Determination of Physicochemical Characteristics of Solids of Urban Drainage Systems for Potential Use: Case Study in Bogota-Colombia

Abstract

Sediments in sewer systems present an environmental issue associated with their poor disposal and the contaminants that exist within them, so knowing their physicochemical characteristics would allow finding a potential treatment and/or reuse potential. This paper aims to identify the physical and chemical characterization of sediments from the urban drainage system in a stormwater sub-basin of Puente Aranda in Bogotá city, to determine its possible use in engineering applications. Characteristics such as pH, temperature, depth of the sludge, laboratory analysis of volatile solids, particle size, and moisture were measured. In addition to determination of chemical compounds was performed with x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy; from which it was established that the sediments analysed could be used in the manufacture of Portland cement and pozzolans. The compounds found in rainwater sewer systems such as alumina and iron oxide meet the limits stipulated in the Colombian technical standard (NTC 30) ranging from 3% to 8% and 0.5% to 6%, to be constituents of Portland cement.