The feasibility of using a single vessel reactor for the biological treatment of recalcitrant compounds, namely reactive azo dyes discharged by the textile finishing industry was investigated. A synthetic effluent was derived from real processes to give reproducibility throughout the experimental period. The literature review found that a sequenced treatment of anaerobic then aerobic redox environments was required for the decolourisation and mineralisation of the dyes. Two biological reactor types were accordingly designed, built and tested, the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and the hybrid anaerobic baffled reactor (HABR).

MSc(Eng), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-11-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:35:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 abreuneto_ms_me_jabo.pdf: 1673746 bytes, checksum: f710855d25440c302ba5cd9d3ff6e36a (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neste trabalho avaliou-se o desempenho de processo anaeróbio em dois estágios composto por reator compartimentado (ABR) e reator de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB), instalados em série, em escala-piloto (volumes de 530 e 120 L, respectivamente), tratando águas residuárias de suinocultura com concentrações de sólidos suspensos totais de 4.591 a 13.001 mg L-1, submetidos a tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) de 60 a 24 h no primeiro reator e de 13,6 a 5,4 h no segundo reator. As eficiências médias de remoção de DQOtotal variaram de 69 a 88% no reator ABR e de 34 a 58% no reator UASB, resultando em valores médios de 87 a 95% para o sistema de tratamento anaeróbio em dois estágios (ABR+UASB) com carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) de 11,51 a 21,12 g DQOtotal (L d)-1 no reator ABR, e de 4,21 a 13,29 g DQOtotal (L d)-1 no reator UASB. As eficiências de remoção de SST e SSV variaram de 86 a 96% e 88 a 97% no sistema de tratamento (ABR+UASB). A produção volumétrica de metano máxima de 0,455 m3 CH4 (m3 reator d)-1 ocorreu no reator ABR, com COV de 13,42 g DQOtotal (L d)-1 e TDH de 48 h. Obtiveram-se eficiências médias de remoção de 62 a 95% para Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn e de 30 a 71% para NTK e P-total. Houve remoção de coliformes totais e fecais de 91,935 a 99,667% porém, foram observados nos efluentes número de coliformes fecais acima de 1,5 x 105 NMP/100 mL, o que restringe sua aplicação para a irrigação de plantas... / In this work it was evaluated the performance of two stage anaerobic process constituted of anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and an upflow sludge blanket reactor (UASB) installed in series, in pilot scale testing (volumes of 530 and 120 L, respectively) treating swine wastewater with total suspended solid (TSS) concentration of 4591 a 13001 mg L-1 on and with hydraulic detention times (HDT) of 60 to 24 h in the first reactor and 13,6 to 5,4 h in the second reactor. The mean CODtotal removal efficiency varied from 69 to 88% in ABR and from 34 to 58% in UASB reactor, resulting in average values ranging from 87 to 95% for the two stage anaerobic treatment system (ABR+UASB) under organic volumetric load (OVL) of 11.51 to 21.12 g CODtotal (L d)-1 in ABR and 4.21 to 13.29 g CODtotal (L d)-1 in UASB reactor. The TSS and VSS removal efficiency varied from 86 to 96% and 88 to 97% in anaerobic treatment system (ABR+UASB). The maximum volumetric methane production of 0.455 m3 CH4 (m3 reactor d)-1 occurred in ABR reactor with OVL of 13.42 g CODtotal (L d)-1 and HDT of 48 h. The average mean removal efficiencies of 62 to 95% for Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn and of 30 to 71% for NTK and P-total. There was removal efficiency of total and fecal coliforms of 91,935 to 99,667% however, a number of fecal coliforms above 1,5 x 105 NMP/100 mL was observed on the effluents, which restricts its use for crop irrigation ...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

