Carbonation Behavior of Mortar Made from Treated Recycled Aggregates: Influence of Diammonium Phosphate.

This research aims to improve the quality of recycled concrete fine aggregates (RFA) by using diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP). We aimed to understand the effect of DAP treatment on durability performance due to the carbonation action of mortars with the partial and total substitution of treated RFA. The results showed a maximum reduction in the RFA water absorption of up to 33% using a minimum DAP concentration due to a pore refinement as a consequence of the formation of calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite (HAP). The carbonation phenomenon did not have a significant effect on the durability of mortars with DAP-treated RFA, as we did not find a decrease in the compressive strength; the carbonation depth of the mortars with 100% treated RFA decreased up to 90% and 63% for a w/c of 0.45 and 0.50, in comparison with mortars with 0% treated RFA. An inversely proportional relationship was found between the accelerate carbonation and the compressive strength, showing that higher percentages of treated RFAs in the mortar promoted an increase in compressive strength and a decrease in the carbonation rate, which is behavior associated with a lower permeability of the cement matrix as one of the consequences of the microstructural densification by DAP treatment.

Sustaining voluntary recycling programmes in a country transitioning to an integrated solid waste management system.

Many developing countries are transitioning to integrated solid waste management systems that will likely have a recycling component for making them sustainable. There are several approaches to recycling, one being waste separation at the household level. Such an approach relies critically on the willingness of households to engage in source-separation. Many studies on recycling have been based on self-reported information on the willingness of households to participate in recycling programmes, should they be established; only few studies have been able to test what these intentions are by actual measurements of participation. The type of measurement for gauging success should be able to compare achievements against alternative approaches. This study is of particular interest to transitioning countries because it reports on a recycling programme in a small community that, even though voluntary in nature, has so far been sustained for almost three years. Available data on the amount of recycled beverage containers retrieved over a six-month period was analysed to assess the performance of the programme. A survey of households was performed among the community to understand the factors that may be contributing to such longevity. It was found that a major driver is the internal motivation of most of the community households for caring and preserving the environment. This is a necessary but not sufficient requirement, for it is doubtful whether the programme could have been sustained without an effective education programme and a system to make the process of retrieval easy. The education programme importantly linked recycling as a solution to an environmental problem plaguing the community. Moreover, the improvement in the environmental quality once the programme started was positive feedback to their recycling efforts. However, the ease at which recycled items could have been deposited was found to be the most essential factor. Inasmuch as the quantity of retrievals was a measure of the continued interest in recycling, a reliable estimate of the achieved fraction of beverage waste retrieval rates could not have been obtained with the most recent national waste characterization information. The reasons for this are explained.

Effect of contamination with Lactobacillus fermentum I2 on ethanol production by Spathaspora passalidarum.

Second-generation bioethanol is a promising source of renewable energy. In Brazilian mills, the production of ethanol from sugarcane (first generation, 1G) is a consolidated process performed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and characterized by high substrate concentrations, high cell density, and cell recycle. The main bacterial contaminants in 1G fermentation tanks are lactic acid bacteria, especially bacteria from the Lactobacillus genus, which is associated with a decrease in ethanol yield and yeast cell viability, among other negative effects. Second-generation (2G) bioethanol production is characterized by the conversion of glucose and xylose into ethanol by genetically modified or non-Saccharomyces yeasts. Spathaspora passalidarum is a promising non-Saccharomyces yeast for 2G ethanol production due to its ability to effectively convert xylose into ethanol. The effect of bacterial contamination on the fermentation of this yeast is unknown; therefore, L. fermentum, a common bacterium found in Brazilian 1G processes, was studied in coculture with S. passalidarum in a fed-batch fermentation process similar to that used in 1G mills. Individually, L. fermentum I2 was able to simultaneously consume glucose and xylose in nutrient-rich broth (Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS + xylose) but failed to grow in a glucose- and xylose-based synthetic broth. In coculture with S. passalidarum, the bacteria remained at a concentration of 108 UFC/mL throughout cell recycling, but no flocculation was observed, and it did not affect the fermentative parameters or the cellular viability of the yeast. Under both conditions, the maximum ethanol production was 21 g L-1 with volumetric productivity ranging from 0.65 to 0.70 g L-1 h-1. S. passalidarum was thus shown to be resistant to L. fermentum I2 under the conditions studied.

