Evaluation of the potencial of methane as electron donor to denitrification process

• Grant number: 13/08527-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Eugenio Foresti
• Grantee: Rachel Biancalana Costa
• Home Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/15984-0 - Bioenergy production from wastewaters and environmental fitting of liquid and solid wastes generated, AP.TEM

Abstract

Feasibility of using methane as electron donor for denitrification in anaerobic environment as an alternative UASB effluent post-treatment will be studied. Therefore, the work will be divided into two stages, the first of which will compare UASB sludge that treats poultry wastewater and marine treatment as inoculum. This initial study aims to select the inoculum which provides better results. Denitrifying methanotrophic culture will be used to nutritional requirements study, in which bottles will be inoculated with only one of the micronutrients in excess. At this point, further tests will be done with small concentrations of oxygen present. In the second stage, a UASB reactor will be fed with synthetic substrate and its effluent will be sent to a denitrification column. The denitrification column effluent, in turn, will be forwarded to a nitrifying column, which output will be recirculated into the denitrification column. System performance and microbial community development will be monitored by physical-chemical analysis, NMP and microscopic examinations. With this research, it is expected to indicate specific nutritional requirements from the microorganisms responsible for anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to denitrification, as well as evaluate the feasibility of applying technology to use this process as an alternative post-treatment of effluents from anaerobic reactors. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COSTA, Rachel Biancalana. Evaluation of strategies to methane application as electron donor in denitrification process. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos São Carlos.