Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Os postos revendedores de combustÃveis (PRCs) sÃo instalaÃÃes que exercem a atividade de revenda varejista de combustÃveis lÃquidos derivados do petrÃleo, gÃs e Ãlcool combustÃvel. Esta atividade à reconhecida como importante fonte de emissÃo de compostos orgÃnicos volÃteis (VOCs), dentre os quais destacam-se os BTEX (benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xilenos) e os compostos carbonÃlicos (CCs) (formaldeÃdo e acetaldeÃdo). Estes compostos facilmente inalados pelos frentistas e usuÃrios durante o processo de abastecimento dos veÃculos e exaustÃo dos carros, constituem um perigo para à saÃde humana, mesmo em baixas concentraÃÃes. Neste trabalho avaliou-se a exposiÃÃo ocupacional de trabalhadores frentistas a BTEX e CCs, oriundos das atividades de abastecimento e queima de combustÃveis em trÃs PRCs durante os perÃodos seco (setembro-dezembro/2009) e chuvoso (fevereiro-junho/2010) na cidade de Fortaleza. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que uma comparaÃÃo direta entre os PRCs durante os perÃodos seco e chuvoso, revelou que o posto 2 apresentou os maiores nÃveis de concentraÃÃo de BTEX, seguido pelo posto 3 e posto 1. As concentraÃÃes mÃdias mensais de CCs mostraram que o formaldeÃdo, acetaldeÃdo e acroleÃna foram as principais carbonilas detectadas. Os resultados mostraram uma estreita relaÃÃo (R > 0,845) entre o volume de gasolina vendida e a concentraÃÃo de BTEX. A razÃo de concentraÃÃo formaldeÃdo/acetaldeÃdo mostrou que as emissÃes veiculares e a queima de combustÃveis predominam nos PRCs. A probabilidade de risco de cÃncer para homens ao longo de 30 e 5 anos de exposiÃÃo para benzeno e formaldeÃdo ficaram acima do limite estabelecido como seguro pela USEPA. A mesma tendÃncia foi observada para as mulheres frentistas, pois de acordo com as equaÃÃes de risco, este grupo constitui o mais sensÃvel. Neste contexto, programas de treinamento contÃnuo e soluÃÃes tÃcnicas devem ser implementadas para a reduÃÃo dos riscos ocupacionais a BTEX e CCs em postos revendedores de combustÃveis. / The gas stations (GS) are facilities engaged in the activity of retail sale of liquid fuels derived from petroleum, gas and alcohol. This activity is recognized as an important source of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), among which are the BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) and carbonyl compounds (CCs) (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde). These compounds easily inhaled by attendants and users during the process of refueling and exhaust of vehicles, are a danger to human health even at low concentrations. In this study we evaluated the occupational exposure of workers to BTEX and CCs attendants, from the activities of refuelling and combustion of gasoline in three GSs during the dry (September to December/2009) and rainy (February to June/2010) in Fortaleza. The results showed that a direct comparison between the GSs during the rainy and dry seasons, revealed that the station 2 had the highest concentrations of BTEX, followed by the station 3 and station 1. The monthly average concentrations of CCs showed that formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein, were the major carbonyl detected. The results showed a close relationship (R > 0.845) between the volume of gasoline sold and the concentration of BTEX. The concentration ratio formaldehyde / acetaldehyde showed that vehicle emissions and the burning of fuels predominate in GSs. The probability of cancer risk for men over 30 and 5 years of exposure to benzene and formaldehyde were above the limit established as safe by the USEPA. The same trend was observed for women attendants, because according to the equations of risk, this group is the most sensitive. In this context, training programs and technical solutions must be implemented to reduce occupational hazards to BTEX and CCs in fuel service stations.