Sustainable recovery of protein-rich liquor from shrimp farming waste by lactic acid fermentation for application in tilapia feed.

The biotransformation of shrimp head waste into ingredients for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) post-larvae (PLs) diet formulations was evaluated herein. A novel consortium of lactic acid bacteria, comprising the strains Lactobacillus futsaii LAB06 and L. plantarum LAB14, selected based on kinetic growth parameters, was applied in the fermentation of shrimp head waste. After 48 h, the highest lactic acid production was 100 g L-1, allowing for maximum recovery of chitin and protein-rich liquor. The liquor was added to commercial powdered fish feed at 15, 30, and 45% (w/w) and offered to Nile tilapia PL during 28 days. The inclusion of 30% provided the best results for Nile tilapia PL survival, weight and length gains, specific growth rate, and biomass, proving that the fermented liquor can be incorporated, leading to economic benefits and contributing to the reduction of environmental pollution caused by the improper disposal of shrimp waste.

Removal of iron ore slimes from a highly turbid water by DAF.

This paper addresses Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) process variables, such as the flocculation parameters and the recycle water addition, as well as the pretreatment chemical variables (coagulation conditions), to determine the optimal values for the flotation of iron ore slimes found in a highly turbid water sample from the Gualaxo do Norte River, a tributary of the Doce River Basin in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This work was conducted using a flotatest batch laboratory-scale device to evaluate the effectiveness of DAF for cleaning the water polluted by the Samarco tailings dam leakage and determine the ability of DAF to reduce the water turbidity from 358 NTU to values below 100 NTU, aiming to comply with current legislation. The results showed that the four types of tested coagulants (PAC, ferric chloride, Tanfloc SG and Tanfloc SL) provided adequate conditions for coagulation, flocculation and flotation (in the range of 90-99.6% turbidity reduction). Although the process variables were optimized and low residual turbidity vales were achieved, results revealed that a portion of the flocs settled at the bottom of the flotatest columns, which indicated that the turbidity results represented removal caused by a combination of flotation and sedimentation processes simultaneously.

Bioethanol from Microalgal Biomass: A Promising Approach in Biorefinery

Abstract The development of new technologies which increase the production of biofuel without directly compete with food production is required. Microalgal biomass has recently been in the highlight. The role of this biomass is here discussed within the concept of biorefinery and industrial sustainability of bioethanol production. The process of cultivation in order to accumulate around 50% of carbohydrates in the biomass (dry weight) and the importance of water and nutrient recycling are reviewed. Saccharification of biomass using enzymes or acids and alternative processes such as hydrothermal liquefaction and flash hydrolysis are addressed. Since the main monosaccharide in microalgal biomass is glucose, high rates of hydrolysis and fermentation were, generally, achieved (more than 80% of the efficiency as a sum of these two processes). Anaerobic digestion to treat vinasse and the recycling of CO2 from the ethanolic fermentation and biogas could increase the process sustainability. Alternative techniques for the concentration of bioethanol from fermentation broth and for the optimization of fuel transportation are mentioned. Finally, the advantage of using microalgae rather than other sources is estimated with reference to the production rate, even though the cultivation costs are still high.

Compact Cell Settlers for Perfusion Cultures of Microbial (and Mammalian) Cells.

As microbial secretory expression systems have become well developed for microbial yeast cells, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris, it is advantageous to develop high cell density continuous perfusion cultures of microbial yeast cells to retain the live and productive yeast cells inside the perfusion bioreactor while removing the dead cells and cell debris along with the secreted product protein in the harvest stream. While the previously demonstrated inclined or lamellar settlers can be used for such perfusion bioreactors for microbial cells, the size and footprint requirements of such inefficiently scaled up devices can be quite large in comparison to the bioreactor size. Faced with this constraint, we have now developed novel, patent-pending compact cell settlers that can be used more efficiently with microbial perfusion bioreactors to achieve high cell densities and bioreactor productivities. Reproducible results from numerous month-long perfusion culture experiments using these devices attached to the 5 L perfusion bioreactor demonstrate very high cell densities due to substantial sedimentation of the larger live yeast cells which are returned to the bioreactor, while the harvest stream from the top of these cell settlers is a significantly clarified liquid, containing less than 30% and more typically less than 10% of the bioreactor cell concentration. Size of cells in the harvest is smaller than that of the cells in the bioreactor. Accumulated protein collected from the harvest and rate of protein accumulation is significantly (> 6x) higher than the protein produced in repeated fed-batch cultures over the same culture duration. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:913-922, 2017.

