<p>The anaerobic treatment of waste water has been studied with an emphasis on the Up- flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor. A model to describe the processes occurring in a UASB reactor was developed and an experimental study of the anaerobic wastewater treatment systems in Nicaragua was also performed.</p><p>Experimental work was carried out in order to link the study to the wastewater treatment situation in Nicaragua, a developing country. In order to assess the performance of the treatment plants, the methanogenic activity of sludge from seven anaerobic wastewater treatment plants was first addressed. Due to a lack of Standards for the measurement of methanogenic activity, a laboratory method was developed based on the methods found in the literature. An additional aim of this study was to find adequate inoculum for the wastewater treatment plant in a brewery using an anaerobic reactor. Physic-chemical characteristics of the sludge were also determined to provide a basis for decisions regarding the agricultural employment of the sludge from the treatment plants.</p><p>A one-dimensional model describing the physical and biological processes occurring in an Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor has been developed. These processes are advection, dispersion and reaction in the granule, including mass transport at the interface and diffusion within the particle. The advection-dispersion equation is used to describe these phenomena in the reactor. Dispersion is mainly caused by the gas bubbles rising up through the reactor and the granules in the ascending flow. The extent of the dispersion is expressed by the dimensionless Peclet (Pe) number. It is assumed that the biological degradation takes place at the surface and within the granules. The processes occurring in the granules formed by the microorganisms are described in detail; they include diffusion in the stagnant film around the granule, diffusion within the particle, and a degradation reaction. From these processes, the reaction term is analytically determined. The granules were modelled as spherical porous biocatalysts of different sizes. The biochemical degradation reactions were assumed to follow Monod type kinetics of the first order. For the numerical solution of the model, a standard program was used (Within MATLAB). The model was applied to some experimental data taken from the literature.</p><p>An important characteristic of the model is that it can simultaneously take into account reactions in granules of different sizes. At present, the parameters of the model are calculated using data from the literature; but experimental measurements of the main parameters are planned. The impact of the different parameters was studied by numerical simulation and its validity was tested using experimental data reported in the literature. The model could be a useful tool in the performance optimization of UASB reactors by predicting the influences of different operational parameters.</p>

The anaerobic treatment of waste water has been studied with an emphasis on the Up- flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor. A model to describe the processes occurring in a UASB reactor was developed and an experimental study of the anaerobic wastewater treatment systems in Nicaragua was also performed. Experimental work was carried out in order to link the study to the wastewater treatment situation in Nicaragua, a developing country. In order to assess the performance of the treatment plants, the methanogenic activity of sludge from seven anaerobic wastewater treatment plants was first addressed. Due to a lack of Standards for the measurement of methanogenic activity, a laboratory method was developed based on the methods found in the literature. An additional aim of this study was to find adequate inoculum for the wastewater treatment plant in a brewery using an anaerobic reactor. Physic-chemical characteristics of the sludge were also determined to provide a basis for decisions regarding the agricultural employment of the sludge from the treatment plants. A one-dimensional model describing the physical and biological processes occurring in an Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor has been developed. These processes are advection, dispersion and reaction in the granule, including mass transport at the interface and diffusion within the particle. The advection-dispersion equation is used to describe these phenomena in the reactor. Dispersion is mainly caused by the gas bubbles rising up through the reactor and the granules in the ascending flow. The extent of the dispersion is expressed by the dimensionless Peclet (Pe) number. It is assumed that the biological degradation takes place at the surface and within the granules. The processes occurring in the granules formed by the microorganisms are described in detail; they include diffusion in the stagnant film around the granule, diffusion within the particle, and a degradation reaction. From these processes, the reaction term is analytically determined. The granules were modelled as spherical porous biocatalysts of different sizes. The biochemical degradation reactions were assumed to follow Monod type kinetics of the first order. For the numerical solution of the model, a standard program was used (Within MATLAB). The model was applied to some experimental data taken from the literature. An important characteristic of the model is that it can simultaneously take into account reactions in granules of different sizes. At present, the parameters of the model are calculated using data from the literature; but experimental measurements of the main parameters are planned. The impact of the different parameters was studied by numerical simulation and its validity was tested using experimental data reported in the literature. The model could be a useful tool in the performance optimization of UASB reactors by predicting the influences of different operational parameters. / QC 20101116

Em um reator de fundo redondo e volume útil de 5 L tratando esgoto sintético com carga orgânica de 800 mgDQO.'L POT.-1' com biomassa granulada a influência do tipo de escoamento e velocidade rotacional foi investigada com o uso de cinco impelidores sendo eles turbina e pá de seis pás planas verticais, turbina e pá de seis pás planas inclinadas 45 graus e hélice, comumente aplicados em processos biológicos. Foi também investigada a viabilidade de implementação de tubo de tiragem ao reator em conjunto com os impelidores tipo hélice e tipo pá de pás planas inclinadas alternadamente, com vistas a melhorar a mistura e conseqüente transferência de massa no meio reacional. Os resultados mostram que a alteração do tipo de impelidor e as variações da velocidade rotacional não exerceram influência significativa sobre a estabilidade e desempenho dos sistemas estudados. Entretanto a análise das constantes do modelo cinético de primeira ordem mostrou que a alteração na velocidade rotacional exerceu influência de aumento dos valores das constantes, demonstrando com isto que o aumento da velocidade rotacional melhora a transferência de massa sólido-líquido no meio reacional. A análise das constantes cinéticas também demonstrou que a promoção de escoamento axial em reatores agitados mecanicamente é preferível ao escoamento radial quando comparados os impelidores tipo pá de pás planas verticais e de pás planas inclinadas. A presença do tubo de tiragem demonstrou incrementar significativamente a transferência de massa, através do aumento dos valores numéricos das constantes utilizadas no ajuste do modelo cinético de primeira ordem aos valores experimentais. A potência consumida foi inferior a 1,6.'10 POT.-3' HP/'M POT.3' com rotações abaixo de 200 rpm e os impelidores axiais consumiram 75% a menos de potência do que os radiais / The effect of flow type and rotor speed were investigated in a round-bottom reactor with 5 L useful volume containing granular biomass and treating synthetic wastewater with organic load of 800 mgCOD.'L POT.