Associação de sistema biológico do tipo lodo ativado com reatores air lift e fotocatálise heterogênea com TiO2 para a remediação de efluente oriundo da produção industrial de TNT

Trinitrotoluene in the purification step (TNT) produced in industries, are carried out two washes at the end of the process. The first wash is done with vaporized water, which originates from the first effluent called yellow water, then the second washing with the use of sodium sulfite is performed (Na2SO3), generating a second effluent red water. This study aimed to study the individual effects, as well as the association of heterogeneous photocatalysis using TiO2 and biological treatment in air lift reactor using activated sludge (bacterial biomass) for the remediation of wastewater contaminated with nitroaromatic compounds in order to reduce toxicity and adjust the legal parameters according to regulatory agencies for disposal in waterways. The photocatalytic treatment was conducted by factorial design obtaining the best reaction conditions (pH 6.5 and concentration of TiO2 0.1 gL-1), with best results obtained at 360 minutes of reaction, reducing the absorbance 97.00%, 94.20% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD), 67.70% of total phenols, as well as a total reduction of observed peaks and assigned to nitroaromatic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography. In the biological treatment, there was a 53.40% reduction in absorbance at 275 nm 10.00% 36.00% COD and total phenols in a short time (3 days), while for extended periods (48 days) there was an antagonistic influence on the results so that was the elevation of these parameters (COD and total phenols) instead of reducing. Chromatographic analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the biological degradation by reducing the peaks corresponding to compounds DNT and TNT. The Association of photocatalytic and biological treatments decreased results in the order of 91.10% absorbance, 70.26% of total phenols and 88.87% of COD. While the combination of biological and photocatalytic treatments generated relatively lower efficiencies, with 77.30% of absorbance reduction, 62.10% reduction of total phenols and a decrease of 87.00% of COD. In general, when comparing the chemical and biological processes in isolation, the photocatalytic treatment showed the best results. However, comparing the results of isolation and established associations, the association biological x photocatalysis showed more promising results in the treatment of red water effluent.

APPLICABILITY OF THE NITRITATION/DENITRITATION PROCESS IN THE TREATMENT OF A LANDFILL LEACHATE

The biological nitritation/denitritation process in the removal of organic matter and nitrogen in a landfill leachate was studied using an activated sludge sequencing batch reactor Treatment cycles were formed by an anoxic and an aerobic phases in which the conditions for oxidation of the influent N load and the prevalence of nitrite concentration at the end of aerobic treatment cycles were determined as well as the use of organic matter present in the leachate as a carbon source for denim-firing organisms in the anoxic stage The removal efficiencies of N-NO(2) at the end of the anoxic process (48h) ranged between 14 and 30% indicating low availability of biodegradable organic matter in the leachate As for the accumulation of N-NO(2) at the end of the aerobic phase (48h) of treatment cycles imbalances were not observed while 100% removal efficiencies of N and specific nth-dation rates from 0 095 to 0 158kgN-NH(3)/kgSSV per day were recorded demonstrating the applicability of simplified nitrification in the treatment of effluents with low C/N ratios

OPTIMIZATION OF THE TREATMENT PROCESS FOR RESIDUAL WATER FROM A BEER INDUSTRY

The optimization of the treatment process for residual waters from a brewery operating under the modality of an anaerobic reactor and activated sludge combination was studied in two phases. In the first stage, lasting for six months, the characteristics and parameters of the plant operation were analyzed, wherein a diversion rate of more than 50% to aerobic treatment, the use of two aeration tanks and a high sludge production prevailed. The second stage comprised four months during which the system worked under the proposed operational model, with the aim of improving the treatment: reduction of the diversion rate to 30% and use of only one aeration tank At each stage, TSS, VSS and COD were measured at the entrance and exit of the anaerobic reactor mid the aeration tanks. The results were compared with the corresponding design specifications and the needed conditions were applied to reduce the diversion rate towards the aerobic process through monitoring the volume and concentration of the affluent, while applying the strategic changes in reactor parameters needed to increase its efficiency. A diversion reduction from 53 to 34% was achieved, reducing the sludge discharge generated in the aerobic system from 3670mg TSS/l. with two aeration tanks down to 2947mf TSS/l using one tank keeping the same relation VSS:TSS (0.55) and an efficiency of total removal of 98% in terms of COD.

