Hybrid electrolysis and membranes system for apple packing houses water treatment.

The apple industry uses high flows of potable quality water to transport and clean the apple, which is regularly contaminated. Thus, it is necessary to implement an efficient water treatment system during the industrial process, providing reductions in the intake and release flows. A hybrid system was developed by applying the electrolytic treatment by electrocoagulation using a batch process (Step 1) and a continuous process (Step 2), followed by a microfiltration membrane separation (MSP) process (Step 3). The optimal conditions for removal of organic matter, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, color, and fungi obtained in Step 1 were a hydraulic detention time of 40 min, stirring at 40 rpm, current density of 20 A/m2, pH of 8.00, and temperature of 10 °C. These findings led to a successful implementation in Step 2, which evolved into Step 3, where tests in the combined continuous electrolytic reactor together with MSP showed significant removal rates, notably reaching up to 54% organic matter (OM) removal, 72% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, 83% TSS removal, 92% haze and color removal, and 100% mildew removal. The hybrid system proved to be a promising alternative for implementation in the processing industry, minimizing environmental impacts and costs.

Effects of harvesting Spirulina platensis biomass using coagulants and electrocoagulation-flotation on enzymatic hydrolysis.

This study aimed to assess the harvesting of Spirulina platensis using coagulants and electrocoagulation-flotation (ECF) and to evaluate its influence on enzymatic hydrolysis. Using nine chemical coagulants, we obtained a biomass harvesting efficiency of up to 99.5%. Using ECF, the harvesting efficiency at the aluminum and carbon electrode was 98%-99% and 33.8%-86.9%, respectively. Hydrolysis efficiency (HE) with amylases varied from 17% to 42%, and the degree of hydrolysis (DH) with proteases varied from 1.26% to 4.07%, compared with an HE of 31% and a DH of 3.57% in the centrifuged biomass. Compared to an HE of 61.75% for the centrifuged biomass, and HE of 99% and 85.46% was obtained for the biomass harvested using the aluminum and carbon electrodes. The HEs with the electrodes were better than those with the alternative methods and centrifugation; hence, with some optimization, the biomass harvested could be used for enzymatic hydrolysis.

Remocao de demanda quimica de oxigenio e nitrogenio total Kjeldahl de efluente de industria de vegetais congelados por Reator em Batelada Sequencial / Chemical Oxygen Demand and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen removal of frozen vegetables industry wastewater by Sequential Batch Reactor

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o tratamento biológico de efluente de indústria de vegetais congelados em Reator em Batelada Sequencial (RBS), verificando o efeito da concentração de Sólidos Suspensos Voláteis (SSV), Demanda Química de Oxigênio inicial (DQOi) e aeração na remoção biológica de carbono e nitrogênio, a fim de obter um efluente tratado que atenda aos padrões de lançamento recomendados pela legislação ambiental brasileira. Nesta pesquisa, o tratamento dos efluentes foi feito em um RBS, utilizando concentração de SSV variando entre 2000 mg.L-1 e 4000 mg.L-1, DQOi variando entre 300 mg.L-1 e 600 mg.L-1, e quantidade de aeração variando entre 3 L.min-1 e 6 L.min-1. Os resultados mostram que a maior eficiência de remoção para DQO foi de 88%, e para nitrogênio total Kjeldahl (NTK) foi de 74,9%. As condições otimizadas para remoção de DQO e NTK do efluente estudado foram: DQO inicial de 600 mg.L-1, aeração de 4,5 L.min-1 e concentração de SSV de 2000 mg.L-1 .

The objective of this work was to study the biological wastewater treatment from frozen vegetables industry in sequential batch reactor (SBR), verifying the effect of the volatile suspended solids (VSS) concentration, initial Chemical Oxygen Demand (iCOD) and aeration to remove organic carbon and nitrogen in order to obtain a treated wastewater that meets discharge standards recommended by the Brazilian environmental legislation. In this study, the treatment of wastewaters was done in an SBR using VSS concentration ranging from 2000 mg L-1 and 4000 mg.L-1, iCOD ranging from 300 mg.L-1 and 600 mg.L-1, and aeration ranging between 3 L.min-1 and 6 L.min-1. The results show that the major removal efficiency for COD was 88%, and for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) was 74,9%. The optimized conditions for COD and TKN removal of the studied wastewater were: initial COD of 600 mg.L-1, aeration of 4.5 L.min-1 and VSS concentration of 2000 mg.L-1 .

Chromium (VI) biosorption and removal of chemical oxygen demand by Spirulina platensis from wastewater-supplemented culture medium.

The inappropriate discharge of wastewater containing high concentrations of toxic metals is a serious threat to the environment. Given that the microalga Spirulina platensis has demonstrated a capacity for chromium VI (Cr (VI) biosorption, we assessed the ideal concentration of chromium-containing wastewater required for maximum removal of Cr (VI) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from the environment by using this microalga. The Paracas and Leb-52 strains of S. platensis, with initial wastewater concentrations of 0%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%, were cultured in Zarrouk medium diluted to 50% under controlled air, temperature, and lighting conditions. The cultures were maintained for 28 days, and pH, biomass growth, COD, and Cr (VI) were assessed. The wastewater concentration influenced microalgal growth, especially at high concentrations. Removal of 82.19% COD and 60.92% Cr (VI) was obtained, but the COD removal was greater than the Cr (VI) removal in both strains of S. platensis.