Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:55:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3088.pdf: 1908678 bytes, checksum: ed9e01a2e9fbc1d3d2e81b225596705b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-22 / This study presents the operational results of a pilot wastewater treatment plant. The assays were carried out in two phases: Phase 1 involved the operation of a rotating biological contactor (RBC), while Phase 2 involved a combined system operation of a submerged aerated biofilter (SAB) downstream from the RBC. The RBC and SAB units were assayed in the treatment of sanitary sewage. The average feeding rate was 82.9 L.h-1 and the active sludge recirculation rate when operated only with the RBC was 60% of the former. Despite being a rotating reactor, the RBC under investigation did not have biodiscs because it was used as a microbial bed, consisting of corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) tubes fixed on a metal structure in the shape of a rotating reel submerged in the aeration cell at about 90% of its diameter, providing subtracting contact between tubes a 41-m2 surface area for biofilm fixation. On the other hand, the SAB, which was comprised of corrugated HDPE rings that provided a 55-m2 contact area, was employed to polish the RBC effluent only in Phase 2 when sludge recycling was interrupted at the beginning of the process. This operation, which is typical of activated sludge systems, was carried out in Phase 1 (211 days). Substrate characterization showed maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations of 3820.8 mgL-1 (average of 1004.5 mgL-1), an indication of contamination by liquid industrial effluents. In the first stage of testing (with the RBC), the treated effluent after secondary sedimentation tank were achieved in this study, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal averages of 71.3% and the COD removals of 79.6%, respectively. Among the forms of nitrogen analysis, the concentration of organic nitrogen showed the greatest reductions reaching an average maximum of 51.2% and 91.5%. In the second stage of tests (RBC followed by SAB) efficiency BOD removal achieved was 78.2%, while the COD efficiency removal was 71.6%. The removal of volatile suspended solids after BAS achieved 39.2%, whereas RBC achieved volatile suspended solids removal of 65.3%. The pilot plant also showed that the concentration of SAB in the downstream of RBC minimized the variations in concentrations of all measured parameters, related to partially or fully treated wastewater, bringing benefits not linked to removal of carbonaceous organic matter. / Este estudo apresenta os resultados da operação de uma planta piloto de tratamento biológico para águas residuárias, em testes realizados em duas fases de estudo, sendo a primeira relacionada com a operação de um reator biológico de contato (RBC) e a segunda com a operação em sistema combinado, com um biofiltro aerado submerso (BAS) à jusante do RBC. As unidades RBC e BAS foram ensaiadas no tratamento de esgoto sanitário. A vazão média de alimentação foi de 82,9 Lh-1, e vazão de recirculação de lodo ativo quando se operou somente com o RBC, fixada em cerca de 60 % dessa vazão. O RBC utilizado, apesar de rotativo, não possuía biodiscos, pois foram utilizados como leito microbiano, tubos corrugados de polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD), fixados em uma estrutura metálica com a forma de um carretel rotativo, que foi submerso na célula de aeração em aproximadamente 90 % de seu diâmetro, enquanto que o BAS, montado com anéis corrugados, de PEAD, foi utilizado como polimento do efluente do RBC somente no segundo estágio dos ensaios. A caracterização do substrato, mostrou valores de concentração da demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), máxima de 3820,8 mgL-1 (média de 1004,5 mgL-1), denotando contaminação com efluentes líquidos industriais. No primeiro estágio dos ensaios (apenas com o RBC), o efluente tratado após o decantador secundário foram alcançadas neste estudo, remoções médias de DBO de 71,3%, e remoções de DQO de 79,6 %. Dentre as formas de nitrogênio analisadas, a concentração de nitrogênio orgânico apresentou as maiores reduções atingindo média de 51,2% e máxima 91,5%. No segundo estágio dos ensaios (RBC seguido de BAS) a eficiência alcançada de DBO foi de 78,2%, enquanto a eficiência de remoção de DQO foi de 71,6%. O BAS degradou 39,2 % dos sólidos suspensos voláteis que saíram da câmara com o RBC, enquanto o RBC degradou 65,3 % dos sólidos suspensos voláteis da entrada. A planta piloto apresentou também que a operação do BAS à jusante do RBC minimizou as variações das concentrações de todos os parâmetros analisados, relacionados ao efluente parcialmente ou totalmente tratado, não trazendo benefícios ligados a remoção de