Oil impact on the environment and aquatic organisms on the coasts of the states of Alagoas and Sergipe, Brazil - A preliminary evaluation.

The oil spill off the coast of the Brazilian Northeast region is one of the most significant global events regarding contamination and environmental impact in recent years. This work evaluates the effects of oil spills on the Northeast coasts between Alagoas and Sergipe states from October 2019 to January 2020. Analysis of some sampling points of seawater revealed the presence of Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu in levels above the maximum concentration limits established by the Brazilian legislation. For water quality parameters, phosphorus, nitrite, and turbidity showed statistically different values. However, the chromatographic profiles of oil obtained from different beaches were quite similar. Seawater, fishes, and massunins (bivalve) presented the main polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, fluorene, and acenaphthalene. Therefore, the concentration of organic and inorganic contaminants determined in different environmental locations served as a subsidy to assess the effect of the preliminary oil spill on the Brazilian coast.

Syagrus oleracea-activated carbon prepared by vacuum pyrolysis for methylene blue adsorption.

This work aims to produce activated carbon from the endocarp of Syagrus oleracea by vacuum pyrolysis and evaluate its potential as an adsorbent. The effects of pyrolysis temperature (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C), particle diameter (0.467 mm, 0.267 mm, and lower than 0.234 mm), and activation agent (H2SO4, H2PO3, and KOH) on the potential for methylene blue adsorption were investigated. In addition, kinetics and adsorption equilibrium were evaluated. The best condition found was particle diameter < 0.234 mm, final pyrolysis temperature of 700 °C, and using KOH. Adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second order, with equilibrium reached within 20 min. Isotherms followed the Freundlich model. Values of adsorption capacity were in the order of 30 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that adsorption occurred spontaneously with a reduction in the heterogeneity of the solid interface/solution. The results obtained demonstrate the great adsorption capacity of the activated carbon prepared from endocarp of Syagrus oleracea via vacuum pyrolysis for the removal of up to 98% methylene blue from aqueous solutions.