Industrial effluents with high concentrations of heavy metals are widespread pollutants of great concerns as they are known to be persistent and non-degradable. Continuous monitoring and treatment of the effluents become pertinent because of their impacts on wastewater treatment plants. The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between heavy metal pollution in water and the location of industries in order to ascertain the effectiveness of the municipal waste water treatment plant. Heavy metal identification and physico-chemical analysis were done using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and multi-parameter probe respectively. Correlation coefficients of the measured values were done to investigate the effect of the industrial effluents on the treatment plants. Heavy metal resistant bacteria were identified and characterised by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Leeuwkuil wastewater treatment plants were effective in maintaining temperature, pH, and chemical oxygen demand within South Africa green drop and SAGG Standards whereas the purification plant was effective in maintaining the values of Cu, Zn, Al, temperature, BOD, COD, and TDS within the SANS and WHO standard for potable water. This findings indicated the need for the treatment plants to be reviewed.The industrial wastewater were identified as a point source of heavy metal pollution that influenced Leeuwkuil wastewater treatment plants and the purification plants in Vaal, Vereenining South Africa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus sp. strain and Bacillus toyonensis that showed 100% similarity were found to be resistant to Al, Cu, Pb and Zn. These identified bacteria can be considered for further study in bioremediation. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

El reg amb aigües residuals tractades s'ha convertit avui en dia en una necessitat, ja que permet preservar els recursos hídrics de més qualitat i constitueix una alternativa necessària per al manteniment de regadius tradicionals. En aquesta tesi s'avaluen els efectes del reg amb aigües residuals tractades d'origen domèstic sobre les característiques químiques i biològiques de diferents tipologies de sòls a l'illa de Mallorca, així com sobre el creixement dels cultius i la seva composició mineral mitjançant diferents estudis de camp i en cultius en contenidors. En general no s'han apreciat efectes negatius importants causats pel reg amb aquestes aigües excepte alguns valors puntualment més elevats de crom i plom que es relacionen amb aportacions d'aigües poc depurades realitzades en el passat. Segons els resultats obtinguts amb el reg amb aigües residuals tractades d'origen domèstic es contribueix a millorar la qualitat del sòl i s'aporten part dels nutrients que requereixen els cultius per al seu creixement. / El riego con aguas residuales tratadas se ha convertido hoy en día en una necesidad, ya que permite preservar los recursos hídricos de más calidad y constituye una alternativa necesaria para el mantenimiento de regadíos tradicionales. En esta tesis se evalúan los efectos del riego con aguas residuales tratadas de origen doméstico sobre las características químicas i biológicas de diferentes tipologías de suelos en la isla de Mallorca, así como sobre el crecimiento de los cultivos y su composición mineral mediante diferentes estudios de campo i en cultivos en contenedores. En general no se han apreciado efectos negativos importantes causados por el riego con estas aguas, excepto algunos valores puntualmente más elevados de cromo y plomo que se relaciona con aportaciones de aguas poco depuradas realizadas en el pasado. Según los resultados obtenidos con el riego con aguas residuales tratadas de origen doméstico se contribuye a mejorar la calidad del suelo y se aportan parte de los nutrientes que requieren los cultivos para su crecimiento. / Nowadays the irrigation with treated waste water has become a necessity, not only, because it allows preserving fresh water but it also constitutes an important alternative to the maintenance of traditional irrigating lands. Considering different chemical and biological characteristics of soil samples of Mallorca island (Spain), this thesis investigates the effect of irrigation with treated domestic waste water on soil properties. In addition, several studies were conducted in a series of pot experiments and land conditions to monitor the crops growth and evaluate their mineral compositions. In general, no negative effects caused by this type of irrigation have been observed, except of some high values of chromium and lead which were related to past irrigation realized with untreated effluents. According to our results, the irrigation with treated domestic wastewater contributes to improve soil quality and supplies part of the nutrient requirements of the crops.

