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Barbosa TA, Giordani A, de Moura RB. A pilot-scale study of a novel system for simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal: technological advancement of a structured bed reactor with intermittent aeration (SBRIA) in real domestic sewage treatment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024; 31:12591-12596. [PMID: 38180656 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31675-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
This study outlines the development of an effective pilot-scale simultaneous denitrification and nitrification (SDN) system using intermittent aeration for the removal of carbon and nitrogen from real domestic sewage. Given the limited research in this area, the main objective was to evaluate the overall performance of the SBRIA system on a pilot scale and show its benefits in domestic wastewater treatment. The structured bed reactor with intermittent aeration (SBRIA) notably achieved 57% efficiency in removing total nitrogen without requiring external carbon sources. It also demonstrated impressive removal rates of 56% for total chemical oxygen demand (CODT) and 82% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), indicating its effectiveness in degrading organic matter. In addition, the SBRIA showed high pH control and managed the consumption of alkalinity without the need for an alkalizer, maintaining consistent mean values of 7.7 ± 0.8 for pH and 166.8 ± 79.8 mg·L-1 for alkalinity. The system also proved resilient against toxic shocks caused by significant variations in influent characteristics. This study offers valuable insights and compelling results into a cost-effective and efficient treatment approach using an innovative technology not previously applied at the pilot scale. Its potential to remediate polluted water is substantial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Aleixo Barbosa
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Giordani
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil.
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Brito de Moura
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
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Bicelli LG, Giordani A, Augusto MR, Okada DY, Moura RBD, Vich DV, Contrera RC, Cano V, Souza TSOD. Microbial interactions and nitrogen removal performance in an intermittently rotating biological contactor treating mature landfill leachate. Bioresour Technol 2023; 389:129797. [PMID: 37769977 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Developing efficient landfill leachate treatment is still necessary to reduce environmental risks. However, nitrogen removal in biological treatment systems is often poor or costly. Studying biofilms in anoxic/aerobic zones of rotating biological contactors (RBC) can elucidate how microbial interactions confer resistance to shock loads and toxic substances in leachate treatment. This study assessed the nitritation-anammox performance in an intermittent-rotating bench-scale RBC treating mature leachate (diluted). Despite the leachate toxicity, the system achieved nitritation with an efficiency of up to 34 % under DO values between 0.8 and 1.8 mg.L-1. The highest average ammoniacal nitrogen removal was 45.3 % with 10 h of HRT. The 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Nitrosonomas, Aquamicrobium, Gemmata, and Plantomyces. The coexistence of these bacteria corroborated the selective pressure exerted by leachate in the community structure. The microbial interactions found here highlight the potential application of RBC to remove nitrogen in landfill leachate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Garcez Bicelli
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 83, Travessa 2, Butantã, 05.508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Alessandra Giordani
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 83, Travessa 2, Butantã, 05.508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | - Matheus Ribeiro Augusto
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 83, Travessa 2, Butantã, 05.508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Brito de Moura
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | | | - Ronan Cleber Contrera
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 83, Travessa 2, Butantã, 05.508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Vitor Cano
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 83, Travessa 2, Butantã, 05.508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Theo Syrto Octavio de Souza
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 83, Travessa 2, Butantã, 05.508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Paniguel Oliveira E, Giordani A, Kawanishi J, Syrto Octavio de Souza T, Okada DY, Brucha G, Brito de Moura R. Biofilm stratification and autotrophic-heterotrophic interactions in a structured bed reactor (SBRIA) for carbon and nitrogen removal. Bioresour Technol 2023; 372:128639. [PMID: 36681348 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The structured-bed reactor with intermittent aeration (SBRIA) is a promising technology for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal from wastewater. An in depth understanding of the microbiological in the reactor is crucial for its optimization. In this research, biofilm samples from the aerobic and anoxic zones of an SBRIA were analyzed through 16S rRNA sequencing to evaluate the bacterial community shift with variations in the airflow and aeration time. The control of the airflow and aeration time were essential to guarantee reactor performances to nitrogen removal close to 80%, as it interfered in nitrifying and denitrifying communities. The aeration time of 1.75 h led to establishment of different nitrogen removal pathways by syntrophic relationships between nitrifier, denitrifier and anammox species. Additionally, the predominance of these different species in the internal and external parts of the biofilm varied according to the airflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Paniguel Oliveira
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Giordani
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil; Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Juliana Kawanishi
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | - Theo Syrto Octavio de Souza
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Gunther Brucha
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Brito de Moura
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
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Giordani A, Del Busso Zampieri B, Watanabe Nogueira E, Brito de Moura R, Soares Damasceno LH, Brucha G. Acidophilic microbial communities: remediating acid mine drainage waters. Extremophiles 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/9783110788488-001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Oliveira EP, de Souza TSO, Okada DY, Damasceno LHS, Salustiano RE, de Moura RB. Optimization of airflow and aeration cycles in a new structured bed reactor configuration for carbon and nitrogen removal. Environ Technol 2022; 43:2540-2552. [PMID: 33546577 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2021.1887370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Structured Bed Reactor with Recirculation and Intermittent Aeration (SBRRIA) is a reactor configuration that presents high efficiency of organic matter and nitrogen removal, besides low sludge production. However, operational parameters, as the recirculation rate, aeration time, and airflow, are not fully established. A bench-scale structured bed reactor with intermittent aeration was fed with synthetic effluent simulating the characteristics of sanitary sewage. The reactor was operated for 280 days with an operational hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 h. The reactor was operated without effluent recirculation for the first time since this approach was not yet reported, and was named Structured Bed Reactor with Intermittent Aeration (SBRIA). The COD removal was higher than 81% for all operational conditions, and the total nitrogen removal ranged from 10 to 80%. The highest efficiencies were obtained with an aeration time of 1 h 45 min (total cycle of 3 h) and an airflow rate of 4.5 L.min-1. Different nitrification and denitrification behaviours were observed, resulting in nitrification efficiencies over 90% when the reactor was submitted to higher aeration times and denitrification efficiencies above 90% when the reactor was submitted to low aeration times. The airflow ranges tested in this study affected the nitrification and the total nitrogen efficiencies. Even without effluent recirculation, the temporal profile showed that there were no peaks in the concentration of the nitrogen forms in the reactor effluent, saving electrical energy up to 75% due to pumping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Paniguel Oliveira
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | - Theo Syrto Octavio de Souza
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo H S Damasceno
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Brito de Moura
- Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Poços de Caldas, Brazil
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