Microfauna characterization and toxicity reduction in combined treatment system of sanitary effluent

Author(s)

Guilherme Augusto da Silva

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo
• Defense date: 2014-04-04

Examining board members

Edson Aparecido Abdul Nour; Cassiana Maria Reganhan Coneglian; Maria Bernadete Amâncio Varesche

• Advisor: Edson Aparecido Abdul Nour

Abstract

This study monitored an anaerobic-aerobic combined system aiming to characterize the microfauna contained in the aerobic reactor biomass and to determine its correlation to physical and chemical variables; it also aimed to asses the wastewater toxicity reduction of the system to the Vibrio fischeri and Girardia tigrina species. The treatment of wastewater with sanitary characteristics was accomplished by a pilot-scale system using an anaerobic filter (AF - 50 L) followed by a submerged aerobic biofilter (SAB - 150 L), both filled with support media, and a clarifier (50 ¿ L). The system is installed at the Laboratório de Protótipos de Tratamento de Águas e Efluentes (LABPRO) from FEC/UNICAMP. The research was divided into 4 stages that differentiate from each other by the recirculation ratio of treated effluent over affluent in the system. In stage 1 (S1), there was no recirculation, so the recirculation ratio was 0. In stage 2 (S2), the ratio was 1,5; in stage 3 (S3), the ratio was 3,0 and in stage 4 (S4), the ratio was 4,0. Five sample points were monitored in the system: P1 ¿ raw wastewater, P4 ¿ 40 cm height in SAB, P6 ¿ 140 cm height in SAB, P7 ¿ 200 cm height in SAB, and P8 ¿ treated wastewater. Samples were collected weekly for microfauna characterization and determination of physical and chemical variables, while toxicity essays were conducted 3 times at each stage: one at the start of the stage, one in the middle of the stage, and the last one at the end of the stage. The correlation was established between the groups that constitute microfauna ¿ crawling ciliates (CC), free swimming ciliates (FSC), sessile ciliates (SC), testae amobae (TA), flagellates (F) and micrometazoa (MTZ), as well as physical and chemical variables, such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and others. In S1, negative correlation was established between group F and the variables pH, partial alkalinity, total alkalinity and ammonia nitrogen for P4. In P7, positive correlation was determined between group SC and ph, partial alkalinity, total alkalinity, TKN and ammonia nitrogen, and negative correlation to nitrate. In S2 for P4, it was possible to positively correlate the group MTZ to nitrate, and negatively to partial alkalinity. The group FSC correlated positively to ammonia nitrogen, TKN and BOD, and negatively to nitrite and nitrate in P7. In S3, the FSC group of P7 correlated positively to pH, partial alkalinity and BOD, and negatively to dissolved oxygen and nitrate. In S4, no significant correlation was found for P4 and P6. For P7, the TA group showed positive correlation to TKN. The raw wastewater that fed the system was determined as toxic to all samples collected to Vibrio fischeri and Girardia tigrina. For the organism Vibrio fischeri, all CE50 values determined for treated wastewater were considered nontoxic in every stage. For Girardia tigrina, a gradual toxicity reduction occurred for treated wastewater during S1, S2, and S3, but in S4, all samples were nontoxic. From the results, P7 showed to be the best point for microfauna characterization due to the bigger frequency of microfauna groups in this point and because it generated more significant coefficients that correlated to variables than points P4 and P6. In addition, the combined system is considered efficient when it comes to reducing toxicity for the species used according to the operation parameters applied in the system (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/11252-8 - Microfauna characterization of an anaerobic-aerobic combined system treating wastewater of hospital area and its relation to physical, chemical parameters and ecotoxicological essays
• Grantee: Guilherme Augusto da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master