For decades, mainstream domestic wastewater treatment has relied on activated sludge processes to remove organic matter, and on biological nutrient removal systems like the A2/O process to remove nutrients. Recently, membrane filtration was also added to the realm of possible technologies for domestic wastewater treatment, with aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs) becoming increasingly popular, especially for decentralized, and small to medium scale applications. However, the aerobic activated sludge and MBR processes, which are often combined with biological nutrient removal processes, have high energy costs associated with supplying oxygen to the process, and end up converting the organic matter into CO2 and high amounts of microbial biomass, instead of more useful byproducts. In order to remedy the aforementioned shortcomings of the aerobic processes, anaerobic wastewater treatment has been a focus of research, with anaerobic baffled reactors (ABRs) and anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) having shown promise for achieving acceptable organic matter removal performance, along with potential to be energy neutral or positive through biogas production. In addition, phototrophic technologies, such as algal photobioreactors, have recently been shown to be able to remove nutrients from waste streams, while at the same time having the potential to be used as feedstock to produce biofuels. In this dissertation, a novel concentrically-baffled reactor (CBR) was designed that has the potential to reduce heat loss by transfering more of the heat between reactor zones than traditional baffled reactor designs, which will increase energy efficiency for heated systems. A prototype CBR was operated abiotically under varying hydraulic retention times (HRTs) from 4 h to 24 h, and achieved over 90% removal of total suspended solids (TSS) for all HRTs tested with feed particle sizes below 1.7 mm. In parallel with the baffled reactor research, phototrophic membrane bioreactors (PMBRs) were tested with low aeration conditions to decrease their energy demand, which resulted in nitrification-dominated systems. A phototrophic technology was developed for increasing the pH of waste streams to potentially aid pH-sensitive nutrient recovery processes. Phototrophic pH increase from 6.42±0.13 to 8.87±0.06 was achieved using batch reactors, and an increase of pH from 6.73 to 8.61 was recorded during a continuous reactor trial. Finally, the CBR was combined with a post-CBR membrane filtration process, and two PMBRs treating the effluent and permeate streams from the CBR in order to achieve complete organic matter and nutrient removal. The combined systems were tested both for high strength-high HRT and low strength-low HRT scenarios. Using the combined CBR-PMBR system, over 90% TN and TP removal were possible for 10 d HRT operation at high-strength feed conditions, with post-CBR membrane filtration. COD removal over 90% was possible for both high-strength and low-strength scenarios under all conditions tested.

Orientador: Roberto Alves de Oliveira / Banca: Edson Aparecido Abdul Nour / Banca: Maria Bernadete Amâncio Varesche / Resumo: Neste trabalho avaliou-se o desempenho de processo anaeróbio em dois estágios composto por reator compartimentado (ABR) e reator de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB), instalados em série, em escala-piloto (volumes de 530 e 120 L, respectivamente), tratando águas residuárias de suinocultura com concentrações de sólidos suspensos totais de 4.591 a 13.001 mg L-1, submetidos a tempos de detenção hidráulica (TDH) de 60 a 24 h no primeiro reator e de 13,6 a 5,4 h no segundo reator. As eficiências médias de remoção de DQOtotal variaram de 69 a 88% no reator ABR e de 34 a 58% no reator UASB, resultando em valores médios de 87 a 95% para o sistema de tratamento anaeróbio em dois estágios (ABR+UASB) com carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) de 11,51 a 21,12 g DQOtotal (L d)-1 no reator ABR, e de 4,21 a 13,29 g DQOtotal (L d)-1 no reator UASB. As eficiências de remoção de SST e SSV variaram de 86 a 96% e 88 a 97% no sistema de tratamento (ABR+UASB). A produção volumétrica de metano máxima de 0,455 m3 CH4 (m3 reator d)-1 ocorreu no reator ABR, com COV de 13,42 g DQOtotal (L d)-1 e TDH de 48 h. Obtiveram-se eficiências médias de remoção de 62 a 95% para Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn e de 30 a 71% para NTK e P-total. Houve remoção de coliformes totais e fecais de 91,935 a 99,667% porém, foram observados nos efluentes número de coliformes fecais acima de 1,5 x 105 NMP/100 mL, o que restringe sua aplicação para a irrigação de plantas ...