Viable Alternatives Study for Reusing Lipids from Microalgae Biomass Present in the Generated Sludge in the Supply Water Treatment Processes

This chapter aims to evaluate the microalgae species’ removal efficiency, using Moringa oleifera powder seeds as a natural coagulant with subsequent lipid profile characterization. For the tests were used deionized water artificially contaminated with cell cultures of Anabaena flos-aquae and Chlorella vulgaris, with a cell density in the order of 104 and 106 cells mL–1, respectively. Coagulation/flocculation/dissolved air flotation (C/F/DAF) tests were conducted using ‘Flotest’ equipment, using M. oleifera powder seeds in the dosage range of 50–1000 mg L−1. For fatty acid profile analyses, a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector was used. Variations of the coagulant dosages showed that there was a difference between dosages and that 100 mg L–1 provided the best removal efficiency for A. flos-aquae (96.5, 80.5 and 78.1%) and 140 mg L−1 for C. vulgaris (90.5, 78.34 and 70%) of the tested parameters of chlorophyll, color and turbidity, respectively. In relation to the produced sludge, it was observed that the use of this coagulant in the treatment of water contaminated with microalgae produces a biodegradable sludge, rich in lipids, especially oleic acid (>60%). Thus, these results indicate that the sludge’s reutilization could be a good alternative to biodiesel production, as it represents an environmentally viable method for reusing residual biomass produced in the water treatment process

APLICAÇÃO DE CARVÃO ATIVADO IMPREGNADO COM ÍONS DE ZINCO PARA REMOÇÃO DE CISTOS DE GIARDIA SPP.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo de filtros de carvão ativado impregnado com zinco para remoção do protozoário parasita Giardia. Para a impregnação dos íons metálicos na superfície do carvão ativado foi utilizado o método de impregnação por excesso de solvente, para a caracterização textural do material produzido foram analisados os parâmetros: área superficial específica BET, área de microporos (método t), volume e diâmetro de microporos (método HK). A caracterização estrutural foi feita através de medidas de Difração de Raios-X (DRX). Os filtros de carvão ativado impregnado com zinco foram testados com água sintética (água deionizada contaminadas com cistos de Giardia, em uma concentração na ordem de 105 cistos/L). Os resultados desse trabalho mostraram que filtros de carvão ativado impregnados com zinco atingiram uma remoção de aproximadamente 100%, trazendo resultados promissores na remoção do protozoário parasita Giardia.AbstractThis work aimed to study the activated carbon filters impregnated with zinc for removal of protozoan parasite Giardia. For impregnation of the metal ions on the surface of activated charcoal was used the method of impregnation by excess of solvent, for textural characterization of the materials produced were analyzed parameters: BET specific surface area, area of micropores (method t), diameter and volume micropores (HK method). Structural characterization was made through measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD). The activated carbon filters impregnated with zinc were tested with synthetic water (water contaminated with Giardia cysts, with a concentration on the order of 105 cysts / L). The results of this study showed that activated carbon filters impregnated with zinc reached a removal of approximately 100%, bringing promising results in the removal of the protozoan parasite Giardia

ESTUDO DA CLARIFICAÇÃO DA ÁGUA SUPERFICIAL POR MEIO DA ASSOCIAÇÃO DOS AGENTES COAGULANTES MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM E POLICLORETO DE ALUMÍNIO

