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El presente libro tiene como objetivo general conocer los fundamentos y la aplicación de las tecnologías disponibles para el tratamiento bilógico de las aguas residuales. Este libro pretende dotar a estudiantes, profesionales o investigadores de los conocimientos y habilidades necesarias para el pre-diseño de diferentes sistemas de tratamiento bilógico de las aguas residuales y de los fangos producidos en el proceso. Para ello, se profundiza en el estudio de los procesos biológicos, cuyo uso generalizado en la depuración de aguas residuales urbanas y gran número de industriales, por una parte, y su gran complejidad, por otra, justifica la importancia de un estudio detallado de los mismos. Asimismo, se tratan aspectos fundamentales referentes a la microbiología de los procesos, la cinética y la estequiometría de las reacciones bioquímicas, tipos de procesos, esquemas de proceso, aplicabilidad, etc. Además, se aborda la problemática de la producción de fangos, así como el diseño de los distintos métodos de tratamiento existentes.

[ES] Descripción: El tratamiento tradicional de las aguas residuales urbanas ha sido categorizado comúnmente como un sistema con elevados consumos energéticos e incapaz de aprovechar los recursos contenidos en las aguas residuales. En este contexto, el proceso de filtración directa del agua residual urbana se presenta como una alternativa innovadora para potenciar la recuperación energética en las EDAR. El principal objetivo de este tratamiento es recuperar mediante una filtración con membranas la fracción particulada de la materia orgánica afluente. De esta manera, se pretende incrementar la cantidad de energía recuperada en la digestión anaerobia mediante la valorización del lodo recuperado. Sin embargo, diversos inconvenientes como el ensuciamiento de las membranas, la posible reducción de la materia orgánica recuperada debido a una degradación biológica o la posible precipitación de nutrientes sobre la superficie de la membrana deben ser evaluados. Por tanto, futuros estudios son necesarios con el objetivo de determinar las condiciones operacionales más propicias para llevar a cabo este proceso. Alcance: El presente trabajo se centrará en estudiar el proceso de filtración directa del agua residual mediante una membrana de ultrafiltración. Como agua residual de estudio se empleará el efluente del decantador primario de la EDAR "El carraixet" en Alboraya (Valencia). Durante la operación de dicha membrana, se pretenden estudiar la influencia de distintas condiciones operacionales y diversas características físicas y químicas del fango sobre el proceso de filtración. Asimismo, se pretende desarrollar herramientas que permitan el adecuado seguimiento de la filtrabilidad de los lodos generados. Objetivos: ¿ Estudiar la influencia de los distintos parámetros operacionales (flujo, caudal de aire y concentración de sólidos alcanzada en el módulo de membranas) sobre el proceso de filtración directa del agua residual. ¿ Determinar la posible degradación de la materia orgán

[EN] The idea of this final master's thesis (TFM) arises from the needs identified in the framework of activities established within the European project "FuntomP" - Functionalized Tomato Products. Grant Agreement number 2032 (PRIMA Sec 1 Agro-food Value Chain 2020.). In order to promote a sustainable food industry value chain, it is necessary to identify the most efficient processes, in terms of energy and resources. Currently, there is a wide variety of technologies in the food sector that are positioned against traditional methods to offer a safe product that does not compromise nutritional capabilities. Although these technologies are systematically tested and scaled to verify their viability, in many occasions, the positioning or replacement of one technology by another is not accompanied by a sustainability analysis, so that the most technically and economically advanced technologies do not always represent a environmental advantage. The main objective of this TFM is the application of the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology to determine the environmental footprint of traditional and new technologies used in the food preservation sector. Specifically, the pasteurization process of tomato juice will be evaluated through conventional heat treatment and different alternative treatments, such as microwave pasteurization (MW), high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technology, ultraviolet (UV) treatment and high power ultrasound (HPU). The application of the LCA methodology will make it possible to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the evaluated processes, identifying the most sustainable processes and the main sources of impact of each one of them., [ES] La idea de este trabajo fin de máster (TFM) surge de las necesidades identificadas en el marco de actividades establecidas dentro del proyecto europeo FuntomP - Functionalized Tomato Products. Grant Agreement number 2032 (PRIMA Sec 1 Agro-food Value Chain 2020.). Con el fin de promover una cadena de valor de la industria alimentaria sostenible, es necesario identificar los procesos más eficientes, en términos de energía y recursos. En la actualidad, existe una gran variedad de tecnologías en el sector de la alimentación que se posicionan frente a los métodos tradicionales para ofrecer un producto seguro que no comprometa las capacidades nutricionales. Si bien dichas tecnologías sistemáticamente se testan y escalan para comprobar su viabilidad, en muchas ocasiones, el posicionamiento o reemplazo de una tecnología por otra no va acompañado de un análisis de sostenibilidad, por lo que no siempre las tecnologías más avanzadas técnica y económicamente representan una ventaja medioambiental. El principal objetivo del presente TFM es la aplicación de la metodología de análisis de ciclo de vida (ACV) para la determinación de la huella medioambiental de tecnologías tradicionales y novedosas empleadas en el sector de la conservación de alimentos. En concreto, se evaluará el proceso de pasteurización del zumo de tomate mediante tratamiento térmico convencional y diferentes tratamientos alternativos, como son la pasteurización por microondas (MW), tecnología de alta presión hidrostática (HHP), tratamiento ultravioleta (UV) y ultrasonidos de alta potencia (HPU). La aplicación de la metodología ACV permitirá evaluar los impactos ambientales asociados a los procesos evaluados, identificando los procesos más sostenibles y los principales focos de impacto de cada uno de ellos.

[EN] Plant-wide modelling can be considered an appropriate approach to represent the current complexity in water resource recovery facilities, reproducing all known phenomena in the different process units. Nonetheless, novel processes and new treatment schemes are still being developed and need to be fully incorporated in these models. This work presents a short chronological overview of some of the most relevant plant-wide models for wastewater treatment, as well as the authors' experience in plant-wide modelling using the general model BNRM (Biological Nutrient Removal Model), illustrating the key role of general models (also known as supermodels) in the field of wastewater treatment, both for engineering and research.

©IWA Publishing 2020. The definitive peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Water Research, Volume 184, 1 October 2020, 116133, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116133 and is available at www.iwapublishing.com., [EN] Although anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR) are a core technology in the transition of urban wastewater (UWW) treatment towards a circular economy, the transition is being held back by a number of bottlenecks. The dissolved methane released from the effluent, the need to remove nutrients (ideally by recovery), or the energy lost by the competition between methanogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) for the biodegradable COD have been identified as the main issues to be addressed before AnMBR becomes widespread. Mathematical modeling of this technology can be used to obtain further insights into these bottlenecks plus other valuable information for design, simulation and control purposes. This paper therefore proposes an AnMBR anaerobic digestion model to simulate the crucial SRB-related process since these bacteria degrade more than 40% of the organic matter. The proposed model, which is included in the BNRM2 collection model, has a reduced but all-inclusive structure, including hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, methanogenesis and other SRB-related processes. It was calibrated and validated using data from an AnMBR pilot plant treating sulfate-rich UWW, including parameter values obtained in off-line experiments and optimization methods. Despite the complex operating dynamics and influent composition, it was able to reproduce the process performance. In fact, it was able to simulate the AD of sulfate-rich UWW considering only two groups of SRB: heterotrophic SRB growing on both VFA (propionate) and acetate, and autotrophic SRB growing on hydrogen. Besides the above-mentioned constraints, the model reproduced the dynamics of the mixed liquor solids concentration, which helped to integrate biochemical and filtration models. It also reproduced the alkalinity and pH dynamics in the mixed liquor required for assessing the effect of chemical precipitation on membrane scaling.

[EN] Microalgae performance of outdoor cultivation systems is influenced by environmental and operating dynamics. Monitoring and control systems are needed to maximise biomass productivity and nutrient recovery. The goal of this work was to corroborate that pH data could be used to monitor microalgae performance by means of data from an outdoor membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) plant. In this system, microalgae photosynthetic activity was favoured over other physical and biological processes, so that the pH data dynamics was theoretically related to the microalgae carbon uptake rate (CUR). Shortand long-term continuous operations were tested to corroborate the relationship between the first derivate of pH data dynamics (pH') and microalgae photosynthetic activity. Short-term operations showed a good correlation between gross pH' values and MPBR performance. An indicator of the maximum daily average microalgae activity was assessed by a combination of on-line pH' measurements obtained in the long-term and a microalgae growth kinetic model. Both indicators contributed to the development of advanced real-time monitoring and control systems to optimise microalgae cultivation technology.

