Influência dos Fatores Ambientais na Preservação da Microfauna de Foraminíferos Bentônicos no Ambiente Recifal dos Parrachos de Maracajaú, RN, Brasil.

Taphonomy focuses on the post-mortem processes of transport and preservation of biotic remains in the sedimentaryrecord, and as such it has important applications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The aim of this work is to verifythe degree of dissolution, abrasion, bioerosion and fragmentation in foraminiferal tests recovered from bottom sedimentsof the Parrachos de Maracajaú, Rio Grande do Norte, and to estimate the influence of these taphonomic processes in thedistributon and preservation of the assemblages. Fifty-one species of benthic foraminifera have been found in the studiedsite. The taxonomic composition is typical of a coral reef environment. Amphistegina lessoni, Sorites marginalis, Quinqueloculinalamarckiana, Q. agglutinans, Peneroplis carinatus and Archaias angulatus are abundant in all the studiedlocalities. The energy of the environment was interpreted as high. The species have been grouped into two groups, andthe statistical data show that all four taphonomic processes (dissolution, abrasion, bioerosion and fragmentation) haveinfluenced the distribution and preservation patterns of the foraminifera

Influence of Photoperiod on Biomass Production and Removal of Nutrients from Tannery Effluents with Microalgae Consortium

Content: Wastewater from tanneries besides having toxic compounds also contain nutrients such as carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which facilitate the rapid multiplication of microalgae. Currently, many types of researches search microalgae capable of growing in industrial effluents, exploiting the advantages of removing the nutrients present in these waters and producing biomass with high value- added. The liquid effluents produced in tanneries for finished leather have essential nutrients for the growth of microalgae, but also some compounds that may restrict or hinder the growth of microalgae in this medium. Therefore, the present work has the objective to evaluate the growth of a microalgae consortium (collected in a wastewater treatment plant of a beamhouse tannery) for the removal of phosphorus and ammonia from wastewater streams of a tannery (processing wet-blue to finished leather) with different photoperiods. Microalgae consortium was cultivated at two different compositions of mixtures of raw wastewater (R) and wastewater after secondary biological treatment (B): 50% of R + 50% of B, (50R50B) and 75% of R + 25% of B, (75R25B), in photoperiod of 24 hours and 12 hours of light, temperature of 25 °C and constant aeration. The growth of microalgae in the effluent and the removal of phosphorus and ammonia were monitored throughout the cultivation. The microalgae consortium presented maximum biomass concentrations in the 75R25B effluent (1.40 g L-1) and phosphorus removal (97.64% for the 50R50B and 95.54% for the 75R25B) effluent and ammonia removal (100%) for both effluent with 24-hour photoperiod light. Take-Away: In this study, it was found that the microalgae consortium can survive in wastewater from tanneries (processing wet-blue to finished leather) and exhibit removals of phosphorus and ammonia from the medium. The 24-hour light photoperiod presented better microalgae growth and nutrient removal results

Monitoring of biogas production from tannery solid wastes at-line in a laboratory-scale anaerobic digester

Content: The understanding of how chemical, physical and environmental parameters work during anaerobic digestion production and waste treatment is an important step in improving the efficiency and process stability. This study provides the evolution of the biogas production and the efficiency of the treatment of the anaerobic digestion of solid wastes of tanneries at-line monitored in batch laboratory-scale bioreactors. Leather shavings and sludge from wastewater treatment plants substrates were considered in the study. The findings suggest that AD of the tannery solid waste can be separated into three phases: a long lag phase, a log phase with a low metabolic rate and the final phase where all the shavings were metabolized. Take-Away: The AD of the tannery solid waste can be separated into three phases: a long lag phase, a log phase with a low metabolic rate and the final phase where all the shavings were metabolize

