Expansion of sugarcane crops may have contributed to the increased contamination of native habitats in Brazil. Several species of amphibians inhabit ponds formed in flooded farmlands, where pesticide concentrations are usually high. This study evaluated the ecotoxicological effects of the sugarcane pesticides fipronil and 2,4-D, as well as the fertilizer vinasse (isolated and mixed), on physiological responses of Leptodactylus fuscus and Lithobates catesbeianus tadpoles. In situ assays were conducted in mesocosms with concentrations based on the doses recommended by the manufacturer. Vinasse (1.3% dilution) caused 100% tadpoles’ mortality immediately after its application. Fipronil and/or 2,4-D altered antioxidant and biotransformation responses, induced neurotoxicity and changed lipid contents in tadpoles. A multivariate approach indicated that the mixture of pesticides induced most of the sublethal effects in both tadpole species, in addition to the isolated fipronil in L. fuscus. Fipronil alone increased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity, decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and total lipid contents, and altered some individual lipid classes (e.g., free fatty acids and acetone-mobile polar lipids) in L. fuscus. The interaction between fipronil and 2,4-D in this species were more evident for lipid contents, although enzymatic alterations in G6PDH, AChE and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were also observed. In L. catesbeianus, the mixture of pesticides reduced triglycerides and total lipids, as well as increased GST and decreased AChE activities. The detoxifying enzyme carboxylesterase was reduced by 2,4-D (alone or in mixture) in both species. Isolated pesticides also modulated specific lipid classes, suggesting their disruptive action on energy metabolism of tadpoles. Our study showed that fipronil, 2,4-D, and vinasse, individually or mixed, can be harmful to amphibians during their larval phase, causing mortality or impairing their functional responses.

Sugar industry produces a variety of organic byproducts causing disposal as well as environmental issues. This study investigated the safe use of these byproducts in assessment of soil physicochemical properties and metal accumulation in rice. A field experiment was performed with following treatments: control only NPK (CF), NPK + sugarcane bagasse (SB), NPK + press mud (PM), NPK + sugarcane vinasse (SV), NPK + SB + PM (SB + PM), NPK + SB + SV (SB + SV), NPK + PM + SV (PM + SV), NPK + SB + PM + SV (SB + PM + SV). Total byproduct input was (1.25 t ha⁻¹) as recommended for organic inputs in the local area. The results indicated that integrated use of these amendments with chemical fertilization improved soil properties and rice yield. Organic matter was significantly improved in SB + SV (191.3%), SB + PM + SV (164.4%), and SB + PM (150.9%). Total N was significantly enhanced in SB + SV (193%), SB + PM + SV (166%), and SB + PM (152.5%); extractable P was high in SB (103%), PM + SV (89.7%), and SB + PM (51%); extractable K was significantly improved in PM (39.6%) and SB (33.4%); extractable Zn was significantly enhanced in SB (1172.8%), SV (829.2%) and PM (819.1%) in soil. Rice grain yield was significantly enhanced in SB (213.1%) and PM (208.8%) while combined application also improved the yield with reference to the CF. The application of SB + PM improved N (58.7%), P (27.4%), K (11.5%), and Zn (166.4%) concentration in grain, while metal accumulation was within the permissible limit. Zn concentration was significantly enhanced in SB + PM (166.4%) whereas the concentration of Cd and Pb was significantly reduced with the application of byproducts. Health assessment results showed no harmful effects for humans. Results conclude that these byproducts are good nutrients source and improve soil physicochemical properties without any health hazards.