[EN] This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of degassing membrane (DM) technology for recovering dissolved methane from AnMBR effluents. For that purpose, a PDMS membrane module was operated for treating the effluent from an AnMBR prototype-plant, which treated urban wastewater (UWW) at ambient temperature. Different transmembrane pressures and liquid flow rates were applied for evaluating methane recovery efficiency. Maximum methane recoveries were achieved when increasing the vacuum pressure and reducing the liquid flow rate, reaching a maximum methane recovery efficiency of around 80% at a transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 0.8 bars and a treatment flow rate (Q(L)) of 50 L h(-1). The results revealed that the combination of PDMS DMs and AnMBR technology would allow to reduce the energy demand of UWW treatment, achieving net energy productions while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Optimum operation was determined at a TMP of 0.8 bars and a Q(L) of 150 L h(-1) when combining energy, environmental and economic targets. Under these operating conditions, the combination AnMBR + DM resulted in energy requirements and greenhouse gases emissions of -0.040 kWh and 0.113 kg of CO2-eq per m(3) of treated water, respectively, resulting in a DM payback period of around 10.5 years.

[EN] Feasibility of an AnMBR demonstration plant treating urban wastewater (UWW) at temperatures around 25-30 degrees C was assessed during a 350-day experimental period. The plant was fed with the effluent from the pretreatment of a full-scale municipal WWTP, characterized by high COD and sulfate concentrations. Biodegradability of the UWW reached values up to 87%, although a portion of the biodegradable COD was consumed by sulfate reducing organisms. Effluent COD remained below effluent discharge limits, achieving COD removals above 90%. System operation resulted in a reduction of sludge production of 36-58% compared to theoretical aerobic sludge productions. The membranes were operated at gross transmembrane fluxes above 20 LMH maintaining low membrane fouling propensities for more than 250 days without chemical cleaning requirements. Thus, the system resulted in net positive energy productions and GHG emissions around zero. The results obtained confirm the feasibility of UWW treatment in AnMBR under mild and warm climates.

[EN] The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an outdoor membrane-coupled high-rate algal pond equipped with industrial-scale membranes for treating urban wastewater. Decoupling biomass retention time (BRT) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) by membrane filtration resulted in improved process efficiencies, with higher biomass productivities and nutrient removal rates when operating at low HRTs. At 6 days of BRT, biomass productivity increased from 30 to 66 and to 95 g.m(-3).d(-1) when operating at HRTs of 6, 4 and 2.5 days, respectively. The corresponding nitrogen removal rates were 4, 8 and 11 g N.m(-3).d(-1) and the phosphorous removal rates were 0.5, 1.3 and 1.6 g P.m(-3).d(-1). The system was operated keeping moderate specific air demands (0.25 m(3).m(-2).h(-1)), resulting in reasonable operating and maintenance costs ((sic)0.04 per m(3)) and energy requirements (0.29 kWh per m(3)). The produced water was free of pathogens and could be directly used for reusing purposes.

[EN] On-line performance indicators of a microalgae-bacteria consortium were screened out from different variables based on pH and dissolved oxygen on-line measurements via multivariate projection analysis, aiming at finding on-line key state indicators to easily monitor the process. To fulfil this objective, a pilot-scale high-rate pond for urban wastewater treatment was evaluated under highly variable conditions, i.e. during the start-up period. The system was started-up without seed of either bacterial or microalgal biomass. It took around 19 days to fully develop a microalgal community assimilating nutrients significantly. Slight increases in the biomass productivities in days 26-30 suggest that the minimum time for establishing a performant bacteria-microalgae consortium could be of around one month for non-inoculated systems. At this point, the process was fully functional, meeting the European discharge limits for protected areas. The results of the statistical analyses show that both the pH and the dissolved oxygen concentration represent accurately the biochemical processes taking place under the start-up of the process. Both pH and dissolved oxygen represented accurately also the performance of the high-rate algal pond, being affordable, easily-implemented, options for monitoring, control and optimization of industrial-scale processes.

[EN] Nutrient recovery technologies are rapidly expanding due to the need for the appropriate recycling of key elements from waste resources in order to move towards a truly sustainable modern society based on the Circular Economy. Nutrient recycling is a promising strategy for reducing the depletion of non-renewable resources and the environmental impact linked to their extraction and manufacture. However, nutrient recovery technologies are not yet fully mature, as further research is needed to optimize process efficiency and enhance their commercial applicability. This paper reviews state-of-the-art of nutrient recovery, focusing on frontier technological advances and economic and environmental innovation perspectives. The potentials and limitations of different technologies are discussed, covering systems based on membranes, photosynthesis, crystallization and other physical and biological nutrient recovery systems (e.g. incineration, composting, stripping and absorption and enhanced biological phosphorus recovery).

[EN] The operation of an outdoor membrane photobioreactor plant which treated the effluent of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor was optimised. Biomass retention times of 4.5, 6, and 9 days were tested. At a biomass retention time of 4.5 days, maximum nitrogen recovery rate:light irradiance ratios, photosynthetic efficiencies and carbon biofixations of 51.7¿±¿14.3¿mg¿N·mol¿1, 4.4¿±¿1.6% and 0.50¿±¿0.05¿kg CO2·m3influent, respectively, were attained. Minimum membrane fouling rates were achieved when operating at the shortest biomass retention time because of the lower solid concentration and the negligible amount of cyanobacteria and protozoa. Hydraulic retention times of 3.5, 2, and 1.5 days were tested at the optimum biomass retention times of 4.5 days under non-nutrient limited conditions, showing no significant differences in the nutrient recovery rates, photosynthetic efficiencies and membrane fouling rates. However, nitrogen recovery rate:light irradiance ratios and photosynthetic efficiency significantly decreased when hydraulic retention time was further shortened to 1 day, probably due to a rise in the substrate turbidity which reduced the light availability in the culture. Optimal carbon biofixations and theoretical energy recoveries from the biomass were obtained at hydraulic retention time of 3.5 days, which accounted for 0.55¿±¿0.05¿kg CO2·m¿3influent and 0.443¿±¿0.103¿kWh·m¿3influent, respectively.

[EN] This data in brief (DIB) article is related to a Research article entitled 'Optimising an outdoor membrane photobioreactor for tertiary sewage treatment' [1]. Data related to the effect of substrate turbidity, the ammonium concentration at which the culture reaches nitrogen-deplete conditions and the microalgae growth rate under outdoor conditions is provided. Microalgae growth rates under different substrate turbidity were obtained to assess the reduction of the culture's light availability. Lab-scale experiments showed growth rates reductions of 22-44%. Respirometric tests were carried to know the limiting ammonium concentration in thismicroalgae-basedwastewater treatment system. Growth rates (m) of green microalgae Scenedesmus and Chlorella obtained under outdoor conditions; i.e. 0.40 d(-1) (R-2 = 0.993) and 0.43 d(-1) (R-2 = 0.995), respectively, can be useful to obtain optimum operating conditions of membrane photobioreactor (MPBR).

El presente libro tiene como objetivo general conocer los fundamentos y la aplicación de las tecnologías disponibles para el tratamiento bilógico de las aguas residuales. Este libro pretende dotar a estudiantes, profesionales o investigadores de los conocimientos y habilidades necesarias para el pre-diseño de diferentes sistemas de tratamiento bilógico de las aguas residuales y de los fangos producidos en el proceso. Para ello, se profundiza en el estudio de los procesos biológicos, cuyo uso generalizado en la depuración de aguas residuales urbanas y gran número de industriales, por una parte, y su gran complejidad, por otra, justifica la importancia de un estudio detallado de los mismos.Asimismo, se tratan aspectos fundamentales referentes a la microbiología de los procesos, la cinética y la estequiometría de las reacciones bioquímicas, tipos de procesos, esquemas de proceso, aplicabilidad, etc.Además,se aborda la problemática de la producción de fangos, así como el diseño de los distintos métodos de tratamiento existentes.

[EN] This research work proposes an innovative water resource recovery facility (WRRF) for the recovery of energy, nutrients and reclaimed water from sewage, which represents a promising approach towards enhanced circular economy scenarios. To this aim, anaerobic technology, microalgae cultivation, and membrane technology were combined in a dedicated platform. The proposed platform produces a high-quality solid- and coliform-free effluent that can be directly discharged to receiving water bodies identified as sensitive areas. Specifically, the content of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus in the effluent was 45 mg COD.L-1 , 14.9 mg N.L-1 and 0.5 mg P.L-1 , respectively. Harvested solar energy and carbon dioxide biofixation in the form of microalgae biomass allowed remarkable methane yields (399 STP L CH 4.kg(-1) CODinf ) to be achieved, equivalent to theoretical electricity productions of around 0.52 kWh per m 3 of wastewater entering the WRRF. Furthermore, 26.6% of total nitrogen influent load was recovered as ammonium sulphate, while nitrogen and phosphorus were recovered in the biosolids produced (650 +/- 77 mg N.L-1 and 121.0 +/- 7.2 mg P.L-1).

