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This study sought to determine the possible causes of the low seed quality of I. paraguariensis A. St. Hil. Seeds from six samples collected at different sites were classified as empty, decayed, herbivorous and full. Viability was assessed by tetrazolium test in seeds filled with a visualized embryo. High amounts of empty and deteriorated seeds (54% to 93%) were verified in four of the evaluated samples, and insect attack was observed in two samples. The viability of visualized embryo-filled seeds was 83% to 100%. Low quality generally results from the presence of empty and deteriorated seeds, as well as dormancy.

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Steam reforming is the most usual method of hydrogen production due to its high production efficiency and technological maturity. The use of ethanol for this purpose is an interesting option because it is a renewable and environmentally friendly fuel. The objective of this article is to present the physical-chemical, thermodynamic, and exergetic analysis of a steam reformer of ethanol, in order to produce 0.7Nm3∕h of hydrogen as feedstock of a 1kW PEMFC. The global reaction of ethanol is considered. Superheated ethanol reacts with steam at high temperatures producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, depending strongly on the thermodynamic conditions of reforming, as well as on the technical features of the reformer system and catalysts. The thermodynamic analysis shows the feasibility of this reaction in temperatures about 206°C. Below this temperature, the reaction trends to the reactants. The advance degree increases with temperature and decreases with pressure. Optimal temperatures range between 600 and 700°C. However, when the temperature attains 700°C, the reaction stability occurs, that is, the hydrogen production attains the limit. For temperatures above 700°C, the heat use is very high, involving high costs of production due to the higher volume of fuel or electricity used. The optimal pressure is 1atm., e.g., at atmospheric pressure. The exergetic analysis shows that the lower irreversibility is attained for lower pressures. However, the temperature changes do not affect significantly the irreversibilities. This analysis shows that the best thermodynamic conditions for steam reforming of ethanol are the same conditions suggested in the physical-chemical analysis.

O armazenamento apropriado de sementes florestais consiste como um importante quesito para preservar a sua qualidade fisiológica. Desta forma, objetivou-se realizar a classificação fisiológica de sementes de Zanthoxylum rhoifolium de acordo com sua tolerância à dessecação e ao armazenamento e avaliar diferentes tratamentos para descongelamento. As sementes foram expostas à dessecação até 5% de teor de água e armazenadas em –20 ºC durante três meses. Em seguida, foram submetidas ao descongelamento em: B.O.D. a 25 ºC, estufa a 40 ºC, banho-maria a 50 ºC, e em temperatura ambiente de 18 a 25 ºC. A viabilidade das sementes foi avaliada pelo teste de tetrazólio, em todas as etapas. A viabilidade inicial das sementes foi de 74% e, após secagem, de 80%. As sementes da espécie Zanthoxylum rhoifolium são tolerantes à dessecação até 5% de umidade e ao armazenamento em -20º C, sendo classificadas como ortodoxas. Recomenda-se o descongelamento em B.O.D a 25 ºC. Recomenda-se o descongelamento em B.O.D a 25 ºC.

Fuel cell as molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) operates at high temperatures. Thus, cogeneration processes may be performed, generating heat for its own process or for other purposes of steam generation in the industry. The use of ethanol is one of the best options because this is a renewable and less environmentally offensive fuel, and is cheaper than oil-derived hydrocarbons, as in the case of Brazil. In that country, because of technical, environmental, and economic advantages, the use of ethanol by steam reforming process has been the most investigated process. The objective of this study is to show a thermodynamic analysis of steam reforming of ethanol, to determine the best thermodynamic conditions where the highest volumes of products are produced, making possible a higher production of energy, that is, a more efficient use of resources. To attain this objective, mass and energy balances were performed. Equilibrium constants and advance degrees were calculated to get the best thermodynamic conditions to attain higher reforming efficiency and, hence, higher electric efficiency, using the Nernst equation. The advance degree (according to Castellan 1986, Fundamentos da Fisica/Quimica, Editora LTC, Rio de Janeiro, p. 529, in Portuguese) is a coefficient that indicates the evolution of a reaction, achieving a maximum value when all the reactants’ content is used of reforming increases when the operation temperature also increases and when the operation pressure decreases. However, at atmospheric pressure (1atm), the advance degree tends to stabilize in temperatures above 700°C; that is, the volume of supplemental production of reforming products is very small with respect to high use of energy resources necessary. The use of unused ethanol is also suggested for heating of reactants before reforming. The results show the behavior of MCFC. The current density, at the same tension, is higher at 700°C than other studied temperatures such as 600 and 650°C. This fact occurs due to smaller use of hydrogen at lower temperatures that varies between 46.8% and 58.9% in temperatures between 600 and 700°C. The higher calculated current density is 280mA∕cm2. The power density increases when the volume of ethanol to be used also increases due to higher production of hydrogen. The highest produced powers at 190mA∕cm2 are 99.8, 109.8, and 113.7mW∕cm2 for 873, 923, and 973K, respectively. The thermodynamic efficiency has the objective to show the connection among operational conditions and energetic factors, which are some parameters that describe a process of internal steam reforming of ethanol.