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Projeto de investigação
Estudo integrado e análise de risco de alternativas de remoção de compostos emergentes de águas residuais tratadas para diferentes usos.
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Drinking water treatment residuals, a low-cost and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of hormones
Publication . Dias, Rita; Daam, Michiel A.; Diniz, Mário; Maurício, Rita; CENSE - Centro de Investigação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; DQ - Departamento de Química; Elsevier
The declining water bodies' pristine characteristics due to the entry of emerging pollutants (EP) have been a growing concern for the past two decades. In the context of the effort that has been made to remove EP from water matrices, adsorption processes are economically attractive and feasible for EP removal. Among the commonly mentioned low-cost adsorbents (natural materials, agriculture and industrial wastes, sewage sludge or water treatment residuals), this review discusses the applicability of drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR) for the removal of hormones. DWTR have been widely reported as being effective in the adsorption of phosphate, heavy metals, and dyes. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on their application as adsorbent of hormones, such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) from water matrices. The sole study conducted on this topic, which involved a comprehensive characterization of the adsorption process for hormones using non-modified DWTR, indicates a maximum adsorption capacity of 8.748 μg/g for E2 and 14.557 μg/g for EE2. Furthermore, some studies refer to powdered activated carbon- DWTR (PAC-DWTR) as a new category of DWTR, with possible adsorption availability from powdered activated carbon (PAC) to be further explored. Finally, the application of DWTR should always be supported not only by standard toxic leaching procedures but also by ecotoxicological assessments. Nonetheless, the upcycling of DWTR into an adsorption material may offer new ways to manage this former residue in the water sector and provide alternatives for EP removal.
Exploring the Potential of Peracetic Acid for Wastewater Disinfection
Publication . Sousa, Diogo; Dias, Rita; Lourinho, Rita; Maúricio, Rita; CENSE - Centro de Investigação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade; ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
Wastewater disinfection is a key treatment for the protection of the environment and public health from pathogenic infections. Peracetic acid (PAA) is an organic peroxyacid with a high oxidation potential that can be an alternative to conventional disinfectants. The aim of this pilot-scale study was to assess six disinfection conditions using PAA as a disinfectant agent of wastewater. To this end, a 6-month study was performed, and six disinfection conditions were studied: 15 mg/L of PAA with 5, 10, and 15 min of contact time; 10 mg/L of PAA with 10 and 15 min of contact time; and 5 mg/L of PAA with 10 min of contact time. After the disinfection, an increase in the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was observed; however, this was not proportional to the PAA dose because the higher doses tested did not result in a higher increment. In addition, PAA resulted in a slight decrease in pH. Nevertheless, the PAA impact on pH was not dependent on the PAA dose or the contact time. The PAA disinfection performance showed that doses of 10 and 15 mg/L achieved Escherichia coli log reduction higher than 2 logs, and even higher than 3 logs when 15 mg/L were tested with 10 and 15 min of contact time. The results showed also that the contact time was not a limiting factor for the PAA performance, at least for the contact times used in this study. This pilot-scale study proved that PAA can be an alternative disinfectant for wastewater.
Peracetic acid as a disinfectant for wastewater reuse
Publication . Dias, Rita; Sousa, Diogo; Lourinho, Rita; Maurício, Rita; CENSE - Centro de Investigação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade; Springer Science Business Media
Water scarcity affects already a large part of the world's population. To overcome this situation, water management is needed, and wastewater reuse must be implemented and included as a new approach. To achieve that objective water quality must comply with the parameters established in the Regulation (EU) 2020/741 of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union and new treatment solutions have to be developed. The main goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the peracetic acid (PAA) disinfection efficiency in a real wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in order to accomplish the wastewater reuse objective. To this end, six disinfection conditions were studied, three PAA doses (5, 10, and 15) and three contact times (5, 10, and 15) based on the commonly used disinfection operational conditions in real WWTP. Comparing the Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Escherichia coli content, after and before the disinfection step, was possible to conclude that PAA ensures the Regulation (EU) 2020/741 requirements and that the disinfected effluent can be reused for several uses. All the conditions in which the PAA dose was 15 mg/L and the condition with 10 mg/L of PAA with a contact time of 15 min were the most promising, presenting the second highest water quality class achieved. The results of this study illustrate the potential of PAA as an alternative disinfectant for wastewater treatment and, bring it closer to the water reuse objective by presenting several possibilities for water uses.
Peracetic acid treatment for removing steroid hormones in a pilot-scale wastewater installation
Publication . Dias, Rita Alexandra de Jesus Marques; Sousa, Diogo; Carvalho, Pedro Neves; Kisielius, V; Diniz, M; Maurício, R; MARE - Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente; LAQV@REQUIMTE; DQ - Departamento de Química; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; DCEA - Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente; Elsevier
The global water scarcity challenge urges sustainable solutions such as wastewater reuse, which is crucial to alleviate pressure on dwindling freshwater sources. However, this approach must address the presence of emerging pollutants (EPs), demanding specific treatment processes to ensure water safety and environmental protection. Peracetic acid (PAA) has garnered global interest due to its high oxidation potential and production of low-toxicity byproducts, making it a promising alternative for wastewater decontamination. This study aimed to assess PAA efficacy in removing three EPs: estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Conducted in a pilot-scale wastewater treatment facility using real wastewater, the study explored six operational conditions, with varying PAA concentrations (5 mg/L to 15 mg/L) and hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 5, 10, and 15 min. Control parameters were monitored throughout the study. The condition with 15 mg/L PAA and 15 min HRT was the most efficient achieving over 85 % removal efficiency for all three compounds. The condition with 15 mg/L PAA and 10 min HRT was less efficient, achieving 70 % removal for E1 and 60 % and 44 % for E2 and EE2, respectively. A Spearman correlation matrix identified temperature and E. coli as strongly correlated with EPs removal, potentially influencing PAA decay. Overall, PAA demonstrated effective removal of target EPs under real wastewater conditions, underscoring its viability as a sustainable alternative for enhancing wastewater treatment processes, contributing to environmental protection and public health. Future studies could explore the long-term efficiency of PAA application and its scalability.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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SFRH/BD/148793/2019