Abstract
Pork production involves the generation of wastewater containing a high pollutant load. Although the biological systems show satisfactory efficiency for the treatment of these effluents, they demand an elevated area for installation and high production of biological sludge. Alternatively, oxidative processes are an alternative for treating such effluents, requiring minor areas and increasing the efficiency of the treatment. We studied the Fenton process assisted with ultrasound for the treatment of swine slaughterhouse wastewater. Nails used in civil construction were used as the iron source. We evaluated the influence of pH, contact time, nail mass, and hydrogen peroxide concentration on color removal, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5). The removal of nutrients and oils and greases was also evaluated. The best results using the ultrasound-assisted Fenton process were obtained at pH 3, hydrogen peroxide concentration 90 mg L-1, and a nail unit (2.7g). In these conditions, color, turbidity, COD, and BOD5 removal of 98, 98.2, 84.6, and 98%, respectively, were achieved. The reduction in the other parameters evaluated was above 70%. Catalytic activity maintained above 90% until the sixth cycle of use. In general, the ultrasound-assisted Fenton process using the nail as a catalyst would be an alternative for the treatment of swine slaughterhouse wastewater. This alternative is responsible for the higher removal of organic load and nutrients in a shorter time when compared with biological systems.
Highlights
Agribusiness has been developing rapidly in the Brazilian market and is responsible for 20% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
It is important to emphasize that pig production growth increases the generation of waste and water consumption. This potentially contaminating activity is responsible for several environmental problems related to solid and liquid wastes generated in large volumes (Schlegel et al, 2017; Luo et al, 2018). This wastewater is highly contaminated with suspended solids, dissolved organic matter, nitrogen, viruses, and fecal coliforms
Effect of pH on color removal and turbidity pH is an essential parameter for the evaluation of color, turbidity, and organic matter removal by advanced oxidation processes (POAs), especially the Fenton process (Zhang and Zhou, 2019)
Summary
Agribusiness has been developing rapidly in the Brazilian market and is responsible for 20% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In particular, has become more prominent, making the pork meat industry competitive in the international market (Silva et al, 2018). It is important to emphasize that pig production growth increases the generation of waste and water consumption. This potentially contaminating activity is responsible for several environmental problems related to solid and liquid wastes generated in large volumes (Schlegel et al, 2017; Luo et al, 2018). This wastewater is highly contaminated with suspended solids, dissolved organic matter, nitrogen, viruses, and fecal coliforms. It must be treated appropriately to be disposed of without harming the environment (Fongaro et al, 2016; Li et al, 2018; Jaafari et al, 2019)
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