Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:47:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Shaiane__Lucas.pdf: 2393290 bytes, checksum: 9e5c684ef130e9552f01b3191e3e8e1d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-20 / This study evaluated the hydrogen and methane production from cassava starch wastewater in reactors in series. The acidogenic and methanogenic reactors were operated in a continuous flow and trials were divided into three stages. In Stage 1, three essays for hydrogen production evaluated the effect of initial pH (6.0 and 4.5), substrate concentration (1.4, 1.1 and 2.2 g total carbohydrates.L-1) and strategies to control biomass (by disposal or change in the structure of such support material with low density polyethylene) in anaerobic reactors of fixed bed and upflow at 36 °C. The best operating condition among the evaluated ones was pH 6.0 and concentration of 1.4 g total carbohydrates.L-1, which resulted in Hydrogen Volumetric Productions (HVP) of 229 mL.L-1.d-1 and yield of 29.4 mL.g-1total carbohydrate. The best strategy to control biomass was the sort of bed with polyethylene cylinders, which provided the least changes in flow regime and excessive growth of biomass. In Stage 2, the effect of inoculum source was evaluated in two packed-bed reactors operating according to the following conditions: pH 6.0; 2 g.L-1concentration of substrate, 20 g.L-1.d-1organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2-hour. In the inoculated reactor with autofermented effluent, the answers were: 550 mL.L-1.d-1and hydrogen yield of 38mL.g-1total carbohydrates. These values were higher than those observed for the reactor inoculated with anaerobic heat-treated sludge, which indicated that the use of simple inoculums is a viable strategy for hydrogen production under the tested conditions. In addition to these essays, the influence of ORL and HRT were also evaluated. The increase of ORL (10 to 20 g-total carbohydrates.L-1.d-1) and decrease of HRT (4 to 2 hour) resulted in a higherhydrogen production (467 mL.L-1.d-1), hydrogen percentage in the studied biogas (40%) and molar flow rate (2.16 mmol.h-1). Therefore, the average yield of 30 mL H2.g-1 total carbohydrate was the same for both conditions tested. In general, butyric acid was associated with higherhydrogen production, followed by acetic and propionic acids, besides ethanol, in the five analyzed essays. In Stage 3, methane production from the acidified effluent was evaluated in a horizontal anaerobic reactor of fixed bed and continuous flow, operated at mesophilic temperature. The operating conditions were divided into four stages, whose variations were: initial pH (5.0 and 7.0), OLR (1.54; 3.54 and 6 g-COD.L-1.d-1) and HRT (5; 1.5 and 1.1 d). The results of effluent pH greater than 7.0, volatile acidity/total alkalinity of 0.2 and 98% removal of organic matter showed that the reactor performance was not impaired by the separation of acidogenic and methanogenic stages. The highest production of methane was observed in Phase IV, with pH 5.0, 6 g.L-1.d-1 OLR and 1.1 d HRT, resulting in average values of 0.82 L.L-1.d-1 for volumetric methane production, 0.85 L.g-1CODremoved yield and 80% methane in biogas composition. The energy efficiency in the combined system was 17% higher than the one observed in the single system for the treatment of cassava starch wastewater. / Este trabalho avaliou a produção de hidrogênio e metano a partir de efluente de fecularia de mandioca em sistema combinado. Os reatores acidogênico e metanogênico foram operados em fluxo contínuo, e os ensaios divididos em três etapas. Na Etapa 1, três ensaios para produção de hidrogênio avaliaram o efeito do pH inicial (6,0 e 4,5), concentração de substrato (1,4, 1,1 e 2,2 g carboidratos totais.L-1) e estratégias de controle da biomassa (por descarte ou mudança na estruturação do material suporte de polietileno de baixa densidade) em reatores anaeróbios de leito fixo e fluxo ascendente, à temperatura de 36 C. A melhor condição operacional dentre as avaliadas foi pH 6,0 e concentração de 1,4 g carboidratos totais.L-1, que resultou em Produções Volumétricas de Hidrogênio (PVH) de 229 mL.L-1.d-1 e rendimento de 29,4 mL.g-1 carboidrato total. A melhor estratégia de controle de biomassa foi a ordenação do leito com cilindros de polietileno, a qual proporcionou menores alterações no regime de escoamento e crescimento excessivo da biomassa. Na Etapa 2, o efeito da fonte de inóculo foi avaliado em dois reatores de leito empacotado nas condições operacionais pH 6,0; concentração de substrato de 2 g.L-1, Carga Orgânica Volumétrica aplicada (COV) de 20 g.L-1.d-1 e Tempo de Detenção Hidráulica (TDH) de 2 horas. No reator inoculado com efluente autofermentado verificou-se PVH de 550 mL.L-1.d-1 e rendimento