Fibra de calotropis procera: uma alternativa eficaz na remoção de hidrocarbonetos de petróleo em meio salino como bioadsorvente

Abstract

Environmental accidents involving petroleum oil spills and its derivatives in water environment bodies and soil is common and troubling, compromising the quality to the environment. To rectify these oil spills is the use of sorption method by employing natural fibers and biomass is one form of an economic and efficient way. The objective of this work was to investigate the adsorbent capacity of Calotropis Procera fiber for the removal of petroleum oil in a saline water environment, using its microstructural characteristics. These characteristics of the fibers were evaluated using SEM, XRD, XRF, FTIR, fiber density, contact angle and TGA / DSC. The petroleum oil was classified according to its API degree, viscosity and density. Adsorption experiments, under a dynamic system for the times of 30 and 60 seconds and at 100RPM, were carried out. The effluents generated were characterized by the oil and grease content. The results from the fiber characterization analysis, evidenced their properties of hydrophobic, oleophilic, low crystallinity and low density, furthermore, confirming their buoyancy characteristic, and the presence of organic compounds, characterize the fibre being a natural and biodegradable source. The thermal stability of the fiber was maintained until an approximate temperature of 230°C, occurring significant loss of mass of 50% at a temperature of 330°C. The oil has its API 33º degree, viscosity of 0.0139 Pas (T = 40°C) and density 0.68 g / cm3 (T = 15,55ºC). The best adsorption test was in the time of 60 seconds, getting an average value of TOG less than 20 mg / L, attending the requirements of Resolution No. 430/2011-CONAMA The Calotropis Procera fiber proved to have an acceptable sorption capacity of hydrocarbon, showing its viability in the treatment of the oil industry effluents in saline conditions, contributing toward the preservation of environment.