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The Fernando de Noronha archipelago (southwest Atlantic, 345 km from the coast of Brazil) is considered as the result of mantle plume activity. However, data on the isotopic composition of helium and neon, which are, perhaps, the only unambiguous geochemical criterion for deep mantle plumes have not been published yet for the region. In this paper, we present the first data on the isotopic composition of helium, neon, argon, and nitrogen, obtained by stepwise crushing of mantle xenoliths from the basanites of the San José Formation. The results obtained may indicate that fluid inclusions contain the very first portions of the exsolved gases—they are ultra-depleted in helium in relation to neon and especially argon. This conclusion is also supported by He–Ar–CO2 systematics. The isotopic composition of helium (4He/3He = 31 879 ± 6796) and neon (21Ne/22Ne(mantle) = 0.0453 ± 0.0012) indicates that it was indeed a mantle plume, identical in noble gas composition to the Kerguelen plume. According to the Ar–Ne isotope systematics 40Ar/36Ar (mantle) = 7455 ± 2290. Nitrogen is characterized by a heavy isotopic composition (δ15N = +5.4 ± 0.2‰), which corresponds to the hypothesis of the subduction nature of nitrogen in deep mantle plumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Aptian (Cretaceous), in what is now the South Atlantic, the largest chemogenic (abiotic) carbonate factory so far identified in the Phanerozoic geological record developed as a vast hyper‐alkaline lake system. This covered at least 330 000 km2, producing carbonates, locally over 500 m thick, in what are now the offshore Santos and Campos basins (Brazil), and Kwanza Basin (Angola). Current evidence supports the view that almost all of this carbonate was chemogenic in origin, precipitated from hyper‐alkaline, shallow lake waters, probably by evaporation. This unit, best documented from offshore Brazil and known as the Barra Velha Formation (Santos Basin) and the Macabu Formation (Campos Basin), consists of just two basic carbonate components, millimetre to centimetre sized crystal shrubs and spherulites. These are commonly in situ but can also be reworked into a range of detrital facies. Demonstrable microbialites are generally rare. These carbonates are associated with Mg silicates (as clays) which had a profound influence not only on the textural development of the in situ carbonates, but also on their diagenesis. The dissolution of the clays produced much of the porosity in these limestones, which are the hosts for multi‐billion barrel oil fields. The source of the carbonate was most likely from metasomatic alteration of mafic rocks, such as continental flood basalts related to Atlantic opening, with some contribution from much older continental basement. Clear evidence that serpentinization of possible exhumed mantle is lacking but mantle CO2 is likely to have been a critical factor in determining the composition of the fluids from which the carbonates formed and the high alkalinities of the lake waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examined the causal relationship between economic growth, carbon dioxide (CO2), and renewable and nonrenewable energy use for the 27 Brazilian states from 1997 to 2016. In order to achieve this objective, the system‐generalized method of moment was applied together with the autoregressive vector model for panel data. Estimates of the multivariate model established important relationships to promote public policies. Empirical results show that there is a two‐way relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions. While growth negatively causes CO2 emissions, the impact of CO2 emissions on economic growth is positive. Additionally, the degree of using nonrenewable energy has a positive effect on economic growth and CO2 emissions. On the other hand, renewable energy use positively affects economic growth and negatively affects CO2 emissions. Also, economic growth positively causes the use of energies derived from renewable and nonrenewable sources. Finally, as expected, CO2 emissions do not affect energy use. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senna reticulata is an Amazonian tree that quickly accumulates high biomass. It grows widely in the north of Brazil occupying degraded regions and is popularly known as "matapasto" (pasture-killer) due to its aggressive colonization strategy. When its aerial parts are harvested, S. reticulata recolonizes the pasture quickly recovering biomass production. In this work, we examined the potential of S. reticulata for bioenergy production in the Amazon region and the effect of a CO2 enriched atmosphere on its biomass composition. Nearly 50% of the biomass of the aerial parts is non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). Concerning structural carbohydrates, pectins (25% and 23%), hemicelluloses (11% and 16%), and cellulose (4% and 14%) contents were very similar in leaves