfad09eac7d1d57e9de212d7afcbc9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-04T17:08:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Diana Favero.pdf: 2660380 bytes, checksum: 03cfad09eac7d1d57e9de212d7afcbc9 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / The use of polymeric membranes has been extensively studied for separation processes. The study of materials and methodologies for development of such membranes for cost reduction and improvement in their properties are necessary to face this scenario. In the preparation of membranes, organic materials such as polymers and elastomers are employed with the possibility of incorporation of reinforcement materials and to modify the characteristics to favor certain processes. These membranes are called composite, they are obtained by dispersing a physical component in the polymer matrix, where the size of the dispersed phase varies from micrometer to nanometer scale and the interface between the phases must be well defined. Natural fibers has highlighted as a reinforcing material due to their renewable nature and vast source of raw materials, in addition having good mechanical properties and low cost. The plant cell wall cellulose can be purified, isolated and incorporated into membranes acting as reinforcing agent. The hydrolysis techniques are employed methodologies for isolating crystals of cellulose, using different acids resulting in different properties. In this work we used Kraft pulp from Eucalyptus ssp following two methods for isolation (acids HCl and H2SO4) of micro (MCC) and nanocrystals (NCC) of cellulose. Incorporating these materials into membranes of polysulfone (PSf) were evaluated for permeate flux, rejection protein, contact angle and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Nanocelulose presented diameter and length defined and favorable aspect ratio for incorporation into polymeric membranes. The solution obtained after hydrolysis with H2SO4 can be consider more stable as it presented less agglomerations. The addition of microcellulose and cellulose nanocrystals to membranes proved satisfactory for the preparation of polymeric membranes. There was an increase in rejection of the proteins, selectivity and hydrophilicity for the reinforced membranes, especially with nanocelulose obtained by hydrolysis with H2SO4.

Orientador: Victor José Mendes Cardoso / Banca: Massanori Takaki / Banca: Ana Dionísia C.L. Coelho / Banca: Marco Eustáquio de Sá / Banca: Francisco Carlos Kryzanowski / Resumo: Espécies de Brachiaria são de grande importância, como forrageiras, sendo o Brasil um dos principais produtores e exportadores de sementes dessas espécies. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do ácido sulfúrico concentrado, sobre o potencial fisiológico das sementes de Brachiaria brizantha e Brachiaria humidicola, decorrente do uso imediato ou após armazenamento, isoladamente ou combinado ao uso de ácido giberélico e nitrato de potássio. O estudo compreendeu 5 experimentos sendo os 2 primeiros, com três lotes de cada espécie, preliminares, e os 3 últimos, com dois lotes de cada espécie, o estudo do tratamento das sementes com ácido sulfúrico concentrado e seus efeitos imediatos e após armazenamento destas, sendo feitas avaliações de porcentagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, atividades de peroxidase e amilase e teste de lixiviação de potássio. As sementes de Brachiaria brizantha respondem favoravelmente ao tratamento com ácido sulfúrico para superação de dormência, principalmente por 10 minutos, mesmo durante o armazenamento, podendo este ser utilizado para avaliação da germinação, em análises de sementes, ou em larga escala pela indústria de sementes, enquanto que, sementes de Brachiaria humidicola não devem ser tratadas com ácido sulfúrico. Sementes escarificadas com ácido sulfúrico podem ser armazenadas, por oito meses à 25ºC, sem redução da germinação e da velocidade de germinação, não diferindo, neste período, do armazenamento das sementes intactas. Os tratamentos com nitrato de potássio e ácido giberélico não foram efetivos para a superação da dormência. O teste de lixiviação de potássio e as determinações de atividades enzimáticas, foram importantes para avaliação do potencial fisiológico das sementes e do tratamento para superação de dormência com ácido sulfúrico / Abstract: Brachiaria species have a great importance as forage, being Brazil one of the main producers and exporters of these species seeds. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the treatment with sulphuric acid of Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria humidicola seeds, immediately or after storage, alone or combined with gibberelic acid or potassium nitrate. There were five experiments done. Preliminary, the first 2, with three seed lots of each species, and the last 3, the study of sulphuric acid treatment in seeds and its effects after treatment and after seed storage, with two seed lots of each species. Evaluations were made using germination percentages, germination speed index, peroxidase and amylase activities determination and potassium leakage studies. Brachiaria brizantha seeds had their highest germination after ten minutes of exposition to sulphuric acid, as dormancy breaking treatment, even when they were stored. Sulphuric acid treatment could be used for germination test, in seed analysis, or in wide scale by the seed industry. However, Brachiaria humidicola seeds did not allow sulphuric acid treatment. Sulphuric acid scarified seeds, could be stored, during eight months at 25ºC, without germination percentage or germination speed reduction in relation of intact seeds. Potassium nitrate and gibberelic acid treatment were not effective for dormancy breaking. Potassium leakage test and enzymatic activity determinations were important to evaluate the seeds physiological potential and the sulphuric acid dormancy breaking treatment / Doutor

