Development and characterization of a new activated carbon from crude glycerol for the adsorption of phenolic compounds

• Grant number: 22/01037-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 10, 2022
• End date: August 09, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Luis Augusto Martins Ruotolo
• Grantee: Rogério Felito da Silva
• Supervisor: José Rodríguez-Mirasol
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/08450-1 - Treatment of industrial effluents by adsorption: kinetic and thermodynamic strategies to reduce adsorbent consumption, BP.IC

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are common organic pollutants found in effluents resulting from industrial sectors. Among the treatment processes for these pollutants, adsorption using activated carbon (AC) stands out due to its low cost and ease operation. ACs obtained from the conversion of biowaste are increasing in importance due to their sustainable aspects. Glycerol is a biowaste from the biodiesel production process produced in large volumes as a secondary product in biodiesel plants. The typical applications of glycerol are not enough to absorb its production, so the demand for new applications and processes to give a final destination of crude glycerol has increasing. It is noteworthy that the production of activated carbons from crude glycerol to prevent pollution aligns well with the concept of green economy, besides avoiding inappropriate disposal and adding value to the biodiesel production chain. Considering this scenario, the objective of this project is to synthesize and characterize a new activated carbon from crude glycerol with high capacity and affinity for adsorption of phenolic compounds. The main novelty of this work will be obtaining a new AC from crude glycerol with surface group functionalities provided by using two chemical activation agents (KOH and H3PO4). It is expected that this BEPE project can contribute to the main project by providing a new AC with specific properties that can reduce the amount needed in the adsorption process, aiming its economic feasibility. (AU)