Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Bioresource Engineering. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/01/15). Includes bibliographical references.

Modern lifestyle has increased the amount of solid and liquid waste that humans create. There are issues associated with pollution and disposal. Adaptation of technologies from the developed world often does not provide the required solutions. This thesis describes an attempt at finding an ecologically and economically sustainable solution for waste management that is appropriate for poorer regions and remote areas. The proposed natural system is close to natural resources and uses biological waste processing methods that have proven to be saustainable. Available resources and low cost give an edge for such processes to be practical and realistic. The system is based on vermicomposting. Composting worms survive in the harsh environments found in most parts of the developing world. Areas for further research and process optimisation were identified that would pave the way for future endeavours towards development of a fully working model. The treatment system is shown to work and achieve the objectives of treating waste to usable products including worms for feed supplement, compost fertilizer and irrigation water. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Um dos principais problemas ambientais que encaramos hoje é a contaminação do solo por vazamento de tanques de armazenagem de combustíveis. Os combustíveis armazenados se compõem de vários hidrocarbonetos de petróleo, entre eles os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos. Eles são selecionados pela US EPA e pelo NIOSH como prioritários, devido à carcinogenicidade, mutagenicidade e sua persistência no ambiente. Este trabalho propõe meios de recuperação de solos contaminados utilizando a vermicompostagem. Investigou-se o papel da matéria orgânica durante o processo para melhorar a atividade de degradação no sistema solo, bem como o papel da minhoca. Em diferentes caixas foi adicionado solo dopado a 2% de diesel e quantidades estabelecidas de esterco bovino. A inoculação foi realizada com minhoca Eisenia fetida. Foram realizadas 7 coletas durante 3 meses e feitas as determinações dos HPAs por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (marca shimadzu, com detector UV-Vis e de fluorescência, utilizando uma coluna C-18), além de análises que indicam a humificação. Verificou-se, pela concentração dos contaminantes durante o processo, que a técnica de vermicompostagem pode ser aplicada para remediar solos contaminados por HPAs. As vantagens da vermicompostagem são: pode ser realizada no próprio local contaminado, é um processo natural, deixa o solo mais rico em nutrientes, além de ser um processo economicamente viável. Durante o processo, percebem-se diferenças nas características físico-químicas do solo devido ao processo de mineralização e um aumento do teor de ácido húmico. / One of the main environmental problems that we face today is the soil contamination due to storage fuel tanks leakages. Fuels are comprised of a variety of hydrocarbons, among them are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Those are classified by US-EPA and NIOSH as prioritary contaminants, due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic characteristics and their persistence in the environment. This work proposes ways of recovering contaminated soil with such hydrocarbons using vermicomposting. It was investigated the role of organic matter during the process to improve the PAHs degradation in the soil system, as well as the influence of the earthworms. In different boxes it was added soil doped with 2% of diesel and established amounts of manure cast. The inoculation was carried out with Eisenia foetida earthworm. Seven samplings were performed during three months and the PAHs determined by HPLC, as well as analyses that indicated the humification. By following the contaminants concentration during the process, it was observed that vermicomposting can be applied to clean up contaminated soils by degrading the contaminants, proving the vermicomposting is an useful tool for soil remediation. The advantages of the vermicomposting are: it can be carried out in situ; it is a natural process that leaves the soil enriched with nutrients; and it is economically viable. During the process, differences in the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil were observed due to the mineralization process and an increase in the humic acid content. The sorption of naphthalene, antracene and benzo(a)pirene in soil and in vermicompost was also studied, in order to verify the ability and availability of those compounds for the degradation process. The increase of the number of aromatic rings takes to a greater sorption in the environmental matrices soil and vermicompost.