The rational development of bees is one of the most promising agricultural activities, since it is essentially self-sustaining family and therefore helps to maintain and restore the environment, through their role in pollination, and guarantee income to the producer who employs his family on it. Honey is the main product of this activity, being generated by honey bees - native or Africanized. Its chemical composition is quite varied, depending mainly of floral, entomological and geographical origin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of honey from different entomologic sources of the State of Alagoas, in the dry season of 2008/09, by physico-chemical and microbiological criteria, and know their likely actions antioxidant and antimicrobial. Thus, 43 samples of honey (14 of Apis mellifera, 22 of M. scutellaris, 3 of M. quadrifasciata, 2 of M. subnitida e 2 of Plebeia sp) were collected from different municipalities of Alagoas. In relation to the physicochemical parameters, it were evaluated the content of reducing carbohydrates, total carbohydrates, sucrose apparent, moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, acidity, content of total protein, concentration of proline, diastase activity and hydroxymethylfurfural. Regarding to the antioxidant activity, it was evaluated in qualitative and quantitative terms of the content of total phenols and flavonoids, capture of the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhdrazil (DPPH) and through the antioxidant power of reduction of Fe3 + &#8594; Fe2 + (FRAP method). It was also evaluated the microbiological safety of honeys through the detection of spores of Clostridium sp., and through the profile of various antimicrobial. We used the nonparametric test of Kruskal Wallis to 95% (p <0.05), because the data did not show normal distribution. It was also performed the correlation of Spearman to 95% significance, p <0.05, and 99% significance, p <0.01. With regard to the physico-chemical parameters, only electrical conductivity and sucrose showed no statistically significant difference (p <0.05) among the different species of honey bees. On the antioxidant activity, the honey of A. mellifera showed higher activity than those of natives, except in the case of honey of Plebeia sp, who stood out in a number of parameters compared to the other native bees. It was found also that the honey of native bees showed slight difference in comparizon to the honeys of A. mellifera regarding to its antimicrobial action, and it was not seen this variation on the activity of heat-resistant fungi, which were also much less sensitive than the bacteria to aqueous solutions of honey (25%). Therefore, the antibacterial action is probably due to the synergistic effect of high concentration of H+ ions (low pH), carbohydrates (osmotic potential) and phenolic compounds that bind to glucose forming units of its cell wall, preventing their proper proliferation. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / A criação racional de abelhas é uma das atividades agropecuárias mais promissoras, visto que é essencialmente familiar e auto-sustentável, pois auxilia na manutenção e recuperação do meio ambiente através de seu papel na polinização e garante renda ao produtor que emprega nela a sua família. O mel é o principal produto dessa atividade, sendo gerado por abelhas melíferas - nativas ou africanizadas. Sua composição química é bastante variada, dependendo principalmente da origem floral, entomológica e geográfica. O propósito deste trabalho foi avaliar qualidade do mel de diferentes origens entomológicas do Estado de Alagoas, na estação das secas de 2008/09, por meio de parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos, além de conhecer suas prováveis ações antioxidante e antimicrobiana. Para tanto, coletou-se 43 amostras de méis (14 de Apis mellifera, 22 de M. scutellaris, 03 de M. quadrifasciata, 02 de M. subnitida e 02 de Plebeia sp.) em diferentes municípios alagoanos. Em relação aos parâmetros físico-químicos, avaliou-se o conteúdo de glicídios redutores, glicídios totais, sacarose aparente, umidade, condutividade elétrica, pH, acidez, teor de proteínas totais, concentração de prolina, hidroximetilfurfural e atividade diastásica. Em relação à atividade antioxidante avaliou-se quantitativamente e qualitativamente o conteúdo de fenóis e flavonóides totais, captura do radical 2,2-difenil-1- picril-hidrazil (DPPH), além do método de redução do Fe3+ &#8594; Fe2+ (método FRAP). Avaliou-se, ainda, a segurança microbiológica dos méis através da detecção de esporos de Clostridium sp., além do perfil antibacteriano e antifúngico dos diferentes méis. Foi utilizado o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal Wallis a 95 % de probabilidade (p< 0,05), pois os dados não apresentaram distribuição normal, realizando-se, ainda, a correlação de Spearman a 95 % de significância, p<0,05 e 99% de significância, p<0,01. No tocante aos parâmetros físico-químicos, apenas condutividade elétrica e sacarose não apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significativa (p<0,05) entre os méis das distintas espécies de abelhas. Em relação à atividade antioxidante, os méis de A. mellifera apresentaram ação superior do que os das nativas, exceto no caso dos méis de Plebeia sp., que se destacaram em uma série de parâmetros em comparação com o das demais abelhas nativas. Verificouse, ainda, que os méis de abelhas nativas apresentaram maior atividade antimicrobiana em relação aos méis de A. mellifera. Portanto, a ação antibacteriana provavelmente se deve ao efeito sinergístico da alta concentração de íons H+ (baixo pH), glicídios (potencial osmótico) e compostos fenólicos que se ligam às unidades glicídicas formadoras de sua parede celular, inviabilizando sua adequada proliferação.

