The focus of the current study was on the recovery of carbon from municipal bio-waste streams. Firstly, the relationship between methanogenic pathways and the properties of anaerobic granules was studied using two pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors with different granule size distribution. UASB1 granules were larger (3-4 mm) with multi-layered internal structure and the archaeal community was dominated by acetoclastic methanogens, while the UASB2 granules were smaller (1-2 mm) without a layered internal structure and the archaeal community was predominated by hydrogenotrophic methanogens. The acetoclastic methanogenic activities of UASB1 (250-437 mL CH4/g VS·d) than UASB2 (150-260 mL CH4/g VS·d), confirming that acetoclastic methanogenesis was more dominant in UASB1. Temperature increase from 20oC to 28oC did not change the microbial community but resulted in increased and stable biogas production for both reactors. There was an increase in chemical oxygen demand (COD) with hydraulic retention time due to increased contact time. The second part of the study focused on anaerobic co-digestion to produce volatile fatty acid (VFA) due to its higher value. The impact of substrate ratio of primary sludge (PS) and external organic waste (OW) and the robustness of the VFA system in the long term were assessed. Lab-scale batch study with different proportions of PS and OW; 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% of OW in terms of COD and scaled up in a semi-continuous pilot reactor with substrate ratio of 50% OW based on the results of the lab-scale study were performed. There was an increase in VFA production with an increase in OW proportion due to the availability of biodegradable organics. Acetic acid was the most dominant VFA in the batch reactors while in the semi-continuous experiment, caproic acid was dominated (50%). As carbon sources, the VFA-rich liquid attained the highest specific denitrification rate when compared with acetate and methanol. / I kommunala avfallsströmmar finns det en stor potential för resursåtervinning på grund av det höga organiska innehållet vilket kan användas för biobaserade produkter. På grundval av detta så fokuserar denna studie på resursåtervinningen av kol från kommunala avfallsströmmar genom att undersöka nuvarande och nytillkomna tekniker för att få vattenreningssystem att också bli resursåtervinningssystem. Första delen av studien undersöker relationen mellan metanproduktion och karaktäriseringen av anaerobiska granuler med ändamålet att förbättra energiproduktionen genom direkt behandling av kommunalt avloppsvatten. För detta ändamål så användes två UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) pilotreaktorer. Reaktorerna kördes med olika stora granuler, olika temperaturinställningar och olika hydrauliska uppehållstider (HRTs). Storlek, mikrobiell struktur, intern mikrostruktur och specifik metanogenaktivitet av de anaerobiska granulerna analyserades. Granulerna i UASB1 var 3-4 mm stora med interna multilager av mikrostrukturer som bestod av acetoklastika-metanogen arkéer. Granulerna i UASB2 var 1- 2 mm stora utan interna multilager och bestod av hydrogenotrofa metanogener. Aktiviteten i granulerna i UASB1 var 250-437 mL CH4 /g VS·d och i UASB2 var det 150-260 mL CH4 /g VS·d, vilket bekräftar att de acetoklastisk-metanogesa var mer effektiva i UASB1 än de hydrogenotrofa i UASB2. Att öka temperaturen från 20 o C till 28 o C under försöket medförde ingen förändring av den mikrobiologiska strukturen, men gav en ökning i biogasproduktion i UASB1 och högre och stabilare biogasproduktionshastighet i UASB2. Ökningen av biogasproduktion berodde på en reduktion i metans löslighet i utflödet och stabilare metanogenes. Ökning i HRT resulterade i större reduktion av organiskt material mätt som kemisk syreförbrukning (COD) och större biogasproduktion på grund av längre kontakttid mellan substrat och mikroorganismer. Den andra delen av studien fokuserar på att utveckla ett tillvägagångssätt att få en anaerob rötning att producera flyktiga fettsyror (VFA) istället för biogas. Studien fokuserar på effekten som kvoten mellan substraten primärslam och externt matavfall (OW) har och hur robust VFA-systemet skulle vara i stor skala på lång sikt. Olika kvoter av primärslam och matavfall testades i labbskala i batchstudier med 