Abstract

LOZANO-RIVAS, William Antonio. Use of fique's extract (Furcraea sp.) as an adjuvant of coagulation in the leachate treatment. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.3, pp.219-227. ISSN 0188-4999.

The results of tests using the extract from the leaves of fique (Furcraea sp.) as an adjuvant of coagulation to the physicochemical treatment of partially purified leachate from the Doña Juana landfill in Bogota D.C. are presented. This process involves the removal of solids that give turbidity and color to the leachates, using coagulant's salts. The treatability tests were conducted in jar test equipment using, as control variables, the parameters of color, turbidity, COD, pH and total dissolved solids. Although the evaluated leachate contains low concentrations of solids, improvements were achieved, on average 15 % removal of turbidity and COD of 9 %, using combinations of 3000 mg/L of ferric chloride hexahydrate as coagulant, and 40 mg/L of fique leaf extract as adjuvant of coagulation at pH 8.57, compared with the use of coagulant alone.

Keywords : coagulation-flocculation; fique; leachate treatment; municipal solid waste.