Evaluating the performance and membrane fouling of a submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating plywood industry wastewater.

This study evaluates the performance of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for treating wastewater from the laminated plywood industry. To this end, a pilot-scale MBR was operated for 60 days with a hydraulic retention time of 20 h and a solid retention time of 20 days. The reactor's performance was assessed based on the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), phenol, turbidity, and apparent color. Furthermore, we monitored the solids content, dissolved oxygen concentration, and pH of the mixed liquor, as well as the progression of the transmembrane pressure (TMP). The wastewater exhibited a COD/biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) ratio of 5.5, suggesting low biodegradability, usually when this ratio is higher than 4.0. Nevertheless, it was observed that the MBR's performance was stable and satisfactory, with average removal efficiencies of 98% for COD, 70% for phenol, 99% for turbidity, and 93% for true color. The evolution of TMP indicated gradual membrane fouling; however, the operational limit of 0.6 bar was not reached during the study period. In conclusion, the utilization of MBR presents a promising approach to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with wastewater from the laminated plywood industry.

Effects of different filtration techniques on quality and toxicology of post treatment effluent from an anaerobic reactor.

The early stages of the fish life cycle correspond to the phase that is most susceptible to deleterious effects caused by exposure to pollution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the anaerobic reactor effluent after three filtration-based treatments, namely, Double-Filtration in gravel and sand (DF), Triple-Filtration in gravel, sand and Activated Charcoal (TF-AC) and Triple-Filtration in gravel, sand and clinoptilolite (TF-C). The toxic effects on the population dynamics of larvae and embryos of catfish (Rhamdia quelen) to the final effluent were evaluated using an individual-based model (IBM). The results indicate that the three post-treatments produced effluents with significant improvement of the physicochemical parameters evaluated in relation to the anaerobic reactor effluent. In addition, all post-treatments improved the removal of metal ions. Experimental data showed high mortality rates for Rhamdia quelen embryos and larvae for most treatments, except for the effluent treated by TF-C. The results demonstrated that the concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen in relation to AR treatments (69.0); DF (44.0); TF-AC (46.6) and TF-C (0.33) in mg/L can be a limiting factor for the development of embryos and larvae during the ecotoxicity tests.

Post-treatment of anaerobic reactor effluent for reuse using a triple filtration system.

This study evaluated the triple filtration technology efficiency as a post-treatment of anaerobic reactor effluent. This study was carried out employing different concentrations of ferric chloride as coagulant and peracetic acid or calcium hypochlorite as oxidant. The filtration rates used were 150 m3/m2 d and 120 m3/m2 d. The efficiency of the system was evaluated through physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The best conditions found were those using 20 mg/L ferric chloride, 120 m3/m2 d filtration rate and 0.8 and 1.6 mg/L free chlorine. These conditions resulted in turbidity <1.0 NTU, Total Organic Carbon <1.5 mg/L, Chemical Oxygen Demand <1.0 mg/L, Biochemical Oxygen Demand <1.0 mg/L, in addition 100% removal of Total Phosphorus and Linear Alkylate Sulfonate. The post-oxidation process promoted inactivation of 100% Total Coliforms and E. coli. The post-treatment was able to produce effluent with characteristics that enable its urban, damming, creation and maintenance of wetlands, industrial and agricultural reuse proposed by USEPA.

Inativação de microrganismos indicadores de contaminação fecal por radiação ultravioleta e avaliação dos fenômenos de fotorreativação e recuperação no escuro / Inactivation of indicator microorganisms of faecal contamination by ultraviolet radiation and evaluation of photoreactivation and dark repair phenomena

RESUMO Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho da radiação ultravioleta (UV) para a desinfecção de efluente final de estação de tratamento de esgoto (ETE) sanitário municipal, em escala de bancada de laboratório e operação em batelada. Foram analisadas as interferências dos parâmetros operacionais tempo de exposição (s) à radiação e altura de lâmina líquida (cm) do efluente no reator UV. A eficiência do processo de desinfecção foi avaliada empregando os microrganismos indicadores Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), colifagos, Escherichia coli (E. coli) e coliformes totais (CT). Após a desinfecção, foram avaliados os fenômenos de recuperação microbiológica fotorreativação e recuperação no escuro para E. coli e CT. Os resultados indicaram efetiva inativação dos microrganismos indicadores à radiação UV no decorrer do tempo de exposição, o que foi comprovado estatisticamente pela ANOVA de medidas repetidas. C. perfringens foi o microrganismo que apresentou a maior resistência à inativação. Nos ensaios de recuperação microbiológica, ambos os mecanismos foram considerados insignificantes, o que foi comprovado estatisticamente pelos testes t de Student (dados paramétricos) e Wilcoxon (dados não paramétricos). Em todas as análises, o nível de significância foi de 5%.

ABSTRACT This research aimed to evaluate the performance of ultraviolet radiation (UV) for disinfecting effluents from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, in laboratory bench scale and batch operation. The interference of the operational parameters of exposure time (s) to the radiation and the level of liquid blade (cm) of the effluent in the UV reactor were analyzed. The efficiency of the disinfection process was checked using the indicators microorganisms Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), coliphages, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and total coliforms (TC). After disinfection, some tests were carried out to evaluate the phenomena of microbiological recovery: photoreactivation and dark repair, for E. coli and TC. The results indicate effective inactivation of indicator microorganisms by UV radiation during the time of exposure, which was statistically proved by repeated measures ANOVA. C. perfringens was the microorganism that showed the highest resistance against UV inactivation. In microbiological recovery tests, both mechanisms were considered insignificant, which was statistically proven by the Student (t test - parametric data) and the Wilcoxon (nonparametric data) tests. In all analyses, the level of significance was 5%.