Remoción de metales pesados en aguas del río calera a través de humedales de flujo subsuperficial

Abstract

Water is a vital resource of great importance for living beings. However, industries generate a high amount of waste that pollutes it, especially mining, which has a negative impact on the environment and its water resources. Water pollution has increased over the years, so technological innovations are made every day that are used to reduce these pollutants. Heavy metals are one of the world's main pollutants found in water, because of their high levels of toxicity. A number of water treatment technologies have been developed worldwide, among which are constructed wetlands, characterized by the efficient removal of pollutants through a range of physical processes, chemical and biological, occurring within the wetland. The main objective of this research work is to evaluate subsurface flow wetlands at laboratory scale for the removal of heavy metals in the waters of the Calera River in the Zaruma-Portovelo Mining District. The water used to conduct the respective treatments comes from different mining discharge tailings points to the Calera River. The mineral processing plants are located on the banks of the river belonging to the Zaruma-Portovelo Mining District, Province of El Oro.