Wastewater from the manufacture of rubber vulcanization accelerators: characterization, downstream monitoring and chemical treatment

The content of wastewater resulting from the manufacture of rubber antioxidants and accelerators by a factory situated in the Ebro basin (Spain) has been determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The change in the pollutants was studied in the riverbed via two modules which continuously gathered pollutants on various solid supports (activated carbon and XAD-2 resins). These modules were located in Bocal Station, lying a further 100 km downstream from the factory, and from the Zaragoza water supply. Forty-six different compounds were identified at Bocal Station, the majority resulting from the production of rubber additives. Due to the immunity of different waste substances, and to the toxic nature of some, we studied their reaction when subjected to techniques of chemical oxidation using ozone.