Optimización del proceso del tratamiento de aguas residuales de la industria curtiembre para reducir la concentración de sulfuros

Abstract

This research focuses on optimizing the treatment of wastewater from the leather tanning industry, with an emphasis on reducing sulfide concentration, a key contaminant in this type of effluent. A total of 27 experimental tests were conducted, each using 300 ml of wastewater from the dehairing stage, applying coagulation and oxidation processes, with ferric chloride as the coagulant and hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. The tests evaluated different doses and pH levels to determine the optimal combination that maximizes sulfide removal. The results showed that an alkaline pH of 10, along with a dose of 15 ml of ferric chloride and 1 ml of hydrogen peroxide per 300 ml of treated water, achieved a 97.98% removal. Additionally, the pH of the treated effluent was adjusted to the levels required by the TULSMA AM-97 regulation, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. However, from an economic perspective, the most efficient dose was 5 ml of ferric chloride and 0.5 ml of hydrogen peroxide, achieving a 99.57% removal, while also meeting the pH and maximum sulfide concentration requirements set by the regulation. This study highlights the importance of adjusting treatment parameters to maximize removal efficiency and minimize operational costs in the tanning industry.