Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Anaerobic Digestor Effluent'

A escassez das fontes de fósforo e o alto consumo de energia associado à produção de fertilizantes nitrogenados serão problemas que deverão ser enfrentados no futuro. A recuperação de nutrientes das águas residuárias na forma de estruvita tem sido considerada como uma alternativa para atenuar estes problemas. Na América Latina, a produção de estruvita a partir de esgoto ainda não é uma tecnologia bem conhecida e, portanto, a finalidade deste trabalho é contribuir com uma melhor compreensão dos fenômenos envolvidos. Para isso, a pesquisa foi dividida em três etapas: 1) produção de estruvita a partir de efluente de reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manto de lodo (RAFA); 2) produção de estruvita a partir de sobrenadante de digestor anaeróbio de lodo de um processo com remoção biológica de fósforo (DALRBF) e 3) influência do cálcio na estruvita produzida na etapa 2. Nas três etapas, ajustaram-se as concentrações de magnésio, a fim de obter razões fósforo:magnésio (P:Mg) pré-estabelecidas, e o pH entre 8,00 e 10,50. Os resultados da primeira etapa mostraram que não foi possível produzir estruvita no efluente do RAFA nas condições testadas. No entanto, foram observadas remoções de fósforo e de nitrogênio, devido à formação de fosfatos de cálcio e de magnésio amorfos. Os resultados da segunda etapa comprovaram a viabilidade de produção de estruvita de sobrenadante de DALRBF e mostraram que os consumos molares dos íons fosfato (PO43-), amônio (NH4+) e magnésio (Mg2+) ou as remoções destes (%) não devem ser os únicos parâmetros para avaliar a formação de estruvita, pois outros compostos cristalizam ou precipitam e reduzem a qualidade do mineral. Para um meio com condições semelhantes às testadas nesta etapa, uma razão P:Mg 1:2 e um pH igual a 9,50 asseguram a máxima recuperação de nutrientes como estruvita com concentração mínima de impurezas, facilitando seu posterior uso como fertilizante. Os resultados da terceira etapa mostraram que uma fase amorfa de fosfato de cálcio ou de magnésio se forma na superfície da estruvita.
The shortage of the phosphorus sources and high-energy consumption associated to the nitrogen fertilizers production will be problems in the future. The nutrient recovery from wastewater as struvite has been considered as an alternative to alleviate these problems. In Latin America, production of struvite from wastewater is not yet a wellknown technology and therefore the purpose of this work is to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomena involved. This research work was performed in three phases: 1) production of struvite from upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor effluent; 2) production of struvite from anaerobic digester supernatant of enhanced biological phosphorus removal process (ADS-EBPR) and 3) influence of calcium in the struvite produced in the phase 2. In three phases, the magnesium concentrations were adjusted to obtain the preset phosphorus:magnesium (P:Mg) ratios and the pH was adjusted between 8,00 and 10,50. The results of the first phase showed that it is not possible to produce struvite in the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor effluent in the tested conditions. However, removal of nitrogen and phosphorus was observed because amorphous calcium and magnesium phosphates were produced. The results of the second phase showed that it is possible to produce struvite in the ADS-EBPR and the molar consumptions of phosphate (PO43-), ammonia (NH4+) and magnesium (Mg2+) or removals (%) should not be the only parameters to evaluate the struvite formation, because other compounds crystallize or precipitate and reduce the quality of the mineral. In the similar conditions tested in this phase, a P:Mg ratio 1:2 and pH 9,50 assure maximum nutrients recovery as struvite with minimum impurities concentration, facilitating its subsequent use as fertilizer. The results of the third phase showed that amorphous calcium or magnesium phosphates were produced on the struvite surface.

Nutrients present in digested animal waste can be utilized for algae cultivation under suitable conditions. Algal growth, however, depends on the chemical forms and speciation of these nutrients. In this study a chemical equilibrium model was first used to describe nutrient speciation and predict conditions that enhance the solubility of nutrients in anaerobic digester effluent. Dilution with water and separation of large particulates greatly improved nutrient availability and light penetration - conditions favorable for algal cultivation. Algae growth was tested using three strains - Scenedesmus dimorphous (UTEX # 417), Chlorella vulgaris (UTEX# 265), and an algal isolate (designated as LLAI and later identified to be closely related to Chlorella vulgaris) from the wastewater treatment lagoons in Logan, UT. All tested strains could be adapted to the effluent to enhance the utilization of native nutrients present in both organic and inorganic forms. There was a marked improvement in growth rates (up to 4.8-fold) and biomass production (up to 8.7-fold) of algal cultures after they adapted to the effluent. Also, effluent-adapted strains were able to switch from phototrophy to heterotrophy to prolong the growth when light availability became limited. However, an increase in irradiance levels in light-limited cultures led to resumption of phototrophic growth. It was found that this approach of light supplementation prolonged growth and increased biomass production (up to 2.7-fold) in algal cultures. Of all the strains tested, the isolate from the wastewater treating lagoons grew to highest culture densities and produced the highest concentration of intracellular triacylglycerides (TAG). This culture also grew best in non-sterile, native effluent and could reach biomass concentration of up to 4.5g/L with TAG content of approximately 10% (w/w). Culture densities were lower when this organism was grown in sterilized effluent or in sterile artificial media, suggesting that this organism symbiotically associated with other microbes in digested animal waste. Findings of this research study suggest that microalgae can be grown efficiently on inexpensive natural substrates in non-sterile growth conditions. When commercially implemented, biodiesel production from such systems could be more cost effective and sustainable.

