Evaluation of Palm Oil (Elaeis guineensis) by-products as bioadsorbents for the removal of nitrites, phosphates, and sulfates in domestic wastewater:

Resumen

The growing global concern for environmental sustainability has driven the search for efficient solutions in wastewater treatment. This study evaluated the potential of palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) by products, specifically the shell and fiber, as adsorbents for removing nitrites, phosphates, and sulfates from domestic wastewater. The nutrient removal efficiency was determined using spectrophotometry. The effect of operational variables such as the type and amount of bioadsorbent material and contact time on the removal efficiency of these pollutants was evaluated. The results indicated that the fiber exhibited a high adsorption capacity, removing 95.55% of nitrites, 87.50% of sulfates, and 26.2% of phosphates. These findings suggest that palm oil by-products offer a cost-effective and sustainable solution for wastewater treatment, particularly in countries such as Colombia, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, specifically SDG 6 and SDG 12, target 6.3, which focus on improving water quality by reducing pollution and minimizing the release of hazardous substances.