The performance of an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor treating domestic sewage colonized by anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria

Autor(es)

Sarti, Arnaldo ^[1] ; Pozzi, E. ; Chinalia, F. A. ; Zaiat, M. ; Foresti, E.

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos. Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Chemosphere; v. 62, n. 9, p. 1437-1443, Mar. 2006.
• Área do conhecimento: Engenharias - Engenharia Sanitária
• Assunto(s): Tratamento de águas residuárias Esgotos sanitários Bactérias anaeróbias Biofilmes

Resumo

There are few reports on morphological characterization of microbial population colonizing anaerobic bioreactors and the aim of this work was to access such variable in an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor treating the University of Sao Paulo (Sao Carlos city, Brazil) domestic sewage. This pilot-scale reactor (1.2 m3) has been treating 0.65 m3 of liquid waste under cycles of 8 h. The ASBBR has the distinct characteristics of being filled with support material for biomass attachment with the aim of skipping the sedimentation phase during the operational cycles, as it is commonly observed in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBR). Physical, chemical and physico-chemical variables were accessed in the influent and in the effluent for performance evaluation. Microbial characterization was made by means of direct microscopy and samples were taken over 150 d with a 25 d period interval. The ASBBR attained approximately 60% of COD removal efficiency. Microscopic analysis of biomass showed the presence of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria probably influencing the ASBBR performance in the domestic sewage treatment. It is very likely that the exclusion of phototrophic sulfur bacteria by efficiently restraining the light would enhance the bioreactor efficiency. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 99/06152-8 - Desempenho de reatores descontinuos anaerobios em escala piloto no tratamento de esgoto sanitario.
• Beneficiário: Arnaldo Sarti
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado