Diseño de un sistema de tratamiento y recirculación para el efluente proveniente de la empacadora de banano de la finca “El Progreso” ubicada en el cantón El Guabo, provincia de El Oro

Abstract

Banana production is vital for the country's economy, however, this productive activity has negative consequences for the environment, specifically during the fruit packing process. In this process, a large amount of water is used, as well as chemicals are added in order give treatment to the fruit. Then the effluents are poured without any previous treatment into water. The aim of this study is to design a system that allows the treatment and recirculation of the effluent generated for the banana washing pools in the packing house of "El Progreso" farm, located in El Guabo, using the water treatment guide proposed by the Pan American Health Organization (2005). Firstly, the packer plant was visited to recognize the water catchment system and the final disposal of the effluent. As well, the effluent flow was calculated using the volumetric method. After, a physical and chemical analysis was carried out for the affluent as well as the effluent. Through the calculation of the effluent flow (2 l/s), it was determined that 0.115 m3 of water are used per box of packed banana produced. The results of the physical-chemical analysis exceeded the maximum permissible limit of the oils and fats parameter of 0.3 mg/l, with values of 11.2 mg/l of the effluent, and 24.8 mg/l of the affluent. Finally, a thick dynamic filtration system was designed in order to reduce the pollutant load of the effluent