César Augusto Moreira

Aplicação de métodos geofísicos no monitoramento de área contaminada sob atenuação natural

Geophysical studies in impacted areas by petroleum products may be described by anomalies of both low and high resistivity, confirmed as contaminant by chemical analyses. This apparent contradiction can reflect processes of contaminants degradation, directly associated with its residence time in the soil, through the generation of by-products that change the physical properties of the soil and groundwater, principally for the mineral dissolution by action of organic acids and by neoformation minerals of oxides and hydroxides minerals. This paper presents the application of electrical resistivity and induced polarization methods in a contaminated industrial area for benzene, toluene, xylene, 1,2 dichloroethene and inorganic salts, in natural attenuation process. The results indicated the mineral neoformation in the center and adjacencies of contaminated area, as it suggested the alterations in physical parameters measured.

Monitoramento da atenuação natural de pluma de contaminação pelo método de radar de penetração no solo (GPR)

The monitoring of the natural attenuation in contaminated areas has shown an alternative technique of low cost for the remediation of contaminated areas. The microorganisms degradation is one of the most important processes in the natural attenuation of contaminants, especially composites of Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL). In many cases, the action effective of this process results in generation of organic acid, under high concentrations causes the mineral dissolution presents in the subsurface where if it finds the contamination, with release of ions. The increase on the amount of ions collaborates for the increase of the electric conductivity of the environment. The physical principle of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is the emission of electromagnetic waves of high frequency. The propagation of the electromagnetic wave depends on the frequency of emitted signal and the electric properties of the subsurface. The increase of electrical conductivity in the subsurface results in the attenuation of the signal and, for consequence, in the reduction of the of penetration depth of electromagnetic wave. This factor allows the monitoring of contaminated areas with natural attenuation from temporal analyses with the GPR. This paper presents a comparative study between profiles of GPR acquired in 1998 and 2003 in an area contaminated for composites of Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL), in processes of the natural attenuation. The results indicate an increase of the conductivity in the subsurface, from the accented attenuation it signal GPR observe in the 2003 sections. This increase can be associated to the release of ions for mineral dissolution, for the attack of organic acid resultants of the biodegradation process.

Análise de contaminantes de fase líquida não aquosa (NAPLs) por aplicação do método eletromagnético indutivo (EM)

The improper discarding of industrial residues in the soil has caused damages to the environment and to the human health. The identification and diagnosis of contaminated areas are necessary procedure of that it is possible to take measured by containment of the polluting source and posterior remediation. The geophysical techniques can assist the characterization of the ground subsurface, definition of the contamination plumesize, selection of sampling points and pumping wells. This work presents some results from the application of the Inductive Electromagnetic method in an industrial area contaminated by benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX) and dichloroethene. The results indicate two migrations of the patterns for the subsurface contaminants. A horizontal trend of migration extends up to 15m depth and a vertical trend of migration in the vertical plan enters 15 to 60 m depth. The divergent trends of migration are conditioned by density of the composites that constitute the plume of contamination, or either, a floating interval LNAPL (BTX), overlapped to an interval DNAPL (1,2 dichloroethene).

Anomalias de cargabilidade em aterro de resíduos sólidos domiciliares

The application of geophysical methods in environmental studies, essentially in the characterization and monitoring of contaminated areas, is growing and promising. This paper presents the application of the Induced Polarization method (IP), through the electrical profiling technique, in the determination of the leachate plume originated in the type ditch landfill. In absence of monitoring wells or other direct techniques of investigation in landfill area, the geological characterization together with the application of geophysical techniques they constitute an alternative for preliminary characterization and monitoring leached materials. However, is vital the appropriate understanding of the physical parameter due to possible alterations in the geological environment resultants of the contaminants presents. The results suggest a reduction tendency in the chargeability values in the leachate sense flow, possibly due to the dissolution for attack acid to the metallic materials present in the residues and oxides and hydroxides of iron present abundantly in the soil.

Aplicação do método eletromagnético indutivo (EM) no monitoramento de contaminantes em subsuperfície

The combined use of monitoring wells and geophysical techniques constitutes the form most adequate for identification and the monitoring contaminated areas. This procedure allows the location of wells and monitoring in strategically points, optimizing the results and minimizing costs. The Electromagnetic Inductive Method (EMI) presents ample possibilities of application in environmental studies due the facility in the acquisition of data, versatility of the equipment in field and the possibility of scanning in the ample areas in short time. This paper realizes a comparative analysis of EMI data collected in 1992 and 2003. The studied place is an industrial area that presents contamination the soil and groundwater for Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, 1,2 dichloroethene, Sodium and Chloride, product of the infiltration of effluent chemistries directly of the ground. The results indicate accented attenuation of the contaminant plume, with probable reduction in the contamination degree. The composites of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) had presented superior trend of horizontal, concomitant migration to the movement of the groundwater. The composites of dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) had more presented an accented trend of migration in the vertical direction, possibly due to absence of impermeable surfaces. The inorganics composites had followed the flow of composites of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), what in turn it allowed the characterization of the contamination plume as a conductive body in relation to the adjacent areas.

