Identification of Cyanobacteria and Its Potential Toxins in the Joanes I Reservoir, Bahia, Brazil.

The Joanes I Reservoir is responsible for 40% of the drinking water supply of the Metropolitan Region of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. For water sources such as this, there is concern regarding the proliferation of potentially toxin-producing cyanobacteria, which can cause environmental and public health impacts. To evaluate the presence of cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins in the water of this reservoir, the cyanobacteria were identified by microscopy; the presence of the genes of the cyanotoxin-producing cyanobacteria was detected by molecular methods (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequencing); and the presence of toxins was determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The water samples were collected at four sampling points in the Joanes I Reservoir in a monitoring campaign conducted during the occurrence of phytoplankton blooms, and the water quality parameters were also analysed. Ten cyanobacteria species/genera were identified at the monitoring sites, including five potentially cyanotoxin-producing species, such as Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Cylindrospermopsis cf. acuminato-crispa, Aphanocapsa sp., Phormidium sp., and Pseudanabaena sp. A positive result for the presence of the cylindrospermopsin toxin was confirmed at two sampling points by LC-MS/MS, which indicated that the populations are actively producing toxins. The analysis of the PCR products using the HEPF/HEPR primer pair for the detection of the microcystin biosynthesis gene mcyE was positive for the analysed samples. The results of this study point to the worrisome condition of this reservoir, from which water is collected for public supply, and indicate the importance of the joint use of different methods for the analysis of cyanobacteria and their toxins in reservoir monitoring.

A photobioreactor using Nannochloropsis oculata marine microalgae for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sorption of metals in produced water.

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the potential of the removal of PAHs and metal sorption for the treatment of petroleum produced water using a photobioreactor system with Nannochloropsis oculata microalgae. A set of photobioreactors with different gradients of produced water concentration diluted in saline water was designed, establishing five gradients (v/v): 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. These concentrations were established to test the removal of PAHs. The microalgal growth was monitored daily, noting the adaptation of microalgae to the addition of produced water as a culture medium, with cell growth of 5.24 × 107 cells mL-1 from 25% (v/v), 4.09 × 107 cells mL-1 from 50% (v/v), 2.77 × 107 cells mL-1 from 75% (v/v), and 1.17 × 107 cells mL-1 from 100%. The total removal efficiency of PAHs in the produced water was 94%. Organic compounds such as naphthalene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and acenaphthylene showed higher removal percentages, between 89 and 99% efficiency in produced water. Iron and zinc were the metals detected in the water produced, and iron reduced from 1.57 ± 0.08 mg L-1 to <0.1 mg L-1 after 28 days of cultivation, whereas zinc increased by 0.23 ± 0.05 to 3.90 ± 0.46 mg L-1. The PAHs removal may have occurred in two ways, by intracellular bioaccumulation or biodegradation by oxidoreductase enzymes. 0.2 g of dry biomass with maximum extraction of oil obtained 3.07% and generation of 3.70% of protein was considered as value-added products for biodiesel and bioplastics.

Biotechnological Assessment of Culture Conditions on the Stress-Induced Carotenoid Production of Dunaliella salina and Growth Kinetics of Chlorophyceae Microalgae Strains

Abstract Microalgae are potential sources of a wide range of bioproducts. It is essential to choose the proper microalgae strain and culture condition to achieve an efficient production. The production yield of carotenoids by Dunaliella salina under the stress-induced culture conditions of nitrogen deprivation and excessive light intensity was evaluated. Also, a survey at laboratorial scale of the growth kinetics under different culture conditions of photoperiod, aeration, and agitation was performed for the seven species of green microalgae Ankistrodesmus fusiformis, Chlamydocapsa bacillus, Desmodesmus brasiliensis, Kirchneriella lunaris, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Scenedesmus obliquus. As a result, aeration of atmospheric air is enough to improve the growth kinetics of the seven species studied. Production of carotenoids was enhanced under stress by excessive light intensity. Although D. salina does not grow effectively under nitrogen deprivation, this stress condition may be used to quickly stimulate carotenoid production once the culture reaches a high cellular population.

Metodologia TECLIM para uso racional de água na indústria: o banco de ideias no contexto da metodologia front-end loading / TECLIM method for rational water use in industry: the bank of ideas in the context of the front-end loading methodology

RESUMO O banco de ideias (BI) é uma ferramenta da metodologia TECLIM para otimização ambiental de processos industriais. Está conceitualmente associado com a metodologia front-end loading (FEL), a qual considera que forte atenção nas etapas iniciais de identificação e seleção de alternativas aumenta as chances de sucesso de um projeto, evitando que recursos sejam desperdiçados ou mal alocados. O BI abrange a etapa FEL 1, na qual é feito o levantamento de ideias, e segue até parte da etapa FEL 2, na qual as oportunidades selecionadas são desenvolvidas a projetos conceituais. O método para priorização de oportunidades no BI é apresentado demonstrando-se a sinergia com a FEL. A aplicação do BI permitiu o cadastro e processamento de 500 ideias com potencial de redução do consumo de água em 1,4 x 103 t.h-1 e de efluentes em pelo menos 0,5 x 103 t.h-1. O BI direciona recursos para projetos conceituais mais atrativos e sustentáveis.

ABSTRACT The bank of ideas (BI) is a TECLIM tool for environmental optimization of industrial processes. It is conceptually associated with the front-end loading (FEL) methodology, which pays particular attention to the initial stage of identification and selection of alternatives of water use, increasing the chances of a project´s success, avoiding wasted or badly allocated resources. The BI covers FEL 1 stage, in which the ideas are invited, followed by stage FEL 2, in which the opportunities selected are developed into conceptual projects. The method of giving priorities to the opportunities in the BI is presented, showing the synergy with FEL. The application of the BI enabled the register and process of 500 ideas with the potential to reduce water consumption by 1.4 x 103 t.h-1 and effluents by at least 0.5 x 103 t.h-1. The BI tool helps to identify the most attractive and sustainable conceptual projects.

Cultivation of Nannochloropsis sp. in brackish groundwater supplemented with municipal wastewater as a nutrient source

The aim of this work was to study growth potential of the green microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. using brackish groundwater from a well in the semi-arid northeast region of Brazil as culture medium. The medium was supplemented with (%) 19.4, 22.0, 44.0 and 50.0% of municipal wastewater after UASB treatment as a low-cost nutrient source. The results showed that the culture tested was capable of growing in the brackish groundwater even at salinity levels as low as 2 ppt. Furthermore it was shown that municipal wastewater could be used as a sole nutrient source for Nannochloropsis sp.