El vertimiento de aguas residuales (AR) produce impactos sobre los cuerpos de agua receptores. Nutrientes como P generan implicaciones en los sistemas lénticos pues aceleran los procesos de eutrofización. Se han utilizado diversas tecnologías para la remoción de P de las AR: sistemas de tratamiento físico químico con importantes efectos por adición de productos coagulantes; procesos biológicos basados en alternancia de condiciones anaerobias y aerobias con importantes implicaciones de volumen necesario; sistemas como lagunas de estabilización e irrigación requieren de áreas muy considerables y procesos de postratamiento. Los reactores aerobios de lecho fluidizado con circulación interna (RALFCI) son opciones compactas que utilizan gran concentración de biomasa activa que han demostrado su capacidad para remover materia orgánica y N. Para AR domésticas provenientes de la estación de bombeo de Ilha Solteira y para los efluentes de un sistema de recirculación acuícola (SRA) de cultivo semi-intensivo de tilapia se evaluó la eficiencia de remoción de P reactivo y P total en tres tipos de RALFCI con diámetro externo de 250 mm y diferentes diámetros de tubo interno (DTI), con dos medios de soporte y diferentes concentraciones en dos de los reactores. Las eficiencias medias de remoción de P reactivo en AR domésticas para un tiempo de retención hidráulica (TRH) de 3 horas en el reactor con DTI 125 mm variaron entre 25,6 y 38,4% y en el reactor con DTI 150 mm entre 27,5 y 32,5%; la remoción de P total en el SRA para un TRH de 0,19 h y DTI 100 mm fue de 32,7%.

The wastewater discharge produces impacts on receiving water bodies. Nutrients as P produce implications on lentic systems because they accelerate the eutrophication processes. Several technologies for P removal from the wastewater have been used: physic chemical treatment systems with important effects by coagulant products addition; biological processes based on anaerobic and aerobic conditions with great implications on the required volume; natural systems as stabilization ponds and irrigation require bigger areas and post-treatment processes. The aerobic fluidized bed reactors with internal circulation (AFBRIC) are compact options with high concentrations of active biomass that have demonstrated their capacity for organic matter and N removal. For sewage from the wastewater pumping station of Ilha Solteira city and effluents of a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) for semi-intensive tilapia farming, the reactive P and total P removal efficiency in three AFBRIC with 250 mm external tube diameter and different internal tube diameter (ITD), for two different support media at different concentrations was evaluated. The average reactive P removal efficiency for domestic wastewater to hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 hours and 125 mm ITD reactor varied from 25,6 to 38,4% and with 150 mm ITD reactor varied from 27,5 to 32,5%; the average total P removal for the RAS wastewater at a HRT of 0,19 hours and 100 mm ITD was of 32,7%.

En esta investigación se estudió la eficiencia de remoción de nitrógeno total (NT) y nitrógeno amoniacal total (NAT) en aguas residuales de piscicultura intensiva y domésticas por medio de reactores aerobios de lecho fluidizado trifásicos con circulación en tubos concéntricos. Se utilizaron diferentes diámetros internos (100; 125 y 150mm) para un mismo diámetro externo de 250mm; se utilizó arena para filtros y carbón activado granular como medio soporte; los reactores se ensayaron con tiempos de retención hidráulica de 11.5 min para el reactor R100, y de tres horas para los R125 y R150. Las eficiencias medias de remoción del NT y del NAT fueron: en el R100 de 24% y 27%; en el R125 de 38% y 40%; y en el R150 de 30% y 49%, respectivamente. Cuanto mayor el diámetro interno mejor fue la eficiencia de remoción de NAT.

This research was intended to study the efficiency of removing total nitrogen (TN) and total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) in waste water of intensive and domestic fish farming, through three-phase fluidized bed aerobic reactors with circulation in concentric tubes. Several internal diameters (100; 125; and 150 mm) were used for the same external diameter of 250 mm; filter sand and granular activated carbon were used as a support medium; reactors were tested with hydraulic retention times of 11.5 minutes for R100 reactor and three hours for R125 and R150 reactors. Mean removal efficiencies of TN and TAN were as follows: 24% for R100 Reactor; 38% and 40% for R125 Reactor; and 30% and 49% for R150 Reactor, respectively. The bigger the internal diameter the better the efficiency of TAN removal.

