Bagaço de malte como biossorvente para remoção de contaminantes hidrofóbicos e metais pesados de efluente.

Abstract

The improper disposal of industrial effluents is a growing environmental concern, as these wastes often contain pollutants capable of causing significant damage to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Industrial sectors generate effluents with toxic substances, such as heavy metals and petroleum derivatives, which, without proper treatment, compromise the quality of water, soil, and biodiversity. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the removal profile of petroleum derivatives and heavy metals from effluents using malt bagasse. The removal percentages of the hydrophobic pollutant and heavy metals present in synthetic effluent were determined through a full factorial design 2³, considering independent variables such as particle size, the amount of malt bagasse, and the oil concentration in the synthetic effluent. The incubation time (96, 144, and 288 hours) did not significantly influence the removal, indicating that this variable is not relevant to the process. After this stage, a test was conducted to determine the genotoxicity profile of the synthetic effluent using the plant *Allium cepa*, before and after the biosorption process with malt bagasse. The results showed that within 24 hours, 76% of the oily contaminant was biosorbed, along with approximately 67% of the heavy metals evaluated (copper and lead) present in the synthetic effluent. Genotoxicity tests demonstrated the absence of micronucleus formation in plant cells, indicating a reduction in the toxicity profile of the effluent containing the studied contaminants. Therefore, it can be concluded that malt bagasse is a promising alternative for treating environmental pollutants, as it is a low-cost agro-industrial residue with high added value. Its adsorbent properties enable its application in contaminant removal, representing a sustainable and economically viable solution for mitigating environmental impacts.