ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS REMOVAL IN DOMESTIC WASTEWATER USING A PROTOTYPE LABORATORY SCALE
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Published:
2017-09-01
Keywords:
Wastewater treatment, anaerobic, aerobic, septic tank, activated sludge, contaminant load.
Main Article Content
Abstract
In the community of Pulinguí belonging to the parish of San Andrés del canton Guano province of Chimborazo-
Ecuador, domestic sewage is treated in a system of septic tanks and upward filter, which presents problems of bad
smell and low reduction of organic matter. The objective of the present work was to evaluate at laboratory scale the
efficiency of pollutant removal by combining the current anaerobic treatment with an aerobic treatment by activated
sludge. A prototype with 27.9 liters capacity was designed, built and operated, of which 15.8 liters correspond to
the anaerobic zone, 7.7 liters to the aeration zone and 4.4 liters to the sedimentation zone. The system was evaluated
for 60 days with domestic wastewater from the cited community. During the evaluation, daily pH and dissolved
oxygen determinations were performed, and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was determined twice a week. The
information generated allowed us to observe that the system tended to stabilize during the three weeks of operation,
achieving organic removal efficiencies in terms of COD in the anaerobic treatment of 53%, in the aerobic treatment
of 75%, achieving a total reduction in The entire 88% system and eliminating the odor. With data from the anaerobic
tank taken after 60 days of continuous work, it allowed to project the maintenance of the Pulinguí treatment plant the
same that must be realized in approximately each 4 years.
Ecuador, domestic sewage is treated in a system of septic tanks and upward filter, which presents problems of bad
smell and low reduction of organic matter. The objective of the present work was to evaluate at laboratory scale the
efficiency of pollutant removal by combining the current anaerobic treatment with an aerobic treatment by activated
sludge. A prototype with 27.9 liters capacity was designed, built and operated, of which 15.8 liters correspond to
the anaerobic zone, 7.7 liters to the aeration zone and 4.4 liters to the sedimentation zone. The system was evaluated
for 60 days with domestic wastewater from the cited community. During the evaluation, daily pH and dissolved
oxygen determinations were performed, and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was determined twice a week. The
information generated allowed us to observe that the system tended to stabilize during the three weeks of operation,
achieving organic removal efficiencies in terms of COD in the anaerobic treatment of 53%, in the aerobic treatment
of 75%, achieving a total reduction in The entire 88% system and eliminating the odor. With data from the anaerobic
tank taken after 60 days of continuous work, it allowed to project the maintenance of the Pulinguí treatment plant the
same that must be realized in approximately each 4 years.
Article Details
Section
Scientific Article
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References
• Espigares García, M. & Pérez López, (1995). Aspectos sanitarios del estudio de las aguas. Universidad de Granada. Servicio de Publicaciones. Granada