New sustainable adsorbents for environmental remediation of emerging contaminants in water and effluents

• Grant number: 23/18399-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ailton Jose Moreira
• Grantee: Raissa Gomes Braga
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/06219-3 - Developing and disseminating new technologies for environmental remediation of emerging contaminants, AP.GR

Abstract

In this project, different adsorbent materials will be obtained and applied in environmental remediation studies and analysis of emerging contaminants in surface water and effluents. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) and porous carbon (PC) will be obtained by different synthetic and/or reaction routes and used as a fixed bed in packed columns for extraction studies aimed at analytical applications (MIP) or adsorption aimed at water and effluent treatment (PC). These materials stand out for their sustainable production route and application in the removal of emerging contaminants from complex matrices such as surface water and sewage. In addition to the carbon sources mentioned above, waste such as activated sludge obtained from wastewater treatment plants could be verified in terms of its applicability as a sustainable carbon source. The use of MIP has also been highlighted as a highly efficient technology for preparing samples by means of solid phase extraction for the qualitative quantification of emerging contaminants in environmental matrices. In this way, we hope to achieve the production and application of different materials with high surface area, high adsorptive capacity and outstanding selectivity to extract and/or remove emerging contaminants from environmental matrices.