-1'. Five impellers have been used to this end, namely: turbine and paddle with six-vertical-flat blade, turbine and paddle with six-45 degrees-inclined-flat-blade and helix, commonly used in biological processes. Utilization of a draft tube together with the helix and six-alternately-inclined-flat-blade impellers was also assessed as a means to improve mixing and consequently mass transfer in the reaction medium. Results showed that altering impeller type and variation in rotor speed did not exert significant effect on the stability and performance of the investigated systems. However, analysis of the first order kinetic model constants showed that alteration in rotor speed resulted in increase in the values of the constants, demonstrating that increase in rotor speed improves solid-liquid mass transfer in the reaction medium. Analysis of the kinetic constants also showed that axial flow in mechanically stirred reactors is preferable over radial flow when the vertical flat blade impeller is compared to the inclined flat blade impeller. The presence of the draft tube showed significant improvement in mass transfer, which could be seen by the increase in the values of the constants used in the fit of the first order kinetic model to the experimental values. The power consumed was less than 1.6.'10 POT.-3' HP/'M POT.3' at rotor frequency below 200 rpm and the axial impellers consumed 75% less power than the radial ones

Avaliou-se a influência da carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) aplicada e do tempo de enchimento sobre a estabilidade e a eficiência do ASBR com biomassa granulada, operado em batelada e batelada alimentada seqüenciais, tratando soro de queijo diluído. Os ensaios foram realizados a 30 'graus' C com volume total de meio de 5,0 litros e tempo de ciclo de 8 horas. Na primeira etapa realizou-se a operação em batelada com tempo de enchimento ('T IND.alim') de 10 min e freqüência de agitação de 150 rpm. A cada ciclo foram alimentados 2,0 litros de meio com concentração afluente ('C IND.AF') de 1000, 2000, 4000 e 6000 mg/L, em termos de DQO. A suplementação de alcalinidade foi gradualmente otimizada partindo-se da proporção de 1 a 0,25 da razão 'NA'H'CO IND.3'/DQO. Nestas condições foi possível operar o reator com estabilidade a COV aplicada de 4,8 g/L.d , com suplementação de alcalinidade de 25% e eficiência em remoção de matéria orgânica de 96,0% e 98,4% em termos de DQO filtrada e total, respectivamente. Na segunda etapa devido a problemas operacionais desenvolveram-se dispositivos para assegurar a retenção da biomassa a fim de viabilizar a operação em batelada alimentada. Os dispositivos testados foram ASBR híbrido, sistema de agitação com 2 impelidores, hélice e pá-inclinada (a) e hélice e turbina inclinada (b). A solução utilizada foi hélice e turbina inclinada. Para essa configuração, diminuiu-se a freqüência de agitação para 75 rpm e reduziu-se o volume de biomassa para 1,0 L. Dessa forma foi possível avaliar a influência das estratégias de alimentação ('T IND.alim') de 360, 180 e 10 minutos a COV aplicada constante de 2,4 g/L.d, para 'C IND.AF' de 4000 mg/L e 'V IND.alim' de 1,0 L e para 'C IND.AF' de 8000 mg/L e 'V IND.alim' de 0,5 L. Para a 'C IND.AF' de 4000 mg/L o aumento de 'T IND.alim' resultou em diminuição da eficiência, em termos de DQO solúvel, sendo de 97,8 , 96,7 e 94,5% para os 'T IND.alim' de 10, 180 e 360 minutos, respectivamente. Para a 'C IND.AF' de 8000 mg/L o aumento do 'T IND.alim' resultou em menores valores de DQO total no efluente / The effect of volumetric organic load (VOL) and fill time on the stability and efficiency of an ASBR was assessed. The ASBR containing granular biomass was operated in batch and fed-batch mode and treated diluted cheese whey. Assays were performed at 30 'degrees' C with total medium volume of 5.0 liters and 8-h cycle lengths. In a first stage the reactor was operated batch-wise with fill time ('T IND.feed') of 10 min and agitation frequency of 150 rpm. At each cycle 2.0 liters of medium were fed at influent concentration ('C IND.infl') of 1000, 2000, 4000 and 6000 mg/L, in terms of COD. Alkalinity supplementation was gradually optimized from 100% to 25% of 'NA'H'CO IND.3'/COD ratio. At these conditions the reactor attained stability at applied VOL of 4.8 g/L.d, alkalinity supplementation of 25% and organic matter removal efficiency of 96.0% and 98.4% in terms of soluble and total COD, respectively. In a second stage due to operational problems devices were developed to assure biomass retention and