APPLICATION OF BIOCHAR FROM AGROINDUSTRIAL WASTE FOR THE REMOVAL OF SYNTHETIC ORGANIC DYE FROM CONTAMINATED WATER

• Grant number: 23/12078-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Consiglio Kasemodel
• Grantee: Bruna Soares Campelo Vallim
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of biomass residues for the production of biochar has been widely studied by researchers in different countries, as it has advantages over conventional materials due to its low cost, abundance and adherence to at least five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations (UN); in addition to enabling the integration of the production process with the circular economy concept. In this perspective, the use of biochar for the removal of methylene blue (MB) in wastewater has been the main topic of numerous studies. The great diversity of types of biomass used for the generation of biochar can be decisive in the characteristics that confer adsorption potential to the generated material. In addition, some recent studies indicate the possibility of using biochar as a material for improving soil geotechnical parameters, due to its potential for water absorption. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the adsorption capacity of the synthetic organic dye methylene blue (AM) on biochar from agroindustrial waste and for the improvement of soil geotechnical parameters. The biochars will be produced in partnership with a researcher from the same unit as the proponent, where the thermal reaction conditions for their production will be evaluated. For the execution of this project, the following steps will be carried out: physicochemical characterization of biochar (1st step - determination of pH, electrical conductivity - EC, point of zero charge - PCZ and functional groups); physical-chemical and geological-geotechnical characterization of the sandy soil of Vale do Paraíba modified with biochar (2nd Step - determination of pH, EC, plastic limit, liquid limit, plasticity index); study of the adsorption capacity of MB on biochar (Step 3 - batch test reactions) and, data analysis (Step 4 - application of kinetic models and adsorption isotherms using previously obtained data). As a result, it is expected to evaluate the possibility of using biochar produced from agro-industrial waste to remove MB in wastewater and to improve sandy soil.