Coconut shells as filling material for anaerobic filters

In rural areas of developing countries, there is a lack of sanitation services and the installation of such infrastructure is hampered by the high investment costs for initial implementation and by the limited availability of qualified personnel. An alternative to traditional sanitation services include an anaerobic filter, but the high cost of appropriate filling material can be an obstacle to its wide-spread implementation. To decrease this construction cost, the objective of this work was to study the use of coconut shells as filling material for anaerobic filters. Anaerobic filters were built and filled with the studied material and operated with up flow and hydraulic retention time of 9 hours. The reactors provided a removal of 79 ± 16% in BOD terms, indicating that the coconut shell filling had efficiency consistent with the literature data. In addition, the husks were found to retain their tensile strength following use in the reactors. Coconut husks have more empty bed volume than other low cost materials, such as crushed stone, nearing properties of traditional materials. The results of this study indicate that coconut husks may prove to be a low cost alternative to traditional fillers for anaerobic treatment in rural communities

Selection of the key earth observation sensors and platforms focusing on applications for Polar Regions in the scope of Copernicus system 2020-2030

An optimal payload selection conducted in the frame of the H2020 ONION project (id 687490) is presented based on the ability to cover the observation needs of the Copernicus system in the time period 2020–2030. Payload selection is constrained by the variables that can be measured, the power consumption, and weight of the instrument, and the required accuracy and spatial resolution (horizontal or vertical). It involved 20 measurements with observation gaps according to the user requirements that were detected in the top 10 use cases in the scope of Copernicus space infrastructure, 9 potential applied technologies, and 39 available commercial platforms. Additional Earth Observation (EO) infrastructures are proposed to reduce measurements gaps, based on a weighting system that assigned high relevance for measurements associated to Marine for Weather Forecast over Polar Regions. This study concludes with a rank and mapping of the potential technologies and the suitable commercial platforms to cover most of the requirements of the top ten use cases, analyzing the Marine for Weather Forecast, Sea Ice Monitoring, Fishing Pressure, and Agriculture and Forestry: Hydric stress as the priority use cases.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Perception on the employment of treated sewage in concrete production

Civil construction is responsible for the consumption of large amounts of water in concrete manufacturing, hydration of cementitious materials, equipment cleaning and aggregate washing. Therefore, the employment of reclaimed water in concrete production could be a relevant possibility for large-scale recycling, cost reduction and conscious use of raw materials, whose potential is currently little explored in the world. This study is aimed at understanding how civil engineers and architects see the applicability of reclaimed water, both as part of the concrete mixture and in its production process. A total of 94% of the professionals interviewed accepted the reclaimed water; however, they observed that the greatest difficulty for the commercialization of such concrete is the low acceptance of the product by consumers.A construção civil é responsável pelo consumo de grandes quantidades de água na fabricação do concreto, hidratação de materiais cimentícios, limpeza de equipamentos e lavagem de agregados. Portanto, o emprego de água de reúso na produção de concreto pode ser uma possibilidade relevante para reciclagem em larga escala, redução de custos e uso consciente de matérias-primas, cujo potencial atualmente é pouco explorado no mundo. Este estudo visa entender como engenheiros civis e arquitetos veem a aplicabilidade da água de reúso, tanto como parte da mistura de concreto quanto em seu processo produtivo. Um total de 94% dos profissionais entrevistados aceitaram a água de reúso; entretanto, observaram que a maior dificuldade para a comercialização desse concreto é a baixa aceitação do produto pelos consumidores.Civil construction is responsible for the consumption of large amounts of water in concrete manufacturing, hydration of cementitious materials, equipment cleaning and aggregate washing. Therefore, the employment of reclaimed water in concrete production could be a relevant possibility for large-scale recycling, cost reduction and conscious use of raw materials, whose potential is currently little explored in the world. This study is aimed at understanding how civil engineers and architects see the applicability of reclaimed water, both as part of the concrete mixture and in its production process. A total of 94% of the professionals interviewed accepted the reclaimed water; however, they observed that the greatest difficulty for the commercialization of such concrete is the low acceptance of the product by consumers

Avaliação em escala laboratorial e real do uso de esgoto tratado na produção de pisos

A construção civil é uma grande consumidora de água potável e sofre pressão para a redução deste consumo. Para isso, há a necessidade de pesquisas que visem o uso da água contida nos esgotos sanitários como alternativa sustentável. Logo, este estudo visou o desenvolvimento de processos e técnicas em saneamento e a minimização do uso da água, avaliando o uso do esgoto tratado pela Estação de Tratamento de Esgotos Barão Geraldo (SANASA, Campinas) na produção de pisos intertravados26XXVI Congresso de Iniciação Científica Unicam

Architectural optimization framework for earth-observing heterogeneous constellations : marine weather forecast case

