Abstract Dyes are recalcitrant compounds that resist conventional biological treatments. The degradation of three textile dyes (Indigo, RBBR and Sulphur Black), and the dye-containing liquid effluent and solid waste from the Municipal Treatment Station, Americana, São Paulo, Brazil, by the cyanobacteria Anabaena flos-aquae UTCC64, Phormidium autumnale UTEX1580 and Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 was evaluated. The dye degradation efficiency of the cyanobacteria was compared with anaerobic and anaerobic-aerobic systems in terms of discolouration and toxicity evaluations. The discoloration was evaluated by absorption spectroscopy. Toxicity was measured using the organisms Hydra attenuata, the alga Selenastrum capricornutum and lettuce seeds. The three cyanobacteria showed the potential to remediate textile effluent by removing the colour and reducing the toxicity. However, the growth of cyanobacteria on sludge was slow and discoloration was not efficient. The cyanobacteria P. autumnale UTEX1580 was the only strain that completely degraded the indigo dye. An evaluation of the mutagenicity potential was performed by use of the micronucleus assay using Allium sp. No mutagenicity was observed after the treatment. Two metabolites were produced during the degradation, anthranilic acid and isatin, but toxicity did not increase after the treatment. The cyanobacteria showed the ability to degrade the dyes present in a textile effluent; therefore, they can be used in a tertiary treatment of effluents with recalcitrant compounds.

This study aimed the optimization of culture condition and composition for production of Cryptococcus laurentii 11 biomass and lipids in cheese whey medium supplemented with sugarcane molasses. The optimization of pH, fermentation time, and molasses concentration according to a full factorial statistical experimental design was followed by a Plackett-Burman experimental design, which was used to determine whether the supplementation of the culture medium by yeast extract and inorganic salts could provide a further enhancement of lipids production. The following conditions and composition of the culture medium were found to optimize biomass and lipids production: 360 h fermentation, 6.5 pH and supplementation of (g L-1): 50 molasses, 0.5 yeast extract, 4 KH2PO4, 1 Na2HPO4, 0.75 MgSO4•7H2O and 0.002 ZnSO4•H2O. Additional supplementation with inorganic salts and yeast extract was essential to optimize the production, in terms of product concentration and productivity, of neutral lipids by C. laurentii 11. Under this optimized condition, the production of total lipids increased by 133% in relation to control experiment (from 1.27 to 2.96 g L-1). The total lipids indicated a predominant (86%) presence of neutral lipids with high content of 16- and 18- carbon-chain saturated and monosaturated fatty acids. This class of lipids is considered especially suitable for the production of biodiesel.

Avaliações físico-químicas e ecotoxicológicas foram utilizadas para avaliar a qualidade de amostras da água do rio Corumbataí, água bruta (RW), filtrada (FW) e tratada (TW), processadas pela Estação de Tratamento de Água (ETA) de Piracicaba (SP, Brasil), em 2010. Alguns resíduos de herbicidas, tais como: ametrina, atrazina, simazina e tebutiuron, foram medidos encontrando níveis entre 0,01-10,3 µg L-1 sendo esses menores do que os necessários para produzir efeitos ecotóxicos à vida aquática, com base na literatura publicada. Da mesma forma, trihalometanos, tais como: clorofórmio e bromodiclorometano produzido como resultados do processo da ETA foram também encontrados em concentrações que não prejudicam a saúde ambiental ou humana. Concentrações de cloro livre elevadas foram encontradas nas amostras de água FW e TW e foram os prováveis responsáveis pelos efeitos de toxicidade observados em algas e dáfnias (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Daphnia magna). Por outro lado, resultados dos testes de toxicidade realizados com Hydra attenuata mostraram que este organismo é resistente a água clorado sendo um organismo potencial a ser utilizado para avaliações ecotoxicológicas em águas tratadas. Testes de toxicidade simultâneos com análises químicas revelaram úteis para descobrir relações de causa-efeito existentes entre supostos resultados tóxicos, físicos e químicos e, assim como na melhora de interpretação de dados de qualidade da água.

Physicochemical and ecotoxicological measurements were employed to appraise the water quality of the Corumbataí River raw water (RW) intake, and that of its filtered (FW) and treated (TW) waters, processed by the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) of Piracicaba (SP,Brazil) during 2010. Some herbicides: ametrine, atrazine, simazine and tebuthiuron, were measured, with levels ranging from 0.01 to 10.3 µg L-1. These were lower than those required to produce ecotoxicological effects to aquatic life based on published literature. Similarly, trihalomethanes, such as chloroform and bromodichloromethane produced as a result of the WTP process were also shown to be present in concentrations that would neither harm environmental nor human health. Elevated free chlorine concentrations found in FW and TW were credibly responsible for toxicity effects observed in algae and daphnids. (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Daphnia magna). In contrast, results of toxicity testing conducted with Hydra attenuata suggested that this organism is resistant to free chorine and could be used for drinking water evaluations. Coupling bioassays with chemical analyses proved valuable to uncover putative cause-effect relationships existing between physical, chemical and toxic results, as well as in optimizing data interpretation of water quality.

