RESUMO
The impact of the organic carbon to nitrate ratio (C/N ratio) on mixotrophic denitrification rate has been scarcely studied. Thus, this work aims to investigate the effect of the C/N ratio on the mixotrophic denitrification when methanol is used as a source of organic matter and elemental sulfur as an electron donor for autotrophic denitrification. For this, two initial concentrations of NO3--N (50 and 25 mg/L) at a stoichiometric ratio of S0/N, and four initial C/N ratios (0, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.9 mg CH3OH/mg NO3- -N) were used at 25 (±2) °C. The results showed that when using a C/N ratio of 0.6, the highest total nitrogen removal was obtained and the accumulation of nitrites was reduced, compared to an autotrophic system. The most significant contribution to nitrate consumption was through autotrophic denitrification (AuDeN) for a C/N ratio of 0.6 and 1.2, while for C/N = 1.9 the most significant contribution of nitrate consumption was through heterotrophic denitrification (HD). Finally, organic supplementation (methanol) served to increase the specific nitrate removal rate at high and low initial concentrations of substrate. Therefore, the best C/N ratio was 0.6 since it allowed for increasing the removal efficiency and the denitrification rate.
Assuntos
Desnitrificação , Nitratos , Processos Autotróficos , Reatores Biológicos , Carbono , Suplementos Nutricionais , Metanol , Nitratos/química , Nitrogênio , Enxofre/químicaRESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of biochar addition on the mesophilic semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of swine waste with a focus on the effects of the organic loading rate (OLR) on biogas production, methane yield, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), alkalinity, ammonium, volatile solids (VS) removal efficiency and process stability. Four reactors, two with amended biochar (R1 and R2) and two without biochar addition as controls (R3 and R4), were operated at OLRs in the range of 2-7 g VS/(L d), which corresponded to hydraulic retention times (HRTs) in the range of 7-2 days, respectively. The addition of biochar initially caused an increase in the generation of biogas and methane when compared to the control reactors when the process operated at OLRs of 2 and 3 g VS/(L d). This behaviour could be attributed to the presence of several trace elements (such as Fe, Co, Ni and Mn) in the biochar, which are involved in the action of acetyl-CoA synthase and methyl coenzyme M reductase to catalyse key metabolic steps, especially the methanogenic stage. The pH, alkalinity, TVFA and TVFA/Alkalinity ratio values for the effluents remained within the optimal ranges for the anaerobic digestion process. It was also found that the increase in OLR in the range of 2-5 g VS/(L d) determined a proportional increase in the VS removal rate. However, when the OLR increased up to 7 g VS/(L d), a drastic decrease in the VS removal rate was found for the control reactors. Biochar amendment contributed to a more balanced state of the anaerobic process, preventing biomass washout.
Assuntos
Reatores Biológicos , Metano , Anaerobiose , Animais , Carvão Vegetal , SuínosRESUMO
The evaluation of the nitrification kinetics in the simultaneous presence of sulfide and organic matter using zeolite as improver was the main goal of this work. According to the sensitivity and collinearity analyses, five parameters were the most sensitive in the model, whose calibrated values were: µ max, AOB = 0.02642 ± 0.002 h-1; µ max, NOB = 0.3307 ± 0.416 h-1; K S,NOB = 1.65·10-6 ± 2.85·10-6 mgHNO2-N/L; k S2 = 0.8213 ± 0.076 and n = 0.6537 ± 0.030. A good fit between the experimental data and the model's results including the effect of zeolite on the kinetic parameters was obtained, with Theil inequality coefficient values between 0.109 and 0.007 for all the variables studied, with all of these values lower than 0.3. Thus, the model proposed is robust and can simulate the nitrification process in the presence of sulfide and organic matter when zeolite was used as improver.
Assuntos
Reatores Biológicos/microbiologia , Substâncias Húmicas/análise , Sulfetos/análise , Águas Residuárias/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Purificação da Água/métodos , Zeolitas/química , Cinética , Modelos Químicos , Nitratos/análise , Nitrificação , Nitritos/análiseRESUMO
This work explores the effect of two metallic wastes (mining wastes, MW; fly ashes, FA) and micro-aeration (MA) on the anaerobic digestion of wastewater which is rich in sulfate and sulfide. Two initial COD concentrations (5,000 and 10,000 mg/L) were studied under both conditions in batch systems at 35 °C, with a fixed COD/SO42- ratio = 10, with 100 mg/L of S2-. It was observed that the use of MW and FA in the assays with an initial COD concentration of 10,000 mg/L resulted in a simultaneous increase in COD removal, sulfate removal, sulfide removal and methane generation, while MA only improved the COD and sulfide removals in comparison with the control system. On the contrary, the use of MW, FA or MA in systems with initial COD concentrations equal to or lower than 5,000 mg/L did not show any improvement with respect to the control system in terms of COD removal, sulfate removal or methane generation, with only sulfide removal being positively affected by MW and FA.
