Improving the Continuous Multiple Tube Reactor: an Innovative Bioreactor Configuration with Great Potential for Dark Fermentation Processes.

The continuous multiple tube reactor (CMTR) has been developed as a promising technology to maximize biohydrogen production (BHP) by dark fermentation (DF) by preventing excess biomass accumulation, leading to suboptimum values of specific organic loading rates (SOLR). However, previous experiences failed to achieve stable and continuous BHP in this reactor, as the low biomass retention capacity in the tube region limited controlling the SOLR. This study goes beyond the evaluation of the CMTR for DF by inserting grooves in the inner wall of the tubes to ensure better cell attachment. The CMTR was monitored in 4 assays at 25ºC using sucrose-based synthetic effluent. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was fixed at 2 h, while the COD varied between 2-8 g L-1 to obtain organic loading rates in the 24 - 96 g COD L-1 d-1. Long-term (90 d) BHP was successfully attained in all conditions due to the improved biomass retention capacity. Optimal values for the SOLR (4.9 g COD g-1 VSS d-1) were observed when applying up to 48 g COD L-1 d-1, in which BHP was maximized. These patterns indicate a favorable balance between biomass retention and washout was naturally achieved. The CMTR looks promising for continuous BHP and is exempt from additional biomass discharge strategies.

Thermosensitive gel based on cellulose derivative for topical delivery of propolis in acne treatment.

Thermosensitive bioadhesive formulations can display increased retention time, skin permeation, and improve the topical therapy of many drugs. Acne is an inflammatory process triggered by several factors like the proliferation of the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes. Aiming for a new alternative treatment with a natural source, propolis displays great potential due to its antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. This study describes the development of bioadhesive thermoresponsive platform with cellulose derivatives and poloxamer 407 for propolis skin delivery. Propolis ethanolic extract (PES) was added to the formulations with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and poloxamer 407 (Polox). The formulations were characterized as rheology, bioadhesion, and mechanical analysis. The selected formulations were investigated as in vitro propolis release, cytotoxicity, ex vivo skin permeation by Fourier Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, and the activity against P. acnes. Formulations showed suitable sol-gel transition temperature, shear-thinning behavior, and texture profile. CMC presence decreased the cohesiveness and adhesiveness of formulations. Polox/HPMC/PES system displayed less cytotoxicity, modified propolis release governed by anomalous transport, skin permeation, and activity against P. acnes. These results indicate important advantages in the topical treatment of acne and suggest a potential formulation for clinical evaluation.

Photocatalytic degradation of H2S in the gas-phase using a continuous flow reactor coated with TiO2-based acrylic paint.

For the photocatalytic degradation of the hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in the gas-phase it was developed a rectangular reactor, coated with acrylic paint supported on fiber cement material. The surface formed by the paint coverage was characterized structural and morphologically by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analysis. The flow rate and the inlet concentration of H2S were evaluated as operational performance parameters of the reactor. Removal efficiencies of up to 94% were obtained at a flow rate of 2 L min-1 (residence time of 115 s) and inlet concentration of 31 ppm of H2S. In addition, the H2S degradation kinetics was modelled according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model for the inlet concentrations of 8-23 ppm of H2S. The results suggest that flow rate has a more important influence on photocatalytic degradation than the inlet concentration. It is assumed that H2S has been oxidized to SO42- , a condition that led to a deactivation of the photocatalyst after 193 min of semi-continuous use.

Qualidade de processamento de tubérculos de batata produzidos sob diferentes disponibilidades de nitrogênio / Potato processing quality of tubers grown under different nitrogen availabilities

O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar o teor de matéria seca e a coloração de chips de batata da cultivar Asterix produzidos sob cinco níveis de nitrogênio. O plantio foi feito em 02/09/2003, na UFSM, em sacolas com 4,4dm de substrato comercial. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por cinco soluções nutritivas com doses de N de 5,0 (T1), 8,3 (T2), 11,3 (T3), 14,3 (T4) e 16,3mmol L-1 (T5). Os tubérculos foram colhidos em 17/12/2003, aos 104 dias após o plantio, e após 15 dias na temperatura de 20ºC foram determinados o teor de matéria seca e a coloração dos chips. O teor de matéria seca dos tubérculos aumentou da primeira até a terceira dose, decrescendo a seguir segundo um modelo polinomial. Os valores foram de 19,5; 20,5; 20,8; 18,6 e 18,4g 100g-1 nas doses de T1 a T5, respectivamente. Somente os tubérculos produzidos com as doses T2 e T3 atingiriam o teor mínimo de matéria seca preconizado pela literatura, que é de 20g 100g-1. Não houve relação entre a coloração dos chips e as doses de N fornecidas. Concluiu-se que o N pode reduzir o teor de matéria seca dos tubérculos e que critérios específicos de manejo da adubação nitrogenada devem ser observados para a produção de tubérculos destinados ao processamento industrial.