and stems, respectively. Lignin varied considerably among organs, being 35% in roots, 7% in stems, and 10% in leaves. Although elevated CO2 did not change significantly cell wall pools, lignin content was reduced in leaves and roots. Furthermore, starch increased 31% in leaves under elevated CO2, which improved saccharification by 47%. We conclude that Senna reticulata is a suitable species for use as a bioenergy feedstock in the tropics and specifically for remote communities in the Amazonian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand of housing in the Global South requires effective solutions to cover the corresponding deficit in the next decades. In Latin America, Brazil is the most populated Nation, which accounts for one-third of the total population and is the main contributor to carbon emissions. This study estimates how bio-based construction solutions, implemented in the Brazilian housing stock as alternative to conventional systems, can contribute to limiting the carbon emissions. Five different construction archetypes were considered, and a Material Flow Analysis model developed to estimate the demand of construction materials by 2050 under multiple scenarios. A carbon footprint assessment, which considers the dynamic effect of biogenic carbon sequestration and uptake, was finally performed to estimate the net Global Warming Potential. The results indicate that, if fast implemented, bio-concrete solutions with short-rotation vegetal species as bamboo, coupled with the lowest material intensity scenario, can reduce the cumulative carbon emissions by 65%, equal to 118 Mt of cumulative CO 2 -eq savings. Considering bamboo's widespread availability in Brazil's different climate zones, and in the Global South in general, such material presents a significant impact to mitigate the climate impact of social housing. However, the carbon saving intensity is largely affected by uncertainties on population growth and the type of biomass used in the concrete mixture. Therefore, further development of standards for the safe use of bio-concrete in construction is urgently needed, as well as the implementation of environmental policies to facilitate the market penetration of bio-based solutions in emerging economies. [Display omitted] • 20 ÷ 30 million social housing dwellings need to be built in Brazil by 2050. • Conventional construction can contribute to 334 Mt cumulative CO 2 -eq in 2050. • The shift to bio-based alternatives saves up to 35 Mt CO 2 -eq by 2050. • The carbon intensity is extremely sensitive to demographic evolution. • If wood is replaced with bamboo in bio-concrete 65% of CO 2 -eq can be saved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the soil and atmosphere is performed to test detection and monitoring tools, for which several field laboratories were established by a number of institutions worldwide. Numerical simulations of CO2 behavior in the shallow subsurface region are other forms of validation and verification of the leakage pathways and destinations. These studies aim to improve monitoring and verification of CO2 in case of unexpected leakages for public assurance. In this work, we present the results of a numerical modeling study conducted to simulate the injection of CO2 as carried out during a field test in Viamão, southern Brazil, where 20 kg day–1 of CO2 was pumped for 30 days through a vertical well 3 m below ground in an altered granitic soil. Multiphase flow simulations were performed with the TOUGH2/EOS7CA software for unsaturated porous media, using field data and injection parameters, including sensitivity tests to permeability direction, diffusivity, and boundary conditions. Results with increased horizontal permeabilities are in better agreement with the field observations. In this condition, mass balance calculations indicate approximately 90% of injected CO2 (20 kg day–1 during 30 days) remains in the soil after 180 days from injection start, consistent with the measured flow through the soil–atmosphere interface. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector is considered an important source of greenhouse gases, in which the coffee crop has an important contribution, participating in the dynamics of soil C and CO2 emissions. In this way, the aim of this study was to analyze and quantify CO2 emissions in different phenological phases in soil cultivated with conilon coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner), and compare it with CO2 flow in forest and pasture area. The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Area of the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil, in an experimental plot of 0.5 ha cultivated with conilon Vitória coffee clones. The quantification of soil CO2 flux was performed between July 2016 and June 2017, this period comprising all the seasons of the year, using in two rounds of ratings (day and night), with five replicates each. For comparison purposes, another measurement of the CO2 