O objetivo desta tese foi o desenvolvimento de um equipamento compacto para o tratamento de águas subterrâneas contaminadas por BTEX e TPH em postos de combustíveis. Esta questão ambiental é uma preocupação mundial devido ao nível de contaminação e a quantidade de vazamentos existentes, toxicidade dos poluentes e a necessidade de uso de aquíferos para consumo humano. O equipamento é composto por unidades que contemplam as seguintes etapas: (a) sucção e volatilização de compostos orgânicos voláteis; (b) injeção de ar (“air sparging”) para remoção de substâncias orgânicas voláteis; e (c) filtro de adsorção com recheio composto por mistura de 50% de carvão ativado e 50% de cinza de casca de arroz para a remoção de TPH. A parte experimental envolveu a caracterização de águas subterrâneas contaminadas e estudos em escala piloto e real. Os resultados obtidos demostraram que o equipamento de remediação desenvolvido é altamente eficiente para o tratamento de águas subterrâneas contaminadas. Com um tempo de detenção de 8 horas, obtiveram-se decréscimos superiores a 96% de BTEX e TPH. Nesta situação, a água contaminada tratada alcança valores que atendem aos critérios de lançamento estabelecidos pelas legislação nacional vigente. / This study describes the development of a compact device to treat groundwater contaminated with BTEX and TPH in gas stations. This environmental issue raises concerns worldwide, due to the level of contamination, the high occurrence of leaks, the toxicity of contaminants, and the importance of aquifers for human consumption. The equipment was formed by: a) a suction and treatment stage using vacuum and aeration with injectors (to replace the suction system based on a conventional vacuum pump and the air stripping and/or air sparging system); b) small-scale surface aerators (to replace the air stripping and/or air sparging system); c) an adsorption filter using a mixture of activated carbon (50%) and rice husk ash (50%) (to replace the activated carbon system). The experiment was conducted in four stages: a) characterization of groundwaters; b) presentation of the adsorbents used in the filter; c) pilot test (under controlled conditions to measure the efficiency to remove BTEX and TPH); and d) the full-scale tests (observation and confirmation of equipment efficiency). The results show that the remediation equipment developed is highly efficient to treat contaminated groundwater. An 8-h retention time afforded to reduce BTEX and TPH levels by over 96%. In this scenario, the treated water parameters meet the current legal requirements for discharge.

The separation of four or more components traditionally requires the use of three or more distillation columns. Due to the associated high costs, process intensification techniques have been studied. Semicontinuous separation is one method that allows multiple separations using one column integrated with middle vessels. This thesis aims to develop a new semicontinuous separation process that can separate a mixture with four or more components into high purity products with one column and two or more middle vessels. It is an extension of the conventional ternary semicontinuous process, which has been repeatedly shown to be profitable at intermediate throughputs when compared to continuous systems. The semicontinuous process operates in a forced cycle, with three operating modes that ensure separation objectives are met. The performance of the proposed quaternary semicontinuous separation is analyzed through rigorous dynamic simulations over a range of production capacities. To determine the feasibility, operability, and applicability to non-ideal mixtures, three case studies were considered: 1. Equimolar mixture of alkanes (n-hexane; n-heptane; n-octane; n-nonane). 2. Equimolar mixture of aromatics (benzene; toluene; ethyl-benzene; and o-xylene). 3. Non-ideal mixture of mixed-alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and water; propanol; isobutanol; pentanol and hexanol) The extendibility of the quaternary semicontinuous separation process, referred to as quintenary semicontinuous separation, is then evaluated on a five-component alkane mixture (n-hexane; n-heptane; n-octane; n-nonane; n-decane), via three case studies: 1. Equimolar mixture 2. Non-equimolar mixture, rich in light and heavy components. 3. Non-equimolar mixture, rich in intermediate components. The results for both the quaternary and quintenary semicontinuous processes indicate that this new technique is successful at achieving separation objectives while staying within safe operating limits. Comparison of both equimolar mixtures of alkanes for quaternary and quintenary semicontinuous processes with continuous systems indicates that the proposed system is profitable for intermediate flow rates. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Traditionally, several large distillation columns (that can be hundreds of feet tall) are required to split a mixture of liquid chemicals into its individual components. Distillation is the separation of mixtures due to differences in boiling points. When the mixture is heated, the vapour phase will contain the components with lower boiling points, which can be separated once the vapour phase is cooled and condensed. The main goal of this research is to create a new system that can carry out the same separation, but using complex techniques that require only one column and a few extra storage tanks that are much cheaper and smaller than a distillation column. Different liquid mixtures were used to show how well the new process is able to separate the liquid into its individual components, while remaining in safe operating limits.

