Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in the Remediation of Pollutants in Domestic Wastewater from the Chilca River

Abstract

Magnetite (Fe₂O₄) nanoparticles represent a revolutionary solution to the alarming water pollution crisis, offering an innovative and highly effective approach to remediate pollutants in domestic wastewater. This study evaluates their practical application in the Chilca River in Huancayo, Peru, a water body severely affected by untreated discharges that pose a serious risk to public health and sustainable development. Focusing on key parameters such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), turbidity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and oils and fats, the results showed significant reductions: COD from 442.5 mg/L to 135.2 mg/L, turbidity from 98.5 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) to 50.2 NTU, TSS from 120 mg/L to 62 mg/L and oils and fats from 45.2 mg/L to 11.3 mg/L, while maintaining stable pH levels. Regression analysis confirmed that the concentration of magnetite nanoparticles plays a key role in process efficiency. These findings not only validate the efficacy of this technology in high pollution contexts, but also highlight its scalable and sustainable potential to address similar problems in polluted water bodies worldwide, contributing to improved water quality and public health.