EFFICIENCY OF NATURAL COAGULANTS FOR THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS IN WASTEWATER FROM OIL AND GAS DRILLING WELLS

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.3174112412047

• Palavras-chave: Coagulación, floculación, remoción, Opuntia ficus-Indica, Almidón de Yuca

• Keywords: Coagulation, flocculation, removal, Opuntia ficus-Indica, Cassava Starch.

• Abstract:

  The efficiency of natural coagulants such as Opuntia ficus indica and Cassava starch as coagulants in the treatment of water associated with oil and gas production was determined. Laboratory-scale coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation tests were carried out with times of 1 minute (rapid mixing), 20 minutes (slow mixing) and 30 minutes, respectively. The water samples associated with the extraction of oil and gas, with initial turbidity values of 14,500 NTU, the well from which the water sample was taken is called Clarinete-5, Sucre jurisdiction. Various concentrations were evaluated, where parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, pH and heavy metals (Mercury, Iron and Lead) were taken into account. The natural coagulant Opuntia ficus indica was efficient for the removal of Iron, turbidity, BOD and COD, generating results greater than 87%. While the Cassava starch coagulant was a little less efficient, generating a removal percentage greater than 65% with respect to the parameters studied.