Estudo de processos de remoção óleo/ água utilizando argila como adsorvente.

Abstract

Concern for the environment has encouraged the development of research aimed at minimizing the harmful effects of industrial effluents, through the treatment of their effluents in order to minimize and control the levels of pollutants emitted allowing the reduction of the concentration of contaminants to tolerable levels. . Currently, one of the biggest concerns concerns the control of the release of metals into the environme nt, mainly due to its harmful effects on human health. In this sense, this work aimed to characterize and test clays through the techniques of X-ray Diffraction, X-ray Energy Dispersive Fluorescence Spectroscopy (FRX-ED), Adsorption Capacity Tests and Foster Swelling. The results of the chemical and mineralogical analysis of clay confirm the predominant presence of the smectitic clay mineral and its polycationic character. The tests carried out with the natural clay allowed us to conclude that this clay has medium adsorption capacities, but can be improved with an activation phase with Na + ions prior to the organophilization step. Foster Swelling tests confirmed the affinity of clay with the analyzed organic solvents: gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil. Thus, the clay under study has a high potential for application in the oil / water separation process.