Development of chromatographic analytical methods for determination of dyes in textile effluent samples

Abstract

The dyes are synthetic organic compounds used extensively in many technologic areas, such as textiles industries, food, pharmaceutical, photographic, automotive, cosmetics, plastic, leather, agricultural and paper. Due to the complexity and diversity found in the chemical structures, physico-chemical and toxicological activities or genotoxic properties of these compounds, its removal from industrial wastewater, surface water and drinking water is one of the great challenges of modern society. These dyes can cause considerable contamination and environmental problems, compromising the fauna, flora and human health. The issue has raised considerable public concern, problems in legislation and has been a serious challenge to scientists in the environmental sciences. The main objective of this project is to investigate and validate new analytical methods for detection and quantification of synthetic dyes in order to obtain diagnostics about the levels of contamination of industrial effluents and surface waters, and assess the potential toxic and mutagenic involving some dyes and their derivatives to understand their processes of transport, bioaccumulation, biotransformation and persistence in the environment or in human metabolism and ultimately to seek new methods of degradation of these compounds. The specific aims are: i) to develop analytical methodologies for preconcentration, detection and quantification of dyes and by-products in wastewater and surface water, sludge and sediments contaminated by waste from the textile industry, tanneries, food and hair dye, ii) to investigate mimetic bio -processing and degradative processes arising from the disposal of surface water or even in the living organism by using electrochemical techniques and DNA-modified electrodes, poliaminoacids, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and biological tests, iii) to apply tests to evaluate the induction of damage changes to genetic material and primary immune system by the azo dyes and water coming from tanneries, dyeing, hair salons, food; iv) to improve methods of degradation for azo dyes by advanced oxidation methods, such as photo-fenton, iron and zero photoelectrocatalysis under artificial and solar radiation and to develop more efficient and effective reactors for treatment of effluents in large scales.