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The removal of the tetra-azo dye Direct Black 22 (DB22) using the microalga Chlorella vulgaris was evaluated in the present study, aiming to understand the contribution of different processes (biodegradation, photodegradation, and adsorption) in the removal of this contaminant. The growth and morphological characteristics of C. vulgaris were not affected by the presence of the dye in the reaction medium. The efficiency of dye removal was 62.6 ± 1.46%, 47.7 ± 7.2% of which was attributed to photodegradation, while 13.2 ± 6.5% were associated with the contribution of the microalga by an enzymatic route and 1.7 ± 9.6% with an adsorption process. Additionally, tests with the organism Allium cepa as a bioindicator revealed that DB22 and its byproducts did not induce toxicity, but cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were induced. We observed that genotoxicity was reduced after the remediation process. Our results establish photodegradation as the primary mechanism and biodegradation as the secondary mechanism driving the removal of DB22 within a Chlorella culture. Researchers must carefully consider all aspects involved in the removal process, including photodegradation, biodegradation, and adsorption processes.

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In this study, the generation of domestic waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste printed circuit board (WPCB) were estimated, from 2015 to 2030. Based on the number of EEE put on the Brazilian market, the possession rate in the Brazilian households and obsolescence amounts of five EEE types were estimated using time series. The results show that, between 2015 and 2030, the quantity of WEEE generated per year will increase from 131.87 kt to 195.22 kt. In this period, WPCB generation will stay around 10% of WEEE generation. Additionally, this study shows that the urban mining potential of the materials recoverable from WPCB can be an important revenue source, with environmental benefits deriving from energy savings and a reduction in CO2 emissions. The results of this study provide a quantitative basis that may help decision makers develop strategic policies for WEEE management, considering material circularity.

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ABSTRACTThe removal of organic matter and nitrogen from domestic sewage was evaluated using a system composed of two sequential reactors: an anaerobic reactor (ANR) with suspended sludge and an aerobic (AER) reactor with suspended and adhered sludge to polyurethane foams. Nitrogen removal consisted of AER operating at low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations; this favoured the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process. The concentration of COD and N were 440 mgO2.L-1 and 37 mgTN.L-1, respectively. The operation was divided into three phases (P), lasting 51, 53, and 46 days, respectively. The initial DO concentrations applied in the AER were: 3.0 (PI) and 1.5 mg.L-1 (PII and PIII). In PIII, the AER effluent was recirculated to the ANR at a ratio of 0.25. Kinetic assays were performed to determine the nitrification and denitrification rates of the biomasses (ANR and AER in PIII). Changes in the microbial community were evaluated throughout phases PI to PIII by massive sequencing. In PIII, the best results obtained for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN-N) removal efficiencies, were close to 94% and 65%, respectively. Under these conditions, system effluent concentrations below 30 mg COD.L-1 and 15 mg TN-N.L-1 were verified. The nitritation and nitration rates were 10.5 and 6.5 mg N.g VSS-1.h-1, while the denitrification via nitrite and nitrate were 6.8 and 5.8 mg N.g VSS-1.h-1, respectively. A mixotrophic community was prevalent, with Rhodococcus, Nitrosomonas, Pseudomnas, and Porphyromonas being dominant or co-dominant in most of the samples, confirming the SND process in the AER sludge.

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The effects of adding vinasse (VIN) as a co-substrate on the stability and production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and methane (CH4) during the anaerobic digestion (AD) of microalgal biomass (MB) were evaluated. The AD system consisted of an acidogenic reactor (AR) followed by a methanogenic reactor (MR). The experiment was divided into phase I-start-up and AD of VIN; phase II-MB+VIN co-digestion (50:50 based on chemical oxygen demand (COD)); and phase III-co-digestion of pretreated MB and VIN (PTMB+VIN, 50:50). In phase I, the total amount of VFA in the AR increased from 240 to 2126 mg/L. In the MR, the conversion of VFA into CH4 yielded an average of 71 ± 37 NmL CH4/g CODin. In phase II, the initial CH4 production was 246 ± 31 mL CH4/g CODin but it decreased to 63 mL CH4/g CODin due to the accumulation of longer chain acids. More stable conditions were achieved after two hydraulic retention cycles and the average CH4 yield in this phase was 183 mL CH4/g CODin. In phase III, when using PTMB, 197 ± 72 NmL CH4/g CODin were obtained, i.e., a 2.7- and 1.1-fold increases compared to phases I and II, respectively. The predominance of acetate producers and syntrophic organisms suggests acetoclastic methanogenesis, confirmed by the occurrence of Methanosaeta (10.5%).

