Preparation of microspheres of chitosan for petroleum degradation

• Grant number: 12/16604-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Valquiria de Campos
• Grantee: Jhenifer de Oliveira Cardoso
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the greatest environmental problems is water contamination from oil leakages and also ocean contamination resulting from the exploitation of offshore oil fields. Natural polymers, notable chitosan, are reportedly successful in absorbing oil and grease dispersed in water. In the process of chemical absorption of oils, chitosan encases oil or fat droplets, thereby trapping them. Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide composed of repeat units of glucosamine resulting from the deacetylation of chitin, which is found in the cell walls of fungi and in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans. The purpose of this project is to synthesize microspheres of chitosan to test the degradation of petroleum products.(AU)