Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"
Agroindustrial wastewater treatment by a coupled Helio-photocatalytical-biological system
Background
The sugar cane cultivation requires the use of large amount of different formulations of pesticides which are mixed in several proportions to obtain better results. The pesticides frequently mixed are: ametryn, 2,4D, and diuron, furthermore glyphosate is applied for accelerate the maturation of sugar cane. The Colombian cultivators directly discharge the waste coming from wash tool up to natural water sources (river, lakes) without previous treatment. Therefore, its necessary develop a system of wastewater treatment that allow us to eliminate 
the most polluting agents present in order to avoid to degrade the water quality in the region.
Development of technologies that use solar light for disinfection and chemical decontamination is suitable in countries with high solar energy as Colombia. The helio-photo-catalytic technology studied in this project, uses the energy from the sunlight to generate, on a catalyst (TiO2 or Fe3+), the very reactive hydroxyl radical (°OH), which is capable of attacking both microbiological and chemical water contaminants in water. This project addresses the development and evaluation of a fully autonomous on-site system for disinfection and elimination of organic contaminants in drinking waters and wastewaters in rural areas of Colombia.
Schema of principle :
Agroindustrial wastewater treatment by a coupled Helio-photocatalytical-biological system.
Objectives
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To determine the kinetic degradation of three pesticides mixes by Fenton and photo-Fenton processes.
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To evaluate the matrix effect in the pesticide degradation efficiency.
Methodology
In order to reach the objectives proposed will be carried out the following activities:
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To determine the kinetic degradation of three pesticides mixes by Fenton and photo-Fenton processes. In this part aqueous solutions of pesticides in milliQ water will be treated by photo-Fenton, and the disappearance of the original compounds will be measured by HPLC at different time and the mineralization by total organic carbon TOC.
To evaluate the matrix effect in the pesticide degradation efficiency. Degradation of single pesticides will be carried out and its kinetic will be compared with the kinetics obtained in the first stage (section 1). Furthermore the pesticides solution will be spiked with other components of formulations in order to find the role that it plays in the pesticide degradation. Finally, the pesticides degradation in some wastewater coming from a sugar industry will be carried out.
Partners
UNIVERSIDAD DEL VALLE
Ciudad Universitaria Melendez
Calle 13 No 100-00
Edificio 320
Norberto Benítez, Ph.D.
Cali – Colombia
Tel: 57-2-3393248
Fax: 57-2-3392440
lubenite@univalle.edu.co
Gallay Raphaël
11 ch. de l’ancienne ferme
1252 Meinier
Suisse
raphael.gallay@romandie.com