de hidrogênio de 38 mL.g-1 carboidratos totais. Esses valores foram maiores que os observados para o reator inoculado com lodo anaeróbio tratado termicamente, os quais indicaram que a utilização de inóculos simples representa uma estratégia viável para produção de hidrogênio nas condições testadas. Além desses ensaios, a influência da COV e do TDH também foi avaliada. O aumento COV (de 10 para 20 g.L-1.d-1) e a redução do TDH (de 4 para 2 h) resultaram em maior produção de hidrogênio (467 mL.L-1.d-1), percentual de hidrogênio no biogás (40%) e vazão molar (2,16 mmol.h-1). Entretanto, o rendimento médio de 30 mL H2.g-1 carboidrato total foi igual para as duas condições testadas. De modo geral, o ácido butírico foi associado à maior produção de gás hidrogênio, seguido dos ácidos acético e propiônico, além de etanol, nos cinco ensaios realizados. Na Etapa 3, a produção de metano a partir do efluente acidificado foi avaliada em reator anaeróbio horizontal de leito fixo e fluxo contínuo, operado em condição mesofílica de temperatura. As condições operacionais foram divididas em quatro fases, com variação do pH inicial (5,0 e 7,0), da COV (1,54; 3,54 e 6 g DQO.L-1.d-1) e do TDH (5; 1,5 e 1,1 d). Os resultados de pH efluente superior a 7,0, relação acidez volátil/alcalinidade total de 0,2 e remoção de 98% da matéria orgânica evidenciam que o desempenho do reator não foi prejudicado pela separação das fases acidogênica e metanogênica. A maior produção de metano foi observada na Fase IV, com pH 5,0, COV de 6 g.L-1.d-1e TDH de 1,1 d, que resultou em valores médios de produção volumétrica de metano de 0,82 L.L-1.d-1, rendimento de 0,85 L.g-1DQOremovida e 80% de metano na composição do biogás. O rendimento energético no sistema combinado foi 17% superior ao observado em sistema único no tratamento de efluente de fecularia.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:47:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lidiana de Andrade.pdf: 573128 bytes, checksum: aea6329b21b37790be3adaed5e1f2ec1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-06-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Effluents from fish slaughterhouse are rich in nutrients, among other there is nitrogen that causes eutrophication in rivers. Nitrogen removal can be done in two parts: Nitrification and Denitrification. Nitrification is influenced by factors such as temperature, pH, alkalinity, C/N relation and other. This experiment aimed to test the influence of air flow and ammonia concentration in nitrification process in a sequential batch reactor with immobilized biomass. The reactor had volume of 2.5L, it was operated as rotational central composed design (DCCR), which were tested the factors: air flow (1 to 3L.min-1), initial concentration of ammonia nitrogen (40 to 100mgN.L-1). The results evaluated were conversion rate of ammonia to nitrate, nitrite percentage of accumulation, and capacity of microorganisms detention. The results showed with confidence interval of 95%, that the concentrations decrease of evaluated factors significantly increased the conversion percentage of ammonia to nitrate. The nitrite percentage of accumulation was influenced significantly by the increasing concentration of ammonia. And the biomass capacity of detention has not suffered significant influence from any factors considered. / Os efluentes de abatedouro de peixes são ricos em nutrientes e, entre eles, está o nitrogênio que causa a eutrofização dos corpos de água. A remoção do nitrogênio pode ser feita em duas etapas: nitrificação e desnitrificação. A nitrificação é influenciada por fatores como temperatura, pH, alcalinidade, relação C/N entre outros. Este experimento teve como objetivo testar a influência da vazão de ar e da concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal no processo de nitrificação em reator em batelada seqüencial com biomassa imobilizada. O reator com volume de 2,5L foi operado conforme delineamento composto central rotacional, em que foram avaliados os fatores: vazão de ar (de 1 e 3 L.min-1); e concentração inicial de nitrogênio amoniacal (de 40 e 100 mgN.L-1). As variáveis-resposta analisadas foram: porcentagem de conversão de nitrogênio amoniacal a nitrato, porcentagem de acúmulo de nitrito e capacidade de imobilização dos microrganismos. Os resultados mostraram, com intervalo de confiança de 95%, que a diminuição das concentrações dos fatores avaliados aumentou significativamente a porcentagem de conversão de nitrogênio amoniacal a nitrato. A porcentagem de acúmulo de nitrito foi influenciada de forma significativa somente com o aumento da concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal. E a capacidade de imobilização da biomassa não sofreu influencia significativa de nenhum dos fatores analisados.