Nitrification processes in groundwaters evidenced by modification on the U contents and U-234/U-238 activity ratios

Groundwaters from the Botucatu-Piramboia aquifer system located at the Parana sedimentary basin in Brazil and sampled at Ribeirao Preto city, São Paulo State, were chemically and isotopically analysed, with the aim of evaluating how uranium isotopes U-234 and U-238 can be utilized to monitor the progress of nitrate, the main indicator of agrichemical pollution into an aquifer. Based on the isotope dilution analysis, the U-234/U-238 activity ratio and U content data in the groundwaters were utilized to deduce their proportions in a mixture, suggesting that the water not affected significantly by nitrification still dominates the exploitation system involving the studied wells.

U-ages in soils and groundwater evidencing wet periods 400-600 kyr ago in southeast Brazil

U-238 and its radiogenic daughter U-234 have been utilized for dating soil formation and groundwater residence time during the last 1.5 million years, in this case based on the U-clissolution/precipitation occurring during modifications of the oxidation-reduction conditions. In this paper, we report a 400-600 kyr proxy of wet periods from sediments occurring in a soil profile developed over rocks outcropping at the Parana sedimentary basin in Brazil, and from groundwater exploited of Guarani aquifer at the same basin. The approaches indicated successful use of the U-modeled ages for suggesting wet periods exceeding the past 116-210 kyr from previous studies. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Radon and progeny (Pb-214 and Bi-214) in urban water-supply systems of São Paulo State, Brazil

Many water-supply systems in South America utilize the waters of the Guarani aquifer at least as part of their networks. However, there is little present knowledge in Brazil of the factors affecting Rn presence in the water supplied for end-users, despite the economic importance of Guarani aquifer. Rn-222 analyzes of 162 water samples were performed at 8 municipalities in São Paulo State, Brazil, with the aim of investigating the major factors affecting its presence in solution. The Rn-222 activity concentration ranged from 0.04 up to 204.9 Bq/L, with three samples exceeding the World Health Organization maximum limit of 100Bq/L. Aeration was confirmed as the most important factor for Rn release, as expected due to its gaseous nature. Accumulation in pipes and stratification in the water column were other significant factors explaining the data obtained in some circumstances. The Rn daughters Ph-214 and Bi-214 were also determined in a set of selected samples and their presence was directly related to the occurrence of Rn dissolved in water. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aplicação de ensaios de resistividade na caracterização do Sistema Aquífero Barreiras / Marituba em Maceió - AL

A caracterização do Sistema Aquífero Barreiras / Marituba, maior fonte de abastecimento de água da cidade de Maceió, capital de Alagoas, Brasil, é importante para fornecer subsídios para uma utilização racional e sustentável desse recurso. O arcabouço tectônico e estratigráfico da área construído por meio de perfis de poços, análise de elementos estruturais e mapeamento geológico propõe um modelo com uma série de grabens e horsts. Com o objetivo de confirmar a presença de estruturas delimitando blocos estruturais e refinar o modelo foram realizados ensaios de sondagem elétrica vertical e caminhamento elétrico dipolo-dipolo. Os resultados dos ensaios geofísicos confirmaram a existência de zonas mais condutoras, que caracterizam as zonas de falhas normais que delimitam os blocos estruturais. A integração dos dados geológicos e estruturais aos resultados geofísicos confirmaram a existência de um modelo estrutural com blocos escalonados, que influenciam fortemente o comportamento do sistema águas subterrâneas.

Well productivity controlling factors in crystalline terrains of southeastern Brazil

Over the last decades, increasing water demands have fostered research to obtain high well yields in crystalline terrains where, besides the intrinsic properties of rocks, the groundwater flow depends on several factors. The depth of the wells, the lithotypes, the presence and thickness of sedimentary coverings and weathered layers, the landforms, the geological structures, and the effects of tectonic stresses are among the most investigated factors considered as determinant of well productivity. The influence of these factors on productivity of wells that exploit the Crystalline Aquifer System in the Jundiai-River Catchment, southeastern Brazil, is investigated in this work. The largest region of the studied area is located on the Precambrian Basement, partially covered by sedimentary deposits. The results show that the sedimentary deposits and the weathered layer are important for high well yield, but it also depends on the existence of a net of open fractures, in order to maintain high productivity. The sites that have more possibility of occurrence of such structures are the regional shear and fault zones and other minor structures with NW-SE and E-W directions, which characterize areas subjected to transtensional stress related to the neotectonics.