Application of silanes in leather tanning

Content: In order to develop a sustainable and low-cost route for tanning, the stabilization of the collagen fibers of the hides with silica compounds has been investigated for many years. In this context, silica nanoparticles have been studied for application in tanning due to their small size and ability to combine with polymeric substrates. This work investigates the potentialities and limitations of the use of alkoxysilanes in leather tanning, introducing silica nanoparticles in the hides, aim for process and product innovation in leather industry. The synthesis of silica nanoparticles was carried out by a typical sol-gel Stöber process. From the silica precursor tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), ammonium hydroxide as catalyst, ethanol and water, the formation of nanoparticles dispersion takes place. Vegetable tanning process was explored by introducing the silica nanoparticles in this stage starting from pickled cattle hide. Shrinkage temperature, tensile strength, softness and color fastness to light were evaluated in the leather samples. The results achieved show that the tanning experiment with only silica, without other tanning agent, did not reach the minimum shrinkage temperature required to be labeled as tanned leather. Conversely, in the presence of vegetable tannin, the shrinkage temperature reached 80°C. The physical-mechanical properties indicated that the enhanced on the tensile strength of vegetable leathers with nanosilica was about 50% and their softness was not affected by the introduction of silica. A lighter colored leather was generated with silica but less stable to light. The tanning chemistry involving silica nanoparticles and collagen is complex, therefore, more studies are needed to explore the influence of silanes on hide stabilization. Take-Away: The physical-mechanical properties indicated an increase on the tensile strength of vegetable leather. Silica did not affected the softness of the leather. A lighter colored leather was generated with the addition of the silica nanoparticles in vegetable tanning

REDUCTION OF WATER DEMAND AND TREATMENT COST IN TANNERIES THROUGH REUSE TECHNIQUE

Tannery industries employ great amounts of water because most of their processes occur in an aqueous medium. This leads to the generation of high wastewater flow rates which will have to be treated due to the relatively high concentrations of some pollutant species. The attending paper presents this problematic throughout a case study in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It establishes the water consumption in each stage of leather processing. In order to achieve the reduction in the total water consumption we herein propose water reuse technique in some stages of the process. Experimental results, on industrial scale, are shown so that the methodology is demonstrated to be successful. Water reuse reduces the load of the wastewater treatment plant as well as it reduces the costs. Research on water demand in tanneries defines water consumption for each stage: beamhouse, tanning and pos-tanning operations. It is known that tanneries make use of water in an uncontrolled manner, usually higher than actually would be necessary. Additional, most of the stages use fresh waters from artesian wells or from rivers. Recycling technique is current in liming operation. This paper shows that reuse and recycle techniques could be applied for other operations. Alternatives of water reuse were evaluated through the analysis of the process\u27s wastewater to estimate the concentration of some contaminant parameter. The study was carried out on industrial scale. These parameters are indicators to evaluate the water quality according with the objectives of the reuse system. During analysis, reuse was tested reuse in the pre-deliming and deliming stages using 100% of the effluent from bating and washing. The parameters analyzed in the process\u27s wastewater with reuse practice did not present any considerable difference when compared with the conventional process. It demonstrates the viability of more extensive reuse practice in tannery industry. This study is of great importance to the environmental and to tannery industry, because this reuse technology achieves minimization of water usage and therefore results in increased environmental protection along with cost reduction. ResumenIndustrias de curtidos utilizan grandes cantidades de agua ya que la mayoría de los procesos ocurren en un medio acuoso. Esto conlleva a la generación de altos flujos de desechos acuosos los cuales deben ser tratados debido a relativas altas concentraciones de algunas especies contaminantes. Esta obra expone esta problemática a través de un estudio del caso en el estado de Río Grande do Sul, Brasil. Se estableció el consumo de agua en cada paso del procesamiento del cuero. Para lograr la reducción en el consumo de agua total proponemos la reutilización del agua como técnica en algunas etapas del proceso. Resultados experimentales, a una escala industrial, se exponen para así demostrar que la metodología sí tiene éxito. La reutilización del agua no solo reduce la carga para la planta de tratamiento, sino reduce los costos. La Investigación sobre la demanda de agua en las curtiembres define el consumo en cada paso: ribera, curtido y operaciones posteriores. Es reconocido que las curtiembres utilizan agua descontroladamente, por lo general, más de lo que se requeriría. Adicionalmente, en la mayoría de las etapas se utiliza agua limpia proveniente de pozos artesianos o ríos. Técnicas de reciclaje son utilizadas hoy en día para la operación de encale. Esta publicación demuestra que técnicas de reutilización y reciclaje pueden ser también aplicadas en otras operaciones. Alternativas de reutilización de aguas fueron analizadas desde el punto de vista de los desechos del proceso para estimar los parámetros de concentraciones de algunos contaminantes. El estudio fue efectuado a nivel industrial. Estos parámetros son indicadores para evaluar la calidad del agua de acuerdo con los objetivos del sistema de reutilización. Durante el análisis de reciclaje, se reuso en el pre-desencale y desencale, el 100% del efluente del resultante del rendido y [siguiente] lavado. Los parámetros analizados con el reuso practicado no presentaron considerable diferencias comparados con el proceso convencional. Así queda demostrada la factibilidad de más extensivas prácticas del reuso en la industria de curtidos. Este estudio es de gran importancia a [los sectores] medioambientales y a la industria del curtido, porque esta tecnología de reutilización logra una minimización del empleo de agua y así resulta en incrementada protección ambiental en conjunto con reducción del costo

