Although analytical techniques to assess the degradation of transformer insulation systems are well established, it is essential to develop fast and effective methodologies for monitoring the quality of power transformer insulating fluid. The objective of this work was to develop a fast, simple, and environmentally friendly method to evaluate and monitor the quality of insulating vegetable oil (IVO) from transformers, using multivariate control chart and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For the development of the method, IVO samples were subjected to electrical and thermal stress, as well as to contact with insulating paper and copper, to simulate the internal environment of a transformer before and after energizing. Control chart based on principal component analysis was developed to monitor insulating vegetable oil quality. It was possible to identify oil samples with oxidation levels that were outside the acceptable quality standards for insulating fluid in transformers. The results demonstrated the potential of FTIR spectroscopy and control charts as fast and simple tools for monitoring the quality of insulating fluids, enabling the identification of oil samples that fail to comply with regulation standards for insulating fluids, assisting in the implementation of maintenance programs for power transformers.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are carcinogenic to humans and can be found in Fuller’s earth used for the regeneration of used transformer oil. This work describes a highly selective gas chromatographic-selected ion monitoring mass spectrometric method (GC-MS/SIM) for the simultaneous determination of three Aroclor PCB congener mixtures (1242, 1254, and 1260). The separation of the PCBs could be systematically varied by changing the temperature conditions of the chromatographic column. Methods were first selected from the literature, and the resolution of the PCBs was then optimized by adjusting k* (effective retention), a (selectivity), and N (column efficiency), enabling the detection of 83 PCBs in 35 min. The extract of PCBs from Fuller’s earth was obtained by ultrasonication (employing hexane and acetone as solvents) and cleanup with Florisil and was concentrated to about 500 µL. The ions analyzed in SIM mode were divided into groups according to the similarity (m/z) of the PCB fragmentation profiles. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.19 and 0.64 µg kg-1, respectively. The method developed was used to determine the PCBs present in Fuller’s earth provided by an electric power company. The mean total PCBs concentration was found 1.9 µg kg-1 in Fuller’s earth.

Os sistemas de produção transgênicos, assim como os convencionais, exigem, além do controle químico, a adoção de outras estratégias de manejo de plantas daninhas. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar o controle químico de plantas daninhas, em soja geneticamente modificada (transgênica) tolerante ao herbicida glyphosate associado a coberturas vegetais, na entressafra. O experimento foi instalado em área experimental da FCAV/Unesp, Jaboticabal (SP). O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. Nas parcelas, foram avaliadas as coberturas vegetais de Brachiaria brizantha (braquiarão cv. Marandu), Pennisetum americanum (milheto forrageiro cv. BN2) e vegetação espontânea, e, nas subparcelas, os herbicidas glyphosate, chlorimuron - ethyl + lactofen em mistura e fluazifop-p-butyl em aplicação sequencial, além de duas testemunhas sem aplicação. A cobertura com braquiarão contribuiu para o controle químico, exercendo supressão das plantas daninhas. A aplicação única de 720 g e.a. ha-1de glyphosate, independentemente da cobertura vegetal utilizada na entressafra, foi suficiente para o controle adequado de Acanthospermum hispidum, Alternanthera tenella, Amaranthus sp., Bidens pilosa, Xanthium strumarium, Cenchrus echinatus, Digitaria sp. e Eleusine indica, com resultados similares ao tratamento (chlorimuron-ethyl + lactofen) + fluazifop-p-buthyl. Comparados à testemunha capinada, os herbicidas testados não afetaram a altura das plantas, massa seca da parte aérea, massa de 100 grãos e a produtividade de grãos. As plantas de soja crescidas sobre os resíduos vegetais de braquiarão e milheto forrageiro apresentaram maior altura, porém, nenhuma outra característica avaliada na cultura foi influenciada pelas coberturas.

The transgenic production systems, as well as conventional systems, require, in addition to chemical control, the adoption of other weed management strategies. This study was developed to evaluate the weed chemical control in glyphosate tolerant soybean, associated to cover crops cultivated in the autumn/winter. The experiment was carried out under field conditions at the FCAV/Unesp, Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil. A randomized split-plot block design was used, with four replications. St. Lucia Grass (Brachiaria brizantha 'Marandu'), forage millet (Pennisetum americanum 'BN2'), and a treatment with spontaneous growth vegetation were evaluated for plots, and, for subplots, the herbicides glyphosate, chlorimuron - ethyl plus lactofen, and fluazifop-p-butyl, in a sequential spraying, and two controls without any application. Grass cover contributed to the chemical control, suppressing weeds, and the single application of 720 g a.e. ha-1 f glyphosate, independently of the cover crop cultivated in the autumn/winter, was sufficient for adequately controlling Acanthospermum hispidum, Alternanthera tenella, Amaranthus sp., Bidens pilosa, Xanthium strumarium, Cenchrus echinatus, Digitaria sp., and Eleusine indica, with results similar to the treatment (chlorimuron-ethyl + lactofen) + fluazifop-p-buthyl. When compared to the weeded control, the herbicides did not affect plants height, dry matter of the aerial parts, mass of 100 grains, and grain yield. Soybean plants grown over St. Lucia Grass and forage millet presented a higher height, however, no other feature was influenced by the cover crop.