Tratamiento de lixiviados de residuos de origen urbano mediante MBR

Se ha utilizado una planta de tratamiento a escala laboratorio consiste en un biorreactor de membrana (MBR). Esta planta está compuesta por un reactor biológico de 25 L de capacidad. Se utilizó una membrana plana de micro filtración marca Kubota de polietileno clorado, tamaño de poro 0,1 μm y área de filtración 0.116 m2. Se utilizaron como condiciones de operación: tiempo de residencia hidráulico 3 días, caudal de permeado 0.35 L/h y LMH 3 L/m2h. Se ha podido comprobar que es posible adaptar una población microbiológica a las particulares características químicas del lixiviado procedente de la planta y tratar estos lixiviados en un reactor biológico de membrana sumergida operando en condiciones habituales de sólidos en suspensión en el reactor entre 8-12 g/L durante un periodo de 6 meses. El proceso utilizado permite reducir la materia orgánica (97% DBO5 y 40% DQO) presente en estas corrientes residuales, agotando prácticamente toda la materia biodegradable. Respecto a los contenidos de nutrientes, el tratamiento MBR ensayado permite reducir de 35-40% el nitrógeno total, 45-50% el nitrógeno amoniacal y un 65-70% el fósforo total. Los sólidos en suspensión se han reducido en el efluente tratado en más de un 99%.We used a treatment plant consists of a laboratory scale membrane bioreactor (MBR). This plant consists of a biological reactor of 25 L capacity. A flat microfiltration membrane Kubota chlorinated polyethylene, 0.1 μm pore size and filtration area 0.116 m2 was used. Were used as operating conditions: hydraulic residence time 3 days, permeate flow rate 0.35 L/h and LMH 3 L/m2·h. It has been shown that it is possible to adapt a microbial population to the particular chemicals characteristics of the leachate from the plant and treat these leachates on a submerged membrane bioreactor operating under normal conditions of suspended solids in the reactor between 8-12 g/L for a period of 6 months. The process used reduces this organic matter (97% BOD5 and 40% COD) in these waste streams, depleting almost all biodegradable matter. Regarding the contents of nutrients tested MBR treatment reduces 35-40 % total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen 45-50 % and 65-70% total phosphorus. Suspended solids are reduced in the treated effluent by over 99 %.Este trabajo ha sido desarrollado mediante el proyecto “Tratamiento de lixiviados de vertedero de residuos de origen urbano mediante reactor biológico de membrana” INUSA-Universidad de Alicante (INUSA2-10TCA)

Estudios de procesos de transporte del alquilbenceno sulfonato lineal en la zona saturada mediante columnas de laboratorio

MEMORIA DE INVESTIGACIÓN. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo general el estudio del transporte y reacción de contaminantes orgánicos, en particular el alquilbenceno sulfonato lineal (LAS) y su comportamiento en la zona saturada. Se han realizado ensayos en pulso y escalón de LAS para la determinación de la capacidad de adsorción en condiciones estériles y cuando ocurren procesos de biodegradación de manera simultanea, evaluando al mismo tiempo los posibles efectos de la precipitación del tensioactivo por la presencia de calcio en el agua de riego. Como objetivos específicos de este estudio están los siguientes: • Realizar la puesta a punto de un sistema de simulación de ensayos de transporte de contaminantes a través de un material acuífero perteneciente a la zona saturada, a escala de laboratorio. • Adaptar y poner a punto el dispositivo utilizado para medida en continuo de la conductividad, en los ensayos con trazador. • Determinar los parámetros hidrodinámicos de diferentes medios porosos con distintas proporciones de suelo/arena. • Simular procesos de contaminación de LAS por la lixiviación de lodos de depuradora (entrada en pulso de altas concentraciones) y el riego con efluentes de EDARs (entrada en escalón de bajas concentraciones). Provocar la “remediación” de acuíferos contaminados con LAS, con la inyección de agua libre de contaminantes (desorción por entrada en escalón). • Estudiar los fenómenos de transporte y reacción del alquilbenceno sulfonato lineal evaluando la capacidad de adsorción sobre un medio poroso y la influencia de la biodegradación en el proceso, cuando se cambian la proporción de arenas/arcillas en el medio, para ensayos en pulso y en escalón.This research was partially supported by the Spanish InterMinisterial Science and Technology Commission; project REN 2001-0754, ‘‘Optimization of the process of sludge compostage. Reduction of LAS and pathogenic microorganisms”

