A hybrid molecular imprinted polymer (HMIP) obtained by the organic monomer 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) and the inorganic precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was synthesized for the selective extraction of urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (u-SPMA), a biomarker of benzene exposure. The chemical and structural characterization of the synthetic adsorbent was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and textural analysis employing N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Selective and adsorptive performance of the imprinted polymers were evaluated by kinetic, isothermal, thermodynamic, and selectivity studies. The kinetic data were well adjusted to pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models, leading to selectivity coefficient (K) value of 0.03 g mg-1 min-1 for HMIP. In addition, the adsorption isotherms were better described by the Sip model achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 284.81 μg g-1 (at 288.15 K).

Abstract Sugars released by thermochemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass are possible substrate for hydrogen production. However, the major drawback for bacterial fermentation is the toxicity of weak acids and furan derivatives normally present in such substrate. This study aimed to investigate the metabolism involved in hydrogen production by the isolate Enterobacter LBTM2 using 10, 20 and 30-fold diluted synthetic (SH) and sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose (SBH) hydrolysates. In addition, the effects of acetic acid, formic acid and furfural on the bacterial metabolism, as well as detoxification of SBH with activated carbon and molecularly imprinted polymers on the hydrogen production were assessed. The results showed the best hydrogen yield was 0.46 mmol H2/mmol sugar for 20-times diluted SH, which was 2.3-times higher than obtained in SBH experiments. Bacterial growth and hydrogen production were negatively affected by 0.8 g/L of acetic acid when added alone, but were totally inhibited when formic acid (0.4 g/L) and furfural (0.3 g/L) were also supplied. However the maximum hydrogen production of SBH20 has duplicated when 3% of powdered activated carbon was added to the SBH experiment. The results presented herein can be helpful in understanding the bottlenecks in biohydrogen production and could contribute towards development of lignocellulosic biorefinery.

RESUMO As ações antrópicas têm fomentado a presença de diversos microcontaminantes nos corpos d’água. Desses, mais recentemente, os fármacos e os desreguladores endócrinos têm chamado a atenção da comunidade científica acerca da crescente exposição dos corpos d’água a esses fármacos e desreguladores. As fontes de contaminação englobam produtos de limpeza e higiene pessoal, fármacos de diversas classes, hormônios naturais e seus subprodutos, além de diversas substâncias aplicadas na produção de plásticos e resinas, presentes nos esgotos sanitários, lixiviados de aterro e efluentes industriais. Nessa perspectiva, o artigo presta-se a compilar os dados de ocorrências desses microcontaminantes em águas brasileiras naturais e tratadas assim, como a discutir a eficiência de diferentes técnicas de tratamento de água na remoção de tais contaminantes.

ABSTRACT The human activities have increased the presence of several microcontaminants in water bodies. Of these, more recently, drugs and endocrine disrupters have called the attention of the scientific community due to their increasing exposure. The sources of contamination include cleaning and personal hygiene products, various classes of drugs, natural hormones and their by-products, as well as several substances applied to the production of plastics and resins, present in sewage, landfill leachate and industrial effluents. In this perspective, this paper aims to compile the data of microcontaminants occurrence in Brazilian natural and treated waters, as well as to discuss the efficiency of different water treatment techniques to remove such compounds.

RESUMO Usualmente, o tratamento convencional de águas com altas densidades de cianobactérias e concentração de cianotoxinas não garante efluente consoante o padrão de potabilidade vigente (1,0 µg.L-1 de microcistina). Etapas adicionais fazem-se necessárias, destacando-se a adsorção por carvão ativado granular ou pulverizado. Neste contexto, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar em escala de bancada a remoção de microcistina em água natural por adsorção em colunas de carvão ativado granular de casca de coco, após as etapas de clarificação e filtração em areia. Os resultados mostraram que o transpasse no carvão de maior granulometria ocorreu em menor tempo de contato (2 h), quando comparado ao de menor granulometria. Tais resultados abrem perspectiva de emprego em escala real por garantir efluente com concentração inferior ao que estabelece a Portaria 2914 por mais tempo e utilizando menor massa de carvão.

ABSTRACT Conventional treatment process of natural waters with high densities of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins usually presents low efficiency according to the present drinking water standard (maximum permissible value of 1.0 µg.L-1 of microcystin). Additional steps, such as activated carbon, commonly become necessary to achieve the maximum permissible value of microcystin (1.0 µg.L-1) set up by Brazilian Drinking Water Regulation 2914. In this context, the main objective of this work was to evaluate microcystin removal from natural waters by means of two granular activated carbons after clarification and sand filtration in bench scale. The results pointed out that the breakthrough happened in activated carbon with highest grain sizes in lower contact time (2 h) , when compared with that with smaller grain sizes. These results open the perspective of an application of the activated carbon in actual scale, assuring the treated water quality in compliance with the Brazilian Drinking Water Standards Regulation 2914.