Orientador: Tsunao Matsumoto / Co-orientador: Lilizane Lazzarini Albertin / Banca: Dib Gebara / Banca: Miguel Mansur Aisse / Resumo: A pesquisa utilizou um Reator Aeróbio de Leito Fluidizado com Circulação (RALFC) como dispositivo de pós-tratamento do efluente de um Reator UASB Compartimentado (RUC) o qual tratou esgoto sanitário. O RUC foi constituído de 4 tubos de PVC, de diferentes diâmetros, dispostos de forma concêntrica e o RALFC por dois tubos de PVC, de diâmetros diferentes e concêntricos, e uma unidade de sedimentação na parte superior. A pesquisa foi dividida em partida e quatro fases distintas, denominadas fase 1A, 1B, 2A e 2B, nas quais foram variados os parâmetros de operação, como vazão de ar, vazão de efluentes, tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) e carga orgânica volumétrica (COV). De modo que durante a pesquisa foi constatado que a melhor fase de tratamento foi quando o RALFC operou com TDH de 4,7 horas e vazão de ar de 300 L/h. O sistema, nessa fase, apresentou um valor médio de DQO efluente de 55 mg/L, a partir de um valor bruto de 607 mg/L em média, gerando uma remoção total de 90%. Os parâmetros de controle como alcalinidade, pH, temperatura e ácidos orgânicos voláteis sempre estivaram dentro das recomendações da literatura, demonstrando uma baixa oscilação. Mesmo assim o sistema não apresentou bom desempenho na remoção de nutrientes, tendo em sua melhor fase de tratamento um efluente com 31 mg/L em média de nitrogênio total, a partir de um valor de entrada de 50 mg/L sendo que a maior parte desse nitrogênio foi removido durante a passagem pelo RUC. Por outro lado para o fósforo, os valores foram de 25 mg/L na entrada e no efluente 14 mg/L, do mesmo modo como ocorreu ao nitrogênio, a maior parte da remoção de fósforo foi realizada pelo RUC / Abstract: The study used an aerobic fluidized bed reactor with circulation (RALFC) as the effluent post-treatment device of a UASB reactor Compartmented (RUC) which treated wastewater. The RUC was consisted of 4 PVC tubes of different diameters arranged concentrically and RALFC two PVC tubes of different diameters and concentric, and a sedimentation unit in the upper part. The research was divided into four distinct phases and starting, called Phase 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, in which were various operating parameters such as air flow, flow of wastewater, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and volumetric organic load (VOC). So that during the research it was found that the best treatment phase was when the RALFC operated with HRT of 4.7 hours and air flow of 300 L / h. The system, at this stage, had an average effluent COD value of 55 mg/L, from the affluent valor of 607 mg/L on average, there by generating a complete removal of 90%. The control parameters as alkalinity, pH, temperature and volatile organic acids have always been within the recommended by the literature, demonstrating a low oscillation. Even so, the system hasn't showed good performance in the removal of nutrients, in their best treatment stage an effluent with 31 mg/L on average total nitrogen from an input value of 50 mg/L. The most part of nitrogen removal was during passage through the RUC. As for the phosphorus values were 25 mg/L in the effluent input and 14 mg/L, in the same as was the nitrogen, the majority of phosphorus removal was performed by RUC / Mestre

Orientador: Tsunao Matsumoto / Co-orientador: Liliane Lazzari Albertin / Banca: Milton Dall Aglio Sobrinho / Banca: Katia Sakihama Ventura / Resumo: A aplicação de reatores anaeróbios, como é o caso dos reatores UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), passou a ocupar uma posição de destaque, principalmente no Brasil, face às condições ambientais de temperatura favoráveis, baixo custo, simplicidade operacional e baixa produção de sólidos. Dentre os sistemas anaeróbios, tem-se também o Reator Anaeróbio Compartimentado (RAC), um tipo de reator com configuração simples, com divisões internas que buscam separar os tipos de microrganismos da digestão anaeróbia. No presente trabalho estudou-se o comportamento do sistema Reator UASB Compartimentado (RUC), operando com carregamento orgânico volumétrico (COV) em diferentes variações. A melhor condição operacional, relativa à remoção de carga orgânica, foi conseguida quando o RUC foi operado com uma COV de 1,30kgDQO/m3.d (Fase IV), quando apresentou uma média e desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção de DQO de 82,7±7,7% e de DBO de 78,3±3,5%. Quando operando com a maior COV de todas as fases (fase III - 2,17kgDQO/m3.d) apresentou