This thesis reports on research from a full-scale demonstration project to recharge a depleted aquifer with treated sewage effluent from the Paphos (Cyprus) wastewater treatment plant. The project artificially recharged the Ezousas river basin, located in the south-western coastal plain of Cyprus, with tertiary treated, disinfected effluent through a network of artificial infiltration ponds. The aims of the research were to determine the capacity of the aquifer to provide a suitable buffer for the flow from the wastewater without flooding and to measure the changes in reclaimed water quality. The aquifer hydraulics and treatment capacity, including recharge basins, were analysed using field and laboratory measurements. A geological field survey and modelling was used to assess, both by practice and theory the effectiveness of the Ezousas river aquifer for storage and recovery of the reclaimed water. The aquifer was found to be mainly composed of alluvium with typical hydraulic characteristics. The average porosity was 20% and hydraulic conductivity around 90 m/day, it was concluded the aquifer would be able to accept all the annual output of the treatment plant which was 5 Mm3 /a. The recharge network consisted of five groups of infiltration basins arranged on both banks of the River Ezousas about 2km upstream of the wastewater treatment plant. Each infiltration basin contained two, four or six recharge ponds, each basin was 2,000m2 in area with a depth of 1.5 m. A recharge pattern consisting of alternating weeks of wet-fill and drying cycles was found necessary to maintain the unsaturated zone below the ponds in order to maximise the amount of water that could be recharged whilst optimising water quality. The hydraulic impact of the artificial recharge and extraction from the field measurements of borehole water levels indicated recharged water down to 15m below the surface. Tracer tests on the groundwater flow, capture zone, residence times and mass balances of recharged and native waters gave widely varying residence times between 30 days and 5 years, these were attributed to the complex flow patterns found. Recharged water was sampled using a series of extraction wells located along the downstream river basin, starting at the infiltration ponds and then at stages downstream. Eight production and monitoring wells were tested including control samples up-gradient (upstream) from the ponds, to about 7km down-gradient (downstream). Water quality was analyzed for the standard wastewater constituents including indicator organisms, organic matter, nutrients N and P and the metals. It was one of the recommendations of the thesis however that attention also be paid to the persistent organics, including the pesticides, biocides, plasticizers and pharma residues. The chemical data was used to build and validate a solute transport model of the ponds and surrounding area to predict the transport and fate of priority contaminants. In this way, the geo-chemical potential for the retardation, attenuation and chemical or biochemical degradation processes taking place in the unsaturated and saturated zone were assessed. From the results it was concluded that for most analytes, which included metals, nitrate and common salts, the main processes were mixing and dilution by the native ground water. The extracted water was then a mix of waters according to the different residence times and flow of natural groundwater, giving a stable water quality for irrigation. A third reaction involving cation exchange with the local geology was however identified which reduced the concentrations of copper and phosphate beyond what was expected from just mixing. It was also concluded that denitrification did not occur because of a combination of the high quality of the effluent, the operational cycling of the ponds and the high porosity of the vadose zone. Previous work has found denitrification if the recycled water still contains organic matter, further work was recommended to determine the critical organic concentrations. The renovated water from the Ezousas wastewater reuse Project was able to meet the health and agronomic requirements for unrestricted irrigation. The risk of flooding with sewage effluent resulting from hydraulic mounding was also investigated to define the growth and decay of the mound. It was possible to report that after more than fifteen years of operation and a total infiltration of 40Mm3, there have been no signs of reduced hydraulic capacity or water quality.

