Proposal for the decontamination of the Salado Estuary of Guayaquil (Ecuador) on the basis of applied studies with Natural Zeolites

Abstract:

According to the World Bank, more than 300 million people in Latin American cities live without utilities and potable water, and less than 5% of the generated wastewater are properly treated. These wastewaters are usually discharged into surface waters and therefore posing a risk to human health and the environment. This study proposed an inexpensive option and approachable for the treatment of wastewater in Guayaquil. 70, 000 m3/day are disposed to Salado Estuary, generating ecological and environmental pollution. The Salado Estuary is an estuarine deltaic system formed by the mouth of the Guayas River and the invasion to the mainland of saline waters from the Pacific Ocean. We suggest the use of natural zeolites found in the Cordillera Chongón–Colonche for the treatment of wastewater. Zeolites were characterized using XRD (X Ray Diffraction), XRF (X Ray Fluorescence) and CEC (Cation Exchange Capability) analytical techniques. pH, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity and Temperature parameters were measured on site. On the other hand, Chlorides, Alkalinity, Ammonia, COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), Nitrites, Nitrates, Lead, Total Suspended Solids and Total Coliforms were measured in the laboratory. The samples were passed through zeolite columns, and the effluents were measured to determine the final removal of the components pollutants. The results indicated that the removal of Ammonia showed a marked noticeable variation of 88% for particle size between 0.3 mm and 1, 0 mm and 68.54% between 1, 0 mm and 1, 4 mm. Furthermore, the efficiency decreased with increasing salinity. The zeolite sample …

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