matéria orgânica carbonácea. Este estudo apresenta os resultados da operação de uma planta piloto de tratamento biológico para águas residuárias, em testes realizados em duas fases de estudo, sendo a primeira relacionada com a operação de um reator biológico de contato (RBC) e a segunda com a operação em sistema combinado, com um biofiltro aerado submerso (BAS) à jusante do RBC. As unidades RBC e BAS foram ensaiadas no tratamento de esgoto sanitário. A vazão média de alimentação foi de 82,9 Lh-1, e vazão de recirculação de lodo ativo quando se operou somente com o RBC, fixada em cerca de 60 % dessa vazão. O RBC utilizado, apesar de rotativo, não possuía biodiscos, pois foram utilizados como leito microbiano, tubos corrugados de polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD), fixados em uma estrutura metálica com a forma de um carretel rotativo, que foi submerso na célula de aeração em aproximadamente 90 % de seu diâmetro, enquanto que o BAS, montado com anéis corrugados, de PEAD, foi utilizado como polimento do efluente do RBC somente no segundo estágio dos ensaios. A caracterização do substrato, mostrou valores de concentração da demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), máxima de 3820,8 mgL-1 (média de 1004,5 mgL-1), denotando contaminação com efluentes líquidos industriais. No primeiro estágio dos ensaios (apenas com o RBC), o efluente tratado após o decantador secundário foram alcançadas neste estudo, remoções médias de DBO de 71,3%, e remoções de DQO de 79,6 %. Dentre as formas de nitrogênio analisadas, a concentração de nitrogênio orgânico apresentou as maiores reduções atingindo média de 51,2% e máxima 91,5%. No segundo estágio dos ensaios (RBC seguido de BAS) a eficiência alcançada de DBO foi de 78,2%, enquanto a eficiência de remoção de DQO foi de 71,6%. O BAS degradou 39,2 % dos sólidos suspensos voláteis que saíram da câmara com o RBC, enquanto o RBC degradou 65,3 % dos sólidos suspensos voláteis da entrada. A planta piloto apresentou também que a operação do BAS à jusante do RBC minimizou as variações das concentrações de todos os parâmetros analisados, relacionados ao efluente parcialmente ou totalmente tratado, não trazendo benefícios ligados a remoção de matéria orgânica carbonácea.

With the expansion of industrial society, began a intense growth of production of waste, creating a latent issue, referring to allocate up correctly all waste generated during the manufacturing process. Specifically, the meat processing generates during its many stages a huge flow of wastewater. An alternative for the treatment of this type of waste are rotating biological contactors. This paper, has for objective, at the construction and application of a RBC to improve performance in the treatment of an industrial effluent from the slaughterhouse of pigs and poultry. It was built a reactor 4L and aerobic sludge was used as inoculum system. The analysis period amounted to 73 days. As results were obtained an efficiency of 84.46% with a removal 1.64 g DBO.m-2 and 88.3% for an HRT of 4 h and surface loading of 124 g DQO.d-1.m-2 for BOD and COD respectively, corresponding to organic matter. On removal of nutrients, the system obtained in an efficiency of 92.02% and a surface charge removed from 8.35 g Nd-1m-2 for nitrogen and 75.66% efficiency and removal of superficial 1.5 g Pd-1.m-2, for analysis of phosphorus. In summary, the RBC could efficiently treat an effluent to obtain satisfactory results in removing the organic load and nutrients. / Com a expansão da sociedade industrial, se iniciou uma geração de resíduos de forma intensa, surgindo uma questão latente, referente a destinar-se corretamente todos os resíduos gerados durante o processo industrial. Mais especificamente, o processamento de carne gera durante suas inúmeras etapas uma enorme vazão de efluentes líquidos. Uma alternativa para o tratamento deste tipo de resíduo são os reatores de biodiscos. Este trabalho tem por objetivo a construção e aplicação de um RBC para avaliar seu desempenho no tratamento de um efluente industrial proveniente do abate de suínos e aves. Foi construído um reator de 4L e utilizado lodo aeróbio como inóculo do sistema. O período de análise correspondeu a 73 dias. Como resultados foram obtidos uma eficiência de 84,46% com uma remoção de 1,64 g DBOm-2 e 88,3%, para um TRH de 4 h e carregamento superficial de 124 g DQOd-1m-2, para DBO e DQO respectivamente, correspondendo a matéria orgânica. Na remoção de nutrientes, o sistema obteve um rendimento de 92,02% e uma carga superficial removida de 8,35 g Nd-1m-2 para o nitrogênio e a eficiência de 75,66% e a remoção superficial é de 1,5 g Pd-1m-2, para as análises de fósforo total. Em resumo, o RBC conseguiu tratar de forma eficiente um efluente de forma a obter resultados satisfatórios na remoção da carga orgânica e nutrientes.

