In many countries around the world, municipal sewage and industrial wastewaters are typically treated, or sometimes only partially treated, prior to their discharge into surface waters. A major anionic surfactant, Linear Alkyl benzene Sulfonate (LAS), and a degraded product of a non-ionic surfactant, Nonylphenol (NP), are frequently found in municipal wastewaters. When wastewater containing such surfactants and their degraded products is used for irrigation, it can have an effect on the sorption/desorption and movement of pesticides in soils. Therefore, a lysimeter study was conducted, in summer 2004, to assess the effect of LAS and NP on the movement of agricultural herbicides through a sandy loam soil. The degradation of the herbicides was studied in lysimeters over a ninety-day period. Irrigation water with a concentration of 12 mg L -1 of LAS and NP was used to assess their effect on the leaching of atrazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin. Moreover, a laboratory sorption experiment was undertaken to estimate the partition coefficients (kd) of the three herbicides with water containing the same concentrations of LAS and NP. Irrigation water containing low concentrations of surfactants (LAS and NP) did not increase leaching of the three herbicides. Therefore, these results would reduce the concerns regarding pesticide leaching through sandy soil brought on by LAS and NP in wastewaters for irrigation, which is becoming more important due to increasing water scarcity in the dry climate regions of the world. / Beside the lysimeter study, mathematical models can be used effectively and economically in a very short period of time for simulating herbicide concentrations into soil. PESTFADE, a one dimensional transient flow model, was used, in this study, to simulate the fate of the three herbicides in sandy soils. Another model, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), was also used over mathematical modeling due to its faster execution period and less input parameter requirements, for predicting the concentrations of the three herbicides in a sandy loam soil. The predicted concentrations, from both models were compared with the experimental results from the lysimeter study. Although slight overestimations and underestimations were observed, both models simulated herbicide concentrations in the soil profile satisfactorily.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a degradação de alquilbenzeno linear sulfonado (LAS) em condições anaeróbias. Os primeiros experimentos foram realizados em reatores em batelada alimentados com diferentes substratos e concentrações de LAS. Apesar do surfactante ficar adsorvido no lodo, não foram observadas interferências no metabolismo de microrganismos anaeróbios, pois dessa forma o LAS tornou-se indisponível para a degradação celular. Reatores anaeróbios horizontais de leito fixo (RAHLF) foram avaliados quanto à remoção de LAS e inoculados com lodos anaeróbios provenientes de reatores UASB usados respectivamente no tratamento de esgoto sanitário (R1) e tratamento de dejetos suinocultura (R2) imobilizados em espuma de poliuretano. A adição de LAS não influenciou na estabilidade do reator. O LAS começou a ser degradado após 108 dias da sua adição no afluente dos reatores. Porcentagens de remoção, considerando adsorção e degradação de LAS, com 313 dias de operação foram iguais a 50% e 91% para o R1 e R2, respectivamente, quando foram alimentados com esgoto sintético e 14 mg/L de LAS (reator - R1) e somente LAS a 14 mg/L (reator - R2). Em relação ao balanço de massa de LAS, os reatores apresentaram degradações muito semelhantes, sendo 35% para o reator R1 e 34% para o reator - R2. A diversidade microbiana referente aos domínios Bacteria e Archaea e ao grupo BRS foi avaliada utilizando a técnica de PCR/DGGE. Para o domínio Archaea, foram observadas diferenças significativas nas populações quando os reatores foram alimentados com LAS. Diferenças foram observadas no domínio Bactéria e grupo das BRS, para concentrações de LAS de 14 mg/L. A alteração na diversidade microbiana pode ter ocorrido devido à seleção dos microrganismos pela presença do surfactante. A biomassa presente no final da operação foi submetida à técnica de clonagem e seqüenciamento do fragmento do RNAr 16S para o domínio Bacteria. Observou-se que os reatores que