Tecnologías utilizadas en la industria química para el tratamiento de aguas residuales

Abstract

Water pollution from various wastewater discharges is currently a worldwide concern. Wastewater from the petrochemical industry is one of the main contributors to environmental pollution. The aim of this research is to study and review the different technologies for the treatment of wastewater produced by the petroleum refining chemical industry. The methodology used is descriptive research; likewise, it has a documentary and non-experimental design. Among the main results obtained is that wastewater from the chemical industry, specifically from oil refining processes, is very diverse and contains large amounts of toxic and persistent compounds that are difficult to degrade by conventional processes, and if released into bodies of water without treatment, can cause irreparable environmental damage; therefore, it is necessary to use more efficient technologies. That is why, based on this information from official sources on the study of technologies for its removal, different process alternatives were selected to treat water and comply with environmental regulations, since techniques such as single and combined advanced oxidation processes such as photocatalysis, electro-oxidation, supercritical water oxidation, among others, have been developed, and bioremediation techniques also stand out. Thus, it is possible to mention that there is no one technique that is superior to another, but, on the contrary, it will depend on the concentration of the pollutants present in the water and the context of the site where the technology is to be implemented.