L'objectif de ce travail est de développer des vecteurs pharmaceutiques, encapsulant la vitamine E, adaptés à l'administration pulmonaire par aérosolisation. La vitamine E, antioxydant physiologique, peut être utilisée pour lutter contre les phénomènes du stress oxydatif en particulier ceux observés au niveau pulmonaire. L'encapsulation de la vitamine E dans des vecteurs inhalables a été envisagée afin d'optimiser son efficacité thérapeutique en améliorant la concentration du principe actif pouvant atteindre son site d'action, les alvéoles pulmonaires. Les différents systèmes d'encapsulation de la vitamine E ont été préparés par des méthodes utilisant des contacteurs à membrane. Le principe de préparation se résume au passage de la phase dispersée, à travers les pores d'une membrane microporeuse, au sein de la phase continue. Les avantages de cette technique sont en particulier une bonne reproductibilité et un faible apport d'énergie et par conséquent un coût d'exploitation modéré. De plus, les procédés à base de contacteurs à membrane se prêtent aisément au passage à l'échelle de production industrielle. Au cours de ce travail, les paramètres influençant le procédé de fabrication par contacteur à membrane ont été étudiés ; principalement la pression transmembranaire de passage de la phase discontinue, la force de cisaillement de la phase continue et la microstructure de la membrane utilisée. Différentes configurations membranaires ont été testées telles que (i) les modules membranaires tubulaires avec écoulement tangentiel de la phase continue, (ii) les membranes planes montées dans des cellules d'agitation et (iii) les membranes dotées d'un mouvement d'oscillation à l'intérieur de la phase continue. En cas d'émulsification directe, diverses membranes ont été utilisées : des membranes SPG, des membranes microsieves et des membranes en céramique. Pour la « premix emulsification » des membranes dites dynamiques, constituées par un lit de billes en verre, ont été étudiées / The present study investigated the preparation of pharmaceutical drug carriers encapsulating the vitamin E and intended for pulmonary administration after nebulisation. Vitamin E, a physiological antioxidant, could be used to prevent cigarette smoke toxicity since several pulmonary disorders are mainly caused by oxidative stress phenomena. The methods used for the drug carriers’ preparation were based on the membrane emulsification principle. In these methods, the to-be-dispersed phase was injected in the continuous phase through the pores of a microporous membrane. The advantages of this method are: a better control over the diffusive mixing at the liquid / membrane interface and thus a fine control of droplets size distribution, a less energy consumption and an easy extrapolation of the obtained results for an industrial large scale-up. In order to investigate the preparation processes, key parameters influence on particles characteristics was investigated. Different experimental set-ups were used: (i) tubular membranes with a cross flow circulation of the continuous phase, (ii) stirred cell device with a flat micro-engineered membrane, (iii) oscillating membrane module in a stationary continuous phase. For direct emulsification, various membranes were used such as : SPG membranes, micro-engineered membranes and ceramic membranes. For premix emulsification, a packed bed of glass beads, called dynamic membrane, was studied. Four different drug carriers were developed during this study: liposomes, micelles, nano-emulsion and solid-lipid particles. The different encapsulating systems were characterized in terms of size distribution, zeta potential, microscopic morphology, encapsulation efficiency and stability. Results showed that the obtained drug carriers presented convenient properties. After nebulization of vitamin E encapsulating systems, the obtained aerosols presented satisfying aerodynamic characteristics which allowed the prediction (using a mathematical model) of a high level of vitamin E deposit on its action site

Cílem této diplomové práce bylo provést diagnostiku vysokonapěťového stejnosměrného stykače se zaměřením na zpětnou komutaci a lepení oblouku, navrhnout a ověřit úpravy, které odstraní tyto negativní jevy. Měření obloukového napětí, tlaku a pomocí rychlokamery byly použity při diagnostice těchto jevů. Změny na arcrunnerech a jhu magnetického obvodu byly využity při jejich odstraňování. Úpravy na arcrunneru zmenšily skokové nárusty délky oblouku a úpravy na jhu navýšily sílu na oblouk mezi rozevírajícími se kontakty. Navrhnuté změny na stykači snížily časovou ztrátu v důsledku zpětné komutace, a tak zkrátily čas přenosu oblouku.