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this work it was evaluated the performance of two stage anaerobic process constituted of anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and an upflow sludge blanket reactor (UASB) installed in series, in pilot scale testing (volumes of 530 and 120 L, respectively) treating swine wastewater with total suspended solid (TSS) concentration of 4591 a 13001 mg L-1 on and with hydraulic detention times (HDT) of 60 to 24 h in the first reactor and 13,6 to 5,4 h in the second reactor. The mean CODtotal removal efficiency varied from 69 to 88% in ABR and from 34 to 58% in UASB reactor, resulting in average values ranging from 87 to 95% for the two stage anaerobic treatment system (ABR+UASB) under organic volumetric load (OVL) of 11.51 to 21.12 g CODtotal (L d)-1 in ABR and 4.21 to 13.29 g CODtotal (L d)-1 in UASB reactor. The TSS and VSS removal efficiency varied from 86 to 96% and 88 to 97% in anaerobic treatment system (ABR+UASB). The maximum volumetric methane production of 0.455 m3 CH4 (m3 reactor d)-1 occurred in ABR reactor with OVL of 13.42 g CODtotal (L d)-1 and HDT of 48 h. The average mean removal efficiencies of 62 to 95% for Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn and of 30 to 71% for NTK and P-total. There was removal efficiency of total and fecal coliforms of 91,935 to 99,667% however, a number of fecal coliforms above 1,5 x 105 NMP/100 mL was observed on the effluents, which restricts its use for crop irrigation ...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Vanildo Luiz Del Bianchi / Banca: Tânia Maria Alberte / Banca: Crispin Humberto Garcia Cruz / Resumo: Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o desempenho de um reator anaeróbio compartimentado no tratamento de soro de queijo. Para tanto, foi utilizado um reator de 4,9 L com cinco compartimentos, inoculados com lodo biológico granulado obtido de uma indústria da região. O reator foi operado com variados tempos de residência hidráulicos (1 a 4 dias) e concentrações de soro de queijo que variaram de 2500 a 11000 DQO mg L-1. Foram efetuadas as análises de Acidez e Alcalinidade, Turbidez, pH, Demanda Química de Oxigênio (DQO), Sólidos Voláteis (SV) e Sólidos Totais (ST). A partir dos resultados obtidos, e devido às características do reator, foi possível compreender a dinâmica do processo anaeróbio, nas fases acidogênica e metanogênica, tanto na geração / desaparecimento da alcalinidade / acidez, como na redução da carga orgânica. Na primeira etapa da pesquisa, o soro de queijo da alimentação do reator foi diluído a uma DQO de 2500 mg L-1, e o reator mantido em quatro tempos de residência hidráulicos (TRH), 4, 3, 2 e 1 dia. Com TRH 4 dias, a redução da DQO foi de 96,3%. Com TRH 3 dias, o reator apresentou um problema de queda no pH e, devido a isso, foi dividido em duas partes: a primeira na qual o reator apresentou uma redução de 97,3% e a outra na qual a redução foi de 89,4%. Com TRH 2 dias, a redução de DQO foi de 89,5%; e com TRH 1 dia a redução foi de 50,5%. A segunda etapa da pesquisa contou com um aumento da concentração de soro de queijo na alimentação do reator, DQO 6000 mg L-1, e TRHs de 3, 2 e 1 dia. Com TRH 3 dias, a redução de DQO foi 80,7%, com TRH 2 dias 74,0% e com TRH 1 dia, a redução foi 33,5%. Na terceira etapa da pesquisa, a concentração do soro foi elevada para uma DQO de 11000 mg L-1, sendo testado o TRH 3 dias e como a eficiência do reator na redução da DQO apresentou um baixo valor, 47,1%, nenhum outro TRH foi testado. / Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of an anaerobic baffled reactor treating cheese whey. For this, it was used a five-compartment reactor, 4.9 L, inoculated with granular sludge obtained from a biological industry in the region. The reactor was operated at different hydraulic residence times (HRT) from 1 to 4 days and the concentration of cheese whey was of 2500 to 11000 mg COD L-1. The procedures included analyses of acidity and alkalinity, turbidity, pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile solids (VS) and total solids (TS).From the results shown and due to the characteristics of the reactor, it was possible to understand the dynamics of the anaerobic process at the acidogenic and methanogenic stages both in the generation / disappearance of alkalinity / acidity and in reducing the organic load. In the first stage of research, the cheese whey used for feeding the reactor was diluted to a 2500 mg L-1 COD. The reactor was maintained at four hydraulic residence times (HRT) of 4, 3, 2 and 1 days. At a HRT of 4 days, the reduction in the COD was 96.3%. At a HRT of 3 days, the reactor had a problem - a decrease in pH and because of that, it was divided into two parts: in the first part the reactor showed a reduction of 97.3% and in the second one, the reduction was of 89.4%. At a HRT of 2 days, the reduction in the COD was of 89.5%; and at a HRT of 1 day, the reduction was of 50.5%. During the second stage of the survey, there was an increase of the concentration of cheese whey while feeding the reactor, COD 6000 mg L-1, and at a HRT of 3, 2 and 1 day. At a HRT of 3 days, the reduction in the COD was of 80.7%; at a HRT of 2 days, it was 74.0% and at a HRT of 1 day, the reduction was of 33.5%. In the third stage of the study, the concentration of whey was increased to a COD of 11000 mg L-1, being tested at a HRT of 3 days and since the efficiency of the reactor in the COD reduction showed a low value, 47.1%, no other HRT was tested. / Mestre

Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) such as disseminated by the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) are increasingly being recognized by decision makers across the world as an option for service delivery in densely populated low-income areas. However, little practical experience has been gathered methodologically on basic engineering and performance aspects surrounding these systems. This thesis investigates full-scale anaerobic reactors of communal DEWATS implemented in tropical regions in order to consolidate the basis of future design and support monitoring, operation and maintenance procedures. Special focus is laid on the operation of the Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR) as the core technology of DEWATS. Field research has been conducted for over four years at numerous communal systems in Indonesia, India and South Africa in order to (i) verify the generally used parameter values for DEWATS design and operation, (ii) identify factors limiting the treatment efficiency of existing systems in the field and (iii) investigate the performance of DEWATS and DEWATS treatment steps (especially ABRs) under tropical field conditions in terms of effluent concentration, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal, sludge stabilisation and sludge activity. Field data on average per capita wastewater production in DEWATS implementation areas, long term fluctuations and peak-flow values are presented. General per capita organic load and per capita nutrient load, per capita biogas production in digesters and per capita sludge accumulation in ABRs are estimated. Based on available data and field observations, treatment limiting factors are hypothesised to be rain-water intrusion, general under-loading, organic under-loading and elevated raw-water salinity in coastal areas. Effluent measurements performed at one hundred nine systems in Indonesia indicated guaranteed maximum concentrations of 200 mg CODt l-1 for anaerobic DEWATS treatment effluent if the treated wastewater is non-saline. ABR COD reduction of four case studies was poor in three cases and fair in one case. Sludge accumulation rates indicated good sludge stabilisation and sludge activity in all four systems. Anaerobic Filters (AF) contributed in all three case studies, in which they were part of the plant design, significantly to COD reduction. Nutrient effluent concentrations were comparably high. Large fractions of effluent organics were found to be biodegradable. It is hypothesised that system treatment would improve significantly if maximum hydraulic load was lower, general organic load was higher and therefore both close to design estimation. It is thus proposed to control the amount of storm water intruding the systems, increase feed concentration through partial grey-water exclusion and reduce the nutrient load in system effluent through partial urine diversion. It is further proposed to reduce the HRT of the settler below 10 h in order to increase the organic load to the ABR. It is further hypothesised that systems could be operated at higher hydraulic dry weather load than currently assumed since active anaerobic digestion appears to be capable of establishing itself under extreme hydraulic pressure. This may lead to a considerable reduction of building costs. Anaerobic digestion modelling with the existing ADM-3P model confirmed that observed sludge accumulation rates indicate active hydrolytic systems. The model could however not be used to produce soluble COD effluent concentration benchmarks due to its sensitivity to methanogenic rate constants. The general view held for anaerobic reactors treating wastewater with high solid content is that hydrolysis is the rate-limiting degradation step. It is hypothesised that this does not apply for solid accumulating systems such as the ABR. / Die durch die Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) verbreiteten Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) werden international von Entscheidungsträgern zunehmend als Möglichkeit angesehen, kommunale Abwasserreinigung in dichtbesiedelten, einkommensschwachen Gegenden zu ermöglichen. Allerdings wurden bislang wenig praktische Erfahrungen methodisch über grundlegende Aspekte der Anlagendimensionierung und Anlagenleistungsfähigkeit aufgenommen. