ABSTRACT
The contact between wastewater and geotextiles can lead to the development of biofilm due to microorganisms’ activity resulting in the decrease of void ratio in the geotextile matrix (bioclogging). This phenomenon reduces the lifespan of geotextiles in works such as sanitary landfills, mining lagoons or wastewater stabilization ponds. However, geotextiles can also promote the removal of wastewater's compounds such as suspended solids, organic compounds, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The objective of this research is to evaluate the bioclogging evolution in two types of non-woven geotextiles of different weights after contacting with a wastewater. Laboratory experiments were carried out in permeameters colonized with wastewater biomass and fed with domestic synthetic wastewater (300 mg COD/L, 30 mg N-NH4/L, 6 mg P-PO4/L, C/N:4 and C/P:20). The results show rapid biofilm adhesion to both geotextiles and good stabilization conditions of the biofilm, but clogging was not significant for 80 days of contact. Removal of COD, N and P was slightly higher for the GT300 (around 82%, 55% and 36%, respectively), but considered good for both geotextiles.