apresentaram maior número de clones relacionados ao filo Firmicutes, classe Clostridia, ordem Clostridiales. Provavelmente os microrganismos pertencentes a esse grupo estejam envolvidos com a degradação do LAS / The objective of this work was to evaluate the degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in anaerobic conditions. The first experiments were accomplished in reactors in batch fed with different substrates and concentration of LAS. In spite of the surfactant to be adsorbed in the sludge interferences was not observed in the metabolism of anaerobic microorganisms, because in that way LAS became unavailable for the cellular degradation. Horizontal anaerobic immobilized biomass (HAIB) reactors were appraised as for the removal of LAS and inoculated with coming anaerobic slugde of reactors UASB used respectively in the treatment of sanitary sewage (R1) and treatment of wastewater swine (R2) immobilized polyurethane foam. The addition of LAS didn’t influence in the stability of the reactor. LAS began to be degraded after 108 days of its addition in the tributary of the reactors. Removal percentages, considering adsorption and degradation of LAS, with 313 days of operation was same to 50% and 91% for R1 and R2, respectively, when they were fed with synthetic sewage and 14 mg/L of LAS (reactor – R1) and only LAS to 14 mg/L (reactor – R2). In relation to the balance of mass of LAS, the reactors presented very similar degradations, being 35% for the reactor R1 and 34% for the reactor R2. The microbial diversity regarding the Bacteria and Archaea domain and to the group BRS was evaluated using the technique of PCR/DGGE. The alteration in the microbial diversity might have happened due to the selection of the microorganisms for the presence of the surfactant. The biomass present in the end of the operation was submitted the cloning technique and sequencing of the fragment of 16S rRNA for the bacteria domain. It was observed that the reactors presented larger number of clones related to the phylum Firmicutes, Clostridia, Clostridiales. Probably the microorganisms belonging to that group are involved with the degradation of LAS

O Alquilbenzeno Linear Sulfonado (LAS) é um surfactante aniônico considerado prioridade de risco ambiental entre os contaminantes emergentes atuais. Estudos anteriores reportaram a degradação anaeróbia de LAS por co-digestão da água residuária de lavanderia comercial e co-substratos sintéticos (extrato de levedura e etanol), em reatores em escala de bancada. Todavia, na literatura ainda são limitados os estudos envolvendo co-substratos economicamente viáveis, como o esgoto doméstico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiência de remoção do LAS, de água residuária de lavanderia comercial em co-digestão com esgoto doméstico. O reator de leito granular expandido (EGSB) escala piloto de 62,0 L foi operado em condição mesofílica, em TDH de 40 h, por 480 dias. O reator foi inoculado com 12,0 L de lodo proveniente de reator UASB usado no tratamento de água residuária de abatedouro de aves. Na primeira etapa, de adaptação, com duração de 60 dias, o reator foi alimentado apenas com esgoto doméstico. Em seguida, o reator foi alimentado com água residuária de lavanderia comercial diluída em esgoto doméstico para obtenção de concentrações de LAS afluente de 5 ± 4; 19 ± 10 e 36 ± 19 mg L-1, nas etapas II, III e IV, respectivamente. Nestas etapas o reator foi monitorado por 60, 270 e 90 dias. Verificou-se diminuição da eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica de 73 ± 23 % na etapa de adaptação, para 61 ± 25%, 50 ± 15% e 44 ± 15%, respectivamente, para as etapas II, III e IV. Assim como, verificou-se diminuição da eficiência de remoção do LAS de 73 ± 31% para 55 ± 29% e 32 ± 17% nas três últimas etapas. Verificou-se aumento significativo de sulfeto da etapa II para a etapa III e IV, respectivamente de 8 ± 2 mg L-1 para 29 ± 12 mg L-1 e 31 ± 5 mg L-1, respectivamente. Foi realizada a caracterização taxonômica da biomassa do leito do lodo do reator EGSB ao final de cada etapa experimental, sendo identificadas bactérias semelhantes a Bellinea (domínio Bacteria) e Methanosaeta (domínio Archaea), as quais foram as de maior abundância relativa ao longo de toda operação. A tecnologia empregada para remoção do surfactante foi adequada para concentrações