Fernando Rodolfo Espinoza-Quiñones

Toxicity assessment from electro-coagulation treated-textile dye wastewaters by bioassays.

In this study the pollutant removal from a textile dyeing wastewater has been investigated by using the electro-coagulation technique with iron electrodes. In order to obtain optimal values of the system state variables, a 3(3) full factorial experimental design was applied. The electro-coagulation (EC) process response was evaluated on the basis of COD removal and decolourization values. The electrolysis time and density current were statistically significant for the COD removal and decolourization. Based on the lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) and brine shrimp (Artemia salina), the lowest toxicity level was achieved in 5 min of electrolysis time. Due to the remaining high toxicity level above 30 min of electrolysis time, the EC process is not adequate to be used in a single effluent treatment, suggesting that this electrochemical process of up to 5 min could be used as part of a complete effluent treatment system.

Removal of heavy metal from polluted river water using aquatic macrophytes Salvinia sp

Concentrations of trace metallic element as well as macronutrients were measured in water and plants from pond water. The aquatic macrophyte Salvinia sp. was evaluated for its trace metals removal potential in river water under laboratory conditions. The experiment were performed using several healthy acclimatized plants Salvinia sp. The water and grown plants were collected from ponds. For the trace element removals test, 30-35 grams of fresh aquatic plants were grown in river water into a greenhouse for ten weeks. Control plants were also grown during the experiment. Every two weeks, both plants and water samples were collected. After the end of each experiment, the growth rate was calculated. Trace element concentrations in plants and pond water were obtained using TXRF techniques. Values for the elements (K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn and Sr) concentrations in plant dry weight have been obtained after deducting metal contents of control plants. For each trace element, the aquatic Salvinia sp. plant showed to possess different affinity for the incorporation of the metals in its biomass. Results suggest the use of aquatic macrophytes Salvinia sp. for metal abatement in dilute wastewaters.

Cadmium biosorption by non-living aquatic macrophytes Egeria densa.

In this work the removal potential on Cd(2+ ) by the non-living Egeria densa biomass has been studied. The influence of the metal solution pH, the plant drying and the metal solution temperature, and biosorbent grain size was previously studied in batch systems. The cadmium adsorption rate has increased when the pH was increasing, but at pH 5, the cadmium precipitation has begun to occur, avoiding such high pH values in other tests. The cadmium removal was around 70% at 30 degrees C biomass dried and solution temperatures, assuming as the best temperature conditions. No significant influence was observed in cadmium removal due to the grain size effect. The biosorption kinetic data were well fitted by a pseudo-second order model. The equilibrium time in experiments was around 45 min with a 70% Cd removal. The equilibrium data at pH 5 were described rather better by the Langmuir isotherm than the Freundlich one, with an adsorption rate and maximum metal content values of 0.40 L g(-1) and 1.28 meq g(-1), respectively, for Langmuir model. The kinetic parameter values are near to other biosorbents, indicating that the macrophytes E. densa could be used as biosorbent material in industrial effluent treatment system.

Optimised photocatalytic degradation of a mixture of azo dyes using a TiO2/H2O2/UV process

The aim of the present study was to optimise the photocatalytic degradation of a mixture of six commercial azo dyes, by exposure to UV radiation in an aqueous solution containing TiO(2)-P25. Response surface methodology, based on a 3(2) full factorial experimental design with three replicates was employed for process optimisation with respect to two parameters: TiO(2) (0.1-0.9 g/L) and H(2)O(2) (1-100 mmol/L). The optimum conditions for photocatalytic degradation were achieved at concentrations of 0.5 g TiO(2)/L and 50 mmol H(2)O(2)/L, respectively. Dye mineralisation was confirmed by monitoring TOC, conductivity, sulfate and nitrate ions, with a sulfate ion yield of 96% under optimal reactor conditions. Complete decolorisation was attained after 240 min irradiation time for all tested azo-dyes, in a process which followed a pseudo-first kinetic order model, with a kinetic rate constant of approximately 0.018 min(-1). Based on these results, this photocatalytic process has promise as an alternative for the treatment of textile effluents.

Correlation between heavy metal ions (copper, zinc, lead) concentrations and root length of Allium cepa L. in polluted river water

O presente trabalho foi realizado utilizando a cebola comum (Allium cepa L.) como bioindicador da toxicidade de metais pesados em agua de rio. As aguas de teste foram coletadas em dois locais: na nascente e na foz do rio Toledo. Os bulbos de A. cepa L. foram cultivados em agua de teste com nove niveis de concentracao de cobre, zinco e chumbo de 0,1 a 50 ppm. Em laboratorio a influencia destes liquidos de teste em crescimento de raiz foi examinada durante cinco dias. Em todos os liquidos de teste o metal dissolvido contido foi medido pela tecnica TXRF. Para liquidos de teste contendo 0,1-ppm de Cu dissolvido o crescimento da raiz foi reduzido em 50%. Entretanto, ocorreu a mesma reducao para 1-ppm de Zn dissolvido. Para Pb dissolvido, o metodo do Allium teste revela toxidade acima de 0,1 e 0,5 ppm para a nascente e a foz do rio Toledo, respectivamente.

