Nitrogen and phosphorus distribution in a constructed wetland fed with treated swine slurry from an anaerobic lagoon.

Nitrogen and phosphorus distribution in a constructed wetland fed with treated swine slurry from an anaerobic lagoon were studied. The methodology considered a daily meteorological monitoring site. During 2011 to 2012, water, soil and plants (Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Méyer) Sójak, Typha angustifolia (L.)) were seasonally sampled (spring and fall) into the constructed wetland. During study period, results showed that rainfall was the main factor of maintenance hydraulic conditions, while evapotranspiration was driver of variations in water storage level. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from the water phase were up to 54% and 37%, respectively. Onto soil were adsorbed over 70% nitrogen and 65% phosphorus. Phosphorus was less mobile than nitrogen, since it was bound to oxides Fe-Mn. Inorganic nitrogen species were affected by level water and seasonal vegetable maturation. During spring, N-NH4(+) was the predominant soil species, while in the fall, N-NO3(-) was dominant near the belowground part of Sc and NH4(+) near to the belowground zone of Ta. In addition, nutrients uptake was less than 30% with 64% aboveground-spring and 85% belowground-fall for both plants. Findings showed nitrification process evidences when water levels are below 0.1 m.

Sequential nitrification-denitrification process for nitrogenous, sulfurous and phenolic compounds removal in the same bioreactor.

The kinetic and metabolic behavior of an aerobic granular sludge to nitrify, denitrify and nitrify-denitrify was evaluated in batch cultures. In nitrification control, ammonium, 4-methylphenol and sulfide were consumed efficiently (∼100%) and recovered as NO3(-), CO2, S(0) and SO4(2-), respectively. In denitrification control, S(0) and nitrate were efficiently consumed and recovered as SO4(2-) and N2, respectively. Sequential nitrification-denitrification process was evaluated by applying oxic/anoxic conditions. Ammonium, 4-methylphenol and sulfide were oxidized to nitrate, CO2 and mainly S(0), respectively, under aerobic conditions. After that, anoxic conditions were established where S(0) reduced all nitrate to N2, with molecular nitrogen yield (YN2) of 1.03 ± 0.06 mg/mg NH4(+)-N consumed. This is the first study to show the capability of an aerobic granular sludge in simultaneous removal of ammonium, 4-methylphenol and sulfide by sequential nitrification-denitrification process in the same bioreactor.

Ion-exchange resins in the isolation of nitrogen compounds from petroleum residues.

In this work, preparative liquid chromatography was used for the separation of the nitrogen compounds in a sample of heavy gas oil from a Brazilian petroleum. Initially it took place a pre-fractionation by neutral aluminium oxide and the compounds were separated in different classes such as: hydrocarbons, resins (compounds of low molecular mass and intermediate polarity) and asphalthenes (polar compounds with high molecular mass). A comparison of the fraction of resins was performed by re-fractionating with modified silica (with potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid), or with ion exchange resins (Amberlyst A-27 and A-15), being isolated the basic and neutral compounds, that were analyzed by GC-MS in the scan and selected ion monitoring modes. Quinolines, benzoquinolines, tetrahydroquinolines were found in the basic fraction and carbazoles derivatives were found in the neutral fraction.