Effect of inoculum composition on the microbial community involved in the anaerobic digestion of sugarcane bagasse.

In anaerobic digestion (AD), the choice of inoculum type seems to be relevant for methane production for complex substrates, such as lignocellulosic material. Previous work demonstrated that the addition of fresh manure and ruminal fluid to anaerobic sludge improved methane productivity and kinetics of AD of crude sugarcane bagasse (CSB). Considering that the improvement of methane production could be a result of a more adapted microbial community, the present study performed the Next Generation Sequencing analysis to identify changes in the microbiome of anaerobic sludge inoculum, resulting from fresh manure and ruminal fluid addition. In comparison with AD performed only with anaerobic sludge inoculum (50:50, U), accumulated methane production was 15% higher with anaerobic sludge plus ruminal fluid inoculum (50:50, UR) and even higher (68%) with anaerobic sludge with fresh bovine manure inoculum (50:50, UFM), reaching the value of 143 NmLCH4.gVS-1. Clostridium species were highly abundant in all inocula, playing an important role during the hydrolysis and fermentation of CSB, and detoxifying potential inhibitors. Microbial composition also revealed the occurrence of Pseudomonas and Anaerobaculum at UFM inoculum that seem to have contributed to the higher methane production rate, mainly due to their hydrolytic and fermentative ability on lignocellulosic substrates. On the other hand, the presence of Alcaligenes might have had a negative effect on methane production due to their ability to perform methane oxidation.

Investigação de cafeína, Genfibrozila, Bezafibrato, Metformina, Prometazina e Loratadina em águas de sistema de abastecimento público / Investigation of caffeine, Gemfibrozil, Bezafibrate, Metformine, Prometazine, and Loratadine in waters of public supply systems

RESUMO O presente estudo teve por objetivo investigar a presença dos fármacos Cafeína, Genfibrozila, Bezafibrato, Metformina, Prometazina e Loratadina em manancial superficial e em água para consumo. Para determinar a ocorrência desses fármacos, foram realizadas seis campanhas amostrais durante o período chuvoso e seis durante o período seco, em três pontos de coleta localizados no Complexo Bolonha, cidade de Belém, região Norte do Brasil: reservatório Bolonha (captação) e estação de tratamento de água Bolonha (câmara de água filtrada e reservatório de água tratada). Para a avaliação das remoções dos fármacos nas etapas de filtração e desinfecção (com gás cloro) foram calculadas as eficiências de cada um desses processos e foi avaliada a remoção ao fim do tratamento. Como esperado, a água bruta apresentou maiores concentrações de fármacos do que a água tratada. As concentrações dos reguladores lipídicos Bezafibrato e Genfibrozila variaram de 11,4 a 1364,9 ng·L-1 na água bruta e de 15,7 a 435,9 ng·L-1 na água tratada. Já o antialérgico Loratadina foi o fármaco com maior frequência de ocorrência, e sua concentração variou de 15,7 a 45,0 ng·L-1 na água bruta e de 15,2 a 24,3 ng·L-1 na água tratada. Os resultados indicam a influência antrópica que o reservatório e a estação de tratamento de água vêm sofrendo e mostram que o tratamento de ciclo completo utilizado na estação de tratamento de água Bolonha não foi eficiente para a remoção completa dos compostos de preocupação emergente investigados. As remoções médias anuais foram de 5% para Genfibrozila, 26% para Loratadina e 52% para Bezafibrato, sendo a cloração particularmente importante para a remoção de Genfibrozila e Cafeína.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of the drugs Caffeine, Gemfibrozil, Bezafibrate, Metformin, Promethazine, and Loratadine in water supply and water for human consumption. To determine the occurrence of drugs, six sampling campaigns were carried out during the rainy season and six during the dry season, at three collection points located in the Bolonha Complex, Belém city, Northern Brazil: Bolonha reservoir (catchment) and Bolonha filtered water chamber and treated water reservoir. To evaluate the removal of drugs in the filtration and disinfection stages, the efficiencies of each of these processes were calculated, in addition to the removal evaluation at the end of the treatment. The raw water was the one with the highest concentrations of drugs, while the treated water had lower concentrations. The concentrations of lipid regulators Bezafibrate and Gemfibrozil ranged from 11.4 to 1,364.9 ng·L-1 in raw water and from 15.7 to 435.9 ng·L-1 in treated water. The antiallergic Loratadine was the drug with the highest frequency of occurrence whose concentration ranged from 15.7 to 45.0 ng·L-1 in raw water and from 15.2 to 24.3 ng·L-1 in treated water. The results indicate the anthropic influence that the reservoir and the filtered water chamber and treated water reservoir have been suffering and show that the full cycle treatment used in Bolonha filtered water chamber and treated water reservoir was not efficient for the complete removal of the compounds of emerging concern investigated. The average annual removals were, respectively, 5% for Gemfibrozil, 26% for Loratadine, and 52% for Bezafibrate. The chlorination step seemed to be particularly important for the removal of Gemfibrozil and Caffeine.

