Abstract

ROSERO, José Augusto  and  SUAREZ HEREDIA, Martha Azucena. Efecto de la concentración de quitosano en la disminución de los sólidos suspendidos en el agua de ingreso a la planta de tratamiento de Bellavista. Figempa [online]. 2019, vol.7, n.1, pp.19-24. ISSN 2602-8484.  https://doi.org/10.29166/revfig.v1i1.1330.

One of the first stages in the purification of surface water is the coagulation and flocculation of suspended solids. The presence of solids alters the physical-chemical properties of water, which can affect color, taste and in many cases generate microbiological contamination. The most commonly used coagulant-flocculant is aluminum sulphate, however, the presence of residual aluminum in water has been associated with health disorders in consumers, since aluminum as a soluble salt becomes bioavailable in the human metabolism. Therefore, the possibility of replacing aluminum sulphate with non-toxic biopolymers such as chitosan is considered. Thus, the water coming from different slopes to the storage tanks of Bellavista treatment plant in the north of Quito city, was analyzed by jar tests. It was found that chitosan in concentrations of 8 ppm causes a 19.7% decrease in turbidity of raw water; at this same concentration, aluminum sulphate generates the opposite effect, producing an increase in turbidity of 19.3%. Due to this behavior, chitosan can become a viable alternative to clarify water for human consumption, in addition to its quality as a natural polymer.

Keywords : biopolymer; chitosan; raw water treatment.

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