As águas residuárias industriais possuem propriedades físico-químicas distintas, sendo necessários estudos específicos para a escolha do tratamento de cada efluente visando garantir maior eficiência e atendimento aos requisitos ambientais. Diversas indústrias, dentre elas o Curtume, potencialmente, geram efluentes com elevado teor de óleos e gorduras (O&G). Tais compostos podem causar problemas operacionais e interferir no desempenho dos sistemas biológicos de tratamento. Por esse motivo, a remoção preliminar de O&G, em geral, é recomendada. A hidrólise enzimática de lipídios tem se mostrado promissora no pré-tratamento de águas residuárias como alternativa ao uso de métodos físico-químicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar bactérias lipolíticas do efluente da graxaria de curtume, aplicá-las no pré-tratamento deste efluente em escala laboratorial e comparar seus efeitos com o uso do produto comercial Enzilimp® e com enzima LPP (lipase de pâncreas de porco - Sigma Aldrich®). Foram isoladas 14 cepas produtoras de lipase. A cepa MOV7 (estafilococo positivo), que apresentou maior índice enzimático, foi utilizada nos ensaios. Foram realizados três ensaios preliminares com o intuito de avaliar o perfil temporal e a influência da concentração dos inóculos, dos efeitos da diluição do efluente e da aeração. Posteriormente realizou-se o DCCR avaliando a influência da temperatura, da concentração do inóculo, da concentração do efluente e do pH para as variáveis respostas DQOt, DQOs, O&G e Índice de Acidez ao longo de 48 horas em sistema fermentativo e posteriormente 24 horas em sistema aerado. Ao final do experimento concluiu-se que o efluente da graxaria do curtume é fonte potencial de bactérias lipolíticas e que tais cepas isoladas apresentam comportamento semelhante ao Enzilimp®. Após 72 horas de experimento (48 horas em período fermentativo e 24 horas em sistema aerado) foram alcançadas remoções de 75% de O&G e 47% de DQOt com MOV7 e 52% de O&G e 30% DQOt com a enzima LPP. A enzima LPP provocou aumento de 1,1g de DQOt por g de enzima adicionada. Quando in natura, o aumento da concentração dos inóculos não resultou em melhoria do tratamento. Porém, a diluição do efluente favoreceu a redução dos parâmetros DQO, O&G e IA para os diferentes inóculos. A aeração favoreceu a redução da matéria orgânica nas diluições entre 12,5 e 62,5 mL.L-1. Observou-se que a temperatura e pH influenciaram significativamente o desempenho do sistema com melhores resultados a 30°C e 8,0, respectivamente. / Industrial wastewaters present different physiochemical characteristics, requiring specific studies for choose the correct treatment for each effluent, ensuring more efficiency, taking into account environmental requirements. Many kinds of industries, including tannery, potentially produce effluents with high content of oil and grease (O&G). Those compounds can cause operational problems and interfere on the performance of biological treatment systems. For these reasons, in general, is recommended the preliminary removal of O&G. The enzymatic hydrolysis of lipids has proven promising in pretreatment of wastewaters like an alternative for physiochemical methods. The aim of this study was isolate microorganisms from tannery effluent able to produce extracellular lipase, apply them in the pretreatment in laboratorial scale of this effluent and compare their effects with the commercial product Enzilimp® and with PPL enzyme (porcine pancreas lipase Sigma Aldrich®). Were isolate 14 strains from tannery's effluent. The strain MOV7 (positive staphylococci), that presented the greatest enzymatic index, was used on the tests. Were done three preliminary tests with the objective to evaluate the time and the influence from inoculum concentration, from effluent dilution and aeration. After, were made the DCCR to evaluating the influence from temperature, inoculum and effluent concentration, and pH on the variables responses CODt, CODs, O&G e Acid Index during 48 hours in fermentation system and 24 hours after in aerobic system. In the end of the tests were concluded that the tannery effluent is a potential source of lipolytic bacteria and those strains have similar behavior to Enzilimp®. During 72 hours (48 hours in fermentative conditions and 24 in aerated conditions) the pretreatment reached the reduction of 75% of O&G and 47% of CODt with MOV7 and 52% of O&G and 30% with PPL enzyme. The PPL enzyme caused the increasing of 1,1g CODt on each gram from added enzyme. When in natura, the increasing of inoculum concentration gave no better results on treatment. However, the effluent dilution promoted the decreasing of parameters COD, O&G and AI for the different inoculums. The aeration was effective on reduction from organic matter in dilutions between 12,5 and 62,5 mL.L-1. Was observed that the temperature and pH influenced significatively the system's work with better results on 30°C and 8,0, respectively.

