Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is routinely used to analyze polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water. A common SPME-GC/MS approach quantifies target analytes using isotopically labeled standards (IISs); one IIS is needed for each target analyte. This approach is challenging, even prohibitive since IISs are often expensive; moreover, they are generally not available for each analyte of interest. This study developed a novel SPME-GC/MS approach for the quantification of PAHs in water. The new method, which employs only a small number of IISs, uses relative response factor (RRF) (i.e., analyte corresponding to IIS) to quantify PAHs in water. Possible matrix dependency of RRFs values was examined using water that was modified concerning different physical-chemical characteristics (i.e., ionic strength, pH, suspended solids, humic acid, and biological organic carbon represented by hemoglobin). The results revealed that RRFs are not noticeably affected by changing ionic strength and pH; the other three parameters did affect the RRFs. However, the results also showed that the effect is minimal when the solution is dilute (i.e., low concentrations of suspended solids, humic acid or hemoglobin). Relatively stable RRFs for dilute water solutions indicates that this approach can be used for routine quantification of water that does not contain prohibitive amounts of suspended solids, humic acid, and biological organic matter. The developed method was employed to quantify trace levels of PAHs in three different types of water, namely river water, well water, and bottled water. PAH levels in every kind of water were less than 100 ng/L level (i.e., 0.1 ppb). Analyses of spiked water samples containing 2 ng PAHs revealed correlations between calculated RRFs and the physical-chemical properties of the PAHs investigated (i.e., vapor pressure, boiling point, octanol/water partition coefficient, octanol/air partition coefficient, GC retention time). This implies that RRFs for PAHs not examined in this study can be predicted. Overall, the results presented herein constitute a meaningful contribution to the development of SPME-GC/MS methods for quantitative analysis of PAHs and other chemicals in dilute aqueous solutions. Moreover, the development of methods that alleviate the need for IISs corresponding to each target analyte.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:03:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WelitonFBF_DISSERT.pdf: 2010897 bytes, checksum: 9145c54f00922f08967d3beb644f5f73 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-28 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The improper disposal of nitrogen in receiving water courses causes problems such as toxicity to living beings through the consumption of oxygen to meet the nitrogen demand, eutrophication and nitrate contamination of aquifers. For this reason it is often necessary to be carried out complementary treatment of wastewater to eliminate or reduce the concentration of this compound in the wastewater. The objective of this study is to evaluate the biological removal of nitrogen compounds using submerged aerated and anoxic filters as post-treatment of an anaerobic system, with low cost and innovative technology, which in previous studies has shown high removal efficiency of organic matter and great potential biological nitrogen compounds removal. The simple design with perforated hoses for air distribution and filling with plastic parts proved to be very efficient in relation to organic matter removal and nitrification. The system presented, in the best stage, efficiency in converting ammonia to nitrate by 71%, and produced a final effluent concentration below 10 mg / L of NH3-N. In addition, carbon concentration was removed by 77%, producing final effluent with 24 mg/L COD. However, denitrification in anoxic filter was not effective even with the addition of an external carbon source. There was a reduction of up to 56% of nitrogen caused by the process of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). The high voids space presented by this type of support material coupled with direct aeration of the sludge, allows the respiration of biomass retained between the endogenous phase, increased cell retention time and sludge retention capacity, producing a final effluent with turbidity less than 5 UT and total suspended solids around 5.0 mg/L / A disposi??o inadequada do nitrog?nio em corpos receptores gera problemas como: toxicidade para seres vivos; consumo de oxig?nio do meio para atender a demanda nitrogenada; eutrofiza??o; e contamina??o dos aqu?feros por nitrato. Por esta raz?o ? muitas vezes necess?rio que seja realizado tratamento complementar dos esgotos para eliminar, ou reduzir, a concentra??o deste composto nas ?guas residu?rias. O objetivo deste trabalho ? avaliar a remo??o biol?gica dos compostos