Efficiency of a constructed wetland for wastewaters treatment

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Immobilized cells of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in PVC strands and sultite removal in a pilot-scale bioreactor

The biooxidation of ferrous ion into ferric ion by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans can be potentially used for the removal of H2S from industrial gases. In this work, Fe3+ ions were obtained through the oxidation of Fe2+ using the LR strain of At. ferrooxidans immobilized in PVC stands in a pilot-scale bioreactor, while H2S was removed in an absorption tower equipped with Rasching rings. At. ferrooxidans LR strain cells were immobilized by inoculating the bacterium in a Fe2+-mineral medium and percolating it through the support. After complete Fe2+ oxidation, which took around 90 h, the reactor was washed several times with sulfuric acid (pH 1.7) before a new cycle was started. Four additional cycles using fresh Fe2+ mineral medium were then run. During these colonization cycles, the time required for complete iron oxidation decreased, dropping to about 60 h in the last cycle. The batch experiments in the H2S gas removal trials resulted in a gas removal rate of about 98-99% under the operational conditions employed. In the continuous experiments with the bioreactor coupled to the gas absorption column, a gas removal efficiency of almost 100% was reached after 500 min. Precipitate containing mainly sulfur formed during the experimental trial was identified by EDX. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen sulphide removal from air by biotrickling filter using open-pore polyurethane foam as a carrier

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Removal of clay by stingless bees: load size and moisture selection

Some organisms disperse energy, associated with the transportation of resource, which is not necessarily food. Stingless bees of Central Amazonia (Melipona flavolineata and M. lateralis) collect clay in banks along streams for nest building. The moisture of the clay varies along the bank, and bees collect clay from specific location, indicating that there is some sort of preference regarding their selection. This study aims at identifying: if larger bees carry more clay; if there is a preference for moisture of substrates; and if bees are less efficient accumulating and transporting clay when it is wet. In order to do so, I measured the size of the bees and of the pellets of clay found in the corbicula. I set up a field experiment to test substrate preferences. The amount of clay transported, increased exponentially in accordance to the size of the bee, and the preferred substrate was the driest clay. The amount and the efficiency of removal of clay were not affected by the moisture of the substrate. Despite the wet clay being denser, it does not reduce the efficiency of exploitation of the resource, but suggests that bees spend more energy to carry the same quantity of wet clay, which may be the underlying mechanism explaining their preference for removing drier clay.

Sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin removal using a horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass reactor

The antibiotics sulfamethoxazole (SMTX) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) are commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, which explains their occurrence in wastewater. Anaerobic reactors are low-cost, simple and suitable technology to wastewater treatment, but there is a lack of studies related to the removal efficiency of antibiotics. To overcome this knowledge gap, the objective of this study was to evaluate the removal kinetics of SMTX and CIP using a horizontal-flow anaerobic immobilized biomass reactor. Two different concentrations were evaluated, for SMTX 20 and 40 μg L(-1); for CIP 2.0 and 5.0 μg L(-1). The affluent and effluent analysis was carried out in liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with the sample preparation procedure using an off-line solid-phase extraction. This method was developed, validated and successfully applied for monitoring the affluent and effluent samples. The removal efficiency found for both antibiotics at the two concentrations studied was 97%. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) exhibited kinetic constants that were different from that observed for the antibiotics, indicating the absence of co-metabolism. Also, though the antibiotic concentration was increased, there was no inhibitory effect in the removal of COD and antibiotics.

Remoção de matéria orgânica, de nutrientes e de coliformes no processo anaeróbio em dois estágios (reator compartimentado seguido de reator UASB) para o tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desempenho de reatores aeróbios de leito fluidizado com circulação interna na remoção de matéria carbonácea tratando diferentes águas residuárias

The organic matter. (OM) removal efficiency in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) forms for domestic wastewater and semi-intensive fish culture effluents by using three phase aerobic fluidized bed reactors with circulation in concentric tubes was studied. Three different ratios between external and internal areas by different internal diameter configurations (100, 125 and 150mm) to the same external diameter of 250mm were used; sand for filters and granulated activated carbon were used as supporting media. The reactors were tested for three hydraulic retention times: 11.5min to the R100, and 3h for the R125 and R150 reactors. The results demonstrated that this kind of reactors had good performance in the BOD and COD removal for different concentrations of waste waters. BOD mean removal efficiencies obtained were: 47% at the R100 reactor, 57% and 93% of raw and filtered BOD respectively at R125, 48 and 89% of raw and filtered BOD at R150. The COD mean calculated removal efficiencies were: 75% at the R100 reactor, 56 and 86% of raw and filtered COD at R125, and 54 and 86% of raw and filtered COD at R150. In the case of domestic wastewater it is necessary to provide a solids removal system at the reactor outflow in order to increase the removal of suspended OM from the final effluent.