Os coagulantes são amplamente utilizados no tratamento de água, porém, o estudo da associação dos coagulantes ainda é escasso. Assim, este trabalho propõe avaliar a eficiência da associação do coagulante natural Moringa oleifera Lam (M. oleifera) juntamente com o coagulante sintético policloreto de alumínio (PAC) em diferentes dosagens e pHs de coagulação, por meio da utilização de diagramas de coagulação no tratamento de água superficial. Os ensaios foram realizados em Jar Test, com água superficial proveniente da bacia do Rio Pirapó, Maringá, PR, variando-se o pH de coagulação e as dosagens de coagulantes, a fim de verificar a eficiência de remoção dos parâmetros de qualidade cor aparente, turbidez e compostos com absorção em UV254nm. Após os ensaios de coagulação/floculação e sedimentação, amostras de água tratada foram coletadas para avaliar a eficiência do processo por meio do residual obtido para os parâmetros de qualidade. Foram obtidas redução de até 40% na dosagem do coagulante sintético PAC, sem comprometer a qualidade da água produzida. Assim, a utilização de M. oleifera pode desempenhar um papel-chave na diminuição da quantidade de coagulante sintético utilizada no tratamento de água, além de ser mais compatível com as questões ambientais atuais.ABSTRACTThe coagulants are largely used in water treatment, however, the study of association of the coagulant are still scarce. This work aims to evaluate the effectiveness of natural coagulant Moringa oleifera Lam (M. oleifera) in association with coagulant polyaluminium chloride synthetic (PAC) in various dosages and coagulation pHs, using coagulation diagrams, in the treatment of surface water. The tests were performed in Jar Test with surface water from Pirapó River Basin, Maringá, PR, varying the coagulation pHs and dosages of coagulants, in order to verify the quality parameters removal efficiency: apparent color, turbidity and compounds with absorption at UV254nm. After coagulation/flocculation and sedimentation tests, treated water samples were collected to evaluate the process efficiency by the residual obtained for quality parameters. Reduction near 40% was obtained for synthetic coagulant PAC dosage, without compromising the produced water quality. Thus, the use of M. oleifera can play a key role in reducing the quantity of synthetic coagulant used in water treatment, beside to be more compatible with current environmental issues

AVALIAÇÃO DO TEMPO DE DEGRADAÇÃO DO COAGULANTE NATURAL MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM EM PÓ NO TRATAMENTO DE ÁGUA SUPERFICIAL

A Moringa oleifera Lam (M. oleifera) é um biopolímero considerado como um promissor coagulante principalmente por ser natural, biodegradável, e produzir altas reduções na turbidez da água bruta. Contudo, o desempenho começa a decair a ponto de tornar o coagulante ineficiente após um certo período. Desse modo, este trabalho propõe o estudo do tempo de degradação do coagulante M. oleifera em pó, a fim de verificar se o poder coagulante é alterado em relação ao tempo de armazenamento desse produto em refrigerador. Os ensaios de coagulação/floculação e sedimentação foram realizados em Jar Test, com água bruta coletada na Sanepar, proveniente da Bacia do Rio Pirapó, Maringá, Paraná, com turbidez inicial de 80 NTU. Utilizou-se a dosagem de 50 mg.L-1 do coagulante. Para a avaliação do tempo de degradação, analisou-se a redução percentual de cor aparente, turbidez e compostos com absorção em UV254nm. Verificou-se que é interessante utilizar o coagulante durante o período de até 1 semana, pois as propriedades coagulantes tendem a diminuir com o tempo de armazenamento. Pode-se considerar que o pó das sementes de M. oleifera destaca-se como um produto sustentável bastante atrativo para a purificação da água, sendo uma alternativa ambientalmente correta.AbstractMoringa oleifera Lam (M. oleifera) is a biopolymer considered as a promising coagulant, mainly since it is natural, biodegradable, and results in high reductions of raw water turbidity. However, the performance declines after determined time and becomes the coagulant inefficient. Thus, this work aims to study the degradation time of coagulant M. oleifera powder in order to verify if the coagulating capacity changes in relation to the storage time of the product in the refrigerator. Tests of coagulation/flocculation and sedimentation were performed in Jar Test with raw water collected in Sanepar, from Pirapó River, Maringá, PR, with an initial turbidity of 80 NTU. It was used a coagulant concentration of 50 mg.L-1 . For the degradation time study, it was evaluated the percentage reduction in apparent color, turbidity and compounds with UV254nm absorption. It was observed that it is interesting to use the coagulant during for a maximum period of 1 week since coagulant properties tend to decrease with the storage time. It can be considered the dried seeds of M. oleifera stand out as a very attractive sustainable product for water purification, and represents an environmentally friendly alternative

