ABSTRACT
Vinasse is a high pollutant liquid residue from bioethanol production. Due to its toxicity, most vinasse is used not disposed of in water bodies but employed for the fertigation of sugarcane crops, potentially leading to soil salinization or heavy metal deposition. The anaerobic digestion of vinasse for energy production is the main alternative to fertigation, but the process cannot eliminate colored compounds such as melanoidins, caramels, or phenolic compounds. The treatment of raw vinasse with white-rot fungi could remove colored and persistent toxic compounds, but is generally considered cost-ineffective. We report the treatment of vinasse by an autochthonous Trametes sp. strain immobilized in polyurethane foam and the concomitant production of high titers of laccase, a high value-added product that could improve the viability of the process. The reuse of the immobilized biomass and the discoloration of raw vinasse, the concentration of phenolic compounds, BOD and COD, and the phytotoxicity of the treated vinasse were measured to assess the viability of the process and the potential use of treated vinasse in fertigation or as a complementary treatment to anaerobic digestion. Under optimal conditions (vinasse 0.25X, 30 °C, 21 days incubation, 2% glucose added in the implantation stage), immobilized Trametes sp. causes a decrease of 75% in vinasse color and total phenolic compounds, reaching 1082 U L-1 of laccase. The fungi could be used to treat 0.50X vinasse (BOD 44,400 mg O2 L-1), causing a 26% decolorization and a 30% removal of phenolic compounds after 21 days of treatment with maximum laccase titers of 112 U L-1, while reducing COD and BOD from 103,290 to 42,500 mg O2 L-1 (59%) and from 44,440 to 21,230 mg O2 L-1 (52%), respectively. The re-utilization of immobilized biomass to treat 0.50X vinasse proved to be successful, leading to the production of 361 U L-1 of laccase with 77% decolorization, 61% degradation of phenolic compounds, and the reduction of COD and BOD by 75% and 80%, respectively. Trametes sp. also reduced vinasse phytotoxicity to Lactuca sativa seedlings. The obtained results show that the aerobic treatment of vinasse by immobilized Trametes sp. is an interesting technology that could be employed as a sole treatment for the bioremediation of vinasse, with the concomitant the production of laccase. Alternatively, the methodology could be used in combination with anaerobic digestion to achieve greater decolorization and reduction of phenolic compounds, melanoidins, and organic load.
Subject(s)
Saccharum , Trametes , Biodegradation, Environmental , Laccase/metabolism , Phenols/metabolism , Polyurethanes , Saccharum/metabolism , Trametes/metabolismABSTRACT
Se ha evidenciado el detrioro del ambiente y la necesidad en promover prácticas que permitan minimizar el impacto negativo de las actividades humanas sobre la salud del planeta. La inserción de los estudiantes universitarios puede proporcionar solución a estos problemas. Siendo indispensable crear planes y estrategias para promoveer el desarrollo de buenas prácticas con responsabilidad, mejorar el desempeño ambiental y disminuir el impacto del efecto del cambio climático. En este contexto, se planteó establecer la percepción y aplicación de las prácticas ambientales en el estudiantado y docentes de la Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes. Como resultado se observó actitud de preocupación sobre la preservación del ambiente, los estudiantes manifestaron realizar actividades como siembra de árboles, uso de transporte alternativos y disposición de desechos peligrosos de manera segura, con evidencia estadisticamente significativa. Sin embargo, la percepción, en general, sobre las buenas prácticas ambientales fueron deficiente, la importancia atribuida fue mayor en las categorias "uso eficiente de los recursos" (IF= 0,84), seguida por "promoción de la salud ambiental" (IF=0,51), "gestión de los desechos" (IF= 0,5), y "clima sostenible" (IF= 0,46). Por ende, es escencial que desde las universidades se fomenten campañas permanentes de formación e información integrando a la comunidad activamente en las buenas prácticas ambientales(AU)
The deterioration of the environment and the need to promote practices that minimize the negative impact of human activities on the health of the planet have been evidenced. The insertion of university students can provide a solution to these problems. It is essential to create plans and strategies to promote the development of good practices with responsibility, improve environmental performance and reduce the impact of the effect of climate change. In this context, it was proposed to establish the perception and application of environmental practices in the students and teachers of the Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes. As a result, an attitude of concern about the preservation of the environment was observed, the students reported carrying out activities such as planting trees, using alternative transportation and disposing of hazardous waste safely, with statistically significant evidence. However, the perception, in general, about good environmental practices was deficient, the importance attributed was greater in the categories "efficient use of resources" (IF= 0.84), followed by "promotion of environmental health" (IF=0.51), "waste management" (IF= 0.5), and "sustainable climate" (IF= 0.46). Therefore, it is essential that universities promote permanent training and information campaigns actively integrating the community in good environmental practices(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Students , Universities , Environmental Health , Climate Change , Environmental Health Education , Human ActivitiesABSTRACT
RESUMEN La educación para el desarrollo sostenible tiene el propósito de generar cambios en los conocimientos, las actitudes y las prácticas de las personas, para promover transiciones hacia la sostenibilidad. Los estudios de Conocimientos Actitudes y Prácticas (CAP) pueden ser una herramienta útil, oportuna y pertinente, para valorar los logros de la educación con orientación ambiental. Este estudio analizó el perfil de CAP sobre Sostenibilidad y sus factores asociados en estudiantes de una universidad pública colombiana, mediante un estudio descriptivo transversal, de 356 estudiantes universitarios. Se encontró que la dimensión con los puntajes más altos fue la de Actitudes, seguida por los Conocimientos y el más bajo para las Prácticas, y asociaciones con el sexo, la edad y el programa de formación al que pertenecen los estudiantes.
