Concentração de flúor nas águas de abastecimento público de municípios da região noroeste do estado de São Paulo, Brasil

It may be difficult for small and medium cities to obtain information about the fluoride content of public water, because of the lack of equipments and technicians. This study aimed to analyze the fluoride levels of the water supplied by the public treatment stations of 40 cities situated in the northwest region of São Paulo State, during a period of 6 months, to verify if fluoridation occurs in a continuous manner and if the fluoride levels are within the recommended. Maps of the water distribution system were obtained from the water treatment companies and utilized to randomize the addresses of the collection sites, so that they included all regions with treated water sources. One water sample by month was collected and analyzed in duplicate using an ion-specific-electrode. Samples with 0.6 to 0.8 mgF/L were considered acceptable. In the 38 cities that regularly provided the samples in the 6 months of the study, water from 144 collection sites was collected and a total of 864 samples were analyzed, of which 61.81 percent were classified as unacceptable. It was observed that 33 cities performed fluoridation but in 78.79 percent of these cities there were variations in the fluoride level among the sites and in the same site during the period of study. One can conclude that most of these cities do not control the fluoride levels in the public water, since fluoridation occurs in a discontinuous manner and in most of the situations not within the recommended concentrations.

Irrigação por gotejamento subsuperficial na produção e qualidade de cana-de-açúcar

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comportamento cinético do cloro livre em meio aquoso e formação de subprodutos da desinfecção

One indirect approach to predict the disinfection by-product (DBP) formation potential for a given water source is by evaluation of the kinetic behavior of free chlorine in the liquid phase and chlorine demand determination for different operation conditions of the chlorination process. The objective of this work was to evaluate the kinetic behavior of free chlorine in water or a number of different raw water sources, as well as to investigate the impact of the coagulation process on chlorine demand reduction and DBP formation. It was observed that the higher the total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency through coagulation, the lower the liquid phase chlorine demand. Regarding trihalomethane (THM) formation, a ratio of 28 ug/L formed per mg/L of applied chlorine was observed for the waters employed in the experimental investigation.

Desempenho de gotejadores com uso de esgoto doméstico tratado

This paper aimed to determine the flow rate of drippers, their flow rate-pressure curve, their equation, their flow rate variation coefficient (VCq), as well as to evaluate the uniformity of water application of the Netafim drip pipe, Tiran 17 model, used for irrigation with domestic wastewater from treated household drain. After 1000 working hours, the blockage of some drippers decreased the uniformity of water application from 98% to lower than 60% and increased the flow variation coefficient to values higher than 0.29.

Anaerobic effluent disinfected with ozone/hydrogen peroxide efluente anaeróbio desinfetado com ozônio/peróxido de hidrogênio

This research aimed at studying the oxidation process, to verify the effectiveness of coliform inactivation and to evaluate the formation of ozonation disinfection byproducts (DBP) in anoxic sanitary wastewater treated with ozone/hydrogen peroxide applied at doses of 2.6 mg O3 L-1 and 2.0 mg H2O2 L-1 with contact time of 10 min and 8.1 mg O3 L-1 and 8.0 mg H2O2 L-1 with contact time of 20 min. The mean chemical oxygen demand (COD) reductions were 7.50 and 9.40% for applied dosages of 2.5-2.8 and 6.4-9.4 mg O3 L-1 + 2.0 and 8.0 mg H2O2.L-1, respectively. The Escherichia coli (E. coli) inactivation range was 2.98-4.04 log10 and the total coliform inactivation range was 2.77-4.01 log10. The aldehydes investigated were formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal and methylglyoxal. It was observed only the formation of acetaldehyde that ranged 5.53 to 29.68 μg L-1.

Alterations in the fat body cells of rhinocricus padbergi (Diplopoda) resulting from exposure to substrate containing sewage sludge

Abstract The final disposal of residues generated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) has become a major problem for cities, due to the increase in the amount of treated sewage. One of the alternatives for the residue, labeled sewage sludge, is its reuse in agriculture and in degraded soil. However, not all pathogens and metals present in it are eliminated during treatment. Diplopods have been used as bioindicators in ecotoxicological tests as they are constantly in close contact with the soil. Owing to this fact, the purpose of this study was to expose specimens of the diplopod Rhinocricus padbergi to substrate containing sewage sludge collected at STPs to analyze morphological alterations in their parietal and perivisceral fat body, where substances are stored. The exposures were held for 7, 15, or 90 days at different concentrations of sewage sludge (control, 1%, 10%, and 50%). The parietal fat body showed no alterations in any of the three exposure periods or concentrations. Alterations in the perivisceral fat body were observed for all exposure periods. According to the results, we suggest that the sludge used has toxic agents responsible for changing the animal's perivisceral fat body. © 2012 Microscopy Society of America.