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Microalgal biomass (MB) is a promising feedstock for bioenergy production. Nonetheless, the cell recalcitrance and the low C/N ratio limit the methane yield during anaerobic digestion. As an alternative to overcome these challenges, MB co-digestion with different feedstocks has been proposed. Thus, this study evaluated the anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of MB cultivated in wastewater with sugarcane vinasse (VIN) and residual glycerol from biodiesel production (GLY). Batch tests were conducted using augmented simplex-centroid mixture design to investigate the impact of AcoD on methane production (SMP), synergistic effects, and the influence on microbial community. When compared to MB digestion, 150 NmL CH4.g-1VS, binary and ternary AcoD achieved SMP increases from 120 to 337%. The combination of 16.7:16.7:66.7 (MB:VIN:GLY) showed the highest SMP for a ternary mixture (631 NmL CH4.g-1VS). Optimal synergies ranged from 1.3 to 1.4 and were primarily found for the MB:GLY AcoD. Acetoclastic Methanosaeta genus was predominant, regardless the combination between substrates. Despite the largest SMP obtained from the MB:GLY AcoD, other ternary mixtures were also highly synergetic and therefore had strong potential as a strategic renewable energy source.

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Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is a synthetic anionic surfactant that is found in certain amounts in wastewaters and even in water bodies, despite its known biodegradability. This study aimed to assess the influence of nitrate, sulphate, and iron (III) on LAS anaerobic degradation and biomass microbial diversity. Batch reactors were inoculated with anaerobic biomass, nutrients, LAS (20 mg L-1), one of the three electron acceptors, and ethanol (40 mg L-1) as a co-substrate. The control treatments, with and without co-substrate, showed limited LAS biodegradation efficiencies of 10 ± 2% and 0%, respectively. However, when nitrate and iron (III) were present without co-substrate, biodegradation efficiencies of 53 ± 4% and 75 ± 3% were achieved, respectively, which were the highest levels observed. Clostridium spp. was prominent in all treatments, while Alkaliphilus spp. and Bacillus spp. thrived in the presence of iron, which had the most significant effect on LAS biodegradation. Those microorganisms were identified as crucial in affecting the LAS anaerobic degradation. The experiments revealed that the presence of electron acceptors fostered the development of a more specialised microbiota, especially those involved in the LAS biodegradation. A mutual interaction between the processes of degradation and adsorption was also shown.

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This study investigated the performance of a granular filtration system (GFS) composed of a rock filter (RF), a rapid sand filter (RSF), and an activated carbon filter (ACF), applied to the post-treatment of an anaerobic reactor effluent. Four filtration rates (FR) were applied to the GFS (in m3·m-2·d-1): 100-60-60, 100-90-90, 200-120-120, and 200-160-160, for RF-RSF-ACF, respectively. A clarified final effluent with low turbidity (~ 10 NTU), solids (~ 6.5 mg TSS.L-1), and organic matter content (~ 40 mg COD.L-1) was obtained when the GFS worked with FR up to 100-90-90 m3·m-2·d-1. For higher FR, the effluent quality was a little poorer. Principal component analysis showed when the RSF operated at 120 or 160 m3·m-2·d-1, it presented an effluent with higher turbidity which did not affect negatively the ACF performance. The hydraulic load limits in the RSF were reached in periods of 45, 30, and 24.5 h for the FR of 60, 120, and 160 m3·m-2·d-1, respectively, and head loss analysis depicted a more distributed solid retention through the sand depth with the lower FR. Thus, the results revealed that the RF-RSF-ACS system is a promising alternative for effluent polishing of anaerobic reactor, especially when the FR is set at 90 m3·m-2·d-1 or even higher.

