Evaluación de grasas y aceites en aguas residuales de lavadora de vehículos Team Wash mediante filtrado a base de hoja de maíz

Abstract

This study analyzed wastewater samples from the "Team Wash" vehicle washing company. Physicochemical parameters were measured, including Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), fats, and oils. Samples of untreated water (T0) were compared with samples treated with corn leaf-based filtration, rapid filtration (T1) with a retention time of 1 minute, and slow filtration (T2) with a retention time of 60 minutes. The latter removes up to 80% of fats and oils. However, after rapid and slow filtration, the COD concentration increased between 9802 mg/L and >15000 mg/L, with 500 mg/L being the maximum permissible concentration for discharge into public sewers in Ecuador. These samples were collected with the company's consent and evaluated in 5 trials. For each trial day, 3 liters were collected. The analyses were conducted at the Environmental Engineering Laboratory of the Center for Research and Technological Transfer (CITT by its Spanish acronym) at the Catholic University of Cuenca. The results showed a significant reduction in the concentration of fats and oils with the application of the treatments.