afluente de até 20 mgLAS L-1. Aclimatação da biomassa microbiana foi observada, após longo período e exposição aos compostos recalcitrantes da água residuária de lavanderia. / Classified as an emergent contaminant, Alkylbenzene Linear Sulfonate (LAS) is an anionic surfactant of high priority given its environmental risk. Previous studies reported LAS anaerobic degradation from laundry wastewater in co-digestion with synthetic substrates (such as methanol, ethanol and yeast extract). However, studies with more economic viable substrates as domestic sewage still lacking. This study assessed LAS removal from laundry wastewater diluted in domestic sewage, using an Expanded Bed Granular Sludge (EGSB) pilot scale reactor. The reactor was kept in mesophilic temperature, with 62,0 L total volume and it was operated with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 40 h. The inoculum was 12,0 L of sludge from an UASB used on a poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plant. On the first stage, of adaptation, the reactor was fed only with domestic sewage for 60 days. Then, commercial laundry wastewater was diluted in domestic sewage to obtain LAS affluent concentrations of 5 ± 4; 19 ± 10 and 36 ± 19 mg L-1, on stages II, III and IV, respectively. These stages lasted for 60, 270 and 90 days. The increase of commercial laundry wastewater proportion on fed resulted in lower organic matter removal efficiencies. These parameter decreased from 73 ± 23% on adaptation, to 61 ± 25%, 50 ± 15% and 39 ± 23% on following stages. As well as LAS removal efficiencies that dropped from 73 ± 31% to 55 ± 29% and 44 ± 15 % on three last stages. Sulphide production enhanced from stage II (8 ± 2 mg L-1) to stage III (29 ± 12 mg L-1) and remained 31 ± 5 mg L-1 on stage IV. Taxonomic characterization of granular sludge biomass in the end of each stage was performed and genders similar to Bellinea (Bacteria domain) and Methanosaeta (Archae domain) were the ones with higher relative abundance in all stages. The technology applied was suitable for anaerobic surfactant removal with LAS affluent concentration of 20 mg L-1. Acclimation of microbial biomass was observed after long exposure of microbial community to recalcitrant compounds from laundry wastewater.

Nesse trabalho avaliaram-se quatro hipóteses sobre a remoção do alquilbenzeno linear sulfonado (LAS) em reator EGSB (expanded granular sludge bed) alimentado ora com água residuária de lavanderia comercial, ora como meio sintético acrescido de LAS Padrão, com e sem suplementação de Fe(III) afluente. Para tanto, em todas as hipóteses utilizou-se reator EGSB (1,4 L) com tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) de 36h, condição mesofílica (30ºC) e carga de LAS específica aplicada (CLEA) variando de 1,0 - 2,7 mgLAS.gSTV-1.d-1. DGGE e sequenciamento massivo do gene rRNA 16S (Plataforma 454-Pirosequenciamento e Ion Torrent) foram utilizados para caracterização microbiana. Em relação à Hipótese A avaliou-se o efeito da adaptação prévia da biomassa na remoção do LAS em água residuária. Para tanto, o EGSB-BA (biomassa adaptada) teve uma etapa prévia com LAS padrão e meio sintético (Etapa I), seguida da Etapa II com água residuária; e o EGSB-BNA (biomassa não adaptada) teve etapa única e alimentação diretamente com água residuária. Para a Hipótese B avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação com meio sintético na remoção de LAS em água residuária. Para tanto, o EGSB-Ag.Lav foi alimentado apenas com água residuária e bicarbonato de sódio e duas CLE (Etapa II - 1,0 e Etapa III - 2,7 mg LAS.gSTV-1.d-1). Em relação às Hipóteses C e D, avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação de Fe(III) na remoção de LAS Padrão em meio sintético e LAS em água residuária, respectivamente. A Hipótese A foi refutada uma vez que as remoções de LAS em EGSB-BA-Etapa II (76%) e EGSB-BNA-Etapa I (78%) foram similares (ambas com água residuária). A remoção de LAS foi maior quando foi adicionada água residuária (EGSB-BA-Etapa II-76%) do que com LAS Padrão (EGSB-BA-Etapa I-63%). A Hipótese B foi aceita, uma vez que a alimentação do EGSB apenas com água residuária de lavanderia (CLE 1,0 mg LAS.gSTV-1.d-1) mais bicarbonato de sódio resultou em remoções do surfactante de 93%, ou seja, 15-17% maior que nos reatores suplementados com meio sintético (EGSB-BA Etapa II e EGSB-BNA Etapa I). Na Etapa III verificou-se diminuição da remoção em 30%. A Hipótese C foi aceita uma vez que se notou 20% de aumento na remoção de LAS quando comparado com reator não suplementado com Fe(III) (EGSB-Fe - 84,3% e EGSB-BA Etapa I - 63,5%). A Hipótese D foi refutada, uma vez que embora tenha sido obtida alta remoção de LAS (91,2%), esta não foi acompanhada pela redução férrica. Por meio do DGGE (domínio Bactéria) notou-se estratificação microbiana ao longo do reator na Etapa III (Hipótese B), provavelmente, em função do tamanho do grânulo que variou ao longo do reator. Por meio do sequenciamento massivo identificou-se bactérias semelhantes à Geobacter na amostra proveniente do reator EGSBFe da Hipótese C (17% da abundância relativa), portanto, as condições impostas favoreceram esse gênero. Fato este não observado para o reator EGSB-Fe-Ag.Lav. da Hipótese D. A comparação da análise filogenética das bactérias para os diferentes reatores permitiu identificar gêneros em comum relacionados com a degradação de LAS, a saber: Desulfobulbus, Geobacter, Syntrophorhabdus, Sporomusa, Comamonas, Holophaga, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas e Synergistes. / This study evaluated four hypotheses about the removal of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in EGSB reactor (expanded granular sludge bed) fed sometimes with commercial laundry wastewater, sometimes with synthetic medium more Standard LAS, with and without Fe(III) influent supplementation. Therefore, in all hypotheses were used an EGSB reactor (1.4 L) with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 36 h, mesophilic condition (30°C) and load specific LAS (CLE) ranging from 1,0 to 2,7 mgLAS.gSTV-1.d-1. DGGE and massive sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (454-pyrosequencing and Ion Torrent platform) were used for microbial characterization. Regarding the Hypothesis A, it was evaluated the effect of biomass pre-adaptation for removal of LAS in wastewater. Then, the EGSBBA (adapted biomass) had a previous step with standard LAS and synthetic medium (Phase I), followed by Stage II with wastewater; and EGSB-BNA (not adapted biomass) had single step and feeding directly with wastewater. Regarding the Hypothesis B, it was evaluated the effect of synthetic medium supplementation in the removal of LAS in wastewater. Then, the EGSB-Ag.Lav was fed only with wastewater and sodium bicarbonate with two CLE (Stage II - 1,0 e Stage III - 2,7 mg LAS.gSTV-1.d-1). Regarding the Hypothesis C and D, it was evaluated the effect of Fe(III) supplementation in the removal of standard LAS and LAS in wastewater, respectively. The Hypothesis A was refuted since the LAS removal in EGSB-BA-Stage II (76%) and EGSB-BNA-Step I (78%) were similar (both with wastewater). The LAS removal was highest when wastewater was added (EGSB-BA-Stage-II 76%) than with standard LAS (EGSB-BAStage- I 63%). The Hypothesis B was accepted, since the feed of the EGSB only with wastewater from laundry (CLE 1,0 mg LAS.gSTV-1.d-1) more sodium bicarbonate resulted in removal of 93% of surfactant, in other words, 15-17% higher than in the reactors supplemented with synthetic medium (EGSB-BA Stage II e EGSB-BNA Stage I). In the Stage III, there was a decrease by 30% of LAS removal. The Hypothesis C was accepted, since there was an increase of 20% in the removal of LAS as compared to unsupplemented reactor with Fe (III) (EGSB-Fe - 84,3% e EGSB-BA Stage I - 63,5%). The Hypothesis D was refuted since although high LAS removal was obtained (91,2%), this was not accompanied by ferric reduction. By means of DGGE (Bacteria domain) was noted a microbial stratification along the reactor in the Stage III (Hypothesis B), probably in function of granule size along the reactor. By means of massive sequencing were identified bacteria similar to Geobacter in the sample from the reactor EGSB-Fe Hypothesis C (relative abundance 17%), therefore, the conditions favored this genre. This fact was not observed in the reactor EGSB-Fe-Ag.Lav. hypothesis D. A comparison of phylogenetic analysis of bacteria for different reactors allowed to identify common genera related to LAS degradation, namely: Desulfobulbus, Geobacter, Syntrophorhabdus, Sporomusa, Comamonas, Holophaga, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas and Synergistes.