No description available.

Contaminant transport modeling is being used more often at petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in an attempt to aid engineers in evaluating the feasibility of natural attenuation as a remediation alternative in groundwater systems. In this research, a three-dimensional sequential electron acceptor computer model, SEAM3D, developed by Waddill and Widdowson (1997) was used to simulate contaminant transport at a leaking underground storage tank site in Beaufort, South Carolina. Gasoline containing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) as well as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) leaked into the subsurface at the site late in 1990, and monitoring of the water table elevations and contaminant concentrations began in 1993. Using the field data, the groundwater flow model MODFLOW was used to develop and calibrate a flow model for the Laurel Bay site using GMS (Groundwater Modeling System) v2.1. MODFLOW was coupled with the SEAM3D contaminant transport model, and the available concentration levels were used to calibrate, verify, and validate the site model. The results indicated that SEAM3D simulated complex, interconnected processes including biodegradation, and the transport of multiple hydrocarbon compounds, electron acceptors, and end products over time and space at a specific petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated site. Once the model was calibrated and verified, the model output was used to study the changes in contaminant mass distribution, contaminant mass loss, and mass loss rates for each terminal electron accepting process (TEAP) over time. It was found that the natural attenuation capacity of the aquifer was insufficient to stabilize the plume and prevent it from reaching the defined point of contact (POC). Contamination was shown to have reached the POC by 1994, just four years into the simulation. Results indicated that despite oxygen limitation within the BTEX plume, aerobic biodegradation was responsible for the greatest amount of mass loss, close to 70 %, relative to the sum of the anaerobic processes after 20 years. / Master of Science

Es wurden die mikrobiellen Abbauprozesse an einem Standort mit gaswerkstypischer Schadstoffkontamination, v. a. BTEX und PAK, untersucht. Ziel war es, die relevanten mikrobiologischen Abbauprozesse mit gängigen Analysemethoden zu identifizieren und das Natural Attenuation-Potential zu bewerten. Neben einer Betrachtung der Schadstoffe im Feld wurde ein ausführliches hydrogeochemisches und mikrobiologisches Analyseprogramm durchgeführt. Der Schadstoffabbau wurde in Labor-Mikrokosmen unter für den Standort charakteristischen, überwiegend anaeroben Bedingungen untersucht. Methodik und Umfang der Untersuchungsmethoden wurden im Hinblick auf eine Anwendung an weiteren Standorten bewertet. Die Schadstoffausbreitung in der Fahne, die Keimzahluntersuchungen und eine deutliche Redoxzonierung mit einer Sukzession von Methanogenese, Sulfatreduktion und Fe(III)-Reduktion spiegelten mikrobielle Abbauprozesse wider. Dabei beeinflussten und überlagerten die Prozesse im Schadensherd die Prozesse in der Fahne stark. Die Felddaten gaben Hinweise auf abiotische Sekundärreaktionen zwischen den Redoxpaaren Fe(III)/Fe(II), Sulfat/Sulfid und O2/H2O. Die Berechnung der Assimilativen Kapazität (AC) zeigte ein gutes Angebot an CO2 und Sulfat, während die übrigen TEA Sauerstoff, Nitrat und auch Fe(III) am Standort stark limitiert waren. Dem stand eine von den Redoxbedingungen abhängige, unterschiedlich gute Abbaubarkeit der Modellschadstoffe Benzen, Toluen, Ethylbenzen, Naphthalin, Acenaphthen, Phenanthren und Pyren im Laborversuch gegenüber. Methanogenese wurde in keinem der Versuchsansätze beobachtet. Unter sulfatreduzierenden Bedingungen fand ein Abbau weniger Modellschadstoffe (Toluen, z.T. auch Ethylbenzen und Naphthalin) statt. Mit den TEA Nitrat und insb. Fe(III) erweiterte sich das Abbauspektrum gegenüber sulfatreduzierenden Bedingungen. Mit Sauerstoff fand ein Abbau aller im Grundwasser enthaltenen BTEX und PAK statt. Vor dem Hintergrund der AC und den Ergebnissen der Mikrokosmen bedarf es für einen vollständigen Schadstoffabbau im Feld einer Kombination verschiedener TEA-Prozesse, insb. eines Zusammenwirkens von Fe(III)- und Sulfatreduktion