Remoção de Cobre e Alumínio em Águas Residuais de Piscinas Utilizando Zeólita como Adsorvente

Abstract

In the city of Natal / RN, there is a growing concern about maintaining the quality of groundwater, since surface waters, which have not been sufficient for decades to supply the entire city, remain susceptible to pollution from anthropic activities. One of the worrying sources of contamination of the underground springs is wastewater from the retrowash and depletion of swimming pools due to the presence of high concentrations of copper and aluminum found in them. These contaminants are accumulated in the water for years by the use of chemicals used in algicidal treatments, such as copper sulfate and aluminum. In this sense, this work aimed to develop a filter in the laboratory using a commercial zeolite to reduce or eliminate copper and aluminum in order to provide conditions for the disposal of swimming pool waters. Preliminary tests in fixed bed columns showed a 100% copper and aluminum removal rate in the initial 10 minutes, showing the potential of commercial zeolite as an adsorbent.