stream was conducted in June 2017 with an evaluation period of 24 h. The highest CO2 emission occurred during the harvest phases of the fruit (206.7 mg CO2 m-2 h-1). The lowest daily CO2 flow records were observed in the rest and flowering phases with values of 82.1 and 83.6 CO2 mg m-2 h-1, respectively. The CO2 emission from the forest was higher than the emissions that occurred in the area planted with conilon coffee and pasture, during dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of optimal quantity and location of wells is a crucial step in any field development project. Multiple challenges exist in the real-world projects, such as gigantic multidimensional search space and complex parameterization of the problem. To address these challenges, we present an iterative sequential optimization framework that consists of multiple stages for optimizing number and location of producers and injectors. Once the initial guesses have been established, the first optimization stage begins in order to determine the optimal number of producers and injectors. Next, a two-stage process is used to determine the best location for each well. By optimizing the number and location of wells, well type is optimized implicitly and does not need to be included in the optimization process as an individual decision variable. To consider the dependency and coupling between parameters, the entire optimization process is repeated iteratively up to a stopping point. The proposed approach is highly flexible and can be extended to include other potential decision variables of field development projects. We test the proposed methodology on UNISIM–II–D, a realistic benchmark case that represents pre-salt reservoirs in deep offshore Brazil, which are light-oil fractured carbonates with large volumes of CO 2 -rich associated gas. In our application, all producers and injectors are equipped with internal control valves (ICVs), all produced gas is reinjected into the reservoir, and water-alternating-gas with CO 2 (WAG-CO 2) is used to increase oil recovery and ensure that the produced CO 2 , as a harmful greenhouse gas, can be safely discarded underground. We use the iterative discrete Latin hypercube (IDLHC) optimization algorithm. To achieve a robust decision, we consider subsurface, operational and economic uncertainties by considering nine representative reservoir models and three economic scenarios. Based on the results, the proposed framework can provide an appropriate solution containing optimal quantity of wells, their locations and types in realistic cases with large search spaces and complex parameterizations. • Well configuration projects are too complex to allow for simultaneous optimization. • We present an iterative sequential robust optimization framework for optimizing quantity and location of wells. • We use the iterative discrete Latin hypercube (IDLHC) optimization algorithm. • Robust optimization is performed by considering subsurface, operational and economic uncertainty. • We study a realistic benchmark case of a fractured carbonate reservoir with large volumes of CO 2 -rich associated gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Brazilian redspotted shrimp (Farfantepenaeus paulensis) waste is an important source of carotenoids such as astaxanthin and lipids with a high ω−3 fatty acids content, mainly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In order to establish an efficient and environmental friendly recovery process, the lipids and astaxanthin were extracted from the freeze-dried redspotted shrimp waste (including head, tail and shell) using supercritical carbon dioxide. The effects of the extraction conditions of pressure (200–400bar) and temperature (40–60°C) on the global yield (X 0), astaxanthin extraction yield and astaxanthin concentration in the extract were evaluated. It was found that the pressure and temperature showed a very low significant effect on the lipid extraction yield using supercritical CO2. In comparison with lipid extraction by solvents, maximum efficiency of supercritical fluid extraction achieved 64% of hexane extraction yield. On the other hand, temperature and pressure had significant effects on astaxanthin extraction yield. Thegreatest amount of extract was obtained at 43°C and 370bar, with 39% of recovery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work we studied the Indirect Carbonation of concrete waste and steel slag in order to find the best conditions of each of then aims the CO2 storage and find a useful destination of the waste. A complete study was developed with steel slag and the best results were adopted to concrete waste owing the expansion of construction industry in Brazil. The lixiviation with HCl acid, time, rate Liquid/Solid, temperature and concentration of acid was deep studied with a goal to use milder conditions avoiding energy penalty in the industrial process. Therefore a Calcium Carbonate was obtained and the feedstock could be re-used