Inadequately treated wastewater effluent is harmful to the receiving aquatic environment. Water-borne chemicals and microbial pathogens pose a health risk to anyone living downstream from sewage treatment facilities. This study assessed the effluent from a package plant with a design capacity of 48kℓ/24 hours, servicing 12 household units and a restaurant in Mogale City. Over a 12 month period, fortnightly water samples were collected from ten selected sites including two boreholes, a river and two dams. Standard parameters including physical (pH, EC, temperature, DO and SS), chemical (nutrient concentration) and biological (bacterial counts) were analysed using handheld meters, standard membrane filter techniques and colorimetric methods. One borehole was affected by pathogen and nitrate runoff from an adjacent poultry farm. If regularly monitored, the package plant effectively removed microbes (most samples contained 0 cfu/100mℓ) but above limit COD, ammonia and phosphate was released in the effluent (with maximum values of 322 mg/ℓ, 42.52 mg/ℓ and 7.18 mg/ℓ, respectively). Generally, river and dam water at the site was of good quality. / Environmental Science / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:08:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paulo Sergio Theodoro.pdf: 1744465 bytes, checksum: 132da5a46d9247da552f8a27ee087fed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-18 / The aim of this work is devoted to reduction of the environmental impact of galvanic industry effluents. An electro-coagulation (EC) laboratory scale system using iron plates electrodes was studied for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants as a by-product from the treatment of galvanic process based-platining industry. An EC reactor consisting of a 1,5 L conical container and a set of seven firmly assembled iron electrode plates, which were parallelly arranged to each other and electrically operated in mono-polar mode, was built. A 1.0 cm gap between the anode and cathode plates using a non-conducting horizontal support was chosen in order to operate the EC reactor in a low electrical current range. A long, electrical rotating cilindrical rotor, with 2,7cm blades at the end of it, made in non-conducting material, was used to turn mechanically the effluent around the rotor axis during the EC treatment. In addition, a 225 cm2 active electrode surface area was kept during the whole EC experiments. In order to obtain optimal values of reaction time, electrical current, rotor angular velocity, and initial effluent pH, a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was applied. A wide range of reaction time (10-60 min), electrical current (0.3-3.0 A), rotor angular velocity (50-300 rpm), and initial efluent pH (3-10) were used, performing a total of 28 runs with 24+2x4 axial points and 4 central points. Physico-chemical parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, turbidity, total solids, and metals (Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu) were used as response variables. The measurements of physico-chemical parameter and metal concentration values in non- and treated waste waters were carried out by applying the Standard Methodology and the Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (SR-TXRF) technique, respectively. Using the Statistica software, a 95%-significance level (p<0.05) of the predicted models and interaction effects between reactor operating variables on response variables