a segunda melhor eficiência de remoção de carga orgânica, com uma média e desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção da DQO de 74,2±8,8% e da DBO de 76,9±8,2%. Com a COV de 1,70kgDQO/m3.d a média e desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção da DQO e DBO foram de 74,2±8,8% e 69,1±6,8%, respectivamente. E com a COV de 0,78kgDQO/m3.d, a média e o desvio padrão da eficiência de remoção de DQO e de DBO foram de 68,9±11% e 69,7±15,7%, respectivamente. Uma desvantagem verificada no RUC foi o arraste de lodo ocasionado pelo aumento da COV, que afetou as características finais do efluente, mas não alteraram significativamente a sua eficiência de remoção da carga orgânica / Abstract: The application of anaerobic reactors, such as the UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), has come to occupy a prominent position, especially in Brazil, given the favorable environmental conditions such as temperature, low cost, operational simplicity and low production of sludge. Among the anaerobic systems, there is also the Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR), a type of reactor with simple configuration, with internal divisions that seek to separate the types of microorganisms in anaerobic digestion. Thus, the present work studied the behavior of Compartmented UASB Reactor (CUR), operating with variable volumetric organic loading (VOL). The best operating condition on the removal of organic load was achieved when the CUR was operated with a VOL 1.30kgCOD/m3.day (Phase IV), the CUR had 82.7±7.7% of COD removal efficiency (average and standard deviation) and BOD were 78.3±3.5%. When operating at higher VOL (Phase III - 2.17kgCOD/m3.day) showed the second best organic load removal efficiency with average and standard deviation of the COD removal efficiency of 74.2±8.8% and 76.9±8.2 BOD%. With the VOL 1.70kgCOD/m3d average and standard deviation da the removal efficiency of COD and BOD were 74.2±8.8% and 69.1±6.8%, respectively. And the VOL 0.78kgDQO/m3.day, the average and standard deviation of the COD removal efficiency of BOD and were 68.9±11% and 69.7±15.7%, respectively. A disadvantage found in the CUR was drag sludge resulting from increased VOL, which affected the final characteristics of the effluent, but not significantly modified its removal efficiency of organic load / Mestre

Buscando compreender o comportamento hidrodinâmico de um reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente (UASB), o presente trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver um modelo numérico utilizando ferramentas de Fluidodinâmica Computacional (CFD) para a simulação do comportamento do escoamento trifásico (líquido, gás e sólido) em um reator UASB utilizado na produção de biogás a partir da vinhaça, e validar este modelo utilizando técnicas de Velocimetria de Partículas por Imagem (PIV). Para tanto, inicialmente foi projetado o reator UASB e em seguida foram desenvolvidas a geometria e a malha. As simulações foram executadas no software Fluent, utilizando uma malha com 528.000 volumes de controle. Foram inicialmente realizadas simulações do escoamento monofásico do líquido e em seguida simulações bifásicas gás/líquido e sólido/líquido foram realizadas adotando-se uma abordagem Euleriana-Euleriana, isotérmica, transiente e tridimensional. Por fim, os modelos bifásicos já validados foram associados em um modelo trifásicos. Técnicas de PIV foram utilizadas na validação dos modelos bifásicos e do trifásico. Na etapa de validação dos modelos numéricos, foi verificada uma diferença máxima entre resultados experimentais e computacionais menor de 4% para todos os casos. Foi verificado que a força de arraste é a que exerce a maior influência no perfil do escoamento gás/líquido. Com relação ao escoamento sólido/líquido, o modelo de Gidaspow foi escolhido para o cálculo do coeficiente de arraste, após comparação com resultados experimentais. Nas simulações trifásicas, verificou-se o gás foi o principal responsável pela qualidade da mistura dentro do reator, reduzindo de 44% o percentual de zonas mortas no reator no caso sólido/líquido para 0,02% no caso trifásico e aumentando em cerca de oito vezes a magnitude da velocidade das fases sólida e líquida. O sistema de distribuição de gás exerceu forte influência no perfil do escoamento, tendo induzido recirculação interna no reator. A compreensão do escoamento permitirá otimizações no processo e no reator de forma a buscar o aumento da eficiência de tratamento bem como da geração de biogás. / PETROBRAS, Brasil. / Aiming to understand the hydrodynamics of a Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor, this work aimed to apply multiphase modeling through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to assess the behavior of the three phase flow (liquid, gas and solid) in a UASB reactor, which is used in the biogas production using vinasse as substrate and the to validate the results using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques. Therefore, the UASB reactor was designed and then the geometry and mesh were developed. The simulations were performed using the software Fluent and a mesh with 528.000 control volumes. Initially, monophasic simulations of the liquid phase were carried out. Next, two phase simulations were performed considering the pairs of phases gas/liquid and solid/liquid. An Eulerian-Eulerian approach was adopted, together with isothermal, transient and tridimensional conditions. After validated, the two-phase models (solid/liquid and gas/liquid) were combined into a three-phase model. PIV was used for the experimental validation of the two and three-phase models. The numerical model validation showed maximum differences lower than 4% between experimental and computational results for the three cases (gas/liquid, solid/liquid and liquid/gas/solid). Numerical results showed that the drag force plays the major role on the gas/liquid flow profile. Regarding the solid/liquid flow, Gidaspow model was chosen to estimate the drag force coefficient after comparisons between numerical and experimental results. Three-phase simulations showed that the gas was the main responsible for the mixing quality within the reactor. Dead zones were reduced from 44% in the solid/liquid simulations to 0,02% in the three-phase simulations and the liquid and solid velocity magnitude increased in about eight times. The configuration of the gas distribution system played a major role on the overall flow profile and drove liquid recirculation along the axial position. Understanding the multiphase flow within this reactor will allow optimizations on the process as well as on the reactor, in order to seek an increase on the efficiency both in the treatment and biogas in the production.

Este trabalho apresenta e discute os resultados obtidos na operação de um reator anaeróbico com manta de lodo (UASB) de 10,5 L, alimentado continuamente com substrato sintético (DQO = 2000 mg/L) e submetido ao aumento progressivo da concentração de sulfato (de 25 a 10000 mg \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L). A vazão de 16 L/dia, corresponde ao tempo de detenção hidráulico (e) de 15,6 h foi mantida constante durante os 10 meses do experimento. O monitoramento da operação do reator incluiu a determinação dos principais parâmetros do processo, visando detectar a inibição da metanogênese pelas bactérias redutoras de sulfato (BRS) que competem, com as metanogênicas, pelos mesmos substratos. Constatou-se estimulação do processo até a concentração de 400 mg \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L, a partir da qual ocorreram sequencias de quedas de eficiência seguidas de recuperação do reator, mantendo sempre a eficiência média de remoção de DQO acima de 80%. Embora a atividade metanogênica tenha sido parcialmente afetada, os balanços de \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\' mostraram que a redução do sulfato não foi o principal responsável pela inibição ocorrida. / This thesis presents and discuss the results obtained during the operation of a 10.5 L upflow sludge blanket reactor, continuously fed with synthetic substrate (COD = 2,000 mg/L), which was subjected to step-increase of sulfate concentrations ranging from 25 to 10,000 mg \'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L. The flow-rate of 16 L/d corresponding to a hydraulic detention of 15.6 h, was kept constant throughout the 10 months of experimentation. Operation monitoring included the determination of the main process parameters, aiming to detected the inhibition of lhe methanogenesis by the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) which autocompete the methanogens in the presence of common substrates. Stimulation effects were obseved up to the sulfate concentration of the 400 mg.\'SO IND.4\'POT.2-\'/L. Further on, sequences of falls of efficiency followed by restoration of the reactor performance defined the behavior pattern of the reactor, which maintained an average COD removal efficiency higher than 80%. Although the methanogenic activity has been parcially affected, \'SO IND.4\'POT2-\' balances showed that the sulfate reduction activity was not the main process responsible for such inhibition.