Methane production by co-digestion of poultry manure and lignocellulosic biomass: Kinetic and energy assessment.

Six typical Brazilian lignocellulosic biomasses (rice straw, corn cob, peanut shell, sawdust, coffee husk and sugarcane bagasse) were evaluated for methane production by solid-state anaerobic co-digestion with poultry manure. The results showed the highest methane production was obtained with corn cob and poultry manure (126.02 Nm3 CH4. ton residue-1) using a food to inoculum ratio of 0.5, which lowered volatile fatty acids accumulation. In this condition, the thermal energy production (1.73 MJ.kg live chicken-1) would be able to replace 53.2% of the energy with firewood in poultry farming. The high hemicellulose and low lignin content in corn cob seem to explain the biomethanation of such biomass, and this agrees with the microbial analysis which revealed the predominance of bacteria related to plant polysaccharides hydrolysis and carbohydrate conversion in the inoculum. The methane production was best modelled by Groot's multi-stage model, and the microbial adaptation to lignin might explain this.

Evaluation of a Combined System Based on an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB) and Shallow Polishing Pond (SPP) for Textile Effluent Treatment

Abstract Color removal from textile effluents was evaluated using a laboratory-combined process based on an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor followed by a shallow polishing pond (SPP). The anaerobic reactor was fed with a real textile effluent, diluted 10-times in a 350 mg/L solution of pre-treated residual yeast extract from a brewery industry as nutrient source. The parameters color, COD, N-NH3 and toxicity were monitored throughout 45 days of operation. According to the results, decolorization and COD removal were highest in the anaerobic step, whereas the effluent was polished in the SPP unit. The overall efficiency of the complete UASB-SPP system for COD and color were 88 and 62%, respectively. Moreover, the N-NH3 generated by the residual yeast extract ammonification was below 5 mg/L for the final effluent. Finally, no toxicity was detected after the treatment steps, as shown by the Vibrio fischeri microscale assay.

Use of anaerobic co-digestion as an alternative to add value to sugarcane biorefinery wastes.

In this study the anaerobic co-digestion (AcD) of sugarcane biorefinery by-products, i.e. hemicelluloses hydrolysate (HH) (obtained by hydrothermal pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse), vinasse, yeast extract (YE) and sugarcane bagasse fly ashes (SBFA), was optimized by means of biochemical methane potential experiments. The best experimental conditions of AcD (25-75% HH-to-vinasse mixture ratio; 1.0 g L-1 YE; 15 g L-1 SBFA and 100-0% HH-to-Vinasse; 1.5 g L-1 YE; 45 g L-1 SBFA) led to the production of 0.279 and 0.267 Nm3 of CH4 per kg of chemical oxygen demand (COD) with an energy surplus of 0.43 and 0.34 MJ kg SB-1, respectively. Adsorption experiments using SBFA were carried out and showed this residue could adsorb up to 61.71 and 17.32 mg g-1 of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde and 2-furfuraldehyde, thereby reducing toxicity and improving biogas production.

