A New Methodology to Obtain a Reduction of the Heavy Metal Concentration in Waste Originated in Solid Residues, “Chorume”

Abstract

The reduction of the heavy metals concentration in liquid effluents is difficult and the existing methods available are expensive and their efficiencies ate in general low. The normal procedure adopted is based on the recirculation of the “chorume”, sometimes with a high content of heavy metals, into the liquid effluent flux of the central processing unit having in general a biological treatment. Depending on the heavy metal concentration the efficiency of the biological process decreases, or in certain cases, collapses completely. Activated peat by using the acid process or the one developed by the Universidade Federal de Sergipe and Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisas de Sergipe becomes an excellent heavy metals sorbent, which in certain analytical conditions has a very high efficiency. The overall process is controlled by diffusion and is governed by a first order kinetics. The use of activated peat shows in several situations that this process is a feasible alternative to getting the reduction of heavy metals concentrations in simulated effluents with one or more cations. Preliminary results show a significant matrix influence. The organic matter presence in the effluent may alter the sorption efficiency depending on its composition. The optimum analytical condition varies with the effluent quality and promotes the highest efficiency in the reduction of heavy metals concentrations.

The influence of wastewater type and organic loading on the protozoan and metazoan population of a peat bed filter

“…The influence of wastewater type and organic loading on the protozoan and metazoan population of a peat bed filter M [1][2][3][4][5]. The biology of the system includes a varied protozoan population which developes in the peat filter bed.…”