Development of a burner to measure biogas generation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Hydrochemical evaluation of bottled mineral waters and spring at Corumbataí city, São Paulo State, Brazil

This investigation was carried out within São Paulo State, Brazil, and involved the sampling of well-known mineral bottled waters for performing a comparative hydrochemical study and of a spring occurring at Corumbataí city, in order to evaluate its suitability for bottling. Several methods were utilized for acquiring the hydrochemical data like the methyl orange end-point titration, potentiometry, ion selective electrode, colorimetry, flame photometry and inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry. The results obtained for the analyzed samples were compared with the guideline values established by the National Commission of Rules and Standards for Food of the Brazilian Health Ministry published in 1976. The Brazilian Code for Mineral Waters that was established by Register 7841 published on 8 August 1945 was also taken into account for verifying if the spring waters are mineralized. The hydrochemical data allowed identify some constituents impoverishing the water quality, thus, implying on its nonutilization for commercial purposes (bottling). In one specific case, the spring water only can become appropriate for human consumption after previous chemical treatment. © 201 WIT Press.

Characterization of high density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with banana peel fibers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) degradation promoted by nanoparticulate zerovalent iron (nZVI) in aerobic suspensions

Reactive species generated by Fe0 oxidation promoted by O2 (catalyzed or not by ligands) are able to degrade contaminant compounds like the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The degradation of 2,4-D was influenced by the concentrations of zero valent iron (ZVI) and different ligands, as well as by pH. In the absence of ligands, the highest 2,4-D degradation rate was obtained at pH 3, while the highest percentage degradation (50%) was achieved at pH 5 after 120 min of reaction. Among the ligands studied (DTPA, EDTA, glycine, oxalate, and citrate), only ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) significantly enhanced oxidation of 2,4-D. This increase in oxidation was observed at all pH values tested (including neutral to alkaline conditions), indicating the feasibility of the technique for treatment of contaminated water. In the presence of EDTA, the oxidation rate was greater at pH 3 than at pH 5 or 7. Increasing the EDTA concentration increased the rate and percentage of 2,4-D degradation, however increasing the Fe0 concentration resulted in the opposite behavior. It was found that degradation of EDTA and 2,4-D occurred simultaneously, and that the new methodology avoided any 2,4-D removal by adsorption/coprecipitation. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Resistência de genótipos de eucalipto a ceratocystis spp

Eucalyptus is the most important plantation forest species in Brazil. Wilt and canker caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata on eucalyptus were first reported in 1998 in plantations of an E. grandis × E. urophylla hybrid in southern Bahia, Brazil. This work aimed at studying the reaction of different eucalyptus genotypes after inoculation with C. fimbriata isolates, in order to find a possible source of resistance. The study included four isolates of Ceratocystis collected from eucalyptus in different regions. One disc of fungal mycelium with 1-cm-diameter (from colonies growing for 10 days on malt extract agar medium-MEA) was inoculated on the stem of thus injured eucalyptus plants (six months old). A cotton wool moistened with sterile distilled water was wrapped with plastic film. Control plants were inoculated with discs of MEA without fungal colonies. The inoculated plants were kept in a greenhouse. Wilt symptoms were observed 90 days after inoculation. The seedlings were cut in the longitudinal direction of the stem in order to observe the colonization of fungus in the plant xylem. We tested twenty eucalyptus genotypes, but only five showed resistance to all isolates of Ceratocystis, belonging to different species of Eucalyptus: E. urophylla (C2 and C9), E. grandis (C3), E. saligna (C6 and C13) Most E. gramdis genotypes were more susceptible to all four fungal isolates. These results support future studies related to eucalyptus resistance to Ceratocystis.

