Diseño conceptual de un filtro depurador de aguas residuales tratadas y cuerpos de agua superficiales

Abstract

This research addresses the conceptual design of a multilayer filtration system based on natural adsorbents, aimed at improving access to safe water through a sustainable and low-cost technological alternative. The study aimed to validate an efficiency higher than 70% in the removal of organic contaminant load. To this end, a factorial experimental design was applied to analyze the interaction between the water matrix and the adsorbent materials, demonstrating the absence of a universal configuration. The results showed that Configuration F1 (50% pumice, 15% activated carbon, and 35% zeolite) was the most efficient for treated wastewater, achieving removals of 86% for COD and 88% for BOD₅. For surface water bodies, Configuration F2 (30% pumice, 50% activated carbon, and 20% zeolite) exhibited the best performance, with an average BOD₅ removal of 69.01%, a value close to the proposed target. System sizing, based on the Linear Driving Force (LDF) model, defined a column with a diameter of 50 cm and a height of 2.09 m, estimating an operational service life of 4.6 months for wastewater effluents and 6.8 months for surface water bodies. Finally, the economic analysis confirmed the feasibility of the system, with production costs ranging from 0.50 to 0.88 USD/m³, consolidating it as a technically and economically competitive alternative for sustainable water sanitation. Keywords: Multilayer filtration; natural adsorbents; water treatment; BOD₅ and COD removal; Water sanitation.