No modelo atual de investimento em esgotamento sanitário, os maiores custos dizem respeito às obras em estações de tratamento de esgotos e à implantação de redes que, muitas vezes, não receberão a conexão dos usuários. No Brasil, o percentual de usuários conectados à rede coletora de esgoto é baixo, pois a ligação predial, de responsabilidade do usuário não é realizada. Dessa forma, menos esgoto chega às estações e uma quantidade menor é tratada. O município de Caxias do Sul acompanha essa constatação, pois apesar de grandes investimentos em sistemas de esgotos, tem apenas 37,05% como indicador de esgoto tratado por volume de água consumida (SNIS, 2015). A realização do presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar os fatores determinantes da ocorrência de ociosidade das redes de esgotamento sanitário nesse Município. Para tanto, foi realizada pesquisa exploratória e quantitativa, por meio da aplicação de questionários a dois públicos: junto aos colaboradores da empresa de saneamento e junto aos moradores do bairro selecionado como amostragem. Também foi realizada pesquisa documental e observação direta junto à empresa e seu sistema de ligação de esgoto. Como resultado foi verificado que a ociosidade das redes é um problema desconhecido dos moradores e colaboradores. A falta de informação sobre o sistema de esgoto, não querer danificar o piso, o valor da conexão foram motivos apontados pelos moradores. Os colaboradores acrescentaram a falta de estímulo, a inexistência de sanções, caimento contrário, e a alegação de ser muito trabalhoso fazer a ligação. A legislação é desconhecida pelos moradores, não há controle da empresa de saneamento sobre as ligações não conectadas, que cobra tarifa pela disponibilidade de rede e tratamento. Entraves que podem ser solucionados pelo Município por meio de medidas estruturantes: de gestão, regulamentação, programas de educação ambiental, e adequação de procedimentos, conforme levantados na pesquisa e elencados como recomendações. O estudo confirmou a necessidade da valoração dos serviços de ligações de esgoto na universalização do saneamento. / In the current model of investment in sanitary sewage, the highest say respect to works in sewage treatment plants and in the implantation of networks, which will often not receive the connection of users. In Brazil, the percentage of users connected to the sewage collection system is low, since the land connection, at the user's responsibility, not performed. In this way, less sewage reaches the stations and a smaller quantity is treated. The municipality of Caxias do Sul is following this observation, because despite large investments in sewage systems, it has only 37.05% as an indicator of treated sewage (SNIS, 2015). The objective of this study is to analyze the determinants of the occurrence of idleness of sanitary sewage networks in this Municipality. For that, an exploratory and quantitative research it was made, through the application of questionnaires to two publics: together with the employees of the sanitation company and with the residents of the neighborhood selected as sampling. Documentary research and direct observation with the company and its sewage connection system were also carried out. As a result it was verified that the idleness of the networks is an unknown problem of the residents and collaborators. The lack of information about the sewage system, not wanting to damage the floor, the value of the connection were reasons pointed out by the residents, the employees added, lack of stimulation, lack of penalties, downside, and the claim to be very laborious make the call. The legislation is unknown by the residents, there is no control of the sanitation company on unconnected connections, which charges tiered tariff for network availability and treatment. Obstacles that can be solved by the Municipality through structuring measures: management, regulation, environmental education programs, and adequacy of procedures, as raised in the research and listed as recommendations. The study confirmed the need for the valuation of sewage services in the universalization of sanitation.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES

Orientador: Edson Aparecido Abdul Nour / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T00:31:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_GustavoHenriqueRibeiroda_M.pdf: 10901410 bytes, checksum: 214e9f14f9626400264bad3cf93fade5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2001 / Resumo: No presente trabalho de pesquisa foi estudada uma alternativa de união de processos anaeróbios e aeróbios sob a forma de um reator compartimentado anaeróbio/aeróbio, no tratamento de esgoto sanitário. O reator era composto por quatro câmaras seqüenciais, sendo as três primeiras anaeróbias e a última aeróbia, totalizando um volume aproximado de 2,5 m3. O Iodo gerado pelo reator foi separado em um decantador laminar e recirculado à quarta câmara. O reator, localizado em uma E.T.E. da cidade de Limeira, SP, foi operado durante um período de 444 dias, divido em cinco fases, com tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) total variando de 7 a 16 horas, alimentado com esgoto sanitário que havia recebido tratamento preliminar. As cinco fases de operação corresponderam a 10, 16, 12, 8 e 7 horas de TDH. Os valores de pH ao longo de todas as câmaras e decantador, variaram entre 5,7 e 8,3 e o valor médio foi de 6,8, não sendo necessário correção e pH durante o período de estudo. Os melhores valores de remoção de 0805 foram obtidos na Fase 4 (TDH=8 horas), 56,9 a 95,7%. Contudo o teste estatístico de comparação de médias de duas amostras, verificou não. haver diferença significativa entre as fases, exceto Fase 2, ao nível de P=O,05. O desempenho do reator quanto a remoção de DQOtotal e SST foi semelhante ao obtido para 0805, com valores de 31,4 a 95,6 e 21,0 a 97,3%, respectivamente, o mesmo ocorrendo para o teste estatístico realizado. Os valores encontrados para oxigênio dissolvido no interior da câmara 4 (aeróbia) foram satisfatórios na maior parte do tempo, de acordo com os valores citados na literatura, alcançando valor máximo de 4,70 e mínimo de O mg 02.L-1. A presença do decantador laminar foi importante na remoção de sólidos provenientes do reator. Após o 1070 dia de operação, o Iodo de recirculação apresentou uma sedimentabilidade de boa a ótima. A configuração do sistema em estudo, promove adequado tratamento do efluente aplicado aliado a uma produção de Iodo aeróbio de fácil gerenciamento / Abstract: The present research aimed to study an alternative route for union of aerobic and anaerobic processes, through the use of a baffled reactor, treating sanitary wastewater. The reactor is composed of four sequential chambers, being the first tree anaerobic chambers and the last one aerobic, composing a total volume of approximately 2.5 m3. The sludge generated in the reactor is separated in a laminar sedimentation tank and recycled into the forth chamber. The reactor - placed in a wastewater treating plan of Limeira city, S. P., 8razil -operated in a period of 444 days. This period was divided in five phases, with hydraulic detention times (HOT) varying from 7 to 16 hours. The reactor was fed with sanitary wastewater which had already suffered a preliminary treatment. The five phases of operation corresponded to 10, 16, 12,8 e 7 hours of HOT, respectively. The pH values in all chambers and in the sedimentation tank, varied between 5,7 e 8,3, with a mean value of 6,8; the correction of pH values was not necessary during all periods. The best value of 8005 removal was attained in the Phase 4 (HOT=8 hours), 56,9 to 95,7%. However, the statistic comparison of the means .of two samples showed that there was no significant difference between the phases, except in Phase 2, with P=0,05. The reactor performance, in relation to COOtotal removal and TSS, was similar to that obtained for the 8005, with values of 31,4 to 95,6 and 21,0 to 97,3%, respectively. The same occurred in the statistic test. In chamber 4, the oxygen dissolved values were satisfactory in most of the periods, reaching the maximum of 4,7 and of 0,0 mg 02.L-1. The laminar sedimentation tank was important for removal of solids produced in the sedimentation tank. After the 10ih operation day, the recycled sludge presented a sedimentation capability classified between good and very good. Thus, It is possible to affirm that the baffled reactor configuration of the present work promotes an useful effluent treatment, employed to the production of an aerobic sludge with easy management / Mestrado / Saneamento e Ambiente / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

M.Tech. / The removal and recovery of heavy metals from effluents has been a subject of significant importance due the negative impact these toxic metals have on human health and the environment as a result of water and soil pollution. Precipitation is the mostly widely used wastewater treatment method because it is the most economical and easier to implement and operate on a large scale. However, traditional precipitation methods using lime, sulfides or hydroxides recover metals in the form of a sludge which is not reusable and has to be disposed in landfills creating a potential environmental hazard and resulting in loss of valuable minerals. The current focus in effluent treatment is now on the recovery and re-use of these heavy metals rather than removal and disposal. This study investigated the use of hydrazine as a