Soilless culture systems offer an environmentally friendly and resource-efficient alternative to traditional cultivation systems fitting within the scheme of a circular economy. The objective of this research was to examine the sustainable integration of recycling fertilizers in hydroponic cultivation—creating a nutrient cycling concept for horticultural cultivation. Using the nutrient film technique (NFT), three recycling-based fertilizer variants were tested against standard synthetic mineral fertilization as the control, with 11 tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Pannovy) per replicate (n = 4) and treatment: two nitrified urine-based fertilizers differing in ammonium/nitrate ratio (NH₄⁺:NO₃⁻), namely (1) “Aurin” (AUR) and (2) “Crop” (CRO); as well as (3) an organo-mineral mixture of struvite and vinasse (S+V); and (4) a control (NPK). The closed chamber method was adapted for gas fluxes (N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂) from the root zone. There was no indication in differences of the total shoot biomass fresh matter and uptake of N, P and K between recycling fertilizers and the control. Marketable fruit yield was comparable between NPK, CRO and S+V, whereas lower yields occurred in AUR. The higher NH₄⁺:NO₃⁻ of AUR was associated with an increased susceptibility of blossom-end-rot, likely due to reduced uptake and translocation of Ca. Highest sugar concentration was found in S+V, which may have been influenced by the presence of organic acids in vinasse. N₂O emissions were highest in S+V, which corresponded to our hypothesis that N₂O emissions positively correlate with organic-C input by the fertilizer amendments. Remaining treatments showed barely detectable GHG emissions. A nitrified urine with a low NH₄⁺:NO₃– (e.g., CRO) has a high potential as recycling fertilizer in NFT systems for tomato cultivation, and S+V proved to supply sufficient P and K for adequate growth and yield. Alternative cultivation strategies may complement the composition of AUR.

Brazil is one of the greatest producers of orange and its orange juice processing industry produces large volumes of solid and liquid waste daily. As an efficient use of the residues from citrus industry, production of bioethanol is highlighted. However, the generation of bioethanol produces a liquid effluent as a by-product, known as vinasse. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of an effluent from citrus industries, orange vinasse, when applied to soil using Allium cepa seeds. The evaluation was performed by means of germination, root growth, and genotoxic and mutagenic parameters. The EC₅₀ (effectiveness concentration) and ½ EC₅₀, defined in the germination test, were used for genotoxicity tests. Toxicity was observed in dilutions above 40%, which was responsible for reducing the germination speed index. Genotoxicity was observed only using the EC₅₀ and mutagenicity was not detected. According to the results, orange vinasse showed toxicity similar to the sugar cane vinasse, so caution is suggested in the disposal of this effluent into the environment.

The mutagenic and genotoxic activity of vinasses collected from a fuel alcohol plant, located in the municipality of Frontino, Northwestern Colombia, were evaluated. Two samples obtained from an 82-L capacity hybrid reactor (UASB-anaerobic filter (AF)-UASB) were studied under laboratory conditions after being treated with biological oxidation, the first, and the second with Fenton reaction consecutively. Mutagenicity was evaluated in vitro by the Ames test using strains TA98 and TA100 with and without S9 metabolic activation. The genotoxic analysis was conducted using the Allium cepa roots assay where chromosomal aberrations were used as clastogenic or aneugenic response markers, and micronuclei as mutagenic response. The Ames test results showed a strain-dependent positive linear association with the vinasse sample concentration before treatment (dose–response effect). Unlike TA100, strain TA98 showed a mutagenic effect in both the presence and absence of metabolic enzymes. After the biological oxidation treatment, vinasse mutagenicity significantly decreased. Finally, after Fenton treatment, the sample did not induce any mutagenic event. Genotoxic activity was observed in all three samples, but there was a higher frequency in the vinasse sample before treatment. Concerning the frequency of micronuclei, no clear association was observed with either the concentration or the type of sample.

Co-digestion between sugarcane vinasse (Vn) and water hyacinth (WH) at various mixing ratios of 0:1, 1:0, 1:3, 3:1, and 1:1 was carried out under thermophilic conditions (55 °C) for 60 days. The effect of various mixing ratios on the pH changes, soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) reduction, and cumulative biogas production was investigated. The first order, modified Gompertz, and logistic function kinetic models were selected to fit the experimental data. Model discrimination was conducted through the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The study revealed that co-digestion shows better performance compared to the mono-digestion of both substrates. Vn:WH mixing ratio 1:1 with inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR) of 0.38 g VSᵢₙₒcᵤₗᵤₘ/g VSₛᵤbₛₜᵣₐₜₑ is the most favorable ratio, achieving sCOD reduction efficiency and cumulative biogas production of 71.6% and 1229 mL, respectively. Model selection through AIC revealed that ratio 1:1 was best fitted to the logistic function kinetic model (R² = 0.9897) with Yₘ and K values of 1232 mL and 31 mL/day, respectively.

