The slow sand filtration has been broadly used as method to improve the quality of water in different regions of the planet, due to its simplicity in the operation and to its numerous advantages. In the last decades it has been implemented to improve the conditions of the water after meteorological events and natural disasters, when the treatment by the traditional methods of purification has been truncated, or for individual use in the housings, where it has had great acceptance. It has been demonstrated that the slow sand filters have worked successfully in urban areas as well as in rural ones all over the world. Many of these slow sand filters subsist in precarious conditions, but allowing improvements in public health and life quality of inhabitants in these zones, even their good operation and the positive impact of this type of technology has been evidenced.
The present investigation evaluated the method of slow sand filtration like alternative to obtain effluents of oxidation lagoons not very aggressive to the environment, with local materials that diminish costs and offer an alternative before these highly contaminating effluents. This study, was carried out implementing systems of slow sand filters to laboratory scale with the purpose of treating the effluents of oxidation lagoons, measuring certain of their parameters and comparing them with the Cuban regulatory norm (NC-27: 2012NC-27: 2012: Vertimiento de aguas residuales a las aguas terrestres y al alcantarillado. Especificaciones, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 11 p., Vig de 2012.) of residual water.
According to Francesena (2016)FRANCESENA, Y.: Impacto ambiental provocado por efluentes de instalaciones de biogás de pequeña y mediana escala en las provincias de la región central de Cuba, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Trabajo de diploma (en opción al título de Ingeniero Agrícola), Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 51 p., 2016., Villareal (2017), Fabregat (2019)FABREGAT, S.J.: Tratamiento y uso de efluentes de biodigestores porcinos como abonos orgánicos, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Trabajo de diploma (en opción al título de Ingeniero Agrícola), Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 64 p., 2019. and Llama (2019)LLAMA, D.A.: Evaluación del efecto del filtro lento de arena para el tratamiento de efluentes de lagunas de oxidación en la UCLV, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV, Trabajo de Diploma (en opción al título de Ing. Hidráulico), Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 54 p., 2019., the slow sand filters are a good alternative to improve the quality of the biodigesters effluents and oxidation lagoons in production. They refer high percents of removal of DQO, DBO5, ST, fecal and thermotolerant coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosas in recent investigations at national level.
This work was carried out in the central region of Cuba (Villa Clara and Sancti Spíritus Provinces). Effluents samples were taken from the oxidation lagoons of "Carlos Baliño" and "Melanio Hernández" sugar mills for their study and valuation. Due to it is a very significant area that reflects the current situation of use and treatment of effluents of oxidation lagoons, the results obtained in this investigation could be used as basis for the development of future engineering projects that offer another type of solutions to the outlined problem. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of slow sand filters to treat effluents of the oxidation lagoon of the Agro industrial Complexes "Carlos Baliño" and "Melanio Hernández" with different dilution percents in water.
This research took into consideration the slow sands filters produced by Fabregat (2019)FABREGAT, S.J.: Tratamiento y uso de efluentes de biodigestores porcinos como abonos orgánicos, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Trabajo de diploma (en opción al título de Ingeniero Agrícola), Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 64 p., 2019.. It gave continuity to that work with the difference of using effluents of oxidation lagoons of two agro industrial complexes (CAI), called “Carlos Baliño" located in Santo Domingo, Villa Clara and "Melanio Hernández" located in Tuinicú, Sancti Spíritus. The oxidation lagoon of the last one, receives its own effluents as well as those derived from an alcohol distillery associated to the complex.
The materials used were of own acquisition and 3 plastic tanks of high-density polyethylene (PAD) of 5 L were used for that. They were filled with the respective materials: the first one was loaded with washed sand, the second one with zeolite and the third one with gravel and vegetable coal. The heights of the filtering means were 8, 8 and 16 cm, respectively. In tank 1, a quantity of 2000 cm3 of washed sand was added, in tank 2, a quantity of 2000 cm3 zeolite was added, while 3000 cm3 (2000 cm3 gravel + 1000 cm3vegetable coal) were added to tank 3.
The natural zeolite used came from San Juan de Yeras, Ranchuelo, Villa Clara. It contained more than 61% of zeolite material, with a grain between 0,5 - 2,5 mm and an average diameter of 1,1 mm. The slow filters were designed in recipients of 5 L or 0,005 m3, with an approximate area of 0.024 m2, and a volume of 0, 0047 m3.
The contact beds were separate; those of sand presented a quite regular grain, the bed of zeolite possessed an irregular grain, hence, the smallest fraction was separated to fulfill the requirements referred in the bibliography consulted. Both materials presented irregular grains; therefore, it was decided to carry out the grain separation using sieve 4.