in the industries. The experiments were performed in a glass reactor at atmospheric pressure. The solutions and solid phases were characterized by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Santos Basin Pre-salt reservoirs are located in deepwater offshore Brazil and although the oil has a good quality, their CO2 concentrations are higher than those generally found in other Brazilian fields. PETROBRAS and its partners established that they will not vent the CO2 produced in the Pre-salt layer to the atmosphere so a CO2 injection scenario is a potential alternative to improve the oil recovery. An extensive monitoring program is being considered in order to ensure the Carbon Capture and Geological Storage (CCGS) projects efficiency. However, there are several challenges to be confronted concerning the CO2 monitoring in such adverse conditions as the Pre-salt reservoirs. Among the existing techniques for monitoring offshore storage sites, some of them have already technological maturity and applicability to the Pre-salt environment but other methods must rely on some development or methodology adaptation to the specific features of these fields and they will be initiatives of the PRO- CO2 technological program of PETROBRAS Research Center. This paper addresses the main technological challenges for PETROBRAS and its partners related to the methods applicability for the CO2 storage monitoring in the Santos Basin Pre-salt Cluster and also exposes the strategies found to solve the problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of water wasted in hydroelectric plants as normalization dam excess, which constitute a hydrodynamic potential useful to generate electric energy which can be subsequently used to produce hydrogen and its subsequent consumption in fuel cells, has been considered as an alternative for hydraulic energy-rich countries like Brazil. The case is examined in which all the water wasted in the hydroelectric plants, spilled by dam gates to maintain acceptable water levels, from the 101 largest Brazilian hydroelectric plants was used to produce hydrogen. During the year of 2008, the electric energy produced from this utilisation would have been equivalent to 106.2TWh, an amount that corresponds to an increase of ca. 30% of the total electric energy produced in the country. Furthermore, if this amount of hydrogen was used in the replacement of internal combustion vehicles by fuel cells, this would have prevented the production of 2,000,000tons of CO2 emissions per day. The economic balance (cost of electricity produced using the wasted water minus cost of gasoline consumed) indicates a savings of ca. 200million US$. This plan would also significantly decrease production and release of greenhouse gases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: Automatic traps employing CO2 chemical attractants and BG-Lure® (Biogents AG, Regensburg, Germany) were evaluated as an alternative to insect nets, which is the standard method in Brazil for capturing mosquitoes that transmit sylvatic arboviruses. The collections were conducted during the day, in the forest canopy and ground strata, at an environmental reserve in the Atlantic Forest. From the 18 collections conducted, 3570 specimens from 52 taxa were obtained. Nets were the best way to capture insects. The yield was similar in traps with CO2 and traps using CO2 combined with BG-Lure®. CO2 traps can complement collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest in the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, insect nets are still the best method, especially in the canopy. Hand-held insect nets are the standard method for capturing vector mosquitoes of sylvatic arboviruses; however, occupational risks and biases due to individual skill and attractiveness are important limitations. The use of chemical attractants and automatic traps could be an alternative to resolve these limitations. This study compares the yields achieved using nets with those employing electrical traps with CO2 and BG-Lure®, near the ground and in the canopy strata (6.0 and 8.0 m high). The study was conducted at the Cantareira State Park, which is in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. In the 18 collections performed, 3570 specimens of 52 taxa were obtained. The most frequent species captured near the ground were Wyeomyia confusa and Limatus durhamii, whereas Sabethes albiprivus, Sabethes purpureus, and Haemagogus leucocelaenus were the most frequent in the canopy. The nets resulted in greater species richness and abundance, followed by the trap employing CO2. The combination of CO2 traps with BG-Lure® did not improve performance. The use of BG-Lure® alone resulted in low abundance and a low number of species. Our results demonstrate that the use of traps with CO2 can be complementary to collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest such as those of the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, especially in