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The effect of abiotic factors, such as weather and climate can alter the properties of vegetable oils. In this work, the effects of the refining process and pre-drying of Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds collected in the dry and rainy seasons (seasonality) were evaluated on the characteristics of the extracted oils. The refined and crude dry season oils had lower acidity and moisture content than the dry and raw rainy season oils. Oleic acid (C18:1) showed the highest concentration in the different Moringa oils studied. The results suggest that dry season oils are more suitable for application as feedstocks in the cosmetic, food, medicinal and pharmaceutical industries. Furthermore, refining proved to be efficient in removing free fatty acids and in lightening the oil.

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The occurrence of microplastics in coastal areas is a growing concern due to the increase in plastic waste pollution in recent decades. This study had as objective to evaluate the occurrence of microplastics in Brazilian beach sand, using a simple and fast methodology. In addition, possible microplastics were classified according to color, shape and chemical composition. The study was conducted on six beaches on the Brazilian coast: Pecado Beach (RJ), Castanheiras Beach (ES), Regência Beach (ES), Imbassaí Beach (BA), Viral Beach (SE) and Ponta dos Mangues Beach (SE). The methodology was adapted from international protocols, with section demarcation (100 m), where samples were collected from the superficial layer of the beach sand in ten quadrants (50 cm × 50 cm). The laboratory extraction procedure consisted of the density separation technique in two stages: the first used sodium chloride solution and the second used zinc chloride solution. For the visual inspection and screening procedures, a stereoscopic microscope was used. A total of 166 items of microplastics were collected on the six beaches on the Brazilian coast under study. The largest quantity of possible microplastics was recorded on the beaches of Viral (SE) and Ponta dos Mangues (SE) with 30.4 items/m2 and 17.4 items/m2, respectively. Regarding colour, white items were predominant (49.3%), and among particle types, fragments represented 85.1%. In addition, some microplastic particles were sent for FT-IR analysis, one of which was identified as being polyethylene. This study contributes to the knowledge of the presence of microplastics in different locations, and to supporting decision makers regarding coastal management.

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This work reports, for the first time, an Ethanolic Two-Phase System (ETPS) based on polypropylene glycol 2000 (PPG 2000), mono-, di-, tri-ethylene glycol, and ethanol. An ionic liquid (IL) (1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium chloride) was used as an adjuvant. This ETPS shows promising results for the extraction of highly hydrophobic compounds. Bixin (model of hydrophobic compounds) migrates completely to the PPG 2000-rich phase, while ascorbic acid (hydrophilic compound) migrated to the opposite phase.

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Motivation: α-Tocopherol is a molecule obtained primarily from plant sources that are important for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. However, this component has some limitations such as sensitivity to oxygen, presence of light, and high temperatures. For this molecule to become more widely used, it is important to carry out a structural modification so that there is better stability and thus it can carry out its activities. To carry out this structural modification, some modifications are carried out, including the application of biotransformation using enzymes as biocatalysts. Thus, the application of a computational tool that helps in understanding the transport mechanisms of molecules in the tunnels present in the enzymatic structures is of fundamental importance because it promotes a computational screening facilitating bench applications. Objective: The aim of this work was to perform a computational analysis of the biotransformation of α-tocopherol into tocopherol esters, observing the tunnels present in the enzymatic structures as well as the energies which correspond to the transport of molecules. Method: To carry out this work, 9 lipases from different organisms were selected; their structures were analyzed by identifying the tunnels (quantity, conformation, and possibility of transport) and later the calculations of substrate transport for the biotransformation reaction in the identified tunnels were carried out. Additionally, the transport of the product obtained in the reaction through the tunnels was also carried out. Results: In this work, the quantity of existing tunnels in the morphological conformational characteristics in the lipases was verified. Thus, the enzymes with fewer tunnels were RML (3 tunnels), LBC and RNL (4 tunnels), PBLL (5 tunnels), CALB (6 tunnels), HLG (7 tunnels), and LCR and LTL (8 tunnels) and followed by the enzyme LPP with the largest number of tunnels (39 tunnels). However, the enzyme that was most likely to transport substrates in terms of α-tocopherol biotransformation (in relation to the Emax and Ea energies of ligands and products) was CALB, as it obtains conformational and transport characteristics of molecules with a particularity. The most conditions of transport analysis were α-tocopherol tunnel 3 (Emax: -4.6 kcal/mol; Ea: 1.1 kcal/mol), vinyl acetate tunnel 1 (Emax: -2.4 kcal/mol; Ea: 0.1 kcal/mol), and tocopherol acetate tunnel 2 (Emax: -3.7 kcal/mol; Ea: 2 kcal/mol).