nitrogenados utilizando filtros aerados submersos como p?s-tratamento de um sistema anaer?bio, com tecnologia inovadora, de baixo custo, que em estudos anteriores demonstrou grande efici?ncia na remo??o de mat?ria org?nica carbon?cea e grande potencial na remo??o biol?gica de compostos nitrogenados. A forma simples como o sistema foi concebido, com mangueiras perfuradas para distribui??o do ar e preenchimento com pe?as pl?sticas - condu?te cortado - mostrou-se bastante eficiente em rela??o ? remo??o de mat?ria org?nica e na nitrifica??o. O sistema apresentou, na melhor fase, efici?ncia na convers?o de nitrog?nio amoniacal em nitrato de 71%, e produziu efluente final com concentra??o de N-NH3 inferior a 10 mg/L. Al?m disso, observou-se uma redu??o de 77% na concentra??o de carbono, produzindo efluente final com 24 mg/L de DQO. Contudo a desnitrifica??o no filtro an?xico n?o se mostrou eficiente mesmo com a adi??o de uma fonte externa de carbono. Mesmo assim observou-se redu??o de at? 56% do nitrog?nio causado pelo processo de Nitrifica??o e Desnitrifica??o Simult?neas (SND). O grande ?ndice de vazios apresentado por este tipo de material suporte aliado ? aera??o direta do lodo, permite que a respira??o da biomassa retida entre na fase end?gena, aumentado o tempo de reten??o celular e a capacidade de reten??o de lodo, produzindo um efluente final com turbidez inferior a 5 UT e SST em torno de 5,0 mg/L

Sabe-se que a formação de reservatórios altera a qualidade e a quantidade da água de montante e jusante e que a direção e a magnitude das alterações dependem de suas características construtivas, operacionais, morfométricas, bem como do regime hidrológico e climático da região. Porém, a maior parte deste conhecimento foi fundamentada em pesquisas de reservatórios com grande capacidade de regularização, que fazem parte da realidade do Pantanal, uma região que vem sendo impactada por um número cada vez maior de reservatórios com pequena capacidade de regularização, levantando questionamentos sobre seus possíveis efeitos no funcionamento da planície de inundação. Sendo assim, este trabalho procurou (i) identificar qual o fator chave determinante no processo de estratificação e mistura vertical do reservatório e se este pode influenciar na qualidade da água; (ii) avaliar os efeitos da formação e operação do reservatório na alteração da qualidade da água de montante e jusante e (iii) avaliar os efeitos da operação do reservatório na alteração do regime hidrológico de jusante, além de propor os limites preventivos para a sustentabilidade. O estudo foi desenvolvido no reservatório de Ponte de Pedra, localizado no rio Correntes, divisa dos estados de Mato Grasso e Mato Grosso do Sul (Centro Oeste do Brail), na fronteira entre o Pantanal e o Planalto. O reservatório apresentou prolongado período de estratificação vertical (mistura no inverno) dos parâmetros físicos e químicos da água nas partes médias e profundas, mantendo-se homogêneo na parte superior, onde se encontra a captação, não alterando as características da água de jusante. Entre os fatores analisados, o vento foi o único fator que influenciou significativamente a estrutura vertical da qualidade da água sendo beneficiada pelas características morfométricas e construtivas do reservatório. Longitudinalmente, a formação do reservatório alterou significativamente quatro dos dez parâmetros analisados, com redução média de 38% da turbidez, 28% do fósforo total, 23% dos sólidos totais e 14% do nitrato. Destes, apenas a turbidez e o nitrato foram afetados pelo controle operacional do tempo de retenção hidráulica. Em relação à alteração dos parâmetros do regime hidrológico anual, dos 31 analisados, os parâmetros de vazões mínimas de curta duração (1, 3 e 7 dias), vazões máximas de 90 dias e o número de pulsos baixos e altos foram significativamente alterados pela operação do reservatório. Destes, a vazão máxima de 90 dias e o número de pulsos altos resumem os impactos, e podem ser utilizados como parâmetros alvos para restauração e conservação do regime hidrológico. As vazões sazonais também foram significativamente alteradas, com maior impacto na estação seca (inverno). Com base na variabilidade natural do rio, foram propostos os limites preventivos para a sustentabilidade, com alterações diárias permitidas de ±18% no inverno, ±24% na primavera e ±22% no verão e outono, aplicados sobre a vazão natural. De maneira geral, as alterações na qualidade da água e no regime hidrológico provocado pela formação e operação do reservatório foram consideradas baixas, tanto em número de parâmetros alterados quanto nas magnitudes das alterações, e estas foram atribuídas às baixas concentrações de partículas e nutrientes na bacia, ao sistema de captação superficial, o curto tempo de retenção hidráulica, pequena capacidade de regularização associadas à sazonalidade no regime de chuvas e ventos na região, que limitam manobras operacionais