RESUMO Os lixiviados de áreas de disposição de resíduos municipais apresentam, em geral, alta complexidade, variabilidade, toxicidade, recalcitrância e alta concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal. Neste estudo, aplicaram-se técnicas combinadas para o tratamento de um lixiviado, a saber: coagulação/floculação (C/F), air stripping e ozonização, combinados com o tratamento por lodo ativado com/sem inserção de carvão ativado. O processo de C/F levou a uma redução na demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) de 58,1% e na cor, de 85,6%. O air stripping foi realizado em pH>12 e obteve-se diminuição dos níveis de nitrogênio amoniacal para abaixo de 60 mg.L-1. O processo de ozonização, com consumo de ozônio de 397 mgO3.L-1 e 2.376 mgO3.L-1, apresentou bons resultados, com aumento de 59,4% na relação DBO5/DQO e uma redução de toxicidade superior a 85%. Obteve-se melhor eficiência para o lodo ativado sem carvão ativado, com lixiviado pré-tratado por C/F + air stripping + ozonização (400 mgO3.L-1). Tal combinação resultou em uma redução de 90,6% na DQO do lixiviado e mais de 99% nos níveis de nitrogênio amoniacal.

ABSTRACT Leachate from waste disposal areas generally presents high complexity, variability, toxicity, recalcitrance and high concentration of ammonia nitrogen. In this work, combined techniques for the treatment of leachate were applied, namely: coagulation/flocculation, air stripping and ozonation combined with activated sludge treatment with/without activated carbon. The coagulation/flocculation process led to a COD reduction of 58.1% and color removal of 85.6%. The air stripping was performed at pH>12 and reduced ammonia levels below of 60 mg.L-1. The ozonation process (ozone consumption of 397 mgO3.L-1 and 2376 mgO3.L-1) presented good results. It was observed a BOD5/COD increase of 59.4% and a toxicity reduction of more than 85%. The best efficiency was observed with sludge activated without activated carbon for the pre-treated leachate by coagulation/flocculation + air stripping + ozonation (400 mgO3.L-1). This combination resulted in a COD reduction of 90.6% and more than 99% of ammonia nitrogen removal.

A atrazina é um herbicida persistente usado em diversos tipos de culturas podendo ser detectado tanto em águas subterrâneas quanto em águas superficiais e em sistemas de drenagem. Este trabalho estudou o comportamento da atrazina durante o tratamento de esgoto por lodos ativados. O processo foi realizado em escala laboratorial em regime de batelada adotando um tempo de retenção hidráulica de 24 horas. Após este período, o esgoto bruto (com atrazina) foi trocado e outra batelada foi iniciada (a idade do lodo foi de 7 dias). Foram usadas moléculas radiomarcadas (14C-atrazina) para traçar seu destino e medir o 14C-CO2 produzido e os resíduos de atrazina foram analisados por HPLC/UV. Inicialmente cerca de 50% da radioatividade foi adsorvida pelo lodo sedimentado, mas foi desorvida com sucessivas adições de lodo bruto sem atrazina. O balanço final da radioatividade mostrou que 98% da atrazina foram descartados no esgoto tratado provavelmente sem nenhuma biodegradação. Portanto, micropoluentes orgânicos que possuam características semelhantes à atrazina podem ter este mesmo comportamento.

Atrazine (2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine) is a persistent herbicide used on some crops and it has been found both in ground and surface water and drainage systems. This work studied the behaviour of atrazine during a sewage treatment process by activated sludge. The process was conducted on a laboratory scale using an under fed-batch system with a hydraulic retention time of 24 hours. After this period, the raw sewage (with atrazine) was changed and another batch was begun (the sludge age was 7 days old). Radiolabel molecules (14C-atrazine) were used for to trace their fate and to measure to the 14C-CO2 and the residues of atrazine were analysed by HPLC/UV. Initially about 50% of radioactivity was sorbed by the settled sludge but it was desorbed with successive additions of raw sewage without atrazine. The final balance of radioactivity showed that 98% of the atrazine was released into the treated effluent, probably without any biodegradation. Therefore, other organic micropollutants with similar characteristics to atrazine may behave a similar way.

The toxicity of residues formed during water treatment is mainly a function of the chemicals used. The inorganic flocculants, when used, give rise to compounds harmful to humans and to the environment. An alternative solution is the use of tannins. However, despite the environmental benefits, when using tannin-based products in the treatment of industrial water, modifications may be imparted to the final product. In this work, tannin was evaluated as flocculating agent to treat the water used in the emulsion polymerization to produce SBR. The results show that good stability of the latex and acceptable color in the rubber can be achieved.

A dinâmica do organoclorado 14C-dicofol no processo de lodos ativados foi investigada. Os resultados mostraram que a maior parte da radioatividade ficou adsorvida no lodo biológico. Consequentemente, o seu descarte final merece atenção especial. Pequenas quantidades de dicofol, biotransformadas ou não, permanecem no efluente tratado podendo contaminar os corpos receptores.

The fate of organochlorine 14C-dicofol in activated sludge process was investigated. Results showed that the major part of radioactivity remained adsorbed on biological sludge. Consequently, its final disposal deserves special attention. The small amounts of dicofol, biotransformed or not, which remained in the treated effluent could contaminate receiving bodies.

There is an increasing interest in micropollutants in the environment that can interfere with the endocrine system, affecting health, growth and reproduction of animals and humans. These substances are known as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and can be found in domestic sewage, domestic wastewater treatment plant effluents, and in natural and potable waters. There are numerous chemicals classified as EDCs, such as pesticides, chemicals used and produced by chemical industries and natural and synthetic estrogens. EDCs can be related to the increase of the incidence of anomalies in the reproductive system of animals, cancer in humans and reduction of the masculine fertility.

This study presents the bactericidal activity of titanium dioxide photocatalysis, using as model Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp. cells. It was observed that the process efficiency is related to initial cell concentration, light intensity, UV irradiation exposure time, TiO2 concentration increase. The ultimate removal efficiency was above 99.9%.

Pharmaceutical drugs have been detected in sewage treatment plants, surface waters, underground waters and potable waters. Some investigations have been conducted in several countries such as Germany, Brazil, Canada, United States, The Netherlands, England and Italy. Patients and animals excrete part of pharmaceuticals used for human and veterinary medicine after administration in domestic sewage or on the soil. Drugs residues which have not been completely removed during passage through a sewage treatment plant (STP) enter the aquatic environment. The effects of such residual drugs in terrestrial and aquatic organisms are scarcely known.