Current abattoir wastewater treatment options involving aerobic and anaerobic digestion systems are relatively inefficient in reducing the inorganic nutrient load (i.e. ammonium and phosphate) of the effluent. With anaerobic lagoons favoured in Australia resulting in large land footprint, loss of environmental and economic value in the form of water and nutrient recovery. The cultivation of microalgae on undiluted anaerobic digestion abattoir effluent (ADAE) offers many potential benefits such as the bioremediation of waste nutrients typically found in the effluent and simultaneous production of valuable algal biomass which represents the conversion of waste-to-profit. Microalgal culture on undiluted ADAE require minimal to no freshwater input and does not compete for arable land, it has the potential to play an important remediation role particularly during the final (tertiary) treatment phase. The generated biomass can also be a source of revenue for the targeted abattoir. To the best of my knowledge, to date, there has been no attempt on testing the growth of algae to treat undiluted ADAE. In this study, the growth, biomass productivity, photo physiology and nutrient removal rates of mono and mixed culture of Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. were evaluated in unfiltered and undiluted ADAE. Chlorella sp. showed the highest ammonium removal rate of up to 11.93±1.14 mgL-1 d-1 as well as the highest biomass productivity of 31.52±0.81 mgL-1 d-1 when compared to the other treatments. Phosphate removal rates were highest in the Scenedesmus cultures while the mixed cultures varied amongst other parameters measured (COD, Nitrite and Nitrate). Chlorella sp. with a specific growth rate of 0.260±0.047 d-1 and mixed Chlorella sp. within consortium (0.294±0.024 d-1) were the dominant species when compared to Scenedesmus sp. (0.062±0.011 d-1). Overall, Chlorella sp. was identified as the most efficient microalgal species capable of growing on undiluted ADAE with the potential to generate a waste-to-profit system.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A severely polluted industrial effluent is generated by the local gelatinmanufacturing industry. Due to increasingly stringent restrictions on discharge qualities enforced by the National Water Act of 1998 and National Environmental Management Act of 1998, as well as increasing trade-effluent charges implemented via the Local Municipal Bylaws, the industry is compelled to consider a system to pre-treat the polluted effluent. A study was undertaken to examine the viability of anaerobic treatment of the gelatin-manufacturing effluent, since the anaerobic digestion technology is well recognised for the high success rate in the treatment of high-strength, complex wastewaters. Various laboratory and pilot-scale studies were done, using different hybrid Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) and contact designs. Two mesophilic laboratory-scale hybrid UASB digester designs, fitted with polyethylene (AD-1) and polyurethane (AD-2), performed well at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1.0 d. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of up to 90% (avg. 53%) for AD-1 and 83% (avg. 60%) for AD-2 at organic loading rates (OLR) of 9.56 and 4.62 kg COD.m-3.d-1, respectively, were obtained. High sulphate (S04) removal efficiencies of up to 96% (avg. 86%) for AD-1 and 98% (avg. 82%) for AD-2 were also achieved, respectively. A maximum total solid (TS) removal of 65% (avg. 25%) for AD-1 and 62% (avg. 28%) for AD-2 was reported. An average methane content of 80% (AD-1) and 79% (AD-2) with average methane yields per COD removed of 2.19 and 1.86 m3. kg CODremoved.df-o1r AD-1 and AD-2 were found, respectively. When the same digesters (AD-1 and AD-2) were combined in a muItiphase series configuration, a total COD removal efficiency of up to 97% (avg. 80%) at an OLR of 8.32 kg COD.m-3.d-1,was achieved. Excellent total S04 removals of 96% (avg. 69%) were accomplished. Up to 82% TS (avg. 29%) was also removed during this study and the biogas consisted of 89% methane (avg. 79%). For this multi-phase combination up to 92% volatile fatty acids (VFA) (avg. 48%) were removed, indicating possible selective phase separation of the respective fatty acid producing/utilising bacterial populations. The use of a laboratory-scale UASB bioreactor with recirculation, resulted in COD removal efficiencies of up to 96% (avg. 51%) at an HRT of 3.0 d, and 95% (avg. 54%) at a HRT of 1.0 d. Low performances were generally found, with average S04 and TS removals of 59% (max. 97%) and 26% (max. 67%), respectively at an HRT of 1.0 d. The biogas production was very low throughout the study (0.05 - 0.63 I,d-1 ). A pilot-scale UASB reactor (300 I) was constructed and performed satisfactory with a 58% average COD removal and maximum of 96%. S04 and TS removals up to 96% (avg. 44%) and 93% (avg. 63%), respectively, were obtained. The methane content of the biogas was 85%. The pilot-scale studies were conducted under actual field conditions, where various shock and organic loads had to be absorbed by the system. The pilot-scale contact configuration (300 I) did not perform satisfactory as a result of continuous blockages experienced in the feed and recirculation lines. Maximum COD, S04, VFA and TS removal efficiencies of 41% (avg. 27%), 62% (avg. 41%), 64% (avg. 27%) and 39% (avg. 21%), respectively, were obtained. The results of all the studies indicated acceptable COD removals with increasing OLR's. Indications of the presence of active methanogenic and sulphate-reducing bacterial populations were apparent throughout the studies. One possibility for the successful start-up and commissioning of the anaerobic reactors was the use of a well-adjusted biomass, which consisted of highly selected and adapted microbial consortium for the specific gelatinmanufacturing effluent. It was clear from this study that gelatin-manufacturing effluent can be treated successfully, especially with the use of the UASB design. A welldefined data base was constructed which could be of great value for further upscaling to a full-scale digester.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Hoogs besoedelde industriele uitvloeisel word gegenereer deur die plaaslike gelatien-vervaardigings industrie. As gevolg van toenemende streng beperkings op die kwaliteit van uitvloeisels wat bepaal word deur die Nasionale Water Wet van 1998 en Nasionale Omgewings Bestuurs Wet van 1998, asook toenemende munisipale heffings wat geimplementeer word via Plaaslike Munisipale Wette, word die industrie verplig om die uitvloeisel vooraf te behandel. 'n Studie is onderneem om die lewensvatbaarheid van anaërobe behandeling van gelatien-vervaardigings uitvloeisel te ondersoek, aangesien anaërobe verterings tegnologie alombekend is vir die goeie sukses behaal in die behandeling van hoë-sterkte, komplekse uitvloeisels. Verskeie laboratorium- en loods-skaal studies is gedoen, met verskillende hibried Opvloei Anaërobe Slykkombers (OAS) en kontak ontwerpe. Goeie werksverrigting was verkry by 'n hidroliese retensie tyd (HRT) van 1.0 d met twee mesofiliese laboratorium-skaal hibried OAS verteerder ontwerpe wat uitgevoer was met poli-etileen (AD-1) en poli-uretaan (AD-2) materiaal. Chemiese suurstof behoefte (CSB) verwyderings van so hoog as 90% (gem. 53%) vir AD-1 en 83% (gem. 60%) vir AD-2 by organiese ladingstempo's (OLT) van 9.56 en 4.62 kg CSB.m-3.d-1,was onderskeidelik verkry. Hoë sulfaat (S04) verwyderings van tot 96% (gem. 86%) vir AD-1 en 98% (gem. 82%) vir AD-2 was ook onderskeidelik verkry. 'n Maksimum totale vaste stof (TVS) verwydering van 65% (gem. 25%) vir AD-1 en 62% (gem. 28%) vir AD-2 is gerapporteer. 'n Gemiddelde metaan inhoud van 80% (AD-1) en 79% (AD-2) met 'n gemiddelde metaan opbrengs per CSB verwyder van 2.19 en 1.86 m3.kg CSBverwyder.dv-i1r AD-1 en AD-2, was onderskeidelik gevind. Met die aanwending van dieselfde twee verteerders (AD-1 en AD-2) in 'n series gekoppelde multi-fase konfigurasie, is 'n totale CSB verwydering so hoog as 97% (gem. 80%) verkry by 'n OLT van 8.32 kg CSB.m-3.d-1. Uitstekende totale S04 verwydering van 96% (gem. 69%) is behaal. Tot 82% TVS (gem. 29%) was vewyder gedurende die studie en die biogas het uit 89% metaan (gem. 79%) bestaan. Vir die multi-fase kombinasie is 'n maksimum van 92% vlugtige vetsure (WS) (gem. 48%) verwyder, wat dui op die moontlike skeiding van selektiewe fases van die onderskeie vetsuur produserende/verbruiker bakteriële populasies. CSB verwydering van tot 96% (gem. 51%) by 'n HRT van 3.0 d en 95% (gem. 54%) met 'n HRT van 1.0 d was verkry, tydens die gebruik van In laboratorium-skaal OAS bioreaktor met hersirkulasie. Lae werksverrigting was oor die algemeen waargeneem, met gemiddelde S04 en TVS verwyderings van 59% (maks. 97%) en 26% (maks. 67%) by In HRT van 1.0 d. Die biogas produksie was baie laag gedurende die studie (0.05 - 0.63 I,d-\ In Loods-skaal OAS verteerder was opgerig en bevredigende resultate was verkry met In gemiddeld van 58% CSB verwydering en maksimum van 96%. S04 en TVS verwyderings so hoog as 96% (gem. 44%) en 93% (gem. 63%) is onderskeidelik verkry. Die metaan inhoud van die biogas was 85%. Die loods-skaal studie was uitgevoer gedurende ware veld kondisies, waartydens verskeie skok en organiese ladings deur die sisteem geabsorbeer is. Die loods-skaal kontak konfigurasie (300 I) het nie bevredigende resultate getoon nie, as gevolg van voortdurende blokkasies wat ondervind is in die toevoer en hersirkulasie pype. Maksimum CSB, S04, WS en TVS verwyderings van 41% (gem. 27%), 62% (gem. 41%), 64% (gem. 27%) en 39% (gem. 21%) was onderskeidelik verkry. Die resultate van al die studies het aanvaarbare CSB verwydering aangedui by toenemende OLT's. Indikasies van aktiewe metanogene en sulfaat-reduserende bakteriële populasies was ook teenwoordig gedurende die studies. Die suksesvolle aansit-prosedure en begin van die anaërobe verteerders kan toegeskryf word aan die gebruik van In goed aangepaste biomassa, wat uit hoogs selektiewe en aangepaste mikrobiese populasies vir die spesifieke uitvloeisel bestaan. Hierdie studie het getoon dat gelatien-vervaardigings uitvloeisel suksesvol met die OAS ontwerp behandel kan word. In Goed gedefinieerde data basis kan voorsien word, wat van groot waarde sal wees vir verdere opgradering na In volskaalse verteerder.

Increasing charges by the private utilities for the treatment of industrial waste water are making on-site effluent treatment more attractive. On-site anaerobic digestion is increasingly being used by food processing factories as a cost effective solution to waste liquid waste disposal. Discharge of treated effluent to sewer or water course requires compliance to a maximum admissible concentration (MAC) value, therefore, there is a need for careful control of on-site waste water treatment. This research investigates the treatment of effluent from instant coffee production. This results in a liquid waste that contains recalcitrant and toxic compounds formed during the roasting process. This waste varies in strength and composition according to the different processes that are performed in the manufacture of instant coffee. Anaerobic filters are particularly attractive for wastes containing recalcitrant or inhibitory compounds requiring a long sludge age. Therefore, this study was aimed at firstly investigating the treatability of coffee waste, using anaerobic filters; and secondly monitoring and control of the digestion process in order to maintain a constant effluent quality.