Influence of sugar cane vinasse on the sorption and degradation of herbicides in soil under controlled conditions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The behavior of dissolved uranium in groundwaters of the Morro do Ferro thorium deposit, Brazil

Groundwater samples were collected for several months in boreholes drilled at Morro do Ferro, a thorium and rare earth deposit located on the Poços de Caldas Plateau, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. An aquifer system has developed in the weathered mantle due to in situ intense alteration. The weathered zone includes a thick argillaceous laterite greater than 100 m thick. The U content and 324U/238U activity ratio were measured in the groundwater samples and in spoil samples of a borehole drilled in the ore body. Some possible mechanisms related to the mobilization of uranium are considered such as complexation with humic substances and adsorption by clays. © 1989.

Pré-oxidação e adsorção em carvão ativado granular para remoção dos herbicidas Diuron e Hexazinona de água subterrânea

The cultivation of sugarcane demands the use of herbicides such as Diuron and Hexazinone. Some supply wells from Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, built in the Guarani Aquifer are located in recharge points, and the presence of sandy Quartzarenic Neosol in these areas increases the vulnerability of the groundwater to contamination from herbicides This paper reports the water quality monitored in some wells located in the recharge area and the removal of Diuron and Hexazinone by means of adsorption in granular activated carbon (GAC), preceded or not by preoxidation with chlorine and chlorine dioxide in a pilot plant. The results indicated that Diuron was more strongly adsorbed than Hexazinone and that the saturation time of the GAC in the test with preoxidation was shorter than in the test without preoxidation, which may have occurred mainly due to the formation of by-products that competed with the adsorption of the herbicides.

Groundwater quality on a waste disposal area due to sand mining activities in São Paulo state, Brazil

This investigation reports the results of a study realized in an area related to the development of sand mining activities, which belongs to Sibelco Mineração Ltd. The site is located around Analândia municipality, nearly in the center of São Paulo State, Brazil. Hydrochemical analyses of groundwater were realized under different periods of time, with the aim of evaluating the possibility of release of several constituents to the liquid phase, which may be a source of pollution of the surface hydrological resources and of the deeper Guarani aquifer. This is because the site is located at the recharge area of Guarani aquifer and some tributaries from Corumbataí river may also be suffering contamination, implying on the impoverishment of the water quality that are very important resources in the region, as they are extensively used for drinking purposes, among others.© 2011 WIT Press.

Radon emissions related to the granitic Precambrian shield in southern Brazil

The equivalent uranium (eU) activity concentration was analysed in selected granite samples at several sites in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, to obtain information on the radon (222Rn) generation by the aquifer rock matrices. Radon analyses of ground water and soil samples were also performed. Several samples exhibited a dissolved 222Rn activity concentration exceeding the World Health Organization maximum limit of 100 Bq l-1. The dissolved radon content in ground waters from the Fractured Precambrian Aquifer System exhibited a direct significant correlation with the eU in the rock matrices, which is a typical result of water-rock interactions. Variation in the soil's porosity was confirmed as an important factor for 222Rn release, as expected, due to its gaseous nature. Thus, although the calcic-alkaline to alkaline Precambrian granitoid rocks of the study area are important reservoirs for underground resources, they can release high amounts of radon gas into the liquid phase. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Diagnóstico do uso do solo na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão do Paraíso no município de São Manuel (SP), por meio de geotecnologias

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Avaliação hidrogeológica em área de assentamento

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Avaliação da vulnerabilidade natural à contaminação do sistema aquífero Bauru, na região centro-sul do estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hidrogeologia do Sistema Aqüífero Bauru no município de São José do Rio Preto (SP)

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Hidrogeoquímica do aquífero Adamantina na área urbana do município de Bauru/SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)