No description available.

Τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες η συνεχώς αυξανόμενη παγκόσμια δραστηριότητα, λόγω της έντονης αστικοποίησης και βιομηχανοποίησης, έχει σαν αποτέλεσμα την παραγωγή σημαντικών ποσοτήτων αποβλήτων. Μεταξύ αυτών είναι και η ιλύς, δηλαδή το ημιστερεό υπόλειμμα που παράγεται από τις μονάδες επεξεργασίας αστικών και βιομηχανικών αποβλήτων. Μολονότι η ιλύς αντιμετωπίζεται ως απόβλητο που πρέπει να διατεθεί, είναι στην πραγματικότητα ένας σοβαρά υποτιμημένος πόρος. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η ιλύς διαθέτει πολύτιμα θρεπτικά συστατικά, ενώ παράλληλα έχει και υψηλή θερμική αξία, ιδιότητες που την καθιστούν κατάλληλη για ένα μεγάλο εύρος χρήσεων. Ωστόσο, η ιλύς είναι φορέας ρύπων, όπως οι παθογόνοι μικροοργανισμοί και οι ξενοβιοτικές ουσίες, η ύπαρξη των οποίων βρίσκεται στο επίκεντρο των ενδιαφερόντων των ερευνητών. Ανάμεσα στις διάφορες διεργασίες που έχουν εφαρμοσθεί μέχρι σήμερα τόσο για την επεξεργασία της ιλύος, όσο και για την απομάκρυνση των ξενοβιοτικών παραγόντων από το περιβάλλον, οι βιολογικές διεργασίες φαίνεται να υπερτερούν αισθητά έναντι των άλλων. Στόχος της παρούσας διατριβής ήταν η εφαρμογή μιας βιολογικής μεθόδου, της βιοσταθεροποίησης, για την επεξεργασία της ιλύος. Η ολοκλήρωση της μελέτης της βιοσταθεροποίησης έγινε με την ανάπτυξη ενός μαθηματικού μοντέλου ικανό να περιγράφει τη διεργασία. Παράλληλα, ερευνήθηκε η δυναμικότητα της διεργασίας αυτής στη βιοαποκατάσταση της ιλύος από το ξενοβιοτικό περιεχόμενό της. Επιπρόσθετα, μελετήθηκε η απομάκρυνση των ξενοβιοτικών ουσιών, μέσω της βιοαποδόμησής τους από αυτόχθονες μικροβιακούς πληθυσμούς της ιλύος, σε άλλα αερόβια περιβάλλοντα. Η εφαρμογή της διεργασίας της βιοσταθεροποίησης πραγματοποιήθηκε σε κατάλληλη πειραματική διάταξη που σχεδιάστηκε και υλοποιήθηκε για το σκοπό αυτό. Η διάταξη αυτή επέτρεπε τον πλήρη έλεγχο και τη σωστή ρύθμιση της διεργασίας. Η ολοκλήρωση των πειραμάτων της λιπασματοποίησης έδειξε ότι η διεργασία αυτή μπορεί να εφαρμοσθεί ως μέθοδος επεξεργασίας και σταθεροποίησης της ιλύος, αρκεί να ρυθμιστούν κατάλληλα καθοριστικές φυσικές και χημικές παράμετροι. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν, επίσης, ότι η διεργασία δεν παρεμποδίζεται από την παρουσία υψηλών αρχικών συγκεντρώσεων ξενοβιοτικών ουσιών στην ιλύ, ενώ αντίθετα οδηγεί στην απομάκρυνσή τους. Τα ποσοστά απομάκρυνσης ήταν ιδιαίτερα υψηλά προκειμένου για τις επιφανειοδραστικές ενώσεις και αρκετά σημαντικά για το φθαλικό εστέρα και τους πολυκυκλικούς αρωματικούς υδρογονάνθρακες. Φαίνεται, λοιπόν, ο πολυποίκιλος μικροβιακός πληθυσμός της βιοσταθεροποίησης να συμβάλλει στην ουσιαστική, αν όχι πλήρη, απομάκρυνση των ξενοβιοτικών ουσιών κατά τη διάρκεια της διεργασίας και να οδηγεί στην παραγωγή σταθερού και ασφαλούς τελικού προϊόντος. Ωστόσο, υψηλά ποσοστά απομάκρυνσης των παραπάνω ξενοβιοτικών ουσιών κατέδειξαν και τα πειράματα που πραγματοποιήθηκαν σε αερόβιες υγρές μικτές καλλιέργειες. Ενδεχομένως, η μικροβιακή συνεργασία να παίζει τον καθοριστικό ρόλο στη βιοαποδόμηση αυτών των ουσιών. Η παρούσα μελέτη θα μπορούσε να συνεισφέρει αποτελεσματικά στην ανάπτυξη μιας αξιόπιστης μεθόδου για τη διαχείριση της ιλύος. Συνολικά, η λιπασματοποίηση μπορεί να αποδειχθεί ένα χρήσιμο εργαλείο για την επιθυμητή βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη της κοινωνίας μας, αφού αφ’ ενός μπορεί να συμβάλλει στη λύση του περιβαλλοντικού προβλήματος της διαχείρισης της ιλύος που παράγεται από τις εγκαταστάσεις επεξεργασίας λυμάτων, που την απασχολεί έντονα, και αφ’ ετέρου μπορεί να εξουδετερώσει το παθογόνο περιεχόμενο και να εξαλείψει τις τοξικές ξενοβιοτικές ουσίες. / The continuously increased human activity of the last few decades, because of the intense urbanization and industrialization, has resulted in the production of a serious amount of wastes. Among these is sewage sludge, which is the semi-solid residue produced by municipal and industrial waste treatment plants. Although sludge is considered as a waste product which must be disposed, it is actually an underestimated resource. Specifically, sludge contains valuable nutrients and high thermal value making sludge appropriate for a wide range of uses. Nevertheless, the existence of pathogens and xenobiotics in sludge has attracted the interest of scientific community. Among various methods that have been used for sludge treatment, as well as the removal of xenobiotics from environmental systems, biological methods are advantageous. The aim of the present work was to assess the sewage sludge treatment by a biological process, which is closed-vessel composting. This study involved also the development of a mathematical model capable of describing the composting process. The efficiency of bioremediation of xenobiotics content during sludge composting was also studied. Finally, the xenobiotics removal was investigated through biodegradation using sludge indigenous microbial populations in other aerobic environments. A suitable experimental configuration was designed and constructed in order to study the composting process. The composting system was designed for complete control and regulation of the process. Based on the results of the composting experiments, it can be concluded that composting is an efficient method allowing for treating and stabilization of sewage sludge, provided that critical physicochemical parameters are adjusted. Results revealed also that composting process is not inhibited by the presence of high initial concentration of xenobiotics. On the contrary, composting results in removal of xenobiotics. With reference to surfactants (LAS.NP and NPEO), the removal percentages were particularly high, while the relevant percentages for phthalate ester and polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons were also significant. It seems, then, that the variable microbial population of the composting mixture contributes to the elimination of xenobiotic compounds and results in a safe and stable final product. The experiments which were conducted in aerobic mixed liquid cultures showed also high xenobiotic removal percentages. Probably, the microbial consortium could play a significant part in biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds. The present study contributes to the development of a reliable method of sewage sludge treatment. The composting process, totally complies with the desirable sustainable growth for our society by the treatment of sludge produced in waste water treatment plants and by the elimination of the xenobiotic compounds that limit its valorisation.