Nesta tese foi estudada a utilização da serragem de couro do tipo wet blue como meio suporte de filtros percoladores no pós-tratamento de esgoto sanitário. O desenvolvimento deu-se em três fases: na primeira fase foram realizadas a classificação e caracterização da serragem, bem como a sua preparação através de peneiramento, lavagens e secagem. Foram realizados dois tipos de lavagens: uma em batelada com solução alcalina de pH em torno de 9,0 e outra contínua com água corrente com pH em torno de 7,0. Na segunda fase foram utilizados quatro filtros percoladores com volume aproximado de 10 litros; dois foram preenchidos com serragem de couro bruta peneirada e os outros dois com serragem de couro peneirada, lavada e seca ao ar livre. Esses filtros operaram em série com quatro filtros de volume aproximado de 30 litros, preenchidos da mesma forma. Os quatro primeiros filtros receberam o efluente de um reator anaeróbio compartimentado e os demais receberam os efluentes dos primeiros. A terceira fase consistiu do uso apenas dos filtros percoladores de maiores volumes, os quais operaram aerados e com o afluente alcalinizado. Os conjuntos de filtros que operaram em série na segunda fase apresentaram eficiências de remoção de coliformes totais e fecais que variaram em torno de 94 e 92%, respectivamente. A eficiência de remoção de DBO5 total foi cerca de 80%. Na terceira fase, os filtros apresentaram eficiências de remoção de coliformes totais e fecais de cerca de 98 e 99%, respectivamente. Com relação à eficiência de remoção de DBO5, o valor encontrado foi de aproximadamente 80%. Nesta terceira fase foram encontradas excelentes reduções de NTK e de nitrogênio amoniacal com eficiências médias de remoção, para os dois parâmetros, de 83% antes da alcalinização e de 100% após a alcalinização. / This thesis studied the use of leather sawing (wet blue type) as packed bed of trickling filters in the wastewater post-treatment. The thesis was divided into three stages: as first stage the classification and characterization of the leather sawings were accomplished, as well as its conditioning through sieving, washing and drying. Two washing techniques were accomplished: a batch one with alkaline solution of pH around 9,0 and a continuous one with water of pH around 7,0. In the second stage four trickling filters were used with an approximated volume of 10 L; two were filled with sifted raw leather sawing and the two others with sifted, washed and open-air dryed leather sawing. Those filters operated in series with four other filters with an approximated volume of 30 L, filled in the same way. The 10 L filters received the efluent of an anaerobic baffled reactor and the others received the efluents of the first ones. The third stage consisted on the 30 L trickling filters alone, which were aerated and feeded with alkalinized influent. The group of filters that operated in series in the second stage presented total and fecal coliform removal efficiencies that varied around 94 and 92%, respectively. The efficiency of total BOD5 removal was around 80%. In the third stage filters presented total and fecal coliformes removal efficiencies around 98 and 99%, respectively. About BOD5 removal efficiency, it was found a value of approximately 80%. In this stage it was achieved excellent KTN and ammoniacal nitrogen removals with average removal efficiencies of 83% before alkalinization and 100% after alkalinization.

From the Proceedings of the 1978 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 14-15, 1978, Flagstaff, Arizona / This study investigated the potential of a soil-turf filter to renovate secondary effluent applied in excess of consumptive use. Lysimeter plots were filled with a sand and a sand mix, and seeded to winter ryegrass. In spring, plots were scalped and seeded to bermudagrass. Plots were drip irrigated twice a week with secondary effluent at rates of 10, 17, 22, 34, and 43 mm/day. Leachate and effluent were analyzed for NH -N, NO,-N, and organic-N. Grass clippings were oven dried, weighed, and analyzed for organic -N. Percent of leachate available for groundwater recharge was 50% at the lowest rate and 68% at the highest rate when values were averaged for both soils. The amount of nitrogen removed by the soil-turf filter using sand was 42 to 87% and 52 to 90% on the mix, decreasing as application rate increased. The highest nitrogen removal and utilization occurred at the lowest application rate. Turf utilization of nitrogen was 10 to 28% on sand and 18 to 36% on mix, decreasing as rate of application increased. The sand-turf filter renovated 22 mm/day and the mix-turf filter renovated 43 mm/day, yielding leachate averaging less than 10 ppm NO₃-N.