title: Evaluation of using aluminum sulfate and water-soluble Moringa oleifera seed lectin to reduce turbidity and toxicity of polluted stream water.
abstract: Aluminum salts are used as coagulants in water treatment; however, the exposure to residual aluminum has been associated with human brain lesions. The water-soluble Moringa oleifera lectin (WSMoL), which is extracted with distilled water and isolated by chitin chromatography, has coagulant activity and is able to reduce the concentration of metal ions in aqueous solutions. This study evaluated the potential of using aluminum sulfate and WSMoL to reduce the turbidity and toxicity of water from the Cavouco stream located in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The water sample used (called P1) was collected from the stream source, which was found to be strongly polluted based on physicochemical and water quality analyses, as well as ecotoxicity assays with Artemia salina and seeds of Eruca sativa and Lactuca sativa. The assays combining WSMoL and aluminum sulfate were more efficient than those that used these agents separately. Furthermore, the greatest reduction in turbidity (96.8%) was obtained with the treatment using aluminum sulfate followed by WSMoL, compared to when they were applied simultaneously (91.3%). In addition, aluminum sulfate followed by WSMoL treatment resulted in residual aluminum concentration (0.3 mg/L) that was much lower than that recorded after the treatment using only the salt (35.5 mg/L). The ecotoxicity of P1 was also strongly reduced after the treatments. In summary, the combined use of aluminum sulfate and WSMoL was efficient in promoting a strong reduction of turbidity and ecotoxicity of a polluted water sample, without resulting in a high residual aluminum concentration at the conclusion of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Ambientais e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, 50050-590, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Henrique Edmilson Souza
authors.initials: JHES
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Ambientais e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, 50050-590, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Keissy Vanderley
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: de Santana
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Ambientais e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, 50050-590, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia Claudina
authors.initials: ACC
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Químicas, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, 50050-590, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Carvalho
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: de Paiva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maiara Celine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso
authors.initials: LCBB
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Betânia Melo
authors.initials: MBM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Maria Guedes
authors.initials: PMG
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Ambientais e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, 50050-590, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Elesbão
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Electronic address: thiagohn86@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Thiago Henrique
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Napoleão
mesh_terms: D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D018545:Lactuca / Q000187:drug effects; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000534:Alum Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D037121:Plant Lectins; D014867:Water; C041524:aluminum sulfate
keywords: Aquatic ecosystems; Ecotoxicology; Lectin; Physicochemical analysis; Water quality