Adopting a High-Polyphenolic Diet Is Associated with an Improved Glucose Profile: Prospective Analysis within the PREDIMED-Plus Trial

Previous studies suggested that dietary polyphenols could reduce the incidence and complications of type-2 diabetes (T2D); although the evidence is still limited and inconsistent. This work analyzes whether changing to a diet with a higher polyphenolic content is associated with an improved glucose profile. At baseline, and at 1 year of follow-up visits, 5921 participants (mean age 65.0 ± 4.9, 48.2% women) who had overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome filled out a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), from which polyphenol intakes were calculated. Energy-adjusted total polyphenols and subclasses were categorized in tertiles of changes. Linear mixed-effect models with random intercepts (the recruitment centers) were used to assess associations between changes in polyphenol subclasses intake and 1-year plasma glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Increments in total polyphenol intake and some classes were inversely associated with better glucose levels and HbA1c after one year of follow-up. These associations were modified when the analyses were run considering diabetes status separately. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationship between changes in the intake of all polyphenolic groups and T2D-related parameters in a senior population with T2D or at high-risk of developing T2

Association of Candidate Gene Polymorphisms With Chronic Kidney Disease: Results of a Case-Control Analysis in the Nefrona Cohort

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease and premature death. Despite classical clinical risk factors for CKD and some genetic risk factors have been identified, the residual risk observed in prediction models is still high. Therefore, new risk factors need to be identified in order to better predict the risk of CKD in the population. Here, we analyzed the genetic association of 79 SNPs of proteins associated with mineral metabolism disturbances with CKD in a cohort that includes 2, 445 CKD cases and 559 controls. Genotyping was performed with matrix assisted laser desorption ionizationtime of flight mass spectrometry. We used logistic regression models considering different genetic inheritance models to assess the association of the SNPs with the prevalence of CKD, adjusting for known risk factors. Eight SNPs (rs1126616, rs35068180, rs2238135, rs1800247, rs385564, rs4236, rs2248359, and rs1564858) were associated with CKD even after adjusting by sex, age and race. A model containing five of these SNPs (rs1126616, rs35068180, rs1800247, rs4236, and rs2248359), diabetes and hypertension showed better performance than models considering only clinical risk factors, significantly increasing the area under the curve of the model without polymorphisms. Furthermore, one of the SNPs (the rs2248359) showed an interaction with hypertension, being the risk genotype affecting only hypertensive patients. We conclude that 5 SNPs related to proteins implicated in mineral metabolism disturbances (Osteopontin, osteocalcin, matrix gla protein, matrix metalloprotease 3 and 24 hydroxylase) are associated to an increased risk of suffering CKD

Universidad, género, docencia e igualdad

La Red de investigación en docencia universitaria “Universidad, docencia, genero e igualdad” persigue avanzar en la calidad e innovación de las enseñanzas universitarias a partir de la inclusión de la perspectiva de género. Se busca dar cumplimiento a las directrices generales de los nuevos planes de estudio respecto del principio de igualdad de oportunidades entre hombres y mujeres en la formación universitaria (Real Decreto 1393/2007. BOE nº 260, 30 de octubre de 2007). En la cuarta edición de la Red, y dada su composición multidisciplinar, se desarrollaron tres líneas de investigación: 1) mantenimiento del “Portal web con recursos docentes con perspectiva de género”, proyecto financiado por el Instituto de la Mujer (PACUI, 2012) e iniciado en el curso 2012-2013; 2) desarrollo (primera versión) de “iLengUA”, una herramienta informática para un discurso inclusivo e igualitario; y 3) diseño de la Guía para una orientación universitaria inclusiva

Reactive transport experiments of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in laboratory soil columns