para a maximização da eficiência energética. / The formation of reservoirs changes the quality and quantity of water, both upstream and downstream, and the direction and magnitude of such changes depend on their characteristics of construction, operation, morphometry, as well as hydrological regime and climate of the region. However, much of this knowledge was based on large reservoirs, which is not the reality of the Pantanal, an area that is being impacted by a growing number of reservoirs with low capacity for regularization, raising questions about possible effects on the floodplain functioning. In this way, this study aimed (i) to identify the key factor in the process of stratification and vertical mixing of the reservoir, and whether this can influence the water quality, (ii) to evaluate the effects of the reservoir formation and operation on the quality of water upstream and downstream of the reservoir, and (iii) to examine the effects of the reservoir operation on the downstream hydrological regime, in addition to propose preventive limits for sustainability. The study was conducted at Ponte de Pedra Reservoir, located on the Correntes river, the motto between the states of Mato Grasso and Mato Grosso do Sul (Central West Brazil), on the border between the Plateau and the Pantanal. The reservoir had an extended period of vertical stratification (mixture in the winter) of physical and chemical water parameters in the medium and deep parts of the water column, being homogeneous in the upper part where the water is capitation, without changing the characteristics of the downstream water. Among the factors analyzed, the wind was the only factor that significantly influenced the vertical structure of the water quality, favored by morphometric and constructive characteristics of the reservoir. Along the longitudinal axis, the reservoir formation significantly altered the turbidity and concentrations of total phosphorus, total solids, and nitrate, with mean reduction of 38, 28, 23 and 14% of their values. Among these, only turbidity and nitrate were affected by the operational control of the hydraulic retention time. In relation to the change in parameters of the annual hydrological regime, parameters of short-term minimum flows (1, 3 and 7 days), maximum flows of 90 days and the number of low and high pulses were significantly modified by the reservoir operation. Of these, the maximum flow of 90 days and the number of high pulses have summarized the impacts, and can be used as target parameters for restoration and conservation of the hydrological regime. Seasonal flows were also significantly altered, with the greatest impact in the dry season (winter). Based on the natural variability of the river, it was proposed preventive limits for sustainability, with permitted daily changes of ±18% in winter, ±24% in spring and ±22% in summer and autumn applied on the natural flow. In general, changes in water quality and hydrological regime caused by the reservoir formation and operation were considered low, both in number of altered parameters as magnitudes of such changes, and these characteristics were ascribed to low concentrations of particles and nutrients in the basin, to the surface capitation system, short hydraulic retention time, low capacity of regularization associated with the seasonality of the regime of rainfall and wind in the region, limiting operational maneuvers for maximizing the energy efficiency.

Sabe-se que a formação de reservatórios altera a qualidade e a quantidade da água de montante e jusante e que a direção e a magnitude das alterações dependem de suas características construtivas, operacionais, morfométricas, bem como do regime hidrológico e climático da região. Porém, a maior parte deste conhecimento foi fundamentada em pesquisas de reservatórios com grande capacidade de regularização, que fazem parte da realidade do Pantanal, uma região que vem sendo impactada por um número cada vez maior de reservatórios com pequena capacidade de regularização, levantando questionamentos sobre seus possíveis efeitos no funcionamento da planície de inundação. Sendo assim, este trabalho procurou (i) identificar qual o fator chave determinante no processo de estratificação e mistura vertical do reservatório e se este pode influenciar na qualidade da água; (ii) avaliar os efeitos da formação e operação do reservatório na alteração da qualidade da água de montante e jusante e (iii) avaliar os efeitos da operação do reservatório na alteração do regime hidrológico de jusante, além de propor os limites preventivos para a sustentabilidade. O estudo foi desenvolvido no reservatório de Ponte de Pedra, localizado no rio Correntes, divisa dos estados de Mato Grasso e Mato Grosso do Sul (Centro Oeste do Brail), na fronteira entre o Pantanal e o Planalto. O reservatório apresentou prolongado período de estratificação vertical (mistura no inverno) dos