4 research outputs found
Heavy metal removal by biopolymers-based formulations with native potato starch/nopal mucilage
The contamination of water bodies by heavy metals is a critical problem for
human health and ecosystems, and it can bioaccumulate in organisms to toxic levels and
even lead to the living beingâs death. This research aimed to synthesize and characterize
a biopolymer with the capacity to remove heavy metals in wastewater, elaborated from
potato starch, glycerin, and nopal mucilage. Native potato starch of the Allcca sipas
variety was extracted by conventional methods; the mucilage was extracted with ethanol.
Four formulations of biopolymers were synthesized at 60 and 70 °C. The solubility,
structural characteristics, and adsorption capacity of heavy metals were evaluated.
Starch, mucilage, and biopolymers presented predominant functional groups as -OH,
-C-O-, -NH-, -C-H-, -C-OH determined by FTIR, allowing to remove up to 50.18% of
Al, 56.81% of As, 35.95% of Cr, 37.43% of Hg and 73.22% of Pb determined through an
ICPE-OES, for a contact time of 100 minutes at pH 5.0, heavy metal removal and solubility
were significantly influenced (p-value < 0.05) by the addition of starch and mucilage. The
synthesized biopolymers present a high capacity for heavy metal removal in wastewate
Proposal of a water-quality index for high andean basins: application to the Chumbao river, Andahuaylas, Peru
Thewater fromthe high Andean rivers is peculiar due to its composition and the geomorphology
of its sources, and naturally or anthropogenically contamination is not discarded along its course.
This water is used for agriculture and human consumption, therefore knowing its quality is important.
This research aimed to proposing and formulate a water-quality index for high Andean basins through
the Delphimethod, and its application in the Chumbao River located in Andahuaylas-Peru. Forty-three
water-quality parameters were evaluated through the Delphi method, and the water-quality index
(WQIHA) was formulated with a weighted average of the weights of the selected parameters, it was
compared with the WQI Dinius. For this purpose, ten sampling points were considered along the
Chumbao River located between 4274 and 2572 m of altitude and theWQIHA was applied. In addition,
field and laboratory analyses were carried out in 2018, 2019, and 2021, in dry and rainy seasons. Twenty
parameters were grouped in the physicochemical sub-index (SIPC), heavy metals sub-index (SIHM),
and organic matter sub-index (SIOM). Each group contributed with weights of 0.30, 0.30, and 0.40,
respectively, for theWQIHA formulation. The SIPC and SIOM showed that the areas near the head of
the basin presented excellent and good quality, while the urbanized areas were qualified as marginal
to poor; SIHM reported good quality in all points and seasons. Regarding the WQIHA, the index
shows good quality in the zones above 3184 m of altitude, contrasting with poor quality downstream,
decreasing notably in both seasons, suggesting continuous degradation of the water body
Insights from Water Quality of High Andean Springs for Human Consumption in PerĂș
The headwaters of the high Andean basin in Peru accumulate water from the mist, rain,
snow, and hail, and it is transported superficially and underground to low-lying areas, mostly used
for drinkable purposes. The natural water in these areas might be altered due to legal and illegal
mining extraction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the water quality for human consumption.
Seventeen water samples were examined from Andahuaylas (A), San JerĂłnimo (S), Talavera (T),
and Chiara (CH) districts located between 2813 and 4004 m altitude in the Andes. We used physic ochemical, microbiological, and metal parameters, and the results were compared to permissible
levels established by the WHO and ECA-Peru to examine samples collected in the dry and rainy
seasons in 2019. Application of principal component analysis (PCA) identified areas and conditioning
parameters. Extractive mining activity influences the quality of springs due to the presence of metals,
especially antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), values of which are higher than
values permissible for human consumption, being higher in the dry season (p < 0.05). In addition, the
presence of cations and particulate matter affects physico-chemical parameters, for example turbidity.
PCA showed that parameters for water characterization are season-independent, and water quality in
the springs would be conditioned by the presence of metals, especially in Andahuaylas and Talavera
zones, as well as the parameters that are associated with dissolved solids in the water (turbidity and
fluorides). A frequent monitoring program of springs and groundwater is recommended, with the
purpose to protect water from contamination and guarantee safe water availability in low-lying and
urbanized areas
Bioactive Compounds and Sensory Analysis of Freeze-Dried Prickly Pear Fruits from an Inter-Andean Valley in Peru
Prickly pear fruits are seasonal and have shades ranging from pale green to deep purple. Their pigments are associated with bioactive compounds, being sensitive to thermal transformation processes for their conservation. The objective of this research was to evaluate the bioactive compounds and the sensory analysis of freeze-dried prickly pear fruits from an inter-Andean valley in Peru. The prickly pear fruits of the morada, anaranjada, and blanca ecotypes came from an inter-Andean valley in Peru at 2972 m altitude. The sliced fruits were freeze-dried at â40 °C and 0.25 mTorr, and the total polyphenol content (TPC), vitamin C, and antioxidant activity (AA) were determined, as well as the color L* a* b*, color index (CI*), FTIR spectra, and mineral content. In the same way, sensory analysis of preferences with nine scales was applied. It was observed that in the freeze-dried fruits, TPC, AA, and vitamin C increased significantly (p-value < 0.05), and their corresponding functional groups increased in intensity in their corresponding FTIR spectra; furthermore, trace elements such as Cu, Fe, Se, Zn, Si, and Mn were identified. On the other hand, freeze-drying provided deeper colors to the fruits, which most panelists said they âvery much likedâ during the sensory analysis, although the texture was not very well accepted, with most panelists reporting being âindifferentâ towards it. The freeze-drying technique allows the bioactive and sensory attributes of prickly pear fruits from inter-Andean valleys to be preserved, making it a potential fruit for export and conservation due to its seasonality