Fermentation strategy for second generation ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse hydrolyzate by Spathaspora passalidarum and Scheffersomyces stipitis.

Alcoholic fermentation of released sugars in pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass is a central feature for second generation ethanol (E2G) production. Saccharomyces cerevisiae used industrially in the production of first generation ethanol (E1G) convert sucrose, fructose, and glucose into ethanol. However, these yeasts have no ability to ferment pentose (xylose). Therefore, the present work has focused on E2G production by Scheffersomyces stipitis and Spathaspora passalidarum. The fermentation strategy with high pitch, cell recycle, fed-batch mode, and temperature decrease for each batch were performed in a hydrolyzate obtained from a pretreatment at 130°C with NaOH solution (1.5% w/v) added with 0.15% (w/w) of anthraquinone (AQ) and followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. The process strategy has increased volumetric productivity from 0.35 to 0.38 g · L-1 · h-1 (first to third batch) for S. stipitis and from 0.38 to 0.81 g · L-1 · h-1 for S. passalidarum (first to fourth batch). Mass balance for the process proposed in this work showed the production of 177.33 kg ethanol/ton of sugar cane bagasse for S. passalidarum compared to 124.13 kg ethanol/ton of sugar cane bagasse for S. stipitis fermentation. The strategy proposed in this work can be considered as a promising strategy in the production of second generation ethanol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 2211-2221. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Psicologia clínica ambiental em comunidades terapêuticas: intervenção por meio de capacitação profissional / Environmental clinical psychology in therapeutic communities: intervention through professional trainning / Psicología clínica ambiental en comunidades terapéuticas: intervención por medio de capacitación profesional

O presente artigo teve como objetivo apresentar a intervenção realizada em uma comunidade terapêutica, visando promoção de saúde dos acolhidos, considerando características e conceitos da Psicologia Ambiental. Optou-se pela abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa, que foi delineada como um estudo de caso. Participaram deste estudo sete pessoas, cinco homens e duas mulheres, com idade entre 30 e 50 anos, com diagnóstico de dependência química. Os resultados sugerem que os quatro encontros da Oficina Temática "Capacitar para Reciclar" trouxeram elementos para a elaboração de propostas pessoais de vida dos participantes para quando estes saírem da instituição. Este trabalho articula informações com possibilidades de atuação no mercado de trabalho, trazendo um olhar diferenciado para os acolhidos a respeito das atividades realizadas com materiais recicláveis. Essa intervenção é educativa pois traz a importância do planejamento de uma proposta de vida que contemple a reinserção social por meio de trabalho com reciclagem de resíduos sólidos.(AU)

The objective of this article was to present the intervention carried out in a therapeutic community, aiming to promote the health of the hosts, considering characteristics and concepts of Environmental Psychology. We chose the qualitative research approach, which was delineated as a case study. Seven people, five men and two women, aged between 30 and 50 years, with a diagnosis of drug addiction participated in this study. The results suggest that the four meetings of the Thematic Workshop "Developing Skills to Recycle" brought elements for the preparation of participants' personal life proposals when they leave the institution. This work articulates information with possibilities of action in the labor market, bringing a different perspective to participants regarding about the activities carried out with recyclable materials. This intervention is educational because it brings the importance of planning a proposal of life that contemplates social reintegration through working with solid waste recycling.(AU)