[EN] The use of anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology (AnMBR) is rapidly expanding. However, depending on the application, AnMBR design and operation is not fully mature, and needs further research to optimize process efficiency and enhance applicability. This paper reviews state-of-the-art of AnMBR focusing on modelling and control aspects. Quantitative environmental and economic evaluation has demonstrated substantial advantages in application of AnMBR to domestic wastewater treatment, but detailed modelling is less mature. While anaerobic process modelling is generally mature, more work is needed on integrated models which include coupling between membrane performance (including fouling) and the biological process. This should include microbial factors, which are important to generation of specific foulants such as soluble and particulate inert organics. Mature and well-established control tools, including better feedback control strategies are also required for both the process, and for fouling control.

[EN] The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of a pilot scale membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) for treating the effluent of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) system. In particular, new experimental data on microalgae productivity, nutrient recovery, CO2 biofixation and energy recovery potential was obtained under different operating conditions, which would facilitate moving towards cost-effective microalgae cultivation on wastewater. To this aim, a 2.2-m(3) MPBR equipped with two commercial-scale hollow-fibre ultrafiltration membrane modules was operated treating the nutrient-loaded effluent from an AnMBR for sewage treatment. The influence of several design, environmental and operating parameters on MPBR performance was studied. Among the conditions evaluated, variations in solar irradiance significantly affected the nutrient recovery rate (NRR). Operating at temperatures above 25 degrees C and high biomass concentrations, which increased light shading effect, negatively affected biomass production and NRR. Maximum biomass productivity of 66 mg VSS L-1 d(-1) (areal productivity of 15.78 g VSS m(-2) d(-1)) and NRR of 7.68 mg N L-1 d(-1) and 1.17 mg P L-1 d(-1) were achieved when operating at 4.5 days of biomass retention time. These results would outcome maximum theoretical energy recoveries and CO2 biofixations of about 0.43 kWh and 0.51 kg CO2 per m(3) of treated water, respectively. Moreover, the excellent quality permeate that was produced (i.e. negligible levels of pathogens and suspended solids) represents a reclaimed water source. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[ES] El informe de sostenibilidad es una herramienta importante que puede ser utilizada por una organización para comunicar voluntariamente su desempeño e impacto, positivo o negativo, en cuestiones ambientales, sociales y de gobierno corporativo. La transparencia sobre como se llevan a cabo las actividades sostenibles de la organización es una prioridad para una amplia gama de partes interesadas, incluidas organizaciones empresariales, trabajadores, ONG, inversores y auditores, entre otros. Para la preparación del informe, se analizan diversos indicadores económicos, sociales, ambientales y de gobierno corporativo. Trabajar con esta información permite identificar riesgos y oportunidades, lo que contribuye a mejorar la gestión y la planificación estratégica de la organización de tal forma que les resulta más fácil establecer objetivos, medir su rendimiento y gestionar el cambio hacia un modelo sostenible. Para el sector automotriz, presionado para cambiar su modelo de negocio a uno sostenible debido a su impacto ambiental significativo, cada vez es más común que los grandes fabricantes de automóviles exijan a sus proveedores de partes y servicios transparencia sobre su contribución al desarrollo sostenible. En este contexto, y a petición de sus clientes más grandes, se ha llevado a cabo un informe de sostenibilidad para un grupo industrial dedicado al desarrollo y la fabricación de componentes metálicos para automóviles, con plantas en Europa Meridional y Central. Este informe ha sido desarrollado de acuerdo con los estándares de Global Reporting Initiative - GRI 2016. El proceso de preparación del informe de sostenibilidad, así como los indicadores de desempeño considerados y las oportunidades de mejora identificadas se presentan en esta tesis., [CA] L'informe de sostenibilitat és una eina important que pot ser utilitzada per una organització per comunicar voluntàriament el seu rendiment i impacte, positiu o negatiu, en qüestions de govern ambiental, social i corporatiu. La transparència sobre la sostenibilitat de les activitats de l'organització és una prioritat per a una àmplia gamma de grups d'interès, incloent organitzacions empresarials, treballadors, ONG, inversors i auditors, entre d'altres. Per a la preparació de l'informe, s'analitzen diversos indicadors de governança econòmica, social, mediambiental i corporativa. Treballar amb aquestes dades permet la identificació de riscos i oportunitats, contribuint a millorar la gestió i la planificació estratègica de l'organització de manera que siguin més fàcils d'establir objectius, mesurar el seu rendiment i gestionar el canvi cap a un model sostenible. Per al sector de l'automòbil, es pressiona a canviar el seu model de negoci d'una manera sostenible a causa del seu important impacte mediambiental, cada vegada és més freqüent que els grans fabricants d'automòbils exigeixin als seus proveïdors de transparència de peces i serveis la seva contribució al desenvolupament sostenible. En aquest context, ia petició dels seus clients més grans, s'ha realitzat un informe de sostenibilitat per a un grup industrial dedicat al desenvolupament i fabricació de components metàl·lics per a automòbils, amb plantes a Europa meridional i central. Aquest informe s'ha desenvolupat d'acord amb els estàndards de la Global Reporting Initiative (GRI 2016). Es presenten en aquesta tesi el procés de preparació de l'informe de sostenibilitat, així com els indicadors de rendiment i les oportunitats de millora identificades., [EN] The sustainability report is an important tool that can be used by an organization to voluntarily communicate its performance and impact, positive or negative, on environmental, social and corporate governance issues. Transparency over how the organization carries out sustainable activities is a priority for a wide range of stakeholders, including business organizations, workers, NGOs, investors and auditors, among others. For the preparation of the report, various economic, social, environmental and corporate governance indicators are analyzed. Working with this data allows the identification of risks and opportunities, contributing to improve management and strategic planning of the organization in such a way that they find it easier to establish objectives, measure their performance and manage the change towards a sustainable model. For the automotive sector, pressured to change its business model to a sustainable one due to its significant environmental impact, it is becoming increasingly common for large automakers to demand from their suppliers of parts and services transparency over their contribution to sustainable development. In this context, and by request of its largest customers, a sustainability report has been carried out for an industrial group dedicated to the development and manufacturing of metal components for automobiles, with plants in Southern and Central Europe. This report has been developed in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative standards - GRI 2016. The process of preparing the sustainability report, as well as the performance indicators considered and the opportunities for improvement identified are presented in this thesis.

