Browsing by Author "Albarracin Zeas, Mateo Andres"

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    Eficiencia de los vermifiltros como tratamiento primario para la remoción de microplásticos en aguas residuales urbanas del cantón Cuenca
    (Universidad de Cuenca, 2025-09-01) Albarracin Zeas, Mateo Andres; Sánchez Cabrera, Camila Fabiola; Guanuchi Quito, Alexandra Elizabeth
    The main objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of a vermifiltration system for the reduction of microplastics (MPs) in urban wastewater, considering the Ucubamba Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in the Cuenca canton as the study area. For this purpose, a pilot vermifiltration system implementing the Eisenia fetida species was used, and its performance was compared with a biofilter without worms. Physicochemical parameters of the water were characterized before and after vermifiltration treatment, and microplastics were also identified and quantified by oxidative digestion, vacuum filtration, and microscopic observation. Regarding microplastics, particles belonging to polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyamide, thermoplastic polyester (#7), and chlorinated polyethylene were detected with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) equipment. Therefore, it is evident that the vermifilter achieved a significantly higher removal efficiency than the biofilter, reaching percentages greater than 60% in the reduction of microplastics. Furthermore, in the analysis of the physical and chemical parameters, improvements were observed in the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) parameters, reaching a percentage reduction of up to 72% and in total suspended solids with a reduction of 68%. In the statistical analysis of the physical and chemical parameters, significant differences were evident between the values of the influent and effluent, which supports the effectiveness of the vermifiltration system. Based on the results obtained and the statistical analyses developed, vermifiltration systems are considered to improve the quality of the treated water, thus contributing to minimizing the environmental impacts associated with effluent discharge.