Diseño de una planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales procedentes del proceso de cultivo de rosas

Abstract

The design of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for a floriculture industry takes into consideration various aspects such as the size of the farm, flow rate, composition of the wastewater, and the requirements of current environmental regulations. As a first requirement, a characterization of the wastewater must be performed to determine its chemical and biological composition, pollutant load, pH, temperature, suspended solids, and organic matter. The water from the floriculture industry may contain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are harmful to water bodies due to eutrophication and the growth of algae caused by the application of fertilizers. Once the water is characterized, the most suitable treatment method is determined. In this study, physicochemical treatment was considered for the removal of suspended solids, nutrients, and organic compounds. The technique employed was flocculation-coagulation and sedimentation. Three types of reagents were used: polyaluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate, and iron chloride. Subsequently, biological treatment was employed, utilizing microorganisms to decompose and stabilize the organic contaminants in the wastewater. Aerobic reactors, such as activated sludge reactors, were used for this purpose. With these treatments, the parameters specified in the current environmental regulations were evaluated, and the maximum allowable limit for discharges into a freshwater body was achieved.