BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF-CONTAINING HYDROXIDE SLUDGE RESULTING FROM POTABLE WATER TREATMENT BACTERIA

Abstract

The invention discloses a biotechnological process for the treatment of hydroxide sludge containing As produced in potable water production processes which use FeCl3 as a coagulant, through the action of sulfate reducing bacteria, comprising the following stages: a.—preparation of a sulfate reducing microorganisms (SRB) culture for the process, said culture coming from the same sludge to be treated; b.—combining in an anaerobic bioreactor and for an approximate period of 5 days, the sludge to be treated, the inoculum obtained in stage (a) and nutrients such as ethanol, sulfate and yeast, at a controlled temperature and with enough mixing to allow sludge homogenization in a way that no untreated zones remain; c.—decanting the treated sludge for a period of approximately 3 days, recovering the clarified liquid and subjecting the sediment to a dewatering process through filtration or centrifugation; d.—filtrating the solid residue coming from the decanter; e.—characterizing the final residue. The developed biotechnological treatment process seeks to modify the physicochemical properties of the produced sludge in such a way to facilitate the use of mechanical dehydration methods that allow decreasing the sludge volume and facilitating its final disposal.