Traditional remediation techniques in removing toxic metal contaminants using physical and chemical methods are expensive and may cause other forms of damage to the environment, comparing with these techniques bioremediation can serve as an inexpensive, effective and environmental friendly remediation method. This thesis mainly discusses different bioremediation techniques and identifies possible areas in Hong Kong for bioremediation and suggests bioremediation methods for each potential area. Bioremediation of toxic metals is the use of microorganisms, plants, or even larger sized organisms to decontaminate sites with toxic metals. Bioremediation includes phytoremediation, microremediation and vermiremediation which use plants, microorganisms and earthworms to remediate contaminated environments respectively. The 4 most common mechanisms in phytoremediation of toxic metals are phytoextraction, phytofiltration, phytovolatilization and phytostabilization. Phytoremediation are used frequently for remediation around the world and its development includes using well-understood technology and genetic engineering to increase its effectiveness. Microremediation is another promising technology in bioremediation of toxic metals and consists of 6 major mechanisms which are biosorption, bioaccumulation, biotransformation, bioleaching, biomineralization and microbially-enhanced chemisorption of metals. Microremediation is mainly in research phase and its development includes identifying new species, combining with phytoremediation and genetic engineering. Vermiremediation is another rapidly developing technique in bioremediation of toxic metals, assisting other bioremediation by burrowing actions of earthworms and its excretion, and accumulating toxic metals inside their bodies. Vermiremediation is also in research phase but it is rapidly developing. Generally, bioremediation is around 60% cheaper than traditional remediation methods and no pollutants are emitted during the process. However the remediation process is slow and generally takes longer than a year. Sources of toxic metals in contaminated areas in Hong Kong are mainly due to historic industrial discharge although present activities also contribute. Potential areas include sites for electronic waste activities, sediments of Kwun Tong typhoon shelter and sediments of Tolo Harbour. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Uma Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto (ETE) é composta por equipamentos que são severamente afetados pelos fenômenos de corrosão e de degradação dos materiais. Isto se deve ao ambiente no qual estão inseridos, onde há vasta quantidade de contaminantes presentes nas águas residuárias. O entendimento destes processos de deterioração dos materiais, que compõem os equipamentos, e relacioná-los com águas residuárias representam um avanço tecnológico na área. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho buscou estudar os materiais empregados em um equipamento mecânico e utilizados nas ETEs, o distribuidor rotativo do Filtro Biológico Aeróbio Percolador (FBP). Os materiais que costumeiramente fazem parte do equipamento estudado para analisar a deterioração foram: aço carbono 1010, aço inox, aço galvanizado e Policloreto de Vinila Clorado (CPVC). Os corpos de prova (Cps) foram confeccionados e posteriormente instalados nas estações junto ao filtro biológico e em determinado período foram retirados e analisadas suas perdas de massa e consequente taxa de corrosão. Os Cps foram investigados em Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura (MEV) e a sua composição por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (EDS). A crosta de lodo que se formou na superfície dos Cps foi avaliada pela técnica de Difração de Raio X (DRX) e Fluorescência de Raio X (FRX), visando identificar os principais agentes deteriorantes que atuam na corrosão do material. Para avaliar o polímero adotou-se a técnica de Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR). A Microdureza Vickers (HV) foi utilizada para avaliar a resistência mecânica dos materiais metálicos na sua secção transversal. Os resultados mostraram que o aço galvanizado perdeu sua camada protetora, já o aço carbono 1010 teve como característica gerar muitas incrustações irregulares, o aço inox 304 apresentou pequena perda de massa inicial e se manteve estável quando comparado com os outros metais e o CPVC apresentou quebras em suas ligações devido à radiação UV. A opção sugerida seria combinar as propriedades mecânicas do aço inox 304 com a resistência à corrosão do CPVC. A combinação destes dois materiais na concepção de novos projetos teria o propósito de elevar a vida útil dos equipamentos utilizados em ETEs, propiciando inovação e evolução tecnológica necessárias neste setor. / A Sewer Treatment Station is a site severely affected by the phenomena of corrosion and degradation of the materials, due to the environment in which it is inserted and to the vast amount, of contaminants present in the wastewater. The understanding of these processes of deterioration of materials and relating them to wastewater represent a technological advance in the area. In this sense, the present work sought to study the materials used in a mechanical equipment used in Sewer Treatment Stations, the rotary distributor of the aerobic percolator biological filter. The materials studied to analyze the deterioration were: 1010 carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel and CPVC. The samples were installed at the stations next to the biological filter and in a certain period of time they were removed and analyzed their mass losses with chemical cleaning. The surface layer was visualized by scanning electron microscope and its composition by X-ray spectroscopy by dispersion in energy. The sludge crust that formed on the surface of the samples was evaluated by the X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence technique, in order to identify the main deteriorating agents that act on the corrosion of the material. To evaluate the polymer the Fourier, transform infrared spectroscopy technique was adopted. The Vickers micro hardness was used to evaluate the mechanical resistivity of the metallic materials in their cross-section. The results showed that the galvanized steel loses its protective layer, the 1010 carbon steel has the characteristics of generating many irregular incrustations, the 304 stainless steel presented small loss of initial mass and remained stable compared to other metals and the CPVC presented breaks in its connections due UV radiation. The option would be to combine the mechanical properties of 304 stainless steel with the corrosion resistance of CPVC. The combination of these materials in the design of new projects has been the purpose of increasing the useful life of the equipment used in ETEs, providing the necessary technological innovation and evolution in this sector.

