Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (as maghemite and hematite mixtures) were prepared using adapted sol-gel method from a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) aqueous solution in various Fe³⁺ : PVP monomer ratios. Analysis of X-ray diffraction was obtained to evaluate the crystalline state, average crystallite size, and composition of iron oxide phases. The morphology and average nanoparticles size were evaluated by electronic transmission microscopy. Magnetic properties of iron oxide were analyzed at low and room temperatures. Optical characteristics were evaluated by UV-Vis photoacoustic spectroscopy and the Mössbauer spectrum was obtained in order to evaluate subtle changes in the nuclear environment of the iron atoms.

Poly(glycolide-co-lactide) (PLGA) nanospheres containing magnetic materials have been extensively studied because of its biomedical applications. Therefore, it is very important to know thermal properties of these materials in addition to other physical properties. Thermal degradation activation energy (E_α) of PLGA nanospheres with maghemite entrapment (PLGA-Mag), PLGA nanospheres (hollow spheres) (PLGA-H) obtained by an emulsion method and unprocessed PLGA (PLGA-R) were calculated by isoconversional Vyazovkin method based on data of TG analysis in order to evaluate modifications in thermal behavior caused by nanospheres obtainment process or by maghemite entrapment. Both hydrodynamic diameter in the range of 200-250 nm and polydispersity index lower than 0.3 are considered satisfactory. Thermal degradation of PLGA-R begins at higher temperatures than those of PLGA-H and PLGA-Mag, but processed samples presented increase in thermal stability, which was greater before processing by emulsion and in the presence of the magnetic materials. PLGA-Mag presents superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature.

The present study aims to optimize the operational conditions in surface water coagulation/flocculation and sedimentation step, besides evaluating the association between seeds ofMoringa oleiferaLam. (M. oleifera) and the synthetic coagulant aluminium sulphate for surface water treatment. The assays were performed in Jar Test using surface water from Pirapó River basin, Maringá, PR. It was observed that the operational conditions affect the coagulation/flocculation and sedimentation process efficiency. Optimal operational conditions for coagulants association are as follows: rapid mixing velocity (RMV) of 105 rpm, rapid mixing times (RMT) of 1 min, slow mixing velocity (SMV) of 30 rpm, slow mixing times (SMT) of 15 min, and sedimentation time (ST) of 15 min; this enables an improvement in the process, contributing to a reduction in synthetic coagulant aluminium sulphate demand of up to 30%, combined with an increase inM. oleiferadosage, not affecting the coagulation/flocculation and sedimentation process efficiency, considering the water pH range between 7 and 9.