Monitoramento da estação de tratamento de esgoto do Hospital Geral Waldemar de Alcântara- Fortaleza (CE) como instrumento de gestão de efluentes.

Abstract

Health care establishments (HCE) are units that promote the well-being of the population treatment and prevention of diseases. However, they generate wastewater of high complexity that in most cases are not treated properly. This thesis presents results of research conducted at the General Waldemar de Alcântara Hospital in Fortaleza-CE and aimed to study the treatment of liquid waste generated in the hospital. The waste was processed through a wastewater treatment with combined UASB reactors and activated sludge. The work lasted three years (2006-2008). Knowing the quality of sewage, operational complexity, effluent quality and receiving body (drainage) and management of the waste generation, led to audits in the EAS, physical chemical characterization of the waste test, determination of specific methanogenic activity and toxicity of peracetic acid and gas chromatographic analyses. The results show that the liquid waste is similar to dometic sewage in terms of solids and organic material concentrations but has particularities due to the typical activities of an HCL. It was establised that the combined system is capable of treating hospital sewage, but the TDH shall not be less than 6 hours at maximum flow. The specific methanogenic activity of the UASB sludge showed the production of methane was as expected in the anaerobic reactor, showing no inhibition of the processes. In biodegradability and toxicity tests breakdown of methanogenisis was observed,with peracetic acid there was a low production in the presence pf sodium oxacillin. Analysis of gas chromatography performed in the influent, effluent of the UASB and final effluent revealed the presence of several compounds derived from the chemical-pharmaceutical industry. From the study it was concluded that the performance of the system was affected by several factors, such as poor management of hospital waste, low TDH, complexity of the waste water, operational difficulties and lack of a unit to polish the effluent for removal of chemical- pharmaceutical compounds mainly phtalide. In general, the treatment system was efficient in removing COD, BOD5 and TSS with 91%, 91% and 86% respectively.