La digestion anaérobie est une succession d’étapes de dégradation de la matière organique, par l’intermédiaire de microorganismes, opérée industriellement dans des digesteurs en béton. Des métabolites microbiens (acides gras volatils (AGV), NH4+, CO2) produits au cours du processus de digestion attaquent la matrice cimentaire du béton. Afin d’assurer un développement pérenne de la filière de méthanisation, il est donc nécessaire de comprendre d’abord tous ces phénomènes d’altération pour ensuite proposer des solutions durables pour les matériaux de construction des digesteurs. Les objectifs de la thèse visaient à identifier et quantifier les agents agressifs pour le béton présents dans les milieux de la méthanisation, puis à comprendre leurs rôles dans les mécanismes d’altération des matrices cimentaires. Enfin, l’action de ces milieux a pu être comparée sur un panel de matériaux cimentaires réalisées à partir de différents liants : ciment Portland ordinaire, ciment de haut-fourneau, ciment d’aluminate de calcium et liant alcali activé. Dans des digesteurs de laboratoire, les concentrations maximales des agents chimiques agressifs mesurées pendant la digestion anaérobie d’un biodéchet modèle étaient de 3000 mg.L-1 d’AGV, de 800 mg.L-1 de NH4+, et de 140 mg.L-1 de CO2 dissous. La prolifération de microorganismes capables de métaboliser ces composés chimiques agressifs a été observée à la surface des matériaux cimentaires exposés dans le biodéchet au cours de sa digestion. La zone dégradée des matériaux cimentaires exposés est partiellement décalcifiée, vraisemblablement du fait de l’action des AGV et de l’ammonium NH4+, et carbonatée en raison de la présence de CO2 dissous. Des essais in situ, c’est à dire en conditions réelles, réalisées sur une plateforme expérimentale de méthanisation, ont permis de confirmer les phénomènes d’altération observés en laboratoire. En termes de durabilité, le ciment alumineux présente la meilleure résistance face aux attaques biochimiques lorsqu’on le compare au ciment ordinaire ou aux ciments composés de laitier de haut-fourneau au sein de systèmes de méthanisation en laboratoire ou in situ
Anaerobic digestion consists in the degradation of organic matter by the successive actions of microorganisms, industrially operated in digesters made of concrete. Microbial metabolites (volatile fatty acids (VFA), NH4+, CO2) produced during this process attack the cementitious matrix of the concrete. To ensure the development of this new industrial field, it appears essential to understand first the alteration phenomena, then to propose durable solutions for digesters’ construction materials. The thesis’ objectives were first to identify and to quantify the aggressive agents for concrete in anaerobic digestion media, then to understand their impacts on the cementitious materials’ alteration mechanisms. Finally, the impacts of those media were compared on different cement pastes made of : ordinary Portland cement, blast furnace slag cement, calcium aluminate cement or alkali activated materials. During laboratory tests, the maximal concentration in aggressive agents measured during the digestion of a synthetic biowaste were 3 000 mg.L-1 of VFA, 800 mg.L-1 of NH4+, and 140 mg.L-1 of dissolved CO2. The colonization of the microorganisms able to produce the aggressive agents has been observed on the cementitious materials’ surfaces exposed to the biowaste during digestion. The external degraded layers of the exposed cementitious materials are partially decalcified, most likely regarding to the action of the VFA and the NH4+. Carbonation has also been detected caused by the dissolved CO2. In situ experiments, in real conditions, achieved in an experimental anaerobic digestion platform, confirmed the alteration phenomena distinguished in the laboratory tests. In terms of durability, calcium aluminate cement present the best performances against the biochemical attacks compared to ordinary cement or blast furnace slag cement in laboratory or in situ anaerobic digestion systems

The Western Dairy Center at Utah State University had recognized through traiing of cheesemaking that a challenge that can exist for farmstead and artisan cheese manufacturing operations is disposal or utilization of the whey that is produced when milk is converted into cheese. Land application of whey is limited and can cause odor problems which would be detrimental to a cheesemaking operation located at the rual-urban interface. The project provided information in support of a research grant from the Western Sustainable Agribulture Research and Education program that was investigating economics and feasiblity of using anaerobic digestion for treatment of whey and cow manure mixtures. We performed initial trials to determine the level of whey that could be mixed with manure and have satisfactory operation of the digester to produce methane and a biomass. A continuous digester was used to produce biomass material for microbiological and physical testing for its suitability for use as a renewable potting mix or soil conditioner. The benefits from this research are that we have shown how a value-added product can be made by converting whey and manure into a deodorized biomass that could replace the use of peat moss, which is a non-renewable resource. This can improve the economics of using a bioreactor for whey disposal.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
A pecuária leiteira bem como a industrialização do leite produzem resíduos que podem impactar o meio se lançados de forma imprópria. Sendo assim, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da co-digestão de água residuária de laticínio com dejetos bovinos em biodigestores do tipo batelada e contínuo sobre a produção de biogás e biofertilizante. O experimento foi dividido em duas fases. A primeira fase desenvolvida com biodigestores batelada e a segunda subdividida em dois períodos com biodigestores contínuos. Avaliou-se o efeito da inclusão de água residuária de laticínio (ARL) na primeira etapa: 0% de ARL, 50% de ARL, 77,5% de ARL, 100% de ARL e tratamento ARL. Para segunda fase no primeiro período tratamento com 0% de ARL e 50% de ARL. E no segundo período com tratamentos de 0% ARL e 63,5% ARL. Para análise dos dados considerou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, utilizando-se o programa SAS® com nível de significância de 5%. Para a primeira fase, observou–se que o tratamento ARL foi o que apresentou menor produção de biogás (0,00753 m3) em relação aos demais. Para os potenciais de produção o tratamento com 50% de ARL apresentou as menores médias. Nos dois períodos da segunda fase, ou seja, com biodigestores contínuos, os resultados demonstram que os tratamentos contendo água residuária foram eficientes sem diferença de produção de biogás entre os tratamentos. O aproveitamento da água residuária para compor substrato em co-digestão com dejetos bovinos leiteiros apresentou condições favoráveis de produção e qualidade de biogás e biofertilizante.
The dairy farming and industrialization of milk produce waste that may impact the environment if disposed improperly. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of co-digestion of dairy production wastewater with cattle manure in biodigesters in the batch and continuous type on the production of biogas and biofertilizers. The experiment was divided into two phases. The first phase developed with batch digesters and second divided in two periods with continuous digesters. We evaluated the effect of the inclusion of dairy wastewater (DW) in the first stage: 0% of DW, 50% of DW, 77,5% of DW, 100% of DW and DW treatment. For the second phase the first treatment period with 0% and 50% DW. And in the second period with treatments of 0% and 63.5% DW. Data analysis was considered a completely randomized design, using the SAS® program with 5% significance level. For the first phase, it was observed that the DW treatment showed the lower production of biogas (0.00753 m3) compared to the others treatments. For the production potential treatment with 50% of DW had the lowest means. In the second phase in both periods, with continuous digesters, the results show that the treatments containing wastewater were effective and there is no difference in biogas production between the treatments. The use of wastewater to form substrate co-digestion of dairy cattle manure showed favorable production conditions and quality of biogas and biofertilizers.