[ES] El agua potable es un recurso imprescindible para la vida, por lo que es un bien que se debe cuidar y conservar. La potabilización tiene por objetivo garantizar unas adecuadas condiciones de calidad fisicoquímicas y organolépticas para el consumo humano, dependerá de las características previas que presente el agua. La legislación que controla la calidad de las aguas para consumo humano en España es el Real Decreto 140/2003, de 7 de febrero, por el que se establecen los criterios sanitarios de la calidad del agua de consumo humano, donde se recoge todo lo establecido en la directiva 98/83/CE del consejo, de 3 de noviembre de 1998, relativa a la calidad de las aguas destinadas al consumo humano de la Unión Europea. La ultrafiltración es un proceso por el cual se eliminan solidos suspendidos, bacterias y virus mediante la aplicacio n de membranas, esta técnica se está extendiendo ra pidamente como alternativa a los metodos convencionales, para poder cumplir con regulaciones cada vez mas estrictas respecto a la calidad del agua. Estas membranas no eliminan el color, la materia orga nica soluble, ni productos quimicos organicos sinteticos, por lo que se debera combinar con otras tecnologi as convencionales, como los filtros de carbon activo o la osmosis inversa, superando de esta manera las limitaciones de este metodo. En la Planta potabilizadora de la Presa se ha implantado una planta piloto de ultrafiltracion que dispone de cuatro configuraciones diferentes de membranas. En este trabajo, se compararan dos de las cuatro configuraciones, denominadas XIGA y DOW, con el objetivo de evaluar cu l presenta mayores ventajas t cnicas, economicas y medio ambientales. Este sistema de tratamiento se ha implantado para afrontar problemas actuales y futuros, como son la mayor demanda de agua por la poblacion, la reduccion de la calidad del agua debido a periodos de sequi a y de lluvia desequilibrados, el aumento de las exigencias de la calidad del agua para consumo humano, los, [CA] L'aigua potable es un recurs imprescindible per a la vida, per la qual cosa es un be que s'ha de cuidar i conservar. La potabilitzacio te per objectiu garantir unes adequades condicions de qualitat fisicoquimiques i organoleptiques per al consum huma, dependra de les caracteristiques previes que presente l'aigua. La legislacio que controla la qualitat de les aigues per a consum huma a Espanya es el Reial Decret 140/2003, de 7 de febrer, pel qual s'establixen els criteris sanitaris de la qualitat de l'aigua de consum huma, on s'arreplega tot el que establix la directiva 98/83/CE del consell, de 3 de novembre de 1998, relativa a la qualitat de les aigues destinades al consum huma de la Unio Europea. La ultrafiltracio es un proces pel qual s'eliminen solguts suspesos, bacteris i virus per mitja de l'aplicacio de membranes, esta tecnica s'esta estenent rapidament com a alternativa als metodes convencionals, per a poder complir amb regulacions cada vegada mes estrictes respecte a la qualitat de l'aigua. Estes membranes no eliminen el color, la mate`ria organica soluble, ni productes quimics organics sintetics, per la qual cosa s'haura` de combinar amb altres tecnologies convencionals, com els filtres de carbo activa o l'osmosi inversa, superant d'esta manera les limitacions d'este me`tode. En la Planta potabilitzadora de la Presa s'ha implantat una planta pilot d'ultrafiltracio on es tenen quatre configuracions diferents de membranes, en este cas es compararan dos (XIGA i DOW), per a veure quin presenta majors avantatges tecnics, economiques i mig ambientals. Este sistema s'ha implantat per a afrontar problemes actuals i futurs, com son la major demanda d'aigua per la poblacio, la reduccio de la qualitat de l'aigua degut a periodes de sequera i de pluja desequilibrats, l'augment de les exigencies de la qualitat de l'aigua per a consum huma, els contaminants emergents, els consums energetics, aixi com l'emprar tres fonts diferent d'alimentacio amb diferents caracteri, [EN] Drinking water is an essential resource for life, which must be taken care of and conserved. The potabilization must guarantee adequate physicochemical and organoleptic quality conditions for human consumption, depending on the previous characteristics of the water. The ultrafiltration is a process that eliminates suspended solids, bacteria and viruses with membranes, this technology is spreading rapidly as alternative to conventional methods, in order to comply with the strictest standards in water quality. These membranes do not eliminate color, soluble organic matter, or organic chemicals, in this technology must be used activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis, for overcoming the limitations of this method. In the Water Treatment Plant of La Presa there is an ultrafiltration pilot plant that has four different membrane settings. In this work, two of the four configurations, called XIGA and DOW, will be compared with the objective of evaluating which presents the greatest technical, economic and environmental advantages. This treatment system has been designed to overcome current and future problems, such as the greater water demand by the population, the reduction of water quality due to periods of drought and rains, the increase in the quality requirements of the water for human consumption, emerging pollutants, energy consum, as well as employing three power supplies with differents characteristics, the Turia river, the Jucar- Turia canal and a series of inland wells.

[ES] El alcance del proyecto es minimizar el impacto ambiental mediante la aplicación de técnicas de ecología industrial a una empresa dedicada a la fabricación de productos derivados del maíz, entendiendo la fábrica como un ecosistema, en el que se intercambian flujos de materia y energía. Mediante el estudio de estos flujos, se busca reestructurarlos con el fin de evitar o reducir los impactos. El proyecto se centra en la obtención de nuevos recursos a través de los residuos que esta empresa genera. Con esta actuación se conseguiría una minimización de residuos del proceso productivo, una mayor eficiencia y un beneficio económico a través la energía obtenida y la comercialización de subproductos., [CA] L'objectiu del projecte és minimitzar l'impacte ambiental mitjançant l'aplicació de tècniques d'ecologia industrial a una empresa dedicada a la fabricació de productes derivats de la dacsa, entenent la fàbrica com un ecosistema, en el qual s'intercanvien fluxos de matèria i energia. Mitjançant l'estudi d'aquests fluxos, es busca reestructurar per tal d'evitar o reduir els impactes. El projecte es centra en l'obtenció de nous recursos a través dels residus que aquesta empresa genera. Amb aquesta actuació s'aconseguiria una minimització de residus del procés productiu, una major eficiència i un benefici econòmic a través l'energia obtinguda i la comercialització de subproductes., [EN] The objective of the project is to minimize the environmental impact by applying industrial ecology techniques to a company dedicated to the manufacture of products derived from corn, understanding the factory as an ecosystem, in which flows of matter and energy are exchanged. By studying these flows, the project wants to restructure them in order to avoid or reduce impacts. The project focuses on obtaining new resources through the waste generated by this company. With this action, a minimization of waste from the production process, greater efficiency and an economic benefit through the energy obtained and the commercialization of by-products will be achieved.

[EN] This study describes a model-based method for real-time optimization of the key filtration parameters in a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating urban wastewater (UWW) and UWW mixed with domestic food waste (FW). The method consists of an initial screening to find out adequate filtration conditions and a real-time optimizer applied to a periodically calibrated filtration model for minimizing the operating costs. The initial screening consists of two statistical analyses: (1) Morris screening method to identify the key filtration parameters; (2) Monte Carlo method to establish suitable initial control inputs values. The operating filtration cost after implementing the control methodology was (sic)0.047 per m(3) (59.6% corresponding to energy costs) when treating UWW and 0.067 per m(3) when adding FW due to higher fouling rates. However, FW increased the biogas productivities, reducing the total costs to (sic)0.035 per m(3). Average downtimes for reversible fouling removal of 0.4% and 1.6% were obtained, respectively. The results confirm the capability of the proposed control system for optimizing the AnMBR performance when treating both substrates. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[ES] El ritmo acelerado de la sociedad actual ha generado cambios en nuestros hábitos alimenticios, aumentando el consumo de las comidas fuera del hogar. Muchas personas llevan sus comidas o simplemente un bocadillo al lugar de trabajo o al colegio con un trozo de papel aluminio o film transparente; o con un recipiente de plástico o una bolsa alimenticia. Por una parte, esto es debido a la comodidad y a la falta de tiempo durante los tiempos de descanso en los colegios o centros laborales. Por otra parte, por el ahorro económico, dado que comer, por ejemplo, en un restaurante todos los días supone un gasto importante. Sin embargo, aunque sean pequeñas cantidades de productos que consumimos nuestro día a día, desconocemos las consecuencias que conllevan al medio ambiente tanto para producirlos como para gestionarlos después de su uso. Por lo que disminuir sus impactos supone un reto para las industrias y también para los consumidores. Este trabajo analiza el ciclo de vida de los envoltorios de comida (papel de aluminio, papel film, fiambrera de plástico y bolsa alimenticio) que abarca desde la cuna hasta la tumba. Se utiliza la metodología definida en la norma ISO 14040, que contempla la definición del objetivo y alcance; el análisis del inventario de datos; la evaluación de los impactos ambientales; y la interpretación de los resultados. Para la comparación y evaluación de los datos se usará la base de datos Ecoinvent y el programa informático SimaPro. Finalmente se interpretará los impactos más significativos y la propuesta de medida para la reducción del producto más "perjudicial" para el medio ambiente., [CA] El ritme accelerat de la societat actual ha generat canvis en els nostres hàbits alimentaris, augmentant el consum dels menjars fora del llar. Moltes persones porten els seus menjars o simplement un entrepà al lloc de treball o al col·legi amb un tros de paper d'alumini o film transparent; o amb un recipient de plàstic o una bossa alimentària. D'una banda, açò és degut a la comoditat i a la falta de temps durant els temps de descans en els col·legis o centres laborals. D'altra banda, per l'estalvi econòmic, atés que menjar, per exemple, en un restaurant tots els dies suposa un gasto important. No obstant això, encara que siguen xicotetes quantitats de productes que consumim el nostre dia a dia, desconeixem les conseqüències que comporten al medi ambient tant per a produir-los com per a gestionar-los després del seu ús. Pel que disminuir els seus impactes suposa un repte per a les indústries i també per als consumidors Este treball analitza el cicle de vida dels embolcalls de menjar (paper d'alumini, paper film, portaviandes de plàstic i bossa alimentari) que comprén des del bressol fins a la tomba. S'utilitza la metodologia definida en la norma ISO 14040, que contempla la definició de l'objectiu i abast; l'anàlisi de l'inventari de dades; l'avaluació dels impactes ambientals; i la interpretació dels resultats. Per a la comparació i avaluació de les dades s'usarà la base de dades Ecoinvent i el programa informàtic SimaPro. Finalment s'interpretarà els impactes més significatius i la proposta de mesura per a la reducció del producte més perjudicial per al medi ambient., [EN] The pace of current society has produced changes in their eating habits, the consumption of meals outside the home. Many people bring their meals or simply a snack to the workplace or school with a piece of aluminum foil or transparent film; or with a plastic container or a food bag. On the one hand, this is due to the comfort and lack of time during rest periods in schools or in the central work days. On the other hand, for the economic savings, since eating, for example, in a restaurant every day is an important expense. However, even if they are small quantities of products that we consume, we show our day to day, we do not know the consequences that entail to the environment both to produce them and to manage them after their use. So, reducing their impacts is a challenge for industries and also for consumers. This document analyzes the study of the life cycle analysis of food wrappers (aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plastic lunch box and food bag) from the cradle to the grave. The methodology defined in the ISO 14040 standard is used, which contemplates the definition of the objective and scope; the analysis of the data inventory; the evaluation of environmental impacts; and the interpretation of the results. For the comparison and evaluation of the data, the Ecoinvent database and the SimaPro software will be used. Finally, the most significant impacts and the proposed measure for the reduction of the most "harmful" product for the environment will be interpreted.