reducing agent to remove and recover Ni2+, Cu2+, Co2+ and Fe2+ from effluent by reduction crystallization. In this process chemically reduced aqueous metal ions were plated on to a base substrate (nickel powder) with no electrical current required for deposition. A feasibility study was carried out to test the efficiency and find the optimum operating conditions for this method and generate an understanding of the chemical and particulate process occurring. The results obtained indicate that hydrazine is an effective reducing agent for removal and crystallization of Ni2+, Cu2+, Co2+ and Fe2+/ Fe3+ into their elemental states with nickel powder as a seeding material. Over 99 % of metals were removed from the effluent in all the systems (Ni-only, Ni-Cu, Ni-Fe and Ni-Fe). Breakage, aggregation and molecular growth were identified as the predominant mechanisms occurring during the reduction crystallization process in Ni-only, Ni-Cu, Ni- Co systems and there was evidence of nucleation in Ni-Fe solution. These finding were confirmed by analysing the scanning electron micrographs of the powder obtained. A nearly spherical structure powder with wide distribution in particle size and evidence of fragmentation was obtained in all the experimental runs. vii The residual concentrations obtained were far below the required limit for effluent discharge into sewer where 20 mg/L Ni, 20 mg/L Cu and 20 mg/L Fe and the total metal concentration of 50 mg/L for Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn and Cd is stipulated. Reduction crystallization using hydrazine as a reducing agent can be utilized for controlling environmental pollution and eliminating hazardous metals from the environment.

Thesis submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Doctoral Degree in Technology: Biotechnology at the Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / Globally, wastewaters emanating from edible oil manufacturers contain high organic (BOD & COD) and phosphate loads and known for creating shock-loading problems for the receiving wastewater treatment installations. Discharge of poor quality final effluents also negatively impact on and cause eutrophication of natural water sources such as rivers and dams. In South Africa, a large concentration ofthe edible industries are localized in the Pietermaritzburg region of Kwa-Zulu Natal and have been regularly associated with discharge of poor quality final effluent that did not subscribe to municipal regulation standards. Current treatment of choice for wastewater's in the edible oil industry have been limited primarily to dissolved air flotation combined with the use of chemical coagulants or physical separation of oil and grease via a gravity fat trap and subsequent pH correction. These physico-chemical methods have achieved limited success and the emulsified grease tends to clog sewer pipes and pumps producing poor quality effluents. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to develop suitable treatment technology focussing on adapting activated sludge process to remediate edible oil effluents and determine the microbial community of the process using novel molecular techniques. / D

M.Tech. (Chemical Engineering) / The design process was carried out in two stages: feedstock analysis and system design. Under feedstock analysis, the study investigated the amount of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) generated at the study area which was situated at the University of Johannesburg’s Doornfontein Campus (UJ DFC) in downtown Johannesburg South Africa. Furthermore, the feedstock analyses involved characterisation studies on the target waste under which several laboratory tests were undertaken. The system design involved sizing of the suitable biogas digester to be used in the system applying mathematical models and feedstock parameters obtained from the feedstock analyses. Via the application of the Simple Multi-Attribute Rating (SMART) technique of multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) as a decision support tool, the most preferred option of biogas plant model was selected from a list of potential alternatives available on the market. And, in addition, a suitable site around the study area was selected by applying the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique of MCDA. Other system components and accessories such as the piping, scrubbers and valves were sized, selected, integrated into the system and finally layout drawings were produced using Inventor computer aided drafting (CAD) Software. Furthermore, feasibility assessments were conducted on the proposed system such as energy usage assessments and economic analyses using the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) techniques...

