The application of the root zone method for the treatment and reuse of high-strength abattoir waste in Mexico

Abstract

A two-stage system for treating high-strength wastewater from an abattoir at Pachuca, Mexico is described. The system consists of an anaerobic digester followed by an artificially-constructed wetland which employs horizontal subsurface flow through the root zone of emergent hydrophytes planted in a gravel substrate. The main goals of this study were to monitor the treatment efficiency of the system for the first twelve months of operation and to assess the suitability of the effluent for irrigation purposes. The treatment efficiency during the twelve month period was generally good with mean removal efficiencies of 88.5% for BOD5, 87.4% COD, 89% suspended solids, 73.6% organic nitrogen and >99% faecal coliforms. Removal rates were generally poor for orthophosphates, NH3-nitrogen and NO3-nitrogen. The differing roles of the two stages in the treatment process are discussed. Although not suitable for irrigating crops, the effluent is being successfully used for the irrigation of ornamental plants and recreational lands.

Élimination des polluants organiques des effluents de l’industrie oléicole par combinaison d’un filtre à sable et un lit planté

“…RIVERA et al (1997) ont montré qu'il n'y a aucune tendance dans le changement de la conductivité électrique. TANNER et al (1995) ont constaté qu'il y a une réduction de la conductivité avec l'augmentation du temps de séjour des eaux usées dans un lit à gravier planté de Schoenoplectus validus.…”

Characterization of provincially inspected slaughterhouse wastewater in Ontario, Canada

“…A system for treating high strength slaughterhouse wastewater (Rivera et al 1997) consisted of an anaerobic digester followed by wetland using flow through the root zone of hydrophytes planted in a gravel substrate. The overall removal efficiencies were 88.5% for biological oxygen demand (BOD), 87.4% chemical oxygen demand (COD), 89% suspended solids (SS), 73.6% organic nitrogen and 99% faecal coliforms.…”

Nutrient management in effluents derived from agricultural industries: an Australian perspective

“…The selected treatment techniques and their efficacy (%) listed in the Table. 2. [26] Nutrient removal is an important treatment process in slaughter house wastewater treatment and is the final or tertiary stage treatment. Nutrients such as N and P are introduced to the receiving area if industries fail to adopt nutrients removal before discharge into sites.…”

“…It is most essential that industries need to adopt various best practices/low cost technologies to reduce their water use and cost. Irrigation of wastewater is a potential low-cost approach of wastewater management and can act as a good source of nutrients for infertile soils [25,26]. Australia, with several meat based industries need to manage the animal wastes and effluents using low cost technologies [4,12].…”

“…The amount of organic load, N and P, and organic carbon concentration can be reduced by prior collection of manure before wash down, which will reduce effluent loading with high concentration of pollutants [25]. Abattoir wastewater is a richest source of N and P; hence it can be treated as an alternative source of nutrients provider for low fertile soils [26]. Using high biomass-producing plants (e.g.…”