Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF)
Permanent URI for this community
Browse
Browsing Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF) by Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) "06:Água Potável e Saneamento"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 16
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Advanced treatment in constructed wetlands: the role of photocatalytic modules and nanostructured filtersPublication . Ojediran, Adetunji A.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.; Rosa-Santos, Paulo; Arenas, Francisco; Dolbeth, Marina; Ntougias, Spyros; Calheiros, Cristina S. C.Background & Aim: Constructed wetlands (CWs) have emerged as a leading nature-based solution (NBS) for wastewater treatment, offering multiple benefits such as low maintenance costs, high pollutant removal efficiency, carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, and aesthetic value (Justino et al., 2023; Kadlec, 2008). However, in tourism facilities, two major challenges affect wastewater management: seasonal variability in wastewater composition and volume, and the lack of connection to centralized treatment systems (Calheiros et al., 2015). To address these issues, a decentralized CW system was developed, operating alongside a septic tank for wastewater collection. This horizontal subsurface flow CW has been operational since 2010. The study aims to integrate photocatalytic modules and nanostructured filter technologies with CW to enhance water quality for irrigation. Methods: wastewater quality characterization will be performed according to national legislation and the efficiency of the photocatalytic modules and nano filters will be assessed. Results: CW efficiency is being assessed, and ongoing studies are being carried out related to the best approach for the implementation of the photocatalytic modules and nanostructured filters technologies. Conclusions: By integrating advanced filtration and photocatalytic technologies, this research intends to develop a highly efficient, self-sustaining, and ecofriendly wastewater treatment system suitable for the tourism industry. The findings will contribute to the broader application of CW in decentralized wastewater management and sustainable water reuse strategies, most especially in a tourism facility.
- Aerobic granules synthesized with EPS and degrading strain Rhodococcus sp. FP1 for industrial wastewater treatmentPublication . Oliveira, Ana; Amorim, Catarina L.; Zlopassa, Jure; Lin, Yuemei; van Loosdrecht, Mark; Castro, Paula M. L.Background: Aerobic granular sludge-sequencing batch reactors (AGS-SBR) have been introduced as a promising and innovative wastewater treatment system economically outcompeting the conventional activated sludge system. AGS is considered a special case of suspended biofilms, composed of self-immobilized microorganisms that form spherical sludge aggregates. Microorganisms are embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substances matrix thus avoiding the need of any carrier. Many synthetic organic chemicals or metabolites are being released directly into the environment after wastewater treatment processes, which are not conceived to remove them from the effluents. In spite of the AGS tolerance to toxicity, the indigenous microbial communities in biotreatment processes may not be effective in removing recalcitrant pollutants. Bioaugmentation strategies, which consists of adding specific microorganisms to the system can be a solution to overcome the difficulty to eliminate certain compounds in wastewaters. However, it is still not a well-established strategy and deserves attention to become a promising alternative. This work aimed to synthesize strong aerobic granules using EPS (extracted from AGS) and a specialized bacterial strain capable of degrading 2-fluorophenol, with the aid of specific substances to increase the cross-linking potential of EPS. Conclusions: Substance 1 was not efficient in improving the strength of the granules, due to concentration or inability to promote the crosslinking of EPS; Granules from mixture 6 were the most similar in terms of strength to the Utrecht granules. The source of EPS affected the strength of the granules, even with conditions similar to mixture 6 Control beads from mixture 7 showed to be weaker than the ones from mixture 6, reinforcing that EPS was a key component to increase the strength of the produced granules. EPS composition and concentration are important to produce strong granules that can be further used in bioaugmentation.
- Antimicrobial resistance in urban wastewater: insights from operating conditions and bacterial community dynamicsPublication . Ribeiro, Diana; Ruivo, Afonso; Santos, Isabel; Mena, Cristina; Vaz-Moreira, Ivone; Costa, Cláudio; Faria, Gabriela; Campinas, Margarida; Mesquita, Elsa; Silva, Catarina; Rosa, Maria João; Manaia, Célia M.
- Bacterial community and system performance of an aerobic granular sludge reactor treating pharmaceutical wastewaterPublication . Amorim, Catarina L.; Moreira, Irina S.; Ribeiro, Ana R.; Tiritan, Maria E.; Henriques, Isabel S.; Castro, Paula M. L.Pharmaceutical compounds are emerging environmental contaminants that have been detected in various environmental matrices [1]. Their occurrence has been widely reported in domestic and hospital wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) effluents where low removal rates are observed. Even at low levels, they can affect the composition of the microbial communities, and hence disturb the metabolic networks [2]. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) has been successfully applied for the treatment of industrial and domestic wastewater and the implementation off AGS full-scale facilities has been growing worldwide [3]. The possibility to concomitantly remove carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous in a single unit is one of the attractive aspects of the AGS technology since it greatly reduces the plant footprint. Pharmaceuticals are often present in influent wastewaters, therefore knowledge on their effect on the main biological processes is needed to provide guidance for a stable operation. Moreover, as microorganisms within AGS are key players in removal processes, a better understanding of bacterial composition could be useful to improve wastewater treatment efficiency and to enlarge the knowledge on critical functional groups.
