Um sistema de tratamento de esgotos sanitários por reator UASB seguido de RSB foi operado durante 27 semanas objetivando-se verificar seu desempenho na remoção de matéria orgânica carbônácea, nitrogênio amoniacal e fósforo. O reator UASB, com 145 litros foi operado com tempo de detenção hidráulica médio de 8 horas durante todo o experimento. O reator RSB, de 106 litros, foi operado com tempos de ciclio de 24, 12 e 6 horas, em seis etapas distintas. Os tempos de ciclo no RSB variaram de 24, 12, 6, 24, 24 e 24 para as etapas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6 respectivamente. As últimas três etapas foram caracterizadas pela adição de cloreto férrico, respectivamente. O sistema UASB/RSB apresentou eficiência média de remoção de DQO de 92% nas etapas 1, 2, 5, e 6. Na etapa 3, com tempo de ciclo de 6 horas e na etapa 4, quando o RSB recebeu 50mg/L de cloreto férrico, a eficiência média de remoção de DQO foi de 83%. Quando FeCl3 foi adicionado no afluente do reator UASB, obteve-se excelente desempenho na remoção de fósforo, cujas concentrações afluentes foram da ordem de 1,0 mg/L e 4,0 mg/L para a adição de 200 e 100 mg/L de cloreto férrico, respectivamente. / The performance evaluation of a pilot scale system composed by a UASB reactor followed by an SBR reactor treating domestic sewage is presented. The UASB reactor with 145 L of volume, was operated with an average hydraulic detention period of 8 hours. The SBR reactor had a volume of 106 litters being operated with cyclic time of 24, 12, and 6 hours. These different operational conditions characterized three stages of the work from a total of six stages. The three last stages were the addition of 50, 100, and 200 mg/L of ferric chloride in the aerobic, anaerobic, and anaerobic reactors, respectively. In the three last stages the UASB reactor worked with an average hydraulic detention time of 8 hours and the aerobic reactor worked with a cyclic time of 24 hours. After 27 weeks of continuous operation, the UASB/SBR system produced very good results in terms of COD removal. The average results of the COD removal were of 92% to the first, second, fifth, and sixth stages, having a reduction to 83% on the average to the stages where the SBR received 50 mg/L of ferric chloride and in which it worked with a six hour cyclic period. The addition of ferric chloride in the anaerobic reactor had great efficiency in the phosphorus removal. It was reached absolute values of until 1 mg/L of PO43- in the aflluent of the system, promoting an average effluent of 4 mg/L of PO43- with the addition 200 mg/L of FCl3. The UASB/SBR system can become a very promising alternative for domestic sewerage treatment in Brazil, since the system can be projected with shorter times of hydraulic detention times, resulting in a low cost compact installation. Furthermore, excellent results can be gotten to the ammonium and phosphorus removal.

The anaerobic biodegradability of food waste (FW), meat waste and FOG (fats, oils and greases) with municipal primary sewage sludge was assessed using a laboratory scale anaerobic digester and by ultimate sludge digestibility, at mesophilic conditions by varying the inoculum to feedstock ratio (1:2-1:10) and solids retention time (SRT). Preliminary analysis assessed the anaerobic digestion of food waste and meat at a biogas production over 30 days at 1000 mL and 1400 mL, respectively. The maximum methane yield was 0.18 m3/kg VS and 0.50 m3/kg VS for 1:10 in meat and FOG, respectively in 28 days with 56-61% volatile solids of destruction and first order methane generation rate of 0.15 d-1 for both meat and FOG. The optimal ratio for meat and FOG was determined to be beyond highest ratio tested (1:10), and longer SRT should be considered to investigate the impact of feedstock on methane yield. Preliminary modeling suggests that for one 1.74 MG digester, diverting just 0.6% of the food waste generated in one-third of Palm Beach County could produce enough methane to power 130-360 homes for one full month. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Neste trabalho a composição do biogás produzido em digestão anaeróbia foi avaliada em função da variação da carga aplicada específica (CAE) medida em termos da relação DQO/sólidos suspensos voláteis. Foram feitos ensaios de digestão anaeróbia utilizando vinhaça como fonte de carbono e lodo adaptado proveniente de reator UASB em 10 frascos reagentes contendo as seguintes variações de CAE: 0,20; 0,28; 0,34; 0,55; 0,95; 3,15; 6,58; 7,00; 9,60; 12,98 g.O2/g.SSV. Os melhores resultados obtidos com relação à produção volumétrica de biogás foram 263,79 mL de volume acumulado de metano para a CAE de 0,34 g.O2/g.SSV, e uma produção máxima acumulada de hidrogênio de 558,06 mL para a CAE de 6,58 g.O2/g.SSV. O resultado não se repetiu com relação ao rendimento de produção de biogás, atingindo um máximo rendimento de 80,68 LCH4/L vinhaça para a CAE de 0,20 g.O2/g.SSV, e 7,98 LH2/L vinhaça para a CAE 3,15 g.O2/g.SSV. A variação da CAE também teve influência direta na rota metabólica da digestão anaeróbia, alterando a concentração de metabólitos dissolvidos. / In this research, the composition of the biogas produced in anaerobic digestion was evaluated according to the variation of the applied load specific (ALS) measured in terms of the ratio COD/volatile suspended solids. Assays were done using anaerobic digestion of vinasse as a source of carbon and sludge obtained from UASB reactor adapted in 10 bottles for the following of ALSs: 0,20, 0,28, 0,34, 0,55, 0,95; 3,15, 6,58, 7,00, 9,60, 12,98 g.O2/g.VSS. The best results concerning to the volumetric biogas production were 263,79 ml cumulative volume of methane for ALS equal to 0,34 g.O2/g.VSS, and a maximum cumulative hydrogen production of 558,06 mL for ALS of 6,58 g.O2/g.VSS. The same was not observed with respect to yield biogas production, reaching a maximum yield of 80.68 LCH4/Lvinasse for ALS of 0,20 g.O2/g.VSS and 7,98 LH2/Lvinasse for ALS of 3,15 g.O2/g.VSS. The variation of ALS also has a direct influence on the metabolic pathway of anaerobic digestion, altering the concentration of dissolved metabolites.

Decay and accumulation of blanket peat in the Northern Pennine region of England are considered, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. Productivity on the surface of these peat bogs is not unusually high, suggesting that a low decay rate may be responsible for the accumulation of the peat. Considerable study has formerly been made of the aerobic decay processes, at the expense of the parallel anaerobic processes, which have largely hitherto been considered negligible. Yet a current mathematical model of peat accumulation suggests that it is likely to be the anaerobic decay rate which determines the total depth of peat which may accumulate. Further, such models intimate that a very small absolute change in the anaerobic decay rate will have an unexpectedly large effect on the potential steady state depth of peat. The present study concentrates on obtaining measurements of anaerobic decay rates, and on identifying the possible limiting environmental factors of the decay. The design of a sampler to collect gas samples in situ from blanket peat is described. The components of particular interest in the samples are CH4 and C02. Gas concentrations down eight peat profiles at two sites are monitored over two seasons. Simultaneous surface flux measurements above pool, lawn and hummock microhabitats are also made. Water level, temperature, pH, redox potential, depth of the sulphide zone and total sulphide concentration are recorded on each field visit. The results from the gas sample analyses are discussed in relation to the environmental factors and in relation to our present understanding of peat decay rates and their consequences on peat accumulation. The anaerobic decay rate is calculated, and is confirmed to be several orders of magnitude less than that in the overlying aerobic peat. It is shown that the methane is not fossil, but is continually being produced at all depths. Rates of gas production are calculated. Annual methane and carbon dioxide losses from entire peat bogs are calculated to contribute a significant amount to carbon cycling, on a site-specific and global scale.

