Mineralogical and technological characterization of zeolites for use in wastewater treatment of aluminum recycling industry

• Grant number: 11/13168-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Mirian Chieko Shinzato
• Grantee: Mirian Chieko Shinzato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Tereza da Silva Martins

Abstract

In recent years Brazil has emerged as the largest recycler of aluminum in the world. Despite the importance of this activity, the techniques employed in this sector have generated significant amount of dross that are reused by small companies to recover aluminum by leaching process with water. This process, in turn, generates liquid and gaseous effluents which are rich in ammonium/ammonia, and many other components. Because many companies do not treat their effluents when they are discarded directly into water bodies, they are contributing with the eutrophication of the environment. The aim of this project is to study the characteristics and technological properties of natural and synthesized zeolites for testing them in the treatment of effluents generated in the aluminum recycling process. The zeolites minerals were widely used in various processes of adsorption and catalysis. The affinity of zeolite for ammonium ions justifies its use in treating effluents of the aluminum recycling industry. Natural zeolites will be used as well as those synthesized from the sugar cane bagasse ashes through the hydrothermal process. Thus, some parameters such as time, temperature, pH, concentration and presence of different ions will be analyzed to indicate the best conditions for removal of ammonia from the effluent studied. After this treatment, the zeolites saturated with ammonium will be tested as slow-release fertilizers, closing the cycle of treatment and reuse of industrial wastes. (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)

BRAZ, INARA GUGLIELMETTI; SHINZATO, MIRIAN CHIEKO; MONTANHEIRO, TARCISIO JOSE; DE ALMEIDA, THELMA MIRANDA; DE SOUZA CARVALHO, FLAVIO MACHADO. Effect of the Addition of Aluminum Recycling Waste on the Pozzolanic Activity of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash and Zeolite. WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION, v. 10, n. 11, p. 3493-3513, NOV 2019. (11/13168-1)

SHINZATO, MIRIAN CHIEKO; WU, LUIS FERNANDO; MARIANO, THAIS OLIVEIRA; FREITAS, JULIANA GARDENALLI; MARTINS, TEREZA SILVA. Mineral sorbents for ammonium recycling from industry to agriculture. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 27, n. 12, FEB 2020. (19/03595-1, 11/13168-1)