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wurden anaerobe Reaktoren kommunaler DEWATS unter tropischen Feldbedingungen untersucht, um eine Datengrundlage für zukünftige Dimensionierung, Wartung und Betrieb, als auch Monitoring der Anlagen zu schaffen. Schwerpunkt wurde dabei auf den Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR) als Kerntechnologie von DEWATS gelegt. Felduntersuchungen wurden in der Zeit von mehr als vier Jahren an zahlreichen kommunalen DEWATS in Indonesien, Indien und Südafrika durchgeführt, um (i) die gängig gewählten Parameterwerte für Anlagen-Dimensionierung und -Betrieb zu überprüfen, (ii) leistungslimitierende Faktoren im Feldbetrieb zu identifizieren und um (iii) die Leistungsfähigkeit von DEWATS und DEWATS-Reinigungsstufen (insbesondere des ABRs) unter tropischen Feldbedingungen bezüglich Abflusskonzentrationen, Reduzierung des Chemischen Sauerstoffbedarfs (CSB), Schlammstabilisierung und Schlammaktivität zu untersuchen. Basierend auf den Untersuchungsergebnissen, wurden durchschnittliche Einwohnergleichwerte, Langzeitvariationen und Faktoren für Zuflussspitzen für kommunale Abwasserproduktion in DEWATS-Zielbevölkerungsgruppen präsentiert. Ferner werden allgemeine Pro-Kopf-CSB-Frachten, -Ammoniumfrachten und -Phosphorfrachten, die Pro-Kopf-Biogasproduktion in kommunalen Biogasanlagen sowie die Pro-Kopf-Schlammakkumulation in ABRs abgeschätzt. Auf Felduntersuchungen basierend, wurden Fremdwassereinfluss, generelle Unterbelastung, organische Unterbelastung und erhöhte Frischwassersalinität in Küstengebieten als leistungslimitierende Faktoren im Feldbetrieb identifiziert. An 109 indonesischen Anlagen durchgeführte Abflusskonzentrationsmessungen ließen auf eine garantierte Abflusskonzentration der anaeroben Reaktoren von 200 mg CSB l-1 schließen, wenn der negative Einfluss von erhöhter Frischwassersalinität ausgeschlossen werden kann. Der CSB-Abbau durch ABRs in vier detailliert untersuchten DEWATS war gering in drei Fällen und befriedigend in einem Fall. Anaerobe Filter (AF) trugen in den drei Fällen, in denen sie Teil der Anlagenkonfigurationen waren, signifikant zur CSB-Reduzierung bei. Ammonium- und Phoshorkonzentrationen in allen Reaktorabläufen waren vergleichsweise hoch. Ein großer Anteil des CSBs in Reaktorabläufen war biologisch abbaubar. Es wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass sich die Leistungsfähigkeiten der Anlagen signifikant verbessern würden, wären die Anlagenbelastungen den Auslegungswerten ähnlicher, d.h., wären die maximalen hydraulischen Belastungen geringer und die organischen Belastungen höher. Es wird deshalb geraten, den Fremdwasserzufluss zu minimieren, die Anlagenzulaufkonzentration durch partielle Grauwasserversickerung zu erhöhen und die Ammonium- und Phoshorkonzentration im Zulauf durch partiellen Urinabschlag zu verringern. Es wird außerdem vorgeschlagen, die hydraulische Aufenthaltszeit in Absetzbecken (settlers) auf zehn Stunden zu begrenzen, um so die organische Belastung der ABRs zu erhöhen. Ferner wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass Anlagen unter höherer Trockenwetterbelastung als bislang angenommen betrieben werden können, da aktiver anaerober Abbau auch unter extremen hydraulischen Belastungen möglich erscheint. Dies könnte zu einer signifikanten Senkung der Baukosten führen. Die Modellierung anaerober Abbauprozesse mit dem existierenden ADM-3P-Modell bestätigten, dass im Feld beobachtete Schlammakkumulationsraten auf eine aktive Hydrolyse schließen lassen. Das Modell konnte jedoch nicht genutzt werden, um Bezugswerte für den gelösten CSB im Ablauf der Anlagen zu erhalten, da es eine vergleichsweise hohe Sensitivität in Bezug auf die Raten für Methanogenese aufwies. Die allgemein anerkannte Sichtweise ist, dass die Hydrolyse den geschwindigkeitsbestimmenden Abbauschritt bei der anaeroben Behandlung feststoffreicher Abwässer darstellt. Es wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass dieses nicht für feststoffakkumulierende Systeme, wie den ABR, zutrifft.

Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) such as disseminated by the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) are increasingly being recognized by decision makers across the world as an option for service delivery in densely populated low-income areas. However, little practical experience has been gathered methodologically on basic engineering and performance aspects surrounding these systems. This thesis investigates full-scale anaerobic reactors of communal DEWATS implemented in tropical regions in order to consolidate the basis of future design and support monitoring, operation and maintenance procedures. Special focus is laid on the operation of the Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR) as the core technology of DEWATS. Field research has been conducted for over four years at numerous communal systems in Indonesia, India and South Africa in order to (i) verify the generally used parameter values for DEWATS design and operation, (ii) identify factors limiting the treatment efficiency of existing systems in the field and (iii) investigate the performance of DEWATS and DEWATS treatment steps (especially ABRs) under tropical field conditions in terms of effluent concentration, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal, sludge stabilisation and sludge activity. Field data on average per capita wastewater production in DEWATS implementation areas, long term fluctuations and peak-flow values are presented. General per capita organic load and per capita nutrient load, per capita biogas production in digesters and per capita sludge accumulation in ABRs are estimated. Based on available data and field observations, treatment limiting factors are hypothesised to be rain-water intrusion, general under-loading, organic under-loading and elevated raw-water salinity in coastal areas. Effluent measurements performed at one hundred nine systems in Indonesia indicated guaranteed maximum concentrations of 200 mg CODt l-1 for anaerobic DEWATS treatment effluent if the treated wastewater is non-saline. ABR COD reduction of four case studies was poor in three cases and fair in one case. Sludge accumulation rates indicated good sludge stabilisation and sludge activity in all four systems. Anaerobic Filters (AF) contributed in all three case studies, in which they were part of the plant design, significantly to COD reduction. Nutrient effluent concentrations were comparably high. Large fractions of effluent organics were found to be biodegradable. It is hypothesised that system treatment would improve significantly if maximum hydraulic load was lower, general organic load was higher and therefore both close to design estimation. It is thus proposed to control the amount of storm water intruding the systems, increase feed concentration through partial grey-water exclusion and reduce the nutrient load in system effluent through partial urine diversion. It is further proposed to reduce the HRT of the settler below 10 h in order to increase the organic load to the ABR. It is further hypothesised that systems could be operated at higher hydraulic dry weather load than currently assumed since active anaerobic digestion appears to be capable of establishing itself under extreme hydraulic pressure. This may lead to a considerable reduction of building costs. Anaerobic digestion modelling with the existing ADM-3P model confirmed that observed sludge accumulation rates indicate active hydrolytic systems. The model could however not be used to produce soluble COD effluent concentration benchmarks due to its sensitivity to methanogenic rate constants. The general view held for anaerobic reactors treating wastewater with high solid content is that hydrolysis is the rate-limiting degradation step. It is hypothesised that this does not apply for solid accumulating systems such as the ABR. / Die durch die Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) verbreiteten Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) werden international von Entscheidungsträgern zunehmend als Möglichkeit angesehen, kommunale Abwasserreinigung in dichtbesiedelten, einkommensschwachen Gegenden zu ermöglichen. Allerdings wurden bislang wenig praktische Erfahrungen methodisch über grundlegende Aspekte der Anlagendimensionierung und Anlagenleistungsfähigkeit aufgenommen. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wurden anaerobe Reaktoren kommunaler DEWATS unter tropischen Feldbedingungen untersucht, um eine Datengrundlage für zukünftige Dimensionierung, Wartung und Betrieb, als auch Monitoring der Anlagen zu schaffen. Schwerpunkt wurde dabei auf den Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR) als Kerntechnologie von DEWATS gelegt. Felduntersuchungen wurden in der Zeit von mehr als vier Jahren an zahlreichen kommunalen DEWATS in Indonesien, Indien und Südafrika durchgeführt, um (i) die gängig gewählten Parameterwerte für Anlagen-Dimensionierung und -Betrieb zu überprüfen, (ii) leistungslimitierende Faktoren im Feldbetrieb zu identifizieren und um (iii) die Leistungsfähigkeit von DEWATS und DEWATS-Reinigungsstufen (insbesondere des ABRs) unter tropischen Feldbedingungen bezüglich Abflusskonzentrationen, Reduzierung des Chemischen Sauerstoffbedarfs (CSB), Schlammstabilisierung und Schlammaktivität zu untersuchen. Basierend auf den Untersuchungsergebnissen, wurden durchschnittliche Einwohnergleichwerte, Langzeitvariationen und Faktoren für Zuflussspitzen für kommunale Abwasserproduktion in DEWATS-Zielbevölkerungsgruppen präsentiert. Ferner werden allgemeine Pro-Kopf-CSB-Frachten, -Ammoniumfrachten und -Phosphorfrachten, die Pro-Kopf-Biogasproduktion in kommunalen Biogasanlagen sowie die Pro-Kopf-Schlammakkumulation in ABRs abgeschätzt. Auf Felduntersuchungen basierend, wurden Fremdwassereinfluss, generelle Unterbelastung, organische Unterbelastung und erhöhte Frischwassersalinität in Küstengebieten als leistungslimitierende Faktoren im Feldbetrieb identifiziert. An 109 indonesischen Anlagen durchgeführte Abflusskonzentrationsmessungen ließen auf eine garantierte Abflusskonzentration der anaeroben Reaktoren von 200 mg CSB l-1 schließen, wenn der negative Einfluss von erhöhter Frischwassersalinität ausgeschlossen werden kann. Der CSB-Abbau durch ABRs in vier detailliert untersuchten DEWATS war gering in drei Fällen und befriedigend in einem Fall. Anaerobe Filter (AF) trugen in den drei Fällen, in denen sie Teil der Anlagenkonfigurationen waren, signifikant zur CSB-Reduzierung bei. Ammonium- und Phoshorkonzentrationen in allen Reaktorabläufen waren vergleichsweise hoch. Ein großer Anteil des CSBs in Reaktorabläufen war biologisch abbaubar. Es wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass sich die Leistungsfähigkeiten der Anlagen signifikant verbessern würden, wären die Anlagenbelastungen den Auslegungswerten ähnlicher, d.h., wären die maximalen hydraulischen Belastungen geringer und die organischen Belastungen höher. Es wird deshalb geraten, den Fremdwasserzufluss zu minimieren, die Anlagenzulaufkonzentration durch partielle Grauwasserversickerung zu erhöhen und die Ammonium- und Phoshorkonzentration im Zulauf durch partiellen Urinabschlag zu verringern. Es wird außerdem vorgeschlagen, die hydraulische Aufenthaltszeit in Absetzbecken (settlers) auf zehn Stunden zu begrenzen, um so die organische Belastung der ABRs zu erhöhen. Ferner wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass Anlagen unter höherer Trockenwetterbelastung als bislang angenommen betrieben werden können, da aktiver anaerober Abbau auch unter extremen hydraulischen Belastungen möglich erscheint. Dies könnte zu einer signifikanten Senkung der Baukosten führen. Die Modellierung anaerober Abbauprozesse mit dem existierenden ADM-3P-Modell bestätigten, dass im Feld beobachtete Schlammakkumulationsraten auf eine aktive Hydrolyse schließen lassen. Das Modell konnte jedoch nicht genutzt werden, um Bezugswerte für den gelösten CSB im Ablauf der Anlagen zu erhalten, da es eine vergleichsweise hohe Sensitivität in Bezug auf die Raten für Methanogenese aufwies. Die allgemein anerkannte Sichtweise ist, dass die Hydrolyse den geschwindigkeitsbestimmenden Abbauschritt bei der anaeroben Behandlung feststoffreicher Abwässer darstellt. Es wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass dieses nicht für feststoffakkumulierende Systeme, wie den ABR, zutrifft.

Os efluentes com elevadas concentrações de lipídios, apesar de demonstrarem elevado potencial para produção de metano podem causar inibição da atividade do consórcio anaeróbio, impossibilitando a produção de biogás. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo de um reator anaeróbio compartimentado (ABR) com cinco compartimentos tratando efluente simulado de laticínio. Para tanto, a biomassa, foi adaptada por 51 dias e em seguida submetida a tempos de detenção de hidráulica (TDH) de 72h, 24h e 12h, tendo o monitoramento se estendido por 340 dias. Enquanto operando com TDH de 24, o sistema foi submetido a choques hidráulicos e de carga orgânica através da diminuição do TDH para 12 h. O reator absorveu bem a carga, e em 36 horas recuperou os valores prévios de eficiência. Quando operou permanentemente com 12 horas, todavia, problemas de flotação de biomassa e obstruções foram constantes. As eficiências de remoção de matéria orgânica alcançadas para cada condição aplicada foram de 92 ± 3,0; 91 ± 1,8 e 90 ± 2,4% para os TDH de 72h, 24h e 12h, respectivamente. Esses valores foram estatisticamente semelhantes (Anova e L-Fisher). A percentagem de metano no biogás aumentou com a redução de TDH, tendo sido 41 ± 23, 53 ± 27 e 62 ± 12% quando os TDH foram 72, 24 e 12 horas, respectivamente. A produção média de alcalinidade foi de 320±25 mg.CaCO3.L-1, sendo esta observada desde o início da operação. A relação média entre alcalinidade intermediária e parcial foi de 0.1±0.06 em amostras coletadas na saída do sistema. Embora apresentando problemas de obstrução com o menor TDH, o ABR foi eficiente, robusto e confiável ao tratar efluente de laticínios, tendo produzido um efluente líquido de alta qualidade e biogás rico em metano. / Effluents with high