Comparative Study of Two Organic Wastes as Adsorbents in the Treatment of Water Rich in Nitrogen Compounds

Abstract

Background: The objective of this work was to propose the treatment of the wastewater from Laguna da Jansen using adsorptive processes of residues of pineapple crown and shrimp chitosan. Methods: Residual substrates were distributed in 11 Erlenmeyers, and 250 mL of residual pond water were added; the solution was incubated under agitation at the times and amounts established by the Experimental Design (DCCR). After this period, analyses of pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, nitrate, and nitrite, morphological analyses by SEM, and structural analyses by FTIR and XRD were performed. Results: The FTIR and SEM results showed that the biomass presented active chemical groups and a morphology rich in pores. The experimental design showed that the substrate content was the variable that influenced the lagoon effluent treatments for both tested biomasses; however, when observing the specific values of the response variables, the vegetable adsorbent was more efficient with the conditions of 15g of substrate and 30 days of process. Conclusion: Plant biomass is more efficient in the treatment of effluents rich in organic materials. It can be used in treatment plants as an alternative for the removal of toxic compounds present in wastewater and effluents.