und eines Einflusses von Sauerstoff an den Fahnenrändern. Die unterschiedlichen Abbaumuster bzw. Abbaugeschwindigkeiten in Abhängigkeit der TEA machen das Einbeziehen der Redoxzonierung in eine Modellierung des Standortes erforderlich. Neben den TEA hatte die Verfügbarkeit der Makroelemente Phosphor und Stickstoff sowie von Mikroelementen einen Einfluss auf den Abbau. In den Respirometeruntersuchungen mit hohen Substratkonzentrationen war Phosphat in allen und Ammonium in einem Teil der Grundwässer, in Abhängigkeit von der Entnahmestelle im Feld, limitierend. Bei niedrigen Substratkonzentrationen in den Mikrokosmen trat kein Mangel an N und P auf. In allen Fällen hatte aber eine Zugabe von Mikroelementen einen förderlichen Effekt auf den Abbau. Die Methodik der Standortuntersuchungen folgte dem Prinzip der multiple lines of evidence. Die hydrochemischen Parameter O2, NO3-, Fe2+, Mn2+, SO42-, S2-, CH4, NH4+, PO43 waren geeignet, einen mikrobiellen Abbau und potentielle Limitationen durch Nährstoffe zu zeigen. Ein Vergleich der Ergebnisse der tiefenhorizontierten Beprobung mit einem stärker räumlich integrierenden Ansatz zeigte, dass ohne eine entsprechende räumliche Auflösung die AC überschätzt würde. Die Summenparameter, insb. die Toxizität, lieferten wertvolle Zusatzinformationen über die Gesamtkontamination. Der Abbau der (Modell-)Schadstoffe in den Mikrokosmen ermöglichte eine Einschätzung der generellen Abbaubarkeit der Schadstoffe am Standort, der Einflussparameter auf den Schadstoffabbau sowie möglicher Stimulationsmaßnahmen.

Les hydrocarbures aromatiques monocycliques (BTEX) et polycycliques (HAP) sont pour la plupart reconnus pour leur toxicité via ingestion. Le suivi de leur contenu dans les matrices alimentaires est donc indispensable. Plusieurs approches sensibles et complémentaires ont été établies, avec la pomme comme modèle d’étude, pour la double détermination de ces hydrocarbures aromatiques volatils et semi-volatils au niveau du µg/kg.Une micro-extraction en phase solide dans l’espace de tête (HS-SPME) a été utilisée pour l'extraction des hydrocarbures aromatiques les plus légers (MM entre 78 et 178 g/mol). La récupération des composés les plus lourds (MM entre 202 et 278 g/mol) a quant à elle été permise par une méthodologie basée sur l'extraction assistée par les ultrasons (UAE) suivie d'une extraction en phase solide (SPE). Une alternative plus sensible à cette stratégie combinant l’HS-SPME et l’UAE/SPE pour la détermination globale des hydrocarbures aromatiques a également été développée. Le remplacement de l’étape de SPE par une micro-extraction sur solide compacté (MEPS) a permis une récupération plus rapide, sensible et plus large des HAP (MM entre 152 et 278 g/mol).L’ensemble des stratégies d'extraction, associées à des analyses en chromatographie gazeuse couplée à la spectrométrie de masse, a ensuite pu être appliqué à la détermination des 20 composés aromatiques ciblés dans des pommes récoltées en Normandie ou des fruits provenant du commerce contaminés ou non par des gaz d’échappement ou des fumées de combustion de biomasse. Ces applications ont révélé la faible contamination des pommes normandes étudiées, l’adsorption prédominante des composés aromatiques au niveau de la peau des fruits et leur faible transfert vers la chair. / Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered and recognized as toxic compounds via ingestion. Their monitoring in food product is thus a significant concern. Sensitive and complementary experimental approaches were investigated with apple as model for the dual determination of volatile and semi-volatile aromatic hydrocarbons at the ppb level.A solid-phase micro-extraction in the headspace of samples (HS-SPME) was used for the most volatile aromatic hydrocarbons (MW between 78 and 178 g/mol). The recovery of the least volatile aromatic hydrocarbons (MW between 202 and 278 g/mol) was implemented with an ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) followed by a purification step using a solid phase extraction (SPE). The methodology consisting in HS-SPME and UAE/SPE enabled the global determination of BTEX and PAHs. The SPE step was then substituted by a micro-extraction with a packed sorbent (MEPS) to elaborate a most sensitive and rapid methodology for the quantification of a wider range of PAHs (MW between 152 and 278 g/mol).Extraction procedures associated with analyses using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were then applied to the determination of 20 targeted aromatic compounds in apples harvested in Normandy or in commercial fruits exposed or not exposed to exhaust gas or to wood smoke. These applications revealed low levels of contaminants in the studied apples from Normandy. A predominant adsorption of aromatic compounds occurs on the skin of fruits and the transfer to the pulp is almost inexistent.