SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

Background: The Second Southern Science Conference (SSCON 2024) represents a significant milestone in international scientific collaboration, bringing together researchers from twelve nations across multiple continents. The conference, held in Mendoza, Argentina, and co-hosted by the University of Vassouras in Brazil, marked both the 64th anniversary of Universidad de Mendoza and the 20th anniversary of Periódico Tchê Química, demonstrating the growing importance of cross-border academic partnerships. Aim: This study aimed to document and analyze the outcomes and impact of the Second Southern Science Conference, focusing on participation metrics, collaborative patterns, and institutional contributions while highlighting the significance of the hybrid format in facilitating global scientific dialogue. Methods: The analysis involved quantitative assessment of conference participation metrics, including the number of approved papers, author distributions, and institutional representation. The study examined participation patterns across countries and institutions, analyzing collaboration trends through statistical data visualization and comparative analysis of submission rates. Results: The conference achieved significant participation metrics with 65 approved papers and 242 contributing authors, averaging 4 authors per paper. The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba emerged as the leading institution, showcasing its 4 centuries legacy of academic excellence. The analysis revealed strong representation from Latin American institutions, with Brazil and Argentina leading in submissions. Most papers involved 2-5 collaborators, indicating effective research collaboration patterns. Over 500 people participated in the event through both in-person and virtual attendance options. Discussion: The hybrid format successfully facilitated broader international participation and knowledge exchange, which is particularly beneficial for addressing contemporary global challenges. The strong showing from Latin American institutions highlights the region's growing influence in international scientific discourse. The conference's interdisciplinary nature fostered new collaborative initiatives and research partnerships. Conclusions: The conference demonstrated the effectiveness of hybrid international scientific events in fostering global collaboration and knowledge exchange. Areas for improvement were identified, including extended submission timelines and establishment of a permanent management committee. The success of this edition supports the planning of future iterations, with the next edition scheduled to be held in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been observed as an alternative measure to mitigate emissions from greenhouse gases. CCS systems separate CO₂ during the process of converting fuel and transport to the facilities where they are stored, e.g., under geological formation conditions. Capture and sequestration technologies are now widely used in different industries. CO₂ capture is currently a costly and energy-consumingtechnology. The costs obviously depend on the size of the plant and the type of fuel used. Generally, capture systems are categorized into three categories: pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion. The saline aquifer, depleted oil, and gas fields are large-capacity storage sinks. The coalbeds also provide as a substitute to geological storage. One of the main advantages of coal storage is renewable methane fuel and coaldesulfurization. The studied coal reserves are located in Candiota, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. These are the largest coal deposits in the country, with a reserve of 1 billion tons. This work will represent a study on CO₂ storage in Candiota coalbed system. The use of a synthetic CO2 cylinder with a flow of 0.2 L/min varies the time of contact with the coalbed. The results from the volatile matter increase by 11%. The results of the ultimate analysis exhibited an 8% increase for carbon and oxygen after 60 minutes of CO₂ flow in the coalbed. On the other hand, there was a reduction of 32% for sulfur. The resultant phenomena occur due to the adsorption capacity of CO₂, where the compounds are released from the pores of coal.

Background: Sugarcane juice is an excellent substrate for the growth of a large and diverse microbiota, and poor quality of it can affect the health of consumers. This study aimed to evaluate the acidity parameters of the juice extracted from minimally processed sugarcane at three different points in Cuiabá - MT. Methods: In the juice samples, the following parameters were analyzed: Brix (soluble solids), pH, acetic (volatile) acidity, and sulfuric (total) acidity. Results: All the Brix values were above 18. The pH values were between 5 and 6. The total and volatile acidity was below 0.8. Discussion: The Brix values found in this study are similar to other studies (standard deviation of 1.7). The variety of sugarcane significantly influences the Brix and its sampling period. Inappropriate handling of sugarcane promotes the microbiological decrease of the final product. The pH values were satisfactory, but the changes in temperature in one of the juices (sudden change from 24 to 22.7ºC) caused its pH to differ from the value found for the others. The total and volatile acidity content is related to the storage time of the juice, which can be contaminated by bacteria and microorganisms, affecting the characteristics of the product. When the acidity value is more significant than 0.8, there was a change in these characteristics, which did not happen in this work. Conclusions: The Brix values indicate an adequate maturation of the analyzed juices. The pH values are in the ideal range for sugarcane juice. The volatile and total acidity is in the ideal range, indicating quality standards for sugarcane juice.