Remoção de alquilbenzeno linear sulfonato em esgoto doméstico tratado em reator UASB e lagoa de polimento / Linear alquilbenzene sulfonate removal from domestic sewage treated in UASB and polishing pond

RESUMO: Avaliou-se a remoção do alquilbenzeno linear sulfonato (LAS) em uma estação de tratamento de esgoto (ETE) com reator tipo UASB e lagoa de polimento durante dois períodos, seco e chuvoso. A remoção de LAS também foi avaliada em uma das 8 células do UASB (810 m3). Nessa célula, a remoção, predominantemente por adsorção, foi de 68±52 e 0% para os períodos seco e chuvoso, respectivamente. A eficiência de remoção global do LAS na ETE foi de 80±15 a 98±3%, considerando os dois períodos sazonais. A concentração de LAS no efluente da lagoa de polimento ficou entre 0,1±0,3 e 0,6±0,3 mg.L-1. Portanto, a qualidade do efluente da ETE, em termos de LAS, foi muito satisfatória, com valores inferiores aos da legislação (<0,5 mg.L-1 de LAS - CONAMA) para as substâncias definidas como aquelas que reagem com o azul de metileno, em águas superficiais de classe 1 a 3.

ABSTRACT: We evaluated the removal of linear alquilbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in a sewage treatment plant (WWTP) with a UASB reactor and a polishing pond during two seasonal periods, dry and rainy. The removal was also evaluated in one of the eight cells of the UASB reactor (810 m3). In this cell, the removal was predominantly by adsorption, of 68±52 and 0% for the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. The total removal efficiency of LAS in the WWTP was between 80±15 and 98±3%, considering the two seasonal periods. The LAS concentration in the polishing pond effluent was between 0.1±0.3 and 0.6±0.3 mg.L-1. Therefore, the quality of the final effluent, in terms of LAS, was very satisfactory, with values lower than those defined by the Brazilian legislation (<0.5 mg L-1 of LAS) of CONAMA, for substances reacting with the methylene blue, when the receiving water body is within the classes 1 to 3.

Tratamento de águas contaminadas por diesel/biodiesel utilizando processo Fenton / Treatment of water contaminated by diesel/biodiesel using Fenton process

A contaminação de águas por misturas diesel/biodiesel pode causar grandes impactos ambientais, relacionados à presença de compostos orgânicos recalcitrantes e tóxicos, inviabilizando o uso de processos biológicos de tratamento. A avaliação da biodegradabilidade, nas proporções B0, B25, B50, B75 e B100 (os números especificam o percentual em massa de biodiesel na mistura), indicou que a adição de biodiesel em teores acima de 50% aumenta a biodegradabilidade, alcançando 60 e 80% para B50 e B75, respectivamente. Na aplicação do processo Fenton, a remoção da matéria orgânica foi superior a 80% em todas as misturas, exceto para B0, que apresentou remoção máxima de 50%. A oxidação por Fenton se ajustou a um modelo cinético de pseudo-segunda ordem em relação à concentração de matéria orgânica, e resultou em aumento da biodegradabilidade de até 150%.

Waters contaminated with diesel/biodiesel and their blends can cause major environmental impacts, due to the presence of toxic and recalcitrant organic compounds, which invalidate the use of biological treatment processes. Evaluation of biodegradability of the blends B0, B25, B50, B75 and B100 (the numbers specify the mass percentage of biodiesel in the blend) indicated that the addition of biodiesel at concentrations above 50% increased biodegradation, reaching 60 and 80% for B50 and B75, respectively. When the Fenton process was used, removal of organic matter was greater than 80 % in all blends, except for B0, which showed maximum removal of 60%. Oxidation by Fenton was fitted with a pseudo-second order kinetic model in relation to the concentration of organic matter and resulted in increased biodegradation of up to 150%.

Aerobic biodegradation of nonylphenol ethoxylates in shaking-flask test

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs), which are widely used for industrial and domestic purposes, exert adverse effects on wildlife after being used and discharged into the environment. However, their ultimate biodegradability and biodegradation pathway remains unclear. In this study, the aerobic degradability of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) by the acclimated microorganisms in active sludge was examined using shaking-flask tests. The degradation of benzene rings in NPEOs was determined using UV spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that more than 80 percent of benzene rings were removed after 8-10 days of degradation, and the majority of NPEOs were also removed after 9 days of degradation, indicating NPEOs and the benzene rings could be ultimately degraded by microorganisms in acclimated active sludge. Electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) analysis of biodegradation intermediates indicate that stepwise omega, beta-oxidation of EO chains or fission of EO chains, and further omega, beta-oxidation of alkyl-chain for short-EO-chain NPEOs constitute the main pathway in the early stage, and complete biodegradation occur when the benzene rings in these molecules are opened in the later stage.