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The effect on the morpho-physiological parameters and yield of sorghum cultivated in a greenhouse with reclaimed water (RW) and (dehydrated sludge (DS) obtained in a sewage treatment plant, was evaluated. Six treatments (T), with five repetitions each, were carried out in entirely randomized blocks. Water (W) was used in T1 (W) (control), T2 (W + NPK), and T3 (W + DS); RW was used in T4 (RW), T5 (RW + P), and T6 (RW + DS). The results showed that irrigation with only RW (T4), or W + DS (T3) was very suitable for the cultivation since an adequate nutritional supply was provided. The positive effects on the morpho-physiological parameters, plant height, stem diameter and stem length (in cm), were: T3 - 148.8, 1.50, and 103, respectively; T4 - 154, 1.70, and 107, respectively; and on the grain production in weight of 1000 seeds (g), and productivity in grains per plant: T3 - 6.97 and 1453, respectively; T4 - 6.81 and 1636, respectively. Both treatments showed for most of the parameters, no significant differences compared with those of T2 or T5 with supplementary fertilizers. A high production of metabolites (mg g-1) like free amino acids was also shown: T3 - 6.45; T4 - 8.43 and proline: T3 - 1.86; T4 - 1.77, known to be a good indication of a plant natural defence against stress conditions, and in soluble protein: T3 - 11.20; T4 - 13.51. Therefore, since the production of such grains with RW or DS can be environmentally and economically beneficial, their use is recommended for small and medium farmers in semiarid regions.

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In addition to the difficulties involved in the management of conventional solid waste, the management of waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is significantly more complex due to its unusual chemical composition and fast generation. Both developed and developing countries have been looking for solutions to deal with the problems caused by the growing flow of WEEE, especially regarding sustainable solutions based on reducing resource exploitation by the recovery of materials from this type of waste. In this context, this work presents a quali-quantitative and comprehensive literature review of the publications on the management of WEEE, from the perspective of a circular economy. The results showed that the first publications on the topic appear in 2006, with a significant increase from 2015, the year when the Circular Economy Action Plan was instituted in the European Community. The most prominent authors have been giving emphasis to researches on recycling, reuse and technologies for the recovery of materials/energy from WEEE. Nevertheless, few studies have been found focusing on the prevention/reduction in WEEE generation, priority actions of the WEEE management hierarchy. The works analysed show that the current management of WEEE, despite considering the circularity of materials, prioritizes the development of technological solutions of the end-of-pipe type, greatly represented by the recovery of materials, instead of preventing the generation, which may be detrimental to long-term sustainability. The work ends with the presentation of a SWOT-TOWS (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis conducted to define the main strategies for the improvement of WEEE management from a circular economy perspective.

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This work studied the formation of aggregates used for wastewater treatment in high-rate algal ponds (HRAP). For this, the establishment of microalgae-bacteria aggregates in these systems was evaluated, considering strategies for the inoculation and start-up. Two HRAP were operated in parallel, at first in batch mode and then in continuous flow. The wastewater treatment was efficient, with removal rates around 80% for COD and N-ammoniacal. Volatile suspended solids and chlorophyll for the culture grew continuously reached a concentration of 548 ± 11 mg L-1 and 7.8 mg L-1, respectively. Larger photogranules were observed when the system was placed in a continuous regime. The protein fraction of extracellular polymeric substances was identified as a determinant in photogranules formation. During the continuous regime, more than 50% of the biomass was higher than 0.2 mm, flocculation efficiency of 78 ± 6%, and the volumetric sludge index of 32 ± 5 mL g-1. The genetic sequencing showed the growth of cyanobacteria in the aggregate and the presence of microalgae from the chlorophytes and diatoms groups in the final biomass.