Earth observation satellite programs are currently facing, for some applications, the need to deliver hourly revisit times, subkilometric spatial resolutions, and near-real-time data access times. These stringent requirements, combined with the consolidation of small-satellite platforms and novel distributed architecture approaches, are stressing the need to study the design of new, heterogeneous, and heavily networked satellite systems that can potentially replace or complement traditional space assets. In this context, this paper presents partial results from ONION, a research project devoted to studying distributed satellite systems and their architecting characteristics. A design-oriented framework that allows selecting optimal architectures for the given user needs is presented in this paper. The framework has been used in the study of a strategic use-case and its results are hereby presented. From an initial design space of 5586 potential architectures, the framework has been able to preselect 28 candidate designs by an exhaustive analysis of their performance and by quantifying their quality attributes. This very exploration of architectures and the characteristics of the solution space are presented in this paper along with the selected solution and the results of a detailed performance analysis.Postprint (author's final draft

Pós-tratamento de efluente de filtros anaeróbios operados com baixo tempo de detenção hidráulica por escoamento superficial no solo

Neste trabalho estudou-se o pós-tratamento de efluente de filtros anaeróbios operados com baixo tempo de detenção hidráulica (TDH) por meio do escoamento superficial no solo. Para isso, foram construídos quatro reatores com volume de 500 L preenchidos com anéis de bambu e uma rampa com 40,0 m de comprimento e declividade de 3,50%, coberta com grama Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp). Avaliou-se o tratamento do esgoto doméstico proveniente da cidade de Limeira (SP), operando os filtros anaeróbios com TDH de 3 horas e a aplicação do efluente no escoamento superficial com taxas de 0,10; 0,20; 0,30 e 0,40 m³.h-1.m-1. Nestas condições operacionais, o efluente gerado era adequado ao lançamento em corpos hídricos até a aplicação da taxa de 0,20 m³.h-1.m-1. Acima desse valor, houve um comprometimento de sua qualidade final em termos de DBO e concentração de fósforo.</jats:p

Interlocking concrete paving blocks made with treated wastewater: an analysis of user acceptance

Saving water of better quality for more important uses is critical in the context of preventing water scarcity. Prominent in this sense is the need to study not only the technical aspects involving environmentally conscious consumption, but also the acceptance of users, since appropriate technologies are of little value if they are not assimilated. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate how well users accepted interlocking concrete paving blocks produced with treated wastewater rather than drinking water. To this end, questionnaires were administered to members of the faculty, student body and staff of a school of civil engineering, architecture and urban design in the city of Campinas (SP/Brazil), resulting in 238 answers. It was found that 79% of participants identified no visual differences between conventional paving blocks and those produced with treated wastewater, and that 96.6% were willing to use such blocks in outdoor areas of future construction work. On the other hand, there was a reduction in the acceptance of the paving blocks for use in indoor areas and the respondents’ own homes. Hence, even though its results were largely positive, this survey raised a few points of attention regarding the acceptance of the technology in question.Saving water of better quality for more important uses is critical in the context of preventing water scarcity. Prominent in this sense is the need to study not only the technical aspects involving environmentally conscious consumption, but also the acceptance of users, since appropriate technologies are of little value if they are not assimilated. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate how well users accepted interlocking concrete paving blocks produced with treated wastewater rather than drinking water. To this end, questionnaires were administered to members of the faculty, student body and staff of a school of civil engineering, architecture and urban design in the city of Campinas (SP/Brazil), resulting in 238 answers. It was found that 79% of participants identified no visual differences between conventional paving blocks and those produced with treated wastewater, and that 96.6% were willing to use such blocks in outdoor areas of future construction work. On the other hand, there was a reduction in the acceptance of the paving blocks for use in indoor areas and the respondents’ own homes. Hence, even though its results were largely positive, this survey raised a few points of attention regarding the acceptance of the technology in question.Saving water of better quality for more important uses is critical in the context of preventing water scarcity. Prominent in this sense is the need to study not only the technical aspects involving environmentally conscious consumption, but also the acceptance of users, since appropriate technologies are of little value if they are not assimilated. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate how well users accepted interlocking concrete paving blocks produced with treated wastewater rather than drinking water. To this end, questionnaires were administered to members of the faculty, student body and staff of a school of civil engineering, architecture and urban design in the city of Campinas (SP/Brazil), resulting in 238 answers. It was found that 79% of participants identified no visual differences between conventional paving blocks and those produced with treated wastewater, and that 96.6% were willing to use such blocks in outdoor areas of future construction work. On the other hand, there was a reduction in the acceptance of the paving blocks for use in indoor areas and the respondents’ own homes. Hence, even though its results were largely positive, this survey raised a few points of attention regarding the acceptance of the technology in question

