Removal of geosminin and 2-methylisoborneol from water by activated carbons from biomass residues and functionalized carbon composites

• Grant number: 22/06823-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Acordo de Cooperação: SABESP
• Principal Investigator: Geórgia Christina Labuto Araújo
• Grantee: Ricardo Santos Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Host Company: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF)
• Associated research grant: 20/12263-0 - Combined use of physical-photoeletrochemical processes to remove substances which are responsible for taste and odor in drinking water, AP.PITE

Abstract

The tastes and odors of drinking water have become a source of global concern and stem from the proliferation of microorganisms associated with the high availability of organic matter in water bodies. The presence of taste and odor in drinking water can result in decreased consumer confidence, decreased water consumption and encourage consumers to seek alternative sources of drinking water, such as bottled water and home treatment systems. The main substances that cause odor and taste in water are geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), which, even present in very low concentrations, can be perceived by consumers. Different physical and chemical processes, including chlorination, ozonization, use of ultraviolet light and reverse osmosis, have been evaluated for the removal of GSM and 2-MIB without absolute success, whether due to complexity, inefficiency or cost. Activated carbons are low-cost adsorbents that are regularly used as filters to remove substances that cause color, taste, odor and organic and inorganic contaminants from water for human consumption. Such coals can be prepared from renewable sources and raw material residues, and be functionalized to increase their adsorbent capacity with chemical substances and, more recently, with nanoparticles. This project aims to produce activated carbons from residual biomass from agro-industrial processes and their functionalization of iron and/or silver nanoparticles that will be evaluated as adsorbents for the removal of 2-MIB and GSM from the aqueous medium using batch and flow systems continuous in a fixed bed column. The proposed activities will comply with the work plan for a master's scholarship under the PITE project - SABESP/FAPESP/Unifesp N° 2020/12263-0, entitled "Combined use of physico-photoelectrochemical processes to remove substances that impart taste and odor in water drinking water" of which the advisor is the main researcher. (AU)