Experiences in treating wine distillery wastewaters (WDWs) contribute to the field of oenology as many oenologists are concerned with the selection, efficiency and economy of their wastewaters. Wine distillery wastewaters are strongly acidic, have high chemical oxygen demand (COD), high polyphenol content and are highly variable. Primary attention was focussed on sustainable biological treatment of raw wine distillery wastewater (RWDW) and fungally pre-treated wine distillery wastewater (FTWDW) by energy-efficient high rate anaerobic digestion (AD). This study also explored the development of a novel dual-stage anaerobic digestion ultrafiltration (ADUF) process, using a ceramic submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) in the treatment of both RWDW and FTWDW. The first stage was for the selection of microorganisms that were able to treat the toxic pollutants from WDWs. It was operated at a high feed-to-microorganism ratio. The second stage, a secondary digester, was operated like a typical membrane bioreactor at a low feed-to-microorganism ratio to sustain a stable efficient population for a long period. The characteristics of RWDW were as follows: pH 3.83, 15 000 mg/l soluble COD (CODs) and 5229 mg/l of phenols. After pre-treatment of RWDW with Trametes pubescens, starting parameters for FTWDW were as follows: pH 6.7, 7000 mg/l soluble COD (CODS) and 1440 mg/l of phenols. During operation of a high rate anaerobic digester for RWDW treatment, K2HPO4 was required for buffering the digester. Volatile fatty acid concentrations were <300 mg/l throughout the study, indicating degradation of organic acids present. Mean CODS removal efficiency for the 130 day study was 87 %, while the mean polyphenol removal efficiency was 85 %. Addition of 50 mg/l Fe3+ increased the removal efficiencies of CODS to 97 % and of polyphenols to 99 %. High removal efficiencies of CODS and polyphenols were attributed to the addition of macronutrients and micronutrients that caused pH stability and stimulated microbial activity. The CODS removal efficiency of high rate anaerobic digestion of FTWDW reached 99.5%. During FTWDW digestion, pH buffering was achieved using K2HPO4. A combination of a SMBR and a secondary digester was tested for the treatment of RWDW and FTWDW during a 30 day study. Results for RWDW showed that pH buffering was achieved by dosing the feed stream with CaCO3 and K2HPO4. Buffering proved to be significant for optimum performance of the system in removal of soluble CODS, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Different batches of RWDW used for feeding the reactor had variable compositions with respect to concentrations of nitrates, ammonium and total phenolic compounds. Ammonium accumulated in the secondary digester after 14 days of system operation, indicated the time required for the establishment of anaerobic conditions in the system. Dosing of the SMBR treating FTWDW with CaCO3 and K2HPO4 buffered the pH; iii this proved significant for optimum performance of the system in removal of CODS. The system eliminated an average of 86 (± 4) % of CODS present in the FTWDW. The residual CODS levels in the effluent were approximately 400 mg/l, significantly lower than the concentrations observed when treating RWDW, indicating that fungal pre-treatment might have provided additional nutrients for removal of recalcitrant components of the wastewater. The resulting effluent was rich in nitrates and phosphates and might be used as a fertiliser. Alternatively, a membrane process, such as reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) could be applied to raise the water quality to meet the levels required for reuse. Biomass samples were obtained from the four treatment systems and population shifts characterization using phospholipids fatty acids (PLFA) and 16S rRNA analysis to provide an indication of limitations within the microbial population. The values of the concentrations of the individual PLFAs detected in the samples indicated that ten bacterial species were present, with the GC content of the 16S rRNA increasing from 1 to 10. Analysis of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis DGGE data indicated that the composition of the archeal community changed the consortia used for both RWDW and FTWDW treatment. Changes in band intensities indicated the presence of different components of the archeal communities. The results were not conclusive in terms of species identity as cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were not performed, but they did indicate microbial population shifts and species diversity for high rate anaerobic digestion. The results also confirmed prevalence of relatively few species during operation of SMBRs for treatment of RWDW and FTWDW, which suggested that the microorganisms that survived were either tolerant of toxic components of RWDW and FTWDW or they were able to remove polyphenols.

