Revista Ambiente & Água - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science

1-15

Authors: Celso Machado Junior*; Maria Tereza Saraiva de Souza; Roberto Bazanini; Daielly Melina Nassif Mantovani; Cristiane Jaciara Furlaneto

This paper focuses on the social and environmental innovations of Brazilian companies, rather than on merely economic innovations. These innovations are discussed within the context of sustainability. Data were collected via a qualitative and descriptive study from the annual Guia Exame de Sustentabilidade magazine (2014 Edition). The magazine stated that 228 companies responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 61 companies stood out in Brazil for their policies and practices in sustainability and had their results published. The social innovations were geared towards meeting the needs of the surrounding communities. Environmental innovations appeared in greater numbers, connoting a higher stage of attention and interest from Brazilian companies. Environmental innovations were intended to evolve or improve processes and products and to reduce the consumption of resources.

1-14

Authors: Arianna Callegari; Petr Hlavinek; Andrea Giuseppe Capodaglio*

Safe disposal of sewage sludge is one of the most pressing issues in the wastewater treatment cycle: at the European Union level, sludge production is expected to reach 13 Mt by year 2020. Sludge disposal costs may constitute up to, and sometimes above, 50% of the total cost of operation of a WWTP, and contribute to over 40% of its GHGs emissions. The most common disposal options at the moment are landfilling, disposal in agriculture (about 40% EU-wide), incineration or co-incineration, and use in the industrial production of bricks, asphalts and concrete. Sewage sludge, however, still contains beneficial resources such as nutrients, that can be recovered through specific processes (e.g. precipitation as struvite) and energy, recoverable through a variety of approaches. Microwave-assisted pyrolysis of urban waste sludge was applied for the production of oil, (Syn)gas, and biochar that were afterwards characterized and compared to mainstream alternative fuels (biodiesels) and other material recovery options. Sustainability issues related to the production of biodiesel/biochars from urban wastewater treatment sludge are also discussed. The paper shows that waste urban sludge can indeed be a full component of the urban circular economy by allowing, if properly processed, recovery of energy resources at multiple levels: bio-oils (biodiesel), syngas and bio-char, all having definite advantages for final residues use and disposal. Biodiesel, in particular, allowing energy recovery as liquid fuel, offers a much more flexible and efficient utilization.

1-12

Authors: Leonardo Capeleto de Andrade*; Rodrigo da Rocha Andrade; Flávio Anastácio de Oliveira Camargo

The high population density in a metropolis leads to socio-environmental impacts that directly affect local water resources. This work evaluated the historical data (between 2000 and 2014) of water and sediment monitoring in the Jacuí’s Delta region and analyzed the relationship between these sites. Seven monitoring sites around the Jacuí's Delta were evaluated: the outflow of the rivers Jacuí, Caí, Sinos, and Gravataí; the channels Ilha da Pintada and Navegantes; and Lake Guaíba. Water data were evaluated for: air and water temperature; depth; pH; electrical conductivity; transparency; turbidity; dissolved oxygen; biochemical oxygen demand; phosphorus; nitrogen; total residues; and escherichia coli. Sediment were evaluated for pseudo-total concentrations of metals (Al, Fe, Ca, Mn, Ba, V, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co, Li, Be, Cd, Hg, As, and Ag). The quality of water and sediment in the Jacuí's Delta are linked with the tributaries and priority flows of the channels. The historical data of water and sediment around the Jacuí's Delta shows the influence of the tributaries with low quality in the downstream points. The pollution of the rivers Caí, Sinos, and Gravataí negatively affects the environmental quality of the channel Navegantes and Lake Guaíba (catchment points to water supply). The water in those sites presents reductions in dissolved oxygen and high values of coliforms, and the sediment shows high concentrations of metal Zn, Pb, Cr, and Hg. Despite the reduction in Pb and Hg values in the sediment over the past years, pollution from the tributary rivers still persists.

