Os sais metálicos, especialmente os sais de alumínio, são tradicionalmente os mais empregados no tratamento de água. Contudo, devido aos efeitos deletérios associados ao alumínio residual na água tratada e a dificuldade de dispor o lodo gerado, os polímeros naturais têm sido cada vez mais estudados. Na literatura revisada, os polímeros naturais mais reportados são a Moringa oleifera e a quitosana. Porém, ainda são escassos os trabalhos referentes ao uso de polímeros naturais atuando como coagulantes auxiliares. Portanto, no presente trabalho estudou-se o uso de um novo e potencial coagulante auxiliar, a Guazuma ulmifolia (mutamba), para tratar água sintética empregando a metodologia de superfície de resposta. Além disso, neste trabalho se propôs a realização de uma revisão de literatura especificamente sobre o emprego de polímeros naturais como auxiliares de coagulação a sais metálicos no tratamento de água a fim de identificar as lacunas do conhecimento e oportunidades de pesquisa. Os principais fatores para o processo de coagulação/floculação avaliados foram dose dos coagulantes e pH. Com o processo de modelagem observou-se que o modelo quadrático foi o mais apropriado para descrever o processo de coagulação/floculação, tendo este sido validado. O efeito quadrático do pH, a interação entre a dose de mutamba e o pH e a interação entre a dose de sulfato de alumínio e a dose de mutamba foram significativos (p ≤ 0,05). As condições ótimas previstas pelo modelo foram 5 mg L -1 de sulfato de alumínio, 2,5 mg L -1 de mutamba e pH 9. Ademais, o polímero estudado apresentou características aniônicas (-31,9 mV) atuando, predominantemente, por adsorção e formação de pontes. Palavras-chave: Polímero natural. Mutamba. Tratamento de água. | Metal salts, especially aluminum salts, are traditionally the most employed in water treatment. However, due to the deleterious effects associated with residual aluminum in treated water and the difficulty of disposing of the generated sludge, natural polymers have been increasingly studied. In the reviewed literature, the most commonly reported natural polymers are Moringa oleifera and chitosan. However, there are still few studies on the use of natural polymers acting as coagulants aids. Therefore, the present work optimized the use of a potential new coagulant aid, Guazuma ulmifolia (mutamba), to treat synthetic water using the surface response methodology. In addition, this work aimed to conduct a literature review specifically on the use of natural polymers as coagulation aids to metal salts in water treatment in order to identify knowledge gaps and research opportunities. The main factors for the coagulation-flocculation process evaluated were coagulant dose and pH. The modeling process revealed that the quadratic model was the most appropriate to describe the coagulation-flocculation process, which has been validated. The quadratic effect of pH, the interaction between mutamba dose and pH and the interaction between aluminum sulfate dose and mutamba dose were significant (p ≤ 0.05). The optimal conditions predicted by the model were 5 mg L -1 aluminum sulfate, 2.5 mg L -1 mutamba and pH 9. Moreover, the studied polymer presented anionic characteristics (-31,9 mV) acting by adsorption and bridging. Keywords: Natural polymer. Mutamba. Water treatment.

The analysis of the study was based on the objective of studying the use of hydrogel for water retention in arid soils, improving water retention in arid soils has been the subject of an analytical and descriptive study. The results show a significant impact on the productivity and development of crops in these adverse conditions. A 25% increase in biomass and a 30% growth in harvest will be observed for crops treated with hydrogel compared to those without treatment. The hydrogel demonstrated outstanding efficiency by retaining up to 50% more water in dry soil. These biopolymers have the unique ability to absorb more water and release it gradually, promoting a constant supply of water for plants during periods of prolonged drought. These findings underline the importance of hydrogel as a promising technology to improve agricultural sustainability in water-scarce regions, offering benefits both in terms of crop yield and water use efficiency. In conclusion, the use of hydrogel emerges as an effective solution to face the challenges of agriculture in arid soils, improving water availability for plants and optimizing crop yields. | The analysis of the study was based on the objective of studying the use of hydrogel for water retention in arid soils, improving water retention in arid soils has been the subject of an analytical and descriptive study. The results show a significant impact on the productivity and development of crops in these adverse conditions. A 25% increase in biomass and a 30% growth in harvest will be observed for crops treated with hydrogel compared to those without treatment. The hydrogel demonstrated outstanding efficiency by retaining up to 50% more water in dry soil. These biopolymers have