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The effect of six important factors on the anaerobic biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) was evaluated using a response surface methodology. The factors were: (i) co-substrate concentration (CC), (ii) contact time between LAS and microorganisms, (iii) temperature, (iv) hardness, (v) pH, and (vi) LAS source. The results showed that individually or combined, CC with chemical oxygen demand (COD) ≤50 mg L-1 was the factor that mostly favoured LAS biodegradation; whereas at COD >50 mg L-1, adsorption to sludge and solubilisation in the aqueous medium were favoured. Two-factor interactions promoted the highest percentages of biodegradation (45-52%), adsorption (43-45%), and solubilisation (18-25%). The three-factor interactions resulted in small percentage increases of up to 11%, 5%, and 13% for biodegradation, adsorption, and solubilisation, respectively, compared to those of two-factor interactions. The interactions of four, five, and six factors resulted in a non-significant effect on LAS biodegradation, adsorption, and solubilisation, with percentages close to those quantified for the two- and three-factor interactions. Concentrations of up to 30 mg LAS L-1 did not significantly affect the COD removal efficiency (74-88%) from the medium. These values are commonly obtained in full-scale anaerobic systems used to treat domestic sewage.

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Simultaneous removal of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, via simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) and enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes, was evaluated in a pilot-scale sequential batch reactor. The focus was on granule's morphology, stability, microbiological composition, and reactor performance while treating diluted domestic wastewater with total chemical oxygen demand (CODt) of ≈ 200 mg.L-1. The applied organic loading rate was 0.9 ± 0.3 kg CODt.m-3.d-1 in the experiment. Aerobic granular sludge developed gradually. After 87-day operation, granules (diameter ≥ 0.2 mm) were ≥ 50 % of the biomass, and after 168 days, complete granulation was obtained (≥ 80 % of biomass). In the third period (days 168-247, complete granulation), mixed liquor biomass reached a volatile suspended solids (VSS) concentration of 1.2 ± 0.3 g VSS.L-1, with the granules remaining stable until the experimental end. In this period, low effluent concentrations of COD, nitrogen (NH4+-N, NO2--N and NO3--N) and phosphate (PO43-P) were obtained (mg.L-1): 36 ± 11; 4 ± 5; 3 ± 3, 4 ± 5; and 0.9 ± 0.4, respectively. COD, NH4+-N, and PO43--P removal efficiencies (%) were 80 ± 11; 83 ± 20; and 55 ± 24, respectively. Heterotrophic nitrification and SND were observed, resulting in a process efficiency of 31 % even with dissolved oxygen applied to saturation. The phosphate removal was mainly attributed to denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms. Pseudomonas, the dominant genus found, acted in nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Pseudoxanthomonas also assisted in phosphorus removal. Bacterial communities in the flocs (≈ 20 % of biomass) during the last period were similar to those in the granules; therefore, they constituted the basis for granule formation, directly contributed to the simultaneous good removal of organic matter and nutrients.

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Home care services (HCS) are important to assist patients with difficulties in accessing conventional health services. Nevertheless, in times of COVID-19 pandemic, the traditionally offered service needs to be restructured to protect health professionals, patients and their families. In this context, this article aims to identify the impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on home medical waste management (MWM), converting threats into opportunities, and weaknesses into management strengths. Three months before the pandemic (from October to December), a comprehensive survey was conducted on the practices of home care services and MWM with health professionals, caregivers and patients in Caruaru (Brazil). Quali-quantitative information was collected by structured and semi-structured interviews. For evaluation, the SWOT-TOWS analysis was applied to identify the threats and weaknesses of the practices of HCS and MWM, and to propose strategies to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. The results showed that the main weaknesses found were the lack of training of health professionals and the lack of guidance given by them to caregivers of patients, both related to MWM. Except for sharp waste, all other MWM practices have proved to be inadequate, posing threats, especially in a pandemic period. Four action strategies to improve HCS and MWM were identified: (i) providing MWM training to HCS personnel based on ISO standards; (ii) providing MWM information to caregivers and patients; (iii) planning actions to optimize the service during the pandemic; and (iv) sharing HCS management with municipal decision makers. Between December 2020 and January 2021, semi-structured interviews were performed only with health professionals, to verify the impacts and changes that have occurred in HCS in the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparing the results of the two surveys, improvements were achieved, including the incorporation during the pandemic of some strategies identified in the first phase of the research.Implications: Home care service plays a fundamental role in the quality of life of patients and in the sustainability of the public health system in Brazil. In the pandemic period, HCS was impacted with routine changes and the adoption of new personal protective equipment. Our results showed the need to promote strategies to improve HCS to preserve the health of professionals and patients attended, in the pandemic and post-pandemic period. The strategies identified in the study contributed to improvements in the provision of the service and in the management of medical waste that is still inadequate. Such issues are of interest to municipal health management, which has adopted some of the suggested strategies. The thousands of HCS distributed in Brazilian municipalities can also adopt the strategic actions resulting from this research.