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % och 100 % COD OW. Baserat på resultaten från labbskala så kördes 50% COD OW i ett semi-kontinuerligt pilotförsök. Batch-testerna i labbskala visade att högre % COD OW, gav högre VFA produktion på grund av högre koncentration av organiskt material. Ättiksyra var den mest förekommande VFAn i batch-testerna medan kapronsyra var högst förekommande (50%) i det semi-kontinuerliga försöket. Denitrifikationsförsök visade att VFA-rik vätska från pilotskalareaktorerna gav den högsta specifika denitrifikationshastigheten i jämförelse med acetat och metanol. Resultaten visar att värdefulla kolkällor kan återvinnas från kommunalt avfall genom anaerob behandling av kommunalt avloppsvatten och samfermentering av primärslam och matavfall. / <p>QC 2020-06-15</p>

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de verificar a eficiência de um reator anaeróbio híbrido (RAH) alimentado com uma mistura de ácidos orgânicos acético, propiônico, butírico, e láctico, bem como do álcool metanol, perfazendo uma DQO de 6,88 g/L, e avaliar nessas condições, a degradação do pentaclorofenol (PCP) na faixa de 2,0 a 21,0 mg/L. O RAH apresentou adequada performance na ausência de PCP, tendo sido inoculado com um lodo com AME cerca de 0,57 g DQO-CH4/g SV.d. Durante os 21 meses de operação do RAH na ausência de PCP verificou-se uma remoção média de DQO de 93% produção média de metano de 84%. Através de testes de toxicidade realizadas em batelada com o lodo granulado do RAH, antes da adição de PCP no reator, calculou-se o IC50, cujos valores foram 10, 12 e 13,69 mg/L. Na presença de PCP na faixa de 2,0 a 2,1 mg/L, o RAH apresentou remoção média de DQO de 96,7%, produção média de metano de 85,5% e remoção dos ácidos voláteis próxima a 74% do acético, 93% do butírico e 64% do propiônico. Individualmente, na presença da maior concentração de PCP adicionada, ocorreu decréscimo na remoção dos ácidos voláteis, principalmente do ácido propiônico e na taxa de conversão DQO/biogás. O PCP foi removido do sistema na ordem de 99% pela ação do lodo granulado com predominância do grupo das Archaea metanogênicas, verificada por exames microscópicos e hibridação \"in situ\". Valores da ordem de grandeza microbiana para os microrganismos metanogênicos nos períodos anteriores e posteriores a adição de PCP permaneceram na faixa de 105 e 106 céls./mL, quando cultivados em metanol e lactato mais sulfato, respectivamente. Os resultados sugerem que as Archaea metanogênicas podem estar envolvidas na degradação do PCP. A velocidade de remoção do organoclorado foi igual a 1,07 mg PCP/g SV.d quando a maior concentração de PCP foi estudada (21,0 mg/L). / The present research aimed to verify the efficiency of an Anaerobic Hybrid Reactor (AHR) supplied with a mixture of fatty acids, acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic and methanol as well. The total amount of COD was 6.88 g/L. The performance of the reactor was remarkably stable and efficient during PCP additions at range from 2.0 to 21.0 mg/L. The AHR showed a great performance in the PCP absence, inoculated with sludge with an specific methanogenic (SMA) activity of 0,057 g.COD-CH4/g. VS.d. During the 21 months of operation without PCP, the reduction of COD was around 93% and methane was up to 84% in the biogas. Before PCP addiction, two toxicity batch tests conducted with the granular sludge presented IC50 values around 10.12 mg/L and 13.69 mg/L. In the presence of PCP, at the range of 2.0 to 21.0 mg/L, the efficiency of volatile fatty acids breakdown was 93%, 64% and 74% respectively for butyric, propionic and acetic acids. Individually, at the presence of the higher PCP concentration studied, a decrease in the conversion of COD to biogas and organic acids removal occurred, mainly with propionic acid. PCP total removal of more than 99% was reached by granular sludge activities formed by the total time of reactor operation with a prevalence of methanogenic Archaea, verified under direct microscopy exams and in situ hybridization. Methanogenic cells predominance was noticed with 105 to 106 cells/mL during enumeration on methanol and lactate plus sulfate culture media, respectively. The results suggest that methanogenic Archaea can be involved in PCP degradation. The organochlorine removal rate was 1.07 mg PCP.g-1 VS.d-1 during the highest PCP (21.0 mg/L) concentration addition.

