Análise da eficiência do processo de tratamento do soro do leite com o uso de microalgas (Tetradesmus sp.)

Abstract

The inappropriate discharge of effluents is considered an environmental crime under federal, state and municipal legislation. However, it is possible to release the effluent into nature as long as it is treated and meets the parameters required by law (Conama Resolutions nº 430/2011 and nº 357/2005). Therefore, the objective of this work was to verify the efficiency of the treatment process of the effluent of dairy industries, the whey, using microalgae (Tetradesmus sp.) in an aerobic reactor system with variation in the concentration of the whey effluent (0,5, 1, 2 and 4%) and luminous intensity (50, 100 and 200 μmol photons m−2 s −1). The parameters analyzed were the measurement of pH, Total Phosphorus (TF), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and biomass production. The best light intensity for the biomass growth parameter was 200 μmol photons m−2 s −1 at all whey effluent concentrations. In the removal of total phosphorus and COD, the best concentration was 0,5% whey, at a light intensity of 200 and 100 μmol photons m−2 s −1 respectively. It was found that the open reactor system using microalgae guarantees the treatment of dairy effluent (milk whey). All analyzes performed reached the minimum removal values required by law (Conama Resolution nº 430/2011 and nº 357/2005) and also agreed with the current research on the use of consortium microalgae.