- Dynamics and interrelationships between antibiotic resistance, organic micropollutants and bacterial communities in full-scale rural constructed wetlandsPublication . Teixeira, A. Margarida; Matos, Diana; Coelho, Norberta; Halwatura, Lahiruni M.; Vaz-Moreira, Ivone; Castro, Paula M. L.; Aga, Diana S.; Manaia, Célia M.Constructed wetlands systems (CWs) are increasingly regarded as promising alternatives or complements to conventional wastewater treatment processes. However, the fate of chemical and biological contaminants in realworld treatment processes is understudied in this type of systems. This study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating the response of three horizontal subsurface flow CWs, in Northern Portugal, planted with Phragmites australis, in operation for >7 years, to reducing the load of fecal contamination, antibiotic resistance genes and organic micropollutants (OMPs). Influent, effluent and sediments samples (n = 36) were examined for abundance of cultivable Escherichia coli and total coliforms, total bacteria (16S rRNA gene), 10 genetic biomarkers associated with anthropogenic contamination (uidA, crAssphage, intI1, sul1, ermB, ermF, mefC, qacEΔ1, tetX and aph(3″)-Ib) by quantitative PCR, non-target LC-MS of OMPs and 16S rRNA gene-based bacterial community analysis. The three CWs showed reduction values (log-units/mL) up to 4.8 of E. coli and 3.6 of biomarkers, with the highest values observed in warmer periods. No evidence of for the accumulation microbiological contaminants in the sediments was observed. Among the 59 OMPs detected, reduction rates varied, and the concentration of the most abundant pharmaceutical compounds in the final effluent varied –reaching ng/L concentrations of ~36 000 for fenofibric acid, ~14 000 for acetaminophen, ~3000 for oxazepam and ~2000 for irbesartan, which can be considered high to discharge in the receiving environment. The bacterial community was dominated by members of the class Gammaproteobacteria, with treatment contributing to significant reduction of the relative abundance of members of the classes Clostridia, Bacilli and Actinomycetes. Compared with wastewater, sediments had significantly higher relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria. The study confirms that CWs are an adequate alternative for the treatment of domestic wastewater in small communities, although it warns of the need for regular monitoring and adjustment of treatment conditions, especially during cooler periods.
- Enantiomeric fraction evaluation of pharmaceuticals in an aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactorPublication . Amorim, Catarina L.; Moreira, Irina S.; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Santos, Lúcia H. M. L. M.; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Tiritan, Maria Elizabeth; Castro, Paula M. L.
- Endocrine disrupting chemicals removal in an aerobic granular sludge reactor treating simulated saline wastewaterPublication . Ely, Cyntia; Moreira, Irina S.; Bassin, João Paulo; Dezotti, Márcia W. C.; Castro, Paula M. L.The occurrence of Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment is a topic of concern. It is commonly accepted that the major source of EDCs to the environment is wastewater treatment plants effluents. Salinity is an additional common stress factor in wastewater treatment. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) has a number of properties that make it more attractive than conventional biological systems for treatment of wastewater containing EDCs. In the present study, an AGS sequencing batch reactor adapted to salinity was operated for 140 days for treating synthetic saline wastewater containing 17β–estradiol (E2), 17α–ethinylestradiol (EE2) and bisphenol-A (BPA). E2 was removed by biodegradation. EE2 adsorption/desorption to the aerobic granules was observed. The increasing of BPA removal efficiency after bioaugmentation with a degrading bacterial strain shows that biodegradation was the removal mechanism. COD removal was not significantly affected by EDCs shock loads. Activity of ammonia oxidizing bacteria and nitrite oxidizing bacteria did not seem to be inhibited by the presence of EDCs. The activity of phosphate accumulating organisms was affected.