Ocorrência de fármacos e desreguladores endócrinos em esgoto bruto e tratado na cidade de Belo Horizonte (MG) / Occurrence of drugs and endocrine disrupters in raw and treatment sewage in the city of Belo Horizonte / MG, Brazil

RESUMO Os compostos de preocupação emergente (contaminants of emerging concern - CECs) atingem constantemente os corpos d'água via lançamento de esgoto sanitário, efluentes industriais e lixiviados de aterro, disposição inadequada de resíduos sólidos e escoamento superficial, ocasionando a poluição dos cursos d'água. Geralmente estes se encontram em concentrações da ordem de nanograma por litro ou micrograma por litro, dificultando sua análise ou onerando esse processo, demandando, assim, o desenvolvimento de técnicas de preparo e extração. Nesse contexto, destaca-se a Partição a Baixa Temperatura (EPBT), que se baseia na partição do analito de interesse entre fase aquosa e fase orgânica. Face ao exposto e à relevância do tema, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, pelo uso da EPBT e cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas, a ocorrência de 16 CECs no esgoto bruto e no tratado de Belo Horizonte (MG).

ABSTRACT Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) constantly reach water bodies through the discharge of sanitary sewage, industrial effluents and landfill leachate, inadequate disposal of solid waste and surface runoff, causing the pollution of watercourses. In general, these are in concentrations of the order of mg / L or ng / L, making it difficult to analyze or burden this process, thus requiring the development of preparation and extraction techniques. In this context, it stands out the Low Temperature Patitioning Extraction (LTPE), which is based on the partition of the analyte of interest between aqueous phase and organic phase. Bearing this and the relevance of the subject in mind, the present work had the objective of evaluating the occurrence of 16 CECs in the crude and treated sewage of Belo Horizonte / MG, by using LTPE and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Production of biogas (methane and hydrogen) from anaerobic digestion of hemicellulosic hydrolysate generated in the oxidative pretreatment of coffee husks.

Ozone pretreatment of coffee husks (CH) was evaluated to generate hydrolysates for biogas production and to preserve cellulose of the solid phase for 2G ethanol production. Pretreatment variables included liquid-to-solid ratio (LSR), pH and specific applied ozone load (SAOL). Considering single-stage anaerobic digestion (AD), the highest methane production (36 NmL CH4/g CH) was achieved with the hydrolysate generated in the experiment using LSR 10 mL/g, pH 11 and SAOL 18.5 mg O3/g CH, leading to 0.064 kJ/g CH energy recovery. Due to the presence of toxic compounds in the hydrolysate, the addition of powdered activated carbon (4 g/L) to the reactor enhanced biogas production, leading to 86 NmL CH4/g CH yield and 0.58 kJ/g CH energy recovery. When two-stage AD was applied, methane production resulted in 49 NmL CH4/g CH, with additional 19 NmL H2/g CH production, resulting in a net 0.26 kJ/g CH energy recovery.

Fármacos e desreguladores endócrinos em águas brasileiras: ocorrência e técnicas de remoção / Pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds in Brazilian waters: occurrence and removal techniques

RESUMO As ações antrópicas têm fomentado a presença de diversos microcontaminantes nos corpos d'água. Desses, mais recentemente, os fármacos e os desreguladores endócrinos têm chamado a atenção da comunidade científica acerca da crescente exposição dos corpos d'água a esses fármacos e desreguladores. As fontes de contaminação englobam produtos de limpeza e higiene pessoal, fármacos de diversas classes, hormônios naturais e seus subprodutos, além de diversas substâncias aplicadas na produção de plásticos e resinas, presentes nos esgotos sanitários, lixiviados de aterro e efluentes industriais. Nessa perspectiva, o artigo presta-se a compilar os dados de ocorrências desses microcontaminantes em águas brasileiras naturais e tratadas assim, como a discutir a eficiência de diferentes técnicas de tratamento de água na remoção de tais contaminantes.