Coagulation-flocculation of anaerobically treated sugarcane stillage

Anaerobic digestion applied to stillage usually results in treatment performances. However, effluents from anaerobic reactors still present a residual polluting load due to the presence of organic recalcitrant compounds. Additional treatment methods, such as coagulation-flocculation, may be utilized to improve the final effluent quality. In this study, we assessed the processes of coagulation and flocculation for sugarcane stillage samples previously submitted to anaerobic digestion, aiming to obtain optimal conditions for the physicochemical treatment. Natural corn starch and ferric chloride were tested as coagulants. While starch was considered as not suitable for the treatment for the tested conditions, ferric chloride assays presented satisfactory results. The investigated parameters included coagulant solution dose, rapid mixing gradient and time, flocculation gradient and time, and sedimentation time. Their adjusted values at which better performances obtained were, respectively, 1.6 g L-1, 325 rpm, 10 s, 65 rpm, 20 and 20 min. The best color, turbidity, and chemical oxygen demand removal efficiencies were 95, 97, and 65%, respectively. Stillage pH variation to alkaline conditions did not result in improved removal efficiencies. Although relatively high removal efficiencies of constituents were obtained, the final effluent characteristics did not fit regulations of water reuse in the agriculture through fertigation. However, stillage can definitely become more easily managed if better final effluent quality control parameters are achieved, enabling for example effluents discharge in water bodies. © 2013 Copyright Balaban Desalination Publications.

Biosorption of cadmium (II) and lead (II) from aqueous solution using exopolysaccharide and biomass produced by Colletotrichum sp.

The biosorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions on biomass and exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Colletotrichum sp. fungus has been investigated as a function of contact time, initial pH, initial metal ion concentration, and initial adsorbent concentration in a batch system. Adsorption equilibrium was described by Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Adsorption was characterized through granulometry, SEM and EDX analysis. Then, studies were performed to regenerate the adsorbent. Biosorption of metals by biomass and EPS were best described by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm, respectively. Results of thermodynamic investigations showed that adsorption reactions were spontaneous (ΔG° < 0), exothermal, and mainly physical. The EPS was able to remove 79 and 98% of cadmium and lead, respectively, and the biomass removed 85 and 84% of cadmium and lead, respectively, in a solution with initial concentration 100 mg L-1, and the four adsorption-desorption cycles of all adsorbents showed up with great regenerative capacity and relative stability after these four cycles, the high potential of these biological materials in sorption has been shown. © 2013 Copyright Balaban Desalination Publications.

The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on dentin bonding and nanoleakage of etch-and-rinse adhesives

Objective The objective was to examine the effect of a solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on resin-dentin bond durability, as well as potential functional mechanisms behind the effect. Methods Microtensile bond strength (μTBS) was evaluated in extracted human teeth in two separate experiments. Dentin specimens were acid-etched and assigned to pre-treatment with 0.5 mM (0.004%) DMSO as additional primer for 30 s and to controls with water pre-treatment. Two-step etch-and-rinse adhesive (Scotchbond 1XT, 3M ESPE) was applied and resin composite build-ups were created. Specimens were immediately tested for μTBS or stored in artificial saliva for 6 and 12 months prior to testing. Additional immediate and 6-month specimens were examined for interfacial nanoleakage analysis under SEM. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition by DMSO was examined with gelatin zymography. Demineralized dentin disks were incubated in 100% DMSO to observe the optical clearing effect. Results The use of 0.5 mM DMSO had no effect on immediate bond strength or nanoleakage. In controls, μTBS decreased significantly after storage, but increased significantly in DMSO-treated group. The control group had significantly lower μTBS than DMSO-group after 6 and 12 months. DMSO also eliminated the increase in nanoleakage seen in controls. 5% and higher DMSO concentrations significantly inhibited the gelatinases. DMSO induced optical clearing effect demonstrating collagen dissociation. Significance DMSO as a solvent may be useful in improving the preservation of long-term dentin-adhesive bond strength. The effect may relate to dentinal enzyme inhibition or improved wetting of collagen by adhesives. The collagen dissociation required much higher DMSO concentrations than the 0.5 mM DMSO used for bonding. © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials.

Toxicidade aguda e risco ecotoxicológico do fipronil para o guarú (Poecilia reticulata) e dissipação no ambiente aquático

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)