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Bortoli Rodrigues Mees.pdf: 2709034 bytes, checksum: 02264027f5193bac921eb872df0081a9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-03-27 / The objective of the recent research was to evaluate the water hyacinth performance (E. crassipes), applied in situ in a slaughter house treatment system, located in the west of the Paraná state, observing the nutrients removal (nitrogen composts and total phosphorus), organic matter (COD and BOD), turbidity and suspended solids, obtaining as well data from the production, management and composting practices of the biomass generated in the system. The plants were introduced into the forth tank of the industry stabilization lagoons system, covering 35m2 of the total area delimitated for the experiment: 870m2. During a period of 11 months (47 weeks) of water hyacinth development, physic and chemical parameters were monitored monthly and meteorological parameters were monitored daily or weekly. In order to search information about the degradation of the water hyacinths removed from the treatment, another experiment was conduced in plant pilot. Eight composting piles were built measuring approximately 0.60m3, with four distinct treatments that were done twice. The treatments were T1 - Water hyacinth (E. crassipes), T2 - Water hyacinth and swine excrement (7:1), T3 - Water hyacinth, swine excrement and earth (7:1:0,67), T4 - Water hyacinth, swine excrement and cellulosic gut (7:1:0,67), for a period of 90 days. The temperature was monitored daily, and humidity, cinder, nitrogen and total organic carbon were monitored monthly. The result obtained, during 11 months, were promising and the efficient averages of 26.3% of COD and 32.5% of BOD removal were observed, with a maximum removal of 77.2% of COD and 77.87% of BOD. About the nutrient removal, a 21.2% average of nitrogen removal was observed, with a maximum removal of 87.9%, an 11.0% average for ammoniac nitrogen, with maximum of 47.5%, and an 11.1% average and maximum of 38.9% for total phosphorus, during an average of 5 days of retention. An increase in the water turbidity was noticed during the months of high pluviometric precipitation; however, the efficiency of the process was positive during all the monitoring period, with a maximum removal of 58.1%. Considering the C/N relation as a compost maturity indicator, the T4 treatment (water hyacinth, swine excrement and cellulosic gut) had the shorter period of stabilization: 60 days. / O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o desempenho da macrófita aquática (Eichhornia crassipes), aplicada in situ em sistema de tratamento de um matadouro e frigorífico, localizado no Oeste do Estado do Paraná, com relação à remoção de nutrientes (formas de nitrogênio e fósforo total), matéria orgânica (DBO e DQO), turbidez e sólidos sedimentáveis, bem como obter dados da produção, de práticas de manejo e compostagem da biomassa gerada no sistema. As plantas foram introduzidas na quarta célula do sistema de lagoas de estabilização da indústria, ocupando 35m2 da área total delimitada para o experimento: 870m2. Durante o período de 11 meses (47 semanas) de desenvolvimento das macrófitas na lagoa, realizou-se o monitoramento de parâmetros físico-químicos, analisados com freqüência mensal e parâmetros meteorológicos, coletados com freqüência diária e/ou semanal. Com intuito de buscar informações sobre a degradação das macrófitas retiradas do sistema de tratamento, foi conduzido um experimento em planta piloto, montando-se oito leiras de compostagem com aproximadamente 0,60m3, com quatro tratamentos distintos, sendo: T1 - Aguapé (E. crassipes), T2 - Aguapé e dejeto suíno (7:1), T3 - Aguapé, dejeto suíno e terra (7:1:0,67), T4 - Aguapé, dejeto suíno e tripa celulósica (7:1:0,67), por um período de 90 dias, monitorando-se semanalmente a temperatura, e mensalmente a umidade, cinzas, nitrogênio e carbono orgânico total. Os resultados obtidos, durante os 11 meses do experimento, foram promissores e observou-se uma eficiência media de remoção de DQO de 26,3% e de DBO de 32,5%, com remoção máxima de DQO de 77,2% e de DBO de 77,8%. Em relação aos nutrientes, observou-se uma remoção média de nitrogênio total de 21,2% com máxima de 87,9%, de nitrogênio amoniacal de 11,0% com máxima de 47,5% e de fósforo total de 11,1% com máxima de 38,9%, para um tempo médio de retenção de cinco dias. Com relação à turbidez, observou-se aumento da turbidez afluente nos meses com maior índice de precipitação pluviométrica, contudo a eficiência manteve-se positiva durante todo período de monitoramento, com remoção máxima de 58,1%. Considerando a relação C/N como um indicador da maturidade do composto, observou-se que o tratamento T4 (aguapé, dejeto e tripa celulósica) obteve o menor período de estabilização do composto orgânico: 60 dias.