ABSTRACT The human activities have increased the presence of several microcontaminants in water bodies. Of these, more recently, drugs and endocrine disrupters have called the attention of the scientific community due to their increasing exposure. The sources of contamination include cleaning and personal hygiene products, various classes of drugs, natural hormones and their by-products, as well as several substances applied to the production of plastics and resins, present in sewage, landfill leachate and industrial effluents. In this perspective, this paper aims to compile the data of microcontaminants occurrence in Brazilian natural and treated waters, as well as to discuss the efficiency of different water treatment techniques to remove such compounds.

Hierarquização da eficiência de remoção de cianotoxinas por meio de adsorção em carvão ativado granular / Evaluation of hierarchy of cyanotoxin removal by adsorption onto granular activated carbon

RESUMO O trabalho objetivou avaliar a remoção concomitante de duas cianotoxinas - microcistina-LR e saxitoxina-STX - por meio da adsorção em carvão ativado granular. Em primeira etapa, três carvões de granulometrias distintas, dois de coco de dendê e um mineral, foram avaliados na adsorção de microcistina-LR em água destilada e tratada com concentrações de 3,9 a 9,4 ug.L-1. O carvão de coco de dendê de menor granulometria apresentou desempenho mais uniforme, tanto no que tange à remoção (%) de microcistina-LR, quanto ao volume de efluente produzido consoante com as recomendações do padrão de potabilidade brasileiro. Em segunda etapa, apenas para o carvão selecionado na etapa precedente, concentrações de microcistina-LR e saxitoxina-STX aproximadamente 50% superiores dos limites do mesmo padrão de potabilidade foram dispersas em água destilada. Tais ensaios de adsorção evidenciaram que apenas a adsorção de saxitonina não foi influenciada pela simultaneidade das duas cianotoxinas.

ABSTRACT This study focused on the simultaneous removal of two cyanotoxins - microcystin-LR and saxitoxin-STX - by means of adsorption onto granular activated carbon. In first step, three carbons with different granulometry (dende coconut and mineral) were evaluated on adsorption of microcystin-LR in distilled and treated waters in concentrations at about 3.9 to 9.4 ug.L-1. The dende coconut carbon with lower granulometry showed higher performance according to the limits established by Brazilian Drinking Water Standards. In second step, with the selected carbon in previous step, concentrations of the two cyanotoxins 50% higher than those limits were dispersed in distilled water. The tests pointed out that only saxitoxin-STX removal was not affect by the presence both cyanotoxins.

Behavior of pharmaceuticals in UV photoreactors fed with sewage treated by anaerobic/aerobic system.

This work has assessed the seasonal changes and the dynamics in the concentration of six pharmaceutical compounds during photolysis as a tertiary treatment of sewage previously treated by an anaerobic/aerobic system comprising a UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor and a trickling filter (TF). The target compounds were four antibiotics (ciprofloxacin (CPF), clindamycin (CLM), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and trimetoprim), one ß-blocker (atenolol), and one anti-inflammatory (diclofenac (DCF)). Six hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were evaluated (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 min) with the intent of varying the ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation doses applied to the effluent from biological treatment containing the target contaminants. The concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds in the effluent of the UASB/TF system were in agreement with the concentration levels reported in the literature. Aside from DCF, the seasonality seems to be a preponderant characteristic regarding the pharmaceutical concentration found in the effluent of biological treatment systems. The radiation dose of 117 mJ cm-2 seemed to be most suited for the photolysis application to tertiary treatment of domestic effluents. It was observed that lower UVC doses led to deconjugation of pharmaceuticals, which can result in increased concentrations of target pollutants in the photoreactor effluent.

Evaluation of hydrogen and methane production from sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysates by two-stage anaerobic digestion process.