Submitted by Lara Oliveira (lara@ufersa.edu.br) on 2016-11-17T20:43:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 BlakeCDM_TESE.pdf: 4892316 bytes, checksum: 86d0db1f3948e83dab7334504ce8a41f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-01-24T14:46:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 BlakeCDM_TESE.pdf: 4892316 bytes, checksum: 86d0db1f3948e83dab7334504ce8a41f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-01-31T13:40:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 BlakeCDM_TESE.pdf: 4892316 bytes, checksum: 86d0db1f3948e83dab7334504ce8a41f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T14:51:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BlakeCDM_TESE.pdf: 4892316 bytes, checksum: 86d0db1f3948e83dab7334504ce8a41f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / The problem of water crisis is directly related to factors such as increasing population, increased demand for water, climate variations and deterioration of existing resources. In the semi-arid Northeast the predominant characteristics of reduced rainfall, high temperature and high evaporative rate, make the shortage of water for long periods of the year, more and more recurrent. Liquid effluents of dairy industries have the potential for agricultural use due to nutrient intake. However, this practice involves technical feasibility issues inherent in the method of irrigation adopted where the clogging of the emitters becomes more vulnerable, but can be attenuated with the technique of dilution in water. Given the above, the study aimed to analyze the hydraulic performance drippers units applying wastewater dilution dairy (ARL) and the public water supply (AA). For this, it was set up a trial bench, the Pollution Laboratory and Land Degradation (LPDS) of the Federal Rural University of Semi-Arid (UFERSA) campus Mossoro-RN, consisting of four drippers units operating with four different dilutions of ARL in AA (1A0E; 1A1E; 2A1E and 3A1E) and five types of drippers (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5). The hydraulic performance of drippers units was obtained every 40 hours of operation with dilutions of ARL AA for 200 h at 2014 20/10 10/04 2015 period, using the indicators drip flow ( Q) flow variation coefficient (CVQ), statistical uniformity coefficient (US), distribution uniformity coefficient (CUD) and reduction of the relative flow rate (Dr). At the same time, they quantified the physicochemical and microbiological attributes of ARL dilutions AA. Data were submitted to analysis of simple and multiple regression and parametric test of Pearson correlations. Among the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of dairy effluent, solid values suspended (SS), dissolved solids (DS), pH and total iron (Fe) represented drippers clogging risk ranging from moderate to high. The SS features, SD, pH and Fe predominated in multiple linear regression equations adjusted to the hydraulic performance variables, combinations between types of drippers and dairy effluent dilution levels in the public water supply. At the end of the experimental tests, samples of emitters biofouling were subjected to photographic records and analyzes by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), showing the formation of a biofilm on the entire internal area of the sampled emitters resulting in partial clogging and total tested drippers, thus affecting the hydraulic system performance. Hydraulic performance indicators Q, CUD, CVQ and Us satisfactorily expressed the drippers obstruction levels, while Dr. underestimated the risks of obstruction brought about by dairy effluent. The greater susceptibility to clogging occurred in the dripper G2 operating in 1A1E and 3A1E dilutions. On the other hand, the dripper G5 was less susceptible to clogging at operating 2A1E dilution. The screen filter provided good removal of SS with the same size or greater than 130 μm / O problema da crise hídrica está diretamente relacionado com fatores como aumento da população, aumento da demanda por água, variações climáticas e deterioração dos recursos existentes. No semiárido nordestino as características predominantes de índice pluviométrico reduzido, temperatura elevada e alta taxa evaporativa, tornam a escassez de água, por longos períodos do ano, cada vez mais recorrente. Os efluentes líquidos das indústrias de laticínios apresentam potencial para uso agrícola, devido ao aporte de nutrientes. No entanto, esta prática envolve questões relacionadas à viabilidade técnica, inerente ao método de irrigação adotado, onde o entupimento dos emissores se torna a maior vulnerabilidade, mas que pode ser atenuada com a técnica da diluição em água. Diante do exposto, o trabalho objetivou analisar o desempenho hidráulico de unidades gotejadoras aplicando diluições de água residuária de laticínios (ARL) e água de abastecimento público (AA). Para isso, montou-se uma bancada experimental, no Laboratório de Poluição e Degradação do Solo (LPDS) da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) câmpus Mossoró-RN, constituída de quatro unidades gotejadoras