This work aimed to evaluate nine strains of yeast, previously identified as good producers of lipids in honey medium, for selecting the most suitable strain for the production of lipids in cheese whey medium and compared two well known extraction methods of lipids from the culture medium. The highest yield of total lipids was 1.27 g.L-1 produced by Cryptococcus laurentii 11. A comparison was made between the two culture media: cheese whey and liquid YEPG, and two lipid extraction methods: Bligh and Dyer and Folch et al. for C. laurentii. The experiments were performed with 2² full factorial design using two factors and two levels. Lipid content was higher in cheese whey and there was no difference in the extraction methods statistically. The method of Bligh and Dyer was used in preference to Folch et al. as it resulted in larger mean of total lipids.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of enzymatic hydrolysis of acid or alkali pretreated sugarcane bagasse for the production of fermentable sugars. The first step consisted of selection of commercial enzymes presenting the highest cellulolytic activities. After selection of four enzymes: HPL, CL, P1 and P4, their performances were tested in the bagasse pretreated with acid and alkali. The sugar content of the hydrolysates was analyzed by anion exchange liquid chromatography. Data showed that the joint action of 0.5% acid pretreatment, 121ºC, 30 minutes and enzyme CL provides the best results, 67.25 g of hexose and 148.13g of pentose per kg of dry bagasse.

Recentemente o uso de material lignocelulolítico tem mostrado um importante avanço na produção de biocombustíveis. O bagaço e a vinhaça são resíduos oriundos do processamento da cana de açúcar e contem um alto teor de carbono, que geralmente é usado na co-geração de energia e ração animal. Três linhagens de Pleurotus e um ascomiceto, Trichoderma reesei, foram cultivados em bagaço pré-tratado e vinhaça. As atividades lignolíticas e celulolíticas foram analisadas, tanto quanto a produção de biomassa. Foi observado que o tratamento no bagaço com 2% H2O2 + 1.5% NaOH + autoclave resultou numa maior quebra da fibra, aumentando o teor de celulose em 1.2 vezes mais e diminuiu em 8.5 vezes o conteúdo de hemicelulose. Este tratamento também resultou numa alta atividade lignolítica pelos fungos utilizados. O ascomiceto T. reesei produziu lacase, peroxidase e manganês-peroxidase em todos os tratamentos, tendo uma atividade de manganês-peroxidase variando entre 1.9 a 4.8 vezes mais que nos basidiomicetos.

In this present work, three strains of Pleurotus and Trichoderma reesei were cultivated in media with pre-treated bagasse and vinasse. Cellulolytic and lignolytic activities and biomass production were analyzed. The treatment of the bagasse with 2% H2O2 + 1.5% NaOH + autoclave resulted in a greater fiber breakage increasing the cellulose level up to 1.2 times and decreasing 8.5 times the hemicellulose content. This treatment also resulted in a high lignolytic activity for all cultures utilized. T. reesei produced laccase, peroxidase and manganese-peroxidase in all the treatments, having its manganese-peroxidase activity raging from 1.9 to 4.8 times higher than the basidiomycetes.

Residues of herbicides from sugarcane were monitored in waters and sediments of Corumbataí River and tributaries. Ametryne, atrazine, simazine, hexazinone, glyphosate, and clomazone were detected in water samples, with negligible levels of ametryne and glyphosate in sediment samples. The area of recharge of the Guarani aquifer presented the highest triazine and clomazone levels. The triazines were detected at higher levels, with atrazine above Brazil's potability and quality standards. Total herbicide levels at some sampling points were 13 times higher than the European Community potability limit. There is no Brazilian standard for ametryne, although the risk is larger due to ametryne's higher toxicity for the aquatic biota.

The Municipal Station of Americana, SP, Brazil, treats a volume of 400 l s-1 of effluent, of domestic and textile origin, and produces about 20 t of sludge per day. The plant horseradish, which contains high amount of peroxidases, was able to decolorize this effluent in 2 h and the solid waste in 2 days, at concentrations of 10 and 50%, respectively. However, there was an increase in the toxicity for the bioassays with Hydra attenuatta, Selenastrum capricornutum and lettuce seeds, indicating formation of more toxic substances. Since horseradish showed the ability to decolorize these residues, it can be used as pre-treatment resulting in a sludge of less complex composition.

