In this work, iron ore tailing (IOT) was used for the production of two different materials: sodium silicate and geopolymers. Initially, reactions of IOT with NaOH were carried out by hydrothermal reaction in autoclave at 200 °C (1:1.5 and 1:2.5 SiO2:NaOH molar ratio) and reaction times of 4 and 8 h. X-ray fluorescence by dispersive energy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and titrations showed that IOT:NaOH ratios of 1:2.5 and reaction time 8 h completely dissolved the quartz from the IOT, obtaining a solid fraction consisting mainly of hematite and an aqueous phase of sodium silicate, which showed contents of ca. 23% SiO2 and 19% Na2O. This sodium silicate obtained was then combined with IOT (25 and 50 wt.%) to produce geopolimeric material with excellent physico-chemical properties, fast curing time and very good compressive strength results, which ranged from 41 to 58 MPa and many potential applications.

In this work, we describe a sustainable alternative to recover iron from two iron ore tailings (IOT) using hydrogen reduction at relatively low temperatures followed by magnetic separation. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), atomic absorption (AA), Mössbauer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), Raman and thermogravimetry (TG) analyses indicated that the Fe oxide present in the IOTs (sandy tailing (ST) and mud tailings (MT)), can be reduced with H2 at 500 ºC to produce α-Fe. Upon magnetic separation the mud tailing produced a 77 wt.% magnetic fraction increasing the Fe content from 19.2 to ca. 56 wt.% of Fe. On the other hand, the sandy tailing resulted in a 15 wt.% magnetic fraction increasing the Fe content from 19.2 to 70 wt.%. These results indicate that up to 86% of iron can be recovered from the IOT wastes already in the metallic form which can be very interesting for the steel industry.

Considering the bicentenary of Brazil’s Independence in 2022 and that this year was proclaimed by UNESCO as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, in mid-2021 the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) launched the “Post 2022 Chemistry Movement - Sustainability and Sovereignty”, with the main goal of promoting different activities so that chemistry contributes for the sustainable development and sovereignty of Brazil in the coming years. One of these activities is the proposal of an action plan, with goals to be achieved by 2030 and 2050. This article describes in detail how this action plan was formulated by a working group, with the help of an advisory council and interviews of 18 professionals from universities, the government, industries, the third sector and other organizations. Mimicking the Agenda 2030 SDGs, the resulting action plan is based on two broad Chemistry Sustainable Development Goals: promoting sustainability through chemistry in basic education, and promoting sustainability in the industry and university through science, technology, innovation, and education (STI&E) in chemistry. After the definition of three driving technological challenges in STI&E, they shall be successively implemented through different actions starting in 2023 yet.

Currently, approximately 1.4 billion tons per year of iron ore tailing wastes (IOT) are generated, mainly in Australia, Brazil, and China. This work describes the characterization and application of two typical IOT, i.e., fine and coarse wastes. The physicochemical characterization of these IOT by different techniques such as XRF (X-ray fluorescence), XRD (X-ray diffraction), Mössbauer spectroscopy, and granulometry, indicates for the fine tailing a composition of Fe2O3/FeOOH (10-55%), SiO2 (18-65%) and Al2O3 (up to 15%) with particles of 6-40 µm, whereas the coarse tailing presents 40-150 µm particles with the composition of 8-48% Fe2O3/FeOOH, 30-90% SiO2 and Al2O3 (up to 20%). The main IOT applications discussed in this review are related to civil construction (aggregates for concrete, mortar, Portland cement additives), ceramic industry, geopolymer, synthesis of new materials such as zeolites, mesoporous silica, carbon nanotubes, adsorbents, catalysts for different reactions, in batteries and in fuel cells. It was also carried out an analysis of patents related to IOT applications and the main technological and market barriers that hinder the industrial and commercial uses of these wastes.

