Tratamento de efluente contendo microplásticos por eletrocoagulação em reatores eletroquímicos
Data
2021-08-03
Autores
Lima, Pâmela Cristina Ferreira de 
Orientadores
Silva, Alessandra Pereira da
Tipo
Trabalho de conclusão de curso
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Resumo
Com o aumento de consumo e produção de plástico nas últimas décadas, o descarte inadequado desses materiais passou a ser alvo de preocupação do ponto de vista ambiental. Em particular, a detecção de microplásticos em diversos sistemas e produtos, incluso alimentícios, tem chamado atenção e causado apreensão sobre o efeito a longo prazo da acumulação desse poluente no meio ambiente e em seres vivos. Uma das técnicas promissoras para o tratamento de efluentes contendo microplásticos é a eletrocoagulação, um método eficaz e consolidado para remoção de diversos poluentes, como corantes, metais pesados e isótopos radioativos, além de poder ser usada para água de processo e em estações de tratamento de afluentes (ETAs) e estações de tratamento de efluentes (ETEs). No entanto, ainda há poucos estudos práticos que avaliam a eficiência da eletrocoagulação na remoção de microplásticos e os experimentos sobre eletrocoagulação. Esses, em geral, são realizados em reatores operando em batelada, sem agitação e sem recirculação, com eletrodos planos – fatores que, combinados, são inviáveis para uso industrial da eletrcoagulação. Dessa maneira, inicialmente foi realizado um teste inicial em um reator eletroquímico de ânodo particulado para verificar o efeito da corrente elétrica sobre a eficiência de remoção e o consumo energético. Entretanto, já no começo do teste o módulo experimental proposto mostrou-se inadequado para o uso pretendido, uma vez que alguns de seus componentes (tela, diafragma e o próprio ânodo particulado) retiveram os microplásticos e foram obstruídos por eles. Assim, foi realizada uma pesquisa teórica de configurações alternativas de reatores de eletrocoagulação que são promissoras para o tratamento de efluentes contendo microplásticos e viáveis para operação em larga escala. Foram analisados os prós e contras dos reatores de eletrocoagulação dos tipos filtro prensa, airlift, ACEC e com eletrodos perfurados, dos quais o filtro prensa e airlift se mostraram os mais recomendados para se realizar um estudo específico sobre remoção de microplásticos.
With the increase in consumption and production of plastic in the last decades, the inappropriate disposal of these materials has become target of concern, from an environmental point of view. In particular, the detection of microplastics in various systems and products, including food, has been drawing attention and causing concern about the long-term effect of the accumulation of this pollutant in living beings and in the environment. One of the promising techniques for the treatment of effluents containing microplastics is electrocoagulation, an effective and consolidated method for the removal of various pollutants, such as dyes, heavy metals and radioactive isotopes, in addition to being used for process water and in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, there are still few practical studies that evaluate the efficiency of electrocoagulation in removing microplastics and the experiments electrocoagulation’s experiments, generally, are carried out in batch reactors, without agitation and without recirculation, with flat electrodes – an unfeasible arrangement for industrial use. Thus, initially, an initial test was carried out in a particulate anode electrochemical reactor to verify the effect of electric current on removal efficiency and energy consumption. However, at the beginning of the test, the proposed experimental module proved to be inadequate for the intended use, since some of its components (grille, diaphragm and the particulate anode itself) retained the microplastics and were obstructed by them. So, a theoretical research about alternative configurations of electrocoagulation reactors that are promising for the treatment of effluents containing microplastics and viable for large-scale operation was carried out. The pros and cons of electrocoagulation reactors filter press, airlift, ACEC and perforated electrode types were analyzed, of which the filter press and airlift are the most recommended to carry out a specific study focused on the removal of microplastics.
With the increase in consumption and production of plastic in the last decades, the inappropriate disposal of these materials has become target of concern, from an environmental point of view. In particular, the detection of microplastics in various systems and products, including food, has been drawing attention and causing concern about the long-term effect of the accumulation of this pollutant in living beings and in the environment. One of the promising techniques for the treatment of effluents containing microplastics is electrocoagulation, an effective and consolidated method for the removal of various pollutants, such as dyes, heavy metals and radioactive isotopes, in addition to being used for process water and in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, there are still few practical studies that evaluate the efficiency of electrocoagulation in removing microplastics and the experiments electrocoagulation’s experiments, generally, are carried out in batch reactors, without agitation and without recirculation, with flat electrodes – an unfeasible arrangement for industrial use. Thus, initially, an initial test was carried out in a particulate anode electrochemical reactor to verify the effect of electric current on removal efficiency and energy consumption. However, at the beginning of the test, the proposed experimental module proved to be inadequate for the intended use, since some of its components (grille, diaphragm and the particulate anode itself) retained the microplastics and were obstructed by them. So, a theoretical research about alternative configurations of electrocoagulation reactors that are promising for the treatment of effluents containing microplastics and viable for large-scale operation was carried out. The pros and cons of electrocoagulation reactors filter press, airlift, ACEC and perforated electrode types were analyzed, of which the filter press and airlift are the most recommended to carry out a specific study focused on the removal of microplastics.