Sugarcane vinasse, also known as distillery wastewater, is a key by-product of the ethanol industry. Vinasse characteristics and their huge volume pose environmental concerns about the choice of treatment method. Microfiltration (MF) has been efficiently applied to vinasse clarification; however, it has been underexplored in the literature. In this context, the present study investigated the application of coagulation and cross-flow MF for vinasse clarification. To maximize the process efficiency, operational parameters were optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time method in batch tests. The optimal values were Superfloc C492 concentration of 5 mg L⁻¹, backpulsing frequency of 10 min, and vinasse temperature of 45 °C, which showed a removal of 35.0, 86.0, and 99.9% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, and turbidity, respectively. The optimization process significantly improved the vinasse flux but did not show any influence in the permeate quality. Optimal parameters were successfully applied to the continuous mode in the MF system, which operated during 164 h at an average flux of 21.6 L h⁻¹ m⁻². High removals were reached for color (79.3%) and turbidity (99.6%), and low removal was found for COD (31.6%), which are in agreement with the batch mode tests. This work showed the importance of operational optimization, and the results provide valuable support for establishing practical guidelines for vinasse clarification in the ethanol industry. Graphical Abstract

Inorganic anion monitoring is essential for bioreactor operation and is related for pollution control or energy and products recovery. However, there is a lack of studies validating methods for inorganic anions analyses in conditions compatible to those in bioreactor operations treating different types of wastewater. This paper provides a systematic statistical study and matrix-effect assessment for sugarcane vinasse, leachate, sewage and synthetic sewage. Sample preparation consisted of only a filtration and sample dilution. Cl⁻, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻ and SO₄²⁻ were determined in a Dionex ICS 5000® equipped with a chemical conductivity suppressor. Calibration curves were linear and well-adjusted between 2.5 and 50 mg L⁻¹ for all the anions in all the tested matrices, except PO₄³⁻ and SO₄²⁻ in vinasse. A calibration range for PO₄³⁻ in all tested matrices was 5.0 to 100 mg L⁻¹, whereas a range from 5.0 mg L⁻¹ to 50 mg L⁻¹ was obtained for SO₄²⁻ in vinasse. All the anions yielded recoveries in the range of 85–115% for all the tested matrices. Relative standard deviations lower than 10 and 2% were achieved for peak areas and retention times, respectively. A signal enhancement was observed for all the tested matrices and all the anions. The matrix effect level varied from −1.7 (NO₂⁻ in vinasse) to −33.9% (Cl⁻ in leachate). Sewage was the less affected matrix, while leachate gave higher matrix effects. Validation results and the matrix effect assessment showed that a simple sample preparation is suitable for multi-elemental analyses of inorganic anions for complex environmental samples.

Studies on ion movement in soil profiles associated to the application of vinasse are scarce. The objective of this study is to assess the quantity of inorganic and organic ions in the profile of the soil under sugarcane. The study was realized in a commercial sugarcane cultivar in the municipality of Ponta Pora, MS, Brazil in the harvest year of 2010/2011. The soil in the experimental area was classified as Haplorthox clay. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four repetitions, two depths, and four harvest periods, after application of a 350 m³ h⁻¹ vinasse dosage. Twenty-four soil solution extractors were installed at a distance of 4 × 4 m from each other in the areas under vinasse treatment. Vinasse was chemically characterized by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry method. The extracted solution samples were determined for ionic chromatography. Elevated concentrations of lactic, butyric, citric, tartaric, succinic, formic, and acetic acids were found up to 1 m of depth up to 29 days after application. After 63 days, no traces of those anions were found in the soil. There was a rise in nitrate and a decline in the content of chloride and sulfate.