Optimization of chemical solution concentration and exposure time in the alkaline pretreatment applied to sugarcane bagasse for methane production.

ABSTRACTSugarcane is the most traded crop in the world, with Brazil being the world's largest producer. Sugarcane processing generates up to 28% of sugarcane bagasse (SB) from the entire plant, with only 50% of it used for energy generation. SB is a lignocellulosic biomass that can be converted into biogas. However, the optimization of pretreatment process parameters is essential for its successful scaling up. This study evaluated the effect of mild alkaline pretreatment of SB using NaOH and KOH at concentrations of 1-10% and exposure time of 1-12 hours) on the biochemical methane potential (BMP) under mesophilic temperature. The central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was applied as statistical tool to generate optimal operating pretreatment conditions. The tests were performed in triplicates totalizing 84 batch bottles. The BMP of the untreated SB varied between 297-306 LN CH4 kg VS-1 while the BMP of the pretreated samples with NaOH and KOH were 19% and 20% higher. The optimized conditions were NaOH at 7.7% and KOH at 8.3% KOH for 12 hours. However, the range indicated by the statistical design with CCRD revealed that there was no statistical difference in terms of methane yield when concentrations between 4-10% NaOH and 6-10% KOH during 12 hours were applied, when compared to the specific optimized points. The optimization of the pretreatment parameters demonstrated to be a key-factor to improve the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic substrates, leading to a less chemically dependent and more sustainable approach, while allowing a more profitable process.

Efeitos hemogasométricos da xilazina e da romifidina em cabras tratadas por ioimbina / Haemogasometric effects of xylazine and romifidine in goats treated with yohimbine

Estudaram-se as alterações produzidas por doses equipotentes de xilazina e romifidina e os efeitos da administração subseqüente de ioimbina em oito cabras mestiças. Respeitou-se um intervalo de sete dias entre os seguintes tratamentos: A- 250µg/kg/IM de xilazina e 0,1ml/kg/IV de solução fisiológica, B- 250µg/kg/IM de xilazina e 250µg/kg/IV de ioimbina, C- 25µg/kg/IM de romifidina e 0,1ml/kg/IV de solução fisiológica, D- 25µg/kg/IM de romifidina e 250µg/kg/IV de ioimbina. Foram mensurados a freqüência respiratória, o pH, as pressões parciais de oxigênio e dióxido de carbono, a concentração de íon bicarbonato, o excesso de bases e a saturação de oxigênio no sangue arterial. Utilizou-se um delineamento experimental crossover, e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste Duncan (Pd<0,05). Xilazina e romifidina reduziram a pressão parcial de oxigênio e aumentaram a pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono. A ioimbina reverteu os efeitos da xilazina e da romifidina sobre as pressões parciais de oxigênio e dióxido de carbono no sangue arterial.(AU)

With the purpose to assess some of the clinical and laboratorial features induced by xylazine and romifidine, at equipotent sedative doses, followed by the use of yohimbine, eight crossbred female goats were assigned randomly to four treatments at the following dose rates: A- 250µg/kg/IM xylazine plus 0.1ml/kg/IV saline solution, B- 250µg/kg/IM xylazine plus 250µg/kg/IV de yohimbine, C- 25µg/kg/IM romifidine plus 0.1ml/kg/IV saline, D- 25µg/kg/IM romifidine plus 250µg/kg/IV yohimbine. Breath rate, pH, oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, concentration of hydrogen carbonate, base excess and fraction of oxyhemoglobin of arterial blood were measured. A crossover experimental design was used and the comparisons of treatment means were performed by Duncan test (Pd<0.05). Xylazine and romifidine induced a decrease in partial pressure of oxygen and an increase in partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood. Yohimbine reversed the effects of xylazine and romifidine on arterial oxygen carbon partial pressures.(AU)

[Aicardi syndrome: case report]. / Síndrome de Aicardi: relato de caso.

We report a case of Aicardi syndrome in a female child with 2 month old, ocular abnormalities "chorioretinal lacunae", flexion in spasms, hipsarrhythmic "split brain", callosal agenesis referred to Service of Neuropediatric and Neurophysiology of Base Hospital of São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.