The use of fluidized-bed bioreactors in waste and drinking water treatment has several advantages, the most significant of which is the specific removal rate, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of equivalent activated sludge processes. In this paper, the usual concept of nitrification-denitrification in separated units is replaced by a new concept in which the two processes are performed together in a single high-performance fluidized-bed. Based on the former nitrifying reactor, new equipment was designed. This reactor contained a fluidized bed with separated aerobic and anoxic sections for nitrification and denitri fication respectively. This was accomplished by the use of different-diameter sand as carrier material and appropriate reactor shape, recirculation, feed and aeration conditions. The reactor (20 L fluidized-bed volume) was operated for 3 months. It was fed with synthetic waste water (50 L/h) containing 25-40 mg NH₄ ⁺-N/L. Propionic acid and ethanol in a 1:4 ratio were used as the carbon source (2.3 g C/L) for deni trification, fed in at different points of the reactor. Ammonium removal reached 50%, while denitrification was 75%. The total nitrogen removal rate was 0.8-1.2 kg N/m ³.d. A new simple hydrostatic pressure method was used to monitor biofilm thickness in the fluidized bed. During the experiments the oxidation-reduc tion potential (ORP) was tested as a tool to monitor reactor performance; its use for the control of the process was found to be limited.

Cryptosporidium es uno de los microorganismos de mayor interés desde el punto de vista de la Salud Pública y constituye un problema prioritario para las plantas y organismos reguladores de agua. Debido a su pequeño tamaño y a su resistencia a la cloración, la eliminación por el proceso de potabilización es una tarea compleja. En este trabajo se analizó la efectividad de distintos coagulantes utilizados comúnmente en tal proceso para lograr la remoción de los ooquistes. Se trabajó con la prueba de jarras (Jar Test). Se halló que: 1) Los coagulantes con agregado de polímeros coadyuvantes producen remociones de ooquistes superiores a 2 log. 2) Un valor bajo de turbiedad no asegura una remoción óptima de los parásitos. 3) La adición de polielectrolitos al cloruro férrico disminuye la variabilidad tanto en la turbiedad final como en la eliminación de Cryptosporidium.<br>Cryptosporidium is one of the microorganisms of main concern from the point of view of Public Health, being a priority problem for water treatment plants and water regulatory institutions. Due to its small size and resistance to chlorination, Cryptosporidium removal during the process of drinking water treatmentis a hard task. The effectiveness of different coagulants commonly used in the process of removal of oocysts was analyzed. Thetechnique used was the Jar Test. It was found that: 1) coagulants with the addition of polimeric coadjuvants produce over 2 logs of oocyst removal; 2) a low value in turbidity does not necessarily mean optimal parasite removal, and 3) the addition of polyelectrolites to ferric chloride diminishes variability, both in final turbidity and Cryptosporidium removal.

El proyecto de investigación evalúa la remoción de manganeso en el sistema de tratamiento convencional de agua potable del municipio de Tocancipá, ya que este elemento químicos ha generado dificultad para ser removido y cumplir permanentemente con el valor máximo permisible de conformidad con la resolución 2115 de 2007, que es de 0.1 mg Mn/l; se realizaron análisis de las condiciones actuales de tratamiento del sistema, considerando las características del agua cruda, agua tratada y se evaluó el proceso de oxidación del manganeso con peróxido de hidrógeno que es el método utilizado actualmente. | The research project evaluates the removal of manganese in a conventional drinking water treatment Plant of the municipality of Tocancipá, since this chemical element has generated difficulty to be removed and permanently keep under the maximum permissible value in accordance with resolution 2115 of 2007 , which is 0.1 mg Mn/l; several analysis of the current treatment conditions of the system were analysed, including the characteristics of raw water, treated water and finally evaluated the oxidation process of manganese with hydrogen peroxide that is the method currently used. | Maestría | Magíster el Ingeniería Civil con Énfasis en Ingeniería Ambiental

Este trabajo presenta el informe final de pasantía para optar al título de Ingeniero Sanitario, donde a partir del desarrollo de actividades al interior de la empresa CDM SMITH Inc., en su sucursal para Colombia, en la ciudad de Bogotá, se apoya en la ejecución del contrato de consultoría No. 1-2-25-300-1425-2018-"Diseño detallado de las obras de modernización para la planta de tratamiento de agua potable Tibitoc", en lo concerniente al Sistema Integrado de Gestión que contempla las normas internacionales NTC-ISO 9001, NTC-ISO 14001:2015 – OHSAS 18001:2007, junto con actividades adicionales de apoyo técnico en la ejecución del mismo, el cual tuvo una duración de 384 horas. | This work presents the final report of internship to apply the title of Sanitary Engineer, where from the development of activities within the company CDM SMITH Inc. In its branch for Colombia, in the city of Bogotá, it relies on the execution of the contract de consultancy No. 1-2-25-300-1425-2018- "Detailed design of modernization works for the potable Tibitoc water treatment plant", as regards the Integrated Management System that includes the NTC international standards -ISO 9001, NTC-ISO 14001: 2015 - OHSAS 18001: 2007, together with additional technical support activities in its execution, which lasted 384 hours.