Evaluación de remoción de metales pesados del agua residual de la industria minera, utilizando carbón activado de las fibras naturales de la cabuya

Abstract

The present titration work was carried out with the objective of evaluating the removal of heavy metals present in the wastewater of a mining industry using activated carbon from the natural fibers of the Cabuya. A simple sampling and the consideration of a specific point that corresponds to the flow of the discharge pipe of the flotation process of the Beneficiation Plant, which has a daily production from Monday to Saturday, in which 2 samples were taken on alternative days and at different times for their study, were caried out. A representative sample was taken from each of these samples and physicochemical parameters and the concentration of heavy metals were determined by laboratory analysis. The wastewater samples showed a pH fluctuating between 9.12 and 9.41. The heavy metals (with the exception of Zn, Pb for sample 1 and Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb in sample 2), according to the Environmental Quality and Effluent Discharge to Water Resources Regulations of MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT 097 A, TULSMA reform, book VI, annex 1, table 12, exceed the maximum permissible limits established in the aforementioned regulations. A sample of Cabuya was taken from two provinces (Chimborazo and Imbabura), by means of a slow pyrolysis process Charcoal was obtained with a yield fluctuating between 30.67 31.66%31.66%; it was activated with H3PO4 at 37% and was used as a filter medium through a simple filter to evaluate the removal of heavy metals and compare it with commercial charcoal, A representative sample of wastewater was taken and passed through 3 filters with each type of activated carbon, by laboratory analysis a decrease of all metals was obtained complying with the established standard through the third filter which leads to be suitable for the application of an alternative method for the treatment of contaminated water and reduce negative environmental impacts.