El presente artículo tuvo como objetivo presentar la intervención realizada en una comunidad terapéutica, buscando la promoción de salud de los participantes, considerando características y conceptos de la Psicología Ambiental. Se optó por la metodología cualitativa de investigación, que fue diseñada como un estudio de caso. Participaron del estudio siete personas, cinco hombres y dos mujeres, con edad entre 30 y 50 años, con diagnóstico de dependencia química. Los resultados sugieren que los cuatro encuentros del taller temático "Capacitar para Reciclar" hicieron emerger elementos para la elaboración de propuestas personales de vida de los participantes para cuando salgan de la institución. Este trabajo articula informaciones con posibilidades de actuación en el ámbito laboral, proponiendo una mirada diferenciada para los participantes respecto a las actividades realizadas con materiales reciclables. Esa intervención es educativa pues trae la importancia del planeamiento de una propuesta de vida que considere la reinserción social por medio del trabajo con reciclaje de residuos sólidos.(AU)

Propidium Monoazide Coupled with PCR Predicts Infectivity of Enteric Viruses in Swine Manure and Biofertilized Soil.

The use of propidium monoazide (PMA) coupled with real-time PCR (RT-qPCR or qPCR for RNA or DNA viruses, respectively) was assessed to discriminate infectious enteric viruses in swine raw manure, swine effluent from anaerobic biodigester (AB) and biofertilized soils. Those samples were spiked either with infectious and heat-inactivated human adenovirus-2 (HAdV-2) or mengovirus (vMC0), and PMA-qPCR/RT-qPCR allowed discriminating inactivated viruses from the infective particles, with significant reductions (>99.9%). Then, the procedure was further assayed to evaluate the presence and stability of two non-cultivable viruses (porcine adenovirus and rotavirus A) in natural samples (swine raw manure, swine effluent from AB and biofertilized soils); it demonstrated viral inactivation during the storage period at 23 °C. As a result, the combination of PMA coupled to real-time PCR can be a promising alternative for prediction of viral infectivity in comparison to more labour-intensive and costly techniques such as animal or tissue-culture infectivity methods, and for those viruses that do not have currently available cell culture techniques.

Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Production in Repeated fed-Batch with Cell Recycle Using a Medium with low Carbon Source Concentration.

Among approaches applied to obtain high productivity and low production costs in bioprocesses are high cell density and the use of low cost substrates. Usually low cost substrates, as waste/agroindustrial residues, have low carbon concentration, which leads to a difficulty in operating bioprocesses. Real time control of process for intracellular products is also difficult. The present study proposes a strategy of repeated fed-batch with cell recycle to attain high cell density of Cupriavidus necator and high poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)) productivity, using a substrate with low carbon source concentration (90 g l(-1)). Also, the use of the oxygen uptake rate data was pointed out as an on line solution for process control, once P(3HB) is an intracellular product. The results showed that total biomass (X), residual biomass (Xr) and P(3HB) values at the end of the culture were 61.6 g l(-1), 19.3 g l(-1) and 42.4 g l(-1) respectively, equivalent to 68.8 % of P(3HB) in the cells, and P(3HB) productivity of 1.0 g l(-1) h(-1). Therefore, the strategy proposed was efficient to achieve high productivity and high polymer content from a medium with low carbon source concentration.

Sensor and methodology for dielectric analysis of vegetal oils submitted to thermal stress.

Vegetable oils used in frying food represent a social problem as its destination. The residual oil can be recycled and returned to the production line, as biodiesel, as soap, or as putty. The state of the residual oil is determined according to their physicochemical characteristics whose values define its economically viable destination. However, the physicochemical analysis requires high costs, time and general cost of transporting. This study presents the use of a capacitive sensor and a quick and inexpensive method to correlate the physicochemical variables to the dielectric constant of the material undergoing oil samples to thermal cycling. The proposed method allows reducing costs in the characterization of residual oil and the reduction in analysis time. In addition, the method allows an assessment of the quality of the vegetable oil during use. The experimental results show the increasing of the dielectric constant with the temperature, which facilitates measurement and classification of the dielectric constant at considerably higher temperatures. The results also confirm a definitive degradation in used oil and a correlation between the dielectric constant of the sample with the results of the physicochemical analysis (iodine value, acid value, viscosity and refractive index).