were evaluated using 3-D response surface curves and analysis of variance. With the factorial design was obtained the following optimum conditions of the reactor, 35 minutes for the time of electrolysis, 170 rpm for agitation, 2.2 A for the electric current and 6.5 for pH. Under these conditions the removal of color and turbidity reached 100%, another considerable value was the removal of around 90% of COD and total solids. Moreover, a removal of around 99% of Zn and Cu was obtained, whereas for Cr and Ni obtained a removal of 100%. Finally, the results of technical and economic analysis showed the cost obtained by the treatment, indicating clearly that the method of electro-coagulation is very promising for industrial application. / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo remover os poluentes de um efluente de galvanização, de modo a reduzir o impacto ambiental dos efluentes da indústria galvânica. Para a remoção dos poluentes, orgânicos e inorgânicos, gerado nos processos de galvanização foi aplicada a eletrocoagulação (EC) em escala de laboratório utilizando eletrodos de ferro. Foi construído um reator de EC, constituído por um recipiente cônico com capacidade de 1,5 L e um eletrodo de ferro montado firmemente com seis placas de ferro, que foram dispostas paralelamente com uma distância de 1(um) centímetro, operado em modo mono-polar. O sistema de agitação mecânico foi construído com duas pás de geometria cilíndrica de 2,7 cm e uma haste de 31,5 cm feito com material não condutor acoplado em um motor elétrico. Durante o experimento da EC foi utilizada uma área efetiva de 225 cm2 do eletrodo. A fim de obter valores ideais do tempo de eletrolise, corrente elétrica, agitação e pH inicial do efluente, foi aplicado o planejamento estatístico composto central (DCCR) com fatorial 24+2X4 pontos axiais + 4 ponto centrais, totalizando 28 ensaios experimentais. Os valores aplicados as variáveis independentes foram de 0,3 a 3 A para a corrente, de 10 a 60 min. para o tempo de eletrolise, de 3 a 10 para o pH inicial e agitação como valores entre 50 e 300 rpm. Foram utilizadas como variáveis resposta os parâmetros físico químico tais como, a demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), cor, turbidez, Sólidos totais e concentração dos metais Cr, Ni, Zn e Cu.Todos os parâmetros físico-químicos foram determinados através o Método Padrão para análise de água, enquanto que as concentrações dos metais foram determinadas através da técnica de Fluorescência de Raios X por Reflexão Total, (SR-TXRF). Utilizando o software Statistica, com nível de significância de 95% (p <0,05), os modelos preditos e os efeitos de interação entre as variáveis de operação do reator e as variáveis respostas foram avaliados, utilizando as curvas 3-D de superfície de resposta e a análise de variância. Com o planejamento fatorial foi obtido as seguintes condições ótimas de trabalho do reator, 35 minutos para o tempo de eletrolise, 170 rpm para a agitação, 2,2 A para a corrente elétrica e 6,5 para o pH. Nestas condições a remoção da cor e turbidez alcançaram 100%, outro valor considerável foi a remoção em torno de 90% da DQO e sólidos totais. Além disso, uma remoção em torno de 99% de Zn e Cu também foi obtida, enquanto que para o Cr e Ni obteve-se uma remoção de 100%. Finalmente, os resultados da análise técnico-econômica mostraram o baixo custo obtido pelo tratamento, evidenciando claramente que o método da eletrocoagulação é muito promissor para aplicação industrial.

