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Abstract: The identification of gasoline adulteration by organic solvents is not an easy task, because compounds that constitute the solvents are already in gasoline composition. In this work, the combination of Hydrogen Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopic fingerprintings with pattern-recognition multivariate Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) chemometric analysis provides an original and alternative approach to screening Brazilian commercial gasoline quality in a Monitoring Program for Quality Control of Automotive Fuels. SIMCA was performed on spectroscopic fingerprints to classify the quality of representative commercial gasoline samples selected by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and collected over a 6-month period from different gas stations in the São Paulo state, Brazil. Following optimized the 1H NMR-SIMCA algorithm, it was possible to correctly classify 92.0% of commercial gasoline samples, which is considered acceptable. The chemometric method is recommended for routine applications in Quality-Control Monitoring Programs, since its measurements are fast and can be easily automated. Also, police laboratories could employ this method for rapid screening analysis to discourage adulteration practices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study describes the chemical composition and the antibacterial activity of extracts from Cordia verbenacea DC (Borraginaceae), a traditional medicinal plant that grows widely along the southeastern coast of Brazil. The extracts were obtained using different extraction techniques: high-pressure operations and low-pressure methods. The high-pressure technique was applied to obtain C. verbenacea extracts using pure CO2 and CO2 with co-solvent at pressures up to 30MPa and temperatures of 30, 40 and 50°C. Organic solvents such as n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, acetone and dichloromethane were used to obtain extracts by low-pressure processes. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was also subjected to screening against four strains of bacteria using the agar dilution method. The extraction yields were up to 5.0% w/w and up to 8.6% w/w for supercritical fluid extraction with pure CO2 and with ethyl acetate as co-solvent, respectively, while the low-pressure extraction indicates yields up to 24.0% w/w in the soxhlet extraction using water and aqueous mixture with 50% ethanol as solvents. The inhibitory activity of the extracts in Gram-positive bacteria was significantly higher than in Gram-negative. The quantification and the identification of the extracts recovered were accomplished using GC/MS analysis. The most important components identified in the extract were artemetin, β-sitosterol, α-humulene and β-caryophyllene, among others. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• First report of Lipase activity for extracts of Stemphylium lycopersici and Sordaria sp. • High lipase activity both lyophilized fungus and enzymatic crude. • Higher sterification activity on lyophilized mycelium of S. lycopersici immobilized on polyurethan foam. • High conversions in MAG production in 72 h with new biocatalyst. Monoacylglycerols (MAGs) are amphiphilic compounds with wide range of applications such as emulsifiers, solubility agents, and chiral building blocks. These compounds are currently produced by chemical approaches involving alkaline glycerolysis or esterification under high temperatures and pressure, resulting in low yields and with by-products. Lipase-catalyzed processes have been alternative tools to provide more ecological approaches since MAGs can be obtained under milder reaction conditions and with higher selectivity. However, just a few papers have been explored the potential of endophytic fungi as lipase sources. In this work we summarized the screening of lipolytic activity of endophytic fungus S. lycopersici and Sordaria spp isolated from vegetal species collected in Jurubatiba Sandbank National Park, RJ, Brazil, as well as its applications as biocatalysts on the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of solketal 1-MAG derivatives. As a result, the crude enzymatic extract of S. lycopersici showed 98 U/mL and 110 U/mL of hydrolytic activity after 72 h and 96 h, respectively, against 74 U/mL (96 h) and, 86 U/mL (120 h) expressed by enzymatic extract of Sordaria spp.. Concerning the esterification activity, both crude enzymatic extracts and lyophilized fungi showed about 80 % conversion into ethyl oleate, in 100 min. On solketal derived 1-MAG synthesis, S. lycopersici both lyophilized and immobilized in polyurethane (PU) forms showed more than 75 % of conversion in the presence and absence of organic solvents. On MAG recycle assays, the PU biocatalyst could be reused after five reaction cycles while for the ethyl oleate synthesis, PU biocatalyst could be reused after six reaction cycles. Both microorganisms, immobilized in polyurethane, were successfully applied as biocatalysts in esterification reactions for solketal 1-MAG derivative production, in a solvent-free media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Determination of occupational exposure of VOC in the University community. • Development and validation of bioanalytical method for simultaneous exposure solvents. • Biological evaluation as tool for assessing occupational exposure. Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) might generate serious worker health damages. Therefore, biological monitoring is essential to evaluate exposure biomarkers from highly toxic chemicals, ensuring better attention to the worker health. In this study was developed and validated a bioanalytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) for the quantification of VOC biomarkers in urine samples from Federal University of Goias (UFG) workers. Samples were collected from 30 occupationally exposed subjects after application of a questionnaire survey. The following biomarkers hippuric acid, methyl-hippuric acid, mandelic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid and phenol were quantified, representing exposition to toluene, xylene, styrene, ethylbenzene, benzene and phenol solvents, respectively. Hippuric acid levels were found close to or above the reference values, although a subject had levels higher than preconized by Biological Limit Values (BLV) guideline of 4.0 mg/g creatinine. Five subjects had 3 and 4-methylhippuric acid ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 mg/g creatinine. These results indicate a moderate to high VOC exposure from UFG workers. Multivariate analysis generated four clusters and indicated that histotechnicians and graphic workers need especial attention on occupational VOC exposure. The results from this study reinforce the need for reliable methods able to the biological monitoring as an important tool for assessing occupational exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]