Remoção de Microcystis Aeruginosa e Microcistina-LR por coagulação, floculação, sedimentação e filtração seguida de coluna de carvão ativado granular

Abstract

The luxuriant proliferation of cyanobacteria in the water used as sources of drinking water is increasing around the world.The presence of these microorganisms in raw water can difficult the water treatment and make it more expensive. The main importance of health cyanobacterial bloom is the possible release of cyanotoxins in the water, which can cause serious risks to human health and unknown changes in aquatic biota. In the present study tests were carried out in a bench scale to evaluate the efficiency of removal of whole cells of Microcystis aeruginosa and the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR extracellular using coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and filtration followed by a column of activated granular carbon produced in the northeast of Brazil. The water used was raw water from an eutrophic reservoir with addition of M. aeruginosa cells from a fresh culture maintained in laboratory conditions in order to obtain an initial concentration approximately with 105 cells.mL-1. The efficiency observed was up to 90% of cells removal using aluminum sulfate at the concentration of 45 mg.L-1 and a coagulation pH equal at 5.5 in the water decanted (with dosages of 40 and 60 mg.L-1 of the coagulant and pH equal at 7.5 the percentage of cells removal was 35%). The water effluent from the sand filter and the water effluent from the column of granular activated carbon had averages of M. aeruginosa cells equals to 3,8 and 3,6 log cel.mL-1 respectively. The average concentration of microcystin-LR in the water effluent from the GACC was 0,15 μg.L-1. Its value is below the limit of detection of the method (0,16 μg.L-1) and after 60 hours ranged from 0,18 to 0,28 μg.L-1. Both values were below the maximum allowed by ordinance 2914/11 Ministry of Health of 1 μg.L-1 microcystins in drinking water.