Avaliação da inativação de Microcystis aeruginosa kützing e degradação de Microcistina-LR por processo foto-Fenton

Abstract

Cyanobacterial blooms have become a global concern, pointing out the need to develop new treatment technologies capable of inactivating the cells and degrade the cyanobacteria toxins. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP), such as photo-Fenton, have shown to be an attractive option in cyanotoxin degradation (as microcystins) although its potential to inactivate cyanobacteria has not been studied. In this context, this work aimed to evaluate the inactivation of Microcystis aeruginosa species and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) reduction. The process was conducted in a photochemical reactor with artificial radiation promoted by mercury lamp. Initially, the microalgae Desmodesmus subspicatus was adopted as an experimental model to evaluate the isolated effects of the variables involved in photo-Fenton, for further evaluation with the combined process. After this step, different combined conditions of Fe2+ and H2O2 were studied in M. aeruginosa cells. In both cases, the effects were evaluated by directly cell concentration reduction during the process and growth inhibition. The MC-LR analysis were conducted in a high performance liquid chromatography system with PDA detector. Cell viability assays showed significant effects of Fe2 + (10 and 15 mg.L-1) and H2O2 (50 mg.L-1), combined with radiation, in the cell D. subspicatus, while the process mediated by ferrioxalate complex was able to induce 100% inhibition of growth in just 30 minutes of reaction. In the process applied in M. aeruginosa cells, cellular concentration reductions of 40% (0.6 mg.L-1 of Fe2+ and 10 mg.L-1 of H2O2), 50% (5 mg.L-1 of Fe2+ and 50 mg.L-1 of H2O2) and 47% (20 mg.L-1 of Fe2+ and 100 mg.L-1 of H2O2) were observed, while cell viability assays showed the absence of growth after 45 minutes of reaction at all conditions. Additionally, when evaluated the conditions of 5 mg.L-1 of Fe2+ and 50 mg.L-1 of H2O2 20 mg.L-1 of Fe2+ and 100 mg.L-1 of H2O2, significant reductions in the MC-LR concentration of were observed, which are below the limit set by WHO.