operando com quatro diferentes diluições de ARL em AA (1A0E; 1A1E; 2A1E e 3A1E) e de cinco tipos de gotejadores (G1; G2; G3; G4 e G5). O desempenho hidráulico das unidades gotejadoras foi obtido a cada 40 h de operação com as diluições de ARL em AA, durante 200 h no período de 20/10 de 2014 a 10/04 de 2015, utilizando-se os indicadores: vazão de gotejadores (Q), coeficiente de variação de vazão (CVQ), coeficiente de uniformidade estatístico (Us), coeficiente de uniformidade de distribuição (CUD) e redução da vazão relativa (Dra). Paralelamente, quantificaram os atributos físico-químicos e microbiológicos das diluições de ARL em AA. Os dados foram submetidos às análises de regressão simples e múltipla e teste de correlações paramétricas de Pearson. Dentre as características físico-químicas e microbiológicas do efluente de laticínios, os valores de sólidos suspensos (SS), sólidos dissolvidos (SD), pH e ferro total (Fe) representaram risco de obstrução de gotejadores que variam de moderado a alto. As características SS, SD, pH e Fe predominaram nas equações de regressão lineares múltiplas ajustadas às variáveis de desempenho hidráulico, para as combinações entre tipos de gotejadores e níveis de diluição do efluente de laticínios em água de abastecimento público. Ao final dos ensaios experimentais, amostras dos emissores com bioincrustação foram submetidas a registros fotográficos e análises por microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura (MEV), evidenciando a formação de um biofilme em toda a área interna dos emissores amostrados tendo como consequência o entupimento parcial e total dos gotejadores testados, afetando dessa forma, o desempenho hidráulico do sistema. Os indicadores de desempenho hidráulico Q, CUD, CVQ e Us expressaram satisfatoriamente os níveis de obstrução de gotejadores, enquanto o Dra subestimou os riscos de obstrução acarretado pelo efluente de laticínios. A maior suscetibilidade ao entupimento ocorreu no gotejador G2, operando nas diluições 1A1E e 3A1E. Por outro lado, o gotejador G5 se mostrou menos suscetível ao entupimento operando na diluição 2A1E. O filtro de tela proporcionou boa remoção de SS com tamanhos iguais ou superiores a 130 μm / 2016-11-17

Introdução - A prática de reúso pela aplicação de esgotos tratados na agricultura atualmente é considerada parte integrante dos recursos hídricos por muitas nações. No entanto, oferece riscos à saúde da população pela presença de bactérias, cistos de protozoários, ovos de helmintos e vírus, capazes de sobreviver por longos períodos em ambientes desfavoráveis e apresentarem um curto tempo entre a infecção e o desenvolvimento da doença. Objetivo - Estabelecer medidas preventivas para o lançamento de efluentes nos ecossistemas aquáticos, controle sanitário na redução de patógenos transmitidos por águas contaminadas e a disposição de efluentes tratados em solos tropicais como ferramentas de auxílio do manejo integrado dos recursos hídricos em bacias hidrográficas, por meio do uso de metodologia de gerenciamento de risco com aplicação do Sistema APPCC, em um conjunto de tecnologias na produção de efluente tratado de esgoto de origem doméstica para avaliar o potencial de emprego em solos agrícolas. Métodos - A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na estação de tratamento de esgoto e no campo experimental para pesquisas de utilização de efluente na agricultura no município de Lins. Os indicadores biológicos estudados e os pontos de amostragem foram determinados através da utilização da metodologia de controle de qualidade Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC). Foram coletadas amostras do solo irrigado e dos poços de monitoramento do lençol freático. As amostras foram submetidas a análises físico-químicas, microbiológicas e parasitológicas. Aos resultados obtidos foi aplicada a Avaliação Quantitativa do Risco Microbiológico, para a determinação do risco anual de infecção. Resultados - O efluente final apresentou concentrações médias de 8,13x105 NMP/100 mL de coliformes totais e 4,69x105 NMP/100 mL de Escherichia coli, não sendo observados ovos de helmintos. O solo apresentou maior concentração de coliformes totais e E. coli na camada superficial 1,01x106 e 8,70x103, diminuindo ao longo da profundidade. Os ovos de helmintos foram encontrados entre a superfície e os 15 cm de profundidade em concentrações entre 0,07 e 0,87 ovos/g de peso seco. Foi constatada a presença de adenovírus em concentração de 3,56x105 cópias genômicas/g entre os 5 e 10 cm de profundidade em 2015. Nos poços de monitoramento foram constatadas concentrações de coliformes totais variando entre < 1,00 e 1,01x103 NMP/100 mL e E. coli entre <1,00 e 1,00x100 NMP/100 mL. Não foi observada a presença de vírus entéricos. O risco anual de infecção estimado para E. coli no efluente final foi 1,02x10-2 pppa, no solo variou entre 2,68x10-3 e 7,59x10-3 pppa e nos poços de monitoramento variou entre 1,42x10-8e 4,38x10-9 pppa. Para os ovos de helmintos observados no efluente do tratamento primário o risco anual de infecção calculado foi 4,04x10-2 pppa e no solo variou