Assuntos
Metais/farmacologia , Metano/biossíntese , Sulfatos/isolamento & purificação , Sulfetos/isolamento & purificação , Águas Residuárias/química , Anaerobiose/efeitos dos fármacos , Reatores Biológicos , Catálise/efeitos dos fármacos , Resíduos Industriais , Mineração , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodos , Poluentes Químicos da Água/isolamento & purificação , Poluentes Químicos da Água/farmacologia , Purificação da Água/métodosRESUMO
This study evaluated the performance of a micro-aerobic hydrolysis of mixed sludge and its influence as a pretreatment of this waste for its subsequent anaerobic digestion. Three experimental series were carried out to evaluate the optimum micro-aeration levels in the range from 0.1 to 0.5 air volume/min.reactor volume (vvm) and operation times within the range of 24-60 h. The maximum methane yield [35 mL CH4/g volatile suspended solids (VSS) added] was obtained for an aeration level of 0.35 vvm. This methane yield value increased 114% with respect to that obtained with the non-aerated sludge. In the micro-aeration process carried out at an aeration level of 0.35 vvm, increases in soluble proteins and total sugars concentrations of 185% and 192% with respect to their initial values were found, respectively, after 48 h of aeration. At the above micro-aerobic conditions, soluble chemical oxygen demand (CODS) augmented 150%, whereas VSS content decreased until 40% of their initial respective values. Higher COD increases and VSS decreases were found at 60 h of micro-aeration, but the above parameters did not vary significantly with respect to the values found at 48 h.
Assuntos
Reatores Biológicos , Metano/metabolismo , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodos , Anaerobiose , Análise da Demanda Biológica de Oxigênio , Hidrólise , Esgotos/químicaRESUMO
The aim of this investigation was to assess the startup and operation of a laboratory-scale hybrid UASB-Anaerobic Filter Reactor (UASFB) of 1 L volume, kept at 30°C, in order to carry out a simultaneous autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification process. First, the heterotrophic and autotrophic populations were separately enriched, with specific cultures and subsequently the UASFB was inoculated with 2 g L(-1) of volatile suspended solids (VSS), with a ratio of 1.5:1 (autotrophs: heterotrophs). The influent or synthetic wastewater used was composed of: Na2S2O3·5H2O, CH3COOK, NaNO3, NaHCO3, K2HPO4, NH4Cl and saline solution. The concentrations varied depending on the organic loading rate (OLR), nitrogen loading rate (NLR) and sulfur loading rate (SLR) applied. In the UASFB reactor, two experimental conditions were tested and assessed: (i) COD/N ratio of 3.6 and SLR of 0.75 kg S m(-3) d(-1); and (ii) COD/N ratio of 5.8 and SLR of 0.25 kg S m(-3) d(-1). The results obtained demonstrated that an inoculum coming from an anaerobic reactor was able to carry out the process, obtaining a maximum nitrate removal of 85.3% in the first stage of operation and 99.5% in the second stage. The recovery of sulfur in form of sulfate in the effluent did not present a tendency to stabilize during the measured time, with a maximum thiosulfate removal of 32.5%, when the SLR was lowered to 0.25 kg S m(-3) d(-1). The maximum organic matter elimination, measured as COD, was 75.8%, which indicates the relatively good performance and behavior of the heterotrophic microorganisms.
Assuntos
Reatores Biológicos , Desnitrificação , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodos , Microbiologia da Água , Poluentes Químicos da Água/química , Anaerobiose , Animais , Processos Autotróficos , Processos Heterotróficos , Esterco , Nitrogênio/química , Enxofre/química , Suínos , Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis/químicaRESUMO
The macromolecular composition of activated sludge (lipids, intracellular proteins and intracellular polysaccharides) was studied together with its capacity to store macromolecules such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in a conventional activated sludge system fed with synthetic sewage water at an organic load rate of 1.0 kg COD/(m(3)·d), varying the dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature. Six DO concentrations (0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 8 mg/L) were studied at 20°C with a sludge retention time (SRT) of 6 days. In addition, four temperatures (10ºC, 15ºC, 20ºC and 30ºC) were assessed at constant DO (2 mg/L) with 2 days SRT in a second experimental run. The highest lipid content in the activated sludge was 95.6 mg/g VSS, obtained at 30°C, 2 mg/L of DO and a SRT of 2 days. The highest content of intracellular proteins in the activated sludge was 87.8 mg/g VSS, obtained at 20°C, 8 mg/L of DO and a SRT of 6 days. The highest content of intracellular polysaccharides in the activated sludge was 76.6 mg/g VSS, which was achieved at 20°C, a SRT of 6 days and a wide range of DO. The activated sludge PHB storage was very low for all the conditions studied.