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In this work were developed low cost bars of sorptive extraction, using commercial adhesive based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for the preconcentration and determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) in effluent from the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM). It was applied multivariate fractional factorial design (26-2) to investigate the significance of the independent variables for the sorptive extraction of BTEX. The best conditions in aqueous solution and in hospital effluent were: 25 °C and 15 min of adsorption, 35 °C and 30 min of desorption, pH 9. Thus, in aqueous solution it was obtained recovery rates of BTEX between 72.2 74.0%, with RSD between 5.4 and 6.4%, while, for hospital effluent spiked with the analytes, the recovery rates ranged around 72.0 74.8% with RSD between 4.68 and 5.62%. The concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene found in the effluent of HUSM were, respectively: 1.2 μg L-1 (RSD 4.6%), 10.4 μg L-1 (RSD 2.1%), 1.7 μg L-1 (RSD 4.4%), 15.8 μg L-1 (RSD 3.5%). The use of bars of sorptive extraction of PDMS have been eliminated the morose stage of vacuum filtration of the effluent and allowed the determination of volatile compounds as BTEX by HPLC-FLD, which to the best of our knowledge, there are not reported in the literature yet. As remediation methodology was applied oxidative processes, heterogeneous photocatalysis and direct photolysis, it was used a stirred tank reactor with thermostatic jacket. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) was generated by mercury vapor lamp medium pressure, 125 W and 401 W m-2. Polymer bars were prepared with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or polyurethane (PU) and TiO2 supported in order to evaluate the degradation of BTEX in aqueous solution and in effluent hospital by heterogeneous photocatalysis. The polymer bars were tested in the absence of UV radiation and the results showed that the analytes do not adsorb themselves in a irreversible way, in both kinds of polymer bars, which could mask the photodegradation. The overall efficiency of the system with TiO2 immobilized, for samples of effluent, is higher than with TiO2 in suspension (and for direct photolysis). To the aqueous solution, fully transparent, the direct photolysis showed better efficiency in the degradation of BTEX. The best conditions for the factorial design (33-1) to the complete degradation of BTEX in aqueous solution were: 20 °C, pH 5 and photolysis (irradiation without TiO2 polymer bars). For hospital effluent in wastewater spiked with the analytes the best conditions were: 20 °C, pH 9 and the use of irradiation with PDMS/TiO2 bars. At 120 min of irradiation it happens the degradation of 100% for all analytes, but the reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was around 25% in hospital effluent. Using a stirred tank reactor, with benzene as a model compound, in toxicity tests with the bioindicator Artemia salina, the reduced of LC50 was 65% compared with the LC50 of the effluent without treatment. / Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidas barras de extração sortiva, de baixo custo, utilizando-se adesivo comercial à base de polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS), para pré-concentração e determinação de benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xileno (BTEX) no efluente do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM). Para investigar as variáveis independentes significativas na extração sortiva de BTEX aplicou-se planejamento fatorial fracionado (26-2). As melhores condições obtidas, em solução aquosa e em efluente hospitalar foram: 25 °C e 15 minutos de