hence make fed-batch operation feasible. The tested devices included hybrid ASBR, agitation system with two impellers: helix and inclined blade impeller (a) and helix and inclined turbine impeller (b). The system chosen was the helix and inclined turbine. With this configuration agitation frequency and biomass volume were reduced to 75 rpm and 1.0 L, respectively. This way, it was possible to assess feed strategies ('T IND.feed') of 360, 180 and 10 minutes at constant applied VOL of 2.4 g/L.d, for 'C IND.infl' of 4000 mg/L at 'V IND.feed' of 1.0 L and for 'C IND.infl' of 8000 mg/L at 'V IND.feed' of 0.5 L. At 'C IND.infl' of 4000 mg/L increase in 'T IND.feed' resulted in decrease in efficiency in terms of soluble COD, which amounted to 97.8, 96.7 and 94.5% for 'T IND.feed' of 10, 180 and 360 minutes, respectively. At 'C IND.infl' of 8000 mg/L the increase in 'T IND.feed' resulted in lower values for COD effluent

Em um reator de fundo redondo e volume útil de 5 L tratando esgoto sintético com carga orgânica de 800 mgDQO.'L POT.-1' com biomassa granulada a influência do tipo de escoamento e velocidade rotacional foi investigada com o uso de cinco impelidores sendo eles turbina e pá de seis pás planas verticais, turbina e pá de seis pás planas inclinadas 45 graus e hélice, comumente aplicados em processos biológicos. Foi também investigada a viabilidade de implementação de tubo de tiragem ao reator em conjunto com os impelidores tipo hélice e tipo pá de pás planas inclinadas alternadamente, com vistas a melhorar a mistura e conseqüente transferência de massa no meio reacional. Os resultados mostram que a alteração do tipo de impelidor e as variações da velocidade rotacional não exerceram influência significativa sobre a estabilidade e desempenho dos sistemas estudados. Entretanto a análise das constantes do modelo cinético de primeira ordem mostrou que a alteração na velocidade rotacional exerceu influência de aumento dos valores das constantes, demonstrando com isto que o aumento da velocidade rotacional melhora a transferência de massa sólido-líquido no meio reacional. A análise das constantes cinéticas também demonstrou que a promoção de escoamento axial em reatores agitados mecanicamente é preferível ao escoamento radial quando comparados os impelidores tipo pá de pás planas verticais e de pás planas inclinadas. A presença do tubo de tiragem demonstrou incrementar significativamente a transferência de massa, através do aumento dos valores numéricos das constantes utilizadas no ajuste do modelo cinético de primeira ordem aos valores experimentais. A potência consumida foi inferior a 1,6.'10 POT.-3' HP/'M POT.3' com rotações abaixo de 200 rpm e os impelidores axiais consumiram 75% a menos de potência do que os radiais / The effect of flow type and rotor speed were investigated in a round-bottom reactor with 5 L useful volume containing granular biomass and treating synthetic wastewater with organic load of 800 mgCOD.'L POT.-1'. Five impellers have been used to this end, namely: turbine and paddle with six-vertical-flat blade, turbine and paddle with six-45 degrees-inclined-flat-blade and helix, commonly used in biological processes. Utilization of a draft tube together with the helix and six-alternately-inclined-flat-blade impellers was also assessed as a means to improve mixing and consequently mass transfer in the reaction medium. Results showed that altering impeller type and variation in rotor speed did not exert significant effect on the stability and performance of the investigated systems. However, analysis of the first order kinetic model constants showed that alteration in rotor speed resulted in increase in the values of the constants, demonstrating that increase in rotor speed improves solid-liquid mass transfer in the reaction medium. Analysis of the kinetic constants also showed that axial flow in mechanically stirred reactors is preferable over radial flow when the vertical flat blade impeller is compared to the inclined flat blade impeller. The presence of the draft tube showed significant improvement in mass transfer, which could be seen by the increase in the values of the constants used in the fit of the first order kinetic model to the experimental values. The power consumed was less than 1.6.'10 POT.-3' HP/'M POT.3' at rotor frequency below 200 rpm and the axial impellers consumed 75% less power than the radial ones

