Use of Coffee Capsules as Support Material in Upflow Anaerobic Fixed Bed Reactors

Abstract The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance of upflow anaerobic fixed bed reactors filled with espresso coffee capsules to treat sanitary sewage. Three reactors (R1, R2 and R3) were constructed in blue PVC pipes measuring 30 cm height and 150 mm diameter and filled with coffee capsules made of aluminum and plastic. The sewage from the pre-treatment phase of the wastewater treatment plant of the Federal University of Lavras fed the system. Temperature, pH, alkalinity and volatile acids concentration, COD, TS, TVS and TSS of the influent and effluent were analyzed to evaluate the reactors performances. Statistics tests were run in the software Statistica 10. Changes occurred in the organic loading rates caused two different operating phases, one at an OLR of 2.1 kg COD m-3d-1 and another at 4.0 kg COD m-3d-1. The average temperature during the monitoring period was 18°C. In spite of the operating conditions variations, the reactors showed satisfactory performances, presenting COD efficiency removals up to 80% in both phases. The capsules characteristics were similar to other materials used as support. Hence, it is possible to utilize coffee capsules as support material in anaerobic reactors, providing satisfactory pollutants removal efficiencies.

Influência do tipo de material suporte no desempenho de reatores biológicos de leito móvel na remoção de carbono e nitrificação de esgoto sanitário / The influence of material support kind on the biological moving bed reactors performance used for the carbon removal and nitrification of sewage

Neste trabalho foi mostrada a influência do tipo de material suporte: P4 (plástico reciclado rugoso, diâmetro médio de 2,31 mm, densidade de 900 kg.m-3, superfície específica potencial de 2.596 m².m-3sup) e P5 (polietileno, pouco rugoso, forma cilíndrica, diâmetro médio de 10 mm, densidade de 880 kg.m-3, superfície específica potencial de 3.075m².m-³sup) utilizados em dois reatores biológicos de leito móvel, fluxo contínuo, na remoção de carbono e nitrificação de esgoto sanitário, os quais foram divididos em duas fases, de acordo com a idade do lodo (IL): fase A: IL de 10 dias e fase B: IL de 3 dias. Foram aplicadas cargas orgânicas superficiais médias de 4,0 kgDQO.m-2.d-1 (P4) e de 4,1 kgDQO.m-2.d-1 (P5); e cargas superficiais de nitrogênio de 0,63 kgN.m-2.d-1 (P5) e de 0,66 kgN.m-2.d-1 (P5). Para o material P4, a remoção média foi de 87 por cento de carbono e 83 por cento de nitrogênio (fase A) e 80 por cento de carbono e 77 por cento de nitrogênio (fase B). Para o P5, remoção de 63 por cento de carbono e 55 por cento de nitrogênio (Fase A) e 59 por cento de carbono e de nitrogênio (fase B). Com base nos resultados obtidos, verificou-se que a remoção de carbono e nitrogênio não foi influenciada pela idade do lodo, mas pelo tipo de material suporte (forma ou características de superfície) e superfície disponível para o crescimento da biomassa.

This paper presented the influence of material support kind: P4 (rugous recycled plastic, medium diameter of 2.31 mm, density of 900 kg.m-3, specific surface potential of 2,596 m².m-3sup) and P5 (polietilene, cilindric shape, medium diameter of 10 mm, density of 880 kg.m-3, specific surface potential of 3,075m².m-3sup) used in two continuous flux biological moving bed reactors using different material support to remove nitrogen and carbon from sewage, which was divided in two phases according to sludge retention time (SRT): phase A: SRT of 10 days and phase B: SRT of 3 days. The organic loading rates applied were 4.0 kgCOD.m-2.d-1 (P4) and 4.1 kgCOD.m-2.d-1 (P5); and the nitrogen loading rates applied were 0.63 kgN.m-2.d-1 and 0.66 kgN.m-2.d-1 for P4 and P5, respectively. The support P4 achieved efficiencies of 87 percent for total carbon removal and 83 percent for nitrogen removal during phase A. These efficiencies slightly decreased to 80 and 77 percent for total carbon and nitrogen, respectively (phase B). The support P5 got removal efficiencies of 63 percent for total carbon and 55 percent for nitrogen (phase A) and 59 percent for total carbon and nitrogen (phase B). These results showed that the total carbon and nitrogen removal efficiencies were not affected by the SRT, but by the kind of support used (carrier geometry or surface characteristics) and available specific surface area for biomass growth.