parâmetros físicos e químicos da água nas partes médias e profundas, mantendo-se homogêneo na parte superior, onde se encontra a captação, não alterando as características da água de jusante. Entre os fatores analisados, o vento foi o único fator que influenciou significativamente a estrutura vertical da qualidade da água sendo beneficiada pelas características morfométricas e construtivas do reservatório. Longitudinalmente, a formação do reservatório alterou significativamente quatro dos dez parâmetros analisados, com redução média de 38% da turbidez, 28% do fósforo total, 23% dos sólidos totais e 14% do nitrato. Destes, apenas a turbidez e o nitrato foram afetados pelo controle operacional do tempo de retenção hidráulica. Em relação à alteração dos parâmetros do regime hidrológico anual, dos 31 analisados, os parâmetros de vazões mínimas de curta duração (1, 3 e 7 dias), vazões máximas de 90 dias e o número de pulsos baixos e altos foram significativamente alterados pela operação do reservatório. Destes, a vazão máxima de 90 dias e o número de pulsos altos resumem os impactos, e podem ser utilizados como parâmetros alvos para restauração e conservação do regime hidrológico. As vazões sazonais também foram significativamente alteradas, com maior impacto na estação seca (inverno). Com base na variabilidade natural do rio, foram propostos os limites preventivos para a sustentabilidade, com alterações diárias permitidas de ±18% no inverno, ±24% na primavera e ±22% no verão e outono, aplicados sobre a vazão natural. De maneira geral, as alterações na qualidade da água e no regime hidrológico provocado pela formação e operação do reservatório foram consideradas baixas, tanto em número de parâmetros alterados quanto nas magnitudes das alterações, e estas foram atribuídas às baixas concentrações de partículas e nutrientes na bacia, ao sistema de captação superficial, o curto tempo de retenção hidráulica, pequena capacidade de regularização associadas à sazonalidade no regime de chuvas e ventos na região, que limitam manobras operacionais para a maximização da eficiência energética. / The formation of reservoirs changes the quality and quantity of water, both upstream and downstream, and the direction and magnitude of such changes depend on their characteristics of construction, operation, morphometry, as well as hydrological regime and climate of the region. However, much of this knowledge was based on large reservoirs, which is not the reality of the Pantanal, an area that is being impacted by a growing number of reservoirs with low capacity for regularization, raising questions about possible effects on the floodplain functioning. In this way, this study aimed (i) to identify the key factor in the process of stratification and vertical mixing of the reservoir, and whether this can influence the water quality, (ii) to evaluate the effects of the reservoir formation and operation on the quality of water upstream and downstream of the reservoir, and (iii) to examine the effects of the reservoir operation on the downstream hydrological regime, in addition to propose preventive limits for sustainability. The study was conducted at Ponte de Pedra Reservoir, located on the Correntes river, the motto between the states of Mato Grasso and Mato Grosso do Sul (Central West Brazil), on the border between the Plateau and the Pantanal. The reservoir had an extended period of vertical stratification (mixture in the winter) of physical and chemical water parameters in the medium and deep parts of the water column, being homogeneous in the upper part where the water is capitation, without changing the characteristics of the downstream water. Among the factors analyzed, the wind was the only factor that significantly influenced the vertical structure of the water quality, favored by morphometric and constructive characteristics of the reservoir. Along the longitudinal axis, the reservoir formation significantly altered the turbidity and concentrations of total phosphorus, total solids, and nitrate, with mean reduction of 38, 28, 23 and 14% of their values. Among these, only turbidity and nitrate were affected by the operational control of the hydraulic retention time. In relation to the change in parameters of the annual hydrological regime, parameters of short-term minimum flows (1, 3 and 7 days), maximum flows of 90 days and the number of low and high pulses were significantly modified by the reservoir operation. Of these, the maximum flow of 90 days and the number of high pulses have summarized the impacts, and can be used as target parameters for restoration and conservation of the hydrological regime. Seasonal flows were also significantly altered, with the greatest impact in the dry season (winter). Based on the natural variability of the river, it was proposed preventive limits for sustainability, with permitted daily changes of ±18% in winter, ±24% in spring and ±22% in summer and autumn applied on the natural flow. In general, changes in water quality and hydrological regime caused by the reservoir formation and operation were considered low, both in number of altered parameters as magnitudes of such changes, and these characteristics were ascribed to low concentrations of particles and nutrients in the basin, to the surface capitation system, short hydraulic retention time, low capacity of regularization associated with the seasonality of the regime of rainfall and wind in the region, limiting operational maneuvers for maximizing the energy efficiency.