Avaliou-se a influência da carga orgânica volumétrica (COV) aplicada e do tempo de enchimento sobre a estabilidade e a eficiência do ASBR com biomassa granulada, operado em batelada e batelada alimentada seqüenciais, tratando soro de queijo diluído. Os ensaios foram realizados a 30 'graus' C com volume total de meio de 5,0 litros e tempo de ciclo de 8 horas. Na primeira etapa realizou-se a operação em batelada com tempo de enchimento ('T IND.alim') de 10 min e freqüência de agitação de 150 rpm. A cada ciclo foram alimentados 2,0 litros de meio com concentração afluente ('C IND.AF') de 1000, 2000, 4000 e 6000 mg/L, em termos de DQO. A suplementação de alcalinidade foi gradualmente otimizada partindo-se da proporção de 1 a 0,25 da razão 'NA'H'CO IND.3'/DQO. Nestas condições foi possível operar o reator com estabilidade a COV aplicada de 4,8 g/L.d , com suplementação de alcalinidade de 25% e eficiência em remoção de matéria orgânica de 96,0% e 98,4% em termos de DQO filtrada e total, respectivamente. Na segunda etapa devido a problemas operacionais desenvolveram-se dispositivos para assegurar a retenção da biomassa a fim de viabilizar a operação em batelada alimentada. Os dispositivos testados foram ASBR híbrido, sistema de agitação com 2 impelidores, hélice e pá-inclinada (a) e hélice e turbina inclinada (b). A solução utilizada foi hélice e turbina inclinada. Para essa configuração, diminuiu-se a freqüência de agitação para 75 rpm e reduziu-se o volume de biomassa para 1,0 L. Dessa forma foi possível avaliar a influência das estratégias de alimentação ('T IND.alim') de 360, 180 e 10 minutos a COV aplicada constante de 2,4 g/L.d, para 'C IND.AF' de 4000 mg/L e 'V IND.alim' de 1,0 L e para 'C IND.AF' de 8000 mg/L e 'V IND.alim' de 0,5 L. Para a 'C IND.AF' de 4000 mg/L o aumento de 'T IND.alim' resultou em diminuição da eficiência, em termos de DQO solúvel, sendo de 97,8 , 96,7 e 94,5% para os 'T IND.alim' de 10, 180 e 360 minutos, respectivamente. Para a 'C IND.AF' de 8000 mg/L o aumento do 'T IND.alim' resultou em menores valores de DQO total no efluente / The effect of volumetric organic load (VOL) and fill time on the stability and efficiency of an ASBR was assessed. The ASBR containing granular biomass was operated in batch and fed-batch mode and treated diluted cheese whey. Assays were performed at 30 'degrees' C with total medium volume of 5.0 liters and 8-h cycle lengths. In a first stage the reactor was operated batch-wise with fill time ('T IND.feed') of 10 min and agitation frequency of 150 rpm. At each cycle 2.0 liters of medium were fed at influent concentration ('C IND.infl') of 1000, 2000, 4000 and 6000 mg/L, in terms of COD. Alkalinity supplementation was gradually optimized from 100% to 25% of 'NA'H'CO IND.3'/COD ratio. At these conditions the reactor attained stability at applied VOL of 4.8 g/L.d, alkalinity supplementation of 25% and organic matter removal efficiency of 96.0% and 98.4% in terms of soluble and total COD, respectively. In a second stage due to operational problems devices were developed to assure biomass retention and hence make fed-batch operation feasible. The tested devices included hybrid ASBR, agitation system with two impellers: helix and inclined blade impeller (a) and helix and inclined turbine impeller (b). The system chosen was the helix and inclined turbine. With this configuration agitation frequency and biomass volume were reduced to 75 rpm and 1.0 L, respectively. This way, it was possible to assess feed strategies ('T IND.feed') of 360, 180 and 10 minutes at constant applied VOL of 2.4 g/L.d, for 'C IND.infl' of 4000 mg/L at 'V IND.feed' of 1.0 L and for 'C IND.infl' of 8000 mg/L at 'V IND.feed' of 0.5 L. At 'C IND.infl' of 4000 mg/L increase in 'T IND.feed' resulted in decrease in efficiency in terms of soluble COD, which amounted to 97.8, 96.7 and 94.5% for 'T IND.feed' of 10, 180 and 360 minutes, respectively. At 'C IND.infl' of 8000 mg/L the increase in 'T IND.feed' resulted in lower values for COD effluent