Synthesis and characterization of carbon/zirconium hybrid xerogels for adsorption of hexavalent chromium

• Grant number: 11/05147-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Gilmar Patrocínio Thim
• Grantee: Leandro José Maschio
• Host Institution: Divisão de Engenharia Aeronáutica (IEA). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The number of heavy metal disposed in the environment has been increased at lot due to the fast industrial development, in special in the development countries. Chromium, in its hexavalent form, is one of the most dangerous due to the carcinogenic and mutagenic behavior. However, chromium ions have a lot industrial application because of its unique properties. Nowadays, the adsorption process is known as an efficient method to remove chromium ions from contaminated water. This process is simply and is able to get high purity water. The carbon gels have been used as adsorbent material due to its high surface area and the possibility to design its porosity during synthesis step. The objective of this work is to obtain carbon gels with adequate properties to remove chromium hexavalent ions from contaminated water by adsorption process. (AU)