Eletrodos de pasta de carbono modificados com ácidos húmicos: estudo e determinação de metais em meio aquoso

Since 1992, the carbon paste electrodes modified with humic acids have been used for studying the behavior of metals in aqueous solutions. Many parameters influence the performance of the electrodes, such as the humic acid ratio, the nature of the humic acid, the accumulation time, the pH, the scan rate, and the preparation of the electrodes itself. There are various methos of preparing the electrodes. The goal of this paper is to review some of them. The advantages of using electrodes modified with humic acids as electrochemical sensors for evaluating metals in aqueous solution are stressed.

Estudo dos efeitos do silício e do fósforo na redução da disponibilidade de metais pesados em área de mineração

This study was developed with a soil contaminated by heavy metals, with the purpose of evaluating the action of silicon and phosphorus as protection agents through simple extractions by DTPA. The collected samples were prepared and incubated with five doses of silicon and five doses of phosphorus, with four replicates, amounting to 100 experimental units. After 30 and 60 days, samples of each treatment were collected, submitted to pH analyses and simple extraction by DTPA. The amounts of DTPA-extracted metals depended on the doses of silicon and phosphorus and on the pH. Treatments with silicon and phosphorus was efficient in decreasing the availability of heavy metals in soil.

Variabilidade espacial e sazonal da concentração de elementos-traço em sedimentos do sistema estuarino de Santos-Cubatão (SP)

Multi-element analyses of sediment samples from the Santos-Cubatão Estuarine System were carried out to investigate the spatial and seasonal variability of trace-element concentrations. The study area contains a rich mangrove ecosystem that is a habitat for tens of thousands of resident and migratory birds, some of them endangered globally. Enrichments of metals in fine-grained surface sediments are, in decreasing order, Hg, Mn, La, Ca, Sr, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ba, Cu, Cr, Fe, Nb, Y, Ni and Ga, relative to pre-industrial background levels. The maximum enrichment ranged from 49 (Hg) to 3.1 (Ga). Mercury concentrations were greater in the Cubatão river than in other sites, while the other elements showed greater concentrations in the Morrão river. Concentrations of Mn were significantly greater in winter and autumn than in summer and spring. However, other elements (e.g. Cd and Pb) showed the opposite, with greater concentrations in summer and spring. This study suggests that seasonal changes in physical and chemical conditions may affect the degree of sediment enrichment and therefore make the assessment of contamination difficult. Consequently, these processes need to be considered when assessing water quality and the potential contamination of biota.

Estudo da labilidade de Cu(II), Cd(II), Mn(II) e Ni(II) em substâncias húmicas aquáticas utilizando-se membranas celulósicas organomodificadas

In this work commercial filters papers were organomodified with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTS), aiming at the development of a new analytical procedure for in-situ speciation of labile and inert metal species in aquatic systems. Parameters that exert influence on the metal lability such as pH, chelating time, concentration and characteristics of the organic matter were studied in the laboratory using tests for metal recuperation. The results showed slower kinetics for Cu ion than for Ni, Mn and Cd in the absence of aquatic humic substances (AHS). The relative lability observed for complexed metals in aquatic humic substances using organomodified filter papers was Cu>>Cd>Ni>Mn. The pH values, structural characteristics and concentration of AHS exert strong influence on the lability of the metals. The results obtained showed that the utilization of organomodified filter papers can be an interesting and promising alternative for in situ characterization of metal lability in aquatic systems.

A simple and rapid method for urinary acetone analysis by headspace/gas chromatography

Urinalysis of acetone is important to monitor workers occupationally exposed to acetone and/or isopropanol, as well as in diagnosis of some diseases related to lipid metabolism impairment. This work shows a sensitive, simple and rapid static headspace-gas chromatographic procedure for quantitative determination of acetone in urine. The method was applied to measure acetone in 207 samples from general population volunteers, resulting in a mean level of 1.12 mg/L (± 0.47) and a range of 0.20 - 1.95 mg/L. The method is reproducible and reliable, making it suitable for routine analysis of acetone in urine.

Estudo da mobilização de metais e elementos traços em ambientes aquáticos do semi-árido brasileiro aplicando análises de componentes principais

The spatial and temporal retention of metals has been studied in water and sediments of the Gavião River, Anagé and Tremedal Reservoirs, located in the semi-arid region, Bahia - Brazil, in order to identify trends in the fluxes of metals from the sediments to the water column. The determination of metals was made by ICP OES and ET AAS. The application of statistical methods showed that this aquatic system presents suitable conditions to move Cd2+ and Pb2+ from the water column to the sediment.

Quantificação simultânea de indicadores biológicos de exposição a solventes orgânicos por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

Biological monitoring is very important to guarantee health to workers. This method was developed for simultaneous determination of xylene, toluene, styrene and ethylbenzene metabolites. It involves only dilution and centrifugation of urine samples and improved chromatographic conditions. Analyses show recovery > 95%; r² > 0.99; intermediate precision CV% < 6% and % bias < ±10. Exposed subjects presented at least three metabolites in urine. The method proved to be feasible, reliable and important in biological monitoring, especially in exposure to organic solvent mixtures.