Polluted waters, arising from extensive past and ongoing mining operations in South Africa, pose serious environmental threats to the limited fresh water resource. The long time periods, of decades to centuries, over which decanting mine waters may be expected to flow raises additional concerns about the sustainability of these resources. Responses to the problem have thus increasingly been directed towards the long-term sustainability of mine water treatment technologies (MWTT) as a critical indicator in both their research and development, and application. Bioprocess treatments have been considered in this regard and, among these, the Rhodes BioSURE Process has been investigated in preliminary studies using complex organic carbon wastes as the carbon source and electron donor for the central sulphate reduction unit operation. Although both the mining industry and the related statutory/regulatory authority in South Africa share public commitment to sustainability in the treatment of mine waters, no systematic mechanism has emerged to enable the application of sustainability thinking as a guiding principle in the selection and application of MWTTs, nor in the research and development undertaking. This study undertook the development of a Sustainability Indicator Framework in order to provide a systematic basis for the incorporation of sustainability objectives in MWTT bioprocess development, and specifically to use this framework as an input to the investigation of the scaleup development of the Rhodes BioSURE Process. In the development of the MWTT Sustainability Indicator Framework, an initial survey of industry thinking in this area was undertaken and, based on these outcomes, a detailed questionnaire methodology was developed in order to identify and quantify critical sustainability indicators. These included analysis of environmental, economic, social and technical indicators used in sustainability accounting practice in the industry. Statutory/regulatory sustainability targets in the same categories were derived from State of the Environment Reports (SoER) from Provincial authorities where mining is undertaken in South Africa. A synthesis of industry and SoER values was derived from weighted averages and the Sustainability Indicator Framework based on these outcomes. A Conceptual Decision-Support System, to guide the selection and development of MWTTs, was proposed and also based on these results. In the development of the Rhodes BioSURE Process the use of primary sludge (PS) had been investigated as a potential complex carbon and electron donor source. In this regard the utility operator, and sewage treatment process infrastructure, was identified as potentially meeting aspects of the sustainability objectives identified for MWTT application development. Both the Sustainability Indicator Framework and the Conceptual Decision-Support System provided inputs in the formulation of the experimental programme relating to the scale-up development of the Rhodes BioSURE Process. Based on these outcomes, a series of single- and multi-stage reactor configuration, optimisation and enzymology studies were undertaken at bench-, pilot- and technical-scale operations. These units were operated at hydraulic retention times (HRT) ranging between 22 to 72 hours and at chemical oxygen demand to sulphate ratios (COD:SO[subscript 4]) ranging between 1:1 to 2:1. Studies undertaken in fed-batch, bench-scale reactors confirmed the preliminary feasibility of using established sewage treatment infrastructure as a replacement for novel reactor configurations that had been used in the initial studies. The results further indicated that the hydrolysis of PS occurred at different rates under biosulphidogenic conditions in the different reactor configurations investigated. Scale-up of these findings in multi-stage pilot- (7.4m[superscript 3]) and technical-scale plants (680m[superscript 3]) showed comparable performances between the unit operations in terms of SO[subscript 4] and COD removal. These results indicated no apparent advantages in the uncoupling of hydrolysis and sulphate reduction in separate unit operations as had been suggested in previous studies. Scale-down/scale-up studies were undertaken in a continuously fed single-stage reactor configuration and showed that the process could be effectively operated in this way. Previous proposals that chemical and biological gradients established in the sludge bed of the Recycling Sludge Bed Reactor (RSBR) exercised an influence on the rates of substrate hydrolysis were investigated and the relative activity of α- and β-glucosidase and protease enzymes was measured. Results provided additional support for this hypothesis and it was shown that enzyme assay may also provide a useful tool in process development and monitoring studies. While sulphide recovery, following the sulphate reduction step in the BioSURE Process, was not investigated as a component of this study, the treatment of final effluent or waste spills was identified as an important sustainability requirement given the toxicity of sulphide to human and ecosystem environments. A conventional trickle filter reactor system was evaluated for this purpose and showed close to 100% oxidation to sulphate in a short contact time operating regime. Although residual COD removal was low at ~20% of influent, it is considered that high rate recycle biofilter operation could achieve the COD discharge standard of 75 mg/l. The results of the above studies provided inputs into the design, construction and commissioning of the first full-scale commercial application of the Rhodes BioSURE Process for mine wastewater treatment using sewage sludge as the carbon and electron donor source. An adjacent mine and sewage works have been linked by pipeline and an operational capacity of 10 Ml/day water treated has been established with sulphate reduced from ~1300mg/l to <200mg/l. These developments constitute a novel contribution in the mine waste water treatment field.

