Regresar

BOD5, COD, and Surfactants in Discharge Water in the Vicinity of a Tannery in Salcedo, Ecuador

Abstract:

Water is one of the most important resources in the world, but its contamination has remained a serious environmental problem due to advances in industrialization, agriculture, urbanization and overpopulation. The present work is focused on recognizing environmental parameters in the sewage of a tannery industry located in Salcedo, Ecuador and hopefully avoid the effects that could be caused by it in the future. A total of 20 water samples were collected and transported according to Ecuadorian standards and regulations. Three different sampling points were chosen (located approximately 100 m apart) as well as three different days and two different times as factors for the experimental design. Water samples were transported to an independent laboratory for analysis. Parameters COD, BOD5, dissolved oxygen, and surfactants were analyzed by volumetry techniques and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Parameters pH, flow and temperature were measured in situ. Analysis of variance was run on the resulting data (95% confidence). It was concluded that all parameters exceed official Ecuadorian thresholds, except for temperature and flow. This information is expected to be used as an alert for local regulators.