The master thesis is focused on a remanent magnetism of electromagnets of DC contactors. In the first part of the thesis deals with the formation of a magnetic field in different kinds of materials, description of their magnetization and sorting. The next part is focused on the principle and history of an electromagnet. Negative effects and remanent induction of the contactor are described in the end of the theoretical part. The second part is a practical part. First, the reaction times were measured on a pair of DC contactors. Using the obtained data, an electronic circuit was designed to minimize the difference in switching times of the given DC contactors.

Ce travail se situe dans le cadre des recherches du laboratoire sur un procédé d’extraction et desextraction, qui implique trois phases liquides, deux phases aqueuses et une phase organique. La faisabilité d’un tel procédé passe par le choix de la phase organique et par l’étude des équilibres mis en jeu lors du processus d’extraction.Le principal objectif concerne : la récupération et la concentration de phénol contenu dans une solution aqueuse, en utilisant un pertracteur à disques tournants alternatifs en régime batch, semi-batch et continu. Par un mécanisme du transfert de matière entre les phases, le phénol passe de la phase aqueuse d’alimentation vers la phase organique puis de la phase organique vers la phase aqueuse réceptrice.La faisabilité de la méthode est testée en mode fermé. Nous étudions l’influence de certains paramètres : tels que la concentration du phénol, la variation de pH de la phase d’alimentation, la vitesse de rotation des disques et le volume de la phase organique, sur l’évolution du transfert du phénol entre les phases. Une solution aqueuse à pH 2, ayant une concentration en phénol égale à 50, 100 ou 300 mg.L-1, est mise en contact avec de l’huile de colza, qui est elle-même en contact avec une solution aqueuse à pH 13. Les résultats montrent qu’au bout de six heures de fonctionnement, 70% à 99% du phénol contenu initialement dans la solution aqueuse à pH 2, se trouve dans la phase aqueuse à pH 13.Afin de récupérer et de concentrer le phénol dans la phase réceptrice, nous avons réalisé des expériences dans le pertracteur fonctionnant en mode semi-ouvert et en mode ouvert.En système semi-ouvert, l’influence de trois paramètres est étudiée : la concentration initiale de phénol, la vitesse de rotation des disques et le débit de la phase d’alimentation. En système ouvert, seul l’influence du débit à la phase aqueuse est analysée. Enfin, grâce à la modélisation basée sur la théorie du double film, nous avons estimé l’ordre de grandeur des coefficients de transferts de matière partiels pour différentes vitesses de rotation en système fermé. / This work is focused on a pertraction process, coupling extraction and stripping steps in the same apparatus and involving three liquid phases, two aqueous phases and one organic phase. The process feasibility requires the choice of a appropriate organic phase (membrane) and a phase equilibria studies.The main objective was recovery and concentration of phenol contained in dilute aqueous solutions using a rotating discs pertractor in batch, semi-batch and continuous mode. The phenol is transferred from the feed phase (aqueous phase) through the membrane (organic phase) in the receiving phase (aqueous phase).The feasibility of the method is tested in a batch system. We studied the influence of some parameters such as the phenol concentration, the feed pH, the discs rotational speed and the volume of the organic phase. An aqueous solution at pH 2 (feed) with a phenol concentration equal to 50, 100 and 300 mg.L-1, is placed in contact with rapeseed oil (liquid membrane), that is itself in contact with an aqueous solution at pH 13 (receiving phase). The obtained results show that after 6 hours, 70% to 99% of phenol initially contained in the aqueous solution at pH 2, is transferred in the aqueous phase at pH 13.To concentrate phenol in the receiving phase, we performed experiments in semi-batch and continuous mode.In semi-batch system, the influence of three parameters is studied: the feed concentration, the discs rotation speed and the feed flowrate. In open system, (continuous mode), only the influence of the aqueous phases flowrates is analyzed.Finally, using mass transfer model based on a double film theory, we estimate the partial mass transfer coefficients for three phases at different rotation speeds in batch system.