<p>Тема докторске дисертације је анализа квалитета воде Великог бачког канала, могућности санације и одрживо коришћење његових развојних потенцијала на каналској мрежи и њеном непосредном приобаљу. На основу расположивих података за десетогодишњи период (2000-2009) указало се на проблеме изазване одређеним загађивачима на целој дужини тока и анализиран је утицај најзначајнијих загађивача у насељима која се налазе у непосредној близини канала. Подаци који указују на квалитативну анализу воде помогли су да се направи корелација између квалитета каналске воде и ставова локалног становништва у погледу коришћења Великог бачког канала у привредне сврхе. Циљ дисертације је да дефинише квалитет каналске воде коришћењем хидролошких и статистичких метода који се тренутно широко примењују у многим истраживањима, као и да укаже који од метода дају најбоље резултате. У циљу добијања неопходних резултата, коришћено је више метода, као што су: Serbian Water Quality Index (SWQI), применa hi-квадрат теста, дескриптивна статистичка анализа, t-тест за независне узорке, једнофакторска анализа варијансе АNOVA и израчунавања коефицијента корелације. На основу статистичке обраде података видимо да на читавом току Великог бачког канала, који је дуг свега 123 km постоје деонице (профили I, II и III) које су чисте и у потпуности погодне за експлоатацију и одрживо коришћење свих његових функција, и деоница (профил IV) која је у потпуности деградирана и неупотребљива. На каналу је карактеристично органско загађење. Најзначајнији индустријски објекти лоцирани су у централном делу Великог бачког канала, где је и евидентирано највеће загађење, у општини Врбас. Фарма свиња &bdquo;Farmakoop&ldquo;, фабрика уља &bdquo;Витал&ldquo;, и кланица &bdquo;Carnex&ldquo;, су вруће тачке које су углавном одговорне за лошу еколошку ситуацију у каналу. На простору око Великог бачког канала мали је број фабрика које примењују еколошке стандарде, а само неке од њих имају примарна или секундарна постројења за претходну обраду отпадних вода пре испуштања у реципијент. Резултати SWQI анализе показали су да су деонице на профилима I, II, III и V у потпуности погодне за привредни развој (SWQI&gt;70) а да је деоница на профилу IV (SWQI&lt;37) у потпуности деградирана. Као идеално решење за смањење загађења Великог бачког канала наводи се изградња и употреба централног постројења за прераду отпадних вода, као и коришћење отпадних индустријских и комуналних вода у пољопривреди. На основу резултата анкетног истраживања видимо да локално становништво сматра да Велики бачки канал може да поврати већи део својих ранијих функција (наводњавање, одводњавање, пловидба, узгој рибе...). Да би се то и десило неопходно је контролисати места улива отпадних вода у Канал, а саме отпадне воде третирати и довести у стање у ком неће угрозити његов квалитет воде. Одговори испитаника се разликују у зависности од њиховог места становања, где се посебно истичу становници Врбаса са изузетно негативним ставовима, што је и за очекивати с обзиром на резултате квалитета воде на овом делу Канала.[</p> / <p>Tema doktorske disertacije je analiza kvaliteta vode Velikog bačkog kanala, mogućnosti sanacije i održivo korišćenje njegovih razvojnih potencijala na kanalskoj mreži i njenom neposrednom priobalju. Na osnovu raspoloživih podataka za desetogodišnji period (2000-2009) ukazalo se na probleme izazvane određenim zagađivačima na celoj dužini toka i analiziran je uticaj najznačajnijih zagađivača u naseljima koja se nalaze u neposrednoj blizini kanala. Podaci koji ukazuju na kvalitativnu analizu vode pomogli su da se napravi korelacija između kvaliteta kanalske vode i stavova lokalnog stanovništva u pogledu korišćenja Velikog bačkog kanala u privredne svrhe. Cilj disertacije je da definiše kvalitet kanalske vode korišćenjem hidroloških i statističkih metoda koji se trenutno široko primenjuju u mnogim istraživanjima, kao i da ukaže koji od metoda daju najbolje rezultate. U cilju dobijanja neophodnih rezultata, korišćeno je više metoda, kao što su: Serbian Water Quality Index (SWQI), primena hi-kvadrat testa, deskriptivna statistička analiza, t-test za nezavisne uzorke, jednofaktorska analiza varijanse ANOVA i izračunavanja koeficijenta korelacije. Na osnovu statističke obrade podataka vidimo da na čitavom toku Velikog bačkog kanala, koji je dug svega 123 km postoje deonice (profili I, II i III) koje su čiste i u potpunosti pogodne za eksploataciju i održivo korišćenje svih njegovih funkcija, i deonica (profil IV) koja je u potpunosti degradirana i neupotrebljiva. Na kanalu je karakteristično organsko zagađenje. Najznačajniji industrijski objekti locirani su u centralnom delu Velikog bačkog