In this work, bio-oil (an organic matrix rich in oxygen functionalities) was used to efficiently dissolve and disperse Fe3+ which upon thermal treatment produced a carbon containing dispersed and encapsulated Fe oxide magnetic nanoparticles. These materials were prepared by dissolution of 8, 16 and 24 wt.% Fe3+ salt in bio-oil followed by treatment at 400, 450, 500 or 600 ºC in N2 atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopies (TEM), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry (TG-MS), potentiometric titration, Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopies showed that Fe3+ species in bio-oil is reduced to produce magnetic nanoparticles phases: magnetite Fe3O4 and maghemite γ-Fe2O3. At low temperatures, the iron phases were less protected, and the carbon matrix was more reactive, while in temperatures above 500 ºC, the iron phases were more stable, however, the carbon matrix was less reactive. Reaction of these magnetic carbon materials with concentrated H2SO4 produced surface sulfonic acidic sites (ca. 1 mmol g-1), especially for the materials obtained at 400 and 450 ºC. The materials were used as catalysts on esterification reaction of oleic acid with methanol at 100 ºC and conversions of 90% were reached, however, after 2 consecutive uses, the conversion decreased to 30%, being required more studies to improve the material stability.

In this work, a potassium magnesium silicate mineral based on phase K2MgSiO4 was prepared from serpentinite rock and studied as a potential K and Mg slow-release fertilizer. The material was prepared by impregnation of serpentinite/KOH and calcination at 700 °C to produce K2MgSiO4 phase, olivine and forsterite. The release patterns of K and Mg in the stirred-flow trial and leaching through the soil columns showed that K2MgSiO4-based materials released K on lower rates than KCl and MgSO4.7H2O, however, there was no evidence of Mg release. The extraction with 1 mol L-1 NH4OAc showed a considerable content of Mg and K for K2MgSiO4-based materials, due to exchange of NH4+ and Mg2+. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of materials impregnated with K and calcined showed peaks relative to K2MgSiO4. After leaching, the peaks intensity diminished, supporting that part of K leached. Therefore, the samples showed great potential as slow-release K-fertilizers when compared with KCl source.

Serpentine is a versatile mineral family rich in Mg silicate with several polymorphic phases, mainly antigorite and lizardite, all of them with similar chemical composition (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4). Their structures are generally composed of octahedral layers rich in Mg[MgO2(OH)4]6- , attached to a tetrahedral silicate [Si2O5]2- sheet. The unique physicochemical properties of serpentinites and the existence of large reserves in Brazil create new important opportunities for research and technological applications. In this work, serpentinites structures and properties are reviewed, as well as its occurrence and literature describing its applications in construction/ceramics, agriculture, as a silica source, in steel production, as an additive/filler in polymers, in the production of composites, adsorption of cations and organics contaminants, CO2 capture and catalysis. The presence of harmful chrysotile associated with serpentinites, some of its properties and uses are also described.

In this work, efficient adsorbents for β-lactam antibiotics based on mesoporous iron oxide containing surface [FeOx(OH)y] sites were produced by controlled precipitation of iron hydroxide and thermal treatment at 150, 200, 300 and 450 ºC (150FeOH, 200FeOH, 300FeOH and 450FeOH, respectively). Mössbauer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analyses showed that the temperature caused a gradual dehydroxylation process with a significant increase of the mesoporous surface area (e.g., 114-142 m2 g-1 with 46-59% mesopores, i.e., 0.04-0.09 cm3 g-1) and approximate compositions of FeO1.06(OH)0.89 for 150FeOH up to FeO1.38(OH)0.26 for 450FeOH. The material 150FeOH showed high adsorption capacities of ca. 42 and 58 mg g-1 for amoxicillin and ceftriaxone, respectively. Experiments assessing the effect of NO3-, Cl-, competitive PO43- adsorption and H2O2 decomposition suggest that the [FeOx(OH)y] surface sites located in the mesopores are involved in the efficient adsorption by complexation of the β-lactam antibiotics.

