Removal of organic matter and nitrogen from dairy effluents in a structured bed reactor operated with intermittent aeration.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the performance of a structured bed reactor (SBRIA), carried out with intermittent aeration (IA), in the removal of organic matter and nitrogen from dairy effluent, when run with different organic loading rates (OLR). The SBRIA was operated for 227 days, with 2:1 AI cycles (2 h with aeration on and 1 h off) and Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 16 h. Three phases, with different OLR, were evaluated: phases A (1000 gCOD m-3 day-1 - 63 days), B (1400 gCOD m-3 day-1 - 94 days), and C (1800 gCOD m-3 day-1 - 70 days). The percentage of COD, NH4+-N removal, and nitrogen removal, respectively, were above 85 ± 7%, 73 ± 27%, and 83 ± 5, in all phases. There was no accumulation of the oxidized forms of nitrogen in the reactor. The kinetic test, performed to evaluate the nitrification and denitrification in the system, indicated that even in dissolved oxygen concentrations of 4.5 mg L-1, it was possible to obtain the denitrification process in the system. The results demonstrate that the reactor under study has positive characteristics to be used as an alternative for removing the removal of organic material and nitrogen in the biological treatment of dairy effluents.

Aeration and non-aeration cycles (AE/NA) time: influence in combined organic matter and nitrogen removal and features of biofilm.

This research aimed the performance evaluation of a structured bed reactor with different cycles of Intermittent Aeration (IA)(SBRRIA) in the municipal sewage treatment and the verification of the effect of IA cycles on the total nitrogen (TN) removal and organic matter (COD). Three IA cycles were evaluated: phase I (4 h AE (aeration on) - 2 h NA (aeration off)); II (2 h AE-1 h NA) and III (2 h AE-2 h NA), with Hydraulic Retention Time of 16 h. The best nitrogen removal was obtained during phase II, with the lowest non-aeration time: efficiency of nitrification, denitrification, TN and COD removal of 80 ± 15%, 82 ± 12%, 67 ± 6% and 94 ± 7%, respectively. The mean cell residence time was 19, 26 and 33 d in phases I, II and III, respectively. The statistical analysis applied to the AE/NA profiles showed that the time of AE and NA in the cycles did not influence nitrogen and organic matter removal. Thus, this indicates the recirculation and the gradient formed in the support material facilitate the process of Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification. The lowest concentration of nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms was obtained in effluent and sludge at the end of phase III. From the TP (Total Proteins)/TPS (Total Polysaccharides) ratio obtained (0.8 ± 0.1, 1.3 ± 0.1 e 1.5 ± 0.1 in phases I, II and III), it was possible to conclude that the biofilm in phase I was more porous, with a thin layer if compared to that in phase II and III.

Monitoring of the process of waste landfill leachate diffusion in clay and sandy soil.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the interaction of landfill leachate of urban solid waste in clayey (CL) and sandy soils (SL) in order to determine physical and chemical parameters that can be used as indicators of soil contamination when there are faults in the landfill waterproofing. In the diffusion tests, compacted soil samples were placed in contact with leachate (methanogenic phase). The temporal analysis (200 days) considered the parameters pH, electrical conductivity (EC), alkalinity, nitrogen series, chemical oxygen demand (COD), solids and color for the leachate and pH, ΔpH, EC, total nitrogen (TN), chemical elements, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) for the soils. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed to results. It was observed that the studied soils have potential to attenuate chemicals present in the leachate; this indicates the possibility of using them as base in landfills. Correlation analysis and PCA carried out to CL showed that in a process of CL monitoring the pH would be the key parameter to indicate contamination of this soil, due to the high correlation of this parameter with the others analyzed. For the SL, the parameters pH, alkalinity, apparent color, and COD (total and filtered) could be used as indicators of contamination. In both soils, monitoring of concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, SB, V, and CTC can be used to indicate possible faults in the waterproofing system of the landfill.

Removal of COD and nitrogen from animal food plant wastewater in an intermittently-aerated structured-bed reactor.

This study evaluated the performance of a continuous flow structured-bed reactor in the simultaneous removal of total nitrogen (TN) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the effluent from an animal food plant. The reactor had an intermittent aeration system; hydraulic retention time (HRT) of one day; temperature of 30 °C; and recirculation ratio of five times the flow. An experimental central composite rotational delineation (CCRD) type design was used to define the aeration conditions and nitrogen load (factors) to be studied. Response surface methodology was used to analyse the influence of the factors above the results, the removal of TN and COD. It was observed that the aeration factor showed the greatest significance for the results and that the affluent TKN concentration did not have a significant effect, at a 95% level of confidence, on COD removal. Throughout the experiment, the COD/N ratio remained between 3.2 and 3.8. The best results for COD and TN removal, 80% and 88%, respectively, were obtained with 158 min of aeration on a cycle of 180 min and 255 mg L(-1) of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) in the substrate.

Geophysical technique and groundwater monitoring to detect leachate contamination in the surrounding area of a landfill--Londrina (PR--Brazil).

The aim of the present study was to define leachate plume by using two techniques: geophysical and groundwater sampling in order to evaluate groundwater contamination. After performing a topographic survey and using geophysics, the leachate plume was identified. With this data, the wells for groundwater monitoring were located. Groundwater samples were analyzed for: COD, BOD, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, TKN and heavy metals. Through the electroresistivity method it was possible to define the shape of plume contamination. This method was important to locate the groundwater monitoring wells. The results of the physicochemical parameters showed the suitability of the geophysical study. The highest values of electric conductivity and alkalinity correspond to the wells located in the area interpreted as contaminated by leachate in the map of the resistivity. Even with seasonal variations, BOD values are low if compared to Brazilian environmental regulations, but COD values are higher up to 40 times the values of BOD. The concentrations of Ni, Zn, Cd and Cu in the groundwater are below the limits established by the potable water quality standards in Brazil, except for Pb whose concentration in groundwater were higher if compared to Brazilian legislation.