Assuntos
Hidroxibutiratos/química , Oxigênio/análise , Poliésteres/química , Esgotos/química , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodos , Análise da Demanda Biológica de Oxigênio , Lipídeos/análise , Polissacarídeos/análise , Proteínas/análise , Temperatura , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) is an attractive option for the treatment of wastewaters with a low carbon/nitrogen ratio. This is due to its low operating costs when compared to the classical nitrification-denitrification processes. However, one of the main disadvantages of the Anammox process is slow biomass growth, meaning a relatively slow reactor start-up. This becomes even more complicated when Anammox microorganisms are not present in the inoculum. Four inocula were studied for the start-up of Anammox sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) 2 L in volume agitated at 100 rpm, one of them using zeolite as a microbial support. Two inocula were taken from UASB reactors and two from aerobic reactors (activated sludge and SBR). The Anammox SBRs studied were operated at 36 ± 0.5°C. The results showed that the only inoculum that enabled the enrichment of the Anammox biomass came from an activated sludge plant treating wastewaters from a poultry slaughterhouse. This plant was designed for organic matter degradation and nitrogen removal (nitrification). This could explain the presence of Anammox microorganisms. This SBR operated without zeolite and achieved nitrite and ammonium removals of 96.3% and 68.4% respectively, at a nitrogen loading rate (NLR) of 0.1 kg N/m(3)/d in both cases. The lower ammonium removal was due to the fact that a sub-stoichiometric amount of nitrite (1 molar ratio) was fed. The specific Anammox activity (SAA) achieved was 0.18 g N/g VSS/d.
Assuntos
Compostos de Amônio Quaternário/metabolismo , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodos , Anaerobiose , Reatores Biológicos/microbiologia , Carbono/metabolismo , Nitrogênio/metabolismo , Esgotos/microbiologiaRESUMO
Nitrogen and phosphorus can cause eutrophication problems in receiving waters. These nutrients can be eliminated by different wastewater treatments but they tend to be costly or require complex operations. With these reasons in mind, this work set out to study the behavior of a novel combined or integrated system with zeolite and lime for the removal of these chemical species. With the integrated treatment, excellent removals-98 % NH(+) (4), 100 % total phosphorus (TP), 79 % chemical oxygen demand (COD), 71 % BOD(5), 99 % of total suspended solids (TSS) and 100 % of fecal coliforms-were obtained. A sludge production of 4.4 % and 4.8 % of the wastewater total volume treated with lime was achieved. The final liquid effluent of the integrated system of natural zeolite and lime had a composition which was suitable for its discharge into sewerage systems and marine or continental waters (according to Chilean regulations), as far as the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and total coliforms were concerned. Validated curves with their corresponding equations were obtained in this study for the removal of ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus. These equations can theoretically be applied to estimate the removal of both parameters in studies or practical applications undertaken with operating conditions similar to those used in this work.
Assuntos
Compostos de Cálcio/química , Nitrogênio/química , Óxidos/química , Fósforo/química , Eliminação de Resíduos Líquidos/métodos , Zeolitas/química , Nitrogênio/isolamento & purificação , Fósforo/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
This paper presents the use of an effluent derived from two-stage anaerobic digestion of two-phase olive mill solid waste (OMSW) as a substrate for the production of Chlorella zofingiensis in batch mode. Chlorella zofingiensis when grown autotrophycally can accumulate significant quantities of valuable carotenoids which are used as an additive in fish and poultry farming, as colorants in foods and in health care products. It was found that two-phase OMSW previously treated by two-stage anaerobic digestion and further sterilized may be used as a culture medium for the microalgae Chlorella zofingiensis. Typical growth curves were obtained using both the above-mentioned anaerobic effluent and a synthetic medium. Total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removals of 37 percent and 45 percent respectively were achieved in batch experiments after 11 days operation time. The specific growth rate was lower when the treated effluent was used as the feed substrate (0.02 h-1) in comparison to the synthetic medium (0.03 h-1). The specific growth rates of the exponential phases were determined by using a first-order kinetic model applied to chlorophyll a (Ca) and total chlorophyll (TC) concentrations, as indirect measurements of the microalgae concentration. It was concluded that the effluent from two-stage anaerobic digestion of two-phase OMSW constituted an appropriate culture medium for the growth of Chlorella zofingiensis, providing a simple technology feasible for producing a very useful product for animal feeding.