Efectividad de los lechos filtrantes en la reducción de sulfatos y carbonato de calcio en el agua de consumo humano.

Abstract

The inhabitants of the town of Salache, Cotopaxi-Ecuador consume water from underground sources. In order to know the quality of the water, laboratory tests were carried out, determining that the water contains 450 mg L-1 of sulfates, as well as 520 and 583 mg CaCO hardness, respectively. The Ecuadorian standard indicates that sulfates must be at 200 mg L3 L, and that alkalinity as well as hardness must not exceed 500 mg CaCO3 L. Through experimental testof downward filtration, the individual effectiveness of the filter materials sand, zeolite and strong acid cationic resin, in removing the concentrations of sulfates and calcium carbonate, was verifiedThe sand filtration results allowed the removal of alkalinity concentrations to 340 mg of CaCO-1 hardness to 225 mg of CaCO3 L-1 and sulfates to 315 mg L. The zeolite bed reduced alkalinity to 280 mg of CaCO3 L-1, hardness to 257 mg of CaCO3 L-1 and sulfates to 320 mg L. The strong acid cationic resin was more effective in reducing alkalinity to 198 mg of CaCO3 L-1 of alkalinity and, hardness to 180 mg of CaCOL-1 and sulfates to 120 mg L-1.