Problems about greenhouse gas emissions attributed to cattle production and improvements in the productivity of these animals has been growing and becoming increasingly important. Cattle releases methane as part of their digestive process, and this represents loss of energy for the animal. The decomposition of feces releases methane and it can be recovered by digester and transformed into different types of energy. Thus, aiming to quantify the potential production of enteric methane and anaerobic fecal decomposition, as well as to evaluate ruminal and behavioral parameters of cattle fed with cottonseed and vitamin E. Six cannulated cows (864±16 kg) were distributed in a replicate 3x3 Latin square. Treatments were: 1) control diet; 2) CS: basal diet plus 30% cottonseed and 3) CSVitE: basal diet plus 30% of cottonseed plus 500 UI of vitamin E. Results were compared through orthogonal contrast and values were considered significant when P0,05. No differences were observed for dry matter intake (DMI), as well as digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Animals supplemented with cottonseed spent more time eating and ruminating and less time in idles. Reduction in the concentration and production of acetate, butyrate and the acetate: propionate ratio was observed in animals fed cottonseed compared to the control. Enteric methane mitigation was observed for the cottonseed treatments compared to the control. Changes in the substrates characteristics used to load the digesters were observed. However, no differences were verified for the total biogas production, methane yield and capacity to recover the energy of the feces in the form of methane. Inclusion of 30% cottonseed can be used as a strategy to mitigate enteric methane, without causing losses in the DMI, nutrients digestibility and anaerobic digestion of feces. In addition, it promoted favorable changes in the ingestive behavior, ruminal fermentation products, as well as in the energy partition of the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin E when is used as antioxidant had not effect on ruminal fermentation, feeding behavior and feces anaerobic digestion, thus the inclusion is not advised due absence of positive results. / A problemática das emissões de gases de efeito estufa atribuída à produção de bovinos e melhorias na produtividade desses animais vem crescendo e se tornando cada vez mais importante. Bovinos emitem metano como parte do seu processo digestivo, e isto representa perda de energia para o animal. A decomposição das fezes gera metano, este pode ser recuperado por biodigestores e transformado em diferentes tipos de energia. Assim, objetivou-se quantificar o potencial de produção do metano entérico e da decomposição anaeróbia das fezes, bem como avaliar parâmetros ruminais e comportamentais de bovinos alimentados com caroço de algodão e vitamina E. Foram utilizadas seis vacas fistuladas não gestantes e não lactantes (876 kg±16). Os tratamentos foram: 1) Controle: dieta basal; 2) CA: dieta basal mais 30% de caroço de algodão; 3) CAVitE: dieta basal mais 30% de caroço de algodão mais 500 UI vitamina E. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o quadrado latino. Os resultados foram comparados por contrastes ortogonais e foram considerados significantes valores de P0,05. Não foram verificadas diferenças para o consumo de matéria seca (MS), bem como digestibilidade da MS e da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN). Os animais suplementados com caroço de algodão passaram maior tempo comendo e ruminando e menor tempo em ócio. Houve redução na concentração e produção de acetato, butirato e da relação acetato:propionato dos animais que receberam caroço de algodão comparado ao controle. A inclusão do caroço de algodão provocou mitigação das emissões de metano entérico. Houve alteração nas características dos substratos utilizados para abastecer os biodigestores. No entanto, não foram verificadas diferenças para a produção total de biogás, rendimento de metano e capacidade dos biodigestores em recuperar a energia das fezes na forma de metano. A inclusão de 30% caroço de algodão pode ser utilizada como estratégia para mitigar metano entérico, sem causar perdas no consumo, digestibilidade dos alimentos e na biodigestão anaeróbia das fezes. Além disso, sua inclusão promoveu alterações favoráveis no comportamento ingestivo, nos produtos da fermentação ruminal, bem como na partição de energia do trato gastrointestinal. A vitamina E quando utilizada como antioxidante não possui efeitos sobre a fermentação ruminal, comportamento ingestivo e biodigestão anaeróbia das fezes, assim sua inclusão não é indicada devido a ausência de resultados favoráveis a sua utilização.