Mathematical models of a nitritation: anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox)-coupled biofilm in a counter-diffusion hollow fiber membrane bioreactor (HFMBR) and a nitritation: anammox-coupled biofilm in a co-diffusion rotating biological contactor (RBC) were developed and implemented using AQUASIM. Four different start-up scenarios on the nitritation: anammox-coupled biofilm in an HFMBR were investigated. The supply of oxygen was simulated with the flow through the lumen of the hollow fiber membrane. For the four scenarios, two scenarios investigated the start-up when nitrite was supplied in the feed while the other two scenarios investigated when the source of nitrite was through nitritation only. The results showed that the presence of nitrite in the feed facilitated the start-up of the reactor. In addition, the results also showed that increasing oxygen flux through the membrane up to a certain ratio of ammonia flux with oxygen flux affected reactor performance by improving nitrogen removal and reducing start up time. For the nitritation: anammox-coupled biofilm in an RBC, four different process options were investigated: the number of reactors, the initial anammox (AnAOB) biomass fraction, the bulk oxygen concentration and the maximum biofilm thickness. Modeling results revealed that the steady state total nitrogen removal in RBC reactors in series occurred primarily in the first and second reactors. It is concluded that the number of reactors in series dictates the effluent performance and, therefore, this number can be selected depending upon the desired total nitrogen removal. Simulation results also revealed that increasing the initial AnAOB biomass fraction from 0.01% to 1.0% had no effect in the steady state nitrogen removal but had an effect in the required time to reach the steady state total nitrogen removal and the maximum biofilm thickness. Modeling results of the third process option showed that increasing the bulk oxygen concentration in the reactor from 0.2 g/m3 to 5 g/m3 linearly increased the steady state total nitrogen removal and reduced the time to reach the maximum biofilm thickness. Beyond 5 g/m3, steady state total nitrogen removal decreased. In addition, simulation results revealed that the thicker biofilm clearly showed a more linear correlation between the increase in bulk oxygen concentration and the increase in the steady state total nitrogen removal within a range of bulk oxygen concentrations. The results showed that RBC performance could be controlled by several process options: the number of reactors in series, initial biomass fraction, the bulk oxygen concentration and the maximum biofilm thickness. The mathematical modeling results for the HFMBR and RBC have shown that both have potential as carriers for nitritation: anammox-coupled biofilms targeted at the removal of nitrogen in the wastewater. / Master of Science

La intensificación de procesos consiste en el desarrollo de equipos y técnicas innovadoras que ofrecen mejoras sustanciales en el proceso, principalmente mediante la disminución del volumen del equipo, consumo de energía o generación de residuos, dando lugar a tecnologías más baratas, seguras y sostenibles. Esta tesis enfatiza la intensificación de procesos como estrategia en la recuperación de dióxido de azufre mediante el empleo de la tecnología de membranas y de líquidos iónicos como absorbente con objeto de eliminar las pérdidas de disolvente.La intensificación del proceso se lleva a cabo en dos etapas:i) Sustitución del equipo convencional (e.g. scrubbers) por un sistema de membranas para eliminar el arrastre de gotas y,ii) Sustitución del disolvente de absorción (N,N-dimetilanilina) por líquidos iónicos para eliminar pérdidas de disolvente por su volatilización en la corriente de gas debido a su presión de vapor despreciable. La selección de un líquido iónico adecuado se basa en su afinidad hacia dióxido de azufre, baja viscosidad, bajo coste y baja ecotoxicidad.En resumen, esta tesis es el primer trabajo que combina el empleo de un contactor de membranas de fibra hueca con líquidos iónicos, contribuyendo al desarrollo de procedimientos innovadores para intensificar el proceso de absorción de dióxido de azufre. / Process intensification consists of the development of innovative devices and techniques that offer significant improvements in chemical manufacturing and processing, decreasing substantially equipment volume, energy consumption, or wastes, and ultimately leading to cheaper, safer and sustainable technologies. This thesis emphasizes the process intensification as the strategy to the recovery of sulfur dioxide, according to the material efficiency and environmental protection, by means of technology based on membranes and ionic liquids as absorption solvents in order to avoid solvent losses.Process intensification is performed in two steps:i) Substitution of conventional equipment (e.g. scrubbers) for a membrane device to avoid drops dragging and,ii) Substitution of the absorption solvent (N,N-dimethylaniline) for ionic liquids to avoid solvent losses due to volatilization of solvent into the gas stream because of their negligible vapor pressure. Selection of a suitable ionic liquid is based on its affinity towards sulfur dioxide, low viscosity, low cost and low ecotoxicity.Thus, this thesis is the first work that combines a hollow fibre membrane contactor and ionic liquids, contributing to the development of innovative procedures to intensify the sulfur dioxide absorption process.

