Use of a submerged anaerobic filter in the removal of organic matter from municipal waste water. Preliminary results

• Published in: Revista CENIC. Ciencias biológicas Vol. 41; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Avila Soto, S, Gonzalez Bucio, JL, Canche Uuh, JA, Calva Calva, G, Avila Reveles, JC, Oropeza Garcia, NA, Carrion Jimenez, JM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Freshwater; Mexico
• ISSN: 0253-5688; 2221-2450

Performance of municipal waste water bioremediation using anaerobic systems depends on, after other factors, temperatures between 35 - 40 degree C, which represents a real problem to apply this technology in places with warm and cold weather such as Chetumal, Quintana Roo. In this work, the performance of a submerged anaerobic filter (SAF) bioreactor for the removal of the organic matter from municipal waste water of Chetumal during the colder periods of the year was evaluated. The SAF, previously stabilized by 8 months, was fed from September to December with municipal waste water from Chetumal. The oxygen biochemical demand, ammonia and nitrate levels were evaluated and the volumetric organic charge estimated. Variation in environmental temperature affected drastically the removal efficiency of the SAF. At lower temperature lower removal efficiency: at 36-37 degree C more than 90 % of the organic material was removed, but by 20 degree C less than 20 % was removed. Also, important addition of alkali to the ASF was required for the best removal condition. The data supports well the use of ASF bioreactors in the bioremediation of municipal waste water from Chetumal. However the cost of alkali addition and the season temperature should be considered in the global technical process.Original Abstract: La eficiencia de Biorremediacion de aguas residuales de tipo municipal por sistemas anaerobicos depende, entre otros factores, de temperaturas entre 35-40 degree C, lo cual representa un problema real para aplicar esta tecnologia en lugares con climas calidos y frios como Chetumal, Quintana Roo. En este trabajo se evaluo el desempeno de un biorreactor de filtro anaerobico sumergido (SAF) para la eliminacion de la materia organica de las aguas residuales municipales de Chetumal durante los periodos mas frios del ano. El SAF, previamente estabilizada por 8 meses, fue alimentado de septiembre a diciembre con aguas residuales municipales de Chetumal. Se evaluaron los niveles de la demanda bioquimica de oxigeno, amoniaco y nitrato y se estimo la carga organica volumetrica. La variacion de la temperatura ambiente afecto drasticamente la eficiencia de remocion del SAF. A menor temperatura menor eficiencia de remocion: a 36-37 degree C se elimino mas del 90 % de la materia organica, pero a 20 degree C fue removido menos del 20 %. Ademas, para las mejores condiciones de remocion se requirio una importante adicion de alcali al SAF. Los datos soportan bien el uso de biorreactores SAF en la biorremediacion de aguas residuales municipales de Chetumal. Sin embargo, debe considerarse el costo de la adicion de alcali y la temperatura de la estacion del ano en el proceso tecnico global.