The state of São Paulo is the main Brazilian consumer of pesticides. Sugar cane, which uses a great amount of these products, is extensivelly cultivated in this state, such as in the Corumbataí river basin, an important source of water for the region. In order to implement an efficient and low-cost monitoring program, the temporal characterization of the use of pesticides on sugar cane in this basin was performed. After knowing the seasonal trends of consumption, a better choice of sampling time, became possible. The combination of data from this survey with partitioning indices, average doses and toxicological classifications showed to be important for defining the pesticides to be included in the monitoring program.

Effluents generated by the textile industry are of environmental concern because of the presence of dyes with complex molecular structure, which confer them recalcitrant characteristics. Indigo is one of the most widely used dyes within the textile sector and studies have suggested that edible fungi may be capable of its biodegradation. A textile effluent was mixed with sugarcane bagasse and inoculated with Pleurotus sajor-caju, the decolorization being evaluated after 14 days, when the process was observed. Enzymatic activities of laccase, peroxidase and manganese peroxidase were determined, the production of these ligninolytic enzymes being evident and a synergism among them being likely in the decolorizing process.

A compostagem de resíduos industriais tem aumentado devido à pressão para reciclar os resíduos orgânicos. A avaliação da toxicidade destes resíduos por testes biológicos é extremamente importante para selecionar resíduos apropriados para aplicação no solo. A toxicidade do composto de lodo têxtil foi investigada utilizando bioensaios de germinação de sementes e crescimento vegetal em soja e trigo. Amostra do composto foi misturada com água (bioensaio de germinação de sementes) ou solução nutritiva (bioensaio de crescimento de plantas) em concentrações de 0, 19, 38, 76 e 152 g L-1. Não foram observados efeitos negativos, após cinco dias, do extrato aquoso do composto para a germinação de sementes da soja e do trigo. Após quinze dias em sistema hidropônico, houve efeitos deletérios do composto em concentrações acima de 38 g L-1. O composto de lodo têxtil mostrou maior fitotoxicidade em condições hidropônicas e a soja e o trigo são espécies sensíveis para avaliação de resíduos orgânicos em bioensaios de crescimento vegetal.

Composting of industrial wastes is increasing because of recycling requirements set on organic wastes. The evaluation of toxicity of these wastes by biological testing is therefore extremely important for screening the suitability of waste for land application. The toxicity of a textile sludge compost was investigated using seed germination and plant growth bioassays using soybean and wheat. Compost samples were mixed with water (seed germination bioassay) or nutrient solution (plant growth bioassay) at concentrations of 0, 19, 38, 76 and 152 g L-1. No negative effects were observed after five days of compost water-extract in relation to soybean and wheat seed germination. After fifteen days, under a hydroponics system, plant growth had harmful effects of the compost at concentrations above 38 g L-1. Textile sludge compost presented great phytotoxicity under hydroponics condition and the soybean and wheat were sensitive for evaluation of organic wastes in plant growth bioassays.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do composto de lodo têxtil sobre plântulas de soja e trigo. O composto de lodo têxtil foi misturado com água e solução nutritiva nas seguintes concentrações (g do composto em 1.000 mL de água e solução nutritiva): 19 g L-1, 38 g L-1, 76 g L-1 e 152 g L-1. Um controle, constituído de água e solução nutritiva, foi incluído no experimento. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. As plântulas de soja e trigo foram expostas aos extratos do composto, em sistema de hidroponia com aeração e, após 15 dias, foram avaliadas a massa da matéria seca total, altura da parte aérea, comprimento radicular, conteúdo de clorofila e atividade da peroxidase nas folhas e raízes. Houve diminuição na massa da matéria seca total, altura da parte aérea e comprimento radicular das plântulas de soja e trigo com o aumento da concentração do composto, a partir de 38 g L-1. A atividade da peroxidase, das raízes e das folhas das plântulas de soja e trigo, aumentou a partir da concentração de 38 g L-1. Concentrações maiores do composto de lodo têxtil afetam, de forma prejudicial, as plântulas de soja e trigo.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of textile sludge compost on soybean and wheat seedlings. The textile sludge compost was mixed with water plus nutritive solution, in the following concentrations (g of compost in 1,000 mL of water plus nutritive solution): 19 g L-1, 38 g L-1, 76 g L-1 and 152 g L-1. A control, constituted of water plus nutritive solution, was included in the experiment. A completely randomized design was used with four replicates. The seedlings were exposed to the concentrations of compost extract, in hydroponic system, and after 15 days, the total dry mass, height of aerial part, root length, chlorophyll content and peroxidase activity of leaves and roots were evaluated. Seedlings of both crops showed a decrease in the total dry mass, height of aerial part and root length with application of compost in concentrations equal to or above 38 g L-1. Peroxidase activity in roots and leaves increased with the concentration of compost equal to or above 38 g L-1. Concentrations above 19 g L-1 of this textile sludge compost are harmfull to soybean and wheat seedlings.