Comparative analysis between biogas flow in landfill and electrical resistivity tomography in Rio Claro city, Brazil

The biogas originated from anaerobic degradation of organic matter in landfills consists basically in CH4, CO2, and H2O. The landfills represent an important depository of organic matter with high energetic potential in Brazil, although with inexpressive use in the present. The estimation of production of the productive rate of biogas represents one of the major difficulties of technical order to the planning of capture system for rational consumption of this resource. The applied geophysics consists in a set of methods and techniques with wide use in environmental and hydrogeological studies. The DC resistivity method is largely applied in environmental diagnosis of the contamination in soil and groundwater, due to the contrast of electrical properties frequent between contaminated areas and the natural environment. This paper aims to evaluate eventual relationships between biogas flows quantified in drains located in the landfill, with characteristic patterns of electrical resistivity in depth. The drain of higher flow (117 m3/h) in depth was characterized for values between 8000 Ω·m and 100.000 Ω·m, in contrast with values below 2000 Ω·m, which characterize in subsurface the drain with less flow (37 m3/h), besides intermediary flow and electrical resistivity values, attributed to the predominance of areas with accumulation or generation of biogas.

Geological and geophysical data integration for delimitation of mineralized areas in a supergene manganese deposits

Geophysical methods are widely used in mineral exploration. This paper discusses the results of geological and geophysical studies in supergene manganese deposits of southern Brazil. Mineralized zones as described in geological surveys were characterized as of low resistivity (20Ω.m) and high chargeability (30ms), pattern found also in oxides and sulfite mineral deposits. Pseudo-3D modeling of geophysical data allowed mapping at several depths. A relationship between high chargeability and low resistivity may define a pattern for high grade gonditic manganese ore. Large areas of high chargeability and high resistivity may result in accumulation of manganese and iron hydroxides, due to weathering of the gonditic ore, dissolution, percolation and precipitation.

Aplicação da técnica de caminhamento elétrico em área contaminada por derivados de petróleo

Geophysical methods are useful technics of geological investigation, thoroughly employed to diagnosis and monitoring contaminated areas, in conjunction with direct techniques of investigation such as chemical analyses. Among these, electric resistivity is more usually used in studies of contaminants in soil and groundwater, due to the high contrast of electric properties between the soil and the pollutant types frequently found, essentially constituted of composed organic and inorganic. Geophysical studies in impacted areas by petroleum products may be describe by anomalies of both low resistivity and high resistivities, confirmed as contaminant by chemical analyses. This apparent contradiction can reflect processes of degradation of the contaminants, directly associated with its residence time in the soil, through the generation of by-products that change the physical properties of the soil and groundwater, principally for the mineral dissolution by action of organic acids and by formation of minerals of oxides and hydroxides minerals. Natural attenuation defines a series of physical, chemical and biological processes that allow the degradation, dispersion and dilution of contaminants in a natural form, in other words, free from human intervention. This paper presents the application of electrical profiling technique in a contaminated industrial area for benzene, toluene, xylene, 1,2 dichloroethene and inorganic salts and it discusses the physical alterations of the contaminated soil through the obtained results, under the optics of the Natural Attenuation in course in the area of study.

Potencial geoparque de Uberaba (MG): geodiversidade e geoconservação

O Municipio de Uberaba apresenta grande potencialidade geoturistica em relacao aos seus patrimonios geologicos. As rochas igneas da Formacao Serra Geral sao encontradas em 12 atrativos geoturisticos, com destaque para as cachoeiras de Ponte Alta (40 metros de altura) e Peiropolis III (7 metros de altura). As rochas sedimentares da Formacao Uberaba foram descritas em 11 atrativos geoturisticos, destacando-se Cachoeira e Gruta do Giovane (12 metros de altura). Nas rochas sedimentares da Formacao Marilia destaca-se o afloramento da Caieira (gruta de tres metros com estalactites e estalagmites) e a Cachoeira do Vale Encantado (8 metros de altura), entre outros 8 atrativos. Apos o levantamento da geodiversidade foi realizado um diagnostico ambiental nos atrativos geoturisticos, sendo utilizado o Metodo Visitor Impact Management. Os resultados indicam que somente a Cachoeira do Vale Encantado apresenta impacto moderado, o menor quando comparado aos 22 atrativos com impacto alto ou preocupante, e 7 atrativos com impacto muito alto. Alem de definir as estrategias de manejo e monitoramento dos indicadores de impacto ambiental, o presente trabalho serve de base para que as atividades do potencial Geoparque de Uberaba (MG) sejam realizadas com responsabilidade ambiental e/ou geoconservacao.

Relationship between age of waste and natural electric potential generation in Sanitary Landfill

The geophysical methods are effective tools for determining changes in physical parameters of the geological environment, as soil or groundwater in the presence of contamination. This work consisted on analyzing the natural electric potential obtained over domestic solid waste ditches with controlled closure dates. The interpretation data suggest the generation of electric potential predominantly through the redox phenomenon, as opposed to the flow potential phenomenon. The statistical data analysis indicates a correlation between residence time of the waste and growing variations of voltage. In addition highlights that eight years are required to achieve the reported values for the area with absence of waste, time estimated for decomposition of most organic matter contained in the buried waste.