entre 9,57x10-1 e 9,76x10-1 pppa. Conclusões No período da pesquisa, as amostras dos sistemas de tratamento de esgoto e de irrigação demonstraram atender as expectativas de remoção de patógenos condizentes aos seus parâmetros de projeto, havendo restrições para seu lançamento em corpos hídricos e aplicação na agricultura. O solo mostrou capacidade de retenção dos organismos patogênicos nos primeiros 60 cm de profundidade, reduzindo as suas concentrações a níveis inferiores a 1,00 NMP/100 mL nos aquíferos. / Introduction - Currently, the practice of reuse through the application of treated sewage in agriculture considers an integral part of water resources for many nations. However, threatens the health of the population by the presence of bacteria, protozoan cysts, helminth eggs and viruses able to survive for long periods in harsh environments and present a short time between infection and development of disease. Objective - Establish preventive measures for the release of effluents on aquatic ecosystems, sanitary control in the reduction of pathogens transmitted by contaminated water and the disposal of treated effluent in tropical soils as aid tools in integrated management of water resources in river basins. For this purpose it was employed as risk management methodology the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system (HACCP) in a set of technologies in the treated effluent production of domestic sewage to assess the employment potential in agricultural soils. Methods - The study was conducted in the sewage treatment plant and in an adjoining experimental field situated at Lins city. The biological indicators and the sampling points were determined by using the quality control methodology Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). Samples of irrigated soil and groundwater monitoring wells were collected. The samples were subjected to analysis, physical-chemical, microbiological and parasitological. The results obtained was applied to Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QRMA), for determining the annual risk of infection. Results - The final effluent presented average concentrations of 8.13x105 MPN / 100 mL of total coliforms and 4.69x105 MPN / 100 mL of Escherichia coli, not being observed helminth eggs. The soil showed the highest concentration of total coliforms and E. coli in the surface layer and 1.01x106 8.70x103, decreasing along the depth. Eggs from helminths were found between the surface and 15 cm depth in concentrations from 0.07 to 0.87 eggs / g dry weight. It was found the presence of adenovirus in concentration 3.56x105 genomic copies / g between 5 and 10 cm depth in 2015. In monitoring wells total coliform concentrations were found ranging from <1.00 and 1.01x103 NMP / 100 mL and E. coli between <1.00 and 1.00x100 MPN / 100 mL. It was not observed the presence of enteric viruses. The estimated annual risk of infection to E. coli in the final effluent was 1.02x10-2 pppy, soil ranged from 2.68x10-3 and 7.59x10-3 pppy and monitoring wells ranged from 1.42x10-8 e 4.38x10-9 pppy. For helminth eggs observed in the effluent from the primary treatment, the annual risk of infection was calculated 4.04x10-2 pppy and soil ranged from 9.57x10-1 and 9.76x10-1 pppy. Conclusions - During the survey period, samples of sewage and irrigation treatment systems showed meet the expectation removal of pathogens consistent to its design parameters, with restrictions on its release in water and applied in agriculture bodies. The soil of pathogenic organisms showed retention capacity in the first 60 cm depth by reducing its concentration to levels below 1.00 MPN / 100 mL in aquifers.

Introdução - A prática de reúso pela aplicação de esgotos tratados na agricultura atualmente é considerada parte integrante dos recursos hídricos por muitas nações. No entanto, oferece riscos à saúde da população pela presença de bactérias, cistos de protozoários, ovos de helmintos e vírus, capazes de sobreviver por longos períodos em ambientes desfavoráveis e apresentarem um curto tempo entre a infecção e o desenvolvimento da doença. Objetivo - Estabelecer medidas preventivas para o lançamento de efluentes nos ecossistemas aquáticos, controle sanitário na redução de patógenos transmitidos por águas contaminadas e a disposição de efluentes tratados em solos tropicais como ferramentas de auxílio do manejo integrado dos recursos hídricos em bacias hidrográficas, por meio do uso de metodologia de gerenciamento de risco com aplicação do Sistema APPCC, em um conjunto de tecnologias na produção de efluente tratado de esgoto de origem doméstica para avaliar o potencial de emprego em solos agrícolas. Métodos - A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na estação de tratamento de esgoto e no campo experimental para pesquisas de utilização de efluente na agricultura no município de Lins. Os indicadores biológicos estudados e os pontos de amostragem foram determinados através da utilização da metodologia de controle de qualidade Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC). Foram coletadas amostras do solo irrigado