Denitrification in a simple wastewater treatment system

In this research, three anaerobic filters were operated with a 9 hour hydraulic detention time, and its effluent was disposed on four sand filters' bed in different application rates. On the first sand filter, 50 L.m-2 were disposed once a day. On the second, the third and the fourth filters, the same load was disposed in twice, three and four times a day, distributed between 9 am and 4 pm, corresponding to rates of 100, 150 and 200 L.m-2.d-1. After the sand filter, the effluent was conducted to the denitrification reactors filled up with grit. As result, the sand filters have shown a great nitrification capacity and, after the external carbon adding, the denitrification reactor, where 50 L.m-2 was disposed a day, showed a decrease of 43.5% in N-total concentrationNesta pesquisa, foram operados três filtros anaeróbios com tempo de detenção hidráulica nominal de nove horas, sendo o efluente gerado disposto nos leitos de quatro filtros de areia em distintas taxas de aplicações. No primeiro filtro de areia, foram aplicados 50 L.m-2 uma vez por dia. No segundo, terceiro e quarto filtros, essa mesma carga foi disposta em 2, 3 e 4 horários, com aplicações espaçadas entre as 9h e as 16h, correspondendo às taxas de 100, 150 e 200 L.m-2.dia-1. Após a passagem pelo leito de areia, o efluente era encaminhado para reatores de desnitrificação preenchidos com brita 1. Os filtros de areia apresentaram uma grande capacidade de nitrificação e, após a adição da fonte externa de carbono, o reator de desnitrificação que recebia uma única disposição diária de 50 L.m-2 propiciou uma diminuição na concentração de N-total de 43,5%.38139

Start up evaluation and operation of anaerobic filters filled up with bamboo

In this paper, three anaerobic filters with 500 L volume were constructed and filled up with bamboo rings, operating with a nine hour hydraulic retention time. The aim was to determinate the start up period without using adapted sludge and reaching efficiency in a wastewater treatment, by deploying hydraulic detention time lower than the 12 hours suggested by the NBR 7229. In the system evaluation, it was used the dissolved organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, pH, and alkalinity, showing in terms of dissolved organic carbon, the need of 19 weeks to reach dynamic equilibrium in the reactors. After this period, the removal achieved 81.4 ± 6.4%. Results showed that using an alternative package in anaerobic filters made possible to have an efficacy similar to the one reached with traditional materials, even with the hydraulic detention time lower than the one suggested by the Brazilian law.Neste trabalho, foram constituídos três filtros anaeróbios com volume de 500 L preenchidos com anéis de bambu, operando-os com tempo de detenção hidráulica de nove horas. O objetivo foi a determinação do período de partida sem o emprego de inóculo adaptado e a obtenção da eficiência no tratamento de esgoto doméstico, empregando-se um tempo de detenção hidráulica inferior às 12 horas sugeridas pela NBR 7229. Na avaliação do sistema, fez-se uso do carbono orgânico dissolvido, da demanda química de oxigênio, da demanda bioquímica de oxigênio, pH e alcalinidade, evidenciando quanto ao carbono orgânico dissolvido, a necessidade de 19 semanas para que se alcançasse o equilíbrio dinâmico nos reatores. Após esse período, a remoção atingiu 81,4 ± 6,4%. Os resultados demonstraram que o uso de um recheio alternativo nos filtros anaeróbios possibilitou uma eficiência similar a encontrada com materiais tradicionais, mesmo adotando-se um tempo de detenção hidráulica inferior ao indicado pela norma brasileira.1116Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Efficacy of UVC-LED radiation in bacterial, viral, and protozoan inactivation: an assessment of the influence of exposure doses and water quality

Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) have demonstrated the ability to inactivate microorganisms in water, offering an environmentally safer alternative to the conventional mercury lamp, in UV applications. While several studies have explored the microbiological effect of UVC-LEDs (200nm-280nm), limited information exists regarding their effects on waters with critical qualities. These critical qualities encompass bacteria, viruses, and protozoa – drinking water quality indicators defined by the World Health Organization for small water systems. For the first time, this work reports on the Escherichia coli, PhiX-174, MS2, and Cryptosporidium oocysts inactivation using a bench-scale UVC-LED (280 nm) water disinfection system. UV doses at a wavelength of 280 nm (UV280) of up to 143.4 mJ/cm2 were delivered under two quality-critical water conditions: filtered water (UV transmittance at 280 nm – UVT280 90.2%) and WHO challenge water (UVT 15.7%). Results revealed microbiological reductions dependent on exposure time and UVT. For UV280 dose of 16.1 mJ/cm2, 2.93-3.70 log E. coli reductions were observed in UVT 90.2% and 15.7%, 3.49-4.21 log for PhiX-174, 0.63-0.78 log for MS2, and 0.02-0.04 log for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Significantly higher UV280 doses of 143.4 mJ/cm2 led to reductions of 3.94-5.35 log for MS2 and 0.42-0.46 log for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Statistical analysis revealed that the sensitivity among the organisms to UV280 exposure was E. coli = PhiX-174 &gt; MS2 &gt;&gt; Cryptosporidium oocysts. Although experiments with WHO challenge water posed greater challenges for achieving 1 log reduction compared to filtered water, this difference only proved statistically significant for PhiX-174 and MS2 reductions. Overall, UVC-LED technology demonstrated notable efficacy in microbiological inactivation, achieving significant reductions based on WHO scheme of evaluation for POU technologies in both bacteria and viruses even in critical-quality waters. The findings emphasize the potential for extending the application of UVC-LED as a viable solution for household water treatment