- Floating islands as a strategy for promoting biodiversity in freshwater pondsPublication . Graff, Lauren Marques; Pereira, Sofia I. A.; IIarri, Martina I.; Calheiros, Cristina S. C.Background & Aim: Floating treatment wetlands (FTW) are a nature-based solution for water treatment and also delivered a wide range of other ecosystem services. The establishment of a FTW relies, mainly, on the presence of plants in a floating structure, where direct contact of the biological components enables the uptake and removal of contaminants from the water, through phytoremediation processes (Calheiros et al, 2023). However, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the performance and the impact on biodiversity of this NBS. The aim of this study was to assess the biodiversity associated with a FTW installed in 2018 in a freshwater pond using cork agglomerate as floating platform. Methods: The flora comprised specimens of Iris germanica, Acorus gramineus, Caltha palustris and Typha latifolia. Samples from the platform biofilm and plant rhizosphere were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing technique to identify culturable bacterial communities and they were characterized on their ability to produce plant growth- promoting substances (PGPS). Macroinvertebrates were identified and biodiversity indexes calculated. Results: Preliminary results identified a variety of bacterial communities and the presence of strains with production of PGPS. Macroinvertebrates were classified mainly in the order Odonata, with more than 80% belonging to genus Coenagrion. Conclusions: Further research should explore the use of the bacterial strains with best production of PGPS in phytoremediation strategies and with plants undergoing climate change conditions. This study highlights the use of FTW as a water management technology and to promote biodiversity, as its aesthetic value.
- Floating wetland islands as a water treatment technologyPublication . Pereira, S. I. A.; Calheiros, C. S. C.Introduction and aim: Floating Wetland Islands (FWIs) are innovative, nature-based solutions that aim to improve water quality and restore ecological functions in various aquatic environments, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and reservoirs. FWIs are man-made floating platforms planted with aquatic vegetation that mimic natural wetlands, providing significant ecological benefits. In recent years, these systems have gained widespread recognition due to their effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and relatively low maintenance requirements. This study focuses on the implementation and performance of a FWI established in a freshwater pond using a polyculture of aquatic plants, including Iris germanica, Acorus gramineus, Caltha palustris, and Typha latifolia. These species were chosen for their robust ability to tolerate variable water conditions and their efficacy in nutrient uptake. The FWI was constructed on a cork agglomerate platform, a material that allows for long-term durability and plant growth. Installed in 2018, this FWI has been under continuous monitoring to assess its ecological impact. Parameters such as local biodiversity improvement, water quality metrics and the platform’s long-term buoyancy and structural integrity have been tracked.
- Microbial fuel cells’ integration in constructed wetlands: a mini-reviewPublication . Ojediran, Adetunji A.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.; Rosa-Santos, Paulo; Rodrigues, Ana C.; Calheiros, Cristina S. C.Background & Aims: Constructed wetlands (CW) are widely recognized as an e?ective nature-based solution for wastewater treatment with benefits that include low energy consumption, ecological enhancement, aesthetics, and carbon sequestration potential (Calheiros et al., 2015; Vymazal, 2011). As stated by Justino et al. (2023) and Vymazal (2011) CW’s performance could be enhanced through hybrid configurations, combining di?erent hydraulic flows (vertical or horizontal), macrophyte types (emergent, submerged, or floating), and hydrological regimes (subsurface or surface flow). In addition to their treatment capacity, CW are characterized by having organic matter in their substrate and surrounding wastewater, and hosting microbial communities capable of electricity generation through biocatalytic metabolism, under anaerobic conditions. This dual functionality of a CW has been demonstrated in several studies (Angassa et al., 2024; Jacobs et al., 2024). The electroactive bacteria oxidize organic matter and transfer electrons to the anode. The electrons are then transferred to the cathode region through an external resistance. This process results in the generation of bioelectricity while simultaneously treating wastewater. This is the basic principle of microbial fuel cells (MFC) operation. This study aims to critically review current research on the integration of MFCs into CW, focusing on electricity generated from the organic matter content present in the wastewater. Methods: The study proposes a systematic review of relevant scientific literature, with a particular focus on recent developments in MFC associated to CW (Colares et al., 2022). Emphasis will be placed on decentralized wastewater treatment scenarios where influent quality and quantity fluctuate, as typically observed in rural tourism facilities. Implementation challenges such as system complexity, potential toxicity from electrode materials, and pollutants accumulation will also be assessed. The review will be carried out based on scientific databases such as ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Scopus to identify trends, technological frameworks, and knowledge gaps. Results: The review provides insights into the current state of MFC application in CW, comparing their performance in treating wastewater and assessing their energy recovery potential. Conclusion: The findings will support the development of a conceptual framework for integrating MFC into CW, enabling more sustainable, decentralized water treatment systems. This contributes directly to SDG 6 by enhancing access to safe water, SDG 11 through support for resilient and sustainable community infrastructure, and SDG 13 by promoting low-carbon, energy- generating wastewater technologies that mitigate climate impact.