Craft Brewery Wastewater Treatment: a Fixed-Bed Single-Batch Reactor with Intermittent Aeration to Remove COD and TN

Abstract This study evaluated an intermittently aerated, fixed-bed, single-batch reactor, with mini BioBob© as biofilm media support, as an alternative treatment of craft brewery wastewater. In order to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN), seven conditions were performed in a central composite experimental design (CCD) with different aeration times (1, 2 and 3 h in a 4 h cycle) and hydraulic retention times (HRT) (12, 16 and 20 h). The results showed that the removal of COD and TN were positively affected by increased aeration time and HRT. The condition that presented the best quality effluent was Condition No. 1 (20 h HRT and 3 h aeration), with 209 ± 28 mg COD L-1; 3.00 ± 0.15 mg TKN L-1 ; and 0.67 ± 0.11 mg NO3-N L-1. Kinetic assays showed that the highest values for the substrate removal rate constant, kCOD = 0.1774 h-1 were obtained with the longest aeration time (3 h). The most probable number (MPN) test showed a higher concentration of denitrifying bacteria (heterotrophic), 3.3 x 106, than for AOB and NOB bacteria (autotrophic), which were 4.9 x 103 and 2.7 x 103, respectively. Moreover, it was possible to verify that correcting the influent alkalinity with 7.14 mg CaCO3 for each 1 mg of TKN resulted in better process efficiency. It was concluded that COD and TN can be removed from craft brewery wastewater using an intermittently aerated, fixed-bed, single-batch reactor with mini Biobob© as biofilm media support.

Production of Propionic Acid by Propionibacterium acidipropionici from Agroindustrial Effluents

Abstract The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the production of propionic acid from the fermentation of agroindustrial effluents using a Propionibacterium acidipropionici culture. The composition of the substrates was determined by using an experimental design of mixtures, resulting in 10 trials. The substrates were fermented in batch borosilicate glass reactors at a temperature of 35°C, initial pH of 6.5, and 20 mL.L-1 of inoculum suspension. The highest yield of propionic acid production, 0.79 g of product per g of substrate, was obtained with a substrate composed only of corn steep liquor, which showed a productivity of 5.20 mg.L-1h-1 and production of 0.40mL.L-1. These results showed that the corn steep liquor positively influenced performance and productivity. Although the production of acid did not reach high values, the results indicate that it is possible to produce propionic acid by a biotechnological route; however, further studies are required to adapt and optimise these results.

Characterisation of Cassava Bagasse and Composites Prepared by Blending with Low-Density Polyethylene

The main objective of this study was to characterise the cassava bagasse and to evaluate its addition in composites. Two cassava bagasse samples were characterised using physicochemical, thermal and microscopic techniques, and by obtaining their spectra in the mid-infrared region and analysing them by using x-ray diffraction. Utilising sorption isotherms, it was possible to establish the acceptable conditions of temperature and relative humidity for the storage of the cassava bagasse. The incorporation of cassava bagasse in a low-density polyethylene (LDP) matrix was positive, increasing the elasticity modulus values from 131.90 for LDP to 186.2 for 70% LDP with 30% SP bagasse. These results were encouraging because cassava bagasse could serve as a structural reinforcement, as well as having environmental advantages for its application in packaging, construction and automotive parts.

Maize (Zea Mays L) landraces from the southern region of Brazil: contamination by Fusarium sp, zearalenone, physical and mechanical characteristics of the kernels

This work had as objectives the study of the physical and mechanical characteristics of maize kernels in relation to the contamination by Fusarium sp and by zearalenone in twenty landraces of maize from the southern region of Brazil. From the analyzed samples, 60 percent has been considered to have a hard endosperm type and 40 percent an intermediary one. A correlation between the physical and mechanical variables was observed as an indication that the higher is the proportion of hard endosperm, more dense will be the kernel and more force for its rupture will be necessary. The level of contamination by Fusarium sp was between 5.5 and 24.75 percent among the analyzed grains, correlating positively with the flotation index, indicating that the landraces of maize with a softer endosperm can present a higher contamination by this genus. The presence of zearalenone was verified in 75 percent of the samples, in concentrations varying from 50 to 640 µg kg-1.

Este trabalho teve por objetivos verificar as características físicas, mecânicas, contaminação por Fusarium sp e por zearalenona e suas relações, em vinte variedades crioulas de milho da região sul do Brasil. Verificou-se que das amostras analisadas, 60 por cento foram consideradas como possuidoras de endosperma do tipo duro e 40 por cento com endosperma do tipo intermediário. As variáveis físicas e mecânicas se correlacionaram, indicando que quanto maior a proporção de endosperma vítreo, mais denso e maior a força necessária até a ruptura do grão. A contaminação por Fusarium sp esteve entre 5,5 por cento e 24,75 por cento nos grãos analisados, correlacionando-se positivamente com o índice de flotação, indicando que as variedades crioulas de milho com uma maior proporção de endosperma macio podem apresentar uma maior contaminação por Fusarium sp, sugerindo-se a utilização de variedades crioulas com a textura do endosperma predominantemente vítrea. A presença de zearalenona foi verificada em 75 por cento das amostras, em concentrações que variaram de 50 a 640 µg kg-1.

Effect of temperature on two-phase anaerobic reactors treating slaughterhouse wastewater

The effectiveness of the anaerobic treatment of effluent from a swine and bovine slaughterhouse was assessed in two sets of two-phase anaerobic digesters, operated with or without temperature control. Set A, consisting of an acidogenic reactor with recirculation and an upflow biological filter as the methanogenic phase, was operated at room temperature, while set B, consisting of an acidogenic reactor without recirculation and an upflow biological filter as the methanogenic phase, was maintained at 32°C. The methanogenic reactors showed COD (Chemical Demand of Oxygen) removal above 60 percent for HRT (Hydraulic Retention Time) values of 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 4, and 2 days. When the HRT value in those reactors was changed to 1 day, the COD percentage removal decreased to 50 percent. The temperature variations did not have harmful effects on the performance of reactors in set A.

Avaliou-se a eficiência do tratamento anaeróbio de efluente de matadouro de suínos e bovinos em dois conjuntos de biodigestores anaeróbios de duas fases, operados com e sem controle de temperatura. O conjunto A, formado por um reator acidogênico com recirculação e um filtro biológico de fluxo ascendente, foi operado a temperatura ambiente e o conjunto B, formado por um reator de fluxo ascendente e um filtro biológico de fluxo ascendente, foi mantido a 32°C. Os reatores metanogênicos apresentaram remoção de DQO acima de 60 por cento para os TRHs de 20, 15, 10, oito, seis, quatro e dois dias. Quando o TRH destes reatores foi mudado para um dia observou-se uma queda da porcentagem de remoção de DQO para 50 por cento. As variações de temperatura parecem não ter prejudicado o desempenho dos reatores do conjunto A.