Thesis (PhD (Food Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / In the absence of anaerobic granules, anaerobically digested sewage sludge is frequently used to seed industrial upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. Because of its flocculent nature, start-up with digested sludge instead of granular sludge proceeds much slower and presents various operational problems. Any manner in which the granulation of digested sludge can be enhanced would benefit UASB reactor start-up and application in developing countries such as South Africa. The main objective of this dissertation was to improve granulation and reduce UASB reactor start-up by using pre-treated digested sludge as seed. The sludge was pre-treated based on the batch granulation-enhancement model of Britz et al. (2002). The main aim of the model was to improve extracellular polymer (ECP) production of lactate-utilising populations by applying short-term controlled organic overloading in a mechanically agitated environment. The batch granulation-enhancement (pre-treatment) process was applied to an ECP-producing digester strain, Propionibacterium jensenii S1. Non-methanogenic aggregates were formed when batch units were incubated on a roller-table instead of a linear-shake platform. Larger, more stable aggregates were obtained in the presence of apricot effluent medium. Preliminary batch granulation-enhancement studies confirmed that using the roller-table as mixing system had a positive influence on batch granulation-enhancement. The roller-table showed the most potential for handling larger volumes in comparison to a linear-shake waterbath and linear-shake platform. The addition of 450 mg.L-1 Fe2+ at the start of the study also influenced aggregate numbers positively. These studies revealed that pre-treatment results varied depending on the seed sludge source. A denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was applied for the detection of Archaea in digested sludges and UASB granules. In addition, a methanogenic marker containing methanogens important to the granulation process was constructed to aid identification. The positive influence of DMSO and “touchdown” PCR on the elimination of artifactual double bands in DGGE fingerprints were also demonstrated. Results revealed that only one of the four digested sludges tested contained Methanosaeta concilii (critical to granular nuclei formation) while it was present in all the UASB granules regardless of substrate type. Four digested sludges were obtained from stable secondary digesters. DGGE indicated the presence of M. concilii in all sludges. The Athlone 4Sb-sludge was the only sludge which exhibited measurable methanogenic activity during substrate dependent activity testing. The ST-sludge showed the highest increase in volatile suspended solids (VSS) particles ≥0.25 mm2. Laboratory-scale UASB reactor start-up was done with both sludges and start-up proceeded better in the Athlone 4Sb-reactor. Athlone 4Sb-sludge batches were pre-treated in a rolling-batch reactor in the presence of either lactate or sucrose and used to seed lab-scale UASB reactors B (sucrose seed) and C (lactate seed). Start-up efficiencies were compared to a control (Reactor A). Overall Reactor B was more efficient that the control. At the end of the study the Reactor B sludge had a higher methanogenic activity than the control reactor. It also had the highest increase in VSS ≥1.0 mm2. Pre-treatment of digested sludge in the presence of sucrose, therefore, aided granulation and reduced UASB reactor start-up time.

Water scarcity is a global concern that impacts many developing countries, forcing people to depend on unclean water sources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial needs. Wastewater is an alternative water source that contains nutrients needed for crop growth. Wastewater reuse for agriculture can cause public health problems because of human exposure to pathogens. Pathogen monitoring is essential to evaluate the compliance of wastewater with established World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wastewater reuse guidelines. Indicator organisms are commonly used to detect pathogens in water and wastewater because they are quick and easy to measure, non-pathogenic, and have simple and inexpensive methods of detection. The objective of this research was to develop a modified double agar layer assay method that can be conducted in the field to quantify bacteriophage to assess the quality of wastewater for agricultural reuse. Results from the modified double agar layer assay were used to investigate the potential of somatic coliphage as an indicator organism for assessing the potential presence of enteric viruses in developing world treated wastewater, and to use the criteria of a good indicator organism to compare the potential of two commonly used indicator organisms, somatic coliphage and fecal coliforms, as an indicator of enteric viruses in wastewater. A modified EPA double agar layer method was developed and deployed in a developing world rural community to effectively quantify the concentration of somatic coliphage in a community managed wastewater treatment system composed of a Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor followed by two maturation lagoons. The modified method served as a good indicator of enteric viruses in the water. Somatic coliphages were easily detected and quantified in the field setting using a modified double agar layer method. Somatic coliphage was found to be a potential indicator for enteric viruses rather than fecal coliforms because of their similarity in characteristics and resistances to wastewater treatment. The concentration of somatic coliphage was only reduced by 1.05 log units across the two series maturation lagoon system. Previous literature suggested removal would range from 2.1 to 4.6 log units. Influent wastewater (previously treated by an UASB reactor) had a concentration of 4.38 E+06 PFU/ 100 mL (standard deviation = ±3.7E+06, n = 9) and the treated effluent contained 3.90 E+05 PFU/100 mL (standard deviation = ± 4.5E+05, n = 8) of somatic coliphages. Results suggest that somatic coliphage is a good potential indicator for enteric viruses in wastewater but further research needs to be done.