Avaliação do efeito da microfauna do tanque de arejamento no efluente final

O presente trabalho, efetuado na Estação de Tratamento de Águas Residuais do Freixo (ETAR do Freixo), decorreu durante um período de nove meses, (entre Dezembro de 2012 e Agosto de 2013), e teve como principais objetivos: - a observação microscópica e respetiva identificação dos organismos presentes nas lamas ativadas dos reatores biológicos da ETAR (incidindo nos protozoários, metazoários e bactérias filamentosas); - estabelecer a relação entre os organismos identificados/quantidade respetiva e a sedimentabilidade das lamas ativadas e sua influência no processo de depuração; - avaliar a variação das espécies identificadas com as alterações processuais. Para o efeito, a metodologia utilizada foi: - a colheita diária de amostras em vários pontos da ETAR; - a determinação dos parâmetros operacionais e caracterização das amostras recolhidas, tendo sido efetuadas 6039 análises físico-químicas, incluindo ao afluente à ETAR, ao afluente e ao conteúdo dos dois reatores biológicos, à corrente de recirculação de lamas e ao efluente; - a visualização diária microscópica ótica sem contraste de fase dos microrganismos presentes nos reatores biológicos; - a visualização microscópica ótica com contraste de fase da microfauna presente nos reatores biológicos, sendo efetuadas 16 identificações e quantificações dos protozoários presentes nas lamas ativadas dos dois reatores e 10 identificações e quantificações das bactérias filamentosas presentes nos dois reatores biológicos. O início do estudo ocorreu num período em que se começou a verificar um aumento excessivo de espumas nos decantadores secundários, resultando numa fraca sedimentabilidade das lamas e numa menor qualidade do efluente final. Na tentativa de reduzir a excessiva ascensão do manto de lamas que se verificou, foram efectuadas alterações operacionais, consistindo: - na alteração da razão de recirculação da decantação secundária para os reatores biológicos; - na introdução de um composto altamente concentrado em matéria orgânica na corrente de recirculação de lamas; - na alteração da extração de lamas biológicas. Verificou-se que as alterações processuais efetuadas foram muito eficazes na diminuição do manto de lamas da decantação secundária, bem como muito eficazes na qualidade do efluente final. Durante os meses de Fevereiro a Agosto fez-se o acompanhamento diário de todas as condições de operação de modo a manter e validar o procedimento de operação, o qual se considerou muito eficaz em termos de obtenção de uma água tratada de excelente qualidade. Durante o estudo efetuado, verificou-se que a população microbiológica existente nos dois reatores biológicos se manteve praticamente inalterada durante todo o período, sendo os móveis de fundo e os sésseis os grupos dominantes. Esta dominância traduziu-se na elevada qualidade do efluente final que se observou a partir do mês de Fevereiro, tendo dificultado o estudo de novas condições de operação, mas facilitando a validação do procedimento adotado. No que se refere às bactérias filamentosas, verificou-se que são diversas as espécies presentes nos reatores biológicos e que existem em grande abundância, sendo que o Tipo 0092 é claramente dominante. O excessivo crescimento deste tipo de bactérias mostrou ser o maior problema a nível microbiológico no processo de tratamento da instalação, tornando-se crítico no período de inverno em que a temperatura e os picos de pluviosidade se mostraram condições favoráveis ao seu desenvolvimento. Para além da temperatura outros fatores mostraram-se responsáveis pelo seu crescimento tais como a razão Alimento/Microrganismo (A/M), a idade das lamas, a carga mássica afluente e o teor de oxigénio dissolvido nos reatores biológicos. Pode-se concluir que apesar de não se trabalhar com os valores teóricos dos parâmetros microbiológicos e operacionais considerados ideais, a ETAR do Freixo, possui um tratamento bastante eficaz na remoção da carga orgânica, na remoção de nutrientes e na remoção de sólidos suspensos totais, apesar da não existência de uma etapa de afinação final como a filtração.

The appraisal of anaerobic digestion in Ireland to develop improved designs and operational practice

Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion treating sewage sludge was investigated at five full-scale sewage treatment plants in Ireland. The anaerobic digestion plants are compared and evaluated in terms of design, equipment, operation, monitoring and management. All digesters are cylindrical, gas mixed and heated Continuously Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTR), varying in size from 130m3 to 800m3. Heat exchanger systems heat all digesters. Three plants reported difficulties with the heating systems ranging from blockages to insufficient insulation and design. Exchangers were modified and replaced within one year of operation at two plants. All but one plant had Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems installed. Parameter monitoring is a problem at all plants mainly due to a lack of staff and knowledge. The plant operators consider pH and temperature the most important parameters to be measured in terms of successful monitoring of an anaerobic digester. The short time taken and the ease at which pH and temperature can be measured may favour these parameters. Three laboratory scale pilot anaerobic digesters were operated using a variety of feeds over at 144-day period. Two of the pilots were unmixed and the third was mechanically mixed. As expected the unmixed reactors removed more COD by retention of solids in the digesters but also produced greater quantities of biogas than the mixed digester, especially when low solids feed such as whey was used. The mixed digester broke down more solids due to the superior contact between the substrate and the biomass. All three reactors showed good performance results for whey and sewage solids. Scum formation occurred giving operational problems for mixed and unmixed reactors when cattle slurry was used as the main feed source. The pilot test was also used to investigate which parameters were the best indicators of process instability. These trials clearly indicated that total Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) concentrations was the best parameter to show signs of early process imbalance, while methane composition in the biogas was good to indicate possible nutrient deficiencies in the feed and oxygen shocks. pH was found to be a good process parameter only if the wastewater being treated produced low bicarbonate alkalinities during treatment.