O uso de membranas poliméricas vem sendo extensivamente estudado para operações de separação. O estudo de materiais e metodologias para desenvolvimento de tais membranas para redução de custos e melhora em propriedades, faz-se necessário frente a este cenário. No processo de preparação de membranas, materiais orgânicos, tais como polímeros, elastômeros, são empregados com a possibilidade de incorporação de materiais de reforço e para modificar as características de forma a favorecer determinados processos. Estas membranas são chamadas compósitas, obtidas pela dispersão física de um componente na matriz polimérica, sendo que as dimensões da fase dispersa variam da escala micrométrica a nanométrica e a interface entre as fases deve ser bem definida. As fibras naturais tem destaque como materiais de reforço, devido sua natureza renovável e sua vasta fonte de matéria-prima, além de apresentarem boas propriedades mecânicas e baixo custo. A celulose presente na parede celular de plantas pode ser purificada, isolada e incorporada a membranas atuando como agente de reforço. As técnicas de hidrólise são metodologias empregadas para isolar cristais de celulose, que utilizam diferentes ácidos, resultando em diferentes materiais. Neste trabalho foi empregada celulose 1kraft de Eucalyptus ssp seguindo duas metodologias para isolamento de micro (MCC) e nanocristais celulósicos (CNC) utilizando ácido clorídrico e ácido sulfúrico (HCl e H2SO4). A incorporação destes materiais em membranas de polissulfona (PSf) foi avaliada por fluxo de permeado, rejeição de proteínas, ângulo de contato e microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de transmissão. As nanoceluloses apresentaram diâmetro, comprimento definidos e razão de aspecto favorável a incorporação em membranas poliméricas. A solução de nanocelulose obtida pela hidrólise com H2SO4 pode ser considerada mais estável, pois apresentou menos aglomerações. A adição de microcelulose e nanocristais de celulose às membranas de polisulfona (PSf) se mostrou satisfatória para a preparação das membranas poliméricas. Ocorreu aumento na rejeição das proteínas submetidas, da seletividade e da hidrofilia para as membranas reforçadas, principalmente com nanocelulose obtida por hidrólise com HCl. / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / The use of polymeric membranes has been extensively studied for separation processes. The study of materials and methodologies for development of such membranes for cost reduction and improvement in their properties are necessary to face this scenario. In the preparation of membranes, organic materials such as polymers and elastomers are employed with the possibility of incorporation of reinforcement materials and to modify the characteristics to favor certain processes. These membranes are called composite, they are obtained by dispersing a physical component in the polymer matrix, where the size of the dispersed phase varies from micrometer to nanometer scale and the interface between the phases must be well defined. Natural fibers has highlighted as a reinforcing material due to their renewable nature and vast source of raw materials, in addition having good mechanical properties and low cost. The plant cell wall cellulose can be purified, isolated and incorporated into membranes acting as reinforcing agent. The hydrolysis techniques are employed methodologies for isolating crystals of cellulose, using different acids resulting in different properties. In this work we used Kraft pulp from Eucalyptus ssp following two methods for isolation (acids HCl and H2SO4) of micro (MCC) and nanocrystals (NCC) of cellulose. Incorporating these materials into membranes of polysulfone (PSf) were evaluated for permeate flux, rejection protein, contact angle and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Nanocelulose presented diameter and length defined and favorable aspect ratio for incorporation into polymeric membranes. The solution obtained after hydrolysis with H2SO4 can be consider more stable as it presented less agglomerations. The addition of microcellulose and cellulose nanocrystals to membranes proved satisfactory for the preparation of polymeric membranes. There was an increase in rejection of the proteins, selectivity and hydrophilicity for the reinforced membranes, especially with nanocelulose obtained by hydrolysis with H2SO4.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T18:56:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Antonio Marcelo Pereira.pdf: 349288 bytes, checksum: 6b2f395df14ed97262b2fc0a8c2f9b2d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-27 / Sulfuric acid use has shown effectiveness in overcoming dormancy, even though its effective use carry some risks to the workers and environment. The work was carried out to study the sulfuric acid treatment effectiveness, recommended by the RAS, and ventilation with dry and heated air to overcome the dormancy and the germination performance of six seed lots Bracharia humidicola cv. Tully. The work performed comparisons between the physiological effects of heat treatments at 45, 55, 65 and 75 ºC, during 24 and 48 hours periods and chemical scarification (immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid) for 10 minutes, constituting eight treatments and two controls. