Caracterização da água de lastro de embarcação no Porto de Imbituba (SC)

Abstract

Given the importance of maritime transport in the world and national economy and its central role in the phenomenon of bioinvasion across the globe, studies on the characteristics of ballast water, as well as methods of correction and prevention of introduction of invasive species in new environments, those studies have gained space in the academic landscape of environmental preservation. This work bases on the physicochemical characterization of the ballast water collected from a vessel in the port of Imbituba, on the southern coast of the state of Santa Catarina. The samples analyzed in situ for the following parameters: density, total iron, alkalinity, hardness, bromine, free and total chlorine, pH and temperature. Other parameters analyzed in the laboratory were: suspended solids, turbidity and transmittance at 254 nm. The results obtained were compared with each other and also with some reference values of studies in other regions of the world for ballast water and seawater, discussing in the end the risks and impacts that the water analyzed in this study could bring to the environment which it was discharged. The characterization results were very close to the ones found in the literature noticing the possibility of using some disinfection methods (UV radiation, ozonation and heat treatment). Among the analyzed parameters, we can stress the hardness because it makes the disinfection processes found in the literature unfeasible, due to a precipitation and incrustation of carbonates and bicarbonates in the systems. The similarity of the characteristics of seawater and ballast water indicates the risk of survival of living organisms during the displacement of the vessel, not eliminating completely or risk of bioinvasion only with a ballast water exchange in open seas.