e dos poços de monitoramento do lençol freático. As amostras foram submetidas a análises físico-químicas, microbiológicas e parasitológicas. Aos resultados obtidos foi aplicada a Avaliação Quantitativa do Risco Microbiológico, para a determinação do risco anual de infecção. Resultados - O efluente final apresentou concentrações médias de 8,13x105 NMP/100 mL de coliformes totais e 4,69x105 NMP/100 mL de Escherichia coli, não sendo observados ovos de helmintos. O solo apresentou maior concentração de coliformes totais e E. coli na camada superficial 1,01x106 e 8,70x103, diminuindo ao longo da profundidade. Os ovos de helmintos foram encontrados entre a superfície e os 15 cm de profundidade em concentrações entre 0,07 e 0,87 ovos/g de peso seco. Foi constatada a presença de adenovírus em concentração de 3,56x105 cópias genômicas/g entre os 5 e 10 cm de profundidade em 2015. Nos poços de monitoramento foram constatadas concentrações de coliformes totais variando entre < 1,00 e 1,01x103 NMP/100 mL e E. coli entre <1,00 e 1,00x100 NMP/100 mL. Não foi observada a presença de vírus entéricos. O risco anual de infecção estimado para E. coli no efluente final foi 1,02x10-2 pppa, no solo variou entre 2,68x10-3 e 7,59x10-3 pppa e nos poços de monitoramento variou entre 1,42x10-8e 4,38x10-9 pppa. Para os ovos de helmintos observados no efluente do tratamento primário o risco anual de infecção calculado foi 4,04x10-2 pppa e no solo variou entre 9,57x10-1 e 9,76x10-1 pppa. Conclusões No período da pesquisa, as amostras dos sistemas de tratamento de esgoto e de irrigação demonstraram atender as expectativas de remoção de patógenos condizentes aos seus parâmetros de projeto, havendo restrições para seu lançamento em corpos hídricos e aplicação na agricultura. O solo mostrou capacidade de retenção dos organismos patogênicos nos primeiros 60 cm de profundidade, reduzindo as suas concentrações a níveis inferiores a 1,00 NMP/100 mL nos aquíferos. / Introduction - Currently, the practice of reuse through the application of treated sewage in agriculture considers an integral part of water resources for many nations. However, threatens the health of the population by the presence of bacteria, protozoan cysts, helminth eggs and viruses able to survive for long periods in harsh environments and present a short time between infection and development of disease. Objective - Establish preventive measures for the release of effluents on aquatic ecosystems, sanitary control in the reduction of pathogens transmitted by contaminated water and the disposal of treated effluent in tropical soils as aid tools in integrated management of water resources in river basins. For this purpose it was employed as risk management methodology the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system (HACCP) in a set of technologies in the treated effluent production of domestic sewage to assess the employment potential in agricultural soils. Methods - The study was conducted in the sewage treatment plant and in an adjoining experimental field situated at Lins city. The biological indicators and the sampling points were determined by using the quality control methodology Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). Samples of irrigated soil and groundwater monitoring wells were collected. The samples were subjected to analysis, physical-chemical, microbiological and parasitological. The results obtained was applied to Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QRMA), for determining the annual risk of infection. Results - The final effluent presented average concentrations of 8.13x105 MPN / 100 mL of total coliforms and 4.69x105 MPN / 100 mL of Escherichia coli, not being observed helminth eggs. The soil showed the highest concentration of total coliforms and E. coli in the surface layer and 1.01x106 8.70x103, decreasing along the depth. Eggs from helminths were found between the surface and 15 cm depth in concentrations from 0.07 to 0.87 eggs / g dry weight. It was found the presence of adenovirus in concentration 3.56x105 genomic copies / g between 5 and 10 cm depth in 2015. In monitoring wells total coliform concentrations were found ranging from <1.00 and 1.01x103 NMP / 100 mL and E. coli between <1.00 and 1.00x100 MPN / 100 mL. It was not observed the presence of enteric viruses. The estimated annual risk of infection to E. coli in the final effluent was 1.02x10-2 pppy, soil ranged from 2.68x10-3 and 7.59x10-3 pppy and monitoring wells ranged from 1.42x10-8 e 4.38x10-9 pppy. For helminth eggs observed in the effluent from the primary treatment, the annual risk of infection was calculated 4.04x10-2 pppy and soil ranged from 9.57x10-1 and 9.76x10-1 pppy. Conclusions - During the survey period, samples of sewage and irrigation treatment systems showed meet the expectation removal of pathogens consistent to its design parameters, with restrictions on its release in water and applied in agriculture bodies. The soil of pathogenic organisms showed retention capacity in the first 60 cm depth by reducing its concentration to levels below 1.00 MPN / 100 mL in aquifers.