1-13

Authors: Reinaldo Romero Vargas*; Márcia da Silva Barros; Antonio Roberto Saad; Regina de Oliveira Moraes Arruda; Fernanda Dall'Ara Azevedo

The urbanization process through which large urban centers have been passing has affected drastically the availability and especially the quality of water. The Ribeirão Guaraçau Watershed, located in the northern part of the Guarulhos municipality, includes rural and urban areas of different land-use classes. The goal of this study is to assess the water quality and to diagnose the eutrophication stage of the surface waters of the Ribeirão Guaraçau, the main water course of the Ribeirão Guaraçau Watershed. To assess environmental quality, physical-chemical analyses (temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity, and total phosphorus) and microbiological analyses (E. coli) were carried out during a period of 12 months. The Trophic State Index (TSI) was used to ascertain the environmental degradation conditions of lotic and lentic environments. The surface waters of the Ribeirão Guaraçau in the rural area are already compromised, with worsening of the water quality upstream indicated by high total phosphorus and E. coli caused by fecal contamination due to lack of basic sanitation in the region. Characteristic sites of the rural areas already present signs of degradation with trophic levels varying from oligotrophic to hypereutrophic. The need to provide sewage collectors and sewage treatment systems at the Bonsucesso Sewage Treatment Station, inaugurated in 2011, and the control of the occupation in areas that produce good quality water is paramount.

1-12

Authors: Fernanda Lansa Furlan; Nelson Consolin Filho*; Marcilene Ferrari Barriquello Consolin; Morgana Suzsek Gonçalves; Patrícia Valderrama; Aziza Kamal Genena

The increase in the volume of agricultural and agroindustrial waste, associated with improper disposal, is a growing worldwide problem. The recovery of those residues is of crucial importance, since it reduces environmental impacts, protects public health, and allows the addition of value to the materials. One of the ways of exploiting adsorbents is related to the capacity of some wastes to be used as alternative adsorbents in the efficient removal of microcontaminants in aqueous systems. This work assessed the use of agricultural and agroindustrial residues: maize straw, wheat straw, soybean straw and soybean hulls for the production of alternative adsorbents to remove iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in water. For each residue investigated, two different polymers were obtained for use as adsorbents, a natural polymer (cellulose/lignin) and an EDTA-modified polymer (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). The adsorbents were characterized through FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and nitrogen content. To evaluate the efficiency of the adsorbents, kinetic tests in batch mode and determination of Lagergren pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic constants were performed. The results found that the modified polymer obtained from soybean hulls (SHE) showed increased Fe (96%) and Mn (88%) removal rate, in which the pseudo-second order kinetic model presented closer results between the experimental adsorption rates and the calculated ones for the two microcontaminants under study. In general, the modified soybean hulls proved to be a promising alternative adsorbent for the removal of iron and manganese in water treatment.

1-10

Authors: Rossana Borges Teixeira*; Carolina Alves Marques; Natália Rodrigues de Carvalho; Luiz Eduardo Thans Gomes; Flávio Teixeira da Silva; Teresa Cristina Brazil de Paiva

Hormônios estrogênicos, provenientes dos esgotos, atingem os corpos hídricos e podem causar perturbações aos organismos aquáticos. Os tratamentos secundários das estações de tratamento de esgoto (ETE) possibilitam alguma remoção destes compostos, mesmo em ETEs descentralizadas, apesar de ainda haver poucos estudos sobre elas. Em sistemas por lodos ativados, a eficiência tem sido relacionada ao tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH), à idade de lodo, à desnitrificação biológica e à carga de alimentação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar os hormônios estrona (E1), 17-β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) e 17-α-etinilestradiol (EE2) no esgoto e no efluente de uma ETE descentralizada por lodos ativados, além de caracterizar a ETE do Campus Universitário da EEL-USP quanto à matéria orgânica recebida, ao tempo de detenção hidráulica e a remoção de nitrogênio. Cromatografia líquida com detecção UV foi utilizada na determinação dos hormônios. Os resultados mostraram concentrações dos hormônios superiores às encontradas na literatura, em ambos: esgoto (5,158 ± 2,747; 7,434 ± 4,356; 5,200 ± 3,331 e 5,638 ± 4,312 μg L-1 de E1, E2, E3 e EE2) e efluente (5,062 ± 3,366; 4,191 ± 3,527; 7,743 ± 3,951, 2,550± 2,162 de E1, E2, E3 e EE2). No esgoto, as altas concentrações podem ser relacionadas à maior predominância de urina, visto os altos níveis de nitrogênio detectados, à menor geração de esgoto e a amostragem em período seco causando reduzida diluição dos hormônios. Remoção insuficiente dos hormônios devido a menor TDH (2h05) e irregularidade na desnitrificação (-54 a 61%) pode ser o motivo das altas concentrações de estrógenos no efluente. Ademais, a desconjugação dos hormônios pode ter ocorrido durante o tratamento.