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho é o estudo de transistores UTBOX SOI não auto-alinhados operando como célula de memória de apenas um transistor aproveitando-se do efeito de corpo flutuante (1T-FBRAM single Transistor Floating Body Random Access Memory). A caracterização elétrica dos dispositivos se deu a partir de medidas experimentais estáticas e dinâmicas e ainda, simulações numéricas bidimensionais foram implementadas para confirmar os resultados obtidos. Diferentes métodos de escrita e leitura do dado 1 que também são chamados de métodos de programação do dado 1 são encontrados na literatura, mas com intuito de se melhorar os parâmetros dinâmicos das memórias como o tempo de retenção e a margem de sensibilidade e ainda, permitir um maior escalamento dos dispositivos totalmente depletados, o método de programação utilizado neste trabalho será o BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor). Uma das maiores preocupações para a aplicação de células 1T-DRAMs nas gerações tecnológicas futuras é o tempo de retenção que diminui juntamente com a redução do comprimento de canal do transistor. Com o intuito de solucionar este problema ou ao menos retardá-lo, é apresentando pela primeira vez um estudo sobre a dependência do tempo de retenção e da margem de sensibilidade em função do comprimento de canal, onde se observou que esses parâmetros dinâmicos podem ser otimizados através da polarização do substrato e mantidos constantes para comprimentos de canal maiores que 50 no caso dos dispositivos não auto-alinhados e 80 nos dispositivos de referência. Entretanto, observou-se também que existe um comprimento de canal mínimo que é dependente do tipo de junção (30 no caso dos dispositivos não auto-alinhados e 50 nos dispositivos de referência) de modo que para comprimentos de canal abaixo desses valores críticos não há mais espaço para otimização dos parâmetros, degradando assim o desempenho da célula de memória. O mecanismo de degradação dos parâmetros dinâmicos de memória foi identificado e atribuído à amplificação da corrente de GIDL (Gate Induced Drain Leakage) pelo transistor bipolar parasitário de base estreita durante a leitura e o tempo de repouso do dado 0. A presença desse efeito foi confirmada através de simulações numéricas bidimensionais dos transistores quando uma alta taxa de geração de portadores surgiu bem próxima das junções de fonte e dreno somente quando o modelo de tunelamento banda-a-banda (bbt.kane) foi considerado. Comparando o comportamento dos dispositivos não auto-alinhados com os dispositivos de referência tanto nos principais parâmetros elétricos (tensão de limiar, inclinação de sublimiar, ganho intrínseco de tensão) como em aplicações de memória (tempo de retenção, margem de sensibilidade, janela de leitura), constatou-se que a estrutura não auto-alinhada apresenta melhor desempenho, uma vez que alcança maior velocidade de chaveamento devido a menor inclinação de sublimiar; menor influência das linhas de campo elétrico nas cargas do canal, menor variação da tensão de limiar, até mesmo com a variação da temperatura. Além disso, constatou-se que os dispositivos não auto-alinhados são mais escaláveis do que os dispositivos de referência, pois são menos susceptíveis à corrente de GIDL, apresentando menor campo elétrico e taxa de geração próximos das junções de fonte e dreno que os dispositivos de referência, alcançando então um tempo de retenção de aproximadamente 6 e margem de sensibilidade de aproximadamente 71 A/m. Segundo as especificações da International Technology Roadmap for Semicondutor de 2011, o valor do tempo de retenção para as memórias DRAM convencionais existentes no mercado de semicondutores é de aproximadamente 64. Com o intuito de aumentar o tempo de retenção das 1T-DRAMs a valores próximos à 64 recomenda-se então o uso da tecnologia não auto-alinhada e também a substituição do silício por materiais com maior banda proibida (band-gap), como exemplo o arseneto de gálio e o silício-carbono, dificultando assim o tunelamento dos elétrons e, consequentemente, diminuindo o GIDL. / The main topic of this work is the study of extensionless UTBOX SOI transistors, also called underlapped devices, applied as a single transistor floating body RAM (1T-FBRAM single transistor floating body access memory). The