Hydrodynamic characterization and performance evaluation of an aerobic three phase airlift fluidized bed reactor in a recirculation aquaculture system for Nile Tilapia production

The hydrodynamic characterization and the performance evaluation of an aerobic three phase fluidized bed reactor in wastewater fish culture treatment are presented in this report. The objective of this study was to evaluate the organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous removal efficiency in a physical and biological wastewater treatment system of an intensive Nile Tilapia laboratory production with recirculation. The treatment system comprised of a conventional sedimentation basin operated at a hydraulic detention time HDT of 2.94 h and an aerobic three phase airlift fluidized bed reactor AAFBR operated at an 11.9 min HDT. Granular activated carbon was used as support media with density of 1.64 g/cm(3) and effective size of 0.34 mm in an 80 g/L constant concentration. Mean removal efficiencies of BOD, COD, phosphorous, total ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen were 47%, 77%, 38%, 27% and 24%, respectively. The evaluated system proved an effective alternative for water reuse in the recirculation system capable of maintaining water quality characteristics within the recommended values for fish farming and met the Brazilian standards for final effluent discharges with exception of phosphorous values. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Utilización de columnas verticales de filtración de manta y arena como pre-tratamiento de un sistema de filtración lenta

Slow sand filtration is an efficient water treatment technique used for treating surface water with relatively low levels of contamination. Despite the slow sand filtration at pathogen, algae and cyanobacteria removal efficiency, it has some restrictions in relation to the required area for slow filters, and the cleaning activities for the filters and the stone pre-filters when used in the treatment. This research evaluated during 120 days the use of non woven & sand pre-filtration columns as part of a slow filtration process for the apparent color, turbidity, algae, cyanobacteria, phytoflagellates and diatomaceous. The columns shown an efficient removal of the monitored parameters and demonstrated as a vantage their faster and easier cleaning process and less awkward than the required to the stone pre-filters. The turbidity removal efficiency increased progressively during the experiment, especially after the first 35 days of the start; the apparent color removal by the pre-filtration columns was of 85%, and working together with the polishing of activated carbon columns was up to 95; the diatomaceous, phytoflagellates, algae and cyanobacteria removal by the columns achieve a weekly average of 95%, its recommended to use filtration rates lower to 1,5m(3)/m(2)/d.

Monitoramento de 24 horas do desempenho de reator aeróbio de leito fluidizado trifásico na remoção de amônio num sistema de recirculação para produção de tilápia

O objetivo deste trabalho foi monitorar o desempenho de remoção de nitrogênio amoniacal no tratamento das águas residuárias da produção intensiva de tilápia nilótica em sistema com recirculação de água. O sistema foi constituído por um sedimentador convencional e um reator aeróbio de leito fluidizado trifásico com circulação, operados com tempos de detenção hidráulica de 176.4 e 11.9 minutos respectivamente. O meio suporte utilizado no reator foi o carvão ativado granular com densidade aparente de 1.64 g/cm3 e tamanho efetivo de 0.34 mm; a concentração do meio suporte no reator foi mantida constante em 80 g/L. A eficiência média de remoção do nitrogênio amoniacal total foi de 41.2%. O sistema avaliado é uma alternativa efetiva para o reuso da água em sistemas de recirculação para aqüicultura. Embora a variabilidade das concentrações do nitrogênio amoniacal afluente cujo valor médio foi de 0.136 mg/L, o efluente do reator conservou as características de qualidade da água estáveis, com concentrações médias de nitrogênio amoniacal de 0.079 mg/L e do oxigênio dissolvido de 6.70 mg/L, recomendáveis para a criação dos peixes e nas faixas de valores permitidos pela legislação Brasileira (Resolução CONAMA No. 357 de março 5 de 2005) para lançamento de efluentes finais nos corpos de água receptores.

Characterization of micro-bubble size distribution and flow configuration in DAF contact zone by a non-intrusive image analysis system and tracer tests

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desempenho de reatores anaeróbios de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo em dois estágios tratando águas residuárias de suinocultura

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desempenho de processo anaeróbio em dois estágios (reator compartimentado seguido de reator UASB) para tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura

Avaliou-se o efeito das águas residuárias de suinocultura com concentrações de sólidos suspensos totais em torno de 6.000 mg L-1 (DQOtotal variando de 7.557 a 11.640 mg L-1) no desempenho de processo anaeróbio em dois estágios compostos por reator compartimentado (ABR) e reator de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB), instalados em série, em escala-piloto (volumes de 530 e 120 L, respectivamente), submetidos a tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) de 56 a 18 h no primeiro reator e de 13 a 4 h no segundo reator. As eficiências médias de remoção de DQOtotal variaram de 71,1 a 87,5% no reator ABR e de 41,5 a 50,1% no reator UASB, resultando em valores médios de 86,8 a 94,9% para o sistema de tratamento anaeróbio em dois estágios com carga orgânica volumétrica (COV), na faixa de 5,05 a 10,12 kg DQOtotal (m³ d)-1, no reator ABR, e de 2,83 a 9,63 kg DQOtotal (m³ d)-1, no reator UASB. As eficiências de remoção de SST e SSV foram da ordem de 95,6%. O teor de metano no biogás manteve-se acima de 70% para os dois reatores. A produção volumétrica de metano máxima de 0,755 m³ CH4 (m³ d)-1 ocorreu no reator 1, com COV de 10,12 kg DQOtotal (m³ d)-1 e TDH de 18 h. Os valores médios de pH variaram na faixa de 7,2 a 8,0 para os efluentes dos reatores 1 e 2. Os ácidos voláteis totais mantiveram-se estáveis com concentrações abaixo de 200 mg L-1. Com variações abruptas e acentuadas de concentrações de SST e DQOtotal do afluente, os reatores mantiveram as eficiências de remoção de DQO e sólidos suspensos, em torno de 70%, e a qualidade do biogás, com 80% de CH4.

Tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura em reatores anaeróbios de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (uasb) em dois estágios seguidos de reator operado em batelada sequencial (RBS)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Start-up of horizontal anaerobic reactors with sludge blanket and fixed bed for wastewater treatment from coffee processing by wet method

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)