In recent years, membrane gas absorption technology has been considered as one of the promising alternatives to conventional techniques for CO2 capture due to its favorable mass transfer performance. As a hybrid approach of chemical absorption and membrane separation, it exhibits a number of advantages, such as operational flexibility, compact structure, high surface-area-to-volume ratio, linear scale up, modularity and predictable performance. One of the main challenges of membrane gas absorption technology is the membrane wetting by absorbent over prolonged operating time, which may significantly decrease the mass transfer coefficients of the membrane module. In this thesis, the experimental was set up to investigate the dependency of CO2 removal efficiency and mass transfer rate on various operating parameters, such as the gas and liquid flow rates, absorbent type and concentration and volume fraction CO2 at the feed gas inlet. In addition, the simultaneous removal of SO2 and CO2 was investigated to evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous desulphurization and decarbonization in the same membrane contactor. During 14 days of continuous operation, it was observed that the CO2 mass transfer rate decreased significantly following the operating time, which was attributed to partial membrane wetting. To better understand the wetting mechanism of membrane pores during their prolonged contact with absorbents, immersion experiments for up to 90 days were carried out. Various membrane characterization methods were used to illustrate the wetting process before and after the membrane fibers were exposed to the absorbents. The characterization results showed that the absorbent molecules diffused into the polypropylene polymer during the contact with the membrane, resulting in the swelling of the membrane. In addition, the effects of operating parameters such as immersion time and absorbent type on the membrane wetting were investigated in detail. Finally, based on the analysis results, methods to smooth the membrane wetting were discussed. It was suggested that improving the hydrophobicity of polypropylene membrane by surface modification may be an effective way to improve the long-term operating performance of membrane contactors. Therefore, the polypropylene hollow fibers were modified by depositing a thin superhydrophobic coating on the membrane surface to improve their hydrophobicity. The mixture of cyclohexanone and methylethyl ketone was considered as the best non-solvent to achieve the fiber surface with good homogeneity and acceptably high hydrophobicity. In the long-period operation, the modified membrane contactor exhibited more stable and efficient performance than the untreated one. Hence, surface treatment provides a feasibility of improving the system stability for CO2 capture from the view of long-term operation. / En av de tekniker som under senare framhållits som ett lovande alternativ till konventionell CO2-avskiljning är membran-gas-absorptionstekniken på grund av god prestanda vad gäller masstransport. Det blandade angreppssättet med både kemisk absorption och membranseparation har en rad fördelar, såsom driftflexibilitet, kompakt konstruktion, högt yt-volymsförhållande, linjär uppskalning, modularitet och förutsägbar prestanda. En av de viktigaste utmaningarna för membran-gas-absorptionstekniken är vätningen av membranet med absorbenten under långa drifttider, vilket väsentligt kan minska membranmodulens masstransportkoefficienter.  I avhandlingen har en rad olika driftparametrars påverkan på CO2-reningsgraden och massöverföringshastigheten undersökts. Driftparametrar inkluderar gas- och vätskeflöden, typ av absorbent och koncentration och volymfraktion av CO2 vid gasinloppet. Avskiljning av SO2 och CO2 har dessutom undersökts för att utvärdera möjligheten att samtidigt, i samma membranenhet, avlägsna svavel och kol. Under 14 dagars kontinuerlig drift konstaterades det att massöverföringshastigheten för CO2 minskade avsevärt med drifttiden, vilket hänfördes till partiell vätning av membranet.   