The materials before described underwent a washing process during 30 minutes to remove the strange matters product of the obtaining in the quarries and to catalyze the transparency process or index of turbidity which should be obtained in the laboratory.
The parameters to control in the filtration operation were operation speed, volume of water, elapsed time, percentage expansion, flow of air and water for washing. The physiochemical characteristics of the influent and effluent were also controlled.
Initial samples were taken in Villa Clara and Sancti Spíritus Provinces from oxidation lagoons of "Carlos Baliño" and "Melanio Hernández" mills, which are located in Santo Domingo and Tuinicú towns, respectively. Four samples of effluents were taken in each installation. In all the cases 1500 mL/sample were collected. The effluents of "Carlos Baliño" came from sugar production, while the effluents of "Melanio Hernández" came from the sugar production and from the residual of the alcohol distillery associated to this agro industrial complex (CAI).
In this initial sample the procedure was made according to the specifications of the laboratory, following the proper custody and conservation chain.
Determination of the quantity of soil and bio-fertilizer to use in the treatments to flowerpot scale:
These calculations require considering the type of soil object of analysis. It was Reddish Brown Ferrallitic soil in this study, whose apparent density is 1, 28 g/cm3. The determination of the weight of the ha-furrow was made by means of the expression 2.6
Area of a hectare - 10 000 m2 = 1.108 cm2;
Volume of a hectare - 1.108. 20 cm2 = 2.109 cm3 (20 cm of depth)
Then, the weight of the ha-furrow was determined by rule of three. Being:
The bio-fertilizer application norm to real scale depends on the conditions of fertility of the soil and on the irrigation system (non-irrigated or irrigated land) where the cultivation is sustained. In the case of this study, to know the quantity of bio-fertilizer to apply in the different bags for treatment, an application dose to real scale of 20 t/ha was taken. Then, by means of rule of three, according to expression 2.7, it is obtained:
An experiment was performed under semi-controlled conditions to determine the effect of the effluents obtained in the oxidation lagoons of "Carlos Baliño" and "Melanio Hernández" mills as bio-fertilizer. In the case of "Carlos Baliño" mill, its effluents were evaluated at different dilution percents in distilled water. In the case of the effluents of "Melanio Hernández" mill, only one treatment was investigated without dilution, in order to reduce the quantity of investigations to execute. In such a way, the experiment was executed with 6 treatments and the control; in each treatment 3 replicas were prepared, for a total of 21 polyethylene bags filled with 1 kg of soil from “Carlos Baliño" mill. Reddish Brown Ferrallitic soil (Hernández et al., 1999HERNÁNDEZ, A.; PÉREZ, J.; BOSH, D.; RIVERO, L.; CAMACHO, E.: “Nueva versión de clasificación de los suelos de Cuba”, Instituto de Suelos. AGRINFOR, Ministerio de la Agricultura, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba, : 64, 1999.) passed through sieve of 4 mm was used and like indicator plant corn (Zea mays L.) was utilized. Later on, five seeds of corn were sowed by bag, considering its well-known germination percent (93%). Next, 10 mL of the effluents were added with the dilution degree investigated, in addition to 400 mL of distilled water to achieve that the soil humidity were 80% of its field capacity. After 15 days, plants of little vigor were eliminated. Watering was applied (50 mL of distiller water per bag) every 4 days, during the period of investigation. The bags received natural illumination. After five weeks, the germination percent was determined; as well as the morph-physiologic parameters of the indicator plant in the treatments and control, according to the degree of dilution investigated in the indicator cultivation.
The dilutions investigated were assumed according to the Cuban norm (NC-855: 2011NC-855: 2011: Utilización de las aguas residuales de la industria azucarera y de derivados en el fertirriego de la caña de azúcar, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 13 p., Vig de 2011.). It establishes that mixtures of approximately 1:6 and 1:10 (residual of alcohol, residual of raw or other water) are adapted to water and fertilize sugar cane.
The treatments applied to the soil were as follows:
TO - Control (without effluents application);
T1 - Effluents from "Carlos Baliño" mill (diluted to 10% in distilled water);
T2 - Effluents from "Carlos Baliño" mill (diluted to 25% in distilled water);
T3 - Effluents from "Carlos Baliño" mill (diluted to 50% in distilled water);
T4 - Effluents from "Carlos Baliño"mill (diluted to 75% in distilled water);
T5 - Effluents from "Carlos Baliño" mill (not diluted 100% pure);
T6 - Effluents from "Melanio Hernández" mill (not diluted 100% pure).