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications. The seed germination, the germination velocity index, the tetrazolium test and seedling dry weight were evaluated. The use of controlled temperatures and of H2SO4 are mechanisms to overcome dormancy, but in greater vitality batches results were equal to conventional treatment with sulfuric acid, which can be considered as an alternative. Generally, the work did not indicate the best period (24 or 48 hours), for use with dry air ventilation, however a temperature of 60 °C for lots with high vitality (L1, L3 and L5) may be recommended. The H2SO4 use in lots with greater vitality was not statistically significant compared with the control, but for lots with less vitality physiological deterioration occurred in the seeds. / O ácido sulfúrico tem mostrado eficiência na superação da dormência em sementes, porém o uso do mesmo traz riscos efetivos aos trabalhadores e ao meio ambiente. O trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo estudar a efetividade do tratamento com ácido sulfúrico, preconizado pelas RAS, e o emprego de ventilação com ar seco e aquecido na superação da dormência e desempenho germinativo de sementes de seis lotes de capim Brachiaria humidicola cv. Tully. O trabalho realizou comparações entre os efeitos fisiológicos de tratamentos térmicos de 45, 55, 65 e 75ºC, com períodos de 24 e 48 horas e o químico (imersão em ácido sulfúrico concentrado) por 10 minutos, constituindo-se oito tratamentos e duas testemunhas. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Foram avaliados a germinação das sementes, o índice de velocidade de germinação, o teste de tetrazólio e a massa seca das plântulas. O uso de temperaturas variadas e controladas e o uso convencional de H2SO4 são mecanismos de superação de dormência, porém em lotes com maior vitalidade ocorreram resultados iguais ao tratamento convencional com ácido sulfúrico, podendo ser considerado uma alternativa. De maneira geral, o trabalho não indicou o melhor período (24 ou 48h), para emprego da ventilação com ar seco, entretanto a temperatura de 60°C, para os lotes de maior vitalidade (L1, L3 e L5), pode ser recomendada. O H2SO4 nos lotes com maior vitalidade não mostrou significância estatística em relação à testemunha, porém para os lotes com menor vitalidade ocorreu deterioração fisiológica da semente.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:51:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Antonio Marcelo Pereira.pdf: 349288 bytes, checksum: 6b2f395df14ed97262b2fc0a8c2f9b2d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-27 / Sulfuric acid use has shown effectiveness in overcoming dormancy, even though its effective use carry some risks to the workers and environment. The work was carried out to study the sulfuric acid treatment effectiveness, recommended by the RAS, and ventilation with dry and heated air to overcome the dormancy and the germination performance of six seed lots Bracharia humidicola cv. Tully. The work performed comparisons between the physiological effects of heat treatments at 45, 55, 65 and 75 ºC, during 24 and 48 hours periods and chemical scarification (immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid) for 10 minutes, constituting eight treatments and two controls. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications. The seed germination, the germination velocity index, the tetrazolium test and seedling dry weight were evaluated. The use of controlled temperatures and of H2SO4 are mechanisms to overcome dormancy, but in greater vitality batches results were equal to conventional treatment with sulfuric acid, which can be considered as an alternative. Generally, the work did not indicate the best period (24 or 48 hours), for use with dry air ventilation, however a temperature of 60 °C for lots with high vitality (L1, L3 and L5) may be recommended. The H2SO4 use in lots with greater vitality was not statistically significant compared with the control, but for lots with less vitality physiological deterioration occurred in the seeds. / O ácido sulfúrico tem mostrado eficiência na superação da dormência em sementes, porém o uso do mesmo traz riscos efetivos aos trabalhadores e ao meio ambiente. O trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo estudar a efetividade do tratamento com ácido sulfúrico, preconizado pelas RAS, e o emprego de ventilação com ar seco e aquecido na superação da dormência e desempenho germinativo de sementes de seis lotes de capim Brachiaria humidicola cv. Tully. O trabalho realizou comparações entre os efeitos fisiológicos de tratamentos térmicos de 45, 55, 65 e 75ºC, com períodos de 24 e 48 horas e o químico (imersão em ácido sulfúrico concentrado) por 10 minutos, constituindo-se oito tratamentos e duas testemunhas. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Foram avaliados a germinação das sementes, o índice de velocidade de germinação, o teste de tetrazólio e a massa seca das plântulas. O uso de temperaturas variadas e controladas e o uso convencional de H2SO4 são mecanismos de superação de dormência, porém em lotes com maior vitalidade ocorreram resultados iguais ao tratamento convencional com ácido sulfúrico, podendo ser considerado uma alternativa. De maneira geral, o trabalho não indicou o melhor período (24 ou 48h), para emprego da ventilação com ar seco, entretanto a temperatura de 60°C, para os lotes de maior vitalidade (L1, L3 e L5), pode ser recomendada. O H2SO4 nos lotes com maior vitalidade não mostrou significância estatística em relação à testemunha, porém para os lotes com menor vitalidade ocorreu deterioração fisiológica da semente.