Waste the processing of milk products in pasture of Mombaça grass: attributes chemicals of grass and soil / Resíduo de laticínio em pastagem de capim Mombaça: atributos químicos da forragem e do solo

The application of waste liquid from the processing of milk products (RLL) in pastures might provide nutrients to the crops and also contribute to reduce of the pollution generated by industrialization processes of milk, by recycling of nutrients between the countryside and urban environment. With the objective to evaluate the use of RLL rates of 10, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 400 m³ ha-1 considering nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) chemical characteristics of Guinea grass cultivar Mombasa and the entisol fertility a study in four cycles of production was carried out. It was observed that the RLL led to increased the rude protein, P and the tissue K+ contents. The soil levels of P, K+, Ca2+, Na+ and MO were increased, changing positively its chemical fertility. The RLL can substitute partially the phosphorus fertilization, as well as the whole potassium fertilization.

A aplicação de resíduo líquido de laticínio (RLL) no solo sob pastagens pode fornecer nutrientes a cultura e diminuir a poluição gerada por laticínios via ciclagem de nutrientes entre o campo e o meio urbano. Com o objetivo de avaliar o uso de doses resíduo líquido de laticínio (10, 50, 100, 150, 200 e 400 m³ ha-¹) de RLL, na composição química em nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P) e potássio (K) do capim Mombaça, bem como a extração destes elementos do solo, além de avaliar a fertilidade química em P, K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, H+ e matéria orgânica (MO) do Neossolo Quartzarênico, foi realizado um estudo em quatro ciclos de produção, onde se observou que o RLL contribuiu para o aumento da proteína bruta, do P e do K+ vegetal. No solo foi observado aumento dos teores de P, K+, Ca2+, Na+ e MO, alterando positivamente sua fertilidade. O RLL pode substituir parcialmente a adubação fosfatada e, completamente, a adubação potássica.

Waste the processing of milk products in pasture of Mombaça grass: attributes chemicals of grass and soil / Resíduo de laticínio em pastagem de capim Mombaça: atributos químicos da forragem e do solo

 The application of waste liquid from the processing of milk products (RLL) in pastures might provide nutrients to the crops and also contribute to reduce of the pollution generated by industrialization processes of milk, by recycling of nutrients between the countryside and urban environment. With the objective to evaluate the use of RLL rates of 10, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 400 m³ ha-1 considering nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) chemical characteristics of Guinea grass cultivar Mombasa and the entisol fertility a study in four cycles of production was carried out. It was observed that the RLL led to increased the rude protein, P and the tissue K+ contents. The soil levels of P, K+, Ca2+, Na+ and MO were increased, changing positively its chemical fertility. The RLL can substitute partially the phosphorus fertilization, as well as the whole potassium fertilization.

 A aplicação de resíduo líquido de laticínio (RLL) no solo sob pastagens pode fornecer nutrientes a cultura e diminuir a poluição gerada por laticínios via ciclagem de nutrientes entre o campo e o meio urbano. Com o objetivo de avaliar o uso de doses resíduo líquido de laticínio (10, 50, 100, 150, 200 e 400 m³ ha-¹) de RLL, na composição química em nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P) e potássio (K) do capim Mombaça, bem como a extração destes elementos do solo, além de avaliar a fertilidade química em P, K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, H+ e matéria orgânica (MO) do Neossolo Quartzarênico, foi realizado um estudo em quatro ciclos de produção, onde se observou que o RLL contribuiu para o aumento da proteína bruta, do P e do K+ vegetal. No solo foi observado aumento dos teores de P, K+, Ca2+, Na+ e MO, alterando positivamente sua fertilidade. O RLL pode substituir parcialmente a adubação fosfatada e, completamente, a adubação potássica.

Caracterização do reciclador da ONG RRV em Londrina-Paraná / Characteristics of the worker involved with the waste recycle in the NGO RRV in Londrina-Paraná