Effluents of the oxidation lagoon pacified during three months were taken. They were diluted in distilled water to a different percent each. Five flasks of 1 000 mL were filled with effluents and next, 100, 250, 500 and 750 ml were extracted, respectively, to each of them. After that, flasks were completed with distilled water up to reach 1000 mL final volume. The last treatment was using non dilute effluents. The flasks were sealed tightly, kept to room temperature in the lab and protected from the incidence of the sunbeams. The dilutions were 1:10 (10%); 1:25 (25%); 1:50 (50%), 1:75 (75%) and not diluted (100%) pure.
The physical and chemical analyses of soil were carried out in the Laboratory of Soil and Bio-fertilizers of the Center of Agricultural Investigations (CIAP) belonging to the Central University "Marta Abreu "of Las Villas (UCLV).
Sample Preparation: It was made according to the Cuban Norm ISO 11464. (1999)NC-855: 2011: Utilización de las aguas residuales de la industria azucarera y de derivados en el fertirriego de la caña de azúcar, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 13 p., Vig de 2011.. Later on, the following analyses were carried out:
pH (KCl): For the Potentiometric Method, with a soil: solution ratio of 1:2.5 according to Hesse, (1971). Cuban Norms ISO 10390, (1999)NC: ISO-10390: 1999: . Calidad del suelo. Determinación del pH, método potencio métrico, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., ISO Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 11 p., Vig de 1999..
Organic Matter: By means of the Colorimetric Method of Walkey and Black for oxidation with bi-chromate of potassium and concentrated sulfuric acid. Cuban Norm 51, (1999)NC: 51: 1999: Calidad del suelo - análisis químico - y determinación del porciento de materia orgánica, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., La Habana, Cuba, 9 p., Vig de 1999..
Coefficient of permeability (Log 10k): it contributes valuable information about the physical state of the soil, it is one of the most complete methods and it can be good for the diagnosis of the ecological management of the soil. It was carried out according to the method of Henin et al. (1958), mentioned by Cairo (2006)CAIRO, P.: Edafología Práctica, Ed. Pueblo y Educación, La Habana, Cuba, 150 p., 2006. where the Log10 10*K coefficient is calculated for each sample with the use of infiltration device following the formula:
Permeability = Log 10 K and
Where: K = percolation coefficient, and = height of the soil column, V = volume in mL of percolation water in one hour, H = height of the liquid column or layer of water, S = area of the traverse section of the soil column inside the capillary.
Structure factor (F.E): This indicator characterizes the quantity of clay that acts as cement in the soil formation. If all the contained clays intervene in the formation of the structure, the factor equivalent to 100%, then, it has good structural stability. If half, 50%, intervenes, the stability is bad. It is calculated through the determination of the clay without dispersing (b) and previously dispersed clay, according to the mechanical analysis (a). According to Vageler and Alten (1931), mentioned by Cairo (2006)CAIRO, P.: Edafología Práctica, Ed. Pueblo y Educación, La Habana, Cuba, 150 p., 2006., the formula is the following:
Stable aggregates (AE): By means of the Method of Henin et al (1958) mentioned by Cairo (2006)CAIRO, P.: Edafología Práctica, Ed. Pueblo y Educación, La Habana, Cuba, 150 p., 2006.. This method consists on incorporating 5 g of soil in an Erlenmeyer, adding 200 mL of distilled water and letting it resting 30 minutes. Then, the solution is undertaken to 40 blow-knocking for 20 seconds and it is filtered through a 0,2mm sieve. What remains in the sieve are the stable aggregates.
Evaluation of the morph-physiologic indicators of the indicator plants
Height of the Plants (AP) and Longitude of the Root (LR): they were measured with a metric tape, in cm.
Foliage and Root Fresh weight, separately weighed (PFF and PFR): foliage and roots recently harvested are weighed in an analytic scale, in grams.
Foliage and Root Dry weight, separately weighed (PSF and PSR): the samples were put in the stove to 65 °C during 48 hours and then, they were weighed in an analytic scale, in grams.
