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The process of extracting information from data generated in environmental monitoring programs is often carried out using statistical tools, with Statistical Process Control (SPC) showing great potential for application in environmental monitoring. In November 2015, millions of cubic metres of tailings were dumped into the basin of the River Doce with the collapse of the Fundão dam. A study of the impact of this incident requires new approaches in data monitoring and processing, so it was sought to evaluate, using SPC tools, changes in water quality in the basin of the River Doce following the collapse of the dam. Using process charts and the process capability index (PCI), water quality parameters in the Doce and Carmo rivers were evaluated between 2009 and 2020. There, turbidity has improved since 2018, and Mn since 2016. Control charts showed that by December 2020 dissolved Fe was still not within normal pre-event fluctuation patterns. The PCI value showed that the situation worsened after the event for each of the parameters, with the lowest values for Mn and E. coli. By using a reference period, SPC makes it possible to infer the permanence of the impact of extreme pollution on the waterbody, which can be used in the routine monitoring of water quality in such events.

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RESUMO Sistemas alagados construídos (SACs) são alternativas de engenharia para tratamento de águas residuárias. Entretanto, ainda são limitadas as pesquisas relacionadas à hidrodinâmica desses sistemas, quando comparados a outras unidades de tratamento, como filtros biológicos, reatores anaeróbios, lagoas de estabilização, dentre outros. Dessa forma, neste estudo teve-se como objetivo avaliar o comportamento hidrodinâmico de três SACs de escoamento horizontal subsuperficial (plantados e não plantados) em escala piloto, por meio da injeção dos traçadores cloreto de lítio, dextrana azul e rodamina WT. Utilizaram-se diferentes metodologias de normalização, para vazão constante e para vazão variável, para avaliar o efeito da variação da taxa de escoamento no sistema. Além disso, determinaram-se os índices hidrodinâmicos e o grau de dispersão dos sistemas por meio dos modelos de escoamento tanques em série e escoamento disperso. Os valores recuperados de rodamina WT e de lítio foram satisfatórios, maiores do que 80% da massa injetada nos três SACs. Para a dextrana azul, a taxa recuperação não foi validada. Não foram verificadas diferenças nas curvas de distribuição de tempo de retenção submetidas às duas metodologias de normalização. Os índices hidrodinâmicos determinados revelaram baixo grau de curtos-circuitos, boa eficiência hidráulica e mistura nos sistemas. Os sistemas apresentaram grau de dispersão moderada, o que está de acordo com os resultados obtidos pelos índices hidrodinâmicos.

ABSTRACT Constructed wetlands (CWs) are engineering alternatives for wastewater treatment. However, the scientific literature related to the hydrodynamics of these systems is still scarce when compared to other treatments, such as trickling filters, anaerobic reactors, stabilizations ponds, among others. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the hydrodynamic behavior of three subsurface horizontal flow CWs (vegetated and unvegetated) on a pilot scale by injecting the tracers lithium chloride, blue dextran, and rhodamine WT. Different normalization methodologies for constant and variable flows were used to evaluate the effect of flow rate variation on the system. In addition, hydrodynamic indices and the system dispersion degree were determined by tank-in-series and dispersion models. The recovered mass of rhodamine WT and lithium was greater than 80% in the three systems, considered satisfactory. For the blue dextran, the recovery rate was not validated. Residence time distribution curves were submitted to two normalization methodologies. No difference was detected. The hydrodynamic indices found revealed low short circuit level, good hydraulic efficiency and mixing in the systems. The systems presented a moderate degree of dispersion, agreeing with the results obtained by the hydrodynamic indices.

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The biogas produced in UASB-based sewage treatment plants (STPs) is rarely used for energy purposes and its potential is often unknown. This study aimed to propose a simple and reliable method based on energy balance to determine the technical feasibility of biogas use and the energy self-sufficiency of UASB reactors. To this end, we considered (i) electric power production (E) and (ii) electric power consumption (Econ) ascribed to sewage pumping stations (SPSs) at different pressure heads (0 to 4 m, 4.1 to 8 m, 8.1 to 12 m, and 12.1 to 16 m). The technical feasibility of biogas use was assessed by evaluating if the flow of biogas produced in the STPs would be sufficient for the functioning of a commercial motor-generator. The linear model fit to estimate the biogas energy potential (y-axis) in STPs and the sewage flow (x-axis) is represented by y = 122.65x (R2 = 0.64). In total, 1,054 STPs in Brazil use UASB reactors as treatment units, of which nearly 31% are located in the southeast. However, only 11.2% of these STPs, which serve populations of over 29,981, presented technical feasibility to recover biogas. The mathematical equations proposed in this study to estimate the net electric power production in UASB-based STPs are relevant tools for sanitation companies and can enable studies to be performed for the implementation of energy self-sufficiency projects in Brazil.