Thesis (MSc Food Sc )--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The potential use of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) bioreactor is limited by the extended start-up periods due to the time-consuming granulation process and the fact that seeding inoculum is not freely available in most developing countries like South Africa. The mass cultivation of granules would provide the waste water treatment industry with suitable seeding inoculum and, therefore, an efficient waste water treatment option would be more easily available. By applying 'stress' conditions on a bioreactor system seeded with raw anaerobic sludge, the population dynamics of the anaerobic community change and the acidogens start to produce extracellular polymers, which in turn enhance the granulation process by providing a matrix for the bacterial cells to adhere to. These "environmental stress" conditions include changes in the C:P:N ratio's. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess the impact of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the enhancement of granulation in a batch system, and to determine the best preservation technique in terms of retainment of activity. It was found that the carbon source and concentration had a significant influence on batch granule enhancement. Low concentrations (2.g.l ̄ ¹) of glucose gave the best granule enhancement over a 14 day incubation period. Fruit cocktail effluent was found to be a cheap and effective carbon source for batch granule cultivation. It was found that different nitrogen sources did not have the same impact on granule enhancement, however, urea, at all concentrations tested, gave the best granule enhancement. A major problem encountered during the study was the standardisation of the inoculum. Significant granule enhancement comparisons between the different carbon sources were impeded by the lack of a suitable and reliable form of sludge standardisation. Future research needs to address this problem of the standardisation of the sludge inoculum as this would lead to more kinetically comparable results. Mass granule culturing will require granule preservation without risking the loss of activity. In the second study, six different preservation techniques and storage periods were evaluated in terms of the retainment of activity. These involved freeze-drying, vacuum freeze-drying, vacuum-drying, freezing, cold storage and room temperature preservation. Activity testing was used for comparing the efficiency of the different preservation techniques in terms of the tempo of biogas and methane production. Freeze-drying the granules, with storage for up to 90 days was found to give the best retainment of activity, followed by vacuum freeze-drying. The room temperature preserved samples showed a sudden increase in activity by day 120, which could possibly be explained by cell hydrolysis of the granules after day 90. The highest activity was achieved after 10 h of incubation, and it was, therefore, suggested that activity testing for evaluation purposes should use an incubation time of only 10 h. Furthermore, only the basic test medium with added glucose should be used for activity testing as it was observed that the addition of lactate and acetic acid played no decisive role in determining the level of activity of the granules. This study recommends the use of low concentrations of glucose for optimum granule enhancement during the mass cultivation of granules, and the addition of low concentrations of lactate to ensure a stable system with no acidification. It is also advisable to use a standardised sludge inoculum, as this will allow more efficient comparisons. Freeze-drying is recommended as preservationtechnique as this technique showed the best retainment of activity. A storage period of 90 days is, however, too short to be of much use for the industry. This will have to be investigated, together with the phenomenon of increased activity after 90 days as shown by the room temperature preserved granules. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die potensiële gebruik van die "uptflow anaerobic sludge blanket" (UASB) bioreaktor word beperk deur verlengde aansitprosedure as gevolg van die tydsame granulasieproses en die feit dat geskikte inokulums nie vrylik beskikbaar is in die meeste ontwikkelende lande, bv. Suid-Afrika nie. Die massa-kweking van granules sal die afvalwater-industrie voorsien van 'n geskikte inokulum, en sodoende 'n effektiewe opsie vir die behandeling van afvalwater beskikbaar stel. Deur die aanwending van "stres" toestande op 'n reaktor, wat geinokuleer is met rou anaerobe slyk, vind daar 'n verandering in die samestelling van die anaerobe populasie plaas. Die laktaat-benuttende asidogene begin om ekstrasellulêre polisakkariede te produseer wat die granulasieproses versnel deur 'n matriks te voorsien waaraan die bakteriële selle kan heg. Hierdie "omgewings stres" toestande sluit veranderinge in die C:P:N verhoudings in. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die invloed van verskillende koolstof- en stikstofbronne op die vermeerdering van granules te bepaal, asook om die beste preserveringstegniek in terme van die behoud van aktiwiteit te bepaal. Daar is gevind dat die koolstofbron en konsentrasie 'n betekenisvolle invloed op granule-vermeerdering het. Lae konsentrasies glukose (2 g.I ̄ ¹) het tot die grootste vermeerdering in granules oor 'n 14 dae inkubasieperiode gelei. Vrugtekelkie-afvalwater is geidentifiseer as 'n goedkoop en effektiewe koolstofbron wat ook gebruik kan word vir die kweking van granules. Voorts is gevind dat die stikstofbron en konsentrasie nie so 'n groot invloed op granule-vermeerdering het nie. Urea het nietemin die beste granule-vermeerdering vir al die konsentrasies wat getoets is, gegee. Standaardisasie van die inokulum was 'n groot probleem gedurende die studie. Betekenisvolle vergelykings tussen die granule-vermeerderings verkry met die verskeie groeimedia is bemoeilik deur die afwesigheid van 'n geskikte en betroubare standaardisasie-metode. Toekomstige navorsing moet hierdie probleem aanspreek aangesien dit sal lei tot meer kineties vergelykbare resultate. Massa-kweking van granule sal 'n metode van granule-preservering vereis sonder enige verlies van aktiwiteit. In die tweede studie is ses verskillende preserverings-tegnieke en opbergings-periodes in terme van die behoud van aktiwiteit geëvalueer. Die tegnieke sluit in: vriesdroging; vakuum-vriesdroging; vakuumdroging; bevriesing; koelopberging en kamertemperatuur-preservering. Aktiwiteitstoetsing is gebruik vir die vergelyking van die effektiwiteit tussen die verskillende preserverings-tegnieke in terme van die tempo van biogas- en metaanproduksie. Die granules wat met behulp van die vriesdroogtegniek gepreserveer is, het die beste behoud van aktiwiteit getoon, gevolg deur die vakuum-gevriesdroogde granules. Die monsters wat by kamertemperatuur gepreserveer is, het 'n skielike toename in aktiwiteit na 120 dae van opberging getoon en 'n moontlike verklaring vir hierdie verskynsel kan sel-hidrolise van die granules na 90 dae van opberging wees. Die meeste aktiwiteit is behaal na 'n 10 h inkubasietyd, en dus word hierdie inkubasietyd aanbeveel indien aktiwiteitstoetse vir evaluerings-doeleindes gedoen word. Verder word aanbeveel dat slegs die glukose-verrykte basiese toetsmedia vir aktiwiteitstoetsing gebruik word aangesien die byvoeging van laktaat en asynsuur geen noemenswaardige rol speel in die bepaling van die vlak van aktiwiteit van die granules nie. Hierdie studie beveel die gebruik van lae glukosekonsentrasies aan vir optimale vermeerdering van granules tydens die massakweking daarvan, asook die byvoeging van lae konsentrasies laktaat om 'n stabiele sisteem met geen versuring te verseker. Die gebruik van 'n gestandaardiseerde slyk-inokulum word sterk aanbeveel aangesien dit meer vergelykbare resultate lewer. Vriesdroging (as preserveringstegniek) het die beste behoud van aktiwiteit in die granules getoon en word dus as preserveringstegniek aanbeveel. 'n Opbergingsperiode van 90 dae is egter te kort om van veel waarde vir die industrie te wees. Hierdie probleem, asook die verskynsel van 'n verhoging in aktiwiteit na 90 dae van die granules wat by kamertemperatuur gepreserveer is, moet verder ondersoek word.

