Estudo da especiação de arsênio inorgânico e determinação de arsênio total no monitoramento ambiental da qualidade de águas subterrâneas

This work reports an alternative, fast and robust method, for the determination of total As, As(III) and As(V) by HG-AAS without the use of prereductants. The method is based on the different rates of arsine formation of the inorganic As species and the effect of As(III) in the signal obtained for total As. Groundwater and mineral spiked waters were used to sample preservation evaluation. The method was validated by the determination of As in SRM 1640 and used in the determination of total As and its inorganic species in groundwater samples collected from mines in the Iron Quadrangle - MG.

Desempenho analítico de laboratórios prestadores de serviço na determinação de metais em águas

Analytical laboratories are expected to produce reliable results. Decision makers are guided in their actions (financial, legal and environmental) using analytical data provided by numerous laboratories. This work aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of Brazilian laboratories on producing trustworthy results. Nineteen laboratories, accredited and non-accredited ones, were contracted to analyze a USGS (United States Geological Survey) certified water sample for 17 chemical elements (mostly metals) without knowing the origin of the sample. Considering all the results produced, only 35% of them were valid. Three laboratories present satisfactory performances, whereas the majority showed a very poor overall performance. The outcomes of this work show the need for a more effective analytical quality program to Brazilian laboratories.

Sistema multicomutado de análise em fluxo para determinação de amônio e monocloramina em águas residuais e produtos de desinfecção

A binary sampling flow analysis system equipped with gas diffusion cell was developed for NH4+ and/or NH2Cl determination in wastewater and disinfection products samples based on the Berthelot reaction of the NH2Cl diffused through the semi-permeable PTFE membrane. The effect of the analytical conditions related to the reaction and flow parameters were evaluated and N-NH4+ and N-NH2Cl were determined in concentration ranges from 0.17 to 5 mg L-1 and from 0.5 to 14.5 mg L-1, respectively. Limits of detection (3σ) of 50 and 140 µg L-1 for N-NH4+ and N-NH2Cl were calculated, respectively, and RSD of 5 and 2% were calculated for 10 consecutive determinations of N-NH4+ (1 and 3 mg L-1) and N-NH2Cl (3 and 9 mg L-1), respectively with 30 determinations h-1.

Perfil espacial e temporal de poluentes nas águas da represa municipal de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

In this manuscript, seasonal and spatial trends of water collected from two sampling places in the Preto River in the Turvo-Grande watershed were evaluated. Water samples were collected during June/07 to July/08 and parameters sulphate, total organic carbon, ammonia, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, dissolved total solids and nitrate were quantified. Seasonal trend indicated sanitary effluents as a point source of contamination in both sampling points. Vertical trends demonstrated that the Municipal Dam was not stratified and received a diffuse source of pollutants from flooding and agriculture runoffs. It was also verified that there is relatively fast ammonia consumption kinetics having a half-life time of 1.43 h which can explain the low ammonia concentrations found in these aquatic bodies.

Fotocatálise heterogênea com TiO2 para oxidação de arsênio e sua remoção de águas por coprecipitação com sulfato férrico

The oxidation of arsenic (As(III) to As(V)) in water samples was performed by heterogeneous photocatalysis using a TiO2 film immobilized inside a photochemical reactor. After oxidation, As(V) was removed from the water samples by coprecipitation with ferric sulfate. The final conditions of oxidation and arsenic removal (TiO2 film prepared with a suspension: 10% (w/v); pH: 7.0; oxidation time: 30 min and Fe3+ concentration: 50 mg L-1) were applied in natural water samples which were supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 of As(III) to verify the influence of the matrix. After treatment, more than 99% of arsenic was removed from the water.

Degradação de benzeno, tolueno e xilenos em águas contaminadas por gasolina, utilizando-se processos foto-Fenton

In this work the potentiality of photo-Fenton processes were investigated toward the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons (BTXs) from water contaminated with gasoline. The main results demonstrated that BTXs can be quickly degraded by photo-Fenton process assisted by solar or artificial UV-A radiation, degradation that leads to generation of characteristic phenolic transient species (ie. phenol, hydroquinone and catechol). In the treatment of contaminated water by photo-Fenton processes assisted by solar light, complete BTXs removal was observed in reaction times of about 5 min. Mineralization of about 90% was also observed by applying a multiple H2O2 addition system.

Contaminação de produtos de higiene e cosméticos por n-nitrosaminas

N-nitrosamines are carcinogenic compounds that have been found during the last three decades in a variety of consumer products, including cosmetic and personal care products, and their raw materials. These compounds are formed from amine precursors and nitrosating agents present in the formulations. This paper reviews the formation and occurrence of N-nitrosamines in cosmetic products, as well as presents considerations about analytical, toxicological and regulatory aspects.