[EN] This research work proposes an innovative layout for urban wastewater treatment based on anaerobic technology, microalgal cultivation and membrane technology. The proposed Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) system can treat urban wastewater efficiently, complying with legal discharge limits and allowing for resource recovery, i.e. energy, nutrients and reclaimed water. In addition, the proposed layout produces less solid wastes than a conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and it is possible to recover energy as biogas, not only from the original wastewater sources but also from the biomass generated in the WRRF system.

[EN] Microalgae cultivation appears to be a promising technology for treating nutrient-rich effluents from anaerobic membrane bioreactors, as microalgae are able to consume nutrients from sewage without an organic carbon source, although the sulphide formed during the anaerobic treatment does have negative effects on microalgae growth. Short and long-term experiments were carried out on the effects of sulphide on a mixed microalgae culture. The short-term experiments showed that the oxygen production rate (OPR) dropped as sulphide concentration increased: a concentration of 5 mg S L¿1 reduced OPR by 43%, while a concentration of 50 mg S L¿1 came close to completely inhibiting microalgae growth. The long-term experiments revealed that the presence of sulphide in the influent had inhibitory effects at sulphide concentrations above 20 mg S L¿1 in the culture, but not at concentrations below 5 mg S L¿1. These conditions favoured Chlorella growth over that of Scenedesmus.

[ES] El aumento de la población a nivel mundial trae consigo un consumo de recursos disponibles por encima de las posibilidades de cada país. Es por ello que con el paso del tiempo se ha visto necesaria la implicación de cada país con el objetivo de gestionar de la mejor manera posible el consumo de dichos recursos. Uno de los problemas más importantes es la necesidad de tratar el agua residual procedente de los núcleos urbanos e industriales, con el fin de dar una calidad adecuada a la misma con anterioridad a ser vertida al cauce público. Los sistemas de control en las estaciones de depuración de aguas residuales (EDAR) desempeñan un papel importante ya que el agua residual afluente presenta una variabilidad en cuanto a composición, caudal y carga contaminante, es por esta razón que en la actualidad ha despertado un gran interés. En el presente trabajo se estudia el comportamiento de una EDAR basada en el esquema de tratamiento Bardenpho modificado. Además, se utiliza el modelo BSM1 (Del inglés: Benchmarck Simulation Model Nº1) para estudiar el efecto de la dinámica del afluente sobre el proceso y el modelo BNRM2 (Del inglés: Biological Nutrient Removal Model Nº2) para simular el esquema de tratamiento. Mediante el software DESASS, se ha implementado la EDAR estudio. Se ha implementado, calibrado y validado un sistema de control mediante el software LoDif BioControl, con el objetivo de optimizar el proceso de eliminación biológica de nitrógeno, mediante un controlador de aireación basado en sonda de amonio ABAC (Del Inglés: Ammonia - Based Aeration Control)., [CA] L'aument de la població a nivell mundial porta en si un consum de recursos disponibles per damunt de les possibilitats de cada país. És per això que en el pas del temps s'ha vist necessària l'implicació de cada país en l'objectiu de gestionar de la millor manera possible el consum de dits recursos. Un dels problemes més importants és la necessitat de tractar l'aigua residual procedent dels núcleus urbans i industrials, en la finalitat de donar una calitat adequada a la mateixa en anterioritat a ser abocada al caixer públic. Els sistemes de control en les estacions de depuració d'aigües residuals (*EDAR) eixerciten un paper important ya que l'aigua residual afluent presenta una variabilitat sobre composició, cabal i càrrega contaminant, és per esta raó que en l'actualitat ha despertat un gran interés. En el present treball s'estudia el comportament d'una EDAR basada en l'esquema de tractament Bardenpho modificat. Ademés, s'utilisa el model BSM1 (De l'anglés: Benchmarck Simulation Model Nº1) per a estudiar l'efecte de la dinàmica de l'afluent sobre el procés i el model BNRM2 (De l'anglés: Biological Nutrient Removal Model Nº2) per a simular l'esquema de tractament. Per mig del software DESASS, s'ha implementat la EDAR estudi. S'ha implementat, calibrat i validat un sistema de control per mig del software LoDif BioControl, en l'objectiu d'optimisar el procés d'eliminació biològica de nitrogen, per mig d'un controlador de aireación basat en sonda d'amoni ABAC (De l'Inglés: Ammonia - Based Aeration Control)., [EN] The increase of the population at a global level consumes a consumption of available resources above the possibilities of each country, it is for that reason, that with the passage of time it has been necessary the implication by each country, of management in the best possible way. The most important problems is the need to treat wastewater from urban and industrial centers, in order to give adequate quality to the same before being poured into the public waterway. Control systems at sewage treatment plants (WWTPs) play an important role since the influent waste water has a variability in composition, flow rate and pollutant load, which is why it has now aroused a great deal of interest. This study the behavior of an EDAR based on the modified Bardenpho treatment scheme is studied. In addition, the models BSM1 (Benchmarck Simulation Model No. 1) is used to study the effect of the affluent dynamics on the process and the model BNRM2 (Biological Nutrient Removal Model No. 2) to simulate the treatment scheme. Through the DESASS software, the EDAR study has been implemented. A control system has been implemented, calibrated and validated by the software LoDif BioControl, with the objective of optimizing the process of biological nitrogen elimination, by means of an aeration controller based on ammonia probe ABAC (Ammonia - Based Aeration Control ).

[EN] The objective of this study was to assess the economic and environmental sustainability of submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) in comparison with aerobic-based technologies for moderate-/high-loaded urban wastewater (UWW) treatment. To this aim, a combined approach of steady-state performance modelling, life cycle analysis (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) was used, in which AnMBR (coupled with an aerobic-based post-treatment) was compared to aerobic membrane bioreactor (AeMBR) and conventional activated sludge (CAS). AnMBR with CAS-based post-treatment for nutrient removal was identified as a sustainable option for moderate-/high-loaded UWW treatment: low energy consumption and reduced sludge production could be obtained at given operating conditions. In addition, significant reductions can be achieved in different aspects of environmental impact (global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion, acidification, etc.) and LCC over existing UWW treatment technologies.

[EN] The aim of this study is to propose a detailed and comprehensive plant-wide model for assessing the energy demand of different wastewater treatment systems (beyond the traditional activated sludge) in both steady- and unsteady-state conditions. The proposed model makes it possible to calculate power and heat requirements (W and Q, respectively), and to recover both power and heat from methane and hydrogen capture. In order to account for the effect of biological processes on heat requirements, the model has been coupled to the extended version of the BNRM2 plant-wide mathematical model, which is implemented in DESSAS simulation software. Two case studies have been evaluated to assess the model's performance: (1) modelling the energy demand of two urban wastewater treatment plants based on conventional activated sludge and submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technologies in steady-state conditions and (2) modelling the dynamics of reactor temperature and heat requirements in an AnMBR plant in unsteady-state conditions. The results indicate that the proposed model can be used to assess the energy performance of different wastewater treatment processes and would thus be useful, for example, WWTP design or upgrading or the development of new control strategies for energy savings.

