Utilização de escamas do peixe corvina para adsorção de Cr(VI) em meio aquoso - cinética e termodinâmica por calorimetria isotérmica contínua

Abstract

Adsorption has become a key process for the removal of very low amounts of undesirable components from waters and wastewaters and in the sense for being environmental friendly as well. This work has as aim the study of some properties of scales of Corvina fish (Micropogonias furnieiri) as a new adsorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The Corvina scales were characterized by thermogravimetry, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energydispersive electron probe X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction and pH of point of zero charge. The characterization results have suggested that the Corvina scales present two main structural phases, one being rich in type I collagen and one rich in apatites. Sorption studies of Cr(VI) using the batch methodology have indicated that Cr(VI) sorption increased when both initial Cr(VI) concentration in solution and temperature increase. Calorimetric measurements of scales water wetting have pointed out slightly exothermic results and degrees of wetting from 30.8 to 45.3 %. The kinetic data of Cr(VI) sorption were best fitted to the Avrami exponential model. The equilibrium data of Cr(VI) sorption were best fitted to both the Langmuir-Freundlich and the Sips models. Indirect thermodynamic determinations have indicated that the sorption of Cr(VI) is endothermic (ΔH = 31,21 kJ mol-1), spontaneous (ΔG < 0), with positive entropies (ΔS = 0,14 kJ mol-1 K-1). Calorimetric measurements have suggested that the interactions of Cr (VI) with the surface sorption sites of Corvina scales are exothermic in nature. It also was found that the presence of an anionic surfactant can increase Cr(VI) sorption on Corvina scales due to a dynamic equilibrium between monomers and micelles. The initial analysis of Cr(VI) desorption from Corvina scales has shown the release of about 30% of sorbed chromium in alkaline medium. It has been noted that the scales of Corvina fish present important characteristics to be used as a new adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.