The utilization of peat as heavy metal adsorbent. The example of the contamination of Ribeira do Iguape River catchment by lead and associated minerals

Author(s)

José Guilherme Franchi

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Geociências (IG/BT)
• Defense date: 2004-11-19

Examining board members

Joel Barbujiani Sigolo; Bernardino Ribeiro de Figueiredo; José Francisco Marciano Motta; Sonia Maria Barros de Oliveira; Ari Roisenberg

• Advisor: Joel Barbujiani Sigolo

Abstract

This work has as main objectives the characterization of the Eugênio de Melo peat mine, located in the Paraíba do Sul River Valley, State of São Paulo, as well as a representative sample of its ore. This sample was tested as an absorbent material in two conditions – both in natura and treated with hydrochloric acid – in order to assess its use in liquid effluent treatment process. It were adopted as case studies lab generated leaches obtained from mining residues of lead and associated metals sulfides present at the upper course of the Ribeira do Iguape River region, accumulated as huge deposits close to important drainages, near the Adrianópolis (PR) region. The possibility of the heavy metals’ environmental release from those deposits was assessed through grain size distribution, mineralogical and chemical approaches. These studies were led in a vertical profile surveyed in a specified deposit. The leaches’ heavy metal contents surpass the limits set by both state and federal environmental permits, so they are not allowed for discharge to the environment without prior treatment. The mining residues studied here – mining wastes and metallurgical slags – were characterized as Type I (perilous material) according to Brazilian Guidelines for Residues Classification set by Brazilian Association for Technical Standards. The peat’s adsorptive capacity was assessed for 5 of the heavy metals present in the leaches by means of batch equilibrium essays conducted in single component systems. The data of these experiments fitted to Langmuir’s kinetic model. The chemical affinity of the peat was stronger for lead, copper and cadmium, and weaker for zinc and manganese. Calcium and magnesium derived from metadolomites that hosts sulfide mineralization are in great amount in the leaches. They were identified as interferential constituents to the adsorptive process, which are also affected by the pH and temperature of the assays. The leaches were undergone to 5 cycles of contact with peat in order to assess if the adsorptive process fit them to the legal discharge environmental standards. In this simulation of batch effluent treatment by means of competitive adsorption, the peat revealed itself as a good adsorbent for both lead and copper. The weak adsorptive performance for cadmium, zinc and manganese ranked peat only as a qualified supplies to remediation process entailing liquid effluents, preferably after primary treatment process. (AU)