Estudio de la Contaminación del Agua por Productos Fabricados a Base de PVC Usando Espectroscopía de Absorción Atómica y Quimiometría

Abstract

Objective: analysis of water contamination by PVC-based products using atomic absorption spectroscopy and chemometrics to determine whether or not heavy metals are released into the water, since it is denied that these products are causing contamination. Three of our PVC pipes, elbows and tees manufactured by Plastigama, Hidro 3 and Makro (all Ecuadorian industries) were taken. The concentration of cadmium and lead was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) equipment in each of the PVC samples, then they were exposed to UV radiation for one and two months, and then subjected to an acid PH _> 4.5 and gitation for 24 hours, the samples were gauged to 100mL and the concentrations of these metals were read, the data were tabulated in a chemometric software, a process with which the contamination is simulated. The following concentrations were obtained: cadmium 0.032 mg/mL and lead 0.072 mg/mL, which compared with the Unified Text of Environmental Legislation (TULAS), cadmium exceeds the maximum permissible limits for fresh water discharge, sub-terranean water and water for agricultural use; lead concentrations exceeded the maximum limits for fresh water discharge, marine water discharge and estuaries, subway water, water for agricultural use and water for livestock use. This proves that products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) do contaminate water to the detriment of the environment.