In all cases, the protocols and established procedures were continued, following the Cuban norms (NC: 38. 1999NC: 38: 1999: Calidad del suelo determinación de la acidez hidrolítica, de hidrógeno y aluminio cambiable, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 10 p., Vig de 1999.), (NC: 51. 1999NC: 51: 1999: Calidad del suelo - análisis químico - y determinación del porciento de materia orgánica, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., La Habana, Cuba, 9 p., Vig de 1999.), (NC: 52. 1999NC: 52: 1999: Calidad del suelo. Determinación de las formas móviles de fósforo y potasio por Oniani, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 12 p., Vig de 1999.), (NC: 65. 2000NC: 65:2000: Calidad del suelo. Determinación de la capacidad de intercambio catiónico y de los cationes del suelo Método de Schachtschabel, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 10 p., Vig de 2000.), (NC: ISO-10390. 1999NC: ISO-10390: 1999: . Calidad del suelo. Determinación del pH, método potencio métrico, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., ISO Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 11 p., Vig de 1999.), (NC: ISO-11464. 1999NC: ISO-11464: 1999: Preparación de muestras, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Comité Técnico de Normalización No 3., ISO Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, Vig de 1999.) and (NRAG: 279. 1980NRAG: 279: 1980: Suelos. Análisis químico, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Norma NRAG, La Habana, Cuba, 60 p., Vig de 1980.).
For the analysis of the execution of the Cuban norm (NC-855: 2011NC-855: 2011: Utilización de las aguas residuales de la industria azucarera y de derivados en el fertirriego de la caña de azúcar, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 13 p., Vig de 2011.), the residual collected in the oxidation lagoons investigated were extracted before and after the filtrating process in the slow sand filters and taken to the laboratory of National Enterprise of Analysis and Technical Services (ENAST), of Santa Clara, Villa Clara, where the fundamental parameters of these residual were characterized.
For the statistical study the professional application software STATISTICA, Version 7 on Windows XP was used. Analysis of Variance of simple classification was applied with the Tukey HSD test of means comparison. It allowed verifying the homogeneity of the variance for treatments with same and unequal number of repetitions for the determination of the statistical differences among the different treatments valued.
In this work, the effluents were valued like bio-fertilizers. The study about the quality of effluents after filtering through the slow sand filters is not presented because that will be topic of a next work. Two milliliters of effluent were applied over every sowed seed in each plant pot, for a total of 10 mL/bag according to the dissolutions investigated in each treatment.
The percent of germination in the treatments evaluated is shown in Figure 1
It was observed that none of the treatments overcome the control (TO) on the variable germination percent (mean value). Treatment T2, presented the best behavior compared to the control (TO), while in treatments T3 and T6, a fall of this variable was presented. In T6 treatment, this could be related with the aggressiveness of the non-dilute effluents from "Melanio Hernández" mill (composed by a mixture of effluents of the production of sugar more the residual of the alcohol still associated to this agro industrial complex). That demonstrated that its passing through the oxidation lagoon and the slow sand filters did not diminish its aggressiveness. In treatment T3, maybe the degree of dilution utilized affected this result, but it is not conclusive, for what would be necessary to continue this type of investigation. The Table 1a. and 1b., it shows particulars in this respect.
Marked differences are significant al p<0, 05000.
In the Table 1a and 1b, you could appreciate that you differ statistical in the fresh weight of the foliage (PFF) among the treatments T1 with regard to T6; T2 with regard to T6; T4 with regard to T6 and T6 with regard to T1, T2 and T4. The maximum value was reached with T1 (4, 28 g), the minimum value with T6 (1, 57 g). In the other analyzed variables statistical differences were not presented among treatments.
The other variables behaved in the following way: The height of the plant (AP) it doesn't have significant statistical differences among the 6 applied treatments, the maximum value was obtained with T2 (433, 64 mm), the minimum value was obtained with T1 (370, 00 mm), in the control the obtained value was T4 (374, 29 mm); superior to the control was T2, T3 and T5. As for the dry weight of the foliage (PSF) significant statistical differences are not observed among the treatments whose values go from 0, 16 g in the T6 to 0, 34 g in the T5. When analyzing the longitude of the root (LR) although it doesn't show statistical differences, all the applied treatments overcome to the control; they stand out the treatments, T1, T5 and T7 whose roots measure 5 cm more than those of the control. As for the fresh weight of the root (PFR), the control (T4) it is overcome by the treatments T1, T2, T3 and T5; the treatment T2 presents the best values with 4, 06 g. as for the dry weight of the root (PSR), it happens the same thing that in the previous variable (PFR); obtaining the treatment T2 the best values with 0, 36 g. Of the previous analysis, it is inferred that the treatment T6 was that of worse results, product of containing vinaza effluents of the sugar mill" Melanio Hernández", which could not be purified sufficiently in the slow filters of sands used. However, the application of the filtrate of the oxidation lagoons effluents of the sugar mill" Carlos Baliño" in production, they seem to have a positive effect in the stimulation of the growth and the weight of the roots; as well as in the development of the foliage of the valued indicative plant (Corn). These results don't coincide with those reported by several authors that have applied other organic bio-fertilizer as they are worm humus and compost those which if they have better integral answers on all the morphology-physiologic parameters of the plants. Example of they are it the works reported for Álvarez (2014)ÁLVAREZ, A.O.: Evaluación de la biomasa del Bambú (Bambusa vulgaris schrader Ex Wendland) como una alternativa para la recuperación de suelos degradados, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Tesis presentada en opción académico de Máster en Agricultura Sostenible, Mención Fitotecnia, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 93 p p., 2014.; Campos (2014)CAMPOS, R.A.: Efecto de la fertilización alternativa en el cultivo de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) sobre un suelo Pardo mullido carbonatado, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Trabajo de diploma (en opción al título de Ingeniero Agrícola), Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 66 p., 2014. and Montes de Oca (2018)MONTES DE OCA, C.A.: Efectos de abonos orgánicos a partir hojarasca de Marabú (Dichrostachys cinérea L.) sobre un suelo Pardo mullido medianamente lavado con problemas de compactación, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Trabajo de diploma (en opción al título de Ingeniero Agrícola), Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 39 p., 2018..
