Utilização de argilas organofílicas nacionais em sistemas de separações emulsão óleo/água.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to conduct an investigation into the performance of the organoclay as adsorbent in the process of separating oil emulsion / water. For this purpose the organoclay was synthesized by the method of ion exchange, from natural green clay-mud, for using such a quaternary ammonium chloride alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (Dodigen). Clays untreated and treated (organophilizated) were characterized using the techniques: X-Ray Spectrometry Energy Dispersive (EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM ) and Test of adsorption capacity. In addition to these characterizations of the organoclay was assessed on the Test of swelling of Foster. Assays were performed in a finite bath system in accordance with the conditions provided by 2 2 full factorial design with three center point experiments using Minitab 15.0 software, to evaluate the influence of selected factors: mechanical agitation ranging from 100 to 200 rpm and without agitation, and oil concentration in solution ranging from 100 to 500 ppm, for the response variables: total percentage of oil removal (Rem%) and oil removal capacity at equilibrium (EQF). The results of IR and XRD show that the salt was incorporated into the clay structure thus confirming organophilization. It was observed that the intercalation process did not cause substantial variations in the morphology of clay particles. Also it was found that the presence of quaternary ammonium salt (chloride alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride - Dodigen) in the interlamellar spaces was evidenced by differential thermal analysis. The results indicate that the clays organophilic showed adsorption capacity in organic solvents tested. The best results obtained from finite bath were: 94.54% (percentage of total removal of oil) and 37.57 mg / g (oil removal capacity at equilibrium), indicating that the use of organoclay has great potential in the process of separation of oil / water emulsions.