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RESUMO Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o uso do modelo matemático ASM3 para um sistema piloto de reator compartimentado anaeróbio/anóxico e aeróbio tipo MBBR, utilizado para a remoção simultânea de matéria orgânica e nitrogênio em esgoto doméstico. A simulação computacional foi implementada pelo software ASIM. Selecionou-se um conjunto padrão de parâmetros para o modelo, com uma combinação dos valores calibrados e dados da literatura. Com a modelagem computacional foi possível incluir as características operacionais próprias do sistema de tratamento e, embora o modelo não tenha tido sua capacidade de previsão dos parâmetros validada, foi possível verificar a aplicabilidade do ASM3 para as fases operacionais definidas neste estudo.

ABSTRACT In this work, the use of the ASM3 mathematical model for a pilot system of anaerobic/anoxic and aerobic MBBR compartmentalized reactor, for the simultaneous removal of organic matter and nitrogen in domestic sewage, was evaluated. The simulation was implemented by the ASIM software. A standard set of parameters was selected for the model, with a combination of calibrated values and literature data. With the computational modeling, it was possible to include the operational characteristics of the treatment system and, although the model capacity to predict the parameters could not be validated. Nevertheless, it was possible to verify the applicability of the ASM3 model for the operational phases defined in this study.

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RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade agronômica do uso de esgoto doméstico tratado em reator anaeróbio para o cultivo de melancia tipo Crimson Sweet. Em estudo de campo no Sertão Pernambucano, avaliou-se a aplicação de quatro lâminas de irrigação por meio do sistema de gotejamento. Foram avaliadas as lâminas de 50, 75, 100 e 125% baseadas nos resultados da evapotranspiração e nas exigências do sistema de irrigação adotado. A caracterização do efluente tratado indicou conformidade com as recomendações para a aplicação agrícola, entretanto a concentração de sólidos suspensos (114 mg.L-1) demandou maior frequência de limpeza dos gotejadores. Foram observados um aumento da capacidade de troca catiônica e uma redução do pH do solo em todos os tratamentos. O tratamento com lâmina a 125% resultou em frutos de maiores tamanho (20,78 cm) e peso (7,12 kg.un-1), bem como de produtividade média (61,1 t.ha-1). Estes valores são superiores às médias nacional e do Estado de Pernambuco, demonstrando a viabilidade agronômica do reúso nas condições testadas.

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper was to assess the agronomic viability of using anaerobically treated domestic sewage in cultivation of Crimson Sweet watermelon. In a field experiment conducted in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco state, Brazil, four treatments (T) were used to assess the effects of irrigation using dripping system on fruits and soil. Four heights of 50% (T1), 75% (T2), 100% (T3) and 125% (T4), based on the calculated evapotranspiration and irrigation needs, were applied. The treated effluent characteristics indicated compliance with the recommendations for agricultural application, but the concentration of suspended solids (114 mg.L-1) demanded frequent cleansing of the dripper blockages. We observed an increase in the cation exchange capacity and a decrease of the soil pH in all the treatments. The best results were obtained with the treatment T4 (height of 125%), which showed watermelons of bigger size (20.78 cm), as well as the highest productivity (61.1 t.ha-1) and fruit weight (7.12 kg.un-1). These values are higher than those of the country and Pernambuco state, demonstrating the agronomic feasibility of reuse under the studied conditions.