Submitted in complete fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Biotechnology), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Anaerobic digestion, a proven and highly efficient biological process for treating industrial wastewater and biogas generation is an underutilized technology in South Africa. Some of the industries that have on-site anaerobic reactors tend to face problems in operating these reactors due to poor understanding of the process and implementation of the technology. This has resulted in high pollutant loads in their final effluents and low energy recovery. In this study, an on-site full–scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating brewery wastewater was extensively monitored in order to evaluate the efficiency in terms of effluent quality, biogas production and microbial structure. Furthermore, developed and adopted kinetic models were used to optimize the performance of the full–scale UASB reactor using a combined Pareto differential evolution (CPMDE) algorithm. A preliminary analysis of the raw wastewater has shown that the wastewater produced from the brewery industry was high in organic matter with a total chemical oxygen demand (COD) between 1096.41 to 8926.08 mg/L. The average removal efficiency of COD from the UASB reactor after treatment was 79% with a methane (CH4) production of 60-69% at temperature ranges of 28-32˚C and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 h within the optimal pH range for anaerobic bacteria (6.6 and 7.3) under various organic loading rates. However, the results also showed an increase in total suspended solids (TSS), nitrogen (N2), ammonia (NH3) and orthophosphate concentrations when comparing the influent to the effluent, which indicated the necessity for further optimization of the reactor condition in order to reduce these effluent parameters to acceptable standards and to increase CH4 production. In order to optimize the process, a thorough understanding of microbial interaction was essential. A combination of different molecular techniques viz., fluorescence in–situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) were employed to understand the microbial community structure of the granular sludge samples using species specific primers and probes. The results revealed that the dominance of diverse groups of eubacteria belonging to phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi and an uncultured candidate division WS6 with four different orders of methanogenic Archaea viz., Methanomicrobiales, Methanococcales, Methanobacteriales and Methanosarcinales belonging to hydrogenotrophic and aceticlastic methanogens were within the reactor samples. Quantification of the 16S rDNA copies of eubacteria and methanogenic Archaea using species-specific primers further confirmed the spatial distribution of these microorganisms within the different compartments of the reactor where, the upper compartments were dominated by eubacteria and the lower compartments by methanogenic Archaea. The concentration of Archaea per nanogram of DNA was much higher (96.28%) than eubacteria (3.78%) in lower compartments, while, the eubacteria concentration increased to 98.34% in upper compartments with a decrease in Archaea quantity (1.66%). A modified kinetic methane generation model (MMGM) was developed on the basis of mass balance principles with respect to substrate (COD) degradation and the endogenous decay rate to predict CH4 production efficiency of the reactor. Furthermore, a Stover–Kincannon kinetic model was adopted with the aim of predicting the final effluent quality in terms of COD concentration and model coefficients were determined using the data collected from the full–scale reactor. Thereafter, a model-based multi-objective optimization was carried out using the CPMDE algorithm with three–objective functions namely; maximization of volumetric CH4 production rate; minimization of effluent substrate concentration and minimization of biomass washout, in order to increase the overall efficiency of the UASB reactor. Important decision variables and constraints related to the process were set for the optimization. A set of non-dominated solutions with high CH4 production rates of between 2.78 and 5.06 L CH4/g COD/day at low biomass washout concentrations were obtained at almost constant solution for the effluent COD concentration. A high COD removal efficiency (85-87%) at ~30-31˚C and 8-9 h HRT was obtained for the multi-objective optimization problem formulated. This study could significantly contribute towards optimization of a full–scale UASB reactor treating brewery wastewater for better effluent quality and biogas production. Knowledge on the activity and performance of microbial community present in the granular sludge taken from the full–scale UASB reactor would contribute significantly to future optimization strategies of the reactor. In addition, optimization using an evolutionary algorithm under different operational conditions would help to save both time and resources wasted in operating anaerobic bioreactors.

