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Effluent from Citrus Industry: Toxic Parameters of Orange Vinasse

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Dejanira de Franceschi de Angelis and Dilza Aparecida Nalin de Oliveira Leite for helping in the preparation of the orange vinasse.

Funding

This study received funding from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, process n. 2014/17998-7 and 2012/50197-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Bioscience, Rio Claro, UNESP—São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil

    Camila Fernandes H. Garcia, Raphael B. de Souza, Cleiton Pereira de Souza & Carmem Silvia Fontanetti

  2. School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

    Raphael B. de Souza

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  1. Camila Fernandes H. Garcia
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Garcia, C.F.H., de Souza, R.B., de Souza, C.P. et al. Effluent from Citrus Industry: Toxic Parameters of Orange Vinasse. Water Air Soil Pollut 230, 201 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-019-4260-4

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