Molecular detection of human astrovirus in an urban sewage treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and dissemination of human astroviruses (HAstV) in the environment by analyzing urban sewage samples from a wastewater treatment plant in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A one-year study was performed with a total of 48 raw and treated sewage composite samples, which were collected biweekly from an activated sludge plant. Virus particles were concentrated by the adsorption-elution method using negatively charged membranes associated to a Centriprep Concentrator® 50 (Nihon Millipore). HAstV were detected in 16.7% of the samples in raw and treated sewage by using both qualitative and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR and qPCR, respectively). Positive untreated sewage sample exhibited mean values of 1.1 x 10(4) gEq/mL. The qPCR sensitivity was 18 gEq/reaction. Through utilization of qPCR, a HAstV recovery efficiency of 4.2% and 4.3% was demonstrated for raw and treated sewage samples, respectively. The presence of HAstV in both the raw and treated sewage samples demonstrated the dissemination of these viruses in the environment as well as viral permanence after sewage treatment. There was a reduction in the total and faecal coliform levels, indicating efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant.

Comparison of a deterministic and a data driven model to describe MBR fouling

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are a combination of activated sludge bioreactors and membrane filtration, enabling high quality effluent with a small footprint. However, they can be beset by fouling, which causes an increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP). Modelling and simulation of changes in TMP could be useful to describe fouling through the identification of the most relevant operating conditions. Using experimental data from a MBR pilot plant operated for 462days, two different models were developed: a deterministic model using activated sludge model n°2d (ASM2d) for the biological component and a resistance in-series model for the filtration component as well as a data-driven model based on multivariable regressions. Once validated, these models were used to describe membrane fouling (as changes in TMP over time) under different operating conditions. The deterministic model performed better at higher temperatures (>20°C), constant operating conditions (DO set-point, membrane air-flow, pH and ORP), and high mixed liquor suspended solids (>6.9gL-1) and flux changes. At low pH (<7) or periods with higher pH changes, the data-driven model was more accurate. Changes in the DO set-point of the aerobic reactor that affected the TMP were also better described by the data-driven model. By combining the use of both models, a better description of fouling can be achieved under different operating conditions

Non conventional biological treatment based on Trametes versicolor for the elimination of recalcitrant anticancer drugs in hospital wastewater

This work presents a study about the elimination of anticancer drugs, a group of pollutants considered recalcitrant during conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment, using a biological treatment based on the fungus Trametes versicolor. A 10-L fluidized bed bioreactor inoculated with this fungus was set up in order to evaluate the removal of 10 selected anticancer drugs in real hospital wastewater. Almost all the tested anticancer drugs were completely removed from the wastewater at the end of the batch experiment (8 d) with the exception of Ifosfamide and Tamoxifen. These two recalcitrant compounds, together with Cyclophosphamide, were selected for further studies to test their degradability by T. versicolor under optimal growth conditions. Cyclophosphamide and Ifosfamide were inalterable during batch experiments both at high and low concentration, whereas Tamoxifen exhibited a decrease in its concentration along the treatment. Two positional isomers of a hydroxylated form of Tamoxifen were identified during this experiment using a high resolution mass spectrometry based on ultra-high performance chromatography coupled to an Orbitrap detector (LTQ-Velos Orbitrap). Finally the identified transformation products of Tamoxifen were monitored in the bioreactor run with real hospital wastewater

Eficiência de uma ETE em escala real composta por reator UASB seguido de lodo ativado

In the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil, there are about 80 sewage treatment systems being the predominant technology waste stabilization ponds. The Baldo s WWTP , due to its location and low availability of area, was designed as a hybrid conventional system (UASB reactor followed by activated sludge with biodiscs) at a tertiary level, being the most advanced WWTP in the State and also with the larger treatment capacity (1620 m3/h) .The paper presents the results of its performance based on samples collections from May to December 2012. Composite samples of the effluent of the grit chamber, UASB reactors, anoxic chambers, aeration tanks and treated effluent were collected weekly, every 4 hours for 24 hours. The results showed that the WWTP effluent presented adequate ranges of temperatures, pH and DO, however removal efficiencies of BOD and TSS were below the predicted by design. The UASB reactors also showed removals of BOD and TSS less than expected, due to the accumulation of sludge in the reactors, which eventually, was washed out in the effluent. The nitrification process was not satisfactory mainly due to problems in the oxygen distribution in the aeration tanks. The removal of ammonia and TKN were high, probably by the assimilation process