This study aimed at optimizing the net energy recovery from hydrogen and methane production through anaerobic digestion of the hemicellulose hydrolysate (HH) obtained by desirable conditions (DC) of autohydrolysis pretreatment (AH) of sugarcane bagasse (SB). Anaerobic digestion was carried out in a two-stage (acidogenic-methanogenic) batch system where the acidogenic phase worked as a hydrolysis and biodetoxification step. This allowed the utilization of more severe AH pretreatment conditions, i.e. T=178.6°C and t=55min (DC3) and T=182.9°C and t=40.71min (DC4). Such severe conditions resulted in higher extraction of hemicelluloses from SB (DC1=68.07%, DC2=48.99%, DC3=77.40% and DC4=73.90%), which consequently improved the net energy balance of the proposed process. The estimated energy from the combustion of both biogases (H2 and CH4) accumulated during the two-stage anaerobic digestion of HH generated by DC4 condition was capable of producing a net energy of 3.15MJ·kgSB(-1)dry weight.

Optimization of sugarcane bagasse autohydrolysis for methane production from hemicellulose hydrolyzates in a biorefinery concept.

This study aimed to optimize through design of experiments, the process variables (temperature - T, time - t and solid-to-liquid ratio - SLR) for sugarcane bagasse (SB) autohydrolysis (AH) to obtain hemicellulose hydrolyzates (HH) prone to anaerobic digestion (AD) and biochemical methane production (BMP). The results indicated that severe AH conditions, which lead to maximum hemicelluloses dissolution and sugar content in the HH, were not the best for BMP, probably due to the accumulation of toxic/recalcitrant compounds (furans and lignin). Mild AH conditions (170°C, 35min and SLR=0.33) led to the highest BMP (0.79Nm(3)kg TOC(-1)), which was confirmed by the desirability tool. HH produced by AH carried out at the desired condition DC2 (178.6°C, 43.6min and SLR=0.24) showed the lowest accumulation of inhibitory compounds and volatile fatty acids (VFA) and highest BMP (1.56Nm(3)kg TOC(-1)). The modified Gompertz model best fit the experimental data and led to a maximum methane production rate (R) of 2.6mmol CH4d(-1) in the best condition.

Remoção de microcistina-LR de águas eutrofizadas por clarificação e filtração seguidas de adsorção em carvão ativado granular / Removal of microcystin-LR from eutrophic waters through clarification and filtration followed by adsorption on granular activated carbon

RESUMO Usualmente, o tratamento convencional de águas com altas densidades de cianobactérias e concentração de cianotoxinas não garante efluente consoante o padrão de potabilidade vigente (1,0 µg.L-1 de microcistina). Etapas adicionais fazem-se necessárias, destacando-se a adsorção por carvão ativado granular ou pulverizado. Neste contexto, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar em escala de bancada a remoção de microcistina em água natural por adsorção em colunas de carvão ativado granular de casca de coco, após as etapas de clarificação e filtração em areia. Os resultados mostraram que o transpasse no carvão de maior granulometria ocorreu em menor tempo de contato (2 h), quando comparado ao de menor granulometria. Tais resultados abrem perspectiva de emprego em escala real por garantir efluente com concentração inferior ao que estabelece a Portaria 2914 por mais tempo e utilizando menor massa de carvão.

ABSTRACT Conventional treatment process of natural waters with high densities of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins usually presents low efficiency according to the present drinking water standard (maximum permissible value of 1.0 µg.L-1 of microcystin). Additional steps, such as activated carbon, commonly become necessary to achieve the maximum permissible value of microcystin (1.0 µg.L-1) set up by Brazilian Drinking Water Regulation 2914. In this context, the main objective of this work was to evaluate microcystin removal from natural waters by means of two granular activated carbons after clarification and sand filtration in bench scale. The results pointed out that the breakthrough happened in activated carbon with highest grain sizes in lower contact time (2 h) , when compared with that with smaller grain sizes. These results open the perspective of an application of the activated carbon in actual scale, assuring the treated water quality in compliance with the Brazilian Drinking Water Standards Regulation 2914.