Sustainability of resources such as energy, water and waste have become important drivers in our current economy. For large industries that are water and energy intensive like pulp and paper (P&P) mills, this is a specifically relevant issue. The large and heterogenous volumes of effluents in P&P mills make it a difficult task to properly treat before discharge. Anaerobic digestion is an efficient wastewater technology that cleans the effluent, reduces wasted sludge and simultaneously produces methane that can be further used as energy. The research work described in this thesis aims to enhance the methane production from the anaerobic digestion of different chemical P&P mill effluents. Through effluent characterization, variability of process parameters, promoting agents and the assessment of biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests, the benefits of three potential methods to enhance methane yields of wastewaters were evaluated. In addition, the conversion of chemical pulp fibers directly to methane was explored. The attained results described the different improvements that can be made to enhance methane production. Easily degradable effluents such as hydrolyzed filtrates and evaporator condensates contain high concentrations of sugars and acetic acid respectively, which could encourage an oversaturation of acids during acidogenesis. An inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR) of 2 proved to be the optimal in order to add the required buffering capacity to neutralize the pH and produce significantly high methane yields of up to 333 mLCH4/gVS. The high productivity of these effluents can be then considered for co-digestion with harder to treat effluents such as lignin-rich streams. Lignin clearly hinders methane production indicated by the negative linear correlation found between lignin content and methane yield. The co-digestion of lignin-rich effluent with evaporator condensates from neutral sulfite semi-chemical (NSSC) pulping proved to enhance the overall methane productivity of the mill´s wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the assessment of hydrotalcites (HT) addition indicated a contribution towards an increase in methane yield, faster production rates and a greater lignin removal. The poor performance of calcined HT suggests that the advantages of HT addition came from the layered sheet structure. Finally, besides establishing the methane potential in various P&P effluents, the examination of methane productivity of different pulp fibers and its products proved to be a promising new energy alternative to explore. Brown, oxygen delignified and bleached pulp gathered biodegradabilities of up to 90% and methane yields as high as 380 mLCH4/gVS. With the current changing bio-economy this last approach paves the way in exploring alternative and novel uses for chemical pulp mill products.
La sostenibilidad en la gestión de recursos como la energía, el agua y los residuos se ha convertido en un aspecto clave en nuestra economía actual. Para grandes industrias que consumen mucha agua y energía, como la industria de pulpa y papel (P&P) este es un tema especialmente relevante. Los grandes y heterogéneos volúmenes de efluentes que producen las fábricas de P&P hacen que su adecuado tratamiento sea una tarea difícil. La digestión anaerobia es una tecnología eficiente para el tratamiento de aguas residuales; que limpia el efluente, reduce el lodo producido y simultáneamente produce metano que puede usarse como fuente de energía. El objetivo del trabajo de investigación descrito en esta tesis es aumentar la producción de metano a partir de la digestión anaerobia de diferentes efluentes producidos en fábricas de pulpa. A través de la caracterización del efluente, determinación de parámetros del proceso, agentes promotores y la evaluación de pruebas de producción de metano bioquímico se evaluaron los beneficios de tres métodos potenciales para mejorar los rendimientos de metano de los efluentes. Asimismo, se exploró la conversión directa de fibras de pulpa química a metano. Los efluentes fácilmente degradables, como los filtrados hidrolizados y los condensados del evaporador, contienen altas concentraciones de azúcares y ácido acético, respectivamente, lo que podría provocar una sobresaturación de ácidos durante la acidogénesis. Se ha demostrado que una relación de inóculo a sustrato de 2 resulta óptima para aumentar la capacidad tampón del sistema y neutralizar el pH y producir rendimientos de metano significativamente altos, de hasta 333 mLCH4/gVS. La alta productividad de estos efluentes hace que se puedan considerar para la co-digestión con efluentes más difíciles de tratar, como las aguas ricas en lignina. Claramente la lignina obstaculiza la producción de metano, tal y como indica la correlación lineal negativa encontrada entre el contenido de lignina y el rendimiento de metano. La co-digestión del efluente rico en lignina con el condensado de evaporadores de pulpa semi-química de sulfito ha demostrado mejorar la productividad de metano en el tratamiento de aguas residuales de la planta. Además, la adición de hidrotalcitas (HT) como catatlizadores contribuye hacia un aumento en la producción de metano, tasas de producción más rápidas y una mayor eliminación de lignina. Con HT calcinadas se han obtenido rendimientos bajos, lo que sugiere que las ventajas de la adición de HT provienen de su estructura laminar. Finalmente, además de establecer el potencial de metano que existen en los efluentes de P&P, la evaluación de la productividad de metano de diferentes fibras de pulpa y sus productos ha demostrado ser una nueva alternativa energética para explorar. El uso de pulpa blanqueada, sin blanquear y deslignificada con oxígeno muestran biodegradabilidades de hasta 90% y rendimientos de metano de hasta 380 mLCH4/gVS. Con la cambiante bioeconomía actual, este último enfoque estimula la exploración de usos alternativos y novedosos para productos de plantas de pulpa química.

This study investigates the system design requirements for successful macroalgae cultivation for optimal Nitrogen and Phosphorus removal in diluted anaerobic digestion piggery effluent. Allowing for high quality water output and recycling in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The capital and operational costs of this system for the total waste treatment of a medium and large scale piggery, housing 400 and 2,000 sows, respectively, are completed. These are then compared to the potential profits made through the electrical generation of harvested biomass through anaerobic digestion and animal feed pellets. The use of macroalgae for the treatment of anaerobic digestion piggery effluent is a new field of interest compared to microalgae (a heavily researched area). Where the microscopic make-up of the microalgae species results in costly harvesting and dewatering methods. As the multicellular clumping of macroalgae species allows for increased harvesting efficiencies. The advantages of macroalgae growth compared to other treatment methods follow successful trials of species cultivation in diluted substrate. Advantages include the recovery of nutrients through biomass production, increased environmental sustainability, pollution avoidance, and higher economical returns. There is no payback period for the two-system sizings as the operational costs far exceed the total annual profits. However, there remains much potential in this usage of anaerobic digestion piggery effluent treatment through further hybrid system designs of micro and macroalgae treatment systems. Potentially leading to reduced land area requirements, evaporation rates and elemental inputs for achievable Nitrogen removal. It is recommended that further study in this field is necessary.

The topic of this research is the study of new models for the management of livestock effluents, in particular situations of concentration or bad organization, is able to produce negative externality for the environment, especially loss in the underground and surface water of nitrate. This problem of water pollution in one hand is a cost for the community, because the citizen wants clean water and in the other is a cost for the livestock firm, because is constricted to respect an environmental restricted standard, investing in a new organization. In Veneto region, this problem is strongly felt, because there are many specialized livestock chain like cattle, diary, pigs and poultry in a territory rich of important water bodies, flowing into the drainage basin of the Veneto lagoon. After a bibliographic research on the current regulation and on the environmental economics in the agricultural field, in particular how the environmental regulation influences on the firms in terms of economics performances, it was designed a theoretical framework where for a livestock firm is possible develop a new and more efficient technology for the manure treatment that allow to improve the water quality and also can make earn or save money. The context into which livestock waste management inserts itself includes not only constraints already established by standard community regulations for nitrate matter but also special opportunities rendered by the increase in value of biomass energy. These opportunities have become even greater in the past few years due to the governmental incentives which are given to companies producing energy from renewable resources, an incentive program undertaken by the European Union in response to international collaboration (the Kyoto Protocol). Then it followed the study of the best practices started in the northern Italy, making interviews to the most important stakeholders in the economic, scientific and cultural sphere, aimed to identify the most common organizational and technologic typologies The new proposed models developed by a consortium of firms having the same organizational problem, lack of land for spreading the manure, in a restricted area, that want develop a treatment plant with a first energetic valorization treatment and a second step where is possible to treat the nitrogen element. In this way you can produce electricity (production stimulate with green tariffs), indeed money and with the secondary treatment is possible to recover nitrogen to produce fertilizer (ammonia stripping, compost, drying) or to reduce/destroy it (combustion, biological de-ammonification). An important part of the study is based on the design of an evaluation model that is able to simulate the economics performances of this integrated chain model, which can manage the nitrogen model in a better and sustainable way. Starting by the regional livestock database, it was analyzed the nitrogen production, the energetic potential of the firms and the biomass volumes. the model evaluated the overnight cost of the investment the overhead costs of each technological step and the revenues. The last and most important phase was to divide the incomes and costs between the farmer developing the model, because each animal species have a different nitrogen content, biogas production level, volume weight, and it means different allocation of money between the members of the consortium. The study demonstrated that develop an innovation models of livestock effluents treatment is more sustainable and more profitable than the business as usual organization, and confirmed the thesis that environmental regulation has resulted in a “win-win” situation where both profits and environmental performance have improved.
L’attività di ricerca si è rivolta allo studio delle politiche ambientali inerenti il settore dell’allevamento zootecnico nella Regione Veneto, andando ad approfondire il tema della gestione degli effluenti di allevamento (EA), con particolare interesse verso modalità che prevedono una valorizzazione energetica delle stesse. Date le dinamiche in atto in questi anni nel settore del trattamento delle biomasse, anche in relazione agli incentivi statali rivolti ai produttori di energia da fonte rinnovabile, il settore zootecnico potrebbe essere in grado di rivestire un ruolo di prim’ordine verso un sistema agricolo multifunzionale sempre più attento all’ambiente e alla qualità dei prodotti. In Veneto questo problema, legato al recepimento della Direttiva Nitrati (91/676/CEE), è molto sentito, vista la presenza di un forte settore zootecnico che può contare su diverse filiere di produzione specializzate come bovini da carne, bovini da latte, suini da ingrasso, avicoli da carne e ovaiole. Allo stesso tempo la vulnerabilità di alcuni suoli dovuta alla presenza di numerosi corpi idrici, impone al mondo agricolo l’adozione di standard ambientali e sistemi di gestione degli EA più idonei alle buone pratiche agricole e più rispettosi dell’ambiente. Dopo aver eseguito un profondo inquadramento normativo e bibliografico generale del problema, si è dapprima svolta un’indagine su casi reali, somministrando opportuni questionari, mirati a rilevare l’attuale contesto in cui operano le realtà più dinamiche e attive, inoltre si sono svolte interviste faccia a faccia a testimoni privilegiati rappresentativi della sfera economica, scientifica e politica. Si è in seguito fatto un lavoro di analisi dei dati sul patrimonio zootecnico regionale rivolto alla stima della produzione di azoto e all’individuazione di comprensori critici, dove potenzialmente sarebbe auspicabile una più oculata gestione degli EA. Dalla stessa base dati si è stimato un potenziale energetico derivante dai reflui prodotti dalle aziende zootecniche a livello di unità produttiva, si sono poi aggregati a livello comunale e provinciale, differenziando anche il potenziale per specie animale. Un’altra parte dello studio si è focalizzata sui modelli di gestione integrata degli EA, partendo dai casi studio sono state costituite delle mappe concettuali mirate all’individuazione dei flussi inerenti ai principali processi tecnologici. Tali flussi sono stati caratterizzati per forma organizzativa individuando gli input nei processi, le modalità di conferimento, i trattamenti primari e secondari effettuati, le tipologie di output ottenute e la destinazione dei prodotti finali. Si sono inoltre individuati i principali “ombrelli giuridici” sotto cui gli effluenti di allevamento vengono trattati e movimentati, dalle aziende agricole verso le superfici per lo spandimento o verso strutture di trattamento, agricole o industriali. Si sono evidenziate le due principali modalità di gestione che hanno approcci diversi, uno di abbattimento e distruzione del valore fertilizzante, un altro di valorizzazione rivolta ad un successivo recupero e riutilizzo. In seguito, si è cercato di capire come la regolamentazione ambientale influisca sulle performance economiche delle aziende zootecniche interessate, se l’adozione di soluzioni tecnologiche rivolte all’adeguamento agli standard sia un costo per le aziende o possa rivelarsi un vantaggio competitivo e quali sono i fattori che influenzano queste scelte. In particolare lo studio ha proposto alcuni modelli di gestione, anche alla luce delle novità apportate dal nuovo conto energia, approvato con Decreto Ministeriale del 6 luglio 2012. È stato definito un modello di valutazione con l’obiettivo di testare le performance economico-finanziarie derivanti dagli impianti di trattamento interaziendali. Con la logica del sistema di filiera integrata si sono proposte due principali linee di trattamento, entrambe presentano un primo stadio di valorizzazione energetica attraverso la digestione anaerobica, mentre a valle è stato previsto un processo di trattamento rivolto alla distruzione della componente azotata nel primo caso e di valorizzazione nel secondo. Si sono considerate varie taglie di cogenerazione elettrica e si è simulato un approccio interaziendale, con la presenza quindi di più allevatori con differenti specie allevate. I dati della potenzialità energetica aggregata, ottenuta dall’analisi della consistenza del patrimonio zootecnico, sono stati inseriti nella prima parte del modello di valutazione economico-finanziaria, da dove si ottiene una serie di risultati come costi di investimento, ricavi e costi totali. Nella seconda parte del modello si è poi approfondito il problema della giusta allocazione dei costi e dei ricavi della struttura interaziendale tra i diversi allevatori aderenti, infine si sono comparati i risultati economici che si possono ottenere dall’adozione dei modelli innovativi, con una situazione di gestione ordinaria degli EA, senza rispettare gli standard ambientali imposti dalla Direttiva e una situazione di gestione ordinaria degli EA nel rispetto nel rispetto dei limiti imposti.

