Evaluación de la eficiencia de materiales lignocelulósicos como adsorbentes para la remoción de plomo en el río Tahuando.
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Date
2025
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PUCE - Ibarra
Abstract
La contaminación por metales pesados, como el plomo en cuerpos de agua representa un riesgo crítico para la salud pública y los ecosistemas. En el río Tahuando (Ecuador), se detectó una concentración media de plomo de 0.030 ppm, 30 veces superior al límite permisible (0.001 ppm) establecido en la Tabla 2 (Criterios de Calidad Admisibles para la Preservación de la Vida Acuática y Silvestre en Aguas Dulces, Marinas y de Estuarios) del Acuerdo Ministerial 097-A del Ministerio del Ambiente Agua y Transición Ecológica (2015). Este estudio evaluó la eficiencia de materiales lignocelulósicos de bagazo de caña y cascarilla de café como adsorbentes naturales para la remoción de plomo, utilizando carbón activado como referencia. Las muestras de agua contaminada se sometieron a un proceso de adsorción en condiciones controladas, y las concentraciones residuales de plomo se cuantificaron mediante Espectrofotometría de Absorción Atómica (AAS) con módulo de llama, utilizando una mezcla de aire-acetileno para la atomización. Los resultados mostraron que el carbón activado alcanzó la mayor eficiencia (95.08%), seguido por la cascarilla de café (75.73%) y el bagazo de caña (65.11%). Aunque el carbón activado demostró superioridad técnica, los materiales lignocelulósicos destacan como alternativas económicas y de bajo impacto ambiental, con potencial para integrarse en estrategias de biorremediación de aguas contaminadas. Este trabajo aporta evidencia científica para la gestión sostenible de recursos hídricos en zonas afectadas por metales pesados, promoviendo el uso de residuos agrícolas como soluciones viables y ecológicas.
Heavy metal contamination, such as lead, in water bodies poses a critical risk to public health and ecosystems. In the Tahuando River (Ecuador), an average lead concentration of 0.030 ppm was detected, 30 times higher than the permissible limit (0.001 ppm) established in Table 2 (Acceptable Quality Criteria for the Preservation of Aquatic and Wildlife in Freshwater, Marine, and Estuarine Waters) of Ministerial Agreement 097-A from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (2015). This study evaluated the efficiency of lignocellulosic materials, specifically sugarcane bagasse and coffee husk, as natural adsorbents for lead removal, using activated carbon as a reference. Contaminated water samples underwent an adsorption process under controlled conditions, and residual lead concentrations were quantified using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) with a flame module, using an air-acetylene mixture for atomization. The results showed that activated carbon achieved the highest efficiency (95.08%), followed by coffee husk (75.73%) and sugarcane bagasse (65.11%). Although activated carbon demonstrated superior technical performance, lignocellulosic materials stand out as cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives, with potential for integration into bioremediation strategies for contaminated water. This study provides scientific evidence for the sustainable management of water resources in areas affected by heavy metals, promoting the use of agricultural waste as viable and ecological solutions.
Heavy metal contamination, such as lead, in water bodies poses a critical risk to public health and ecosystems. In the Tahuando River (Ecuador), an average lead concentration of 0.030 ppm was detected, 30 times higher than the permissible limit (0.001 ppm) established in Table 2 (Acceptable Quality Criteria for the Preservation of Aquatic and Wildlife in Freshwater, Marine, and Estuarine Waters) of Ministerial Agreement 097-A from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (2015). This study evaluated the efficiency of lignocellulosic materials, specifically sugarcane bagasse and coffee husk, as natural adsorbents for lead removal, using activated carbon as a reference. Contaminated water samples underwent an adsorption process under controlled conditions, and residual lead concentrations were quantified using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) with a flame module, using an air-acetylene mixture for atomization. The results showed that activated carbon achieved the highest efficiency (95.08%), followed by coffee husk (75.73%) and sugarcane bagasse (65.11%). Although activated carbon demonstrated superior technical performance, lignocellulosic materials stand out as cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives, with potential for integration into bioremediation strategies for contaminated water. This study provides scientific evidence for the sustainable management of water resources in areas affected by heavy metals, promoting the use of agricultural waste as viable and ecological solutions.
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Keywords
Metales pesados, Biorremediación, Adsorbentes naturales, Recursos hídricos, Residuos agrícolas