Microbiological and physicochemical treatments applied to metallurgic industry aiming water reuse

Estudou-se o reuso de água de um sistema composto por estação de tratamento de esgoto (ETE) com aeração prolongada e lodo ativado, e em uma estação compacta de tratamento de água (ECTA) de uma indústria metalúrgica. Os processos para obtenção da água de reuso foram: microbiológico e físico-químico. O esgoto doméstico foi bombeado para a ETE, onde houve formação de flocos biológicos e água clarificada. Avaliou-se a eficiência do processo microbiológico da ETE mediante a remoção de demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) e sólidos sedimentáveis (SS). A eficiência do processo físico-químico de clarificação e desinfecção foi avaliada mediante análises de pH, turbidez, cor, contagem de bactérias heterotróficas aeróbias, cloro livre, dureza, alcalinidade, cloretos, sulfatos, sólidos totais dissolvidos (STD). Na água de reuso além desses parâmetros avaliou-se a toxicidade aguda ao microcrustáceo Daphnia similis.

Estudo da lixiviação bacteriana de metais presentes em lodo de esgoto sanitário

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

Avaliação do potencial pozolânico da cinza de lodo de águas residuárias por meio de técnicas instrumentais

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil - FEIS

EX-SITU BIOREMEDIATION OF BRAZILIAN SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH PLASTICIZERS PROCESS WASTES

The aim of this research was to evaluate the bioremediation of a soil contaminated with wastes from a plasticizers industry, located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A 100-kg soil sample containing alcohols, adipates and phthalates was treated in an aerobic slurry-phase reactor using indigenous and acclimated microorganisms from the sludge of a wastewater treatment plant of the plasticizers industry (11gVSS kg(-1) dry soil), during 120 days. The soil pH and temperature were not corrected during bioremediation; soil humidity was corrected weekly to maintain 40%. The biodegradation of the pollutants followed first-order kinetics; the removal efficiencies were above 61% and, among the analyzed plasticizers, adipate was removed to below the detection limit. Biological molecular analysis during bioremediation revealed a significant change in the dominant populations initially present in the reactor.

Biometanazione della frazione organica di rifiuti solidi urbani da raccolta indifferenziata mediante codigestione con refluo zootecnico o addizione di solfuro di sodio

Il presente elaborato è stato finalizzato allo sviluppo di un processo di digestione anaerobica della frazione organica dei rifiuti solidi urbani (FORSU oppure, in lingua inglese OFMSW, Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste) provenienti da raccolta indifferenziata e conseguente produzione di biogas da impiegarsi per il recupero energetico. Questo lavoro rientra nell’ambito di un progetto, cofinanziato dalla Regione Emilia Romagna attraverso il Programma Regionale per la Ricerca Industriale, l’Innovazione e il Trasferimento Tecnologico (PRRIITT), sviluppato dal Dipartimento di Chimica Applicata e Scienza dei Materiali (DICASM) dell’Università di Bologna in collaborazione con la Facoltà di Ingegneria dell’Università di Ferrara e con la società Recupera s.r.l. che applicherà il processo nell’impianto pilota realizzato presso il proprio sito di biostabilizzazione e compostaggio ad Ostellato (FE). L’obiettivo è stato la verifica della possibilità di impiegare la frazione organica dei rifiuti indifferenziati per la produzione di biogas, e in particolare di metano, attraverso un processo di digestione anaerobica previo trattamento chimico oppure in codigestione con altri substrati organici facilmente fermentabili. E’ stata inoltre studiata la possibilità di impiego di reattori con biomassa adesa per migliorare la produzione specifica di metano e diminuire la lag phase. Dalla sperimentazione si può concludere che è possibile giungere allo sviluppo di metano dalla purea codigerendola assieme a refluo zootecnico. Per ottenere però produzioni significative la quantità di solidi volatili apportati dal rifiuto non deve superare il 50% dei solidi volatili complessivi. Viceversa, l’addizione di solfuri alla sola purea si è dimostrata ininfluente nel tentativo di sottrarre gli agenti inibitori della metanogenesi. Inoltre, l’impiego di supporti di riempimento lavorando attraverso processi batch sequenziali permette di eliminare, nei cicli successivi al primo, la lag phase dei batteri metanogeni ed incrementare la produzione specifica di metano.