OPTIMIZATION OF COAGULATION-FLOCCULATION MECHANISM TO REDUCE CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND IN DOMESTIC WASTEWATER

Abstract

The efficient treatment of Domestic Wastewater (DWW) through the coagulation and flocculation mechanism is essential to reduce the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), which not only contributes to the improvement of the environment, but also to the protection of public health and the possible reuse in agricultural irrigation. The objective of this research was to optimize the coagulation and flocculation process to reduce the COD in the DWW of a tributary of the Mantaro River in the district of El Tambo-Huancayo. The developed methodology included the collection of DWW through representative sampling, the initial and final measurement of the COD and pH, the preparation of the coagulating agent and the adjustment of the intensity of agitation using the jar test equipment; also employing a statistical data analysis with factorial arrangement. The results indicated that the optimum concentration of the coagulant agent polyaluminium chloride (Aln(OH)mCl(3n-m)) was 60.00 ppm, and the appropriate stirring intensity was 100.00 rpm (revolutions per minute), which led to significant decrease in COD. The coagulation process proved to be effective in decreasing COD in DWW, and optimization of treatment parameters can further improve its efficacy.