Micropollutants of emerging interest (mixture) removal by adsorption on powdered and superfine activated carbon from aqueous matrix

• Grant number: 18/03294-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo de Lima Isaac
• Grantee: Ricardo de Lima Isaac
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Adilson Sartoratto ; Alexandre Nunes Ponezi

Abstract

This research project proposes the investigation of powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption process for the removal of a mixture of representative compounds of emerging micropollutants from drinking water in the field of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering. Samples fortified by the addition of known amounts of target compounds 17-beta-estradiol (E2), 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and atrazine (ATZ) in deionized water will be prepared in order to simulate environmentally relevant concentrations, both the more usual ones reported in the literature for superficial water sources, as well as higher eventual ones. Batch tests will be performed on laboratory scale under controlled conditions of pH and temperature in order to obtain the isotherms and to evaluate the adsorption kinetics of both the isolated compounds and the mixture thereof. The adsorbent influence (type, grain size, specific surface area, dosage) and adsorbate (type, initial concentration, mixture) will be investigated. Considering that effect on human health can occur cumulatively from the prolonged daily consumption of very small amounts of certain compounds and, in addition, the potential synergistic effect of the ingestion of compound mixture, brings the need for evaluation not only of the efficiency of the process, but also of the residuals concentrations, although very low. The lowest concentrations, on the order of nanogram per liter, will be analyzed using the high performance liquid chromatography technique and the highest, on the order of microgram per liter, by the gas chromatography technique - where the detection limits are higher, but the technique itself is less expensive. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FONSECA, C. G. M.; SARTORATTO, A.; PONEZI, A. N.; MORITA, D. M.; ISAAC, R. DE L.. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) adsorption on superfine activated carbon. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-WATER SUPPLY, v. 22, n. 4, p. 12-pg., 2022-02-18. (18/03294-9)