Utilização de diferentes materiais como adsorventes na remoção de nitrogênio amoniacal

Abstract

The discharge of effluents without proper treatment, in water bodies has been one of the main environmental problems in aquatic systems. Macronutrients launched, such as nitrogen can cause the effect known as eutrophication leading to deterioration of the receiving body, smell, dissolved oxygen reduction, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to the viability of alternative processes to minimize the impact on the environment. Among them we can highlight the adsorption. In this work was up to evaluate the potential of ammonia nitrogen removal of Typha domingensis (Taboa) and activated carbon adsorption process by using synthetic wastewater produced from ammonia chloride solution (NH4Cl). Were used as adsorbents activated carbon, shoot and rhizome the Typha sp. The adsorption experiments were carried out in Wagner shaker with NH4 concentrations of 80, 160, 250 and 350 mg/L; solid sorbent concentration of 4 and 8 g/l and the residence time of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min., stirred at a speed of 15 rpm at a temperature 20±2 °C. The initial and resulting concentration was determined by spectrophotometry UV-VIS technique the method Nessler described in Vogel 1991. Was determined specific area and apparent density of the materials. The adsorption isotherms were generated in the models of Langmuir and Freundlich. The values found for specific surface area activated carbon, leaf, root and bagasse were 1357, 8270, 6708 and 10613 m²/g respectively. The resulting values of bulk density for activated carbon, leaf, root and bagasse were 0.885; 0.15; 0.27 and 0.24 g/cm³ respectively. There was little variation in the final concentration of ammonia in relation to the contact time for both materials. Leaf, root and bagasse showed no removal of ammonia at low concentrations (80 and 160 mg/L), so increasing the final concentration of the solution being added to the mass of 8 g/l. Positive results were found in concentrations of 250 and 350 mg/L, with a mean removal the 6 % for the materials. The activated carbon had removed 14 % at a concentration of 80 mg/L weight 4 g/l. The ammonia removal is greater with increasing the amount of activated carbon (8 g/L), since the plant largest removals was the mass 4 g/l of adsorbent. The removal efficiency is small for the temperature used in the experiments (20°C) and improves over the course of increasing contact time. The Freundlich model was the best fit for the activated carbon in the masses of 4 and 8 g/L, resulting correlation coefficient R² = 0.8702 and R² = 0.8936, respectively. However, the activated carbon can be used as an adsorbent for the removal of ammonia in domestic wastewater. The plant did not show satisfactory results ammonia removal at lower concentrations and is not suitable for use in sewage treatment.