INTRODUÇÃO: Existem poucas informações a respeito das condições de trabalho do reciclador e dos efeitos do exercício dessa atividade. OBJETIVO: Investigar o ambiente de trabalho, a postura e o perfil dos recicladores da Associação Reciclar Reciclando a Vida (RRV) da cidade de Londrina, Paraná, Brasil. METODOLOGIA: A pesquisa qualiquantitativa foi realizada com 18 recicladores por meio de uma entrevista com um formulário de dados (gerais/ocupacionais) e um check list, buscando uma visão ergonômica do ambiente de trabalho. RESULTADOS: O grupo de trabalhadores estudado exerce a atividade de recicladores há 3[0,8-8] anos. Em relação às doenças sistêmicas, 22 por cento relataram hipertensão arterial e cardiopatias e 39 por cento cefaleia. A presença de dor em MMSS aumentou (p = 0,04) e houve uma tendência de aumento de dor em MMI e cervical (p = 0,08) com o exercício da atividade de reciclador. Em relação ao ambiente de trabalho, foram constatados condições adversas à salubridade humana, além de odor desagradável, sendo que nenhum dos recicladores faz uso de equipamentos de segurança do tipo Equipamento de Proteção Individual (EPIs). Entre as posturas adotadas na execução de suas atividades, grande parte dos recicladores permanece em pé e carrega peso a maior parte de sua jornada de trabalho. CONCLUSÃO: A atividade do reciclador está ligada ao ambiente e a posturas inadequadas de trabalho. O perfil do trabalhador envolvido nessa atividade é o de mulheres com baixos índices de escolaridade e de remuneração.

INTRODUCTION: There are little information regarding the work conditions of the worker involved with the waste recycle and the effects of such activity. AIM: To investigate the work environment, the posture and the profile of the workers involved with the waste recycle of the non-governmental organization Associação Reciclar Reciclando a Vida (RRV) in Londrina, Brazil. METHODS: The quali-quantitative research was performed with 18 workers involved with the waste recycle by interviewing them, using a questionnaire including general information and data related to the work activity and by using a check list related to the work environment. RESULTS: The study group has been involved with the activity of waste recycle for 3[0,8-8] years. Regarding the systemic diseases, 22 percent reported high blood pressure and heart diseases and 39 percent headache. The incidence of pain in the upper limbs increased after working with the waste recycle (p = 0,04) and there was also a tendency of increase of pain in the lower limbs and in the neck (p = 0.08) increased after working with the waste recycle. Regarding the work environment, insalubrious conditions were identified, there was an unpleasant smell and none of the workers used safety equipment. Regarding the postures adopted during the activities, many workers remain standing and carry weight most of the time. CONCLUSION: The activity of the worker involved with the waste recycle is related to the inadequate work environment and postures adopted during the activity. The profile of the worker involved in this activity is mainly women with low educational degree and income.

Improved sanitary landfill design using recirculation of anaerobically treated leachates: generation of advanced design criteria

In Latin America, the most accepted disposal systems for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) are landfills, which nowadays have low rates of stabilization. The objective of this study was to develop design criteria for sanitary landfills which lead to a reduction in the stabilization times of MSW, based on experiment results obtain from a pre-pilot scale operation of two sanitary landfills (0.5 Ton), one with recirculation of leachates treated in an anaerobic digester and the other with recirculation of untreated leachates. This was complemented by another pilot scale sanitary landfill (1440 Ton) with recirculation of leaches treated in an anaerobic filter, and additionally by a computer simulation of leachate generation through the water balance of a theoretical cell of MSW (850 Ton), in which the initial humidity of the MSW and the type of final cover were evaluated. The results obtained on the pre-pilot scale indicate that recirculation of anaerobically treated leachates, when compared to the recirculation of untreated leachates, increased the rate of MSW stabilization, projecting a stabilization time reduction of 72 percent. In the pilot sanitary landfill an increase in the settling rate of around 200 percent was observed when operating with the recirculation of anaerobically treated leachates as opposed to operation without recirculation. The water balance carried out on the theoretical cell of MSW demonstrated the importance to leachate generation of both the initial landfill water saturation and the type of final barrier. From these results it may be stated that it is important for landfill design to maintain waste humidity close to its field capacity along with an adequate leachate application rate.