Uso de fotorreatores UV para a remoção de diclofenaco, bezafibrato e etinilestradiol de esgoto tratado em sistema UASB-FBP / Use of UV photoreactors to remove diclofenac, bezafibrate and ethynylestradiol from sewage treated in UASB-TF system

RESUMOEste trabalho avaliou a remoção de diclofenaco (DCF), bezafibrato (BZF) e etinilestradiol (EE2) de efluentes de sistema UASB-FBP (reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo seguido de filtro biológico percolador) em fotorreatores UV de lâmpadas imersas (FRI) e emersas (FRE). Os resultados mostram que baixa eficiência de remoção de tais compostos foi obtida em ambos fotorreatores quando se utilizou baixo tempo de contato (~10 min) e baixa concentração inicial de fármacos (0,5 µg.L-1 para EE2, e 21 µg.L-1 para DCF e BZF). O aumento da concentração inicial de DCF (para 20 mg.L-1) e do tempo de contato (para 20 min) resultaram em aumento da eficiência de remoção (de 31 para 83% no FRI e de 36 para 86% no FRE), indicando que compostos dissolvidos presentes no efluente biológico afetaram adversamente a remoção de fármacos nos fotorreatores devido a competição pela radiação UV incidente.

ABSTRACTThis paper evaluated the removal of diclophenac (DCF), bezafibrate (BZF) and ethynylestradiol (EE2) from effluent of an anaerobic reactor coupled to a trickling filter (UASB-TF) in two types of UV photoreactors (immerse UV lamps - FRI and emmersed UV lamps - FRE). The results showed low removal efficiencies in both photoreactors when low contact times (10 min) and low initial concentration of such compounds was used (0.5 µg.L-1 for EE2 and 21 µg.L-1 for DCF and BZF). An increase in the initial concentration of DCF (to 20 mg.L-1) and of the contact time (to 20 min) led to an increase in the removal efficiency (from 31 to 83% in FRI and from 36 to 86% in FRE), suggesting that dissolved compounds present in the biological effluent adversely affected the removal of the pharmaceutical tested due to competition for the incident UV radiation.

Validacao de metodo de cromatografia liquida para a determinacao de sete acidos graxos volateis intermediarios da digestao anaerobia / Validation of a liquid chromatography methodology for the analysis of seven volatile fatty acids intermediates of anaerobic digestion

Ácidos graxos voláteis (AGV) são importantes compostos intermediários indicadores da digestão anaeróbia. Este artigo apresenta dados de validação de uma metodologia para análise de uma mistura de sete AGV (C1 a C5) em amostras ambientais por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). Foi utilizada uma coluna de exclusão iônica a 55ºC, volume de injeção de 10 µL e fase móvel (0,01 mol.L-1 H2SO4) a 0,6 mL.min-1. Os critérios de validação foram: limites de detecção e de quantificação, que ficaram na faixa de 5,0 a 10 mg.L-1 e 15 a 30 mg.L-1, respectivamente; linearidade (comprovada para todos os ácidos); repetitividade e sensibilidade (muito boa para a maioria dos ácidos); efeito de matriz (efeito de supressão observado para o ácido isobutírico) e exatidão (85 a 104%). Sendo assim, as condições operacionais adotadas se mostraram válidas para a quantificação de AGV em efluentes de reatores anaeróbios.

Volatile fatty acids (VFA) are important intermediate compounds that somehow indicate the efficiency of anaerobic systems. This paper presents results of method validation for seven VFA (C1 to C5) analysis in environmental samples by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was used an ion exclusion column kept at 55ºC; injection volume of 10 μL and mobile phase (0.01 mol.L-1 H2SO4) at 0.6 mL.min-1. The validation criteria adopted were: limits of detection and quantification, that fell in the ranges of 5.0 -10 mg.L-1 and 15-30 mg.L-1, respectively; linearity (verified for all acids); repeatability and sensibility (very good for most acids); matrix effect (suppression effect observed for isobutyric acid) and accuracy (from 85 to 104%). Therefore, the operational conditions adopted seemed to be adequate and valid to measure VFA in samples from anaerobic reactors.

