title: Effects of untreated and treated oilfield-produced water on seed germination, seedling development, and biomass production of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).
abstract: This study aims to evaluate possible toxic effects of oil and other contaminants from oilfield-produced water from oil exploration and production, on seed germination, and seedling development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In comparison, as treated by electroflocculation, oilfield-produced water, with lower oil and organic matter content, was also used. Electroflocculation treatment of oilfield-produced water achieved significant removals of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (94 %), oil and grease (O&G) (96 %), color (97 %), and turbidity (99 %). Different O&G, COD, and salt levels of untreated and treated oilfield-produced water did not influence germination process and seedling biomass production. Normal seedlings percentage and vigor tended to decrease more intensely in O&G and COD levels, higher than 337.5 mg L(-1) and 1321 mg O2 L(-1), respectively, using untreated oilfield-produced water. These results indicate that this industrial effluent must be treated, in order to not affect adversely seedling development. This way, electroflocculation treatment appears as an interesting alternative to removing oil and soluble organic matter in excess from oilfield-produced water improving sunflower's seedling development and providing a friendly environmental destination for this wastewater, reducing its potential to harm water resources, soil, and biota.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. mmarquesrj@globo.com.
authors.forename: Mônica Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: da Costa Marques
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. paulosergio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio Alves
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. michelle.rigo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michelle Machado
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. alexandrecerq@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Alexandre Andrade
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
authors.affiliation: Environmental Technology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. paivaj@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Julieta L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: de Paiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Process Technology, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. mercon@uerj.br.
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merçon
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, 22460-000, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. daniel.perez@embrapa.br.
authors.forename: Daniel Vidal
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D018525:Germination; D006368:Helianthus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water
keywords: Electroflocculation; Irrigation; Oilfield-produced water; Sunflower; Water reuse