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:48:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jonathan Dieter.pdf: 502134 bytes, checksum: 0715591952d78facfe1347c37dd131d8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-11-10 / The western region of Paraná is characterized as a wetland, where the average monthly rainfall exceeded 100 mm. In this region the pig is a very intense activity which causes environmental and public health due to the significant volume of waste generated. Most of the properties is common to allocate the liquid and solid wastes to the soil in the period between harvests as a fertilizer and water reuse in agriculture. However, this practice associated with the humid climate of the region enhances the diffuse pollution in order to impact, particularly surface water depending on the process of runoff, leading to eutrophication of water bodies and lower layer of fertile soil in the region. Thus, it is necessary to study the nutrient losses in runoff water and sediments carried by considering the application of different rates of pig manure in the soil and also with different intensities of rain with characteristic erosive. The results showed that the concentration of available soil phosphorus in the soil Erdöd is dependent on the application rate of swine wastewater and that during the flow is greater superfical transferecia soluble phosphorus to water early in the runoff. / A região oeste do Paraná caracteriza-se como uma região úmida, onde as precipitações médias mensais ultrapassam 100 mm. Nessa região a suinocultura é uma atividade bastante intensa o que provoca preocupações ambientais e de saúde pública em decorrência do volume significativo de dejetos gerados. Na maior parte das propriedades é comum destinar os dejetos líquidos e sólidos ao solo no período entre-safra como forma de adubação e reúso de água na agricultura. Porém, esta prática associada ao clima úmido da região potencializa a poluição difusa de modo a impactar, principalmente as águas superficiais em função do processo de escoamento superficial, propiciando a eutrofização dos corpos d´água e à diminuição da camada fértil dos solos da região. Deste modo, faz-se necessário estudar as perdas de nutrientes na água de escoamento superficial e nos sedimentos carreados, considerando a aplicação de diferentes taxas de dejetos suínos no solo e também de diferentes intensidades de chuva com característica erosiva. Os resultados demostraram que a concentração de fósforo disponível do solo como no solo erdodido é dependente da dose de aplicação de água residuária da suinocultura e, que durante o escoamento superfical ocorre uma maior transferecia de fósforo solúvel para o meio aquático no inicio do escoamento superficial.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:48:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dayane Cristina da Rocha.pdf: 1452913 bytes, checksum: 15c01c66c71278c9a56f1e0eb396f63c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-07-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Biodiesel is a derived fuel from renewable biomass that can substitute partially or totally the fossil fuel. The production process of the biodiesel is composed by the following stages: raw material preparation, transesterification reaction, phases separation, alcohol recovery and dehydration, glycerin destillation and purification of the renewable fuel, resulting in glycerin as a by-product and purification wastewater. The formed wastewater during the stage of purification presents high concentration of oils and greases, presenting potential to contaminate bodies of water. One of the treatment proposals of this residue is the enzymatic hydrolysis use by lipases for removal of oils and greases. Due the specificity of lipases and its large technological application, it appears that it is necessary to search new microorganisms producers of this enzyme, with specific characteristics to the residue in study. Therefore, its objective was to evaluate the biodegradation of the biodiesel washing(purification) water, gotten trough transesterification between soy oil and methanol, by means of production of lipase, using isolated microorganisms from the proper residue. For both, analyses of the initial physicist-chemistries characteristics had been made with the residuary water of the biodiesel washing, then it had been isolated and chosen, by means of determinations of the lipase activity. Following, it was made a test of fat biodegradation, fixing the variables pH (5,95), temperature (35ºC), rotation (180 rpm) and nitrogen concentration (3 g.L-1) and establishing as variable the two microorganism preselected and the time (24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h). At the time (48 