concentrations of lipids, although demonstrating high potential for methane production represents potential inhibition of the anaerobic consortium activity, depleting the production of biogas. This project was carried out monitoring an anaerobic hybrid baffled reactor with five compartments (ABR) treating simulated dairy wastewater. The biomass, was adapted for 51 days and then subjected to hydraulic retention times (HDT) of 72h, 24h and 12h, resulting in a monitoring period of 340 days. While operating with 24h of HRT, the system was subjected to three organic and hydraulic shock loads, when its HDT was decreased to 12 h. The reactor absorbed the shock within 36 hours, achieving similar efficiencies to the previous condition. Nevertheless, although presenting high organic matter efficiencies, when permanently operating with HDT of 12 h, clogging problems due to biomass flotation were constant. The organic matter removal efficiencies for each operational condition were 92 ± 3%, 91 ± 1.8%, 90 ± 2,4%. Those values were statistically similar. The methane percentage in the biogas increased with the HDT reduction, being 41 ± 23, 53 ± 27, and 62 ± 12% when the HDT were 72, 24 and 12 hours. Alkalinity production was observed since the beginning of operation. The mean relation between intermediate and partial alkalinity was 0.1±0.006 in samples collected in the system output. Although presenting clogging problems with the smallest HDT, the ABR was efficient, robust and reliable when treating dairy effluents, producing a high quality liquid effluent and a methane rich biogas.

A digestão anaeróbia é uma potencial solução para a destinação dos grandes volumes de vinhaça gerada em biorrefinarias de cana-de-açúcar. A alta concentração de matéria orgânica presente na vinhaça é uma questão importante a ser considerada, uma vez que as populações microbianas anaeróbias, principalmente metanogênicas, são sensíveis a sobrecargas orgânicas. Uma série de configurações de reatores, bem como diferentes estratégias de partida e operação tem sido aplicadas ao tratamento de vinhaça, como a recirculação do efluente tratado, a qual é usualmente empregada para prevenir eventos de sobrecarga orgânica. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a influência da recirculação de efluentes em reatores anaeróbios compartimentados (RAC) tratando águas residuárias concentradas, uma vez que a literatura não é conclusiva sobre os efeitos da recirculação neste tipo de reator. Para atingir esse objetivo, foi utilizada uma abordagem dupla: experimental e modelagem matemática. Um RAC com 4 compartimentos em série em escala de bancada foi alimentado com vinhaça de cana-de-açúcar (DQO = 18,0 g/L) e monitorado durante 273 dias. Os parâmetros cinéticos e de transferência de massa do reator foram obtidos e utilizados para criar um modelo matemático para a conversão da matéria orgânica no software Matlab®. Tanto os dados operacionais como os parâmetros cinéticos mostraram que a elevada concentração de DQO fez com que o RAC não se comportasse como um sistema de duas fases, bem como a recirculação não resultasse em melhorias relevantes de desempenho. O modelo matemático concordou com os dados operacionais e mostrou que, em termos de capacidade de conversão, o uso de elevadas taxas de recirculação não é necessário para um adequado desempenho do RAC, uma vez que a cinética bioquímica observada não foi expressivamente limitada pela concentração de substrato. / Anaerobic digestion is a potential approach to handle the large volume of vinasse generated in sugarcane biorefineries. The high concentration of organic matter present in vinasse is an important issue to be considered, since anaerobic microbial populations, mainly methanogens, are sensitive to organic overloads. A serie of reactors configurations, as well as different startup and operating strategies, have been applied to the treatment of vinasse, so that the recirculation of the treated effluent is usually used to prevent organic overloading events. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of effluent recirculation in anaerobic baffled reactors (ABR) treating high concentrated wastewater, since literature is not conclusive about its effects. To achieve this aim an experimental and mathematical modeling dual approach was employed. A bench-scale ABR with four serial baffleds was fed with sugarcane vinasse (COD = 18,0 g/L) and monitored for 273 days. Kinetic and mass transfer parameters were obtained and used to create a mathematical model for the organic matter conversion in Matlab®. Both the operating data and the kinetic parameters showed that at high COD concentrations the ABR does not behave as a two-stage system, as well as recirculation did not result in relevant performance improvements. The mathematical model agreed with the operational data and showed that, in terms of conversion capacity, the use of high recirculation ratios is not necessary for suitable ABR performance, since the observed biochemical kinetics were not high limited by the concentration of substrate.