ENHANCEMENT OF U-234 IN SPRINGWATERS OF AGUAS-DA-PRATA, SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

Springwater samples were collected at Aguas da Prata, an important spa in São Paulo State, Brazil. The U-238 and U-234 isotopes were evaluated for Platina, Paiol, Villela, Prata-Radioativa, Prata-Nova, Boi, Vitoria, and Prata-Antiga springs. An inverse logarithmic correlation was found between U-234/U-238 activity ratio and Rn-222 content of the studied waters, which was related to different solution mechanisms of Rn-222 and U-234 nuclides at the rock-water interface. A linear correlation also exists between the U-234/U-238 activity ratios of the studied waters and total dissolved solids, ionic strength, CO2 partial pressure, and index of base exchange, which indicates that the enhancement of U-234 in solution increases with the degree of weathering in the aquifers, A higher U-234/U-238 activity ratio was found to be directly related to a higher value of dissolution rate.

Remoción de fósforo de diferentes aguas residuales en reactores aeróbios de lecho fluidizado trifásico con circulación interna

The wastewater discharge produces impacts on receiving water bodies. Nutrients as P produce implications on lentic systems because they accelerate the eutrophication processes. Several technologies for P removal from the wastewater have been used: physic chemical treatment systems with important effects by coagulant products addition; biological processes based on anaerobic and aerobic conditions with great implications on the required volume; natural systems as stabilization ponds and irrigation require bigger areas and post-treatment processes. The aerobic fluidized bed reactors with internal circulation (AFBRIC) are compact options with high concentrations of active biomass that have demonstrated their capacity for organic matter and N removal. For sewage from the wastewater pumping station of Ilha Solteira city and effluents of a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) for semi-intensive tilapia farming, the reactive P and total P removal efficiency in three AFBRIC with 250 mm external tube diameter and different internal tube diameter (ITD), for two different support media at different concentrations was evaluated. The average reactive P removal efficiency for domestic wastewater to hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 hours and 125 mm ITD reactor varied from 25,6 to 38,4% and with 150 mm ITD reactor varied from 27,5 to 32,5%; the average total P removal for the RAS wastewater at a HRT of 0,19 hours and 100 mm ITD was of 32,7%.

Variabilidade qualitativa de aguas pluviais coletadas em telhado e sua importancia na concepcao do sistema de tratamento

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a qualidade e a variabilidade de águas pluviais escoadas e armazenadas. Foram realizadas análises estatísticas descritivas, correlacionais e de componentes principais. As coletas de águas pluviais foram feitas nas dependências da Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, situada no campus de Rio Claro. Para este estudo, foram utilizadas amostras de 43 precipitações, coletadas entre março de 2010 e abril de 2012. Os resultados apontam que a concepção de sistemas de tratamento de águas pluviais deve ser realizada considerando a grande variabilidade de qualidade entre eventos de chuva. Os resultados da análise de componentes principais indicam que a grande variabilidade das águas pluviais coletadas é influenciada, sobretudo, pela deposição de sólidos durante o período de estiagem e pela decomposição de matéria orgânica, requerendo tecnologias de operação flexíveis.