Diseño de una planta de tratamiento de agua residual para el área de producción de tensoactivos de la Empresa Química Superior UNICHEM S.A.

Abstract

The design of a wastewater treatment plant for the surfactant production area of the company Química Superior UNICHEM S.A. located on the Interoceanic Highway Km 31, Sector San Carlos, Yaruqui - Pichincha, consists of the following phases: In the first phase, data was taken on flow rates and volumes generated from the effluent; in addition, representative samples composed of AR were obtained, which were analyzed physically - chemically at the CESTTA Laboratory. The average results obtained from the analysis are as follows: Hydrogen potential 10.77; settleable solids 0.25 mL/L; total suspended solids 1495; sulfide <0.002; chemical oxygen demand 51987.5; biochemical oxygen demand 2905; oils and fats 36.975; phenols 0.31; total solids 4178; total nitrogen 282.7; surfactants 47.458 and phosphorus 1009.68 mg/L; many of which are outside the standards established in the technical norms (TULAS). In the second phase, a wastewater treatment plant was designed consisting of the following equipment: a primary circular settling tank (sedimentation with flocculation) with paddle mixer, a complete-mix aerobic aerated lagoon with a diffuser system and a secondary circular settling tank. The capacities of the equipment are in accordance with the volume of wastewater to be treated within the Company. It should be noted that the choice of equipment was based on cost-effectiveness and pollutant removal efficiency, so that the treated effluent complies with the specifications for direct discharge to the sewer. With the use of the treatment system described above, wastewater pollution was reduced by 98.66% of total suspended solids, 99.08% of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and 91.51% of BOD5 (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). Therefore, it is concluded that the wastewater treatment plant has a high pollutant removal efficiency.