Water is precious, particularly in South Australia, the driest State in Australia, with over 80% of its land area receiving less than 250mm of rainfall per year. Security of water supply has always played a critical role in the economic and social development of South Australia, and will continue to do so while dependency on water from the River Murray is so high and there is competition over this from states and for different uses – municipal, irrigation, industry, and the environment. The drive towards sustainable development has evolved to attenuate overconsumption of the world’s natural resources of which water is a key element. Provision of reliable water supplies to regional South Australia has always presented challenges, given the vast distances involved and the limited number of natural water sources. Despite these, a majority of South Australians enjoy the benefit of a reliable and safe water supply, adequate waste disposal system, good community health and high standard of living. A challenge remains to determine the sustainability of current major water pipe transfer systems from remote resources to small communities. There may be scope for managing existing water supplies more effectively and further developing local water harvesting and reuse solutions to minimise the need for more significant infrastructure investment. This study investigates the challenges and opportunities for extending development of non-potable (secondary) water supply schemes in South Australian towns. These schemes will conserve the State’s freshwater resources. The primary focus of this study is harnessing stormwater runoff and treated effluent generated by normal township development to supplement higher quality public water for uses such as irrigation of public areas and sporting fields in country areas. Water harvesting and reuse is not likely to occur due to some technological breakthrough but through application of known technology and the adoption of water conscious ethics by society. However, it is a sensible reality for the South Australian climate, particularly when coupled with appropriate conservation and suitable landscaping practices. Thus, the major theme of this study is information sharing since if people are familiar with and understand the concepts then more communities may be encouraged to develop their resources. Water reuse has proven to be a beneficial strategy for addressing stormwater runoff and wastewater disposal problems and alleviating localised water supply problems for several South Australian towns and communities. The existing projects demonstrate both the strong community-based and innovative approach to water resources management in this state. They are inherently simple in form, and can often be assembled with readily available materials by people with a basic understanding of plumbing and construction skills (locally available). The potential for localised water harvesting and reuse in South Australian towns is generally limited to single purpose communal non-potable systems. Further, it is likely to only be sustainable in rural communities willing to make a commitment to its long term, proper operation and maintenance, or they could endanger public health. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1283773 / Thesis (M.Eng.Sc.) - University of Adelaide, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Michael_ S A.pdf: 2204905 bytes, checksum: 95f172e9117213f43a2e88631cfe2b2b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-11 / Poultry farming has increased and so does the amount of residues from producing areas with poultry litter and dead broilers, consequently, there is a major environmental problem for the poultry industry. Poultry litter, rich in organic matter, commonly applied on soil without treatment, acidifies it by releasing hydrogen ions since it stabilizes organic matter and also because it is a nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, other applications for poultry litter are needed and should be studied, as for example, its use for power generation by anaerobic digestion. This process is attractive for the sector by treating waste and generating biogas that may replace the energy used in poultry. There is, however, an environmental restriction to this system because it requires a large amount of water to hydrolyze poultry litter. Therefore, this study has evaluated the anaerobic digestion of poultry litter in a digester built with glass fiber boxes whose total volume was 40.0 m3. There was a system of effluent reuse from the digester to dilute its next feeding and reduce water consumption during this process. The effluent was reused with its recirculation at the feeding moment with a motor pump, in a semi-continuous system (once a day). The anaerobic digestion has been stabilized at the organic feeding charges of 0.5 and 1.0 kg total volatile solids by m3 digester, so, the evaluations 1 and 2 were created, respectively. There was a hydraulic retention time of 10 days for both evaluations. The stabilization process occurred by Shewhart charts while the process analysis occurred by the process capacity and operational energy viability of the system indexes. At the evaluation number 2, the process was capable and viable for power operations, whose energy production as methane was 4.41 times superior to the electric energy consumed on operations of the treating system, 0.0182 m3 methane kg-1 VTS-1added. The produced effluent was not characterized as an adequate biofertilizer for crop yield because it showed small amounts of nutrients content. On the other hand, the sludge is available as organic manure since a great amount of nutrients has sedimented on the bottom of the digester. At the final period, after evaluation number 2, the digester and motor pump did not present any adequate feeding flux due to the large content of solids in the effluent; so, it was not possible to operate the