Resumo:
Over the years we have been observing the gradual death of the environment and all its resources are being depleted. The water essential for all living beings constantly suffers from pollution. Bioremediation appears as a viable and sustainable alternative. The use of biomass with the aim of providing a process for treating water bodies, producing a low-cost adsorbent, appears as an alternative, together with the association with microorganisms. In this work, Cocos nucifera mesocarp was used to obtain activated carbons and functionalized activated carbons. Activated carbon was obtained by physical activation with water vapor (600 °C) and hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid and sulfuric acid were used in the functionalization. The waters of the Camarajipe River were used as a basis to determine the purification potential of the adsorbents. The physicochemical properties of the contaminated water and the water treated with the adsorbent were compared, which indicated that pollutants derived from organic compounds were eliminated as expected. Other parameters investigated in the water treated with the adsorbent were not within the standards established for drinking water. However, the carbonaceous substances studied when associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the degradation of the dye’s methyl blue and remazol brilliant blue R, proved to be effective in this process. The sample of activated carbon functionalized with hydrogen peroxide supported with P. aeruginosa exhibited the best result in biodegradation in the dye methylene blue and remazol brilliant blue R. Bioassays using biomodulation also reproduced the same result in the degradation of these dyes, with the sample of activated carbon functionalized with hydrogen peroxide supported with P. aeruginosa being the highlight. The use of carbon materials in the preparation of activated carbon proves to be effective when associated with bacteria in the treatment of contaminated water. There is a need to further develop this degradation technique in association with microorganisms. The bioremediation of water bodies still requires the implementation of new technologies to guarantee the obtaining of better products generated by microorganisms.