[ES] En los últimos años se ha incrementado la población mundial reduciéndose la cantidad de recursos disponibles, haciéndose cada vez más necesaria la optimización de los mismos. Uno de los principales problemas que surgen es la necesidad de tratar las aguas procedentes de núcleos urbanos e industriales para su reutilización antes de ser vertida de nuevo a cauce público por su falta de calidad. El papel de los sistemas de control en las estaciones de depuración de aguas residuales (EDAR) sigue siendo de gran interés en la actualidad, debido principalmente a la variabilidad que presenta en agua residual afluente en lo que respecta a composición, caudal y carga contaminante. En el presente trabajo se estudia el comportamiento de una EDAR basada en el esquema de tratamiento propuesto en el modelo BSM1, pero con una peculiaridad: la duplicación del número de líneas de tratamiento mediante la duplicación del caudal afluente propuesto en dicho modelo. La EDAR ha sido implementada en el software de simulación DESASS y está formada por dos líneas en flujo pistón con 5 zonas (las primeras dos zonas anaerobias y las 3 últimas aerobias) más decantación secundaria, incorporando además un sistema de aireación. Al esquema de tratamiento se le añade un sistema de control que será implementado, calibrado y validado con el software LoDif BioControl, con el objetivo de optimizar el proceso de eliminación biológica de nitrógeno y materia orgánica., [CA] En els últims anys s'ha incrementat la població mundial reduint-se la quantitat de recursos disponibles, fent-se cada vegada més necessària l'optimització dels mateixos. Un dels principals problemes que sorgeix és la necessitat de tractar les aigües procedents de nuclis urbans i industrials per a la seua reutilització abans de ser abocada de nou a llit públic per la seua falta de qualitat. El paper dels sistemes de control a les estacions depuradores d'aigües residuals (EDAR) segueix estant en estudi en l'actualitat, sobretot pel que fa a la variabilitat que es presenta en l'aigua influent amb pertorbacions pel que fa a cabal i càrrega contaminant, juntament amb la diferent composició de les aigües residuals entrants. En el present treball es realitzen simulacions mitjançant una sèrie de programes que ens donaran una estratègia de control òptima per a l'eliminació del nitrogen de l'influent de manera biològica. Este en un tipus de planta de tractament basat en els reactors de flux pistó amb el model BSM1 però amb un canvi i el flux s'incrementa dues vegades perquè el model siga més paregut a la major quantitat d'EDAR. L'EDAR creada presenta dos línies en flux pistó amb 5 zones (les primeres dos zones anaeròbies i les 3 últimes aeròbies) més decantació secundària. A l'esquema de tractament se li afegeix un sistema de control que serà implementat, calibrat i validat amb el programa LoDif BioControl, amb l'objectiu d'optimitzar el procés de eliminació biològica de nitrogen i matèria orgànica., [EN] In recent years the world population has increased reducing the amount of available resources, becoming increasingly necessary to optimize them. One of the main problems that arise is the need to treat water from urban and industrial centers for reuse before being poured back into public waterways for their lack of quality. The role of control systems at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) is still of interest for the scientific community, mainly due to the significant variability occurring in composition, flow and pollutant load of influent wastewaters. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a WWTP based on the layout proposed in the model BSM1, which was modified in order to account for peculiarities found in full-scale WWTPs. Specifically, the WWTP was design with two treatment lines by doubling the influent flow rate proposed in the before-mentioned model. The WWTP was implemented in the simulation software DESASS and consisted of two piston flow-based reactors with 5 zones (the first two zones were anaerobic and the last 3 zones were aerobic) and one secondary settler each line. The aeration system was also designed. The treatment schedule is added to a control system to be implemented, calibrated and validated with BioControl LoDif software, in order to optimize the biological process to removal nitrogen and organic matter.

[EN] The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic and environmental sustainability of a sub- merged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating urban wastewater (UWW) and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) at ambient temperature in mild/hot climates. To this aim, power requirements, energy recovery from methane (biogas methane and methane dissolved in the effluent), consumption of reagents for membrane cleaning, and sludge handling (polyelectrolyte and energy consumption) and disposal (farmland, landfilling and incineration) were evaluated within different operating scenarios. Results showed that, for the operating conditions considered in this study, AnMBR technology is likely to be a net energy producer, resulting in considerable cost savings (up to V0.023 per m3 of treated water) when treating low-sulphate influent. Life cycle analysis (LCA) results revealed that operating at high sludge retention times (70 days) and treating enhances the overall environmental performance of AnMBR technology.

[EN] The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the main factors affecting the cost of the filtration process in submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) for urban wastewater (UWW) treatment. Experimental data for CAPEX/OPEX calculations was obtained in an AnMBR system featuring industrial-scale hollow-fiber (HF) membranes. Results showed that operating at J(20) slightly higher than the critical flux results in minimum CAPEX/OPEX. The minimum filtration process cost ranged from Euro0.03 to Euro0.12 per m(3), mainly depending on SGD(m) (from 0.05 to 0.3 m(3)m(-2)h(-1)) and MLSS (from 5 to 25 gL-1). The optimal SGD(m) resulted in approx. 0.1 m(3)m(-2)h(-1).

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11157-015-9382-6, [EN] To enhance energy production from methane or resource recovery from digestate, anaerobic digestion processes require advanced instrumentation and control tools. Over the years, research on these topics has evolved and followed the main fields of application of anaerobic digestion processes: from municipal sewage sludge to liquid mainly industrial then municipal organic fraction of solid waste and agricultural residues. Time constants of the processes have also changed with respect to the treated waste from minutes or hours to weeks or months. Since fast closed loop control is needed for short time constant processes, human operator is now included in the loop when taking decisions to optimize anaerobic digestion plants dealing with complex solid waste over a long retention time. Control objectives have also moved from the regulation of key variables measured online to the prediction of overall process perfor- mance based on global off-line measurements to optimize the feeding of the processes. Additionally, the need for more accurate prediction of methane production and organic matter biodegradation has impacted the complexity of instrumentation and should include a more detailed characterization of the waste (e.g., biochemical fractions like proteins, lipids and carbohydrates)andtheirbioaccessibility andbiodegradability characteristics. However, even if in the literature several methodologies have been developed to determine biodegradability based on organic matter characterization, only a few papers deal with bioaccessibility assessment. In this review, we emphasize the high potential of some promising techniques, such as spectral analysis, and we discuss issues that could appear in the near future concerning control of AD processes.

The main objective of this paper is to assess different treatment schemes for designing a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) based WWTP. The economic impact of including a primary settling (PS) stage and further anaerobic digestion (AD) of the wasted sludge has been evaluated. The following operating scenarios were considered: sulphate-rich and low-sulphate urban wastewater (UWW) treatment at 15 and 30 ºC. To this aim, the optimum combination of design/operating parameters that resulted in minimum total cost (CAPEX plus OPEX) for the different schemes and scenarios was determined. The AnMBR design was based on both simulation and experimental results from an AnMBR plant featuring industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes fed with UWW from the pre-treatment of a municipal WWTP located in Valencia (Spain). AnMBR without PS and AD was identified as the most economic option for an AnMBR-based WWTP treating low-sulphate UWW (minimum cost of 0.05 per m3 and a maximum surplus energy of 0.1 kW h per m3), whilst AnMBR with PS and AD was the optimum option when treating sulphate-rich UWW (minimum cost of 0.05 per m3 and a maximum surplus energy of 0.09 kW h per m3).

[EN] The main objective of this study is to propose guidelines for designing submerged anaerobic MBR (AnMBR) technology for municipal wastewater treatment. The design methodology was devised on the basis of simulation and experimental results from an AnMBR plant featuring industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes. The proposed methodology aims to minimise both capital expenditure and operating expenses, and the key parameters considered were: hydraulic retention time, solids retention time, mixed liquor suspended solids concentration in the membrane tank, 20 C-standardised critical flux, specificgas demand per square metre of membrane area, and flow of sludge being recycled from the membrane tank to the anaerobic reactor. An AnMBR WWTP operating at 15 and 30 C with both sulphate-rich (5.7 mg COD mg 1 SO4-S) and low-sulphate (57 mg COD mg 1 SO4-S) municipal wastewater was designed. The minimum cost of the designed plant was 0.097 and 0.070 per m3 when treating sulphate- rich and low-sulphate wastewater, respectively.

A submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) demonstration plant with two commercial hollow-fibre ultrafiltration systems (PURON® , Koch Membrane Systems, PUR-PSH31) was designed and operated for urban wastewater treatment. An instrumentation, control, and automation (ICA) system was designed and implemented for proper process performance. Several single-input-single-output (SISO) feedback control loops based on conventional on off and PID algorithms were implemented to control the following operating variables: flow-rates (influent, permeate, sludge recycling and wasting, and recycled biogas through both reactor and membrane tanks), sludge wasting volume, temperature, transmembrane pressure, and gas sparging. The proposed ICA for AnMBRs for urban wastewater treatment enables the optimization of this new technology to be achieved with a high level of process robustness towards disturbances.

Tesis por compendio, [EN] Anaerobic MBRs (AnMBRs) can provide the desired step towards sustainable wastewater treatment, broadening the range of application of anaerobic biotechnology to low-strength wastewaters (e.g. urban ones) or extreme environmental conditions (e.g. low operating temperatures). This alternative technology gathers the advantages of anaerobic treatment processes (e.g. low energy demand stemming from no aeration and energy recovery through methane production) jointly with the benefits of membrane technology (e.g. high quality effluent, and reduced space requirements). It is important to highlight that AnMBR may offer the possibility of operation in energy neutral or even being a net energy producer due to biogas generation. Other aspects that must be taken into account in AnMBR are the quality and nutrient recovery potential of the effluent and the low amount of sludge generated, which are of vital importance when assessing the environmental impact of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The main aim of this Ph.D. thesis is to assess the economic and environmental sustainability of AnMBR technology for urban wastewater treatment at ambient temperature. Specifically, this thesis focusses on the following aspects: (1) development of a detailed and comprehensive plant-wide energy model for assessing the energy demand of different wastewater treatment systems at both steady- and unsteady-state conditions; (2) proposal of a design methodology for AnMBR technology and identification of optimal AnMBR-based configurations by applying an overall life cycle cost (LCC) analysis; (3) life cycle assessment (LCA) of AnMBR-based technology at different temperatures; and (4) evaluation of the overall sustainability (economic and environmental) of AnMBR for urban wastewater treatment. In this research work, a plant-wide energy model coupled to the extended version of the plant-wide mathematical model BNRM2 is proposed. The proposed energy model was used for assessing the energy perfor, [ES] El reactor anaerobio de membranas sumergidas (AnMBR) puede proporcionar el paso deseado hacia un tratamiento sostenible del agua residual, ampliando la aplicabilidad de la biotecnología anaerobia al tratamiento de aguas residuales de baja carga (ej. agua residual urbana) o a condiciones medioambientales extremas (ej. bajas temperaturas de operación). Esta tecnología combina las ventajas de los procesos de tratamiento anaerobio (baja demanda energética gracias a la ausencia de aireación y a la recuperación energética a través de la producción de metano) con los beneficios de la tecnología de membranas (ej. efluente de alta calidad y reducidas necesidades de espacio). Cabe destacar que la tecnología AnMBR permite la posibilidad del autoabastecimiento energético del sistema debido a la generación de biogás. Otros aspectos que se deben considerar en el sistema AnMBR son el potencial de recuperación de nutrientes, la calidad del efluente generado y la baja cantidad de fangos producidos, siendo todos ellos de vital importancia cuando se evalúa el impacto medioambiental de una planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales urbanas. El objetivo principal de esta tesis doctoral es evaluar la sostenibilidad económica y medioambiental de la tecnología AnMBR para el tratamiento de aguas residuales urbanas a temperatura ambiente. Concretamente, esta tesis se centra en las siguientes tareas: (1) desarrollo de un modelo de energía detallado y completo que permita evaluar la demanda energética global de diferentes sistemas de tratamiento de aguas residuales tanto en régimen estacionario como en transitorio; (2) propuesta de una metodología de diseño e identificación de configuraciones óptimas para la implementación de la tecnología AnMBR, aplicando para ello un análisis del coste de ciclo de vida (CCV); (3) análisis del ciclo de vida (ACV) de la tecnología AnMBR a diferentes temperaturas; y (4) evaluación global de la sostenibilidad (económica y medioambiental) de la tecnología AnM, [CA] El reactor anaerobi de membranes submergides (AnMBR) pot proporcionar el pas desitjat cap a un tractament d'aigües residuals sostenible, i suposa una extensió en l'aplicabilitat de la biotecnologia anaeròbia al tractament d'aigües residuals amb baixa càrrega (p.e. aigua residual urbana) o a condicions mediambientals extremes (p.e. baixes temperatures d'operació). Aquesta tecnologia alternativa reuneix els avantatges dels processos de tractament anaerobi (baixa demanda d'energia per l'estalvi de l'aireig i possibilitat de recuperació energètica per la producció de metà), conjuntament amb els beneficis de l'ús de de la tecnologia de membranes (p.e efluent d'alta qualitat, i reduïdes necessitats d'espai). Cal destacar que la tecnologia AnMBR permet la possibilitat de l'autoabastiment energètic del sistema degut a la generació de biogàs. Altres aspectes que s'han de considerar en el sistema AnMBR són el potencial de recuperació de nutrients, la qualitat de l'efluent i la baixa quantitat de fang generat, tots ells de vital importància quan s'avalua l'impacte mediambiental d'una planta de tractament d'aigües residuals urbanes. L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi doctoral és avaluar la sostenibilitat econòmica i mediambiental de la tecnologia AnMBR per al tractament d'aigües residuals urbanes a temperatura ambient. Concretament, aquesta tesi se centra en les tasques següents: (1) desenrotllament d'un detallat i complet model d'energia per al conjunt de la planta a fi d'avaluar la demanda d'energia de diferents sistemes de tractament d'aigües residuals tant en règim estacionari com en transitori; (2) proposta d'una metodologia de disseny i identificació de les configuracions òptimes de la tecnologia AnMBR mitjançant l'aplicació una anàlisi del cost de tot el cicle de vida (CCV) ; (3) anàlisi del cicle de vida (ACV) de la tecnologia AnMBR a diferents temperatures; i (4) avaluació global de la sostenibilitat (econòmica i mediambiental) de la tecnologia AnMBR per al tract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the operating cost of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating sulphate-rich urban wastewater (UWW) at ambient temperature (ranging from 17 to 33 degrees C). To this aim, energy consumption, methane production, and sludge handling and recycling to land were evaluated. The results revealed that optimising specific gas demand with respect to permeate volume (SGDp) and sludge retention time (for given ambient temperature conditions) is essential to maximise energy savings (minimum energy demand: 0.07 kW h m(-3)). Moreover, low/moderate sludge productions were obtained (minimum value: 0.16 kg TSS kg(-1) CODRemoved), which further enhanced the overall operating cost of the plant (minimum value: is an element of 0.011 per m(3) of treated water). The sulphate content in the influent UWW significantly affected the final production of methane and thereby the overall operating cost. Indeed, the evaluated AnMBR system presented energy surplus potential when treating low-sulphate UWW

The results of a global sensitivity analysis of a filtration model for submerged anaerobic MBRs (AnMBRs) are assessed in this paper. This study aimed to (1) identify the less- (or non-) influential factors of the model in order to facilitate model calibration and (2) validate the modelling approach (i.e. to determine the need for each of the proposed factors to be included in the model). The sensitivity analysis was conducted using a revised version of the Morris screening method. The dynamic simulations were conducted using long-term data obtained from an AnMBR plant fitted with industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes. Of the 14 factors in the model, six were identified as influential, i.e. those calibrated using off-line protocols. A dynamic calibration (based on optimisation algorithms) of these influential factors was conducted. The resulting estimated model factors accurately predicted membrane performance.

This paper describes a model-based method to optimise filtration in submerged AnMBRs. The method is applied to an advanced knowledge-based control system and considers three statistical methods: (1) sensitivity analysis (Morris screening method) to identify an input subset for the advanced controller; (2) Monte Carlo method (trajectory-based random sampling) to find suitable initial values for the control inputs; and (3) optimisation algorithm (performing as a supervisory controller) to re-calibrate these control inputs in order to minimise plant operating costs. The model-based supervisory controller proposed allowed filtration to be optimised with low computational demands (about 5min). Energy savings of up to 25% were achieved when using gas sparging to scour membranes. Downtime for physical cleaning was about 2.4% of operating time. The operating cost of the AnMBR system after implementing the proposed supervisory controller was about 0.045/m3, 53.3% of which were energy costs.