Orientador: Gustavo Henrique Ribeiro da Silva / Banca: Adriana Ferreira Maluf Braga / Resumo: O presente trabalho estudou o tratamento de água negra simulada (esgoto sanitário com efluente suíno) em reator UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blancket) mesofílico com DQO (demanda química de oxigênio) de entrada de 958,489 ± 489,2mg/L, TDH (tempo de detenção hidráulica) de 1,8 ± 1,8d e COV (carga organica volumética) de 0,2 ± 0,2 KgDQO/m³d. Avaliou-se, ainda, o efeito da suplementação de metais traço (Fe, Ni, Mn, Ba, Se, Co e Cu) na AME (atividade metanogênica específica) do lodo utilizado como inóculo de partida do reator. Os ensaios com metais traços foram realizados em batelada utilizando o método Plackett Burman para planejar o experimento. Foram observados valores nitrogênio amoniacal junto a entrada do reator de 197,37 ± 84,3mgN/L, no entanto, o reator apresentou remoção de DQO de 61,7% ± 15%, demonstrando que não houve efeito tóxico da amônia no meio. Os resultados dos ensaios em batelada demonstraram efeito negativo estatisticamente significativo das adições de Ba e Mn sobre a AME, contudo, o Cu e o Se apresentaram efeito positivo, embora não estatisticamente significativos, indicando que a produção de metano a partir de água negra pode ser estimulada com a suplementação desses metais / Abstract: The present work studied the treatment of simulated black water (sewage with swine wastewater) in UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blancket) mesophilic with input COD (chemical oxygen demand) of 958,489 = 489,2 mg/L, HRT (hydraulic retention time) of 1.8 = 1.8d and OLR (organic loading rate) 0.2 = 0.2 kgCOD/m3d. This work also evaluated the effect of supplementation of trace metals (Fe, Ni, Mn, Ba, Se, Co e Cu) on the SMA (specific methanogenic activity) of the seed inoculum used in reactor startup. The trace metals assay were performed in batch mode using Plackett-Burman method of the design of the experiments. Despite of the ammonia nitrogen values at the inffluet of 197.37 = 84.3 mgN/L reactor, the reactor, the reactor presented COD removal of 61.7% = 15%, indicating no toxic effectof the addition of Ba and Mn on the SMA of the sludge, however, Cu and Se presented positive effect, although not statistically significant, which indicates that the methane production from black water might be enhanceb by the supplementation of these metals / Mestre

O objetivo deste estudo foi a validação da medida de limiar anaeróbio com o teste escalonado intermitente de 20 m de ida-e-volta em quadra, comparando-o com teste escalonado em esteira e com o máximo “steady state" de lactato (MLSS) em teste retangular simulado, em jogadores de Futsal. Para isso, nove jogadores de Futsal (16,8 ± 1,27 anos) realizaram um teste incremental em esteira (protocolo de HECK, 1985) para determinação da velocidade de 3,5 mmol.l-1 de lactato (V3,5Heck). Também para determinação da V3,5 (V3,5leger), os atletas realizaram teste progressivo de 20 m de ida-e-volta, com velocidade inicial de 8,5 km.h-1, com incremento de 1 km.h-1 a cada três minutos. Após a determinação da V3,5leger, os atletas retornaram à quadra e realizaram (pelo menos) três testes para a determinação do MLSS. O MLSS foi determinado através de corrida intermitente (20 m de ida-e-volta) e definido como a maior velocidade em que o lactato sanguíneo não aumentou mais que 1 mmol.l-1 de lactato entre o 10 e 30 minutos com velocidade constante. As velocidades correspondentes à V3,5leger e MLSS tiveram correlação de r = 0,86. O teste de comparações múltiplas TURKEY TEST detectou que existe diferença (p<0,05) entre as médias de intensidade de MLSS e V3,5Heck e entre V3,5Heck e V3,5leger. Já entre V3,5leger e MLSS, o teste não detectou diferença. A correlação entre a F.C. no V3,5leger e o MLSS foi de r = 0,70. O teste de comparações múltiplas TURKEY TEST detectou que existe diferença (p<0,05) entre as médias de F.C. entre V3,5leger e MLSS e entre V3,5Heck e MLSS. Já entre V3,5leger e V3,5Heck, o teste não detectou diferença. Portanto, nós concluímos que a V3,5leger é um instrumento válido para se estimar o MLSS em jogadores de Futsal. / The objective of this study was to investigate the validity of the anaerobic threshold in the 20 m shuttle run test in the determination of the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in Futsal players. Nine male futsal players (16,8 ± 1.27 years) performed an incremental treadmill test for the determination of the velocity corresponding of 3.5 mmol.l-1 of lactate (HECK et alii, 1985) (V3.5Heck). Also for the determination of the V3.5 (V3.5leger), the Futsal players performed the 20 m shuttle run test, with the initial running speed of 8.5 km.h-1 and increment of 1 km.h-1 each three minutes. After the determination of the V3.5 the athletes performed at least three tests to determine the MLSS. The MLSS was determined through intermittent running (20 m shuttle run) and defined as the highest velocity at which blood lactate did not increase by more than 1 mmol.l-1 between the minutes 10 and 30 of the constant velocity runs. There was a significant correlation between the velocities of V3.5leger and MLSS (r = 0.86). Analysis of variance revealed significant difference (p<0.05) between the intensities of the MLSS and V3.5Heck and between V3.5Heck e V3.5leger, but the analysis did not reveal difference between V3.5leger and the MLSS. The correlation between the heart frequency (F.C.) in the V3.5 Leger and MLSS was r=0.70. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between F.C. in V3.5leger and MLSS and between V3.5Heck and MLSS. The analysis did not revealed differences between V3.5leger and V3.5Heck. We conclude that OBLA can be utilized in Futsal players to estimate the MLSS.