kanala, gde je i evidentirano najveće zagađenje, u opštini Vrbas. Farma svinja &bdquo;Farmakoop&ldquo;, fabrika ulja &bdquo;Vital&ldquo;, i klanica &bdquo;Carnex&ldquo;, su vruće tačke koje su uglavnom odgovorne za lošu ekološku situaciju u kanalu. Na prostoru oko Velikog bačkog kanala mali je broj fabrika koje primenjuju ekološke standarde, a samo neke od njih imaju primarna ili sekundarna postrojenja za prethodnu obradu otpadnih voda pre ispuštanja u recipijent. Rezultati SWQI analize pokazali su da su deonice na profilima I, II, III i V u potpunosti pogodne za privredni razvoj (SWQI&gt;70) a da je deonica na profilu IV (SWQI&lt;37) u potpunosti degradirana. Kao idealno rešenje za smanjenje zagađenja Velikog bačkog kanala navodi se izgradnja i upotreba centralnog postrojenja za preradu otpadnih voda, kao i korišćenje otpadnih industrijskih i komunalnih voda u poljoprivredi. Na osnovu rezultata anketnog istraživanja vidimo da lokalno stanovništvo smatra da Veliki bački kanal može da povrati veći deo svojih ranijih funkcija (navodnjavanje, odvodnjavanje, plovidba, uzgoj ribe...). Da bi se to i desilo neophodno je kontrolisati mesta uliva otpadnih voda u Kanal, a same otpadne vode tretirati i dovesti u stanje u kom neće ugroziti njegov kvalitet vode. Odgovori ispitanika se razlikuju u zavisnosti od njihovog mesta stanovanja, gde se posebno ističu stanovnici Vrbasa sa izuzetno negativnim stavovima, što je i za očekivati s obzirom na rezultate kvaliteta vode na ovom delu Kanala.[</p> / <p>The topic of this PhD thesis is the quality analysis of the Veliki Backi Canal water, possible recovery and sustainable use of its development potential over the canal network and its immediate banks area. Based on the relevant data for a ten-year period (2000-2009) certain problems surfaced caused by various polluters throughout the entire canal and the impact of the most significant polluters on populated areas in the vicinity of the canal has been analysed. Data gathered with qualitative analyses of water helped in establishing the correlation between the quality of canal water and local population attitude towards the use of the Veliki Backi Canal for commercial purposes. The purpose of this thesis is to define the quality of canal water using hydrologic and statistic methods, currently widely used in numerous researches, as well as to pinpoint which method provides the best results. In order to obtain the necessary data various methods were used: Serbian Water Quality Index (SWQI), application of hi-square test, descriptive statistic analysis, t-test for independent samples, one-factor analyses of variance АNOVA and the correlation coefficient measurement. Based on statistical data it can be observed that there are different sections of the entire Veliki Backi Canal, only 123 km in length. There are sections (profiles I, II and III) which are clean and fully appropriate for exploitation and sustainable use of all its functions. However, there is also a section (profile IV) which is completely degraded and unusable. Another characteristic of the Canal is organic pollution. The biggest industrial facilities are based in the central part of the Veliki Backi Canal with highest pollution in the municiplaity Vrbas. There are hot spots, such as a pig farm &bdquo;Farmakoop&ldquo;,oil factory &ldquo;Vital&rdquo; and slaughterhouse &bdquo;Carnex&ldquo;, mainly responsible for poor ecological state of the Canal. An insignificant number of factories in the area of the Veliki Backi Canal apply ecology standards and only few have primary or secondary facilities for pre-treatment of waste water before discharge into the recipient. SWQI analyses results show that the Canal sections with profiles I, II, III and V are entirely appropriate for economic development (SWQI&gt;70) whereas the section with profile IV (SWQI&lt;37) is completely degraded. In order to decrease pollution of the Veliki Backi Canal, as the ideal solution is suggested to construct the central facility for pre-treatment of wastewater as well as to use industrial and utility wastewater in agriculture. According to the survey results the locals believe that the Veliki Backi Canal could recover most of its previous functions (irrigation, drainage, sailing, fish farming....). In order to ensure something like that it would be necessary to control wastewater flow spots and to treat the wastewater so that it does not endanger the water quality of the Canal. The survey responses differ according to the area of living with particularly negative attitudes of people from Vrbas and that was to be expected if we bear in mind the worst water quality results in this part of the Canal.</p>