h) and Klebsiella oxytoca microorganism defined, the optimization process of the fat removal in the treatment of the wastewater was initialized. For such, it was used a designed central composite (DCCR), establishing as independent variables pH and nitrogen concentration, the other variable ones had been previously fixed in: temperature 35ºC, rotation 180 rpm and 48 hours. For experimental validation of the model considered for fat removal it was carried through, in triplicate copy, a biodegradation test in the excellent established conditions. These results, on the other hand, had been compared to a kinetics one carried through the same conditions, but using as inoculun the commercial product Hábil FTW SF. The biodiesel purification wastewater had presented high potential of environmental impact, presenting a concentration of O&G of 6,76 g.L-1. From the six isolated microbiological cultures in the decantation tank of this effluent one, two microorganisms (A and B) had been selected presenting one high potential of lipase production, with enzymatic index of 0,56 and 0,57, respectively. Trough DCCR ways it has been concluded that the best point to the maximum efficiency of removal of O&G from the residuary water of biodiesel purification was equivalents to pH 7,5 and 4,00 g.L-1 of nitrogen, resulting in an efficiency of 60% in the removal of fat. The treatment of the wastewater using the proper isolated microorganism from the effluent (Klebsiella oxytoca) was not differentiated from the carried through essays using the commercial product Hábil FTW SF. / O biodiesel é um combustível derivado de biomassa renovável que pode substituir, parcial ou totalmente, o combustível de origem fóssil. O processo de produção de biodiesel é composto das seguintes etapas: preparação da matéria-prima, reação de transesterificação, separação de fases, recuperação e desidratação do álcool, destilação da glicerina e purificação desse combustível renovável, tendo como subproduto a glicerina e como resíduo água de purificação. A água residuária, formada durante a etapa de purificação, apresenta alto teor de óleos e graxas, tendo potencial para contaminar corpos água. Uma das propostas de tratamento deste resíduo é a utilização de hidrólise enzimática por lipases para remoção de óleos e graxas. Devido à especificidade das lipases e sua ampla aplicação tecnológica, verifica-se que é necessário pesquisar novas cepas de micro-organismos produtores desta enzima, com características específicas do resíduo em estudo. Deste modo, teve-se por objetivo neste estudo avaliar a biodegradação da água de lavagem (purificação) do biodiesel, obtido por transesterificação entre óleo de soja e metanol, por meio de produção de lipase, utilizando micro-organismos isolados do próprio resíduo. Para tanto, foram feitas análises das características físico-químicas iniciais da água residuária da lavagem do biodiesel e a partir desse resíduo foram isolados e selecionados micro-organismos com potencial de produção de lipase. Em seguida, foi feito um ensaio de biodegradação de gordura, fixando-se as variáveis: pH (5,95), temperatura (35ºC), rotação (180 rpm) e concentração de nitrogênio (3 g.L-1) e tendo como variáveis os micro-organismos pré-selecionados e o tempo (24, 48, 72, 96 e 120 h). Com o tempo (48h) e o micro-organismo Klebsilla oxytoca, iniciou-se o processo de otimização da remoção de gordura no tratamento da água residuária. Para tal, utilizou-se um Delineamento Composto Central Rotacional (DCCR), tendo como variáveis independentes pH e concentração de nitrogênio; as demais variáveis foram previamente fixadas em: temperatura 35ºC, rotação 180 rpm e tempo 48 h. Para validação experimental do modelo proposto para remoção de gordura foi realizado, em triplicata, um ensaio de biodegradação nas condições ótimas estabelecidas. Estes resultados, por sua vez, foram comparados com uma cinética realizada nas mesmas condições, mas utilizando como inóculo o produto comercial Hábil FTW SF. A água residuária de purificação do biodiesel apresentou alto potencial de impacto ambiental, tendo uma concentração de O&G de 6,76 g.L-1. Das seis culturas microbianas isoladas do tanque decantação deste efluente, dois micro-organismos (A e B) foram selecionados, apresentando um alto potencial de produção de lipase, com índice enzimático de 0,56 e 0,57, respectivamente. Por meio do DCCR, conclui-se que o ponto ótimo para máxima eficiência de remoção de O&G da água residuária de purificação do biodiesel foi equivalente ao pH 7,5 e 4,00 g.L-1 de nitrogênio, obtendo-se uma eficiência de 60% na remoção de gordura. O tratamento da água residuária utilizando o micro-organismo isolado Klebsilla oxytoca, a partir do próprio efluente, não se diferenciou dos ensaios realizados utilizando o produto comercial Hábil FTW SF.