Um dos principais problemas ambientais que encaramos hoje é a contaminação do solo por vazamento de tanques de armazenagem de combustíveis. Os combustíveis armazenados se compõem de vários hidrocarbonetos de petróleo, entre eles os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos. Eles são selecionados pela US EPA e pelo NIOSH como prioritários, devido à carcinogenicidade, mutagenicidade e sua persistência no ambiente. Este trabalho propõe meios de recuperação de solos contaminados utilizando a vermicompostagem. Investigou-se o papel da matéria orgânica durante o processo para melhorar a atividade de degradação no sistema solo, bem como o papel da minhoca. Em diferentes caixas foi adicionado solo dopado a 2% de diesel e quantidades estabelecidas de esterco bovino. A inoculação foi realizada com minhoca Eisenia fetida. Foram realizadas 7 coletas durante 3 meses e feitas as determinações dos HPAs por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (marca shimadzu, com detector UV-Vis e de fluorescência, utilizando uma coluna C-18), além de análises que indicam a humificação. Verificou-se, pela concentração dos contaminantes durante o processo, que a técnica de vermicompostagem pode ser aplicada para remediar solos contaminados por HPAs. As vantagens da vermicompostagem são: pode ser realizada no próprio local contaminado, é um processo natural, deixa o solo mais rico em nutrientes, além de ser um processo economicamente viável. Durante o processo, percebem-se diferenças nas características físico-químicas do solo devido ao processo de mineralização e um aumento do teor de ácido húmico. / One of the main environmental problems that we face today is the soil contamination due to storage fuel tanks leakages. Fuels are comprised of a variety of hydrocarbons, among them are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Those are classified by US-EPA and NIOSH as prioritary contaminants, due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic characteristics and their persistence in the environment. This work proposes ways of recovering contaminated soil with such hydrocarbons using vermicomposting. It was investigated the role of organic matter during the process to improve the PAHs degradation in the soil system, as well as the influence of the earthworms. In different boxes it was added soil doped with 2% of diesel and established amounts of manure cast. The inoculation was carried out with Eisenia foetida earthworm. Seven samplings were performed during three months and the PAHs determined by HPLC, as well as analyses that indicated the humification. By following the contaminants concentration during the process, it was observed that vermicomposting can be applied to clean up contaminated soils by degrading the contaminants, proving the vermicomposting is an useful tool for soil remediation. The advantages of the vermicomposting are: it can be carried out in situ; it is a natural process that leaves the soil enriched with nutrients; and it is economically viable. During the process, differences in the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil were observed due to the mineralization process and an increase in the humic acid content. The sorption of naphthalene, antracene and benzo(a)pirene in soil and in vermicompost was also studied, in order to verify the ability and availability of those compounds for the degradation process. The increase of the number of aromatic rings takes to a greater sorption in the environmental matrices soil and vermicompost.

Vermicomposting is a possible method for reducing the amount of landfilled bio- waste. The product of vermicomposting is called worm tea. The thesis deals with the issue of composition and possible usage of worm tea, which is a liquid product of vermicomposting. The aim was to assess the composition and properties of worm tea samples provided from households. Then a mixed sample was tested as a nutrient solution for hydroponic growing. One year operation of a small vermicomposter as a mean of community bio-waste disposal was also assessed in the thesis. Conductivity, pH, content of selected cations and anions and TOC were determined for each worm tea sample. Values of conductivity were then assessed by a correlation test with inhibition values gained from an ecotoxicological test with Sinapis alba. Testing of worm tea as a nutrient solution was done in an opened hydroponic system with Lactuca sativa seedlings. Results show that samples of worm tea are very different and they can not be watered down according to their conductivity as was hypothesised. The largest percentage of samples evinced stimulating qualities in a concentration of 2,5 %. Worm tea can be used as an alternative of nutrient solution for hydroponic growth and it has potential for utilization as an stimulant for germination and...