"© IWA Publishing [2014]. The definitive peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Journal of Hydroinformatics, vol. 69, n. 7 (1581-1588) 2014. DOI:10.2166/wst.2014.069 and is available at www.iwapublishing.com”

[EN] The objective of this study was to assess the environmental impact of a submerged anaerobic MBR (SAnMBR) system in the treatment of urban wastewater at different temperatures: ambient temperature (20 and 33 degrees C), and a controlled temperature (33 degrees C). To this end, an overall energy balance (OEB) and life cycle assessment (LCA), both based on real process data, were carried out. Four factors were considered in this study; (1) energy consumption during wastewater treatment; (2) energy recovered from biogas capture; (3) potential recovery of nutrients from the final effluent; and (4) sludge disposal. The OEB and LCA showed SAnMBR to be a promising technology for treating urban wastewater at ambient temperature (OEB = 0.19 kW h m(-3)). LCA results reinforce the importance of maximising the recovery of nutrients (environmental impact in eutrophication can be reduced up to 45%) and dissolved methane (positive environmental impact can be obtained) from SAnMBR effluent. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[ES] El tratamiento de aguas residuales urbanas en la mayoría de países desarrollados se basa en los tradicionales fangos activos aerobios como núcleo del proceso de depuración. Este sistema de tratamiento presenta dos inconvenientes principales: un alto consumo energético derivado de las necesidades de aireación y una gran generación de fangos que necesitan, a su vez, ser tratados para su eliminación o reutilización. En un contexto de aumento de la sensibilización medioambiental y de un previsible incremento de los costes energéticos, el estudio de las posibilidades de un cambio a tratamientos anaerobios de aguas residuales está justificado. Estos tratamientos reducen el consumo de energía, al no necesitar de aireación, y producen menores cantidades de fango, debido al menor rendimiento en el crecimiento de la biomasa anaerobia. Como ventaja adicional, se produce biogás que sirve como fuente de energía. Sin embargo, los procesos anaerobios presentan también desventajas, como son la menor velocidad de crecimiento de la biomasa a temperatura ambiente y la baja sedimentabilidad de los fangos. La combinación del tratamiento anaerobio con un proceso de separación por membranas permite solventar parte de estos inconvenientes, aunque añade otros relacionados con los problemas intrínsecos de los procesos de membrana, como es el ensuciamiento. Es por ello que se hace necesario el estudio de los parámetros de operación relacionados con la tecnología anaerobia de membranas a escala industrial, con el fin de conocer las condiciones que permitan su correcto funcionamiento a largo plazo, minimizando los efectos del ensuciamiento, con un bajo coste energético y económico. En esta línea, la aplicación del conocido como ¿Flux-step method¿ para determinar las condiciones críticas de filtración permitiría conocer las condiciones de operación bajo las cuales se minimizarían los problemas de ensuciamiento., [EN] Waste water treatment is based on traditional aerobic activated sludge in most of the developed countries. This treatment system has two main disadvantages: high energy consumption because of its aeration needs and high sludge production, which needs to be managed. In a context, where environmental sensibility and energy costs will improve its levels, studying the posibility of changing to anaerobic waste water treatment is justified. This system reduces energy consumption, because no aeration is needed, and reduces sludge production, because of the lower grow yield of anaerobic biomass. In addition, biogas is produced, and it is an energy source. However, anaerobic prcesses have also disadvantages, such as its lower biomass grow rate in ambient temperature and the low sludge sedimentability. A combination between anaerobic treatment and a membrane filtration system can deal with these problems in order to solve them, but it introduces new desadvantage, such as membrane fouling. That is why studying operation parameters related to anaerobic membrane technology is needed, in order to know how to operate it correctly, minimizing fouling and with low energy consumption an costs. In this line, flux-step method will be used to determine critic filtration conditions, so fouling can be minimize.

El reactor anaerobio de membranas sumergidas (SAnMBR) está considerado como tecnología candidata para mejorar la sostenibilidad en el sector de la depuración de aguas residuales, ampliando la aplicabilidad de la biotecnología anaerobia al tratamiento de aguas residuales de baja carga (v.g. agua residual urbana) o a condiciones medioambientales extremas (v.g. bajas temperaturas de operación). Esta tecnología alternativa de tratamiento de aguas residuales es más sostenible que las tecnologías aerobias actuales ya que el agua residual se transforma en una fuente renovable de energía y nutrientes, proporcionando además un recurso de agua reutilizable. SAnMBR no sólo presenta las principales ventajas de los reactores de membranas (i.e. efluente de alta calidad, y pocas necesidades de espacio), sino que también presenta las principales ventajas de los procesos anaerobios. En este sentido, la tecnología SAnMBR presenta una baja producción de fangos debido a la baja tasa de crecimiento de los microorganismos implicados en la degradación de la materia orgánica, presenta una baja demanda energética debido a la ausencia de aireación, y permite la generación de metano, el cual representa una fuente de energía renovable que mejora el balance energético neto del sistema. Cabe destacar el potencial de recuperación de nutrientes del agua residual bien cuando el efluente es destinado a irrigación directamente, o bien cuando debe ser tratado previamente mediante tecnologías de recuperación de nutrientes. El objetivo principal de esta tesis doctoral es evaluar la viabilidad de la tecnología SAnMBR como núcleo en el tratamiento de aguas residuales urbanas a temperatura ambiente. Por lo tanto, esta tesis se centra en las siguientes tareas: (1) implementación, calibración y puesta en marcha del sistema de instrumentación, control y automatización requerido; (2) identificación de los parámetros de operación clave que afectan al proceso de filtración; (3) modelación y simulación del proces

A demonstration plant with two commercial HF ultrafiltration membrane modules (PURON (R), Koch Membrane Systems, PUR-PSH31) was operated with urban wastewater. The effect of the main operating variables on membrane performance at sub-critical and supracritical filtration conditions was tested. The physical operating variables that affected membrane performance most were gas sparging intensity and back-flush (BF) frequency. Indeed, low gas sparging intensities (around 0.23 Nm(3) h(-1) m(-2)) and low BF frequencies (30s back-flush for every 10 basic filtration relaxation cycles) were enough to enable membranes to be operated sub-critically even when levels of mixed liquor total solids were high (up to 25 g L-1). On the other hand, significant gas sparging intensities and BF frequencies were required in order to maintain long-term operating at supra-critical filtration conditions. After operating for more than two years at sub-critical conditions (transmembrane flux between 9 and 13.3 LMH at gas sparging intensities of around 0.23 Nm(3) h(-1) m(-2) and MLTS levels from around 10-30 g L-1) no significant irreversible/irrecoverable fouling problems were detected (membrane permeability remained above 100 LMH bar(-1) and total filtration resistance remained below 10(13) m(-1)), therefore no chemical cleaning was conducted. Membrane performance was similar to the aerobic HF membranes operated in full-scale MBR plants. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The main aim of this study was to develop an advanced controller to optimise filtration in submerged anaerobic MBRs (SAnMBRs). The proposed controller was developed, calibrated and validated in a SAnMBR demonstration plant fitted with industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes with variable influent flow and load. This 2-layer control system is designed for membranes operating sub-critically and features a lower layer (on/off and PID controllers) and an upper layer (knowledge-based controller). The upper layer consists of a MIMO (multiple-input-multiple-output) control structure that regulates the gas sparging for membrane scouring and the frequency of physical cleaning (ventilation and back flushing). The filtration process is monitored by measuring the fouling rate on-line. This controller demonstrated its ability to keep fouling rates low (close to 0 mbar mm(-1)) by applying sustainable gas sparging intensities (approx. 0.23 Nm(3) h(-1) m(-2)). It also reduced the downtimes needed for ventilation and back-flushing (less than 2% of operating time).

The aim of this study was to develop a model able to correctly reproduce the filtration process of submerged anaerobic MBRs (SAnMBRs). The proposed model was calibrated and validated in a SAnMBR demonstration plant fitted with industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes. Three suspended components were contemplated in the model: total solids concentration; dry mass of cake on the membrane surface; and dry mass of irreversible fouling on the membrane surface. The model addressed the following physical processes: the build-up and compression of the cake layer during filtration; cake layer removal using biogas sparging to scour the membrane; cake layer removal during back-flushing; and the consolidation of irreversible fouling. The short- and long-term validation of the model resulted in correlation coefficients (R-2) of 0.962 and 0.929, respectively.

The aim of this study was the long-term validation of a model capable of reproducing the filtration process occurring in a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) system. The proposed model was validated using data obtained horn a SAnMBR demonstration plant fitted with industrial-scale hollow-fibre membranes. The validation was carried out using both lightly and heavily fouled membranes operating at different bulk concentrations, gas sparging intensities and transmembrane fluxes. Across a broad spectrum of operating conditions, the model correctly forecast the respective experimental data in the long term. The simulation results revealed the importance of controlling irreversible fouling in order to ensure sustainable long-term membrane performance.