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Caatinga is a Brazilian semi-arid ecosystem that stands out for presenting unique environmental characteristics with a dry, spiny and deciduous shrub/forest vegetation with several species that can be renewable oil sources with potential applicability in oleochemical and nutrition. Caatinga oilseeds have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols and sterols, and this composition is related to its nutritional potential. The present review summarizes the knowledge on the oil contents and fatty acid profiles of seeds from six representatives caatinga species. It was observed that plants species like Caju (Anacardium occidentale L.), Favela (Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl), Licuri (Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc.), Pinhão-bravo (Jatropha mollissima Pohl Baill), Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb) and Oiticica (Licania rígida Benth) contains approximately 33.1, 33.5, 49.2, 18.3, 70.16 and 57.0% w/w of oil, respectively, on a dry weight basis. Their fatty acid profiles are mostly saturated for Licuri oil, with a high content of lauric acid (up to 40%) and unsaturated for Favela, Pinhão-bravo, Cashew nut, Pequi and Oiticica oils. Oiticica oil shows a high concentration of unusual conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acids, like α-Eleostearic and Licanic acid with 16.90 and 43.20% w/w, respectively.

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This study evaluated simultaneously the raw vinasse degradation, an effluent from the sugar-alcohol industry, the laccase production by Pleurotus sajor-caju and its purification using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). To improve laccase production, different concentrations of inducers (ethanol and CuSO4) were added. The higher laccase production promoted an increase of 4-fold using 0.4 mM of CuSO4 as inducer, with maximum enzymatic activity of 539.3 U/L on the 3rd day of fermentation. The final treated vinasse had a decolorization of 92% and turbidity removal of 99% using CuSO4. Moreover, the produced laccase was then purified by ATPS in a single purification step, reaching 2.9-fold and recovered ≈ 99,9 %, in the top phase (PEG-rich phase) using 12 wt% of PEG 1500 + 20 wt% of citrate buffer + enzyme broth + water, at 25 °C. Thus, an integrated process of vinasse degradation, laccase production and purification with potential industrial application was proposed.

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This paper contains data related to the research paper entitled "Organic two-phase system based on acetonitrile + water + polyvinylpyrrolidone, a novel concept of liquid-liquid equilibrium: phase diagrams and phenolic compounds partitioning". Data of phase equilibrium were obtained using the cloud point method. After this step, some blending points were chosen to perform the phenolic compounds partitioning (gallic acid, quercetin dihydrate and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside chloride).

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RESUMO A redução da disponibilidade qualiquantitativa da água no mundo está diretamente relacionada às formas de uso e ocupação do solo, aos processos produtivos da agricultura e da pecuária, ao processo de urbanização e à geração de efluentes domésticos e industriais. Por isso, é importante a realização de diagnósticos de bacias hidrográficas, sobre o uso e a ocupação de seu solo e sobre a qualidade da água como ferramenta para a gestão hídrica. Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar e monitorar a qualidade da água da Bacia Costeira do Sapucaia, Sergipe. As coletas foram realizadas em oito pontos, com periodicidade trimestral, de agosto de 2014 a setembro de 2015. Na avaliação da qualidade da água foram utilizados: o Índice de Qualidade da Água (IQA) e o Índice de Estado Trófico (IET). As análises das amostras foram realizadas de acordo com os procedimentos estabelecidos no Standard Methods, sendo analisados os seguintes parâmetros: coliformes totais e termotolerantes, turbidez, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, sólidos totais, fósforo total, nitrogênio total, temperatura, condutividade, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio e clorofila. Os resultados do IQA classificam os corpos d'água em aceitável (2,5%), bom (92,5%) e ótimo (5,0%). Os resultados do IET classificaram as amostras como: ultraoligotrófico (67,5%), oligotrófico (20,0%), mesotrófico (2,5%), eutrófico (7,5%) e supereutrófico (2,5%). Os resultados obtidos permitem afirmar que os rios Aningas, Sapucaia e a Lagoa Redonda apresentam baixo grau de degradação, com menor conservação do ponto amostral localizado no Rio Sapucaia, dentro da Reserva Santa Isabel, por ser uma área bastante visitada nos finais de semana e feriados.