1-16

Authors: Vanessa Graeff; Ivi Galetto Mottin; Ledyane Rocha-Uriartt; Daniela Montanari Migliavacca Osório*; Jairo Lizandro Schmitt

Riparian forests are heterogeneous environments, in which epiphytes find ideal conditions to develop. These plants absorb the necessary nutrients for survival from the atmosphere, and their occurrence and distribution can be influenced by the quality and quantity of precipitation. The objective of this research was to perform an integrated analysis of botanical, meteorological and chemical precipitation parameters so as to compare them in fragments of the riparian forest in the lower (São Leopoldo-SL) and upper (Caraá-CA) stretches of the Rio dos Sinos Hydrographic Basin (RSHB), RS, Brazil. Rainwater was chemically analyzed, the community structure of epiphytic ferns was surveyed and the ecological characterization was evaluated through the Rapid Habitat Assessment Protocol (RHAP). The results showed that the chemical composition of rainwater is influenced by the environment of each area. In the upper stretch (CA), for instance, the main contribution is that of marine ions, while in the lower stretch (SL), the most impacting aspects are urbanization and industrialization. Similarly, the results depict a reduction of richness and a simplification of the community structure of epiphytic ferns and their environmental quality according to the RHAP categories, towards the base level of the RSHB. The integrated analysis, in which different methods were applied, proved to be an efficient tool to evaluate environmental quality. This analysis considers that a greater number of biotic and abiotic variables may be applied in different scenarios.

1-8

Authors: Diésse Nascimento Norete; Quezia Botelho Correia; Jackline Freitas Brilhante São José*

Objetivou avaliar as condições higiênicossanitárias relacionadas ao abastecimento e a qualidade microbiológica da água utilizada por quiosques de praia. A coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio de observação direta com aplicação de lista de verificação que continha itens como procedência da água, realização de tratamento de desinfecção antes do uso em alimentos, frequência de higienização da caixa da água, qualidade microbiológica da água, existência de licença sanitária e registro da última visita da vigilância sanitária. Foram coletadas amostras de água em dez quiosques de praia e para a coleta foram utilizados recipientes esterilizados e identificados. Para contagem de bactérias heterotróficas foi utilizada a técnica de plaqueamento em profundidade em ágar padrão para contagem, sendo os resultados expressos em UFC/mL. Para coliformes foi utilizado o teste do número mais provável (coliformes a 35°C e a 45°C) e o resultado obtido foi expresso em NMP/100 mL. Foi observado por meio da aplicação da lista de verificação que 70% dos quiosques utilizavam apenas água da rede de abastecimento público e um dos estabelecimentos funcionava sem licença sanitária. Das amostras coletadas, 30% apresentaram contagem total de bactérias acima de 500 UFC/mL. Não foi detectada a presença de coliformes e E. coli em nenhuma das amostras analisadas. Apesar dos resultados observados terem sido satisfatórios, deve-se reforçar a necessidade do acompanhamento da qualidade da água como estratégia de prevenção de riscos aos consumidores.

1-17

Authors: Régia Simony Braz Da Silva*; Adriano Marlisom Leão de Sousa; Silvana do Socorro Veloso Sodré; Maria Isabel Vitorino

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a sazonalidade da qualidade da água superficial e subterrânea nas proximidades do lixão de Salinópolis, situado na Vila de Cuiarana, por meio da caracterização da precipitação da região e da sua influência na composição físico-química e microbiológica das águas locais. Para isso, foram observados os dados dos acumulados mensais da precipitação local, medição da velocidade de infiltração no solo e medição da vazão dos rios Cachoeira e Teixeira. Foram selecionados os parâmetros físico-químicos e bacteriológicos: pH, oxigênio dissolvido (OD), temperatura da água, sólidos totais dissolvidos (TDS), turbidez, condutividade elétrica (CE), salinidade, amônia, nitrato, coliformes totais e Escherichia coli; e os metais: alumínio, cádmio, chumbo, cobre, cromo, ferro, manganês, mercúrio, níquel e zinco. Tanto as águas superficiais quanto as subterrâneas se apresentaram inadequadas para uso e consumo humano. Parâmetros como OD, ferro, alumínio, chumbo, mercúrio, coliformes totais e E. coli estão em desconformidade com as legislações vigentes. O período chuvoso influenciou negativamente a qualidade em águas superficiais. Em águas subterrâneas, parâmetros como amônia, nitrato, ferro, mercúrio e chumbo estiveram em maiores concentrações no período menos chuvoso; enquanto, CE, E. coli, coliformes totais e alumínio aumentaram suas concentrações no período chuvoso.