DETERMINATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CONTINUOUS HANGING SPONGE FILTERS SYSTEM (DHS) IN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT OF THE TOWN CENTER OF MARIAN – HUARAZ (PERU)

Abstract

Wastewater in rural areas is generally treated by septic tanks, because the system is the least complex. The application of reactors, with filters such as hardened sponges (also called DHS reactor) was developed as a secondary treatment of effluent from a septic tank. The filter media of the reactors have been made with epoxy resin polyurethane sponges. The systems were installed and developed at the sewage treatment plant in the town of Marian (Huaraz - Peru), where septic tank effluent was continuously entered into the DHS reactor. The systems were developed at a temperature that ranged from 11.25 to 15.30 ° C and a pH concentration of 7.3 to 8.11. DHS reactors showed pollutant removal efficiencies, the removal percentages of BOD5 were evaluated; and it was observed that sponges G1, G3 and G6 obtained the removal of 50%, then it was verified that the removal of organic matter was slow due to the adaptation of the microorganisms. Evaluating the COD removal percentages; it was observed that sponges G1, G3 and G6 showed removal percentage below 50%, the best efficiency obtained was in the elimination of total suspended solids (SST) where there were high removal values ​​close to 100%, demonstrating that in all sponges solids are retained. Sponge G6 showed the highest generation efficiency, unlike sponges G1 and G2, which also have high values; which demonstrates that these treatments do allow the oxidation of nitrogen compounds, generating Nitrate, a nutritive element for plant development. It is concluded that the parameters analyzed have been efficiently removed by the DHS system with hardened sponges.