Abstract

Wastewater from car washers and lubricators contain high levels of hydrocarbons. These are discharged into the public sewer system without proper treatment and not complying with the regulations. In this study was evaluated the process of bioremediation of total hydrocarbons in Puyango’s wastewater, using bioaugmentation treatment, which means, applying hydrocarbons-degrading microorganisms. First, a characterization of the wastewater was carried out, and the content of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and the flow rate was determined for seven days. A mixture of bacteria: Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp. y Mycobacterium sp was applied in solid form (80 g tablet) with a minimum concentration of 4 x 108 CFU / ml soluble in water, using 2 tablets during 30 days of treatment. The concentration of the TPH was determined weekly, plotting the temporal variation and quantifying the % of removal. The results indicate that the technique of bioaugmentation was effective (p = 0.003) in the removal of the TPH, obtaining percentages above 86 %. The time of greatest removal of TPH was obtained in the third week of treatment with 92 %. In addition, COD removals were obtained –40 %, Oils and fats - 50%, Surfactants –43 % thus fulfilling the current regulations for discharge to the public sewer system for the TPH.