Application of high resolution X-ray emission spectroscopy on the study of Cr ion adsorption by activated carbon.

In this work granular activated carbon has been chosen as an absorbent in order to investigate the Cr(VI) reduced by adsorption experiments. Several batch chromium-sorption experiments were carried out using 0.25 g of granular activated carbon in 50 mL aqueous solution containing approximately 70 and 140 mg L(-1) of Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively. Cr-Kbeta fluorescence spectra of Cr adsorbed in a carbon matrix and Cr reference materials were measured using a high-resolution Johann-type spectrometer. Based on evidence from the Cr-Kb satellite lines, the Cr(VI) reduction process has actually happened during metal adsorption by the activated carbon.

Analysis of Trace Elements in Groundwater Using ICP-OES and TXRF Techniques and Its Compliance with Brazilian Protection Standards

In this work, an assessment of groundwater quality and its compliance with Brazilian environmental protection standards was carried out. Ground waters from the Serra Geral aquifer are currently used for human consumption at the western region of the Brazilian state of Paraná. Ground water samples from 10 wells covering the entire Toledo municipality rural region were collected and analysed by two highly accurate and sensitive spectrometric techniques: inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and total reflection X-ray spectrometry (TXRF). Among all detected elements, 18 elements (As, Ba, Br, Ca, Pb, Cl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, P, S, Mn, Ni, K, Ti, V and Zn) were measured by the TXRF technique while three elements (B, Mg and Na) were measured by ICP-OES. Trace element concentration levels were then compared with Brazilian environmental legislation (BEL). From the results obtained, concentrations of chromium, iron, arsenic, selenium, manganese and barium were detectable in some wells at slightly above the maximum limits allowed by the BEL.

Biodegradability and toxicity assessment of a real textile wastewater effluent treated by an optimized electrocoagulation process.

In this work, the application of an iron electrode-based electrocoagulation (EC) process on the treatment of a real textile wastewater (RTW) was investigated. In order to perform an efficient integration of the EC process with a biological oxidation one, an enhancement in the biodegradability and low toxicity of final compounds was sought. Optimal values of EC reactor operation parameters (pH, current density and electrolysis time) were achieved by applying a full factorial 33 experimental design. Biodegradability and toxicity assays were performed on treated RTW samples obtained at the optimal values of: pH of the solution (7.0), current density (142.9 A m−2) and different electrolysis times. As response variables for the biodegradability and toxicity assessment, the Zahn–Wellens test (Dt), the ratio values of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) relative to low-molecular-weight carboxylates anions (LMCA) and lethal concentration 50 (LC50) were used. According to the Dt, the DOC/LMCA ratio and LC50, an electrolysis time of 15 min along with the optimal values of pH and current density were suggested as suitable for a next stage of treatment based on a biological oxidation process.

Assessment of the banana pseudostem as a low-cost biosorbent for the removal of reactive blue 5G dye.

In this work, the removal of reactive blue 5G (RB5G) dye using the drying biomass of banana pseudostem (BPS) was investigated. The characterization of BPS particles was performed. Improvement in the RB5G dye removal performance at the following sorption conditions was evidenced: pH 1, 30°C sorption temperature and 40 rpm shaking, regardless of the particle size range. Kinetic RB5G dye sorption data obtained at better conditions fit well in an Elovich model. A combined Langmuir–BET isotherm model provides a good representation of the RB5G dye equilibrium sorption data, which shows the evidence of a physical sorption process on the BPS surface. Based on the results, the removal of RB5G dye molecules by BPS is based on a physical sorption process.

Remoção dos metais pesados Cd(II), Cu(II) e Zn(II) pelo processo de biossorção utilizando a macrófita Eicchornia crassipes

The adsorption capacity of Eicchornia crassipes for removing Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated in a batch system. Experimental data of the kinetics and equilibrium of biosorption for the single-component systems was obtained. Equilibrium times of 45, 60 and 120 min. for Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, respectively, were achieved. Kinetic data was better fitted to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. To describe biossorption equilibrium were used Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkim isotherms. The Langmuir isotherm model was better fitted to the equilibrium data, with values of 0.667, 0.615 and 0.633 mequiv.g-1 for Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) adsorption capacity, respectively. E. crassipes biomass has great potential to be used in wastewater treatment systems.