Many illnesses and infections are exacerbated and/or caused by biofilms. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the etiologic agent of gonorrhea, is frequently asymptomatic in women, which can lead to persistent infection. Persistent infection can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, tubo-ovarian abscesses, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. N. gonorrhoeae has been shown to form biofilms over glass, primary and immortalized cervical cells, and during natural cervical infection. Asymptomatic infection occurs in only 1% of infected males, and the infection site is subject to periodic rapid fluid flow, which may limit biofilm formation. Thus, biofilm formation may specifically play an important role in the infection of women and could contribute to the infrequent occurrence of symptoms. Prior to work presented in this dissertation, little was known about biofilm formation by N. gonorrhoeae. Therefore, we elected to compare the transcriptional profiles of biofilms to their planktonic counterparts, to identify genetic pathways involved in biofilm formation and maintenance. We found that 3.8% of the genome was differentially regulated, and that genes involved in anaerobic metabolism and oxidative stress tolerance were up-regulated in biofilm, while genes involved in aerobic metabolism were down-regulated. We determined that expression of aniA , ccp, and norB is required for robust biofilm formation over glass and human cervical cells, and anaerobic respiration occurs in the substratum of gonococcal biofilms. Disruption of the norB gene resulted in severe attenuation of biofilm formation. We determined that the accumulation of nitric oxide (NO) contributes to the phenotype of a norB mutant and can retard biofilm formation when present at sublethal concentrations. However, higher concentrations of NO can enhance biofilm formation in the absence of nitrite. NO enhances biofilm formation in an aniA mutant, but cannot completely restore biofilm formation, suggesting that NO can support anaerobic growth, although nitrite is preferred. We determined that the majority of the genes involved in gonococcal oxidative stress tolerance are required for normal biofilm formation, as mutations in the following genes resulted in biofilm attenuation over cervical cells and/or glass: oxyR, gor, prx, mntABC, trxB, and estD. Overall, biofilm formation may represent an adaptation for coping with the stresses present in the female genitourinary tract.

Research was conducted using algal biomass obtained from the surface of a secondary clarifier at Bridge City Wastewater Treatment Plant and subsequently sent through an electrochemical (EC) batch reactor at various concentrations. The first objective was to achieve maximum cell wall destruction electrochemically using the EC batch reactor and determine the optimal detention time and voltage/current relationship at which this occurred. The second objective was to subject two algal mediums to anaerobic digestion: the algal medium without electrochemical disinfection and the algal medium after disinfection. Every three days, for 12 days, total solids were measured from each apparatus to determine if cell destruction increased, decreased or did not change the consumption rate of algae by anaerobic bacteria. The consumption rate of algae is directly proportional to the production of methane, which can be used as a source of biofuel.

Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) serves as a more sustainable form of wastewater treatment. However, biofouling is particularly detrimental to the performanceof AnMBRs. This dissertation focuses on understanding more about the biofouling in nMBR, and to devise strategies to control or make use of these biofoulant layers. First, we aim to investigate the microbial community structure of sludge and biofilm from 13 different AnMBRs. Our findings indicate 20 sludge core genera and 12 biofilm core genera (occurrence ≥ 90% samples) could potentially account for the AnMBR performance. Sloan neutral model analysis indicates the anaerobic microbial consortium between sludge and biofilm is largely affected by stochastic dispersal and migration processes (i.e., neutral assembly), suggesting that the majority of these core genera are not selectively enriched for biofilm formation. Therefore, the second part of this dissertation aims to minimize the growth of the overall bacterial cells attached on the membranes. For this, membranes embedded with zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were examined for their antifouling efficacies. Our findings indicate both CuO and ZnO nanoparticles embedded membranes could delay biofouling formation without significantly triggering the overall expression/abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in biofilm. Furthermore, CuO and ZnO nanoparticles could inhibit the expression of quorum sensing associated genes, resulting in lower quorum sensing signal molecules production. Despite the positive results demonstrated from this study as well as those from others, we recognize that no control strategies are likely to achieve total prevention of anaerobic biofouling. Therefore, the last part of this dissertation focuses on exploring the effects of different foulant layers on antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs removal. Our findings suggest both ARB and ARGs could be absorbed by membrane foulant. Transmembrane pressures and the foulant layer synergistically affected ARB removal, but the foulant layer is the main factor that contributed to ARG removal through adsorption. Overall, the collective findings could bring new insights to the anaerobic membrane biofouling phenomenon, and offer pragmatic approaches to minimize biofouling without compromising the post-AnMBR effluent quality.