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Manipueira is a carbohydrate-rich agro-industrial waste from cassava processing. It is considered well suitable for biotechnological processes, such as hydrogen and carboxylic acids production, due to the high content of easily degradable organic matter. However, the proper methanogenesis inhibition method, inoculum type, and organic loads are factors still limiting the processes. The objective in this work was to evaluate the effects of such factors on byproducts production in anaerobic reactors. Batch experiments were conducted with 2.3-L flasks during two operational phases. In the first phase (P1), inhibition of methanogens in the sludge was evaluated using acetylene (1% v/v of headspace) and heat treatment (120 °C, 1 atm for 30 min). In the second phase (P2), three inoculum types obtained from common anaerobic sludges (bovine rumen and sludges from municipal and textile industrial wastewater treatment plants) were individually assayed. P2 aimed to identify the best inoculum, based on hydrogen production ability, which was tested for three initial concentrations of manipueira in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (10, 20 and 40 g O2/L). Results of P1 indicated that either acetylene or heat treatment efficiently inhibited methanogenesis, with no methane production. However, the maximum H2 production potential by applying heat treatment (~ 563 mL) was more than twice compared with that by acetylene treatment (~ 257 mL); and butyrate was the main carboxylic acid by-product (~ 3 g/L). In P2 experiments after sludge heat treatment, the highest hydrogen yield (1.66 ± 0.07 mol H2/mol glucose) and caproic acid production (~ 2 g/L) were observed at 20 g O2/L of manipueira COD, when bovine rumen was the inoculum. The primary metabolic degradation products in all P2 experiments were ethanol, acetic, butyric, propionic and caproic acids. The finding of caproic acid detection indicated that the applied conditions in manipueira anaerobic degradation favored carbon chain elongation over methanogenesis.

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The decision-making process involved in municipal solid waste management (MSWM) must consider more than just financial aspects, which makes it a difficult task in developing countries. The Recife Metropolitan Region (RMR) in the Northeast of Brazil faces a MSWM problem that has been ongoing since the 1970s, with no common solution. In order to direct short-term solutions, three MSWM alternatives were outlined for the RMR, considering the current and future situations, the time and cost involved and social/environmental criteria. A multi-criteria approach, based on the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE), was proposed to rank these alternatives. The alternative that included two private landfill sites and seven transfer, sorting and composting stations was confirmed as the most suitable and stable option for short-term MSWM, considering the two scenarios for the criteria weights. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to support the robustness of the results. The implementation of separate collections would minimize the amount of waste buried, while maximizing the useful life of landfill sites and increasing the timeframe of the alternative. Overall, the multi-criteria analysis was helpful and accurate during the alternative selection process, considering the similarities and restrictions of each option, which can lead to difficulties during the decision-making process.

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Rivers are important ecosystems that are integrated into biogeochemical cycles and constitute an essential resource for numerous human uses. However, the assessment of the biological diversity and composition of microbial communities found in rivers remains incomplete, partly due to methodological constraints which are only recently being resolved with the advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. Using 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S gene, the present study analyzed the microbial diversity of the planktonic and sediment populations in a tropical river in northeastern Brazil that is exposed to severe pollution. Six water and six sediment samples were analysed. The dominant bacterial phyla in both sediment and water were the Proteobacteria, followed by Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria in the water column and by Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria in the sediment. Biological diversity appeared to be greatly decreased by environmental pollution, whereas the microbial community structure was variable across the analyzed transect. Moreover, a narrow relationship between industrial and urban sources of contamination and the bacterial genera detected at these sites has been observed. A variety of potentially pathogenic bacteria was detected, including Klebsiella, Treponema, Faecalibacterium and Enterococcus, indicating that the river might pose a substantial risk to public health. [Int Microbiol 20(1): 11-24 (2017)].