WATER FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES USED FOR THE IRRIGATION OF VEGETABLES TO BE MARKETED: RESEARCH ON Cryptosporidiumspp., Giardiaspp., AND COLIFORMS IN PARANA, BRAZIL

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar fontes de água utilizadas para consumo e irrigação de hortaliças a serem comercializadas sob o aspecto parasitológico ( Cryptosporidiumspp. e Giardia duodenalis), bacteriológico (coliformes totais e termotolerantes) e físico-químico. De janeiro de 2010 a maio de 2011 foram coletadas amostras de água de diferentes fontes de abastecimento de propriedades produtoras de hortaliças; 100 litros para análise parasitológica, 200 mL para bacteriológica e cinco litros para análise físico-química. As amostras de água foram filtradas a vácuo com um kit de filtragem contendo uma membrana de acetato de celulose, 1,2 µm, (Millipore(r), Barueri, São Paulo, Brasil). O material retido na membrana foi extraído mecanicamente e analisado por imunofluorescência direta (kit Merifluor(r)). De 20 propriedades rurais, 10 tinham poços artesianos (40 amostras), 10 semi-artesianos (40 amostras) e um possuía uma mina (quatro amostras). Esta última contaminada por Cryptosporidiumspp. Das amostras de poços artesianos com 90 a 130 metros de profundidade, 42,5% foram positivas para coliformes totais e 5,0% apresentavam coloração alterada. Em amostras de poços semi-artesianos com 14 a 37 m de profundidade, 87,5% apresentaram coliformes totais, 82,5% termotolerantes, e 12,5% destas amostras tinham alteração de cor. Não foi detectada a presença de Giardiaspp. e Cryptosporidiumspp. em poços artesianos ou semi-artesianos. A utilização de poços artesianos ou semi artesianos constitui importante medida no controle da disseminação de zoonoses, principalmente Cryptosporidiumspp. e Giardiaspp., assim como de poços artesianos para o controle de coliformes, em locais de produção de hortaliças irrigadas, a serem comercializadas.The aim of this work was to compare, from a parasitological ( Cryptosporidiumspp. and Giardia duodenalis), bacteriological (total and thermotolerants coliforms) and physicochemical perspective, water sources used for drinking and irrigation of vegetables intended to be sold for human consumption. From January 2010 to May 2011, samples of different water sources from vegetable producing properties were collected; 100 liters for parasitological analysis, 200 mL for bacteriological analysis, and five liters for physicochemical analysis. Water samples were filtered under vacuum with a kit containing a cellulose acetate membrane filter, 1.2 µm (Millipore(r), Barueri, SP, Brazil). The material retained on the membrane was mechanically extracted and analyzed by direct immunofluorescence (Merifluor(r)kit). From 20 rural properties investigated, 10 had artesian wells (40 samples), 10 had common wells (40 samples), and one had a mine (four samples), the latter contaminated by Cryptosporidiumspp. In samples from artesian wells, 90 to 130 meters depth, 42.5% were positive for total coliforms and 5.0% were identified to have abnormal coloration. From the samples of common wells, 14 to 37 meters depth, 87.5% were contaminated with total coliforms, 82.5% were positive for thermotolerant coliforms, and 12.5% had color abnormalities. We did not detect the presence of Giardiaspp. or Cryptosporidiumspp. in artesian and common wells. The use of artesian or common wells is an important step in the control of the spreading of zoonoses, particularly Cryptosporidiumspp. and Giardiaspp., as well as artesian wells for coliform control in local production of vegetables to be marketed