An investigation of the biodegradation of complex hydrocarbon wastes, with emphasis on chlorinated aromatic compounds, in an anaerobic/aerobic bioprocess environment was made. A reactor configuration was developed consisting of linked anaerobic and aerobic reactors which served as the model for a proposed bioremediation strategy targeting subterranean soil/sediment/aquifer chlorinated phenol-contaminated environments. Here oxygen is frequently limited and sulphate is readily available, as occurs especially in marine sediment and intertidal habitats. In the anaerobic system the successful transformation and mobilization of the model contaminant, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, was shown to rely on reductive dechlorination by a sulphate-reducing dependent dechlororespiring co-culture. This was followed in the aerobic system by degradation of the pollutant and its metabolites, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol and phenol, by immobilized white-rot fungi.The strategy was initially investigated separately in laboratory bench- and intermediate scale reactors whereafter reactors were linked to simulate the integrated biodegradation strategy. The application of the fungal reactor to treat an actual waste stream by degrading complex mixtures of hydrocarbons in a waste oil recycling effluent was also investigated. The mineralization of phenol and 2,4,6-TCP by immobilized fungal cultures was studied in pinewood chip and foam glass bead-packed trickling reactors. The reactors were operated in sequencing batch format. Removal efficiency increased over time and elevated influent phenol and TCP (800 and 85 mg.L⁻¹) concentrations were degraded by > 98 % in 24 – 30 h batch cycles. Comparable performance between the packing materials was shown. Uptake by the packing was negligible and stripping of compounds induced by aeration had a minimal effect on biodegradation efficiency. Reactor performances are discussed in relation to sequencing batch operation and nutrient requirements necessary to sustain fungal activity in inert vs. organic material packed systems. It was shown that a co-culture consisting of sulphate-reducing and dechlororespiring bacteria established in fed-batch and soil flasks, as well as pine chip-packed fluidized bed reactors. Results showed reductive dechlorination of 2,4,6-TCP to be in strict dependence on the activity of the sulphate-reducing population, sulphate and lactate concentrations. Transformation to 2,4-DCP, 4-CP and phenol was enhanced in sulphate deficient conditions. Dechlororespiring activity was found to be dependent on the fermentative activity of sulphate-reducing bacteria, and the culture was also shown to mobilize and dechlorinate TCP in soils contaminated with the pollutant. Linking the systems achieved degradation of the compound by > 99 % through fungal mineralization of metabolites produced in the dechlororespiring stage of the system. pH correction to the anaerobic reactor was found to be necessary since acidic effluent from the fungal reactor inhibited sulphate reduction and dechlorination. The fungal reactor system was evaluated at intermediate-scale using a complex waste oil recycling effluent. Substantial COD reduction (> 96 % in 48 h batch cycles) and removal of specific effluent hydrocarbon components was shown in diluted, undiluted (COD > 37 g.L⁻¹) and 2,4,6-TCP-spiked effluents. Industrial application of the fungal reactor was evaluated in a 14 m³ pilot plant operated on-site at a waste oil processing plant.