Sistema limpo em linha para extração em fase sólida de contaminantes emergentes em águas naturais

A solid-phase in-line extraction system for water samples containing low levels of emerging contaminants is described. The system was specially developed for large volume samples (up to 4 L) using commercial solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. Four sets containing PTFE-made connectors, brass adapters and ball valves were used to fit SPE cartridges and sample bottles to a 4-port manifold attached to a 20 L carboy. A lab-made vacuum device was connected to the manifold cap. The apparatus is robust and less expensive than the typical available system. Its also provides less experimental handling, avoiding cross contamination and sample losses.

Avaliação da contaminação de metais em sedimentos superficiais das praias do lago de Itaipu

This work was performed to evaluate the distribution of metals Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the sediment surface in the Itaipu Lake-PR-Brazil. It was also performed to measurement the pH, phosphorus, organic carbon and particle size. In accordance of international criteria of quality of sediment, the results indicate an anthropogenic collaborations since some metals reached an excessive values. The factor of contamination was also used to evaluate the levels of contamination. The levels of Cu and Pb indicate a moderate contamination, so that it's possible to do harm to the balance of the ecosystem studied.

Estrogênios em águas naturais e tratadas da região de Jaboticabal - São Paulo

The aim of this work was to analyze 17 β estradiol and estrone, natural estrogenic hormones present in domestic effluents and animal excreta, in the public water supply system of Jaboticabal, SP. The results have shown the presence of estrogens in 22% of the samples in concentrations from 6,8 ng L-1 (treated water) to 30,6 ng L-1 (riverhead) for 17 β estradiol and 600 ng L-1 of estrone (stream), respectively. We concluded that animal wastes, discharges from the wastewater treatment station, and discharges of domestic effluent without treatment from rural proprieties were probably the cause of this contamination.

Avaliação da influência de sulfetos solúveis na complexação do cobre em águas superficiais empregando métodos voltamétricos

In this work a sulfide quantification protocol using voltammetric methods was developed to evaluate the effect of dissolved sulfides on copper complexation. On the basis of pH, sulfide release from the dissociation of specific metal sulfide complexes can be electrochemically measured and then removed (as H2S) by a N2 purge. Cathodic stripping square wave voltammetry (CSSWV) was conducted to quantify Cu sulfides complexes which dissociate at pH < 5.0 during the process of acid titration.

Resposta antioxidante, formação de fitoquelatinas e composição de pigmentos fotoprotetores em Brachiaria decumbens Stapf submetida à contaminação com Cd e Zn

In order to evaluate the response of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf to Cd and Zn, plants were hydroponically exposed to 50 and 100 mmol L-1 of Cd and 500 and 2000 mmol L-1 of Zn. Metal content of shoots and roots was determined, as well as alterations in photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments, antioxidant metabolites and phytochelatin synthesis. Plants concentrated elevated levels of Cd and Zn, especially in roots. Zinc exposure negatively affected chlorophyll and β-carotene content, whereas the highest dose of Cd reduced VAZ cycle pigments and tocopherol levels in plant shoots. Cadmium was the maximum inducer of the phytochelatin synthesis pathway.

Um sistema microcontrolado para o monitoramento on-line, in situ e remoto de pH, condutividade e temperatura de águas

A portable microcontrolled system is proposed to monitor conductivity, temperature and pH in on-line, in situ and remote way from a water reservoir faraway 200 m. The system comprises two modules: one for data reception (located in laboratory) and another for data acquisition/transmission (located near water reservoir). It uses a microcontroller and a transceiver to remote data transmission/reception by radio frequency. Variations of water parameters were simultaneously monitored without interruption during a period of ten hours with a relative error about 4.0 %. The developed system showed simple, stable, accurate, robust and low-cost to determine parameters of water in field.

Composição química das águas pluviais e deposição atmosférica anual na bacia do Alto Sorocaba (SP)

Two sampling points were chosen and forty samples were collected between January and December 2006 at Alto Sorocaba basin. The rainwater pH varied from 5.46 to 6.36 (Ibiúna) and 5.26 to 6.81 (Itupararanga), being Ca2+ the main ion responsible for controlling the rainwater pH. The ionic concentrations decreased in the following order: Ca2 +>Na+> Mg2+>K+ for cations and SO4(2-)>HCO3->NO 3->Cl- >PO4(3-) for anions. The annual atmospheric deposition appeared to be controlled mostly by following sources: mining activities and cement factories (Ca2+ and HCO3-), natural soil dust (Na+, Mg2+ and HCO3-), fossil fuel burning (SO4(2-)) and agriculture activities (K+, NO3- and PO4(3-)).

Ocorrência de agrotóxicos em águas subterrâneas de áreas adjacentes a lavouras de arroz irrigado

The objective this study was to monitor pesticide residues in groundwater at three different times and in seven regions producing rice in southern Brazil, in the 2007/08 season. Imazethapyr and fipronil were found in all regions studied. All groundwater samples from the Planície Costeira Interna to Lagoa dos Patos and Santa Catarina contained at least one pesticide. The lowest number of contaminated samples were detected in the Southern region. The highest frequency of contaminated samples was found after drainage of the rice fields. Only fipronil exceeded limits of potability, in 27% of samples, according European Community criteria.