Blastocystis sp. and other intestinal parasites in hemodialysis patients

Chronic renal insufficiency disease (CRI) leads to uremia in hemodialysis patients and induces a state of immunodepression that results in higher frequencies of infections and diarrhea. Hemodialysis patients resident in the city of Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil were analyzed from April 2006 through September 2007 for Blastocystis sp. and other intestinal parasites and for associated diarrhea. Fecal samples from 86 hemodialysis patients and 146 healthy (reference) persons were examined by standard methods for detecting ova, larvae and cysts, which included preservation in 10% formalin and the Kinyoun method. Thirty-three hemodialysis patients (45.1%) and 36 reference individuals (25.7%) were found to be parasitized. The differences in the percentages of parasitism and polyparasitism between the reference group and the chronic renal patients was significant (p= 0.0318 and 0.0019, respectively). Blastocystis sp. (18%-20.1%), Endolimax nana (14%-16.3%), Cryptosporidium sp. (4%-4.7%) and Entamoeba coli (4%-4.7%) were the most frequent protozoa found in the hemodialysis patients. Parasitism was not significantly associated with diarrhea (p=0.9947) or with decreased white blood cell counts (p=0.7046) in these individuals. Because parasitic infections may be an important comorbidity factor in hemodialysis patients, we suggest that parasitological stool examinations, especially for Blastocystis sp. and Cryptosporidium sp., be included in routine medical follow-up examinations of these patients

Association between contamination of public squares and seropositivity for Toxocara spp. in children

AbstractA concomitant study was carried out, of the association of positive serology for Toxocara spp. in 90 children who played in public squares used for leisure, with the frequency with which each child used these areas, and the presence of eggs of Toxocara spp. in the sand or grass in these locations. The sand and grass of their peridomiciles and school playgrounds, as well as the feces of their dogs were also analyzed for Toxocara. Serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies to Toxocara canis excreted–secreted larval antigens by ELISA, and blood samples for eosinophilia. The water-sedimentation technique was used to evaluate the presence of parasite eggs in the sand and grass turfs, and in feces of the dogs that also frequented these locations. 16/90 (17.8%) of the children were seropositive for Toxocara spp. There was a positive association between seropositivity in children who played in the public squares six or seven times a week, with a parasite load above 1.1eggs/g of sand, as well as with contamination of the peridomicile, even at less than 1.0egg/g of sand. Eosinophilia, the habit of geophagy, age from one to four years, and the presence of parasitized pet dogs were also positively correlated with seropositivity in the children. Eggs were found in 15/15 (100%) of the public squares, 17/90 (18.9%) of the peridomiciles, 3/13 (23.1%) of the schools, and 12/41 (29.3%) of the dogs living in the peridomiciles investigated

Enteropatógenos relacionados à diarréia em pacientes HIV que fazem uso de terapia anti-retroviral

A etiologia do processo diarréico na AIDS pode ser causada por vírus, bactérias, fungos, protozoários e helmintos, assim como pelo próprio HIV. Este trabalho avaliou enteropatogenos relacionados à diarréia em pacientes HIV que fazem uso de terapia anti-retroviral. Os métodos parasitológicos utilizados foram Faust, Hoffmann e Kinyoun. O isolamento e cultura dos fungos foram realizados conforme metodologia recomendada por NCCLS M27-A standard. A identificação das espécies de leveduras foi realizada através da reação em cadeia da polimerase. O isolamento de bactérias, foi feito em agar Mac Conkey e agar SS, a identificação das espécies através do Enterokit B (Probac do Brasil) e métodos bioquímicos. Foram avaliados 49 pacientes, 44,9% apresentaram enteroparasitas, 48,1% Candida sp com 61,5% Candida albicans, 7,6% Candida sp e 30,7% Candida não- albicans. Foram isoladas bactérias de 72% dos pacientes, 49% Escherichia coli, 13% Salmonella parathyphi, Klebsiella sp ou Proteus e 6% Citrobacter freundii ou Yersinia sp. Houve alta prevalência de Candida sp nos pacientes HIV com diarréia e foram isoladas espécies não albicans cuja presença pode ser entendida como cúmplice ou causa da infecção