No presente trabalho realizou-se estudo de hidrodinâmica visando avaliar a magnitude do curto-circuito para cinco distintas configurações de aberturas entre as câmaras de uma unidade piloto de floculação mecanizada, para gradientes de velocidade constante e variável, e alternância do sentido da rotação do agitador. O estudo evidenciou que a relevância da configuração das aberturas cresce à medida que o número de câmaras diminui. Em contrapartida, o sentido da rotação dos agitadores e a magnitude do gradiente de velocidade - constante ou variável - apresentaram-se como fatores de menor significância. Tais resultados descortinam alternativa viável de melhoria desta operação unitária, sem investimentos de maior monta, em especial para unidades de floculação de duas ou três câmaras de estações de tratamento de água operando com sobrecarga.

This work focused on the hydrodynamic research aiming at the short-circuiting evaluation for five different outlet configurations through the compartments of a vertical paddle flocculation pilot unit. The tests were carried out with variable and constant velocity gradients, including alternative rotation direction of the paddles. The research pointed out that the relevance of outlet configuration increases with the reduction of the number of compartments. In opposite, the velocity gradient and the rotation direction of paddles seem less significant features. These results open the perspective of viable increasing of performance, with low financial investments, mainly for flocculation units with three or two compartments installed in overloaded water treatment plants.

Los reactores aerobios de lecho fluidizado con circulación interna utilizan biomasa activa adherida a un medio soporte (biopelícula), con la ventaja de retener gran concentración de la misma, utilizando poco espacio físico y pudiendo remover, en un mismo reactor, materia carbonácea y nitrogenada. La circulación del líquido ocurre debido a la diferencia de presión hidrostática producida por la inyección de aire en el tubo de subida. En la condición de medio bifásico fueron estudiadas las velocidades de circulación, fracción volumétrica de aire y coeficiente de transferencia de oxígeno, utilizando cuatro configuraciones de reactores. En medio trifásico se evaluaron las velocidades de circulación, la fracción volumétrica de aire y el coeficiente de transferencia de oxígeno en una de dichas configuraciones. También se realizó la caracterización de tres posibles medios de soporte granulares. Se determinó que la relación de áreas entre los tubos interno y externo y la concentración de medio soporte influencian los valores de velocidad de circulación del líquido, de la fracción volumétrica de aire y de la transferencia de oxígeno y se observaron y compararon características importantes de los medios de soporte.

Aerobic internal-loop reactors use active biomass attached in a supporting media (biofilm) with the advantage of retaining a big biomass concentration in a small physical space, removing carbonaceous matter and nitrogen in only one reactor. Liquid circulation occurs due to hydrostatic pressure difference produced by air injection in the riser. In biphasic conditions liquid circulation velocities, gas holdup and oxygen transfer coefficient in four different reactor configurations were studied. For the three-phase conditions, the same parameters in just one of those configurations were evaluated. Also, there were three granular supporting media characterized. On the other hand, the relationship between internal and external tube areas and supporting media concentrations influence the liquid velocity, gas holdup and oxygen mass transfer values and some important supporting media characteristics were observed and compared.

A eficiência do reator de leito fluidizado com circulação em tubos concêntricos depende das condições hidrodinâmicas que influem na transferência de oxigênio ao biofilme. Este trabalho investigou a influência da relação entre diâmetros dos tubos e da concentração de meio suporte (areia), sobre o coeficiente global de transferência de oxigênio (K La). Os ensaios - em reatores de 2,6 m de altura, com diâmetro externo de 250 mm e internos de 100, 125, 150 e 200 mm - empregaram vazões de ar até 2.500 L.h-1 e concentrações de até 150 g.L-1 de areia. O K La aumentou ligeiramente com 30 g.L-1 e diminuiu para concentrações maiores, confirmando relatos da literatura em condições semelhantes. Um modelo para K La em meio bifásico foi ajustado para as diversas relações ensaiadas entre a área externa e a interna, postulando-se uma redução na razão entre a transferência na fase líquida e o diâmetro da bolha com o aumento da vazão de ar.

The efficiency of the concentric tubes internal-loop airlift reactor depends on the hydrodynamic conditions that affect oxygen transfer to the biofilm. This work studied the effects of the relation between diameters of the tubes and of the carrier (sand) concentration on the global oxygen transfer coefficient (K La). The tests - in 2,6 m high reactors with 250 mm external diameter and 100, 125, 150 and 200 mm internal diameters - were performed with air flow taxes up to 2,500 L.h-1 and sand concentrations up to 150 g.L-1. The K La increased slightly for 30 g.L-1 and decreased for higher concentrations, in accordance with related data for similar conditions. A model for K La in biphasic medium was fitted embracing all the external/internal area relationships tested, based on the reduction of the liquid phase transfer coefficient and the bubble diameter ratio with increasing air flow rates.