adsorção; 35 °C e 30 minutos de dessorção; pH 9. Desta forma, obtiveram-se taxas de recuperação de BTEX em solução aquosa entre 72,2 74,0% com desvio padrão relativo (RSD) entre 5,5 6,5%. Já para o efluente hospitalar fortificado com os analitos, as taxas de recuperação variaram em torno de 71,9 74,8% (RSD 4,7 5,6%). As concentrações de benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xileno encontradas no efluente do HUSM foram, respectivamente: 1,2 μg L-1 (RSD 4,6%); 10,4 μg L-1 (RSD 2,1%); 1,8 μg L-1 (RSD 4,4%); 15,9 μg L-1 (RSD 3,5%). O emprego de barras suspensas de PDMS dispensa a etapa morosa de filtração à vácuo do efluente e permitiu que compostos voláteis como BTEX pudessem ser determinados diretamente por HPLC-FLD, o que, no melhor de nosso conhecimento, não tem ainda registro na literatura. Como metodologia de remediação aplicou-se processos oxidativos, fotocatálise heterogênea e fotólise direta, empregando-se reator tanque agitado com jaqueta termostática. A radiação ultravioleta (UV) foi gerada por lâmpada de vapor de mercúrio de pressão média, 125 W e 401 W m-2. Barras poliméricas, com polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS) ou poliuretano (PU), e TiO2 suportado foram preparadas a fim de avaliar a degradação de BTEX em solução aquosa e em efluente hospitalar por meio de fotocatálise heterogênea. As barras poliméricas foram testadas na ausência de radiação UV e os resultados demonstraram que os analitos não são adsorvidos de maneira irreversível, em ambos os tipos de barras poliméricas, o que poderia mascarar a fotodegradação. A eficiência global do sistema com TiO2 imobilizado, para amostras de efluente, é maior que com TiO2 em suspensão (e, maior ainda que na fotólise simples). Para a solução aquosa, totalmente transparente, a fotólise direta apresentou maior eficiência na degradação de BTEX. As melhores condições, do planejamento fatorial (33-1), para a degradação completa de BTEX em solução aquosa foram: 20 °C, pH 5 e fotólise direta (irradiação sem barras poliméricas com TiO2). Em efluente hospitalar fortificado com os analitos as melhores condições foram: 20 °C, pH 9 e irradiação com uso de barras de PDMS/TiO2. Em 120 min de irradiação ocorre a degradação de 100%, para todos os analitos, porém a redução da DQO ficou em torno de 25%, em efluente hospitalar. Utilizando o reator tanque agitado e tendo benzeno como composto modelo, nos testes de toxicidade com o bioindicador Artemia salina, a redução da LC50 foi de 65% comparada com a LC50 do efluente sem tratamento.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:08:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela E G Trigueros.pdf: 1658351 bytes, checksum: 7fbea29ba41e37a5bf51e05f405fc287 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-12 / Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná. Campus de Toledo / The aromatics hydrocarbons usually known as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes isomers) are toxics compounds presented in many petroleum products, such as gasoline, and are also widely used in chemical and petrochemical industries. When these compounds are released in the environment a contamination of the soil and the groundwater took place. As a result, the use of the aquifers becomes impossible. Groundwaters nowadays represent an alternative potable water source in many countries. Therefore, it s crucially important to study the biodegradation process, in particular when multiple substrates are presented in the system. In this work, the kinetics of BTEX biodegradation was studied, individually and as in mixture. Hence, the performance of the different microbial growth unstructured models, based on the population level kinetics were investigated by using experimental data from literature. The equations of the material balances, for batch operation mode, were numerically solved (RKF45 method) applying the Monod and Andrews models to describe an individual substrates biodegradation kinetics. Similarly, the applied equations describing mixture substrates biodegradation kinetics were solved by using the competitive, noncompetitive and uncompetitive inhibitions models as well as the sum kinetic interactions parameters (SKIP) model. Moreover, in order to understand the mechanisms involved in the biodegradation process of the BTP