Giovanni Francisco Rabelo

Several studies have reported the incidence of fungi and mycotoxins in coffee beans; however, there are few reports related to occupational exposure to these agents at coffee dry milling industries. The aim of this review was to identify and to analyze studies assessing occupational exposure to fungi and mycotoxins in coffee industries. Therefore, a systematic literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology and focusing on the assessment of occupational exposure to fungi and mycotoxins in the coffee industry. In these papers, different environmental matrices were considered in evaluating occupational exposure, but the most used matrix was airborne dust (four of the five studies). Airborne fungi were sampled using active (four of the five studies) and passive sampling. Only the most recent of the studies (2022) identified microorganisms by their genera and species, and only two groups of mycotoxins were analyzed in the studies considered, namely, Ochratoxin A and Aflatoxins. None of the studies reported data on both fungi and mycotoxins. The fungal genera identified in these occupational environments included Cladosporium, Paecilomyces, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and other genera. Among the mycotoxins, only aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were investigated. Occupational exposure to these biological agents may lead to several health effects. Fungal spores and fragments can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Additionally, the mycotoxins studied—particularly Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A—are associated with serious toxicological effects. Coexposure to both fungi and mycotoxins may enhance health risks and should be carefully considered in occupational risk assessments. Considering the possible effects related to exposure to fungi and mycotoxins and the number of workers involved in this type of industry in the world, more studies should be developed. This is the first review to systematically consolidate data on occupational exposure to both fungi and mycotoxins specifically within the coffee industry, highlighting existing knowledge gaps and the need for targeted risk assessments in coffee-producing settings.

Given the growing demand for sustainable energy sources, the search for alternatives to fossil fuels has intensified, with particular emphasis on the reuse of agro-industrial waste. Among these, coffee husk (Coffea arabica), widely produced in Brazil, presents high energy potential and availability. A strategy for the valorization of this residue is briquetting, a compaction process that transforms biomass into a solid biofuel with high energy density, good combustion efficiency, and ease of transport and storage. In this context, the aim of this study was to propose a renewable fuel option and evaluate its energy potential, by means of the production and carbonization of briquettes made from coffee husks and different binder concentrations (crude glycerin). Cold briquetting was performed in a mold machined for this study. The effects of the binder concentration (0 % to 25 % w/w) on moisture, volatiles, fixed carbon and ash contents, the heating value, bulk density of briquettes, diametrical compression strength, diametral expansion, longitudinal expansion and carbonization yields was assessed, using a completely randomized design with three replicates in each treatment. Carbonization was carried out at 450 ºC. The addition of 5% (w/w) binder in the briquettes resulted in a higher compressive strength (78.99 kPa). Increases in glycerin concentration reduced the fragmentation of compacted material, but resulted in a reduction in the calorific value, increase in moisture and volatile contents, and expansion of the briquettes. The gravimetric yields were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by the addition of glycerin, but the charcoal produced from briquettes with the binder showed less fragmentation. The briquettes and charcoal produced showed potential for use in the generation of energy, and production of activated carbon and biochar.

A perfilometria é uma técnica amplamente utilizada na construção de mapas e gráficos de relevos aplicados a uma vasta área do conhecimento. Frente às necessidades de suprir a demanda da indústria e da área de desenvolvimento de protótipos quanto a técnicas não invasivas na investigação da superfície de materiais em geral, o presente trabalho buscou propor uma metodologia de calibração aplicada à técnica de moiré para investigações perfilométricas em protótipos mecânicos buscando baixos custos e flexibilidade. A técnica de moiré consiste na comparação de dois retículos periódicos, onde um segue o comportamento da superfície do objeto (retículo modelo - Rm) e outro não está deformado, seguindo o comportamento de um plano de referência, (retículo de referência - Rr). A luz que passa entre os retículos se sobrepõe formando padrões de moiré ou franjas de moiré que se comportam como ondas senoidais. Nos ensaios de calibração, usou-se um cone de relevo conhecido para a determinação de uma constante de correção de mapas gerados digitalmente. Os ensaios realizados aplicaram a metodologia para a determinação do perfil de um mouse de computador e para a determinação da deformação de uma chapa metálica. A metodologia proposta para a calibração da técnica de moiré mostrouse capaz de realizar os mapeamentos, com resolução máxima na ordem de centésimos de milímetros, podendo então ser usada em aplicações com níveis de precisão inferiores a essa ordem.