Ingeniería ambiental

 

Caracterización de la materia orgánica en el efluente de un reactor nitrificante utilizando espectroscopia de fluorescencia

 

Characterization of organic matter in the effluent from a nitrifying reactor using fluorescence spectroscopy

 

S. Ventura-Cruz, C. Fall y M. Esparza-Soto*

 

Centro Interamericano de Recursos del Agua-Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco km. 14.5, Unidad San Cayetano Toluca, Estado de México, C.P. 50200. *Autor para la correspondencia. E-mail: mesparzas@uaemex.mx Tel.72-22-96-55-50, Fax 72-22-96-55-55.

 

Recibido 5 de Abril, 2013.
Aceptado 15 de Septiembre, 2013.

 

Resumen

La espectroscopia de fluorescencia es una herramienta analítica utilizada para examinar muestras de agua de diferente origen porque es sensible, selectiva y puede dar un amplio espectro de información sobre la composición, características, origen y distribución de la materia orgánica disuelta (MOD). El objetivo de esta investigación fue caracterizar la MOD en el efluente de un reactor aerobio autotrófico nitrificante por espectrometría de fluorescencia de la matriz de excitación-emisión en 3D (EEM-3D, por sus siglas en inglés) y así determinar si las EEM-3D podrían identificar productos microbianos solubles de bacterias nitrificantes. El reactor nitrificante fue operado a 36 días de tiempo de retención celular (TRC), 40 horas de tiempo de retención hidráulico (TRH) y alimentado con agua residual con exceso de amonio. Se identificaron solamente dos picos de fluorescencia en el efluente del reactor nitrificante: Los picos fueron localizados a una longitud de onda de emisión similar (416.9 ± 10.3 y 415.5 ± 2.2 nm, respectivamente), pero a diferentes longitudes de onda de excitación (245.2 ± 1.0 y 330.7 ± 1.7 nm, respectivamente). Las EEM-3D fueron significativamente diferentes a los que comúnmente se encuentran en el efluente de reactores aerobios heterotróficos de lodos activados o en el efluente de reactores anaerobios heterotróficos metanogénicos.

Palabras clave: nitrificación, materia orgánica disuelta, reactor aerobio autotrófico nitrificante, espectrometría de fluorescencia, matrices de excitación-emisión.

 

Abstract

The fluorescence spectroscopy is an analytical tool used to test water from different origins because it is sensitive, selective and can give a broad spectrum of information on the composition, characteristics, origin and distribution of dissolved organic matter (DOM). The objective of this research was to characterize the effluent DOM of an aerobic autotrophic nitrifying reactor with fluorescence spectrometry of the excitation-emission matrix in 3D (EEM-3D) and determine if ·EEM-3D could identify soluble microbial products from nitrifying bacteria. The nitrifying reactor was operated at a sludge retention time of 36 days, a hydraulic retention time of 40 hours of hydraulic retention time and fed with an excess of ammonium. Only two fluorescence peaks were identified in the reactor effluent: The peaks were located at similar emission wavelength (416.9 ± 10.3 and 415.5 ± 2.2 nm, respectively), but different excitation wavelength (245.2 ± 1.0 and 330.7 ± 1.7 nm, respectively). The EEM-3D were significantly different than those found in the effluent of aerobic and anaerobic reactors.

Keywords: nitrification, dissolved organic matter, nitrifying reactor, fluorescence spectrometry, excitation-emission matrix.

 

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