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This study evaluated the hydrogen and methane production from cassava starch wastewater in reactors in series. The acidogenic and methanogenic reactors were operated in a continuous flow and trials were divided into three stages. In Stage 1, three essays for hydrogen production evaluated the effect of initial pH (6.0 and 4.5), substrate concentration (1.4, 1.1 and 2.2 g total carbohydrates.L-1) and strategies to control biomass (by disposal or change in the structure of such support material with low density polyethylene) in anaerobic reactors of fixed bed and upflow at 36 °C. The best operating condition among the evaluated ones was pH 6.0 and concentration of 1.4 g total carbohydrates.L-1, which resulted in Hydrogen Volumetric Productions (HVP) of 229 mL.L-1.d-1 and yield of 29.4 mL.g-1total carbohydrate. The best strategy to control biomass was the sort of bed with polyethylene cylinders, which provided the least changes in flow regime and excessive growth of biomass. In Stage 2, the effect of inoculum source was evaluated in two packed-bed reactors operating according to the following conditions: pH 6.0; 2 g.L-1concentration of substrate, 20 g.L-1.d-1organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2-hour. In the inoculated reactor with autofermented effluent, the answers were: 550 mL.L-1.d-1and hydrogen yield of 38mL.g-1total carbohydrates. These values were higher than those observed for the reactor inoculated with anaerobic heat-treated sludge, which indicated that the use of simple inoculums is a viable strategy for hydrogen production under the tested conditions. In addition to these essays, the influence of ORL and HRT were also evaluated. The increase of ORL (10 to 20 g-total carbohydrates.L-1.d-1) and decrease of HRT (4 to 2 hour) resulted in a higherhydrogen production (467 mL.L-1.d-1), hydrogen percentage in the studied biogas (40%) and molar flow rate (2.16 mmol.h-1). Therefore, the average yield of 30 mL H2.g-1 total carbohydrate was the same for both conditions tested. In general, butyric acid was associated with higherhydrogen production, followed by acetic and propionic acids, besides ethanol, in the five analyzed essays. In Stage 3, methane production from the acidified effluent was evaluated in a horizontal anaerobic reactor of fixed bed and continuous flow, operated at mesophilic temperature. The operating conditions were divided into four stages, whose variations were: initial pH (5.0 and 7.0), OLR (1.54; 3.54 and 6 g-COD.L-1.d-1) and HRT (5; 1.5 and 1.1 d). The results of effluent pH greater than 7.0, volatile acidity/total alkalinity of 0.2 and 98% removal of organic matter showed that the reactor performance was not impaired by the separation of acidogenic and methanogenic stages. The highest production of methane was observed in Phase IV, with pH 5.0, 6 g.L-1.d-1 OLR and 1.1 d HRT, resulting in average values of 0.82 L.L-1.d-1 for volumetric methane production, 0.85 L.g-1CODremoved yield and 80% methane in biogas composition. The energy efficiency in the combined system was 17% higher than the one observed in the single system for the treatment of cassava starch wastewater.
Este trabalho avaliou a produção de hidrogênio e metano a partir de efluente de fecularia de mandioca em sistema combinado. Os reatores acidogênico e metanogênico foram operados em fluxo contínuo, e os ensaios divididos em três etapas. Na Etapa 1, três ensaios para produção de hidrogênio avaliaram o efeito do pH inicial (6,0 e 4,5), concentração de substrato (1,4, 1,1 e 2,2 g carboidratos totais.L-1) e estratégias de controle da biomassa (por descarte ou mudança na estruturação do material suporte de polietileno de baixa densidade) em reatores anaeróbios de leito fixo e fluxo ascendente, à temperatura de 36 C. A melhor condição operacional dentre as avaliadas foi pH 6,0 e concentração de 1,4 g carboidratos totais.L-1, que resultou em Produções Volumétricas de Hidrogênio (PVH) de 229 mL.L-1.d-1 e rendimento de 29,4 mL.g-1 carboidrato total. A melhor estratégia de controle de biomassa foi a ordenação do leito com cilindros de polietileno, a qual proporcionou menores alterações no regime de escoamento e crescimento excessivo da biomassa. Na Etapa 2, o efeito da fonte de inóculo foi avaliado em dois reatores de leito empacotado nas condições operacionais pH 6,0; concentração de substrato de 2 g.L-1, Carga Orgânica Volumétrica aplicada (COV) de 20 g.L-1.d-1 e Tempo de Detenção Hidráulica (TDH) de 2 horas. No reator inoculado com efluente autofermentado verificou-se PVH de 550 mL.L-1.d-1 e rendimento de hidrogênio de 38 mL.g-1 carboidratos totais. Esses valores foram maiores que os observados para o reator inoculado com lodo anaeróbio tratado termicamente, os quais indicaram que a utilização de inóculos simples representa uma estratégia viável para produção de hidrogênio nas condições testadas. Além desses ensaios, a influência da COV e do TDH também foi avaliada. O aumento COV (de 10 para 20 g.L-1.d-1) e a redução do TDH (de 4 para 2 h) resultaram em maior produção de hidrogênio (467 mL.L-1.d-1), percentual de hidrogênio no biogás (40%) e vazão molar (2,16 mmol.h-1). Entretanto, o rendimento médio de 30 mL H2.g-1 carboidrato total foi igual para as duas condições testadas. De modo geral, o ácido butírico foi associado à maior produção de gás hidrogênio, seguido dos ácidos acético e propiônico, além de etanol, nos cinco ensaios realizados. Na Etapa 3, a produção de metano a partir do efluente acidificado foi avaliada em reator anaeróbio horizontal de leito fixo e fluxo contínuo, operado em condição mesofílica de temperatura. As condições operacionais foram divididas em quatro fases, com variação do pH inicial (5,0 e 7,0), da COV (1,54; 3,54 e 6 g DQO.L-1.d-1) e do TDH (5; 1,5 e 1,1 d). Os resultados de pH efluente superior a 7,0, relação acidez volátil/alcalinidade total de 0,2 e remoção de 98% da matéria orgânica evidenciam que o desempenho do reator não foi prejudicado pela separação das fases acidogênica e metanogênica. A maior produção de metano foi observada na Fase IV, com pH 5,0, COV de 6 g.L-1.d-1e TDH de 1,1 d, que resultou em valores médios de produção volumétrica de metano de 0,82 L.L-1.d-1, rendimento de 0,85 L.g-1DQOremovida e 80% de metano na composição do biogás. O rendimento energético no sistema combinado foi 17% superior ao observado em sistema único no tratamento de efluente de fecularia.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido no município de Nova Redenção, localizado na região da Chapada Diamantina no estado da Bahia, nordeste brasileiro. Nesse município é grave o quadro de saneamento ambiental, assim como em outros do interior do Brasil. A falta de recursos financeiros e humanos é fator que dificulta a resolução desse problema. Acredita-se que estudos e aprimoramentos de tecnologias simplificadas de coleta e tratamento de esgoto doméstico que superem essas dificuldades estão em consonância com as peculiaridades dessas localidades e são, atualmente, tópicos importantes para pesquisa. Esta proposta teve como objetivo a concepção, instalação e avaliação de um sistema condominial de coleta de esgoto (SCE) em porção da zona urbana do município, onde moram, aproximadamente, 250 habitantes. Também se estudou a concepção, instalação e partida do sistema tratamento do esgoto - decanto-digestor seguido de alagados construídos de fluxo sub-superficial. Avaliou-se a aceitação do SCE pela comunidade e seu funcionamento. Caracterizaram-se os afluentes e efluentes das unidades do sistema de tratamento em termos de remoção da matéria orgânica (MO), sólidos (SST), nutrientes (N e P) e Escherichia coli. Realizou-se estudo da hidrodinâmica das unidades do sistema, com uso de traçador. Efetuou-se o balanço hídrico nos alagados. A rede condominial instalada mostrou-se, como em experiências de outros autores, satisfatória e adequada em sua aplicação em comunidades com características semelhantes à desse estudo. O aspecto da tecnologia do SCE mais estranhado pela comunidade foi o diâmetro utilizado para o esgotamento, devido, principalmente, ao receio que a tubulação entupisse. Não se registrou nenhuma queixa entre vizinhos quanto ao fato da rede passar dentro dos lotes. O sistema de tratamento estudado mostrou, depois de onze semanas de monitoramento, 85% de remoção de DQO e 86% de \'DBO IND.5\'; 90% de remoção de SST; a remoção de nitrogênio amoniacal, fósfoto total e solúvel foram de: 25%, 36% e 40%, respectivamente. A remoção de E. coli foi de 2,1 unidades logarítmicas. A areia utilizada, de granulometria muito fina, afetou sobremaneira a hidrodinâmica dos alagados construídos, fazendo com que houvesse uma lâmina sobre o material suporte. Isso diminuiu o tempo de detenção hidráulica dos alagados e pode ter ocasionado em menor eficiência do sistema.
This work was developed in the city of Nova Redenção, located in the region of the Chapada Diamantina in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. In this city there are serious problems of environmental sanitation as well as in other within the country. Lack of financial and human resources is a factor that complicates the resolution of this problem. It is believed that studies and improvements in technologies for simplified collection and treatment of domestic sewage are in line with the peculiarities of these locations and are, today, important topics for research. This proposal was aimed at the design, installation and evaluation of a \'condominial\' sewerage (CS) in the village portion of the township, where live approximately 250 people. The objective of the study was also the design, installation and start of the sewage treatment system - septic tank followed by sub-superficial flow constructed wetlands. The acceptance of the CS by the community and its operation were evaluated. The treatment system was characterized in terms of removal of organic matter (OM), solids (TSS), nutrients (N and P) and Escherichia coli. The hydrodynamics of the system units was studied, using tracer. The water balance of constructed wetlands has been done. The \'condominial\' sewerage demonstrated, as well as in other experiences, good and proper application in communities with similar characteristics to this study. The community did not accept only the small diameter used, due mainly to their fear of clogging. Complaints from neighbors about the tubes passing through backyards were not registered. The treatment system study showed, after eleven weeks of monitoring, 85% of removal of COD and 86% of BOD5, 90% of removal of TSS, the removal of ammonia nitrogen, total and soluble fósfoto were: 25%, 36% and 40% respectively. The removal of E. coli was 2.1 logarithmic units. The sand used, of a very fine particle size, has particularly affected the hydrodynamics of the constructed wetlands, creating a sheet of water on the support material. It reduced the hydraulic detention time of the flooded water, which may be the cause of low efficiency.

