USE OF CALCINATED CARBONOUS WASTE FOR THE TREATMENT OF WATERS AFFECTED BY CONTAMINANTS FROM COAL MINING.

Abstract

The coal industry is one of the main economic activities in southern of Santa Catarina, Brazil. However, generates carbonous waste not recovered economically, which could contaminate water sources, including the Urussanga River. This study aimed to use of the calcinated carbonous waste for the treatment of waters contaminated by waste from coal mining. The samples water from Urussanga River and carbonous waste were collected. The waste was subjected to calcination to obtain metal oxides. The waters of the river were treated with calcinated carbonous waste in batch system. Before and after treatment were determined the concentrations of metal ions Al (III), Fe (III) and Mn (II) and the pH. Was performed acute toxicity tests on Daphnia magna and Artemia sp. exposed to different dilutions of untreated and treated water and determined the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for Artemia sp. and Dilution Factor (DF) to Daphnia magna. Phytotoxicity test was conducted in Allium cepa L. exposed to untreated and treated water, and evaluated the inhibition of root growth. The results indicated that the treatment increased the pH as well as it promoted an expressive removal of metal ions. It was observed that after treatment there was no mortality in Artemia sp. and it was found to reduce the toxicity to Daphnia magna and normal growth of roots in Allium cepa L. In conclusion, the use of the calcinated carbonous waste could be considered as an alternative for the treatment of waters affected by contaminants from coal mining.