Sánchez (2020)SÁNCHEZ, J.: Uso de efluentes de lagunas de oxidación del CAI “Carlos Baliño” como abonos orgánicos, Universidad Central de Las Villas UCLV Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Trabajo de diploma (en opción al título de Ingeniero Agrícola), Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba, 92 p., 2020., obtained partial results motivated by the pause caused by the affectation of the Covid-19 in the evaluation period object (April-July, 2020). The Table 2, it presents the obtained results.
The Table 2 and Table 3 show the categories of evaluation of some physical and chemical properties of the soil. Of the analysis of the pH (H2O), it could appreciate that the minimum value was obtained in the treatment T4 (6, 18), while the maximum value was obtained in the treatment T6 (7, 93), that which shows that this indicator is inside the neuter and lightly alkaline categories. It confirms that in the treatment T6 is obtained the highest values (Table 2).
Of the analysis of the pH (KCL), it could appreciate that the minimum value was obtained in the treatment T1 (5, 45), while the maximum value was obtained in the treatment T6 (6, 56), that which shows that this indicator is moderately sour and neuter inside the categories. It is reaffirmed that in the treatment T6 is obtained the highest values. (Table 2).
pH ( KCl) | pH (H2O) | Category |
---|---|---|
< 3,5 | < 5,0 | Very sour |
3,5 - 4,5 | 5,0 - 5,5 | Acid |
4,6 - 5,5 | 5,6 - 6,0 | Moderately acid |
5,6 - 6,0 | 6,1 - 6,5 | Lightly sour |
6,1 - 7,0 | 6,6 - 7,5 | Neuter |
7,1 - 8,0 | 7,6 - 8,0 | Lightly alkaline |
8,1 - 8,5 | 8,1 -8,5 | Moderately alkaline |
> 8,5 | > 8,5 | Alkaline |
Source: MINAGRI, (1984 cited by Cairo & Fundora (2005)CAIRO, P.; FUNDORA, O.: Edafología, Ed. Editorial Pueblo y Educación, La Habana, Cuba, 476 p., 2005.. |
It was observed that none of the valued treatments, exceeds the control TO (93,3%) in the variable germination percent (mean value), the treatment T2 (86,6%), presented the best behavior compared to the control (TO), while in the treatments T3 (60%) and T6 (40%), a fall of this variable was presented. In the case of T6, the fall of this variable, could be related with the aggressiveness of the non-dilute effluents of "Melanio Hernández" mill (composed by a mixture of effluents of sugar production and residual of the distillery associated to this agro industrial complex). T6 showed that passing by the oxidation lagoon and the slow sand filters did not diminish its aggressiveness. In treatment T3, maybe the utilized degree of dilution affected its result, but it is not conclusive, hence, it would be necessary to continue this type of investigation.
The analysis of the investigated variables, confirms that the results of the different treatments valued show the viability of using the effluents of the oxidation lagoon of the "Carlos Baliño" mill to irrigate the sugar cane in areas of the Agro industrial complex, keeping in mind the Cuban norm NC-855: 2011 (2011)NC-855: 2011: Utilización de las aguas residuales de la industria azucarera y de derivados en el fertirriego de la caña de azúcar, Inst. Oficina Nacional de Normalización, Norma Cubana NC, La Habana, Cuba, 13 p., Vig de 2011..