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de verificar a eficiência de um reator anaeróbio híbrido (RAH) alimentado com uma mistura de ácidos orgânicos acético, propiônico, butírico, e láctico, bem como do álcool metanol, perfazendo uma DQO de 6,88 g/L, e avaliar nessas condições, a degradação do pentaclorofenol (PCP) na faixa de 2,0 a 21,0 mg/L. O RAH apresentou adequada performance na ausência de PCP, tendo sido inoculado com um lodo com AME cerca de 0,57 g DQO-CH4/g SV.d. Durante os 21 meses de operação do RAH na ausência de PCP verificou-se uma remoção média de DQO de 93% produção média de metano de 84%. Através de testes de toxicidade realizadas em batelada com o lodo granulado do RAH, antes da adição de PCP no reator, calculou-se o IC50, cujos valores foram 10, 12 e 13,69 mg/L. Na presença de PCP na faixa de 2,0 a 2,1 mg/L, o RAH apresentou remoção média de DQO de 96,7%, produção média de metano de 85,5% e remoção dos ácidos voláteis próxima a 74% do acético, 93% do butírico e 64% do propiônico. Individualmente, na presença da maior concentração de PCP adicionada, ocorreu decréscimo na remoção dos ácidos voláteis, principalmente do ácido propiônico e na taxa de conversão DQO/biogás. O PCP foi removido do sistema na ordem de 99% pela ação do lodo granulado com predominância do grupo das Archaea metanogênicas, verificada por exames microscópicos e hibridação \"in situ\". Valores da ordem de grandeza microbiana para os microrganismos metanogênicos nos períodos anteriores e posteriores a adição de PCP permaneceram na faixa de 105 e 106 céls./mL, quando cultivados em metanol e lactato mais sulfato, respectivamente. Os resultados sugerem que as Archaea metanogênicas podem estar envolvidas na degradação do PCP. A velocidade de remoção do organoclorado foi igual a 1,07 mg PCP/g SV.d quando a maior concentração de PCP foi estudada (21,0 mg/L). / The present research aimed to verify the efficiency of an Anaerobic Hybrid Reactor (AHR) supplied with a mixture of fatty acids, acetic, propionic, butyric and lactic and methanol as well. The total amount of COD was 6.88 g/L. The performance of the reactor was remarkably stable and efficient during PCP additions at range from 2.0 to 21.0 mg/L. The AHR showed a great performance in the PCP absence, inoculated with sludge with an specific methanogenic (SMA) activity of 0,057 g.COD-CH4/g. VS.d. During the 21 months of operation without PCP, the reduction of COD was around 93% and methane was up to 84% in the biogas. Before PCP addiction, two toxicity batch tests conducted with the granular sludge presented IC50 values around 10.12 mg/L and 13.69 mg/L. In the presence of PCP, at the range of 2.0 to 21.0 mg/L, the efficiency of volatile fatty acids breakdown was 93%, 64% and 74% respectively for butyric, propionic and acetic acids. Individually, at the presence of the higher PCP concentration studied, a decrease in the conversion of COD to biogas and organic acids removal occurred, mainly with propionic acid. PCP total removal of more than 99% was reached by granular sludge activities formed by the total time of reactor operation with a prevalence of methanogenic Archaea, verified under direct microscopy exams and in situ hybridization. Methanogenic cells predominance was noticed with 105 to 106 cells/mL during enumeration on methanol and lactate plus sulfate culture media, respectively. The results suggest that methanogenic Archaea can be involved in PCP degradation. The organochlorine removal rate was 1.07 mg PCP.g-1 VS.d-1 during the highest PCP (21.0 mg/L) concentration addition.