toxics compounds (benzene, toluene, and phenol), individually and as the binary and ternary mixtures, were investigated. In this case, some inhibition models modifications were proposed in order to describe the biodegradation kinetics of the benzene-toluene and benzene-phenol mixtures. The kinetic parameters were estimated by using Particle Swarm global optimization method. The experimental data were taken from the literature and the programs were coded in Maple software. The least square method was used as a statistical criterion of the search. The evaluated kinetic parameters values obtained in the present study were found to describe very well experimental data and to be in accordance with the values reported in the literature. The simple Monod and Andrews models accurately predict the BTEX individual biodegradation kinetics. The SKIP model provided the best description of BTEX biodegradation kinetics, showing the existence of non specific interactions between the BTEX substrates. The other models behavior indicated a presence of a competitive and a noncompetitive inhibition in the mixtures, agreeing with the reality that a mixture culture used in the biodegradation can have multiples metabolic pathways to the BTEX biodegradation. By applying the SKIP model, the interactions between BTEX substrates was estimated, where the ethylbenzene expressed a higher inhibitory effect in the mixtures, whereas the xylene shown a smaller one. The competitive inhibition model adequately described the BTP binary and ternary mixtures biodegradation process, because substrates biodegradation is catabolized via the same enzymatic pathway of Pseudomonas putida F1. Moreover, the inhibition models modifications proposed described better the biodegradation kinetics of benzene-toluene and benzene-phenol mixtures. Finally, the obtained results in this work have shown that the best models can be successfully applied for optimization of toxics compounds biodegradation process by applying different bioreactors types and operational conditions. / Os hidrocarbonetos aromáticos benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xilenos, coletivamente conhecidos como BTEX são compostos tóxicos presentes em derivados de petróleo, como a gasolina, e utilizados em larga escala nas indústrias químicas e petroquímicas. Estes compostos quando liberados no meio ambiente contaminam o solo e as águas subterrâneas, podendo inviabilizar a exploração de aqüíferos, que atualmente representam uma fonte alternativa de água potável. Portanto, é fundamental a pesquisa de processos de biodegradação, particularmente quando múltiplos substratos estão presentes no sistema. Neste trabalho investigou-se a cinética de biodegradação dos compostos BTEX, individualmente e em mistura. Para tanto, o desempenho de diversos modelos não-estruturados de crescimento microbiano, baseado na cinética no nível da população, foi avaliado utilizando-se dados experimentais obtidos da literatura. As equações do balanço material em operação batelada foram numericamente resolvidas (método RKF45) aplicando os modelos de Monod e Andrews à cinética de biodegradação individual dos substratos. Igualmente, as equações aplicadas à cinética de biodegradação da mistura BTEX foram resolvidas considerando os modelos de inibição competitiva, acompetitiva e não-competitiva, bem como o modelo soma cinética dos parâmetros de interação (sum kinetic interactions parameters SKIP). Para o entendimento dos mecanismos envolvidos na biodegradação de múltiplos substratos tóxicos, também foram investigadas a cinética de biodegradação dos compostos BTF (benzeno, tolueno e fenol), individualmente e em misturas binárias e ternária. Neste caso, algumas modificações nos modelos de inibição foram propostas para descrever a cinética de biodegradação das misturas benzeno-tolueno e benzeno-fenol. Os parâmetros cinéticos foram estimados por meio de um método de otimização global conhecido como Enxame de Partículas (Particle Swarm Optimization PSO), implementado no software Maple®, utilizando a função dos mínimos quadrados como critério estatístico. Os parâmetros obtidos no presente trabalho mostraram-se coerentes com valores relatados na literatura. A biodegradação individual dos substratos BTEX foi adequadamente representada pelos modelos de Andrews e Monod. O