O chorume é um líquido produzido na decomposição dos resíduos sólidos e apresenta riscos ambientais, devido à variedade de substancias poluentes presentes na matriz. O chorume in natura utilizado neste trabalho foi proveniente do aterro sanitário de Cachoeira Paulista - SP, sendo caracterizado com elevadas concentrações de COT (1233,33 mgL-1), DQO (3565,0 mgL-1) e DBO5/DQO = 0,099. Diante da baixa biodegradabilidade do chorume (DBO5/DQO < 0,2), utilizou-se a ozonização catalítica, em presença de ferro, em sistema contínuo, como uma alternativa para viabilizar o tratamento deste efluente. Diversas configurações de reatores foram avaliadas, sendo utilizados, inicialmente, reatores contínuos rudimentares (PVC). As avaliações reacionais e operacionais dos protótipos possibilitaram a elaboração de um reator construído com bases conceituais de engenharia, confeccionado em vidro borosilicato, e em dois módulos: o corpo do reator com duas entradas, sendo uma de alimentação, localizada acima, e a outra de introdução de ozônio, que foi feita por meio de um difusor de vidro sinterizado na base do reator. O segundo módulo foi feito para garantir que a espuma formada durante a reação fosse eliminada pela quebra da tensão através de ar comprimido, retornando-a, sob a forma líquida, ao sistema. As avaliações iniciais da ozonização catalítica do chorume in natura, para a verificação da potencialidade deste tratamento, foram realizadas sem o uso de um planejamento experimental, sendo o melhor resultado obtido na ordem de 72,64 % para a redução de COT. Após a seleção do reator de ozonização para o processo contínuo e a escolha do íon ferroso como catalisador, foi elaborado um planejamento fatorial fracionado (24-1) para avaliação das variáveis (potência, vazão de saída do reator, concentração de Fe2+, pH), no qual, o melhor resultado para a redução de COT foi de 59,38%. Este desempenho inferior para a redução de COT pode ser atribuído à substituição do gás de oxigênio puro por ar comprimido, reduzindo a vazão mássica de ozônio disponível para o tratamento. Entretanto, este processo pode ser viabilizado no tratamento prévio do chorume, pois a ozonização proporcionou uma elevada redução de DQO na ordem de 82,3 % e um aumento de 74,4% na biodegradabilidade (DBO5/DQO = 0,389) do chorume, podendo torná-lo potencialmente tratável por processos convencionais. / Leachate is a liquid produced in the decomposition of solid waste and presents environmental risks due to the variety of polluting substances existing in the matrix. The in natura leachate used in this work was from the landfill of the city Cachoeira Paulista in the state of São Paulo, which was characterized with high concentrations of TOC (1233.33 mgL-1) COD (3565.0 mg.L-1) and BOD5/COD = 0.099. Due to the low biodegradability of leachate (BOD5/COD < 0.2), the catalytic ozonation in the presence of iron in a continuous system was used as a viable alternative for the treatment of this effluent. Several configurations of reactors were evaluated, and, initially, rudimentary continuous reactors (PVC) were used. The reactional and operational evaluations of the prototypes enabled the creation of a reactor built on conceptual foundations of engineering, that was made of borosilicate glass, and in two modules: the body of the reactor with two entries, one for feeding, located above, and the other one for ozone introduction, made through a sintered glass diffuser at the bottom of the reactor. The second module was made to ensure that the foam formed during the reaction is eliminated by breaking the tension via compressed air, returning it, in liquid form, to the system. Initial assessments of the catalytic ozonation of the in natura leachate, to verify the potential of this treatment, were performed without the use of an experimental design, and the best result obtained was to reduce TOC on about 72.64 %. After selecting the ozonation reactor for continuous process and choosing ferrous ion as catalyst, a fractional factorial design (24-1) was prepared to evaluation the selected variables (potency, output flow of reactor, Fe2+ concentration, pH) in which the best result for the TOC reduction was 59.38%. This inferior performance for the TOC reduction can be associated to the replacement of pure oxygen gas by compressed air, reducing the ozone mass flow available to the treatment. However, this process can be made possible in the pretreatment of leachate, because the ozonation provided a high reduction of COD on about 82.3% and an increase of 74.4% on the biodegradability (BOD5/COD = 0.389) of leachate, and that can make it potentially treatable by conventional methods.