ABSTRACT The education for sustainable development aims at generating changes in people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices in order to promote transitions towards sustainability. Studies on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) may become useful, timely and pertinent tools to assess the accomplishments of environmentally-oriented education. This study analyzed the profile of KAP in Sustainability, together with its associated factors, among students at a public Colombian university by means of a cross-sectional descriptive study which included 356 subjects. It found that attitudes dimension showed the highest scores, followed in decreasing order by knowledge and practices, as well as associations with gender, age, and the undergraduate program the students belong to.
ABSTRACT
Este estudo teve por objetivo analisar os custos de adoção das ações sustentáveis aplicáveis ao Hospital Universitário Professor Alberto Antunes (HUPAA). Por meio de estudo das legislações pertinentes e uso de metodologia qualitativa, baseada em estudo de caso, procedeu-se á observação participante, aplicação de questionários e entrevistas semiestruturadas com responsáveis pela gestão hospitalar como também com os colaboradores relacionados direta e indiretamente com as ações ambientais da instituição. Observou-se que dentre um universo de 27 (vinte e sete) práticas ambientais sustentáveis pesquisadas, o HUPAA desenvolve efetivamente 20 (vinte) ações, 03 (três) são parcialmente desenvolvidas e 04 (quatro) não são aplicáveis ao hospital. Constatou-se que o hospital investiu em torno de R$ 957.125,28 (novecentos e cinquenta e sete mil cento e vinte cinco reais e vinte e oito centavos) para adotar as práticas ambientais sustentáveis. Em relação à prática ambiental que apresenta maior impacto no orçamento hospitalar foi representada pela aquisição de equipamentos e materiais que consomem menos energia, o qual o hospital gastou o um valor anual de R$ 495.169,70 (quatrocentos e noventa e cinco mil cento e sessenta e nove reais e setenta centavos). Observou-se também a necessidade do HUPAA implantar novas práticas ambientais, as quais teria que investir um valor de R$ 169.111,04 (cento e sessenta e nove mil cento e onze reais e quatro centavos). Os dados encontrados demonstram que o HUPAA apresenta uma situação favorável no desempenho das suas práticas ambientais sustentáveis, porém o hospital tem a obrigação de adotar todas as práticas ambientais inerentes à legislação ambiental, uma vez que existe a necessidade dele cumprir com o seu papel social e legal. Contudo, espera-se que as informações levantadas nesta pesquisa sirvam de instrumento de gestão para tomada de decisões da gestão hospitalar, para estruturação do serviço de gerenciamento de resíduos, além de alertar para adoção de novas práticas ambientais sustentáveis.(AU)
This research aimed to analyze the costs of adoptions of the sustainable actions applicable to the University Hospital Professor Alberto Antunes (HUPAA). By means of study of the pertinent legislations and use of qualitative methodology, based on case study it took place participating observation, utilization of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with the ones responsible for hospital management as well as the collaborators related direct or indirectly to the environmental actions of the institution. It was noticed that within the universe of 27 (twenty-seven) sustainable environmental practices researched, the HUPAA develops effectively 20 (twenty) actions, 03 (three) are partially developed and 04 (four) are not applicable to the hospital. It was observed that the hospital invested around R$ 957.125,28 (Nine hundred fifty-seven thousand one hundred twenty-five reais and twenty-eight scents) to adopt the sustainable environmental practices. With regard to the environmental practice, that presents the highest impact to the hospital budget was represented by the purchase of equipment and materials that expend less electricity, in which the hospital spent the annual value of R$495.169,70 (Four hundred ninety-five thousand one hundred sixty-nine and seventy scents). It was also observed the need of the HUPAA to establish new environmental practices, which should be invested an amount of R$ 169.111.04 (One hundred sixty-nine thousand one hundred eleven reais and four scents). The data found show that the HUPAA presents a favorable situation in the development of its sustainable environmental practices, however the hospital has the obligation to adopt all the environmental practices inherent to the environmental legislation, once that there is the necessity of it fulfills its social and legal role. Nevertheless, it is expected that the relevant information collected in this research may be useful as an instrument of management for decision-making of hospital management, the organization of the service of residue management, besides alerting for the adoption of new sustainable environmental practices.(AU)