A degradação do herbicida diuron foi estudada em solo com e sem histórico de aplicação obtendo-se aproximadamente degradação sete vezes maior no solo com histórico de aplicação, após 64 dias de incubação. Houve um aumento no número de bactérias no solo com histórico de aplicação de 3.3 x 10 6 para 1.9 x 10(8) UFC. g-1 solo. Não houve aumento na biomassa após a incubação, porém foi encontrado significante resíduo de 14C-diuron na biomassa. Um consórcio de três bactérias foi isolado, Acinetobacter johnsonii e duas espécies de Bacillus sp., em meio contendo diuron como única fonte de carbono. Somente A. johnsonnii foi capaz de crescer sozinha em meio contendo diuron como única fonte de carbono.

Studies were carried out on the isolation of diuron-degrading bacteria from treated soil. The mineralization of 14C-diuron in soil following a three-year application and in soil without previous application were 68.95 mug.100 g-1 and 24.16 mug.100 g-1, respectively, after a 64-day incubation period. In the first soil there was a significant increase in the number of bacteria, from 3.3 x 10 6 to 1.9 x 10(8). The microbial biomass did not change, however, a significant 14C-residue of diuron was found in the microbial biomass. A consortium of three bacteria, Acinetobacter johnsonii and two Bacillus spp., was isolated in medium containing diuron as the only carbon source. Only A. johnsonii was able to grow alone in medium with diuron as the only carbon source.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho, avaliar a mineralização e a formação de resíduos extraível e não-extraível de 14C-atrazina em um solo intensivamente utilizado para fins agrícolas no Estado de São Paulo. Atrazina radiomarcada foi aplicada (5 L ha-1 ou 2 mg kg-1 de i.a.) em um Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro, álico, A moderado, textura média. Frascos erlenmeyer contendo 200 g (peso seco) do solo assim preparado e com umidade ajustada para 2/3 da capacidade de campo foram enterrados na Estação Experimental de Lisímetros do CENA-USP, onde se iniciou, ao mesmo tempo, uma plantação de milho. O 14CO2 desprendido foi avaliado a cada 15 dias, durante 150 dias, e atingiu, no final desse período de incubação, 36% da atividade total aplicada, e meia-vida de 168 dias. Os resíduos formados no solo foram determinados, em termos de dessorção, com o uso de cloreto de cálcio, e, em termos de extração, com o sistema-solvente acetonitrila/água (80:20); os resíduos não-extraíveis foram avaliados por combustão. Durante o período de incubação, os resíduos extraíveis diminuíram para 1/3, enquanto os resíduos ligados (não-extraíveis) permaneceram ao redor de 34%. Os metabólitos foram identificados por cromatografia em camada delgada, e foram detectadas, nas frações dessorvidas, hidroxiatrazina (44%), desisopropilatrazina (3,28%) e atrazina (52,72%) e nas frações extraídas, hidroxiatrazina (16,22%), desisopropilatrazina (2,25%), desetilatrazina (2,24%) e atrazina (79,29%). Conclui-se que a mineralização ocorreu somente na fração de resíduos extraíveis e foi favorecida pelas condições de incubação, em que o principal fator foi a variação de temperatura.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the mineralization rate and residue formation in a common soil type intensively used for agriculture in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Atrazine 14C-ring-U-R was applied to a typic Hapludox Brazilian soil (5 L ha-1 or 2 mg kg-1 of a.i.). After this procedure, samples (200 g, dry weight basis) of this soil, with moisture adjusted to 2/3 of the field capacity, were distributed in erlenmeyer flasks. The flasks were incubated buried at CENA-USP Lysimeter Station, in a started jointly corn plantation. The evolved 14CO2 was analyzed every 15 day, during a period of 150 days. The desorbed residues were extracted with 0.01M CaCl2 solution and further extracted with the organic solvent, acetonitrile-water, 80:20, and the non-extractable residues were analysed by combustion. At the end of the incubation period (150 days), the 14CO2 evolved reached up to 36% of applied activity, and half-life of 168 days. The extractable residues decreased by 1/3 during the incubation period, while the non-extractable remained unchanged, around 34% of applied activity. TLC analyses of desorbed fraction showed hydroxiatrazine (44%), deisopropylatrazine (3.28%) and atrazine (52.72%) whereas the extracted fraction presented hydroxyatrazine (16.22%), deisopropylatrazine (2.25%), desethylatrazine (2.24%), and atrazine (79.29%). It was concluded that only the extractable fraction of residues was mineralized and that variation of the incubation temperature favored atrazine mineralization.