La méthanisation est la bioconversion de la matière organique en digestat et en biogaz. La méthanation biologique consiste à faire réagir de l'H2 avec du CO2 en digesteur anaérobie pour augmenter le taux de CH4 dans le biogaz. Cette thèse vise la valorisation des fumées de cokeries contenant du CO2 et de l’H2 par injection dans un méthaniseur. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'étudier la faisabilité de l'injection des gaz de cokeries dans un méthaniseur et de quantifier la variation du taux de CH4. Pour cela, un réacteur de 100 L a été conçu. Des études préalables en réacteur de 2 L ont été menées expérimentalement et par simulation numérique des écoulements pour définir un mode d’agitation adapté. Il a été montré que l'agitation par un double-ruban hélicoïdal permettait d'accroitre la vitesse de production du biogaz de 50 % en comparaison avec un système d’agitation classique. La perméation membranaire à travers un tube en silicone a été utilisée pour l’injection du gaz dans le digestat. A l’aide du pilote conçu, fonctionnant pendant 152 jours, une expérimentation d’hydrogénation en continu a été réalisée avant l’injection simultanée d’H2 et de CO2. L'injection d'hydrogène pur a augmenté le taux de CH4 de 57,5 à 68,2 % et abaissé celui du CO2 de 42,3 à 31,5 %. L'hydrogène injecté est entièrement consommé, ce qui a validé le choix de la perméation membranaire comme système d’apport de gaz en milieu visqueux et qui a montré que la quantité d'H2 injectée était limitante. L'injection supplémentaire de CO2 en proportions des gaz de cokeries s'est traduite par une augmentation du débit global de biogaz de 5,0 à 5,6 L/h, composé d’environ 35 % en CO2 et 65 % en CH4
Anaerobic digestion is the bioconversion of organic matter into digestate and biogas. Biological methanation consists in the reaction between H2 and CO2 in anaerobic digester to increase the level of CH4 in the biogas. This thesis aims at recovering the fumes from coking plants containing CO2 and H2 by injection into an anaerobic digester. The objective of this thesis is to study the feasibility of injecting coke oven gases into an anaerobic digester and to quantify the variations of the CH4 content. To this end, a 100 L reactor has been designed. Previous studies in 2 L reactor were performed experimentally and by computational fluid dynamics to define a suitable design of stirrer. It has been shown that stirring by a double helical ribbon increases the biogas production rate by 50 % in comparison with a conventional stirring system. Membrane permeation through a silicone tube was used to inject the gas into the digestate. 152 days experiment was performed in this pilot with a continuous hydrogenation step prior to the simultaneous injection of H2 and CO2. Injection of pure hydrogen increased the CH4 level from 57.5 % to 68.2 % and decreased that of CO2 from 42.3 to 31.5 %. The injected hydrogen is entirely consumed. This result validated the choice of membrane permeation as a gas supply system in viscous medium but showed that the amount of H2 injected was limiting. The additional injection of CO2 in proportions of coke oven gases resulted in an increase in the overall biogas flow rate from 5.0 to 5.6 L h-1, composed of about 35 % CO2 and 65 % CH4

Deux réacteurs, R1 et R2, ont été alimentés quotidiennement avec les effluents à traiter à des TRH de 13 jours et de 20 jours, respectivement. Les résultats obtenus ont montré un taux d'abattement de la dégradation de la matière organique de 53% pour R2, contre 35% pour R1. Afin de mieux comprendre le fonctionnement biologique de ces réacteurs, nous avons exploré les communautés microbiennes d'importance écologique impliquées dans la dégradation de la matière organique contenue dans ces effluents. Cela a été réalisé dans un premier temps par des approches moléculaires en utilisant la technique de DGGE et le pyroséquençage 454. Nous avons alors montré que les représentants du domaine des Bacteria étaient les plus représentés dans les deux réacteurs par rapport aux Archaea avec une plus grande diversité au niveau du réacteur R2. Les séquences de Bacteria obtenues sont affiliées principalement aux phylums des Firmicutes, des Bacteroïdetes, et des Synergistetes, impliquées dans l'hydrolyse et la fermentation de la matière organique des effluents. Une mention particulière est à accorder aux membres du phylum des Synergistetes qui ont été également détectés par pyroséquençage 454. Dans les deux réacteurs, ce phylum majoritaire était représenté par deux familles, celle des "Dethiosulfovibrionaceae" et celle des "Aminiphilaceae" dont on sait qu'elles interviennant dans la dégradation des acides aminés. Enfin, l'approche culturale nous a permis d'isoler dans nos réacteurs plusieurs souches bactériennes anaérobies mésophiles hétérotrophes. Parmi celles-ci, nous avons pu décrire deux nouvelles espèces Desulfocurvus thunnarius et A thunnarium
For this purpose, two ASBR reactors R1 and R2 were tested. They were fed daily with the industrial effluents at HRT of 13 days and 20 days, respectively. The results obtained during the anaerobic treatment showed a degradation rate of the organic matter of 53% for R2 against 35% for R1. In order to better understand this process, we explored the microbial communities of ecological importance involved in the degradation of organic matter in the effluent to be treated. This was accomplished by initiating molecular approaches. Using the DGGE technique and 454 pyrosequencing, we showed that representatives of the domain Bacteria were the most dominant in both reactors as compared to Archaea with a greater diversity observed in R2 reactor. Bacteria sequences were affiliated to the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Synergistetes, known to be involved in the hydrolysis and fermentation of organic matter. A particular mention is given to members of the phylum Synergistetes which were also detected by pyrosequencing 454. In both reactors, this phylum was represented by two families, the "Dethiosulfovibrionaceae" and that of "Aminiphilaceae" which are recognized as significant amino acids degraders. Finally, the cultivation approach allowed us to isolate several mesophilic heterotrophic anaerobic bacteria. Among them, a new sulfate-reducing species belonging to the family Desulfovibrionaceae, Desulfocurvus thunnarius, and A thunnarium

Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of academic requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology: Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, 2008.
Currently KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province is populated with textile industry, which produces wastewater, some of which is not biodegradable. Due to the stringent environmental regulations the wastewater cannot be discharged into the rivers or public owned treatment systems. The alternative solution is to co-dispose this wastewater with easily biodegradable waste (labile effluent). The aim of this investigation was to develop a process protocol for the codigestion of high strength and toxic organic effluents under mesophilic conditions (35°C ± 2°C), with emphasis on the effect of biomass acclimation. A total of four effluents were chosen for this study, two labile (distillery and size) and two recalcitrant (scour dye and reactive dye). Two anaerobic batch experiments and two pilot scale trials were performed. The first batch anaerobic experiment investigated the influence of biomass source in anaerobic treatability. The second batch test investigated, whether biomass acclimation enhanced the biodegradability of pollutants. The pilot scale trials were the scale up version of the biomass acclimation test. The results showed sludge from Umbilo Wastewater Treatment Works was a superior biomass source, producing more gas and methane compared to Mpumalanga waste. For the high strength organic waste, the acclimated size and distillery samples produced 50% more biogas and methane compared to non-acclimated samples. This confirms that the biomass acclimation enhances the biodegradability. The biomass acclimation did not enhance the biodegradability of the recalcitrant effluent (scour dye). The pilot scale trials did not yield meaningful data; therefore it could not be proven if acclimation works on a larger scale.

Tese de Doutoramento em Gestão e Tratamento de Resíduos
O ensaio laboratorial decorreu em duas fases, à escala piloto, no qual se avaliou o desempenho da digestão anaeróbia dos efluentes de bovinicultura leiteira com adição de resíduos alimentares e óleo alimentar usado. Na primeira fase, a digestão anaeróbia dos efluentes da bovinicultura era mais rentável apenas na adição dos resíduos alimentares, pelo que a mistura adicional do óleo causou níveis de toxicidade orgânica, levando à morte dos microrganismos. Na segunda fase, fez-se a alimentação dos mesmos com igual mistura de resíduos, mas com adição de pulsos de ar para avaliar se a presença de oxigénio residual nos reatores influenciava ou não a degradação do óleo alimentar usado. Não houve diferenças significativas no desempenho dos 3 reatores. Elaborou-se um estudo social visando os habitantes, os visitantes e os bovinicultores no concelho de Barcelos, para avaliar o seu ponto de vista em relação ao problema ambiental relacionado com os efluentes com origem nas explorações leiteiras. A poluição destes resíduos afeta negativamente a qualidade de vida dos habitantes e sobretudo os visitantes e empresários e trabalhadores ligados ao setor de turismo e restauração, mostrando maior sensibilidade ao problema. Os bovinicultores sentem dificuldades na ausência de apoios financeiros no tratamento dos seus efluentes, como também no armazenamento limitado dos mesmos nas fossas das explorações, assim como a nível de produção de maus cheiros e poluição dos solos. Foi também realizada uma análise multicritério em SIG indicando locais com condições adequadas para a localização de unidades de produção de biogás, considerando a distância mínima para as explorações leiteiras, rede elétrica e rede viária e maximizando a distância à malha urbana, bem como das linhas de água e da RAN e REN
The laboratory test was carried out in two phases, at the pilot scale, in which the performance of the anaerobic digestion of effluents from dairy cattle with addition of food waste and used oil was evaluated. In the first phase, the anaerobic digestion of bovine effluents was more profitable only in the addition of food residues, so the additional mixture of the oil caused levels of organic toxicity, leading to the death of the microorganisms. In the second phase, they were fed with the same mixture of residues, but with the addition of pulses of air to evaluate if the presence of residual oxygen in the reactors influenced or not the degradation of the used alimentary oil. There were no significant differences in the performance of the 3 reactors. A social study was carried out aiming at the inhabitants, visitors and cattle farmers in the municipality of Barcelos, to evaluate their point of view regarding the environmental problem related to effluents originating from dairy farms. The pollution of these wastes negatively affects the quality of life of the inhabitants and especially the visitors and businessmen and workers connected to the tourism and catering sector, showing a greater sensitivity to the problem. Farmers are experiencing difficulties in the absence of financial support in the treatment of their effluents, but also in the limited storage of them in the cesspools of farms, as well as in the production of bad smells and soil pollution. A multicriteria GIS analysis was also performed, indicating locations with adequate conditions for the location of biogas production units, considering the minimum distance for dairy farms, electric grid and road network and maximizing the distance to the urban network, as well as the lines of water and RAN and REN areas
Este doutoramento foi apoiado pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) no âmbito do financiamento estratégico da unidade UID/BIO/04469 e dos programas COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) e BioTecNorte (NORTE-01 -0145-FEDER-000004) financiados pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional no âmbito do Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.

Due to a combination of selection criteria, sludges from upflow anaerobic digesters treating industrial waste waters consist primarily of well-settling, dense agglomerates called granules. Quantification of the component mixed microbial populations of these granules has been severely restricted by the inability of researchers to disrupt them without concomitantly destroying numerous cells. In situ quantification using light and electron microscopy is complicated by the high cell numbers and bacterial diversity; the small cell size; and the destructive nature of electron microscopy preparative techniques preventing the viewing of more than a small percentage of the population at a time. For these reasons, in this investigation, standardization of qualitative electron microscopic techniques was performed prior to their application to granules. Isolation and electron and light microscopic techniques were applied to granules from a fullscale clarigester treating effluent from a maize-processing factory. In addition, a method using montaged transmission electron micrographs (TEMs) taken along a granule radius, and image analysis, was developed for bacterial quantification within granules. This method, together with antibody probe quantification, was applied to granules from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) digester treating a brewery effluent. The clarigester granules contained a metabolically and morphologically diverse population of which many members were not isolated or identified. By contrast, the UASB digester granules consisted primarily of morphotypes resembling Methanothrix, Methanobacterium and Desulfobulbus, in order of predominance. However, only about one-third of the population reacted with antibody probes specific to strains of bacterial species expected to occur within these granules. According to the antibody probe library used, the Methanobacterium-like cells observed in TEMs were probably Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus. From this study it is apparent that different anaerobic digester designs, operational parameters, and the chemical composition of the waste water purified, are factors which influence the formation and maintenance of granules differing with respect to their microbial populations. Until the difficulties associated with quantification are overcome, the processes governing granule formation and/or population selection will remain obscure.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1995.