Orientador: Rodrigo Máximo Sánchez-Román / Coorientador: Roberto Lyra Villas Boas / Banca: Hélio Grassi Filho / Banca: Claudinei Fonseca Souza / Resumo: Pesquisas agropecuárias que buscam aumentar a eficiência do uso da água e da terra de sistemas agrícolas irrigados vem crescendo cada vez mais visando suprir a crescente demanda alimentícia da população. O sistema de hortas orgânicas verticais surge para tentar suprir essa demanda, porém por se tratar de um sistema inovador ainda existe diversos parâmetros a serem estudados com atenção. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar um sistema de produção irrigada vertical em termos produção de hortaliças e da eficiência do uso da água, a influencia da localização das plantas na estrutura, o desempenho da fertirrigação e do biofertilizante orgânico produzido no sistema vertical, além de avaliar os coeficientes de uniformidade (Christiansen, de distribuição, estatístico e eficiência de aplicação). O sistema vertical apresentou uma EUA superior quando comparado com o cultivo em solo ou em canteiros em substrato para as culturas analisadas. Os parâmetros biométricos não apresentaram diferença estatística quando comparados os sistemas convencionais e vertical. Houve diferença estatística quanto à orientação das culturas com referência à trajetória do sol. A fertirrigação resultou em uma produção mais homogênea para a cultura da alface, uma vez que os parâmetros biométricos analisados foram mais uniformes entre os níveis do sistema vertical. Em termos de uniformidade de aplicação, os coeficientes foram superiores com o passar dos ciclos, garantindo que a aplicação de água nest... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract:Agricultural research that seeks to increase the efficiency of water and land use in irrigated agricultural systems has been increasing in order to meet the growing food demand of the population. The system of vertical organic gardens arises to try to supply this demand, but because it is an innovative system there are still several parameters to be studied carefully. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate a vertical irrigated production system in terms of vegetable production and water use efficiency, the influence of levels and sides in the production of vegetables, the performance of the fertirrigation and the organic biofertilizer produced in the system vertical, in addition to evaluating the coefficients of uniformity (Christiansen, distribution, statistical and application efficiency). The vertical system presented a superior WUE to the other treatments for all cultures analyzed, and the biometric parameters did not show statistical difference when compared to the conventional and vertical systems. There was a statistical difference between the different sides of the system for the analyzed cultures. Fertigation resulted in a more homogeneous production for the lettuce crop, since the biometric parameters analyzed were more uniform between the levels of the vertical system. In terms of uniformity of application, the coefficients were higher after the cycles, ensuring that the water application in this system was satisfactory. The results of the studies showed that the vertical system has the potential to produce quality ... / Mestre

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2004. / "A thesis submitted for the fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy" Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-104).

No description available.

Aquaculture, the cultured production of fish, is growing at a rapid pace worldwide. The industry is generating approximately 140,000 cubic meter wastewater per year. For this industry to flourish, viable methods for treating the resulting waste stream must be identified. The various methods were tried by many researchers like sand filtration method, recirculating aquaculture system, intermittent filtration methods. The most of the industries use sand filtration methods for treating aquaculture wastewater and the problems associated: the reduction in hydraulic conductivity, accumulation of solid due to which anaerobic conditions developed. This study investigated possible treatment technologies for wastewater and sludge produced from Blue Ridge Aquaculture (BRA), an indoor, recirculating aquaculture facility where tilapias (Oreochromis) are raised. Research focused on the use of vermicomposting in conjunction with sand bed filtration to filter aquaculture waste and treat the resulting solids. Two experiments were conducted: a feedstock acceptability test and a filter bed test. The feedstock acceptability test evaluated the suitability of the fish sludge (mixed with cardboard) as a feedstock for the worms involved in the vermicomposting process. The results showed that as the percentage of fish sludge in the feed increased from 0 to 50%, there was a corresponding increase in the growth rate of E.fetida biomass. The filter bed test appraised the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating vermicomposting in sand filter beds to directly treat aquaculture wastewater. Popular in early wastewater treatment systems, sand filtration has seen a resurgence in recent years. To test the potential for even more effective filtration, sixteen sand filter beds were established--twelve that included worms and four that did not. Wastewater (1.5 % total solids) from BRA was applied to the sand beds at loading rates of 400 to 1000 grams of volatile solids/m2/week. Filter beds containing worms exhibited no ponding over the 70-day experimental period. However, all units without worms failed (exhibited ponding) by the 24th day of operation. Removal efficiencies obtained from the filter bed study for total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), sulfate, chlorides, and ammonia-N were greater in filter beds with worms than beds without worms. The worms were crucial to maintaining porosity in the filter beds, hence keeping the filters functioning over time. Worm filter beds removed approximately 100% of the TS, VS, TSS and Ammonia-N, 90% of the TP, 50% of the chlorides, 80% of the sulfate and 70% of the COD. Maximum hydraulic conductivity of 35 cm/day was achieved at the maximum application rate. All the worm filter beds therefore had greater hydraulic conductivity than filter beds without worms. The potential impact is to treat the wastewater effectively, to increase the flow of water, and may be to maintain the aerobic conditions on the worm filterbeds. / Master of Science