This work focuses on the validation and application of solid phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (SPE-HPLC) analysis of important endocrine disruptors compounds (EDC) from different classes in highly complex wastewater matrix. The endocrine disruptors investigated included three different categories: pharmaceuticals (sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), trimethoprim (TMP) and diclofenac (DCF)), hormones (estrone (E1), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2)) and plastic materials (bisphenol A (BPA)). The method involves pre-concentration by SPE using Strata-X extraction cartridges followed by HPLC coupled with diode array detector (DAD). As the assumption of homoscedasticity was met for analytical data, ordinary linear regression procedure was applied to the data. The method was considered validated for 7 EDC after consistent evaluation of the key analytical parameters. Recoveries were ranged from 52.3 to 179.6%. Limits of quantification were in the range 6.0-0.4 µg L−1. The described method was applied to evaluate the occurrence and removal efficiency of EDC in two biological sewage treatment plants (STPs). The influent mean concentrations of E1, E2 and EE2 hormones were 79.54; 175.09 and 102.19 µg L−1, respectively, while for SMZ, TMP, DCF and BPA were 215.17; 187.01; 218.97 and 87.12 µg L−1 for STP A, respectively. The efficiencies for the removal of EDCs ranged from 0 to 79.4%.

A mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.), oleaginosa de relevante importância econômica e social no Nordeste, apresenta-se como alternativa para a produção do biodiesel. O experimento objetivou avaliar, em escala real, os aspectos produtivos da cultura da mamona irrigada com esgoto doméstico tratado. Empregou-se o sistema de microaspersão; a delimitação experimental foi de quatro repetições e quatro tratamentos: T1: água do poço e adubação recomendada; T2: esgoto doméstico tratado e adubação recomendada; T3: somente esgoto doméstico tratado e T4: esgoto doméstico tratado e metade da adubação recomendada. Verificou-se que as unidades irrigadas com esgoto tratado superaram as irrigadas com água, em quase todas as variáveis analisadas. A produtividade foi maior nos tratamentos irrigados com esgoto e adubação (T2) e (T4), alcançando produtividade de 1.986 e 1.412 kg ha-1, respectivamente. O teor de óleo contido nas sementes foi analisado e não apresentou nenhuma diferença significativa entre os tratamentos com adubação (T1, T2 e T4), sendo que o tratamento com esgoto tratado (T3) forneceu baixíssimos teores de óleo na semente.

The castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), an oil crop of economic and social importance for the Northeast region of Brazil, can be used for biodiesel production. The experiment aimed to evaluate, at a realistic scale, the productive aspects of the castor bean irrigated with treated sewage. Microsprinkler irrigation method was selected, and the experimental set-up consisted of four repetitions and four different treatments: well water and recommended fertilization (T1); treated wastewater and recommended fertilization (T2); treated wastewater without external recommended fertilization (T3); and treated wastewater and half of recommended fertilization (T4). It was found that units irrigated with treated sewage exceeded the ones irrigated with well water in almost all variables. The highest productivities were in the treatments with wastewater and fertilization (T2) and wastewater and half of recommended fertilization (T4), reaching 1,986 and 1,412 kg ha-1, respectively. The castor seeds oil content was also investigated, no significati difference among the treatments with recommended fertilization (T1, T2 and T4) was verified. The treatment tested with effluent without recommended fertilization (T3) provided very low oil content in the seeds.

Resumo Com este trabalho, objetivou-se acompanhar o desenvolvimento da cultura da melancia, variedade Crimson Sweet, irrigada com esgoto doméstico tratado, comparando-se com um controle irrigado com água de poço. Adicionalmente, avaliaram-se os aspectos sanitários de reúso de água em irrigação, através da verificação da presença de microrganismos patogênicos nos frutos, e da caracterização físico-química das águas de irrigação. Compararam-se, também, as produtividades obtidas pelos métodos de irrigação por gotejamento e sulco. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e quatro tratamentos: T1: água do poço mais adubação recomendada; T2: efluente mais adubação recomendada; T3: efluente e T4: efluente mais a metade da adubação recomendada. Na irrigação por sulco, a maior produtividade da melancia ocorreu no tratamento T4, enquanto nas demais variáveis não ocorreu diferença significativa entre os tratamentos. Para a melancia irrigada por gotejamento, não se constatou diferença significativa entre os tratamentos de todas as variáveis analisadas. Os resultados semelhantes, obtidos pela irrigação com efluente e a água do poço, demonstram o potencial e a viabilidade técnica e econômica do reúso de esgotos na irrigação da melancia; desta maneira, o cultivo de hortaliças e frutas de ramas rastejantes pode ser irrigado com efluentes, desde que bem monitorados.

Abstract This research aimed to monitor watermelon development, variety Crimson Sweet, irrigated with treated sewage, in comparison with a control irrigated with fresh water. Additionally, the sanitary aspects regarding the reuse of effluents in irrigation were evaluated, based on detection of pathogens in the fruits, and physical-chemical characterization of the waters. The productivity obtained with drip irrigation and furrow methods, was compared. The experimental set-up was in random blocks, with four repetitions and four treatments, consisting of irrigation with raw water and soil fertilization (T1); irrigation with treated wastewater and soil fertilization (T2); irrigation with treated wastewater without soil fertilization (T3); irrigation with treated wastewater and half of soil fertilization (T4). In the furrow system the highest productivity occurred in the treatment T4, while for the other parameters there was no difference among the treatments. For the watermelon irrigated with drip system, no significative difference occurred among the treatments and parameters analysed. The similiar results obtained between effluent-irrigated and water-irrigated systems, demonstrate the potential and technical feasibility of reuse. Thus, the cultivation of other fruits crops and creepers with treated sewage is possible, but monitoring is necessary.