Study of the efficacy of the membranes produced on a laboratory scale for filtration: a proposal to improve the water quality of the hydrographic sub-basin of Ribeirão das Pedras, Diamantina, MG (Brazil)

Population expansion and technological development generate an increase in the use of natural resources, especially water resources, and, as a consequence, the amount of waste and chemical residues dumped into the effluents increases. With the end of the garimpo in the town of Diamantina, the spring that cuts through the city has notoriously had its flow reduced and its slopes visibly diminished and devastated by erosion, which reminds us of the need to install recovery and preservation programs. Among the pollutants, we can highlight the heavy metals, which cause great concern because of their toxicity. The present work sought to use the membrane filtration process. For this purpose, membranes were prepared using the chitosan biopolymer. The membranes were tested for the capacity to absorb metal ions. Water samples were collected from the hydrographic subbasin Ribeirão das Pedras, located in the city of Diamantina, MG, Brazil. The membranes were efficient, and the detection of possible improvements in the formulations, as well as sample collections, should be performed during other periods of the year.