Nutrients present in digested animal waste can be utilized for algae cultivation under suitable conditions. Algal growth, however, depends on the chemical forms and speciation of these nutrients. In this study a chemical equilibrium model was first used to describe nutrient speciation and predict conditions that enhance the solubility of nutrients in anaerobic digester effluent. Dilution with water and separation of large particulates greatly improved nutrient availability and light penetration - conditions favorable for algal cultivation. Algae growth was tested using three strains - Scenedesmus dimorphous (UTEX # 417), Chlorella vulgaris (UTEX# 265), and an algal isolate (designated as LLAI and later identified to be closely related to Chlorella vulgaris) from the wastewater treatment lagoons in Logan, UT. All tested strains could be adapted to the effluent to enhance the utilization of native nutrients present in both organic and inorganic forms. There was a marked improvement in growth rates (up to 4.8-fold) and biomass production (up to 8.7-fold) of algal cultures after they adapted to the effluent. Also, effluent-adapted strains were able to switch from phototrophy to heterotrophy to prolong the growth when light availability became limited. However, an increase in irradiance levels in light-limited cultures led to resumption of phototrophic growth. It was found that this approach of light supplementation prolonged growth and increased biomass production (up to 2.7-fold) in algal cultures. Of all the strains tested, the isolate from the wastewater treating lagoons grew to highest culture densities and produced the highest concentration of intracellular triacylglycerides (TAG). This culture also grew best in non-sterile, native effluent and could reach biomass concentration of up to 4.5g/L with TAG content of approximately 10% (w/w). Culture densities were lower when this organism was grown in sterilized effluent or in sterile artificial media, suggesting that this organism symbiotically associated with other microbes in digested animal waste. Findings of this research study suggest that microalgae can be grown efficiently on inexpensive natural substrates in non-sterile growth conditions. When commercially implemented, biodiesel production from such systems could be more cost effective and sustainable.

Natural abundance of 15N varies greatly and unpredictably within and between environments. The unpredictable nature of 15N limits the use of N isotope natural abundance (d15N) in tracing the flow and fate of N in environments. Recent investigations have, however, revealed consistent and repeatable patterns of 15N in some ecosystem components. These patterns suggest that d15N may yet provide a tool to investigate and illuminate ecosystem N cycling processes. Identifying and quantifying the sources of isotopic variation must precede any significant advance in the application of this technique, and to this end an assessment of isotopic variation associated with major ecosystem components has been carried out in this thesis. d15N patterns have been established, hypotheses proposed and tested, and conclusions about the application of the technique are presented. 15N patterns in surface and groundwater were measured in a variety of different land-use catchments in an attempt to identify distinct isotopic 'fingerprints'. High levels of 15N variation were measured in both stream and groundwaters, resulting in strongly overlapping land-use 'fingerprints'. Environmental 15N variation in streams and groundwaters was found to be too great to differentiate between land-uses based on d15N alone. In contrast, the artificially 15N enriched signature of effluent N was used to trace its flow and fate, following irrigation, in a forested catchment. The effluent d15N signature allowed it to be traced into the major ecosystem components, permitting a first order N budget to be determined for effluent N storage and loss. N sources with significantly different 15N signatures to that of 'background ecosystem N' can therefore be used to trace the flow and fate of N in ecosystems. During the course of this work a number of higher and lower order plants were observed to have highly depleted (lt; -8 ) d15N signatures. Epiphytes and lithophytes, strongly reliant on atmospheric N sources, were consistently depleted in 15N, with signatures as low as -24 , measured in a range of environments. A similar level of depletion was measured in a wide range of plants growing in early primary succession sites (as low as -22.3 ), which could not be accounted for by any abiotic or biotic factor or significantly depleted N source. The absence of any measurable driver of depletion suggested a universal fractionating mechanism which acts in a wide range of environments and vegetation types. Diffusive uptake of atmospheric NH3(g) and the proportional uptake of a supplied N source were two proposed mechanisms that could theoretically account for the level and universal nature of depletion. Diffusive uptake of atmospheric NH3(g) was tested as a primary fractionating mechanism in plants. Strongly N deficient plants were capable of utilising NH3(g) as a nutritional source, but the level of 15N depletion measured in these plants closely approximated that of the inherent NH3(g) d15N signature. No significant additional fractionation is associated with NH3(g) diffusive uptake. Diffusive uptake of atmospheric NH3(g) by plants cannot alone account for the level of depletion measured in early primary succession plant communities. Proportional uptake of a N source as a primary fractionating mechanism was tested by growing plants in various concentrations and rates of applied N. Fractionation attributed to the proportional uptake of a supplied N source, as a consequence of P limitation or rapid flow over roots, resulted in a significant level of 15N depletion in plants. The level of depletion attributed to this mechanism was, however, not sufficient to account for the level measured in early primary succession plant communities. Individual 15N fractionating mechanisms cannot alone explain the level of depletion observed in early primary succession plants, however a combination of fractionating mechanisms can. Fractionation attributed to the proportional uptake of an already depleted N source, i.e., wet deposited N, largely accounts for the level of depletion measured in early succession plant communities. This two-step fractionation model can act on both higher and lower plants, independent of ecosystem biotic and abiotic factors. Additional, and less dramatic fractionations attributed to atmospheric NH3(g) uptake, mycorrhizal associations, internal remobilisation, and taxon-specific N acquisition strategies, will contribute to the level of d15N depletion. This thesis presents the first extensive survey of highly depleted d15N signatures in terrestrial vegetation. Furthermore, thorough testing of theoretically plausible mechanisms has resulted in a full account of the highly depleted d15N signatures measured in a wide range of vegetation types and environments.