Remocao de farmacos e desreguladores endocrinos em estacoes de tratamento de esgoto: revisao da literatura / Removal of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupters in sewage treatment plants: literature review

O monitoramento ambiental dos chamados microcontaminantes ou micropoluentes vem ganhando grande interesse da comunidade científica desde os anos 1970. Nesse grupo de contaminantes estão incluídos fármacos de diversas classes, produtos de limpeza e higiene pessoal, substâncias aplicadas na produção de plásticos e resinas, pesticidas, hormônios naturais e seus subprodutos, entre outros compostos. A principal via de contaminação do meio ambiente com fármacos e desreguladores endócrinos (DE) é o lançamento de esgotos in natura e tratado. Nesse contexto, este artigo compila dados de ocorrência de fármacos e DE no afluente e efluente de estações de tratamento de esgoto (ETE), discute os mecanismos envolvidos na sua remoção em ETE e faz uma análise comparativa da remoção de tais compostos em diferentes sistemas de tratamento.

The environmental monitoring of the so-called micropollutants has gained great interest since the 1970s. In this group of compounds are included several classes of pharmaceuticals, cleaning and personal care products, substances applied in plastics and resins, pesticides, natural hormones and their by-products, among others. The main route of contamination of the environment with pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) is through the discharge of raw and treated sewage. Thus, this paper summarizes data on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and EDC in raw and treated sewage, provides information regarding the mechanisms involved in their removal and compares their removal in different treatment processes.

Biometanização seca de resíduos sólidos urbanos: estado da arte e análise crítica das principais tecnologias / Dry biomethanation of municipal solid waste: state-of-the-art and critical analysis of major technologies

A utilização da tecnologia de digestão anaeróbia (biometanização) para a gestão da fração orgânica dos resíduos sólidos urbanos é uma realidade que vem se disseminando mundialmente. Os sistemas via seca vem se destacando pela maior robustez do sistema biológico e pela minimização da geração de efluentes líquidos. Para avaliar o desempenho de sistemas de digestão via seca, foram realizadas visitas técnicas a plantas das principais tecnologias - Valorga, Laran, Kompogas e Dranco - e, a partir de constatações in loco e de dados levantados junto aos fabricantes, elaborou-se uma metodologia para avaliação das mesmas, com 35 indicadores, divididos em 4 grupos (Histórico; Aspectos Operacionais; Desempenho de Projeto; Desempenho Real). Na soma ponderada, as tecnologias que obtiveram os dois melhores desempenhos foram aquelas denominadas de 4 e 2, respectivamente, que empregam digestor retangular horizontal com agitação mecânica por pás com eixo no sentido transversal ao fluxo do material em digestão.

The employment of anaerobic digestion technology (biomethanation) for the management of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste is a reality that has been spreading out all around the world. The dry biomethanation, in particular, has been highlighted due to its biological system higher robustness and to the low generation of liquid effluents. In order to assess the dry biomethanation technologies performance, technical visits were carried out at different plants representing the major technologies available - Valorga, Laran, Kompogas, and Dranco - and, based on in situ observations as well as on projected performance data, it was developed an assessment methodology, composed by 35 indexes, divided into 4 groups: Historic; Operational Aspects; Projected Performance; Real Performance. After all, the best performance was presented by technologies referred to as 4 and 2 that employs rectangular horizontal digesters stirred by impellers with axis across the flux of the digesting material.