Microencapsulation of clove essential oil with gelatin and alginate

Content: Essential oils are of commercial interest primarily because of their potential antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties and for being of natural origin, which generally represents lower risk to the environment and human health. Clove essential oil not only contains many kinds of biological active compositions but also has highly effective and comprehensive antibacterial functions. Remarkably, clove has strong antimicrobial activities against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. To prevent chemical changes the oil is microencapsulated. The aim of this study is to develop essential oil microcapsules with gelatin and alginate. Various solutions were prepared for the capsule wall material at different concentrations. The encapsulation efficiency (%) was accessed and the microcapsules were characterized by oil content (%), oil charge (%), morphology, functional groups present, thermogravimetric analysis and by Fourier transform - infrared spectral analysis. FT-IR spectra of the clove oil shows some special peaks at 1148,01 and 1033,33 cm-1. The spectra of the capsule showed peaks 1148.34 and 1033.29 cm -1, the same peaks present in clove oil, showing that the encapsulation did not alter the structure of the oil's main assets. In case of the gelatin and alginate microcapsules containing clove oil, most of the characteristic peaks of clove oil remained unchanged, indicating the successful incorporation of clove oil into the microcapsules and the chemical stability of the clove oil after encapsulation. In otherwords, there was no significant chemical interaction between the oil and the wall of the microcapsule. Take-Away: The clove oil was microencapsulated according the FTIR spectra

Temporal dynamics of spectral reflectance and vegetation indices during canola crop cycle in southern Brazil

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to characterize the variability of spectral reflectance and temporal profiles of vegetation indices associated with nitrogen fertilization, crop cycle periods, and weather conditions of the growing season in canola canopies in southern Brazil. An experiment was carried out during the 2013 and 2014 canola growing seasons at EMBRAPA Trigo, Passo Fundo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. Five doses of nitrogen top dressing were used as treatments: 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160kg ha-1. Measurements were obtained with the spectroradiometer positioned above the canopy, to construct spectral reflectance curves for canola and establish temporal profiles for several vegetation indices (SR, NDVI, EVI, SAVI, and GNDVI). In addition, data on shoot dry matter were obtained and phenological stages were determined. The spectral reflectance curves of canola were reported to change with canopy growth and development. Temporal profiles of vegetation indices showed two maximum peaks, one before flowering and other after flowering. The indices SR, NDVI, EVI, SAVI, and GNDVI were able to characterize changes in the canola canopy over time, as a function of phenological phases, weather conditions, and nitrogen fertilization, throughout the development cycle. Plant growth and development, variations in crop management, and environmental conditions affect the spectral response of canola