Laboratory column experiments aids in the understanding of hydrogeochemistry dynamics of different linear alkylbenzene sulfonate homologues when they interact with different sand/soil proportions. Previously it was necessary to characterize the soil columns with a tracer. In this paper, the method to obtain breakthrough curves for the conductivity and chloride concentration of a tracer is verified, and also permits the calculation of transport parameters with an easy-to-use interface, ACUAINTRUSION. The experimental results obtained for LAS concentration in two columns using the same type of core have demonstrated the reproducibility of the method. In these experiments, LAS sorption is more important for longer alkylic chain homologues, especially for C13LAS that was only detected at very low concentrations in the outlet of the soil column. However, C10LAS is less retained by the soil column due to its lower hydrophobicity. In the two experiments with different sand/agricultural soil proportions, the LAS concentrations values were quite similar, and therefore a higher soil column content seems to have no significant effect on LAS homologue detected levels, even when a high LAS concentration pulse occurs (100 ppm)

Removal of endocrine disrupting compounds from wastewater: a comparison between a conventional activated sludge with tertiary treatment and membrane bioreactors

Póster presentado en 19th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic August 28th-September 1st, 2010.In recent years a number of emerging pollutants that can interfere the normal action of the endocrine system in both wildlife and human population at concentrations as low as 1 ng/L have been studied. These compounds, collectively called endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), include various members of distinct chemical groups such as synthetic estrogens, phenols, alkylphenols and phtalates.This study was financed by the projects, “Removal of organic micropollutants by MBR technology associated to nanofiltration” (124/SGTB/2007/3.1) and “Treatment and wastewater reuse for a sustainable management” (CONSOLIDER) (CSD200644)

Reduction of haloacetonitriles and haloacetones in natural waters using ceramic nanofiltration membranes

Póster presentado en 19th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic August 28th-September 1st, 2010.Natural organic matter in aquatic Environments can form carcinogenic organochlorine compounds when is chlorinated [1]. On the other hand, the lack of water in the southeast of Spain is the main reason for studying new alternatives of purification techniques and their optimisation. As a consequence, it will improve the use of natural waters. The aim of this research is to determine how efficiently are two commercial NF ceramic membranes (450 Da and 1000 Da MWCO) for the reduction of specific chlorination by-products (DBPs) in samples from water reservoir in Alicante (Spain), and analyze effects of pressure, conductivity and pH.This study was financial supported by the Spanish Ministry of “Educación y Ciencia” (CTQ2007-66780 “Water resources generation by means of membrane processes” (NF MBR/NF))

Experimental study and modelling of the desorption of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates in sand and soil

Póster presentado en "11th Mediterranean Congress of Chemical Engineering", Barcelona, October 21-24, 2008.Over the last two decades, many studies have been performed to characterize the environmental behaviour of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS), one of the major ingredients of synthetic detergents used world-wide in both domestic and industrial applications. In fact, the fate, effects, behaviour and sorption of LAS in different soils have established a good foundation for understanding its interactions [1-2]. However, few reports analyse how desorption processes occur. In recent years, high loads of treated wastewater or sludge, which can contain high concentrations of LAS, have been applied to agricultural areas, and therefore migration of these contaminants could affect groundwater quality

Reduction of emerging micropollutants, organic matter, nutrients and salinity from real wastewater by combined MBR–NF/RO treatment

To study the possibility of producing better water quality from municipal wastewater, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) pilot plant with flat sheet (FS) and hollow fiber (HF) membranes coupled with another pilot plant equipped with nanofiltration (NF)/reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were operated to treat municipal wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Rincón de León, Alicante (Spain). This study was focused on improving the quality of the permeate obtained from the MBR process when complemented by NF or RO stages with respect to salinity, organic matter and nutrients. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies of 10 EMPs were evaluated, comparing the reductions achieved between the wastewater treatment by MBR (adsorption to sludge and biodegradation) and the later treatment using NF or RO (mainly size exclusion). The results showed that the high quality of water was obtained which is appropriate for reuse with salinity removal efficiencies higher than 97%, 96% for total organic carbon (TOC), 91% for nitrates View the MathML sourceNO3- and 99% for total phosphorous (TP). High removal efficiencies were obtained for the majority of the analyzed EMP compounds.This study was partially financed by the Ministry of Education via the projects “Treatment of superficial water and wastewater by membrane technologies to obtain high quality effluents“ (CTM2010-15348), “Treatment and wastewater reuse for a sustainable management” (CONSOLIDER) (CSD200644) and the Council for Education, Formation and Occupation of Valencian Government (ACOMP 2011/275, ACOMP 2012/136)