Tecnologia social para o tratamento de água para consumo humano com coagulante à base de cactos roraimenses

Abstract

The main challenge of this research is related to the supply of potable water for needy communities and/or residents in places of difficult access in the Amazon region. The lack of sanitation, illness due to the consumption of poor quality water affects millions of Brazilians. In this way, developing safe, low-cost and effective strategies to treat drinking water from cacti from the lavrado of Roraima will contribute to the quality of life of communities that do not have access to drinking water, in addition to protecting the environment, through decrease in the release of pollutants. Given this, the objective of this research, a precursor in the region, was to develop a social technology for the treatment of water for human consumption, with a coagulant based on Roraima cacti. Preliminarily, an assay was carried out to verify the coagulation potential of the cactus in relation to the turbidity of the water in the Branco River. For the development of social technology, surface and groundwater were characterized in the riverside community of Santa Maria do Boiaçu, measuring turbidity, pH, total and thermotolerant coliforms and coagulation tests in Jar Test equipment, according to with the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. For phytochemical prospecting and biological activities, the ethanolic extract of Cereus jamacaru was evaluated for its antioxidant capacity, determined by the DPPH and ABTS methods, and for the content of total phenolic compounds by adapting the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The chemical profile was analyzed by the APCI-MS method and the toxicity from the LC50 in an acute test with Artemia salina. The natural coagulant of the cactus C. jamacaru from the lavrado of Roraima has a coagulant action for the treatment of water intended for human consumption, and can be used for both surface and groundwater, regardless of seasonality. The social technology produced with the riverside community of Santa Maria do Boiaçu, based on the extract of C. jamacaru, proved to be effective in coagulating water, allowing its consumption and allowing other vulnerable communities to produce the natural coagulant and obtain quality water, since residents were trained and certified, being able to act as multipliers. This fact, in addition to providing quality of life for residents, protects the environment and includes two important Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations: 3: Health and well-being and 6: Drinking water and sanitation.