the unique ability to absorb more water and release it gradually, promoting a constant supply of water for plants during periods of prolonged drought. These findings underline the importance of hydrogel as a promising technology to improve agricultural sustainability in water-scarce regions, offering benefits both in terms of crop yield and water use efficiency. In conclusion, the use of hydrogel emerges as an effective solution to face the challenges of agriculture in arid soils, improving water availability for plants and optimizing crop yields. | El análisis del estudio se basó en el objetivo de estudiar el uso de hidrogel para la retención del agua en suelos áridos, mejora la retención de agua en suelos áridos ha sido objeto de un estudio analítico y descriptivo. Los resultados muestran un impacto significativo en la productividad y desarrollo de cultivos en estas condiciones adversas. Se observó un incremento del 25% en la biomasa y un crecimiento del 30% en la cosecha de cultivos tratados con hidrogel en comparación con aquellos sin tratamiento. El hidrogel demostró una eficiencia destacada al retener hasta un 50% más de agua en el suelo seco. Estos biopolímeros tienen la capacidad única de absorber más agua y liberarla gradualmente, lo que promueve un suministro constante de agua para las plantas durante períodos de sequía prolongada. Estos hallazgos subrayan la importancia del hidrogel como una tecnología prometedora para mejorar la sostenibilidad agrícola en regiones con escasez hídrica, ofreciendo beneficios tanto en términos de rendimiento de cultivos como en la eficiencia en el uso del agua. En conclusión, el uso de hidrogel emerge como una solución efectiva para enfrentar los desafíos de la agricultura en suelos áridos, mejorando la disponibilidad de agua para las plantas y optimizando el rendimiento de los cultivos.

En este estudio se realizó la extracción de la pectina de cáscara de naranja, polvo de semilla de tamarindo y almidón de cáscara de plátano verde extraídos a partir de materiales de desecho orgánicos cuyos rendimientos respecto a la materia prima de desecho fueron 7.52%, 28.20% y 23.33% respectivamente. La extracción requiere recursos como agua potable, agua destilada, ácido sulfúrico y etanol al 96%, siendo la pectina que más recursos necesita, por otro lado, también se realizó un análisis proximal, el cual reveló que estos biopolímeros están compuestos en su mayoría por carbohidratos, seguido de proteínas y fibras. Se evaluó el comportamiento de los biopolímeros como agentes coagulantes/floculantes en el tratamiento de aguas residuales domésticas muestreadas de la caja de revisión de la FICA, a la cual, de su caracterización fisicoquímica y biológica, se tuvo que supera los límites máximos permisibles establecidos en la normativa para turbidez, DQO, sólidos y coliformes. La turbidez inicial fue de 105 [NTU], el cual se usó como control para los ensayos de prueba de jarras donde se obtuvo dosis óptimas a las cuales se dio la remoción de turbidez, pH, color y DQO fueron 300 [mg/L] para la pectina de cáscara de naranja, y 200 [mg/L] para el polvo de semilla de tamarindo y almidón de plátano verde. Los tres biopolímeros mostraron una capacidad limitada para remover la turbidez y color comparado con el sulfato de aluminio, por lo que se demuestra que, si tienen propiedades coagulantes/floculantes ya que muestran una desestabilización de partículas y formación de flocs, a pesar de ello no son tan eficientes con coagulante/floculantes químicos tradicionales. | In this study, the extraction of orange peel pectin, tamarind seed powder and green banana peel starch extracted from organic waste materials was carried out, whose yields with respect to the waste raw material were 7.52%, 28.20%. and 23.33% respectively. The extraction requires resources such as drinking water, distilled water, sulfuric acid and 96% ethanol, with pectin being the one that requires the most resources. On the other hand, a proximal analysis was also carried out, which revealed that these biopolymers are mostly composed of carbohydrates, followed by proteins and fibers. The behavior of biopolymers as coagulant/flocculant agents was evaluated in the treatment of domestic wastewater sampled from the FICA review box, which, based on its physicochemical and biological characterization, had to exceed the maximum permissible limits established in the regulations for turbidity, COD, solids and coliforms. The initial turbidity was 105 [NTU], which was used as a control for the jar test trials where optimal doses were obtained at which turbidity removal, pH, color and COD were 300 [mg/L]. for orange peel pectin, and 200 [mg/L] for tamarind seed powder and green banana starch. The three biopolymers showed a limited capacity to remove turbidity and color compared to aluminum sulfate, which demonstrates that, if they have coagulant/flocculating properties since they show particle destabilization and floc formation, despite this they do not They are as efficient with traditional chemical coagulant/flocculants.