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The recovery of microalgae by means of coagulation-flocculation is efficient, simple and low operating costs. The addition of coagulants makes it possible to destabilize the microalgae surface loads and recover their biomass. Chemical coagulants can contaminate the environment and negatively affect human health. Thus, the exploration of natural coagulants, such as Moringa oleifera and Guazuma ulmifolia, are innovative. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of biomass separation from the microalgae Scenedesmus obliquuos by means of coagulation-flocculation. M. oleifera and G. ulmifolia were used in order to optimize the variables dose, pH and settling time, through a central composite rotational design, which presented recovery efficiencies above 80.0% and 60.0%, respectively. In relation to M. oleifera, optimum regions were obtained for biomass recovery at both pH 4.0 with a dose of 40.0 mg L-1 and pH 9.0 with a dose of 80.0 mg L-1, both in 30 min of settling times. For G. ulmifolia, an optimum dose of 30.0 mg L-1 at pH 4.0 with a 3 min settling time demonstrated that this new coagulant for microalgae recovery has potential for application. Thus, these natural coagulants are promising and can be used in coagulation-flocculation to recover biomass from Scenedesmus obliquuos and, thus, minimize the use of synthetic or metallic products.

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There are several techniques for sizing horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetlands systems (CWs), and mathematical models have been frequently used for this purpose because they more accurately represent the liquid behaviour in these reactors. The P-k-C* model has already been used in the prediction of organic matter removal in CWs, but it has been little explored in the literature. On other hand, the model proposed by Chan and Chu [Modeling the reaction kinetics of Fenton's process on the removal of atrazine. Chemosphere. 2003;51(4):305-311] was not known for prediction of organic matter removal in CW systems. In the present work, the kinetic data for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 28 horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetlands were used to compare the performance of two pseudo-first-order kinetic models (P-k-C* model and model from Chan and Chu. The comparisons of nonlinear regressions were performed considering Akaike information criterion (AIC), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and adjusted coefficient of determination (Radj2). In general, both models were able to provide good predictions of relative remaining concentration (C/C0). However, the Chan and Chu model produced higher adjustment coefficients, showing the potential to be used in modelling and simulation of the degradation kinetics of organic matter in wetlands.

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RESUMO: Este trabalho estuda o potencial de aproveitamento energético dos subprodutos biogás e lodo gerados na estação de tratamento de efluentes (ETE) Laboreaux em Itabira (MG), composta de reatores UASB, filtros biológicos percoladores e unidade de desaguamento do lodo por filtro prensa. Os subprodutos biogás e lodo foram caracterizados em termos quantitativos (produção) e qualitativos (composição e poder calorífico) durante 12 meses de monitoramento. Foram estudados dois cenários de aproveitamento energético dos subprodutos: (i) uso prioritário do biogás para a secagem térmica do lodo e o excedente de biogás para geração de eletricidade em motor de combustão interna; e (ii) uso prioritário do biogás visando à geração de eletricidade e ao aproveitamento do calor dos gases de exaustão para a secagem térmica de lodo. Para a análise desses cenários, utilizou-se o software CHEMCAD(r) a fim de determinar as condições de queima do biogás em câmara de combustão e em motor de combustão interna, assim como na determinação dos balanços de massa e energia. O estudo analisou o potencial de aproveitamento dos subprodutos do tratamento como fonte de energia renovável para uso na própria ETE e para fornecimento a terceiros. No cenário 1, a geração de eletricidade é menor (atendendo 22,2% da demanda de energia da ETE), mas a secagem térmica possibilita maior redução no volume final de lodo a ser disposto ou a eliminação completa de disposição final se o lodo seco final (com 10% de umidade) for utilizado como combustível por terceiros. No cenário 2, a geração de eletricidade é capaz de suprir 57,6% da demanda de energia da ETE, todavia o calor contido nos gases de exaustão não é suficiente para a secagem de todo o lodo desaguado, configurando uma menor redução na quantidade de lodo a ser disposto (13,5 ou 24,9% de redução em massa, conforme a alternativa de remoção de umidade selecionada).

ABSTRACT: This work assesses the potential of energy recovery of the byproducts biogas and sludge produced at the Laboreaux wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), in Itabira (MG), which is integrated by UASB reactors, trickling filters and sludge dehydration unit (filter press). The byproducts biogas and sludge were quantitatively (production) and qualitatively (composition and calorific value) characterized during a monitoring period of 12 months. Two scenarios for energy recovery from the byproducts were considered: (i) priority use of biogas for sludge thermal drying and the excess of biogas being used for power generation in an internal combustion engine (ICE); and (ii) primary use of biogas for power generation and the heat of the engine exhaustion gases being used for sludge thermal drying. Biogas burning conditions into a combustion chamber and in an internal combustion engine, as well as mass and energy balances for each scenario, were assessed with the CHEMCAD(r) software. The study analysed the potential use of the byproducts as sources of renewable energy for use in the WWTP itself and to be offered to third party. In scenario 1, the electricity generation is lower (fulfilling 22.2% of the WWTP energy demand), but thermal drying allows greater reduction of sludge volume to be disposed of, or the entire elimination of final disposal if the dry sludge (with 10% moisture content) is used as fuel by the third party. As for scenario 2, the electricity generation is sufficient to supply 57.6% of the WWTP energy demand, nevertheless the heat contained in exhausted gases is not enough to dry the whole dehydrated sludge, configuring a lower reduction of sludge amount to be disposed of (13.5 or 24.9% of mass reduction, depending on the moisture reduction alternative chosen).

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