the canopy, the net remains the method of choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In August 2007, Petrobras and IFP have initiated a common research project on Carbon Capture Storage to determine the feasibility of CO2 injection and underground storage in an oil field located in Recôncavo Basin, a mature basin of northeastern Brazil. Petrobras has a strong experience of more than 15 years in the management of CO2 for EOR and aims to develop a long term vision of CO2 permanent storage. IFP is developing an ambitious R & D program on CCS for knowledge acquisition and technology development on the all chain, both under in-house projects and large collaborative efforts (EU project CASTOR, CO2STORE, CO2ReMoVe…). The aim of the first phase of the project is to take the opportunity of the existing CO2 injection for more than 15 years in the Buracica oil field for the development and validation of technology needed for CO2 storage. The main reservoir unit is predominantly constituted of eolic sandstone facies and is isolated from the other reservoirs by a shaly sand barrier. The cap rock is a thick clay formation. The CO2 was only injected in the top reservoir of the field. A unique program was design to combine detailed experimental and modeling work to assess the impact of CO2 injection on the storage. Both petrophysical and mineralogical changes will be assessed along the CO2 path within the reservoir from the injection to the production wells. One of the main goals is to asses the rock/fluid interactions due to CO2 injection and the different reactions that took place along the CO2 migration path within the reservoir and its impact on the cap rock. The aim is to provide a documented data set to enable reaction transport modeling benchmarking. To complement the standard monitoring measurements, geochemical monitoring will be initiated both at reservoir and surface level to ensure storage integrity after CO2 injection. The paper presents the main features of the project, as well as the results attained so far. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work presents the evaluation of energy balance and GHG emissions in the production and use of fuel ethanol from cane in Brazil for 2005/2006 (for a sample of mills processing up to 100 million tons of sugarcane per year), and for a conservative scenario proposed for 2020. Fossil energy ratio was 9.3 for 2005/2006 and may reach 11.6 in 2020 with technologies already commercial. For anhydrous ethanol production the total GHG emission was 436kgCO2 eqm−3 ethanol for 2005/2006, decreasing to 345kgCO2 eqm−3 in the 2020 scenario. Avoided emissions depend on the final use: for E100 use in Brazil they were (in 2005/2006) 2181kgCO2 eqm−3 ethanol, and for E25 they were 2323kgCO2 eqm−3 ethanol (anhydrous). Both values would increase about 26% for the conditions assumed for 2020 mostly due to the large increase in sales of electricity surpluses. A sensitivity analysis has been performed (with 2005/2006 values) to investigate the impacts of the huge variation of some important parameters throughout Brazilian mills on the energy and emissions balance. The results have shown the high impact of cane productivity and ethanol yield variation on these balances (and the impacts of average cane transportation distances, level of soil cultivation, and some others) and of bagasse and electricity surpluses on GHG emissions avoidance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A life-cycle assessment of a single product can produce substantially varying results that depend on the location of production. It is the aim of this study to provide an example of this geographical variability by examining the energy and CO2 embodied in a particular wind-turbine manufactured in Brazil and in Germany. Our results demonstrate the importance of adequately considering the background system of the local economy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study's main purpose is to investigate the complex interaction between innovation, renewable energy consumption, and CO 2 emissions (CO 2 e), under the Kuznets curve framework, for BRICS economies from 1980 to 2016. The empirical estimates drwan from the CCEMG technique highlighted the heterogeneous role of innovation. The results indicated that innovation activities have failed to disrupt CO 2 e in China, India, Russia, and South Africa, except for Brazil. Second, the data showed that renewable energy consumption has mitigated CO 2 e in the BRICS panel, Russia, India, and China, excluding South Africa. Third, the existence of the EKC hypothesis was confirmed in all the BRICS economies, excluding India and South Africa. Fourth, the causality estimations reflected a two-way causality between innovation and CO 2 e; innovation and GDP per capita; innovation and renewable energy consumption; and between CO 2 e and income, thereby confirming the acceptance of income-led emission hypothesis in for BRICS economies, and vice versa.