Microstructural Behaviors of Matrices Based on Polylactic Acid and Polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Individual films of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA) and their blends were developed by solvent casting. PHA was obtained from activated sludges from a wastewater-treatment system at a laboratory scale. This work focused on analyzing the microstructural properties and thermal behaviors of individual films of PHA and PLA as well as those of their blends.

Nitrification and aerobic denitrification in anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of achieving nitrogen (N) removal using a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) exposed to anoxic/aerobic (AN/OX) phases, focusing to achieve aerobic denitrification. This process will minimize emissions of N2O greenhouse gas. The effects of different operating parameters on the reactor performance were studied: cycle duration, AN/OX ratio, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration (DOC), and organic load.

Phosphorous removal in batch systems using ferric chloride in the presence of activated sludges.

The objectives of this work were: (a) to analyze the effect of alkalinity, pH and initial Fe:P molar ratio (Fe(0):P(0)) on the precipitation of orthophosphate using ferric chloride in the presence of activated sludge in order to represent conditions of simultaneous precipitation, and in exhausted wastewater to simulate conditions of post-precipitation, (b) to compare the experimental results with predictions obtained from a chemical equilibrium model, and (c) to propose a mechanistic model to determine the dose of coagulant required to achieve a given orthophosphate removal degree at constant pH. Results showed that the presence of biomass did not affect the orthophosphate precipitation; however, addition of ferric chloride caused a drop of pH to values not compatible with the normal activity of activated sludges. For this reason, the wastewater was supplemented with NaHCO(3); when 1gL(-1) NaHCO(3) was added, orthophosphate removals higher than 97% and pH above 6.

About the performance of Sphaerotilus natans to reduce hexavalent chromium in batch and continuous reactors.

The hexavalent chromium biological reduction constitutes a safe and economical detoxification procedure of wastewaters containing Cr(VI). However, little research has been done to evaluate Cr(VI) tolerance and reduction capacity of microbial cultures under different growth conditions. The aims of this work were (a) to evaluate the capacity of Sphaerotilus natans to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in a continuous system limited in carbon and energy source or in nitrogen source, (b) to evaluate the toxic effect of Cr(VI) on this microorganism, (c) to carry out a complete analysis of Cr(VI) reduction by S.

Reduction of hexavalent chromium by Sphaerotilus natans a filamentous micro-organism present in activated sludges.

Wastewaters produced by various industries may contain undesirable amounts of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), as chromate and dichromate, a hazardous metal affecting flora and animals of aquatic ecosystems as well as human health. One removal strategy comprises the microbial reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), a less soluble chemical species that is less toxic than Cr(VI). In this work, the ability to reduce Cr(VI) of Sphaerotilus natans, a filamentous bacterium usually found in activated sludge systems, was evaluated.

Effect of chlorine on filamentous microorganisms present in activated sludge as evaluated by respirometry and INT-dehydrogenase activity.

Activated sludge technology is more used than any other for biological treatment of wastewater. However, filamentous bulking is a very common problem in activated sludge plants, chlorine being the chemical agent normally used to control it. In this work the effect of chlorine on microorganisms present in activated sludge flocs was assessed by a respirometric technique (oxygen uptake rate, OUR) and by the INT-dehydrogenase activity test (DHA) measured by two techniques: spectrophotometry (DHA(a)) and image analysis (DHA(i)).

Modeling of chlorine effect on floc forming and filamentous micro-organisms of activated sludges.

Chlorination is the most economical, non-specific method to control the excessive growth of filamentous micro-organisms causing bulking in activated sludge systems in the treatment of food industrial wastewaters; it was one of the first methods used to control filamentous bulking and is still widely employed. Considering that chlorination affects both floc-forming and filamentous micro-organisms and leaves undesirable disinfection by-products, it is necessary to define the adequate doses to control bulking, minimizing the effect on floc-forming bacteria. In the present work the effect of biomass concentration and type of micro-organism on chlorine decay kinetics was evaluated; the inactivation of either a filamentous (Sphaerotilus natans) or a floc-forming (Acinetobacter anitratus) micro-organism due to chlorination was also analyzed.