Uso de extrato de levedura como fonte de carbono e de mediadores redox, para a degradação anaeróbia de corante azo / Use of yeast extract as source of carbon and redox mediators for the anaerobic degradation of azo dyes

O trabalho investigou a influência do uso do extrato de levedura, fonte dos mediadores redox riboflavina e nicotinamida, na remoção de cor de solução de corante azo Drimaren Azul HF-RL em condições anaeróbias. O trabalho envolveu a execução de ensaios em batelada, em frascos-reatores mantidos a 25 ºC, incubados com o azo-corante e lodo anaeróbio na presença e ausência de fontes de carbono (extrato de levedura ou glicose) e de mediadores redox (riboflavina ou extrato de levedura). O monitoramento da variação temporal de cor, a demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) e ácidos graxos voláteis (AGV) mostraram que a adição de extrato de levedura (0,5 g/L) resultou em eficiências de remoção de cor de 80 a 85 por cento nas primeiras 24 horas de incubação, e que os produtos da degradação do azo-corante foram tóxicos para todo o consórcio anaeróbio, o que resultou em baixas eficiências de remoção de DQO na presença e ausência do extrato de levedura. Os resultados indicaram, ainda, que as eficiências de remoção de cor foram inferiores a 30 por cento na presença de apenas glicose (fonte de carbono) ou riboflavina (mediador redox), indicando que o extrato de levedura atuou simultaneamente como fonte de carbono e de mediadores redox.

This paper investigated the influence of using yeast extract, which is the source of redox mediators riboflavin and nicotinamide, in the decolorization of solutions containing the azo dye Drimaren Blue HF-RL in anaerobic conditions. It involved the incubation of serum bottles kept at 25 ºC and inoculated with the azo-dye, and anaerobic sludge in the presence and absence of carbon source (glucose or yeast extract) and redox mediators (riboflavin and yeast extract). The monitoring of color, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) showed that the addition of yeast extract (0.5 g/L) resulted in 80 to 85 percent color removal in the first 24 hours of incubation; and that the metabolites of dye degradation were toxic to the anaerobic microorganisms, which led to low COD removal efficiencies either in the presence or absence of yeast extract. The results also showed that the efficiencies of color removal were below 30 percent in the presence of only glucose or riboflavin, indicating that the yeast extract acted simultaneously as source of carbon and redox mediators.

Avaliação da biodegradabilidade anaeróbia de lixiviados de aterro sanitários / Evaluate of the anaerobic biodegradability of landfill leachate

Os objetivos deste artigo foram investigar as condições ambientais e operacionais favoráveis ao desenvolvimento do teste de biodegradabilidade anaeróbia para lixiviados de aterro sanitário. As condições avaliadas foram a relação alimento/microrganismo (A/M), aclimatação do lodo, e toxicidade devido à alta concentração de amônia. Os resultados indicaram que a relação A/M equivalente a 0,45 apresentou-se como a mais favorável à realização do teste, e que o lodo empregado apresentou boa capacidade de adaptação ao lixiviado, não demandando aclimatação prévia. O lixiviado em questão apresentou relativamente baixa biodegradabilidade anaeróbia, associado aos resultados de estudos de biodegradabilidade aeróbia anteriores que sugerem que uma significativa fração de matéria orgânica é refratária mesmo ao metabolismo aeróbio,indica que o tratamento físico-químico deve ser utilizado como forma de pré ou pós-tratamento.

The objectives of this article were to investigate the favorable environment and operational conditions to the development of the anaerobic biodegradability test for landfill leachate. The evaluated conditions were the relation food/microrganismo (A/M), seed acclimatization, and toxicity due to high ammonia concentration. The results indicated that A/M relation equivalent to 0,45 was presented as most favorable to the accomplishment of the test, and that the seed used presented good capacity of adaptation to the leachate, not demanding previous acclimatization. The leachate in question presented relatively low anaerobic biodegradability, and associated to the results of previous studies of aerobic biodegradability suggest that a significant fraction of organic substance is refractory to the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, indicating that the physical-chemical treatment must be used as form of pre or post-treatment.