Bunn Matzen (virgodelete0)

Spilled oil frequently reaches the shorelines and affects coastal biota and communities. The application of surface washing agents is an important shoreline cleanup technique that can help remove stranded oil from substrate surfaces with the advantages of high removal efficiency, low toxicity, and strong economic viability. In this study, the investigation into the oil removal from contaminated sand using a surface washing agent under variable environmental conditions was conducted. A preliminary test was conducted to obtain the optimal combination of operating factors of surface washing agent-to-oil ratio (SOR) 21, mixing speed 150 rpm, and mixing time 30 min. The results of single-factor experiments showed that high temperature and humic acid concentration of flush water contributed to the performance of a surface washing agent, while salinity and kaolinite concentration could inhibit its performance. The factorial analysis revealed the main effects of temperature and salinity, and the interactive effects of temperature and salinity as well as salinity and humic acid concentration that were significant to the washing efficiency of the surface washing agent. In addition, the comprehensive assessment of a surface washing agent from the aspects of toxicity, detergency, dispersion properties, and field trials was conducted. The results have significant implications for future application of surface washing agents in the shoreline cleanup.Biocatalytic degradation of recalcitrant pollutants employing ligninolytic enzymes is a promising approach for wastewater treatment. However, enzymes production must be improved to make biodegradation a more cost-effective treatment. In this research, laccase production from Trametes versicolor using lignocellulosic residues (agave bagasse, coconut fibers and wheat bran) as cosubstrates was improved using a central composite face-centered design, and the application of the enzymes-rich culture supernatant was evaluated for blue wastewater biodegradation. Findings revealed that the optimal conditions for laccase production were found at 35 °C and 5 g/L of wheat bran as cosubstrate, reaching about 200 U/mL in 11 days in a batch submerged fermentation. These conditions were scaled up for a submerged fermentation using an airlift reactor, and a maximum enzymatic activity of 1200 U/mL was achieved in 9 days at 30 °C. This enzymes-rich culture supernatant was tested for the degradation of blue wastewater from aircraft in an airlift reactor. Results showed a COD removal efficiency of 43% and an increase of the biodegradability index from 0.64 to 1.36, both results applying an enzymatic activity of supernatant of 300 U/mL. In conclusion, the enzymatic biodegradation becomes a viable strategy for the pretreatment of a real effluent such as the blue wastewater collected in public transportation.Agricultural use is the main way of recycling sewage sludge. Besides providing nutrients and organic matter to crops and soils, it is an important alternative for recycling this residue. However, problems during the sewage treatment process may generate sludge batches with an acidic pH. Thus, it is essential to understand the consequences of using such sludge on soils and plants, and to explore ways to overcome this limitation. The objective of this study was to evaluate addition rates of anaerobic sewage sludge (ASS) with acidic compositions on the soil fertility and performance of lettuce plants. Additionally, a methodology for pH correction of ASS with acidic pH is proposed. An agronomic experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using seven addition rates of ASS (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 g kg-1 in dry basis), treated with an additional step of disinfection (solarization), and applied in an Albaqualf soil cultivated with lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Soil and leaf chemical composition, as well as chlorophyll index and the dry matter of lettuce leaves were evaluated. Failures during the acidogenesis phase of the