Autocuidado en recicladores-recuperadores informales de Medellín, Colombia, 2005 / Self-care in individuals who recycle garbage (recyclers) of Medellín, Colombia, 2005

OBJETIVO: comprender las concepciones, actitudes y prácticas sobre autocuidado en los recicladores informales de Medellín. METODOLOGÍA: se realizó un estudio cualitativo desde la perspectiva de los recuperadores no agremiados de Medellín en el 2005. Se aplicaron 52 entrevistas, con previo consentimiento informado, observación no participante y diario de campo. RESULTADOS: el autocuidado se concibe como la protección del cuerpo con el fin de evitar la ocurrencia de enfermedad; incluye aspectos de higiene, dieta, consulta médica, uso del tiempo libre y utilización de instrumentos de protección personal, como guantes, tapabocas, cachucha, tapaoídos y otros. DISCUSIÓ: la prevención de la enfermedad trasciende el plano biológico y se posiciona en una dimensión social para la persona, en que lo más importante son las consecuencias que puede generar para sí misma, su grupo de trabajo y su familia. Los recuperadores poseen saberes sobre la prevención y las prácticas que promueven la salud y el bienestar, pero estas últimas no son aplicadas porque disminuyen su rendimiento, no las consideran necesarias, no depende de ellos ejecutarlas o carecen de los recursos económicos. Las prácticas de autocuidado del recuperador se sustentan más por la primacía de la historia del grupo que por el saber científico.

OBJECTIVE: to understand the conceptions, attitudes and practices about self-care among informal recyclers in Medellín. METHODOLOGY: a qualitative study from the perspective of recyclers not belonging to any guild in Medellín in 2005 was developed. A total amount of 52 interviews with previous informed consent were applied, plus non-participant observation and field diary. RESULTS: self-care is understood as the constant protection of the body in order to avoid the occurrence of diseases. It includes aspects of hygiene, diet, medical consultation, proper use of leisure time and utilization of instruments for personal protection, such as gloves, face masks, caps, and ear plugs among other devices. DISCUSSION: disease prevention goes beyond biological aspects and becomes part of a social dimension for people in which the most important features are the consequences for themselves, their labor team and their families. Recyclers have knowledge on prevention and practices that promote health and well-being, but the latter are not applied because they diminish their job performance, or they do not consider them to be necessary, do not feel like executing them nor they lack the economic resources to assume them. Autocare practices of recyclers are mainly supported by the primacy of the team history than by the scientific knowledge concerning it.

Reúso de água em indústria de reciclagem de plástico tipo PEAD / Water reuse on HDPE plastics recycling pack industry

A discussão acerca da viabilidade técnica, econômica e ambiental do reúso da água em processos industriais tem sido uma preocupação constante. Neste trabalho propõe-se uma alternativa simplificada para o tratamento de efluentes com vistas ao seu reúso em uma indústria de reciclagem de plásticos. A água, no presente caso, é componente fundamental para o processo, já que participa como elemento de remoção de detritos e impurezas que contaminam a matriz da matéria-prima utilizada, proveniente, principalmente, de aterros sanitários e lixões. As embalagens plásticas recicladas pela indústria em questão são, em sua grande maioria, de uso doméstico e, em menor escala, frascos contaminados com óleos lubrificantes. Os resultados demonstraram a viabilidade do tratamento através de processo físico-químico por coagulação, floculação, decantação e filtração em manta geotêxtil, com o uso do hidroxicloreto de alumínio (PAC) como coagulante, soda cáustica (50 por cento) como alcalinizante e polieletrólito como auxiliar de floculação e desidratação do lodo, bem como a exequibilidade do reúso dos efluentes em circuito fechado.

The discussion about technical, economical and environmental feasibility of water reuse in industrial process has been a constant concern. This paper purposes a simplified choice for waste water treatment seeking reuse in a plastic recycle industry. The water, in this case, is a prime component because it is the main element for the debris and impurities removal that contaminates the matrix of plastic raw material, which comes, mostly, from landfill and waste disposals. The recycled plastic packages, from the company that had been used for this research, come mostly from domestic use and, in a minor scale, the plastic package contaminated by lubricant oil. The final results show feasible for the treatment through physical-chemical process by coagulation, flocculation, decantation and filtration on geotextile, with the use of aluminum hidroxichloride (PAC) as coagulant, sodium hydroxide as alkaliner, polyelectrolyte as auxiliary on flocculation and slush dehydration, as well as the workability of the effluents reuse under a closed circuit proved itself the technical, economical and environmental feasibility.