modelo SKIP proporcionou a melhor representação da cinética de biodegradação da mistura BTEX, e conseguiu mostrar a existência de interações não específicas entre os substratos BTEX. Além do ótimo ajuste do modelo SKIP, inferências sobre o comportamento dos demais modelos avaliados indicam uma mistura de inibições competitiva e não-competitiva, concordando com o fato de que, a mistura de culturas microbianas utilizada na biodegradação, pode apresentar múltiplos caminhos metabólicos para a biodegradação dos compostos BTEX. Por meio do modelo SKIP estimou-se as interações entre os substratos BTEX, onde o etilbenzeno apresentou o maior efeito de inibição sobre os demais compostos, ao passo que o xileno mostrou o menor efeito. O modelo de inibição competitiva representou adequadamente a cinética de biodegradação dos substratos BTF, em misturas binárias e ternária, concordando com o fato de que estes compostos são catabolizados pelo mesmo caminho enzimático da Pseudomonas putida F1 utilizada na biodegradação. Além disso, as modificações propostas para os modelos de inibição, representaram melhor a cinética de biodegradação das misturas benzeno-tolueno e benzeno-fenol. Os resultados alcançados neste trabalho mostram que os melhores modelos podem ser aplicados com sucesso na otimização dos processos de biodegradação de compostos tóxicos em diferentes tipos de biorreatores e condições operacionais.

Les BTEX est une famille de polluants très répandue en air intérieur. Ils présentent des effets nocifs sur la santé humaine à des faibles concentrations ce qui a emmené le législateur à fixer des seuils afin de limiter l'exposition des gens. L'objectif de ce travail de recherche est de développer et de mettre en place une méthode analytique sensible, précise et rapide basée sur un dispositif de mesure. Le dispositif ainsi mis en place est un chromatographe en phase gazeuse miniaturisé équipé d'un mini détecteur à photo ionisation dédié à la détection des BTEX en temps quasi-réel. Le système analytique est très portable ayant une consommation gazeuse très faible assurant une autonomie élevée sur de longues durées. Son mode de fonctionnement se base sur l'échantillonnage de l'air dans une boucle connecté à une vanne six voies. L'injection de l'échantillon sur une colonne analytique placée dans un four pour la séparation est assurée par le changement de la position de la vanne avant la détection par photo ionisation. Le nouveau dispositif miniaturisé a été déployé lors de deux campagnes intensives menées dans un collège énergétiquement performant. Cette étude a porté sur la surveillance temporelle de la concentration des polluants présents en air intérieur, y compris les BTEX. Les résultats ainsi obtenus pour les BTEX avec notre dispositif ont été comparés à ceux fournis par d'autres techniques dites techniques de référence. Ces campagnes de terrain ont permis donc de valider les performances analytiques, la robustesse et l'autonomie de cette nouvelle méthodologie. / BTEX are very widespread indoor air pollutants. Their harmful effects on human health had led the legislator to set thresholds in order to limit the population exposure. The aim of this thesis is to develop a sensitive, accurate and fast analytical method based on a measurement device. Therefore, the device implemented is a miniaturized gas chromatography (GC) equipped with a mini photo ionization detector dedicated to BTEX detection in indoor air in near-real time. The miniaturized GC is very portable with a very low gas consumption which enhances its autonomy over a long period. Its operation mode is based on air sampling inside a sample loop which is connected to a six port valve. The injection over a heated analytical column is ensured by switching the valve position before detection by a photo ionization detector. This novel device was used in real conditions during two field campaigns conducted in an energy efficient college. This study focused on the temporal monitoring of indoor air pollutant concentrations including BTEX. The results obtained with our miniaturized device for BTEX were compared to those given by other techniques known as reference techniques. These field campaigns have therefore enabled us to validate the analytical performances, the robustness and the autonomy of this novel analytical method.