Fracionamento de metais pesados em solo contaminado antes e após cultivo de arroz

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the distribution of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn among the different fractions of contaminated soil, before and after rice cultivation. Seven soil samples with different degrees of contamination were studied using a randomized experimental design, with four replicates. Using an ICP-OES we analyzed the contents of heavy metals in fractions of soil, the organic matter therein, the oxides and the residual content before and after rice cultivation. The largest concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn in the soil are found in the fractions with stable chemical bonds.

Avaliação do risco ambiental em sedimento dos lagos do Riacho Cambé, em Londrina, pela distribuição de metais

The proposal of this study was to obtain the profile of these metals distribution Al, Co, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co and Zn in sediments from lakes in the city of Londrina-PR and evaluate the environmental risk resulting from such distribution. The parameters of comparison were the values of geological occurrence of these metals in soil from this region, the concentrations of metals in soil samples in the surroundings of the sediments collection points, the guiding values from CETESB and resulting rate risk from RAC criterion application. The result shows that the numerical scale RAC alone is incomplete to this evaluation.

Avaliação da qualidade de sedimentos - estudo de caso: sub-bacia do Ribeirão Espírito Santo, afluente do Rio São Francisco

This study evaluated the environmental impact resulting from surface water and sediment contamination by metals in a watershed affected by a tailing basin that controls effluents coming from a zinc-ore beneficiation plant. The studies combined assessments of sediment chemistry (exceedances of sediment quality guidelines), benthic assemblage structure and acute and chronic ecotoxicity. The results showed that the levels of metal contamination in sediments are not yet enough to cause deleterious effects to the biota. However, the ecotoxicity tests indicated the occurrence of chronic effects, demonstrating that other factors, as the use of fertilizers, could also be a source of contamination.

Daño oxidativo en la microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata expuesta a aguas receptoras de un efluente minero en del Río Blanco (V Región, Chile)

In this investigation antioxidant response and toxicity of metals in receiving water effluent miner in the Blanco river in Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata was assessed. The catalase activity, lipid damage through Tbars, the growth rate of was determined. The result showed an inhibition of the growth rate of P. subcapitata which correlated with increased catalase activity and the lipid liperoxidation. These responses were correlated with the concentrations of copper and iron.

Desenvolvimento e aplicação de sistema passivo de coleta de poluentes atmosféricos para monitoramento de Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn e particulados totais

The objective of this study was to assess a new monitoring technique of particulate and trace metals in the atmosphere via the use of a passive sampler of air pollutants in the city of Goiânia. The average particulate weight and average concentrations of metals Fe, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Cd were 0.1104 g and 257.5; 23.4; 17.8; 6.7; 1.9; 0.8; 0.2 μg/m²/day, respectively. Higher Pb and Cr concentrations were obtained in areas with intense traffic. This study revealed that it is possible to monitor trace metals with passive sampling, developed at a low cost and operational facility.

Retenção de metais pesados em micélio de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares

This work evaluated the kinetics as well as the retention capacity of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mycelium. The metal retention is a fast process with Cu being retained 3, 30, and 60 times faster than Zn, Cd, and Pb, respectively. Metal retention capacity varied amongst the different tested AMF species and decreased in the following order: Cu>Zn>>Cd>Pb. The Glomus clarum mycelium showed the highest retention capacity for Cu, Cd and Pb, whereas Zn was mostly retained by Gigaspora gigantea mycelium. The simultaneous application of all tested metals in solution decreased Cu and Zn retention by AMF mycelium. The high retention capacity of Cu and Zn by mycelium of G. clarum and G. gigantea suggests a promising use of these isolates in phytoremediation.

Avaliação e identificação de parâmetros importantes para a qualidade de corpos d'água no semiárido baiano. Estudo de caso: bacia hidrográfica do rio Salitre

Objective of this work was identifying superficial water quality parameters, significant to semi-arid hydrographic basins, minimizing costs of water monitoring. The Salitre river basin, an important sub-basin of the São Francisco river, was used as a case study. STD, Cl-, DO, BOD, pH, NO3-, PO4(3-), Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb were considered the most significant parameters, with concentration levels found in some stretches of the basin not compliant with the current legislation. Some of the Salitre river basin sediments may represent a risk to the quality of the water body in relation to levels of nickel and zinc.

Aplicação da casca de arroz na adsorção dos íons Cu2+, Al3+, Ni2+ e Zn2+

The potential use of rice husk as biosorbent to remove Cu2+, Al3+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions was investigated under both noncompetitive and competitive conditions. The biosorbent was used in the form of particles with size smaller than 0.5 μm and in the concentration of 500 mg L-1 (dry weight). The experiments were performed using batch adsorption technique for concentrations of 10, 30 and 70 mg L-1 of metal ions at pH 4.0 and 5.0. The chemical speciation of metals in the experimental conditions used in this work was predicted by the software Visual MINTEQ 2.6.