Remoción de la turbidez del agua del río Magdalena usando el mucílago del nopal Opuntia ficus-indica
Loading...
Date
2013-10-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Corporación Universitaria Lasallista
Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá
Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá
Abstract
Introduction. Aluminum sulphate is one of the most common chemical coagulants used to clarify water. It is,
nevertheless, considered as a threat for human health. This has motivated the study of natural coagulants obtained
from plants, such as the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus mucilage, as an alternative to replace or mitigate the use
of aluminum sulphate. Objective. Removing turbidity from Magdalena river waters, by the use of the Opuntia
ficus-indica cactus mucilage. Materials and methods. A 2K randomized factorial experimental design was used,
in which K are the factors evaluated: kind of coagulant, (Opuntia and alum), its agitation speed (100 and 200 rpm)
and its concentration (35 and 40 mg/L). The clarification process was performed by the use of the jar test, using
samples of water taken from the Magdalena river in Gambota, Bolívar province, Colombia. A turbidimeter was
used to determine turbidity (UNT), a pH meter to measure pH and a conductometer to establish the conductivity
values (μS/cm) and total of dissolved solids (mg/L) contained in the water analyzed. Results. The statistical
analysis (ANOVA) demonstrated that the coagulant had an incidence in the water clarification process, but the
agitation speed and the concentration did not. The highest degree of turbidity removal was achieved with the
use of alum (99,80%); and the removal with Opuntia achieved the lowest one (93,25%). Conclusion. The Opuntia
ficus-indica cactus mucilage removes turbidity from Magdalena river´s water.
Description
Keywords
Corporación Universitaria Lasallista, Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, Sulfato de aluminio, Opuntia Ficus-Indica, Mucílagos, Floculación, Coagulación, Tratamiento de aguas, Río Magdalena