Estudo comparativo do desempenho de hidrociclones, convencional, e modificado, na remoção de microplásticos em meio aquoso.

Abstract

Recent research points to possible risks regarding the ingestion of microplastics and nanoplastics by humans and animals, confirmed by their presence in their blood sample, for example, as shown by research conducted at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and published in 2022 in the journal Environment International, by analyzing blood samples from 22 donors. These materials are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry (present in cosmetics), and can originate from fabrics, tires, among others. In face of this problem, efforts have been demanded aiming the identification of MP and NP in the environment (terrestrial, aquatic and air), their treatment and removal, latter including research still. The present work aims to study two configurations of hydrocyclones in a benchtop system, in the separation of microplastics in aqueous medium. The removal of polyethylene (PE) microplastics in a minimum concentration of 0.83g/L is evaluated in the present research by means of hydrocyclones made of low cost and low maintenance material. The results evaluated for two configurations of the equipment and six feeding conditions each, pointed out a removal between 70% to 93% of the polyethylene microplastic (PE) present in the affluent fed to the system, being higher removal rates for PM achieved for a configuration named in the present work as conventional hydrocyclone. The second proposed configuration of the equipment, called modified hydrocyclone (HM), counted on geometric changes in the internal section of the overflow outlet, the vortex finder, and the HM presented good suspension processing capabilities with lower feed pressures. Through the comparative study for the hydrocyclone systems, a processing capacity of 48L/min allowed higher removal of MP in both systems, higher separation efficiency of polyethylene in the HC, and the modified hydrocyclone as a concentrator hydrocyclone configuration (versus the conventional one, by analyzing the fluid ratio produced in the equipment). A statistical analysis by pareto chart showed the magnitude of each factor studied, hydrocyclone configurations and operating flows, with the modification of the vortex being the independent variable of greatest significance and influence on the process for the study developed.