electrical characterization of the devices was performed through static and dynamic experimental data and two dimensional simulations were implemented to confirm the obtained results. In the literature, different methods to write and read the data 1 can be found but in order to improve the dynamic parameters of the memories, as retention time and sense margin and still allows the scaling of fully depleted devices, the BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor) method is used in this work. One of the biggest issues to meet the specifications for future generations of 1T-DRAM cells is the retention time that scales together with the channel length. In order to overcome this issue or at least slow it down, in this work, we present for the first time, a study about the retention time and sense margin dependence of the channel length where it was possible to observe that these dynamic parameters can be optimized through the back gate bias and kept constant for channel lengths higher than 50 nm for extensionless devices and 80 nm for standard ones. However, it was also observed that there is a minimal channel length which depends of the source/drain junctions, i.e. 30 nm for extensionless and 50 nm for standard devices in the sense that for shorter channel lengths than these ones, there is no room for optimization degrading the performance of the memory cell. The mechanism behind the dynamic parameters degradation was identified and attributed to the GIDL current amplification by the lateral bipolar transistor with narrow base. Simulations confirmed this effect where higher generation rates near the junctions were presented only when the band-toband- tunneling adjustment was considered (bbt.kane model). Comparing the performance of standard and extensionless devices in both digital and analog electrical parameters and also in memory applications, it was found that extensionless devices present better performance since they reach faster switching which means lower subthreshold slope; less influence of the electrical field in the channel charges; less variation of the threshold voltage even increasing the temperature. Furthermore, it was seen that the gate length can be further scaled using underlap junctions since these devices are less susceptible to the GIDL current, presenting less electric field and generation rate near the source/drain junctions and reach a retention time of around 4 ms and sense margin of 71A/m. According to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductor of 2011, the retention time for the existing DRAM is around 64 ms. In order to increase the retention time of the 1T-DRAMs to values close to 64 ms it is recommended the use of extensionless devices and also the substitution of silicon by materials with higher band gap, i.e., gallium arsenide and siliconcarbon, which makes difficult the electron tunneling therefore, decreasing the GIDL.

Kommunala avloppsreningsverk renar avloppsvatten och avlägsnar näringsämnen innan vattnet släpps ut i den omgivande miljön. Under reningen avskiljs partiklar som bildar råslam. Genom att bryta ner råslammet anaerobt (syrefritt) via rötning kan användbara produkter, såsom biogas till bussar, erhållas. Rötning innebär att organiskt material bryts ner under kontrollerade former. Sveriges tredje största kommunala avloppsreningsverk är Käppalaverket i Stockholm. Framtidsprognosen för verket visar att belastningen kommer öka, samtidigt förväntas kraven på slamhantering bli strängare.  Syftet med denna studie var att utreda en metod för att öka Käppalaverkets slambehandlingskapacitet. Idag rötas slammet konventionellt med mesofil rötning. Ett förslag för att öka kapaciteten är att förtjocka och därefter recirkulera slammet in i samma rötningskammare. Möjliga fördelar med detta kan vara ökad biogasproduktion samt möjlighet till högre belastning i rötkamrarna.  Till experimentet nyttjades en pilotanläggning bestående av två rötkammrar på 7 dm3. Rötkamrarna användes för att studera konventionell mesofil rötning (i studien benämnd BR01), jämfört med mesofil rötning med recirkulering (i studien benämnd BR02). Råslammet och rötslammet analyserades löpande (på dag- och veckobasis) med avseende på parametrarna: biogasproduktion och gassammansättning, torrsubstanshalt, halt av flyktiga syror, pH, alkalinitet, organisk belastning, andel mineraliserat kväve, utrötningsgrad samt reduktion av makromolekyler. Uppehållstiden (HRT) för slammet i rötkamrarna var inledningsvis 14 dagar. HRT sänktes stegvis  under studien (från 14 till 11 dagar och därefter till 9 dagar) genom att inflödet av råslam ökades. Därmed pressades BR01 och BR02 i syfte att utröna vid vilken belastning rötningsprocessen förändrades från stabil till instabil. Resultaten visade att under 11-dagars perioden var processen i BR01 stabilare än i BR02. Förhöjda halter av flyktiga syror uppmättes i BR02 under denna period. Under 