Solid state reaction of serpentinite Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 with NaOH was investigated to produce new NaMgSi oxide phases with basic properties for application in catalysis. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) showed that NaOH impregnated on serpentinite, specially 20% sodium and treated at 700 ºC (20Na700), led to the formation of a new crystalline phase Na2Mg2Si2O7. This solid state reaction is discussed in terms of a first step involving Na+ diffusion and intercalation in the interlayer space of the serpentinite structure followed by a dihydroxylation and formation of the NaMgSi oxides. Temperature programmed reaction and desorption experiments with 20Na700 combined with XRD suggested a strong basicity with high CO2 uptake likely due to diffusion and interaction with the basic sites in the material structure. These materials were tested as catalysts for the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol. The obtained results are discussed in terms of a basic site Si-O-Na+ present in the in the Na2Mg2Si2O7 structure.

In this work, it is proposed a new strategy to improve the dispersion of inorganic fillers in polymeric matrices by producing surface carbon nanostructures. Clay/carbon nanofibers particles were prepared and used as fillers to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), elemental analyses, Raman, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with ethanol at different temperatures, i.e. 700, 800 and 900 °C with and without Fe catalyst, can be used to produce carbon (0.5-3.6 wt.%), mainly as nanofibers, on the clay surface. The use of these clay/carbon particles as fillers in UHMWPE at 1 and 3 wt.% produced an increase in the yield stress from 16 to ca. 20 MPa and Young modulus from 314 MPa for pure UHMWPE to values near 395-408 MPa. Moreover, the presence of the carbon/clay composites led to a strong improvement of the thermal properties of the UHMWPE increasing the decomposition Tonset (degradation start temperature) from 445 up to 472 °C. It was also observed by the crystallization enthalpies that the UHMWPE increased the crystallinity from 55 to 80-85% in the presence of the carbon composites. These results are discussed in terms of the strong interactions of the hydrophobic carbon nanostructures on the clay surface with the polymer hydrophobic chains.

In this work, composites based on carbon (1, 10 and 20 wt.%) interfaced with Fe3O4 (magnetite) have been studied as catalysts for the oxidation of aqueous sulfide. The composites were prepared by assembling cellulose nanocrystals surrounding Fe3O4 followed by a controlled thermal decomposition at 400, 600 and 800 ºC. Mössbauer, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman, thermogravimetry (TG), elemental analysis CHN, scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and potentiometric titration indicated that at 400 and 600 ºC the cellulose nanocrystals decompose to different carbon forms, i.e., films, filaments and particles attached to the Fe3O4 crystals. At higher temperature, i.e., 800 ºC, this carbon on the magnetite surface further reacted to produce Fe0. UV-Vis, Raman and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) measurements showed that these composites catalyze the oxidation of aqueous sulfide to convert S2-aq to polysulfides Sn2- (where n = 2-9) and also oxygen containing polysulfides HOSn-. Simple kinetic experiments showed very low sulfide oxidation activities for pure Fe3O4 and pure carbon. On the other hand, the composites, especially with 10% C obtained at 600 ºC, were remarkably active. These results are discussed in terms of a possible participation of oxygen based redox groups present on the carbon surface and an electron transfer from the carbon to the Fe3O4 phase.

In this work, a bulky Fe0/carbon matrix obtained by a low cost and simple reduction/carbonization of Fe3+ salt with sucrose was treated with CO2 to selectively oxidize the amorphous carbon to release the graphite like carbon coated magnetic Fe0 particles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman, X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, thermogravimetric analysis (TG) (in CO2) and particle size analyses showed that the treatment with CO2 of the Fe/carbon bulky composite led to the selective oxidation of the more amorphous carbon with the formation of 125-132 nm Fe@C nanoparticles with surface areas of 217 m2 g−1.

