Nanocompósito de poliamida/óxido de grafeno reduzido: um eficiente nanomaterial aplicado no tratamento de água produzida (ap) e separação de óleo/água do mar

Abstract

Contamination derived from water produced from oil reservoirs and oil spills at sea are environmental problems of great relevance. Therefore, the search for effective, sustainable, easy-to-apply and low-cost methods for oil/water separation has been the subject of many studies in the last two decades. In addition, research and innovation as a goal in sustainable development, in protecting the environment and the climate and in guaranteeing life in water, are objectives defined by the United Nations so that the 2030 Agenda can be achieved in the world. Thus, synthesizing materials using nanotechnology tools has contributed to achieving these goals. One of the most promising 2D nanomaterials in studies involving environmental issues is reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and therefore, this material was used in this research in the synthesis of a nanocomposite based on polyamide fabric (PA) and evaluated its efficiency both in the treatment of produced water (AP) as well as in the removal of oil in seawater. This work was carried out in two stages, where, in the first, a fluoropolymer/RGO/PA nanocomposite was developed using an HP/HT process followed by spray coating and thermosetting/infrared polymerization and then applied to remove engine oil in seawater. In the second stage, a nanocomposite based on polyamide fabric (PA) was developed in a semi-continuous HP/HT chemical process, with in situ reduction of graphene oxide, and applied to the treatment of water produced from an oil field. At this stage, a 24 factorial design using Design Expert was used, evaluating the factors: temperature (ºC), RGO concentration (mg mL1), reaction time (min) and pH, which were optimized. In both stages, the RGO and the nanocomposites were characterized using XRD, Raman Spectroscopy, SEM-FEG, HRTEM, FTIR. The results obtained in the first one demonstrated a significant efficiency in the separation of semi-synthetic engine oil in seawater, with an oil removal rate greater than 95%. In the second stage, the results demonstrated a significant efficiency in the contact angle greater than 120°, being 55% higher when compared to the uncoated polyamide fabric, with a water permeability between 10.1-16.9 mg/cm2.h. It was concluded that the developed nanocomposites present a promising advance in oil/water separation and also in the treatment of produced water, contributing to environmental preservation.