Hybrid microspheres chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol kaolinite and saponite as adsorbents of potentially toxic metals

• Grant number: 18/19276-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Emerson Henrique de Faria
• Grantee: Suelen Delfino de Souza
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Adsorption processes are commonly employed for the retention of heavy metals, dyes, drugs and other mineral residues present in large concentrations in soils and aqueous medium. Adsorption systems based on clay minerals present an efficient removal for these species. However, studies involving modifications of clay minerals to obtain hybrid materials results in materials with higher adsorption capacity than clay minerals in natura, these materials presents a great technological and scientific interest. Currently, the search for new materials that show high selectivity for the retention of metals (Ni2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+) with low impacts and practical application are a great challenge for the industry due to the population growth and industrial expansion making alternatives for the decontamination and preservation of aquatic and terrestrial environments. For this purpose, this work has as main objective the obtaining hybrid microspheres that will be applied in the adsorption of metallic ions. The materials will be obtained from the encapsulation of kaolinite in natura and synthetic saponite with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol, for the adsorption study in column and batch methods of nickel ions in aqueous medium. The materials will be characterized from a structural and morphological point of view by X-ray diffraction techniques, absorption spectroscopy in the infrared region, absorption spectroscopy in the visible ultraviolet region, thermal analyzes, specific surface area analysis, cation exchange capacity and scanning electron microscopy.