In this study, domestic wastewater was used to determine the anaerobic treatment performances of a dilute wastewater in one-phase upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) system and two-phase upflow anaerobic filter (UAF) and UASB system. The acidification performances of domestic wastewater were compared in UAF and UASB reactors. The degree of acidification is higher in UAF reactor (31%) compared to UASB reactor (18%) at 2 h hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewaters. The effluent total volatile fatty acid (tVFA) concentration was higher in UAF reactor than that the UASB reactor at 2 h HRT. The total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD) removal is 40% in winter and 53% in summer in UAF reactor at 2 h HRT. The tCOD removals in two-phase UAF and UASB system and one-phase UASB system were 83% and 63%, respectively, in 4 h HRT. The conversion rate of COD removed to methane were between 0.005 and 0.067 Nm3 methane/kg COD removed and between 0.158 and 0.233 Nm3 methane/kg COD removed in the UAF and the UASB reactor of the two-phase system, respectively. The conversion rate of COD removed to methane varied between 0.029 and 0.199 Nm3 methane/kg COD removed in one-phase UASB reactor. The results of this study showed that the two-phase reactor system consisting from UAF and UASB reactors provide a good removal of soluble organics variations in acidification reactor and better methane productions in UASB reactor at temperatures 20&deg / C and 35&deg / C through the treatment of domestic wastewater at a HRT of 4 hours.

Thesis (Msc Food Sc (Food Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The distillery industry generates large volumes of heavily polluted wastewater and thus effective wastewater treatment is essential. It has been reported that a chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of more than 90% can be achieved when wine distillery wastewater (WDWW) is treated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The first objective of this study was to investigate UASB treatment of WDWW and to try to enhance the efficiency by using ozonation treatments. Secondly, the impact of grain distillery wastewater (GDWW) on UASB granules was determined. The third objective was to determine whether ozonation and enzymatic treatment combinations might improve the biodegradability of GDWW and thus make GDWW more amenable to UASB treatment. It was found that UASB treatment combined with ozonation improved the WDWW treatment efficiency. When diluted WDWW (chemical oxygen demand COD = 4 000 mg.L-1) was ozonated (dose = 47 mg.L-1) in a 50 L venturi circulating contactor system, the COD reduction was 7%. When WDWW was treated in a laboratory-scale UASB reactor (substrate pH = 7.0, COD = 4 000 mg.L-1 and organic loading rate (OLR) = 4.0 kg COD.m-3.d-1), the COD reduction was 92%. When the UASB treatment was combined with either pre- or postozonation, the COD reduction was 94 and 96%, respectively. When UASB treatment was combined with pre- and post-ozonation, a COD reduction of 98% was achieved. The activity of the UASB granules was also found to improve over time, despite the addition of the ozonation treatment. It has been reported that operational problems occur when GDWW is treated in an UASB reactor as a result of the encapsulation of the granules. This was confirmed when granules from a full-scale UASB treating WDWW became encapsulated in a layer after being exposed to GDWW (COD = 4 000 mg.L-1) for 24 d. The results showed that the lipid content of the granules increased from 1.25 to 60.35 mg lipid.g-1 granule over the 24 d exposure period. Therefore, granules exposed to GDWW were encapsulated in a lipid-rich layer and as a result the contact between the GDWW and microbial consortium in the granules was reduced. The operational problems found during the industrial UASB treatment of GDWW were ascribed to the encapsulation of the granules. Combinations of ozonation (dose = 1 476 mg.L-1) generated in a 2 L bubble column and enzymatic treatments (1% FogFreeTM (FF) dosage and 2 d incubation at 35°C) were found to improve the biodegradability of GDWW. This improvement was in terms of lipid reduction in GDWW, granule activity and visual appearance of the encapsulating layer of the granules. The highest lipid reduction (90%), highest granule activity, lowest lipid content of the granules (3.74 ± 0.10 mg.g-1 granule) and best visual appearance were achieved in ozonated GDWW treated with 1% FF, followed by just ozonation. The higher lipid reduction and subsequent higher granule activity were ascribed to the reduction in lipids which resulted in the fact that fewer lipids were available to encapsulate the granules. As a result of the lipid reduction, the granule activity improved and the GDWW was made more amenable to UASB treatment. This study proved that UASB treatment combined with ozonation led to an enhancement of the treatment efficiency of WDWW. It was also found that the cause of the operational problems during UASB treatment of GDWW was as a result of the granules being encapsulated in a lipid-rich layer. It was established that treating GDWW prior to UASB treatment improved the biodegradability of GDWW. The data from the study showed that high lipid reduction in the GDWW directly led to better granule activity, lower granule lipid content and a thinner encapsulating layer. Based on the data from this study, it is recommended that GDWW be ozonated prior to other treatments because it can be done inline and the costs would be lower than that of enzymatic treatments.