To assess potential impacts of effluents from Key Lake and McClean Lake uranium operations on freshwater systems, morphometric (weight, length, condition factor) and biochemical (total body lipids and triglycerides, liver triglycerides, muscle protein, muscle RNA/DNA ratio) measures of growth and bioenergetics were determined in young-of-the-year (YOY) fishes collected in fall and spring. It was predicted that fishes exposed to mining and milling effluents would be in poorer condition relative to fishes from reference sites and that fishes would be depleted in lipids and triglycerides in the spring compared to the previous fall following a northern winter. Various total body lipid and triglyceride measurement methods were initially compared and validated. <p>Lakes receiving effluent at Key Lake (in operation > 20 years) were higher in metals, ions and ammonia compared to exposure sites at McClean Lake (in operation < 10 years). At Key Lake, there were site and season differences in total body lipids and triglycerides in YOY northern pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) and burbot (Lota lota), with fishes being fattier at exposure sites compared to fishes at the reference site, and fish being fattier in spring relative to fall. A local prey item, spottail shiners (<i>Notropis hudsonius</i>), from an exposure lake were higher in triglycerides compared to shiners from a reference site, suggesting an indirect effect of uranium operation effluent on pike and burbot bioenergetics via food web enrichment. At McClean Lake, there were site and season increases in lipids and triglycerides in burbot from the exposure site, however there were no site differences in any morphometric or biochemical endpoint for northern pike. Slimy sculpin (<i>Cottus cognatus</i>) were the only species with lower triglyceride content in the spring following winter. <p>Overall, biochemical measures of growth (muscle protein, muscle RNA/DNA ratio) did not vary with effluent exposure at either uranium operation. Lipids and triglycerides were useful biochemical endpoints that frequently detected site and season differences in fish condition that were not noted with morphometric measures. Site and season differences in fish lipids and triglycerides at sites receiving mining and milling effluents revealed an impact of the uranium operations on indigenous YOY fish condition.

To assess potential impacts of effluents from Key Lake and McClean Lake uranium operations on freshwater systems, morphometric (weight, length, condition factor) and biochemical (total body lipids and triglycerides, liver triglycerides, muscle protein, muscle RNA/DNA ratio) measures of growth and bioenergetics were determined in young-of-the-year (YOY) fishes collected in fall and spring. It was predicted that fishes exposed to mining and milling effluents would be in poorer condition relative to fishes from reference sites and that fishes would be depleted in lipids and triglycerides in the spring compared to the previous fall following a northern winter. Various total body lipid and triglyceride measurement methods were initially compared and validated. <p>Lakes receiving effluent at Key Lake (in operation > 20 years) were higher in metals, ions and ammonia compared to exposure sites at McClean Lake (in operation < 10 years). At Key Lake, there were site and season differences in total body lipids and triglycerides in YOY northern pike (<i>Esox lucius</i>) and burbot (Lota lota), with fishes being fattier at exposure sites compared to fishes at the reference site, and fish being fattier in spring relative to fall. A local prey item, spottail shiners (<i>Notropis hudsonius</i>), from an exposure lake were higher in triglycerides compared to shiners from a reference site, suggesting an indirect effect of uranium operation effluent on pike and burbot bioenergetics via food web enrichment. At McClean Lake, there were site and season increases in lipids and triglycerides in burbot from the exposure site, however there were no site differences in any morphometric or biochemical endpoint for northern pike. Slimy sculpin (<i>Cottus cognatus</i>) were the only species with lower triglyceride content in the spring following winter. <p>Overall, biochemical measures of growth (muscle protein, muscle RNA/DNA ratio) did not vary with effluent exposure at either uranium operation. Lipids and triglycerides were useful biochemical endpoints that frequently detected site and season differences in fish condition that were not noted with morphometric measures. Site and season differences in fish lipids and triglycerides at sites receiving mining and milling effluents revealed an impact of the uranium operations on indigenous YOY fish condition.