Implementing Early Warning Systems in WWTP. An investigation with cost-effective LED-VIS spectroscopy-based genetic algorithms

Measuring how the pollution load evolves in real time along sewer networks is key for proper management of water resources and protecting the environment. The technique of molecular spectroscopy for water characterization has increasingly widespread use, as it is a non-invasive technique that leads to the correlation of the physical-chemical conditions of wastewater with spectroscopic surrogates by a series of mathematical estimation models. In the present research work, different symbolic regression models obtained with evolutive genetic algorithms are evaluated for the estimation of chemical oxygen demand (COD); five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5); total suspended solids (TSS); total phosphorus (TP); and total nitrogen (TN), from the spectral response of samples measured between 380 and 700 nm and without the use of chemicals or pre-treatment. Around 650 wastewater samples were used in the campaign, from 43 different wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in which both, raw/influent and treated/effluent, were examined through 18 models composed of Classical Genetic Algorithm (CGA), the Age-Layered Population Structure (ALPS), and Offspring Selection (OS) by mean of HeuristicLab software, to make a comparison among them and to determine which models and wavelengths are most suitable for the correlation. Models are proposed considering both raw and treated samples together (15) and only with tertiary treated wastewater reclaimed for agriculture irrigation effluent (3). The Pearson correlation coefficients were in the range of 67–91% for the test data in the case of the combined models. The results conform the first steps for a real-time monitoring of WWTP.The author Daniel Carreres Prieto wishes to thank the financial support received from the Seneca Foundation of the Región de Murcia (Spain) through the program devoted to training novel researchers in areas of specific interest for the industry and with a high capacity to transfer the results of the research generated, entitled: “Subprograma Regional de Contratos de Formación de Personal Investigador en Universidades y OPIs” (Mod. B, Ref. 20320/FPI/17). The present research has been funded by the project MONITOCOES: New intelligent monitoring system for microorganisms and emerging contaminants in sewage networks. Reference: RTC2019-007115-5 by the Ministry of Science and Innovation - State Research Agency, within the RETOS COLABORACIÓN 2019 call, which supports cooperative projects between companies and research organizations, whose objective is to promote technological development, innovation and quality research. The authors wish to thank the help and availability received from the company Munuera Laboratories during the field campaign

Eliminación de contaminantes emergentes en aguas residuales mediante oxidación avanzada con ozono y ultrasonidos

Algunos contaminantes emergentes, principalmente fármacos de diferentes clases así como drogas de abuso, pueden estar presentes en las aguas residuales urbanas, no siendo posible su eliminación mediante las técnicas convencionales de depuración. Se ha realizado un estudio en planta piloto en dos estaciones depuradoras de aguas residuales (EDAR), Font de la Pedra (Muro de Alcoy) y Molina de Segura (Murcia), con el fin de determinar la eficacia de eliminación de ciertos contaminantes emergentes mediante un tratamiento terciario de oxidación avanzada con ozono.Removal of emerging pollutants in sewage water subjected to advanced oxidation with ozone and ultrasound Emergent pollutants, mainly pharmaceuticals from different therapeutically classes and drugs of abuse, can be presents in urban sewage water, being not effective removed through conventional sewage water treatments. The objectives of this study, conducted at a modular mobile pilot plant in two different WWTP: Font de la Pedra STP (Muro de Alcoy) and Molina de Segura STP (Murcia), were the determination and the comparison between the removal efficiency of those contaminants through the conventional sewage water treatments, and with a tertiary treatment applied consisting on Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) based on ozone treatments, and ultrasounds

Molecular techniques to assess microbial ecology and nitrification process in wastewater treatment plants

[ES] Las herramientas de monitorización para el control de los sistemas biológicos en las estaciones depuradoras de aguas residuales (EDAR) deben estar basadas en metodologías precisas, que permitan apuntar hacia la correcta gestión del proceso. En este estudio se han utilizado técnicas de secuenciación dirigida de segunda (Illumina) y tercera generación (PacBio) para caracterizar las comunidades microbianas del fango activo durante un episodio de descenso en los rendimientos de eliminación del amonio. Además, para detectar posibles sesgos en la secuenciación y caracterizar las bacterias involucradas en el proceso de nitrificación, se ha utilizado la técnica de hibridación in situ (FISH). Para valorar la actividad de la biomasa se han aplicado técnicas de cuantificación del ATP de última generación. Los análisis realizados aportan información sobre qué tipo de resultados esperar según la tecnología de secuenciación utilizada. Los resultados de la ATPmetría sugieren que la medida de los sólidos suspendidos volátiles activos puede mejorar el cálculo de las variables de diseño y control más habituales de las EDAR.[EN] Monitoring tools for biological process control in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) need to be based on accurate methodologies that aim at adequate process management. In this work, second (Illumina) and third (PacBio) amplicon sequencing techniques were used to monitoring microbial communities during nitrification break performance in an activate sludge system. Nitrifying bacterial communities were monitored by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). To assess bacterial activity second-generation ATP determination technique was used. The comparison between techniques provides information about the biases of each sequencing technology. ATP determination techniques suggest that the measurement of active volatile suspended solids can improve the calculation of most common design and control parameters of WWTP.Este estudio forma parte del proyecto 'Influencia de las variables operacionales y fisicoquímicas en la dinámica y estructura de la población de bacterias nitrificantes', financiado la Entidad de Saneamiento y Depuración de la Región de Murcia (Esamur) y la empresa Depuración de Aguas del Mediterráneo (DAM). La autora Paula Barbarroja agradece el apoyo del Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital (Mineco) por la financiación PTA2014-09555-I. Los autores del trabajo agradecen el trabajo y la colaboración del personal de la EDAR Molina del Segura.Barbarroja-Ortiz, P.; Alonso Molina, JL.; Amoros, I.; Pastor Alcañiz, L.; Maciá Hernández, AM.; Lardín Mifsut, C. (2020). Técnicas moleculares para el estudio de la ecología microbiana y del sistema de nitrificación en las EDAR. Tecnoaqua. (42):2-9. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/162635S294