a b s t r a c tIn this work, the effect of the process conditions used for the separately drying of milled albedo and flavedo on the chemical characteristics of the pectins extracted in a second step from 'Pera' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) by using citric acid were studied. The highest yield value obtained was 38.21% w/w for dried albedo (Pectin-A) at 70°C and 0.1 m s À1 of air velocity. The analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) shows that both Pectin-A and Pectin-F (Flavedo) are characterized as high methoxyl pectin (HM) (DE > 50%). The pectin was assessed for its molecular weight (MW) by the technique of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and the results of MW varied between 337.41-606.85 kDa for Pectin-A and 487.92-1702.00 kDa for Pectin-F. The quality of pectin, determined by the galacturonic acid (AGA), has the highest value of 93.64% for Pectin-A.

During the processing of rice grain, a wide range of by-products are generated, including Rice Bran (RB), which presents rich composition, offering great potential for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the best operating variables in the extraction of rice bran protein through alkaline extraction and Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE). It was found that MAE, in similar conditions, resulted in a higher yield of protein extraction and protein content in the extracted material in a relatively shorter process time, when compared to the values obtained in the alkaline extraction (MAE: yield: 22.04% higher, protein content: 6.19% higher, 30 times faster). In addition, the characterization of the extracts obtained showed that the use of microwaves did not affect the extracted rice bran proteins. Thus, it was possible to verify that MAE is potent and a strongly advisable technique for obtaining rice bran protein.

Brazil's significant agriculture makes it capable of taking advantage of its residues in the thermochemical conversion process, such as carbonizing orange solid waste in order to obtain fuel briquettes. The charcoal must undergo an energy densification process, and a binder is required on this stage. The aim of this study was to verify the influence of the binder pectin on orange bagasse charcoal briquette's water resistance. The results showed that pectin improved the briquettes water resistance, however the WRI of all the samples were still considered low, once the best briquette WRI obtained was 67% when 15% of pectin was applied.

Over the years, higher education has been the subject of intense debate and discussion, as the traditional teaching approach, based on theoretical knowledge, concepts and information is no longer sufficient. In chemical engineering courses, this practice is no different, but with the dynamics of the current world and the increasingly competitive job market, it is essential to train professionals with creative, multidisciplinary skills, able to develop reflective thinking. Thus, the crucial challenge in terms of teaching quality in engineering is based on identifying ways to encompass the social and technological changes in the current world in the manner of teaching. An excellent alternative is to increase students' contact with the practice since it allows the execution of theoretical concepts. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to present the importance and positivity of pedagogical experience that occurred with the theory-practice integration implemented in the "Management and Treatment of Effluents" class from Chemical Engineering program at the UNILA, Brazil. A practical activity was developed where students, under the professor's supervision, developed a project of a water treatment plant, after conducting expository classes and technical visits in industries that have wastewater treatment. Once the project was concluded, a survey was sent to the students to gather opinions regarding the activities carried out. From authors and students, this sort of activity represents an interesting tool in the teaching/learning process, since it stimulated the development of some multidisciplinary skills besides the students' motivation in the program.