In this work, Ricinus communis L. press cake waste from biodiesel production was used to produce a versatile reactive material for environmental applications. The biodiesel cake waste was impregnated with FeIII at different concentrations (19-45 wt.%) and treated at 400, 600 and 800 °C. Mössbauer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental analysis CHN, Raman, potentiometric titration, saturation magnetization and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses showed that the materials prepared at 400 °C are composed mainly of a graphitic and amorphous carbon containing dispersed magnetite (Fe3O4). At higher temperatures, metallic iron (Fe0) and iron carbide (Fe3C) are the predominant phases well dispersed in the carbon porous structure. These reduced iron species, Fe3O4 and Fe0, are active for the reduction of different hazardous contaminants. Preliminary experiments showed very high activities for the reduction and removal of aqueous CrVI.

Nesse trabalho, a oxidação catalítica do contaminante sulfeto em meio aquoso foi estudada na presença de carvão ativado na forma de briquetes mecanicamente resistentes e versáteis produzidos a partir de resíduos da indústria do vinho, i.e., semente e cachos. Caracterizações por microscopia eletrônica de varredura combinada com espectroscopia de dispersão de raios X (SEM/EDS), área superficial Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Raman, termogravimetria (TG), difração de raio X (XRD) e titulação potenciométrica indicam materiais com alta área mesoporosa e grande quantidade de grupos superficiais oxigenados. Esses briquetes mostraram alta atividade para a oxidação de sulfetos em meio aquoso, mesmo comparados com um carvão ativado comercial de elevada área superficial. A eficiência na oxidação de sulfeto é discutida em termos de dois efeitos: a elevada concentração de grupos superficiais redox do tipo quinona/hidroquinona formados a partir da decomposição do mosto da uva e a alta macro/mesoporosidade dos materiais que facilita a difusão das diferentes espécies durante a reação.

In this work, the catalytic oxidation of the hazardous and unpleasant aqueous sulfide contaminant was investigated by activated carbon in the form of mechanically resistant and versatile briquettes produced from two different wastes of the wine industry, i.e., lex and stalk. Characterization by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), surface area Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Raman, thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and potentiometric titration showed that the materials have high mesoporous area with a large number of surface oxygen functionalities. These briquettes showed high efficiency for the oxidation of sulfides in aqueous medium, which is discussed in terms of two effects: the relatively high concentrations of quinone/hydroquinone surface redox groups formed from the grape must binder and the macro/mesoporosity, which facilitates the diffusion of the different species during the reaction.

Ferro é um elemento versátil que forma várias fases com diferentes estados de oxidação e estruturas, tais como Feº, FeO, Fe3O4, γ-Fe2O3, α-Fe2O3 e FeOOH. Todas estas fases têm propriedades físico-químicas únicas que podem ser usadas para diferentes aplicações. Neste trabalho, descreve-se o uso de diferentes compostos de ferro, sintéticos e também naturais ou de rejeitos, em aplicações ambientais e tecnológicas. Duas áreas principais de pesquisa são descritas. A primeira é relacionada às estratégias para aumentar a reatividade de fases de ferro pela formação de compósitos Feº/Fe óxido e pela introdução de novos metais na estrutura de óxidos de ferro para promover novas reações superficiais. A segunda área de pesquisa é o uso das propriedades magnéticas de algumas fases de ferro para produzir materiais magnéticos versáteis com aplicações focadas em adsorção, catálise e emulsões.

Iron is a versatile element forming several phases with different oxidation states and structures, such as Feº, FeO, Fe3O4, γ-Fe2O3, α-Fe2O3 and FeOOH. All these phases have unique physicochemical properties which can be used for different applications. In this work, it is described the use of different iron compounds, synthetic and also from natural and waste sources, in environmental and technological applications. Two main research areas are described. The first one is related to strategies to increase the reactivity of Fe phases, mainly by the formation of Feº/iron oxide composites and by the introduction of new metals in the iron oxide structure to promote new surface reactions. The second area is the use of the magnetic properties of some iron phases to produce versatile magnetic materials with focus in adsorption, catalysis and emulsions.