9-dagars perioden med högre belastning observerades att processen i BR01 var instabil. Processen i BR02 var stabilare under samma period och ansågs därför prestera bättre under högre belastning. Statistiska t-tester visade att flertalet reaktorparametrar (i en och samma reaktor) genomgick säkerställda förändringar från experimentets start till slut. / Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) purifies wastewater from nutrients before releasing it to the recipient. Particles that are separated from the water creates a sewage sludge. Anaerobic (without oxygen) digestion is mainly used as a stabilization method for the sludge. Digestion of the sludge produces energy-rich biogas and a nutrient-rich digestate which can be used as a fertilizer. The third largest municipal WWTP in Sweden is Käppala WWTP, situated in Stockholm. In the future, the amount of incoming wastewater is expected to increase. Simultaneously, regulations regarding sludge management are expected to be stricter. The main purpose of this study was to investigate a method to increase the sludge load to the digesters at Käppala WWTP. Today the sludge is digested conventionally with mesophilic anaerobic digestion. One suggestion is to recirculate thickened sludge into the same digestion reactor. This method has been shown to give an increased biogas production as well as improved digester performance.   During the experiment a pilot-digester consisting of two anaerobic reactors (each with a volume of 7 dm3) were used. These reactors were used to study conventional mesophilic digestion (BR01 in this study) and mesophilic digestion with sludge-recirculation (BR02 in this study). Several parameters of the sludge (raw and digested) were analysed on daily and weekly basis: biogas production and gas composition, dry matter content, volatile fatty acids, pH, alkalinity, organic loading, mineralised nitrogen, degree of digestion and reduction of macromolecules. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the sludge was initially 14 days. HRT was lowered stepwise (from 14 to 11 and finally down to 9 days) by increasing the inflow of raw sludge. This way the two reactors were pushed to see at what point the digestion process became unstable. The results showed that during the 11-days HRT period BR01 was more stable compared to BR02. Heightened VFA-content was measured in BR02 during this period. During the 9-days HRT period the process in BR01 was deemed unstable. The process in BR02 was more stable during the same period and was considered to have a better performance during high sludge inflow. Statistical t-tests showed that several digestion-parameters (compared for the same reactor) underwent statistically significant changes from the start to the end of the experiment.

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No description available.

AD is regarded as a sustainable technology that could assist the UK Government meet internationally agreed GHG emission targets by 2050. However, the mature status of the technology is based on expensive systems that rely on high energy feedstock to be profitable. Meanwhile, the natural biodegradation of cow slurry is a recognised contributor to climate change despite having a relatively low CH4 potential because of the large volumes produced. Economic mixing is essential to the cost-effectiveness of farm AD but techniques applied are not always appropriate as slurry is a shear thinning thixotropic Herschel-Bulkley fluid and therefore challenging to mix. The apparent viscosity of slurry and the shear stress induced was most influenced by solids content (exponential change) followed by temperature (linear). Most shear thinning occurred before a rising shear rate of 20s-1 was achieved with the fluid acting near-Newtonian above. Thixotropic recovery occurred within 1 hour of resting. Rheological values were also much higher than previously reported. Highest CH4 production occurred in the first 10 days of the batch process using a range of mixing regimes with different shear rates and rest periods. During fed-batch operations, changing shear rate had a minimal effect on CH4 production using a 30-day HRT whereas shorter rest periods increased production. Specific CH4 production rate was highest when feeding and mixing coincided. However, when HRT was reduced (OLR increased) the CH4 produced by all mixed regimes significantly increased with highest values being achieved using high intensity mixing rested for short periods. Lower HRTs also requires smaller digesters. Parasitic mixing energy invariably had the most influence on net energy production. Signs of instability were evident after 20 days using the low HRT. Significant microbial adaptation was also observed as the experiments progressed. The research outcomes demonstrate that mixing regime and HRT can be managed to maximise net energy production whilst reducing capital expenditure.