Submitted in partial fulfillment of academic requirements for the degree of Masters of Technology: Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, 2009.
The primary objective of this project was to establish a screening protocol which could be used to access high strength/toxic effluent for toxicity and degradability prior to being disposed in wastewater treatment works. The serum bottle method (materials and method section) is simple, makes use of small glass vials (125 mℓ-volume were used in this research) which do not require any stirring nor feeding device or other engineered tool: a serum bottle is sealed immediately after all components are poured inside and thereafter conducted in a batch mode and occasionally shaken to ensure adequate homogenisation of the components. The only variables which are regularly measured are the volume of biogas produced and gas composition. The two assays, originally developed by Owen et al. (1979) to address the toxicity and the biodegradability have been combined in a single test called AAT, Anaerobic Activity Test, which enables one to assess simultaneously the inhibitory effect on the methanogenic biomass and the biodegradability of the test material as well as the ability of the biomass to adapt to the test material and therefore to overcome the initial inhibition. The screening protocol is illustrated in Annexure A. The protocol consists of a sequence of assays which employ the serum bottle methodology. A first step of the procedure is aimed at rapidly estimating whether the effluent is potentially toxic to the methanogenic biomass and in what concentration. The second step is a more extensive screening, aimed at precisely characterising the toxicity of the effluent, the extent of biodegradation that can be achieved, as well as at establishing whether a potential for adaptation of the biomass exists upon exposure. If the sample passes the screening stage, the same serum bottle method will be used to conduct a series of batch co-digestion experiments aimed at evaluating a convenient volumetric ratio between the test material and the readily biodegradable substrate. Finally, a laboratory-scale codigestion trial could simulate the full-scale process, thus enabling the selection of appropriate operating conditions for the start-up of the full-scale implementation. This the protocol has been used to assess the amenability to be anaerobically (co)digested of four industrial effluents, i.e. size and distillery effluents which are classified as high strength and scour and synthetic dye effluents classified as toxic. From the biodegradability and toxicity assays the following conclusions were drawn. The size and distillery effluent were found to be ii degradable at 32 g COD/ℓ and 16 g COD /ℓ concentrations respectively. Concentrations higher than these stipulated above were found inhibitory. Scour effluent was found to be recalcitrant at all concentration tested and synthetic dye was 100 % degradable at 0.12 g COD/ℓ and lower and highly inhibitory at concentration higher than 1.1 g COD/ℓ. Co-digestion experiment using serum bottle AAT method were undertaken between effluents i.e. size + distillery, size + scour, distillery + synthetic dye in an attempt to verify whether the digestion performance benefits from simultaneous presence of the two substrates. The volumetric ratios between the effluents were 1:1, 1:2, 2:1. The presence of two mixtures in the case of size and distillery had better methane production compared to individual substrate i.e. size or distillery separate. The mixture with volumetric flow rate ratio of 2:1 (size: distillery) was preferable in terms of process performance as it had highest COD removal compared to the other mixtures /ratios and individual substrates. The mixture of size and scour (2:1) had highest degradation percentage compared to other ratios but not high enough to qualify as degradable (less than 50 %). The mixture of distillery and synthetic dye had the same pattern with ratio of 2:1 giving the best COD conversion. The pattern than can be drawn from the degradability of mixtures is: the degradability of mixtures increase with the increasing amount of the most biodegradable compound/effluent in the mixture. Serum bottle results provided the detailed information regarding the safe operating parameters which should be used during the starting point for the larger scale investigation i.e. lab-scale investigations. The lab scale investigations were conducted primarily to validate screening and monitor how the digestion progresses and also to provide data for future project i.e. pilot plant investigation. Other effluents i.e. scour and synthetic dye and their co-digestion mixture were excluded from the lab-scale investigations since they were found to be non- biodegradable i.e. their COD conversion was less the 50 % in the screening protocol. Due to time constrains and other technical difficulties in the laboratory, the co-digestion of size and distillery mixture trials we not conducted on the laboratory scale. Laboratory-scale digestion trials showed that the best organic loading rate for distillery effluent in terms of reactor performance and stability was 1.0g COD/ℓ with efficiency of about 45 %, and for size was 2.0g COD/ℓ with an efficiency of 40 %. The efficiencies obtained in both effluents trials could be greatly improved by acclimation; however these results showed that the digestion of these effluents on the bigger scale is possible.

Anaerobic digestion is a treatment process applied to organic solid waste and wastewater carried out by microorganisms under anaerobic conditions (without oxygen). In addition to treating wastewater, this process’s main product is biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. On this assumption, it is easy to understand how this biological process can be an asset in the fight against climate change, as it not only produces renewable energy, but also contributes to reducing the negative impacts resulting from the discharge of organic waste into the environment. The main objective of this work was to study the acidogenic and methanogenic anaerobic processes applied to an industrial effluent with low biodegradability and with potentially inhibitory compounds for the production of materials, such as VFAs, and energy (methane), respectively. The effluent under study was the bleaching effluent from the Kraft pulp production process, denominated D0, which contains, among other recalcitrant materials, AOX compounds. The influence of operational parameters in maximization of these products and increasing the aerobic biodegradability of the treated effluent were also analyzed. To study the process of anaerobic digestion of the D0 effluent, two reactors with magnetic and mechanical agitation, and volumes of 1.75 l and 7 l, respectively, operating in the mesophilic temperature range were set up. Four runs were carried out, with different feed pH values: pH 3, 4, 6 and 7. The best results in sCOD and AOX removal efficiencies were obtained at influent pH 4, which removed 58% of the first and 63% of the second, using an HRT of 1.461 days (the lowest used in all operations) and 6 different loads (between 0.419 gCOD l−1 day−1 and 1.282 gCOD l−1 day−1). The production of methane was also better at this feed pH. The aerobic biodegradability of the effluent was improved in all four operations carried out, with the greatest increase also being achieved in the test with pH 4 in the feed (4.5 times increase). Therefore, this pH range in the feed is the most suitable for the treatment of this type of effluent.
A digestão anaeróbia é um processo de tratamento aplicado a resíduos sólidos e efluentes líquidos orgânicos realizado por microrganismos sob condições anaeróbias (sem oxigénio). Para além do tratamento de uma água residual, este processo tem como principal produto o biogás, uma mistura de metano e dióxido de carbono. Neste pressuposto, é fácil de entender como este processo biológico pode ser uma mais-valia no combate às alterações climáticas, por produzir não só energia renovável, como também contribuir para a diminuição dos impactos negativos decorrentes da descarga de resíduos orgânicos no meio ambiente. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os processos anaeróbios acidogénico e metanogénico aplicados a um efluente industrial de baixa biodegradabilidade e com compostos potencialmente inibidores para a produção de materiais, como os AGVs, e energia (metano), respetivamente. O efluente em estudo foi o efluente do 1ºestágio do branqueamento do processo de produção da pasta Kraft, denominado D0, que contém, entre outros materiais recalcitrantes, compostos AOX. A influência dos parâmetros operacionais na maximização destes produtos e no aumento da biodegradabilidade aeróbia do efluente tratado também foi analisada. Para estudar o processo de digestão anaeróbia do efluente D0, foram montados dois reatores, agitados magnética e mecanicamente, e volumes de 1,75 l e 7 l, respetivamente, operando na faixa de temperatura mesofílica. Foram realizadas quatro operações, com diferentes valores de pH na alimentação: pH 3, 4, 6 e 7. Os melhores resultados na eficiência de remoção de sCOD e AOX foram obtidos a pH 4, no qual foram removidos 58% do primeiro e 63% do último, usando um TRH de 1,461 dias (o menor usado em todas as operações) e 6 cargas diferentes (entre 0,419 gCOD l−1 day−1 e 1,282 gCOD l−1 day−1). A produção de metano também foi a melhor neste pH de alimentação. A biodegradabilidade aeróbia do efluente foi melhorada em todas as operações realizadas, tendo o maior aumento sido também alcançado no ensaio com pH 4 na alimentação (aumento de 4, 5 vezes). Assim, esta faixa de pH na alimentação é a mais adequada para o tratamento deste tipo de efluente.
Mestrado em Engenharia do Ambiente

M. Tech. (Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technolog
Textile industry effluents are carcinogenic and highly recalcitrant hence difficult to degrade especially through biological methods. Abattoir effluents are classified under high-strength wastewaters because of their characteristic high organic load hence highly biodegradable. Anaerobic co-digestion is the concept of degrading two effluent streams with complementary characteristics in order to improve the substrate removal rate. The feasibility of co-digesting abattoir and textile wastewater in a UASB reactor was evaluated at mesophilic and ambient temperature conditions. Preliminary experiments were conducted in 500 ml batch reactors to evaluate the optimum abattoir to textile synthetic wastewater ratio. The effect of COD, TVFA, alkalinity and pH on biogas yield was examined at both ambient and mesophilic temperatures. Anaerobic co-digestion of abattoir to textile wastewater in the ratio determined in the batch process was carried out in a 3 L UASB reactor by a continuous process. The continuous biodegradation process was executed at three different HRTs (22, 18 and 14 hrs) over a 60 day operation period. UASB reactor efficiency was achieved at organic loads ranging from 3.0 – 10.8 gCOD L-1 day-1. Continuous mode experiments were carried out at influent flow rates which corresponded to HRTs ranging between 1 to 8 days in order to evaluate the steady state operating parameters for the co-digestion process. The abattoir to textile effluent ratio was found to be 60:40 respectively. The COD, TVFA, alkalinity and pH and biogas yield followed a similar pattern over time at both mesophilic and ambient temperature conditions. Experimental data adequately fit the Grau first order kinetic model and average COD removal efficiencies of 85% and BOD5 of around 96% were achieved. The average biogas yield remained essentially constant, around 0.19 L/g CODremoved. The co-digested mixture was found to be biodegradable judging from the BOD:COD ratio of 0.53. TCOD removal efficiency decreased from 93% to 16% as HRT decreased from 8 days to 1 day. The kinetics of a UASB reactor co-digesting the mixture of synthetic abattoir and textile wastewater was evaluated in this study using Grau second order multicomponent substrate removal kinetic model. The Grau second order kinetic model, whose kinetic coefficient (ks) was 0.389, was found to be suitable for predicting the performance of a lab-scale UASB reactor.