digester. However, pH (close to 7.00) and the ratio between volatile acidity and total alkalinity of the effluent (below 0.3) at the final period indicated that anaerobic digestion showed some potential to be continued. This fact highlights the importance of other studies about dilution of poultry litter mechanism on the effluent of digester / O crescimento da produção de frangos tem concentrado resíduos nas regiões produtoras, cama de aviário e aves mortas, gerando um grande problema ambiental para a indústria avícola. A cama de aviário, rica em matéria orgânica, comumente aplicada no solo sem tratamento, acidifica o mesmo por liberar íons de hidrogênio ao estabilizar sua matéria orgânica e por ser um fertilizante nitrogenado. Portanto, outras aplicações para a cama de aviário são necessárias e devem ser estudadas, como o seu uso para geração de energia pela biodigestão anaeróbia. Este processo é um atrativo para o setor por tratar o resíduo e gerar biogás que pode substituir a energia usada na criação dos frangos. Existe, porém, um entrave ambiental neste sistema por necessitar de grande quantidade de água para hidrolisar a cama de aviário. Por isso, esse trabalho avaliou a biodigestão anaeróbia da cama de aviário em um biodigestor construído com caixas de fibra de vidro no volume total de 40 m3 com sistema de reutilização do digestato do biodigestor na diluição da próxima alimentação, para reduzir o consumo de água no processo. O digestato foi reutilizado pela recirculação do mesmo no momento da alimentação do biodigestor com uma motobomba, em sistema semi-contínuo (uma vez ao dia). A biodigestão anaeróbia foi estabilizada nas cargas orgânicas de alimentação de 0,5 e 1,0 kg sólidos totais voláteis por m3 de biodigestor, para a construção das avaliações 1 e 2, respectivamente. O tempo de retenção hidráulica foi de 10 dias para as duas avaliações. A estabilização procedeu-se pelo gráfico de Shewhart e a análise do processo pelo índice de capacidade do processo e pelo índice de viabilidade energética operacional do sistema. Na avaliação 2, o processo se apresentou como capaz e viável nas operações energéticas, com produção de energia na forma de metano 4,41 vezes maior que a energia elétrica gasta nas operações do sistema de tratamento, sendo 0,0182 m3 metano kg-1 STV-1adicionados. O digestato produzido não se caracterizou como biofertilizante adequado para as culturas por ter pequeno teor de nutrientes. Porém, o lodo é aplicável como adubo orgânico devido à grande parte dos nutrientes ter sedimentado no biodigestor. No período final, após a avaliação 2, o biodigestor e a motobomba não apresentaram mais fluxo de alimentação devido à quantidade de sólidos no digestato e por este motivo, não se conseguiu mais operar o biodigestor. No entanto, o pH (próximo a 7,00) e a relação entre a acidez volátil e a alcalinidade total do digestato (abaixo de 0,3) no período final indicavam que a biodigestão anaeróbia tinha potencial para ser continuada. Tal fato ressalta a importância de outros estudos sobre mecanismos de diluição da cama de aviário no afluente do biodigestor.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:47:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Michael_ S A.pdf: 2204905 bytes, checksum: 95f172e9117213f43a2e88631cfe2b2b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-11 / Poultry farming has increased and so does the amount of residues from producing areas with poultry litter and dead broilers, consequently, there is a major environmental problem for the poultry industry. Poultry litter, rich in organic matter, commonly applied on soil without treatment, acidifies it by releasing hydrogen ions since it stabilizes organic matter and also because it is a nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, other applications for poultry litter are needed and should be studied, as for example, its use for power generation by anaerobic digestion. This process is attractive for the sector by treating waste and generating biogas that may replace the energy used in poultry. There is, however, an environmental restriction to this system because it requires a large amount of water to hydrolyze poultry litter. Therefore, this study has evaluated the anaerobic digestion of poultry litter in a digester built with glass fiber boxes whose total volume was 40.0 m3. There was a system of effluent reuse from the digester to dilute its next feeding and reduce water consumption during this process. The effluent was reused with its recirculation at the feeding moment with a motor pump, in a semi-continuous system (once a day). The anaerobic digestion has been stabilized at the organic feeding charges of 0.5 and 1.0 kg total volatile solids by m3 digester, so, the evaluations 1 and 2 were created, respectively. There was a hydraulic retention time of 10 days for both evaluations. The stabilization process occurred by Shewhart charts while the process analysis occurred by the process capacity and operational energy viability of the system indexes. At the evaluation number 2, the process was capable and viable for power operations, whose energy production as methane was 4.41 times superior to the electric energy consumed on operations of the treating system, 0.0182 m3 methane kg-1 VTS-1added. The produced effluent was not characterized as an adequate biofertilizer for crop yield because it showed small amounts of nutrients content. On the other hand, the sludge is available as organic manure since a great amount of nutrients has sedimented on the bottom of the digester. At the final period, after evaluation number 2, the digester and motor pump did not present any adequate feeding flux due to the large content of solids in the effluent; so, it was not possible to operate the digester. However, pH (close to 7.00) and the ratio between volatile acidity and total alkalinity of the effluent (below 0.3) at the final period indicated that anaerobic digestion showed