ABSTRACT
The frequent contamination of water resources with drugs comprises one the most important environmental problems. In order to avoid serious disturbances for aquatic life, efficient and economically viable procedures should be developed for removing common pollutants, as paracetamol. From these considerations, the present work evaluated the efficiency of sugar cane bagasse (SCB) and vegetable sponge (VS), two natural adsorbents commonly found in Brazil, for retaining paracetamol molecules dispersed in aqueous solutions. Thus, systems composed of glass columns and peristaltic pumps were optimized and, for pH, the best value was 7.0. After optimisation, adsorption isotherms were built and it was possible to calculate the MAC F values for SCB (120.5 ug/g) and VS (37.5 ug/g). Additionally, real matrices of pretreated water, from a municipal plant for water catchment, were enriched with paracetamol at 5 uM and passed through glass columns packed with SCB, VS and activated carbon (AC). The results showed that SCB was more attractive than AC in terms of price and efficiency (60 percent against 45 percent adsorption, respectively), while VS was responsible for removing 40 percent of paracetamol dissolved in the enriched water samples. Thus, the proposed natural adsorbents can be classified as viable materials to remove paracetamol from water used for human consumption.
Subject(s)
Acetaminophen/chemistry , Cellulose/chemistry , Luffa/chemistry , Water Purification/methods , Adsorption , Temperature , Water Pollutants, ChemicalABSTRACT
A methodology involving sugar cane bagasse bioadsorbent was developed in order to remove the carcinogenic congo red dye from aqueous medium. The results showed high efficiency with retention of 64 ± 6 percent in synthetic congo red solution and 94 ± 5 percent in effluent enriched with congo red, at 10.0 g of the bioadsorbent. The adsorption system provided a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.43 mg/g. Tests showed independence adsorption properties, when compared with the column flow rates. The treatment units could be operated with flexibility. From the results, it was possible to conclude that sugar cane bagasse could be an adequate bioadsorbent.
Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma metodologia de remoção do corante carcinogênico congo red de sistemas aquosos. Os resultados mostraram uma elevada eficiência de remoção sendo de 64 ± 6 por cento para soluções sintéticas de vermelho congo, e 94 ± 5 por cento para efluente industrial enriquecido com vermelho congo utilizando 10 g de bioadsorvente. A capacidade máxima adsotiva encontrada foi de 4,43 mg/g. Os testes de percolação revelaram independência das porcentagens adsortivas em relação às vazões das colunas. Estes resultados indicam viabilidade de uso do bagaço de cana-de-açucar no tratamento de efluentes contendo o congo red.
ABSTRACT
O presente trabalho contempla a avaliação dacapacidade fotossensibilizante de alguns derivadosporfirínicos para futuro emprego em fotoquimioterapia.As substâncias testadas foram: protoporfirina IX (PpIX),protoporfirina IX de magnésio (MgPpIX), protoporfirinaIX de zinco (ZnPpIX), octaetilporfirina (OEP) eoctaetilporfirina de vanadil (VOOEP). Os testesconsistiram na avaliação e comparação da capacidadedestas substâncias em oxidar biomoléculas e destruircélulas na presença de luz e oxigênio. Os resultadosrevelaram que as diferenças observadas na eficiênciadestas porfirinas podem estar associadas com asdiferenças nas estruturas das mesmas. Foi verificadoque PpIX, MgPpIX e ZnPpIX são mais eficientes queOEP e VOOEP na fotoxidação de biomoléculas efotodestruição de células. Os dados obtidos indicam apossibilidade de um futuro emprego destas porfirinas emfotoquimioterapia.
The work includes the assessment of photosensitizingcapacity of some porphyrinic derivates for futureapplication in PDT. We evaluated the photosensitizingpotential of octaethylporphyrin (OEP), vanadyloctaethylporphyrin (VOOEP), protoporphyrin IX (PpIX),zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPpIX) and magnesiumprotoporphyrin IX (MgPpIX) for use inphotochemotherapy. This study was performed throughthe percentage of biomolecules photoxidation (tryptophan- Trp and bovine serum albumin ? BSA) and cellsphotohemolysis provoked by OEP, VOOEP, PpIX,ZnPpIX and MgPpIX. The results demonstrated thatPpIX, ZnPpIX and MgPpIX are more efficient than OEPand VOOEP in the oxidadion of biomolecules andhemolysis of cells in the presence of light and oxygen.The differences observed in the photodynamic activitybetween porphyrins could be associated with differencesin their molecular structures. These results stimulate newstudies with the objective to transform these drugs intonew options for use in photochemotherapy.