Abstract

ROMERO-ORTIZ, Lauraceli; RAMIREZ-VIVES, Florina; ALVAREZ-SILVA, Carlos  and  MIRANDA-ARCE, María Guadalupe. Use of hydrophytes and an anaerobic system for wastewater treatment from slaughterhouses. Polibotánica [online]. 2011, n.31, pp.157-167. ISSN 1405-2768.

In Mexico one of the most serious problems affecting the environment is wastewater discharges, especially those from municipal slaughterhouses, because they contain high concentrations of organic matter, proteins, fats and nutrients, among other contaminants. Owing to the high concentrations of pollutants contained in this wastewater, it must be treated with anaerobic reactors, which are responsible for the degradation of organic matter, mainly solids and fats. However, nutrients are not completely removed, necessitating a tertiary treatment to remove N and P from this effluent. Because hydrophytes are capable of absorbing these nutrients, we tested the efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes, Lemna gibba and Myriophyllum aquaticum at removing nitrates, orthophosphates and ammonium from water previously treated with anaerobic systems in series. The results showed that the best hydrophyte to remove nutrients from the treated water, particularly the orthophosphates and nitrates, was M. aquaticum, whereas L. gibba was best for nitrates. All the three species were efficient in absorbing ammonium.

Keywords : hydrophytes; slaughterhouse water; nutrients.