Desenvolvimento de sistema wetlands construído Combinado com reator eletroquímico para tratamento de efluentes contaminados com Metais Potencialmente Tóxicos (MPT)

Abstract

The electrochemistry and wetland systems are two alternative clean technologies used to remediate environments polluted by potentially toxic metals (PTM). A coupled pilot system was constructed with wetland system (CW) of Alocasia macrorrhiza species and an electrochemical reactor (ER) made of plate electrodes of Fe/Al in aim to remediate PTM-polluted water. The efficiency of the pilot system was evaluated using PTM-polluted Igarapé do Quarenta water, which is the most polluted stream from Manaus City (Amazonas State, Brazil). Three batch experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the remediating efficiency. Each experiment comprised to maintain the polluted water in CW at 120 hours and the PTM electrochemical reducing in ER at 2A by 1.5 h. The contents of Cu, Zn, Cr, and Pb in batch experiments were analyzed in 24 h intervals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). In addition, the contents of Cu, Zn, Cr, and Pb into the plant biomass were also analyzed by FAAS before and after the batch experiments. Findings showed that CW was efficient in removing Cr for limits recommended by CONAMA while Cu and Zn were reduced by CW to closed limits. The results indicate an inefficient remediating of the CW for Pb. The PTM analyzed into the Alocasia macrorrhiza biomass showed the following sequence of up taking: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr, as well as being a promised phytoremediator plant. In the ER, findings were characterized by electrochemical reduction of the Zn, and Cu contents to limits recommended by CONAMA. Furthermore, we observed the following sequence of electrochemical reducing: Cr, Zn > Cu > Pb. Lastly, the constructed pilot system was able in completely removing Zn, Cr and Cu from PTM-polluted water.