Search

This paper argues the origins of research in chemical sciences at the University of Orient, and the first chemical degree course in Cuba. The peculiar origin of the career, as a consequence of the orientation to research towards basic science, promoted by Dr. H. Harry Szmant from whiting the career of Industrial Chemical Engineering, is demonstrated. The creation, purposes and evolution of the Chemical Research Center at the Universidad de Oriente are analized. It is argued that the early decision to organize the Chemistry Conference in 1964, the first on the country, arose from identifying the need to divulgate the results and promote exchange among scientists, It is shown that this event served as platform for the creation of the Cuban Society of Chemistry and the Cuban Journal of Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper was characterize of the chemical point of view, the soils at the emplacement of hazardous waste depository, at Juraguá, Cuba, as part of the Environmental Baseline. It was possible to establish the reference levels of the following heavy metals (MP): copper (Cu), zinc (Zn); chromium (Cr); nickel (Ni); lead (Pb); cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn), by the method of Direct Aspiration by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) in air - acetylene flame, according to procedures. Mercury (Hg) was determined using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA - 80), according to the standard procedure. The confidence intervals for the mean with a probability of 95%, were established and are of great importance for the evaluation of the environmental impact of the installation in the soil. These results are within the range reported as natural values and should be considered as references values for the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sinter of Nickel quality, final product of the Company Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara (Punta Gorda), has been affected in the last years. It is suspected that one of the possible causes is the Nickel Oxide grain, for that reason it has been necessary to increase the knowledge of the process until the obtaining of this oxide. A multivariable statistical study is carried out in this paper with the purpose of determining the influence of the physical-chemical composition of the basic Nickel carbonate,the operation parameters in the plant of Ammonia Recovery and the calcination furnace on the grain of the Nickel oxide. The study also classified the grain of this oxide in classes of behaviors and to characterize it for its variables. The method of statistical diagnosis carried out was an Analysis in Main Components (AMC) and of classification for the PRESTA methodology, using the soft SPAD version 3.5. In this paper the purpose is basically to show the power of the AMC in the statistical diagnosis of problems in the industry, it is done without the identity of a great part of the variables of the process, only the basic variables of the carried out diagnosis are identified that are necessary for the fundamental conclusions of the analysis, this is done by reasons of discretion with the sensitive information of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the levels of concentration of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in waters and sediments from the ecosystem San Juan in the Santiago of Cuba province were evaluated. Two sampling of the ecosystem in two stations belonging to the high and middle part of the river, in rainy and little rainy periods were carried out. The conservation and treatment of the samples were developed according to established standards and the determinations of the elements were realized using atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. The concentrations intervals of the studied elements were established so much in the superficial waters like in the sediments and it was demonstrated that exists statistical significant differences for the factors station, period and type of sample, being the middle part of the river, the little rainy period and the sediments, where the grater concentrations of the pollutants appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main environmental problems of the Universidad de Oriente are associated with the emission of uncontrolled and untreated solid and liquid waste to the environment. In the university community "Antonio Maceo" 1 360 people now living, of which 70 % are students of the institution. This community poured about 23 462,7 L/d of wastewater residual liquids composed of 15 buildings and the waters of the kitchen and cafeteria. In this paper we evaluate the physico-chemical and microbiological wastewater university community Antonio Maceo, determining environmental parameters of highest incidence. The waters are neutral and proper salinity. They have gray color, odor and cloudy appearance, without the presence of floating material. The organic matter content is above discharge limits and detected total and fecal coli forms. The greatest variability (46,5 %) of wastewater depends on the turbidity, COD, BOD 5, sulfide, ammonium, oil and grease and total solids and fixed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chemistry in Cuba started at the beginning of the last century, involving fields like medicine and sugar cane industry. The chemical activities were associated with the names of Félix Varela, José A. Saco, José de la Luz y Caballero, José Casaseca and Álvaro Reynoso. In this paper an historical view of the Chemistry in Cuba since 1814 when the first cuban chemist Estevez y Cantal, analyzed the Ugalde¨s pill until nowadays is exposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An explosive increase of the antropogenic river contamination is the result of population and industries griwth and also had important contribution the indiscrimanate use of synthetic products. This situation is for Cuba, a narrow and long island with limited hydraulic resources, a very alarming problem. In this paper Los Guaos River water quality, whose end is the Santiago de Cuba's bay, was studied. Monthly, in the February-April period, using six sampling stations, 22 physical, chemistry and bacteriologic parameters were determined. This information brought that this river in its complete length is highly contaminated and then its water is invalidated for supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se describe la evaluación tecnológica de la planta cubana de papel Papelera Pulpa Cuba a fin de estimar la factibilidad de un sistema para el procesamiento de sus aguas residuales. Se caracterizaron los procesos mediante diagramas fuente-sumidero y se simuló la recuperación de agua y fibra con el sistema propuesto de recuperación de aguas residuales. Los resultados indican buenos beneficios en materia de ahorro de agua fresca y energía.