Laboratory-Scale Decontamination of Post-Harvest Wastewater from Flower Farms Using Advanced Oxidation Technology

This project addresses the issue of water pollution caused by floriculture activities in the Cayambe area, where effluents exhibit high concentrations of pesticides and recalcitrant organic compounds, resulting in very high COD values (up to 260,000 mg/L), particularly from 'eternal flower' production which uses non-biodegradable solvents. This contamination negatively impacts water body quality and poses a public health risk. The proposed solution focuses on applying Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) to enhance the biodegradability of the wastewater, increasing the BOD5/COD ratio to a level where the effluent can be efficiently treated by a conventional biological system. The methodology includes a thorough analysis of water quality and pesticide identification via HPLC. Subsequently, various oxidation technologies will be tested, including homogeneous (Fenton and modified Fenton) and heterogeneous (Ozonation and processes combined with UV and elevated pH), to determine the most effective decontamination process.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>The main objective is to decontaminate wastewater generated by floriculture production, specifically by increasing the BOD5/COD ratio through advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). This is done to prepare the effluent for effective subsequent treatment using a conventional biological system.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Solid waste and optimization of renewable energies