Enhancing methane yield from crude glycerol anaerobic digestion by coupling with ultrasound or A. niger/E. coli biodegradation.

Anaerobic digestion of crude glycerol from biodiesel production is a feasible way for methane production. However, crude glycerol (CG) contains impurities, such as long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) that can inhibit methanogenic microorganisms. Ultrasound promotes the hydrolysis of LCFA and deagglomerates the microorganisms in biological flocs.

Intensifying heterogeneous TiO photocatalysis for bromate reduction using the NETmix photoreactor.

This work focuses on the intensification of BrO (200 μg L) reduction by TiO-assisted heterogeneous photocatalysis, using the NETmix mili-photoreactor illuminated by UVA light-emitting diodes (UVA-LEDs). The mili-photoreactor was assembled in two configurations: i) catalyst deposition on the channels and chambers of a back stainless steel slab (SSS) and ii) catalyst deposition on the front borosilicate glass slab (BGS), allowing the study of front-side (FSI) and back-side (BSI) illumination mechanisms, respectively. The BrO reduction rate in aqueous solution was assessed as a function of: i) pH; ii) dissolved oxygen (DO); iii) addition of formic acid (CHO) as a sacrificial agent (SA); iv) photocatalyst film thickness; v) illumination mechanism; vi) irradiation intensity; vii) temperature; and viii) water matrix.

Application of a micro-meso-structured reactor (NETmix) to promote photochemical UVC/HO processes - oxidation of As(iii) to As(v).

A micro-meso-structured reactor (NETmix) was used for the first time to promote photochemical UVC/H2O2 processes. The NETmix photoreactor consists of a network of chambers and channels, where the liquid flows, sealed with a quartz slab with high UVC transparency. Due to the small size of channels and chambers, the NETmix presents a uniform irradiance through the entire reactor depth, short molecular diffusion distances and large specific interfacial areas, maximizing the pollutant/oxidant contact.

Efficiency analysis of the electrocoagulation and electroflotation treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater using aluminum and graphite anodes.

The application of electrocoagulation (EC) and electroflotation (EF) was investigated for the treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater in a bench scale unit cell electrolyzer with different EC-to-EF ratios at current densities of 3, 9, and 15 mA cm. The EC-to-EF ratio was controlled by current reversal using aluminum and graphite electrodes. The electrochemical treatment showed satisfactory removal efficiencies for Al coagulant loads greater than 51.