Uma Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto (ETE) é composta por equipamentos que são severamente afetados pelos fenômenos de corrosão e de degradação dos materiais. Isto se deve ao ambiente no qual estão inseridos, onde há vasta quantidade de contaminantes presentes nas águas residuárias. O entendimento destes processos de deterioração dos materiais, que compõem os equipamentos, e relacioná-los com águas residuárias representam um avanço tecnológico na área. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho buscou estudar os materiais empregados em um equipamento mecânico e utilizados nas ETEs, o distribuidor rotativo do Filtro Biológico Aeróbio Percolador (FBP). Os materiais que costumeiramente fazem parte do equipamento estudado para analisar a deterioração foram: aço carbono 1010, aço inox, aço galvanizado e Policloreto de Vinila Clorado (CPVC). Os corpos de prova (Cps) foram confeccionados e posteriormente instalados nas estações junto ao filtro biológico e em determinado período foram retirados e analisadas suas perdas de massa e consequente taxa de corrosão. Os Cps foram investigados em Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura (MEV) e a sua composição por Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (EDS). A crosta de lodo que se formou na superfície dos Cps foi avaliada pela técnica de Difração de Raio X (DRX) e Fluorescência de Raio X (FRX), visando identificar os principais agentes deteriorantes que atuam na corrosão do material. Para avaliar o polímero adotou-se a técnica de Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR). A Microdureza Vickers (HV) foi utilizada para avaliar a resistência mecânica dos materiais metálicos na sua secção transversal. Os resultados mostraram que o aço galvanizado perdeu sua camada protetora, já o aço carbono 1010 teve como característica gerar muitas incrustações irregulares, o aço inox 304 apresentou pequena perda de massa inicial e se manteve estável quando comparado com os outros metais e o CPVC apresentou quebras em suas ligações devido à radiação UV. A opção sugerida seria combinar as propriedades mecânicas do aço inox 304 com a resistência à corrosão do CPVC. A combinação destes dois materiais na concepção de novos projetos teria o propósito de elevar a vida útil dos equipamentos utilizados em ETEs, propiciando inovação e evolução tecnológica necessárias neste setor. / A Sewer Treatment Station is a site severely affected by the phenomena of corrosion and degradation of the materials, due to the environment in which it is inserted and to the vast amount, of contaminants present in the wastewater. The understanding of these processes of deterioration of materials and relating them to wastewater represent a technological advance in the area. In this sense, the present work sought to study the materials used in a mechanical equipment used in Sewer Treatment Stations, the rotary distributor of the aerobic percolator biological filter. The materials studied to analyze the deterioration were: 1010 carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel and CPVC. The samples were installed at the stations next to the biological filter and in a certain period of time they were removed and analyzed their mass losses with chemical cleaning. The surface layer was visualized by scanning electron microscope and its composition by X-ray spectroscopy by dispersion in energy. The sludge crust that formed on the surface of the samples was evaluated by the X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence technique, in order to identify the main deteriorating agents that act on the corrosion of the material. To evaluate the polymer the Fourier, transform infrared spectroscopy technique was adopted. The Vickers micro hardness was used to evaluate the mechanical resistivity of the metallic materials in their cross-section. The results showed that the galvanized steel loses its protective layer, the 1010 carbon steel has the characteristics of generating many irregular incrustations, the 304 stainless steel presented small loss of initial mass and remained stable compared to other metals and the CPVC presented breaks in its connections due UV radiation. The option would be to combine the mechanical properties of 304 stainless steel with the corrosion resistance of CPVC. The combination of these materials in the design of new projects has been the purpose of increasing the useful life of the equipment used in ETEs, providing the necessary technological innovation and evolution in this sector.