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RESUMO: Avaliou-se a degradação anaeróbia do alquilbenzeno linear sulfonato (LAS) e seus homólogos em experimento em escala de laboratório. Foi usado lodo disperso para minimizar o efeito da adsorção. Em primeiro lugar, determinaram-se a maior concentração de LAS (substrato) e a menor concentração de etanol (cossubstrato) que manteriam os micro-organismos ativos, resultando em 25 e 200 mg.L-1, nessa ordem. Posteriormente, o experimento (90 dias) foi realizado em um reator somente com etanol (controle) e outro (reator teste, triplicata) com ambos os substratos nas concentrações anteriores. Os micro-organismos apresentaram crescimento exponencial em 48 h para os 2 reatores; não ocorreu toxicidade pelo LAS no reator teste durante esse período inicial, quando o etanol foi todo consumido. Após então, houve decréscimo de micro-organismos, indicando possível toxicidade por LAS ou intermediários. Observou-se também a diminuição ou ausência da produção de ácidos graxos voláteis e de metano. Portanto, com lodo disperso, a maior parcela da remoção foi por conta da biodegradação, porém, com formação de intermediários que não o acetato nem o metano, apontando a inibição à acidogênese e à metanogênese. Ao final, a remoção do LAS foi de 35% por biodegradação e apenas 0,35% por adsorção ao lodo. A ordem preferencial de biodegradação para os homólogos foi de C13 para C12, C11 e C10, com percentual de degradação em relação à massa inicial de 49, 31, 24 e 17%, respectivamente. A mesma ordem deu-se para a adsorção, da maior para a menor cadeia alquílica, sendo a remoção por adsorção de 0,85; 0,32; 0,13 e 0,01%, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT: The anaerobic degradation of linear alquibenzene sulfonate (LAS) and its homologues was evaluated in batch experiment. Dispersed sludge was used to minimize the effect of adsorption. Initially, the highest concentration of LAS (substrate) and the lowest concentration of ethanol (co-substrate) were determined to maintain the microorganisms active; the results were 25 and 200 mg.L-1, respectively. Afterwards, a 90-day period experiment was conducted with one reactor with only the addition of ethanol (control) and the other (test reactor in triplicate) with both substrates and the previous concentrations found. The microorganisms showed exponential growth in the first 48 h for both reactors; LAS toxicity has not occurred in the test reactor during the first 4 days, during which ethanol was consumed. After that, the microorganisms decreased, indicating possible toxicity due to LAS or intermediates; a decrease or absence of volatile organic acids and methane production was also observed. Therefore, with dispersed sludge the largest removal was due to biodegradation, but with formation of intermediates other than acetate or methane, indicating inhibition of acidogenesis and methanogenesis. At the end, the removal was 35% by biodegradation and only 0.35% by adsorption to the biomass. The preferential order of the biodegradation for the homologues was from C13 to C12, C11 and C10; and the removal in relation to the initial mass of each was 49, 31, 24 and 17%, respectively. The same order occurred to adsorption, from the higher to the lower alkyl chain, with removal of 0.86, 0.32, 0.13 and 0.01%, respectively.

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The aim of this study has been to produce 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from glycerol (gly) fermentation by means of a microbial mixed culture (granular sludge), as well as to establish the operational conditions of two up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors in order to achieve a maximum 1,3-PDO yield. The UASB reactors with initial pH values set at 6.8 and 5.5 were operated at 30 °C during 165 days. Thirteen variables were previously screened by a Plackett-Burman (PB) design; results showed that yeast extract, MgSO4 and methanogenesis inhibition (by heat shock) showed a positive effect, whereas high glycerol concentration, tryptone and CaCl2 showed a negative impact on the 1,3-PDO produced by glycerol degradation. Following four experimental periods, the highest average yield of 0.43 mol 1,3-PDO mol-1 gly was achieved when sodium bicarbonate was added to the reactors. Propionate and acetate were also produced and a high microorganism diversity was detected; however, the restrictive operational conditions of the reactors led to the death of the methanogenic archaea. Nevertheless, the continuous production of 1,3-PDO from glycerol within UASB reactors inoculated with granular sludge can be considered highly feasible.

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