Diseño de sistema de tratamiento de aguas residuales del procesamiento de paja toquilla en Barcelona

Abstract

PROJECT PUBLICATION CONDITIONS. This paper presents the design of a wastewater treatment system for the artisanal processing of toquilla straw in the Barcelona district (Santa Elena, Ecuador). This activity, essential to the local economy, produces effluents with high pollutant loads (solids, COD, BOD5, TDS, and high temperatures) that are currently discharged without adequate treatment, generating environmental and health risks. The project proposes a low-cost, adaptable, and sustainable treatment system composed of three main stages: First, a cooling tank, which reduces the wastewater temperature (~80°C) to safe conditions to prevent damage in subsequent processes; second, clarification and sedimentation by coagulation-flocculation (PAC + anionic flocculant), whose jar test identified a dose of 40 ppm PAC and 1 ppm flocculant as optimal, achieving up to 41% turbidity removal; Third, granular filtration with anthracite and silica sand acts as a polishing stage, retaining fine flocs and residual solids, improving effluent quality. The economic analysis showed the system to be viable and affordable, with an approximate investment of $490,26 for full-scale implementation (treatment of 551.7 L/day). The designed system significantly improves effluent quality, bringing it closer to Ecuadorian regulatory parameters (TULSMA) and is technically feasible, economical, and easy to operate in rural settings. Keywords: Toquilla straw, water treatment, pretreatment and filtration