<h2>BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN GRASSES FROM WETLANDS</h2><p><em>Marvin Martins</em></p><p>The purpose of this study has been to survey wetlands that are suitable for mowing and to analyze the biogas potential in the harvested grasses. A preformed investigation showed that there are suitable wetlands, which can be harvestable, namely those mowed formerly in traditional haymaking. The practice of traditional haymaking is dying out in Sweden today but there are several good reasons why it should to be reconsidered. Nature- and cultural values are obvious, also the unutilized energy in the grass.</p><p>The suitable types of wetland that were specifically studied were the productive wetlands; meadow marshes and wet meadows. These wetlands are represented in the Swedish meadow- and pasture inventory database; (TUVA) and the Swedish national wetland inventory (VMI). Going through the databases showed that they largely complement each other. A geographical mapping was also carried out of wetlands in relation to areas of interest for the future establishment of biogas plants, so called “hotspots”. The geographical survey shows that there is ample amount of grass from wetlands within a 30-kilometer radius that can supplement the plants main substrate, manure. The map layer Swedish Ground Cover Data (SMD) together with GIS software was used to analyze the extent of overgrowth for the older VMI objects in Uppsala County, with the result that half of the VMI objects are no longer of interest. They have become either woodland and bogs, or reed beds.</p><p>There is very little information on wetland-grasses and methane production. Instead, a theory was evaluated regarding the possibility of transforming nutritional values for grass and sedges into biogas potentials. It was shown that this method does not capture the total biogas potential, but offers a minimum value that can be considered rather reliable. The energy transformation showed that late harvested grasses from wetlands has a biogas potential about 0, 21Nm³methane/ (kg, DM) which is about 60 % of the biogas potential for grass-legume forages. The gas yield after 20 days is also relatively low. It could though be favorable to try grasses from wetlands in methane production, because co-digestion with these grasses and other suitable materials could produce a higher net gas yield for the plant, than using the materials solely by themselves. The derived biogas potential showed that there is at least 4, 4 GWh biogas energy in grasses from wetlands in Uppsala county at a low estimate. Harvesting costs were however shown to be too high in the present to achieve a plus result.</p> / <h2>BIOGASPOTENTIAL HOS VÅTMARKSGRÄS</h2><p><em>Marvin Martins</em></p><p>Syftet med detta arbete har varit att kartlägga våtmarker i Biogas Östs region lämpliga att skörda samt att undersöka biogaspotentialen i detta våtmarksgräs. Undersökningen visar att det finns lämpliga våtmarker, så kallade slåtterängar, i den undersökta regionen. Traditionell slåtter är en utdöende företeelse i Sverige men det finns flera goda argument till varför den borde återupptas. Natur- och kulturvärden är givna sådana men även den outnyttjade energin i gräset.<em></em></p><p>Våtmarkstyper som specifikt har studerats är de produktiva våta slåtterängarna; fuktängar, strandängar och mader. Dessa våtmarker finns representerade i Ängs- och betesmarksinventeringens databas; TUVA och våtmarksinventeringens VMI. En genomgång av databaserna visade att de i stor utsträckning kompletterar varandra. En geografisk kartläggning har även utförts på slåttermarker i förhållande till intressanta områden för framtida biogasanläggningar, så kallade ”hotspots”. Kartläggningen visar att det finns gott om våtmarksgräs inom en tremilsradie som kan komplettera anläggningarnas huvudsubstrat, gödsel. Kartskiktet Svenska Marktäckedata (SMD) tillsammans med GIS-programvara har använts för att analysera hur mycket de äldre VMI-objekten i Uppsala län har växt igen, med resultatet att hälften av VMI-våtmarkerna är inaktuella i dagsläget. De har antingen växt igen med mossor och träd eller blivit vassbälten.</p><p>Det finns ytterst begränsat med information kring rötdata på våtmarksgräs. Istället utvärderades en teori, om fodervärden för ett par gräs- och starrarter kan omvandlas till biogaspotentialer. Det visade sig att denna metod inte ger den maximala biogaspotentialen men ett minimivärde erhålls som kan betraktas som ganska tillförlitligt. Energiomvandlingen visar att sent slåttat våtmarksgräs har en biogaspotential runt 0,21 Nm³ metan/(kg, TS) vilket är omkring 60 % av den odlade åkervallens biogaspotential. Gasutbytet efter 20 dagars rötning är också relativt lågt. Trots detta kan det vara fördelaktigt att röta våtmarksgräs, eftersom samrötning mellan detta och annat lämpligt material kan ge ett högre nettogasutbyte för anläggningen än rötning av de enskilda materialen var för sig. Den framtagna biogaspotentialen visar att det finns minst 4,4 GWh biogasenergi i våtmarksgräs från till exempel Uppsala län, lågt räknat. Slåtterkostnaderna har dock visat sig vara för höga för att få det att gå ihop ekonomiskt i dagsläget.</p>