ABSTRACT The reduction of quali-quantitative availability of water in the world is directly related to the forms of land use and occupation, the productive processes of agriculture and cattle raising, the process of urbanization and the generation of domestic and industrial effluents. Thus, it is important to evaluate hydrographic basins regarding the use and occupation of their land and water quality as a tool for water management. This study aimed to characterize and monitor the quality of water of the Sapucaia Coastal Basin in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. The collections were performed quarterly in eight points of the basin, from August 2014 to September 2015. In the assessment of water quality, the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Trophic State Index (TSI) were used. The analyzes of the samples were carried out according to the procedures outlined in Standard Methods; the following parameters were analyzed: total and fecal coliforms, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, total solids, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, temperature, conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand and chlorophyll. The results from the application of the WQI classified water bodies as acceptable (2.5%), good (92.5%) and very good (5.0%). The results of the TSI ranked the samples as ultraoligotrophic (67.5%), oligotrophic (20.0%), mesotrophic (2.5%), eutrophic (7.5%) and supereutrophic (2.5%). The results allow to affirm that Aningas and Sapucaia rivers and Lagoa Redonda pond, belonging to the Sapucaia Coastal Basin, in Sergipe, have a low degree of degradation, with lower conservation of the sample point located in Sapucaia river, within the Reserva Santa Isabel reserve, that being a widely visited area on weekends and holidays.

RESUMO

A novel strategy for the production of lipase by Bacillus sp. ITP-001 in a stirred tank fermenter using perfluorodecalin (PFD) was studied. Firstly, a response surface methodology 2(2) with three central points was employed to optimise the effect of agitation speed and aeration rate in lipase production. According to the response from the experimental designs, 300 rpm (revolutions per minute) and 0.5 vvm (air volume/liquid volume per minute) were found to provide the best condition (lipolytic activity: LA = 3,140.76 U mL(-1)). Then, the influence of PFD concentration on the fermentation process was evaluated. Incorporation of PFD at all concentrations above 1% had no statistically significant influence on lipase production, that is, the previous optimisation allowed the reduction of the amount of PFD added besides increasing lipase production. Furthermore, PFD could be used in three sequential fermentations without altering the statistical production of lipase, reducing by 67% the cost of PFD addition.

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Lipase from Aspergillus niger was obtained from the solid-state fermentation of a novel agroindustrial residue, pumpkin seed flour. The partially purified enzyme was encapsulated in a sol-gel matrix, resulting in an immobilization yield of 71.4 %. The optimum pH levels of the free and encapsulated enzymes were 4.0 and 3.0, respectively. The encapsulated enzyme showed greater thermal stability at temperatures of 45 and 60 °C than the free enzyme. The positive influence of the encapsulation process was observed on the thermal stability of the enzyme, since a longer half-life t 1/2 and lower deactivation constant were obtained with the encapsulated lipase when compared with the free lipase. Kinetic parameters were found to follow the Michaelis-Menten equation. The K m values indicated that the encapsulation process reduced enzyme-substrate affinity and the V max was about 31.3 % lower than that obtained with the free lipase. The operational stability was investigated, showing 50 % relative activity up to six cycles of reuse at pH 3.0 at 37 °C. Nevertheless, the production of lipase from agroindustrial residue associated with an efficient immobilization method, which promotes good catalytic properties of the enzyme, makes the process economically viable for future industrial applications.

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