some potential to be continued. This fact highlights the importance of other studies about dilution of poultry litter mechanism on the effluent of digester / O crescimento da produção de frangos tem concentrado resíduos nas regiões produtoras, cama de aviário e aves mortas, gerando um grande problema ambiental para a indústria avícola. A cama de aviário, rica em matéria orgânica, comumente aplicada no solo sem tratamento, acidifica o mesmo por liberar íons de hidrogênio ao estabilizar sua matéria orgânica e por ser um fertilizante nitrogenado. Portanto, outras aplicações para a cama de aviário são necessárias e devem ser estudadas, como o seu uso para geração de energia pela biodigestão anaeróbia. Este processo é um atrativo para o setor por tratar o resíduo e gerar biogás que pode substituir a energia usada na criação dos frangos. Existe, porém, um entrave ambiental neste sistema por necessitar de grande quantidade de água para hidrolisar a cama de aviário. Por isso, esse trabalho avaliou a biodigestão anaeróbia da cama de aviário em um biodigestor construído com caixas de fibra de vidro no volume total de 40 m3 com sistema de reutilização do digestato do biodigestor na diluição da próxima alimentação, para reduzir o consumo de água no processo. O digestato foi reutilizado pela recirculação do mesmo no momento da alimentação do biodigestor com uma motobomba, em sistema semi-contínuo (uma vez ao dia). A biodigestão anaeróbia foi estabilizada nas cargas orgânicas de alimentação de 0,5 e 1,0 kg sólidos totais voláteis por m3 de biodigestor, para a construção das avaliações 1 e 2, respectivamente. O tempo de retenção hidráulica foi de 10 dias para as duas avaliações. A estabilização procedeu-se pelo gráfico de Shewhart e a análise do processo pelo índice de capacidade do processo e pelo índice de viabilidade energética operacional do sistema. Na avaliação 2, o processo se apresentou como capaz e viável nas operações energéticas, com produção de energia na forma de metano 4,41 vezes maior que a energia elétrica gasta nas operações do sistema de tratamento, sendo 0,0182 m3 metano kg-1 STV-1adicionados. O digestato produzido não se caracterizou como biofertilizante adequado para as culturas por ter pequeno teor de nutrientes. Porém, o lodo é aplicável como adubo orgânico devido à grande parte dos nutrientes ter sedimentado no biodigestor. No período final, após a avaliação 2, o biodigestor e a motobomba não apresentaram mais fluxo de alimentação devido à quantidade de sólidos no digestato e por este motivo, não se conseguiu mais operar o biodigestor. No entanto, o pH (próximo a 7,00) e a relação entre a acidez volátil e a alcalinidade total do digestato (abaixo de 0,3) no período final indicavam que a biodigestão anaeróbia tinha potencial para ser continuada. Tal fato ressalta a importância de outros estudos sobre mecanismos de diluição da cama de aviário no afluente do biodigestor.

Population escalation in the developing world has been associated with increased poverty, food insecurity and environmental degradation. The situation in Rwanda, with 2.82% annual population increase is no exception. The objective of the present study was to investigate an innovative integrated system of sustainable production suitable for resource-poor rural farmers, the Integrated Rabbit–Fish–Rice (IRFR) system. The study was targeted towards contributing to Rwanda government’s goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, enhancing food security as well as abating environmental degradation. Three experiments, were carried out between 2008 and 2010, and designed to fertilise pond water with rabbit droppings and boost phytoplankton production. We also used results from our previous study, conducted in 2005 in the same ponds and under similar experimental conditions, especially rabbit and fish species and age, fishpond dimensions, as well as the fertilisation mode. The fishpond effluent was re-used to irrigate rice fields rather than being discharged into the environment. This study advocated the potential adaptation of rabbits to wetland conditions and the role of rabbit droppings as organic fertilisers in providing a better environment for fish production. On-farm resources, including rabbit droppings, were the main source of nutrients in the system. The analysis of nutrient flow revealed that 27% N and 79% P of the total nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizing input in fishponds were supplied by rabbit droppings only. Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were able to recover 18.5–37.6% N and 16.9–34.3% P of the total nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, the rest being accumulated in the pond water and the sediment, making them useful for soil fertilisation. The re-use of nutrient-rich effluent in rice irrigation increased rice production, allowing a successful complete substitution of inorganic fertilisers. The irrigation also reduced environmental pollution as the water seeping through rice field was 31.8 and 83.3% less concentrated in total phosphorus and nitrite pollutants, respectively, than was the pond water. Economically, the IRFR generated up to 597% net return over that of the rice inorganically fertilised, thereby substantiating the sustainability of the system. Overall, it is concluded that the IRFR system works well, is readily applicable, and capable of high, diversified, and sustainable production on limited land. As such, the study demonstrates the potentialities of the IRFR system to contribute successfully to poverty reduction, and the enhancement of food security in rural areas. The system promises economic returns and is environmental friendly. The research recommends the optimal range of rabbit density, that is, 800–1200 rabbits per hectare of pond, and the best fish stocking density, that is, 3 fish.mˉ², for a sustainable IRFR culture system. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.