Several solutions have been presented to minimize the environmental impact generated by polymers produced from petroleum resources. This work produced a biopolymer using glycerol, starch (<5) and macaúba epicarp fiber (10–15–20–25–30%) as reinforcement. The interaction of glycerol with starch was favored by the addition of acetic acid (CH₃COOH). The pH was adjusted with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at a concentration of 0.1 mol·L⁻¹. The characterization was carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared reflectance—FTIR, water solubility, biodegradability and technological properties. Through the results obtained in this work, it is observed that the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity are influenced by the addition of the fiber concentration; the sample that received a 30% addition presented 19.17 MPa and 348.12 MPa, respectively. All samples showed low solubility in water and low density, in addition to a high rate of degradability in soil with mass loss corresponding to 59% over a period of three months. The results of this investigation are satisfactory for the production of materials that can be used in everyday life, replacing conventional plastic.

Toxic metals are naturally present in the environment even if there is no anthropic action. Several methods are used for the removal of these metals from water and effluents, such as: chemical precipitation, oxidation/reduction, filtration, ion exchange, membrane separation, and adsorption. Biosorption stands out as an effective treatment because it has a high rate of renewal in nature, low production costs, and high removal of metals due to the possibility of recovery of the contaminant, either by incinerating the biomass or by desorbing it. Thus, this study identified some biochars used as adsorbents for the removal of copper, lead, chromium, and mercury in water. It can be concluded from this study that adsorption is a very efficient technique for removing or recovering heavy metals from the environment. These biocarbons are alternatives that can replace commercial activated carbon because, besides having a low production cost, they have been shown to efficiently remove metal ions, ensuring an effective treatment in compliance with effluent release standards.

En este trabajo fueron obtenidos experimentalmente la cinética del secado de la pulpa de cupuaçu en forma de rodajas con espesor de 0,5 cm. El secado fue realizado utilizándose un secador laboratorial de bandejas, a las temperaturas de 50, 60 y 70 ºC y a la velocidad del aire de secado de 1,5 m/s. De acuerdo con los datos de la cinética del secado se puede observar que cuanto mayor es la temperatura del secado mayor es la velocidad del secado. El tiempo requerido para secar el producto hasta una humedad del 20%, fueron 9,2, 8,1 y 7,3 horas para las temperaturas de secado de 50, 60 y 70 ºC respectivamente. Las curvas experimentales del secado fueron ajustados al modelo difusional de Fick considerándose la muestra como una lámina infinita y al modelo de Page. Los dos modelos se ajustaron bien a los datos experimentales. Los coeficientes de difusión del modelo de Fick variaron de 1.171 a 1.561 m/s². This work examined experimentally the kinetics of drying cupuaçu pulp (Theobroma grandiflorum) slices. The experimental runs were driven in a laboratory dryer, at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 ºC and an air drying velocity of 1.5 m/s. According to the kinetics study, increasing the temperature led to a decrease in drying time. The required drying times were 9.2, 8.1 and 7.3 hours for drying temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 ºC respectively. The experimental drying curves were adjusted to Fick's diffusional model for an infinite lamina with shrinkage and Page model. The diffusion coefficients of the Fick model varied between 1.171 and 1.561 m/s²

O consumo de produtos industrializados implica em um aumento desordenado na geração de resíduos, sendo necessário realizar um planejamento para quantificar essa demanda. Dessa forma, através dos indicadores é possível identificar as pressões que são exercidas no meio e planejar ações e respostas para os presentes e futuros impactos ambientais. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar os principais modelos e experiências de indicadores de resíduos sólidos urbanos em diferentes contextos, ressaltando a sua capacidade de induzir e fomentar políticas e decisões. Assim, os procedimentos metodológicos foram realizados através de uma abordagem qualitativa caracterizando-se como um estudo bibliográfico descritivo. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na perspectiva de gestão dos residuos solidos na União Europeia, Estados Unidos e Brasil. Neste contexto, é descrito os aspectos legais na gestão dos resíduos sólidos, a avaliação de desempenho ambiental por meio de indicadores e os principais modelos de políticas públicas. Portanto, as legislações correspondem um importante instrumento para efetivar a implantação dessas políticas públicas