För att bättre förstå mekanismerna för vätning av membranporer under långvarig kontakt med absorbenter genomfördes doppningsexperiment i upp till 90 dagar. Olika metoder för karakterisering av membran användes för att illustrera vätningsprocessen före och efter det att membranfibrerna exponerades för absorbenterna. Resultaten av karakteriseringen visade att absorbentmolekylerna spreds in i polypropenpolymeren under kontakten med membranet, vilket ledde till att membranet svällde. Dessutom undersöktes effekterna av driftsparametrar såsom nedsänkningstid och typ av absorbent i detalj. Slutligen, på grundval av analysresultaten, diskuterades metoder för att underlätta vätningen av membran. Att förbättra polypropylenmembranets hydrofobicitet genom modifiering av ytan föreslogs kunna vara ett effektivt sätt att förbättra den långsiktiga driftprestandan för membranenheter. Därför modifierades de ihåliga fibrerna av polyproylen med ett tunt lager av en superhydrofob beläggning på membranets yta för att förbättra hydrofobiciteten. En blandning av cyklohexanon och metyletylketon ansågs vara det bästa icke-lösningsmedlet för att få en fiber yta med god homogenitet och acceptabelt hög hydrofobicitet. Under lång driftperiod, uppvisade den modifierade membranenheten stabilare och effektivare prestanda än den obehandlade. Därför erbjuder ytbehandling en möjlighet till att förbättra systemets stabilitet för CO2-avskiljning när det gäller långsiktig drift. / VR-SIDA Swedish Research Links Programme

Le développement de biofilms est étudié sur de longues périodes (de deux à sept mois) dans des réacteurs à disque tournant (RBC) et à lit fixe alimentés par des eaux résiduaires domestiques ou des substrats synthétiques en continu à l’échelle du laboratoire. Deux réacteurs ont été spécialement conçus pour des expériences. Les biofilms ont été soumis à des stress physiques (forces hydrodynamiques) ou chimiques (antibiotique). L’activité biologique des réacteurs a été suivie au cours du temps (dégradation de la pollution carbonée et azotée). Les phénomènes de détachement et de redéveloppement des biofilms ont été caractérisés sur des surfaces lisses ou structurées par des techniques d’analyse d’images non destructives. La quantité globale de biomasse présente est évaluée par l’opacité du biofilm et cette méthode d’évaluation a été validée par comparaison avec des méthodes classiques destructives (coloration au Cristal Violet, matières sèches). La macrostructure du biofilm, liées aux phénomènes de croissance, détachement et recroissance, a été évaluée à l’aide de deux méthodes de caractérisation de la texture visuelle : la méthode de cooccurrence de niveaux de gris (SGLDM) et la longueur des segments (GLRLM). Le travail montre l’efficacité de l’analyse d’images comme une méthode rapide et peu onéreuse dans l’étude des biofilms sur le long terme. / The development of biofilm has been studied over long periods of time (two to seven months) in laboratory-scale rotating biological contactors and fixed bed reactors continuously fed with municipal wastewater or synthetic growth media. Two reactors have been specifically designed for this purpose. The biofilms have been subject to hydrodynamic and chemical (antibiotics) stresses. The overall biological activity of the reactors have been monitored, in terms of carbon and nitrogen removal. The phenomena of sloughing and re-growth have been characterized on smooth and rough surfaces using image analysis non-destructive techniques. The amount of biomass present on the substratum has been evaluated by the biofilm opacity and this monitoring method has been validated by comparison with destructive methods such as crystal violet staining and dry weight. The biofilm macrostructure, related to growth, sloughing and re-growth phenomena, has been evaluated through visual texture characterization of the scanning gray level co-occurrence matrix (SGLDM) and the gray level run length method (GLRLM). The results shows the efficiency of image analysis as a rapid and cheap method to monitor biofilm development on the long term.