A study on the monitoring of glycerol oxidation catalyzed by gold nanoparticles supported on activated carbon under mild conditions by chemometric methods is presented. The reaction was monitored by mass spectrometry-electrospray ionization (ESI-MS) and comparatively by mid infrared spectroscopy (MIR). Concentration profiles of reagent and products were determined by chemometric tools such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Evolving Factor Analysis (EFA) and Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR). The gold nanoparticle catalyst was relatively active in glycerol oxidation, favoring formation of high added value products. It was found that the reaction stabilization was reached at four hours, with approximately 70% glycerol conversion and high selectivity for glycerate.

Neste estudo a celulose obtida da palha de feijão foi utilizada para produzir um material hidrofóbico (acetato de celulose) para ser avaliado como absorvente de óleo. Nas reações de acetilação foram utilizados anidrido acético e dois catalisadores, a piridina (PY) e N-bromossuccinimida (NBS). Os materiais produzidos foram caracterizados por espectroscopia na região do infravermelho médio, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, difratometria de raios-X e análise elementar. O NBS mostrou-se mais eficiente que a PY e, seu uso resultou em materiais com maiores quantidades de grupos acetatos, mais hidrofóbicos e com maiores capacidades de absorção de óleo de soja.

In this work, cellulose from beans straw was used to produce a more hydrophobic material (cellulose acetate) for use as oil absorbent. Acetic anhydride was used in the reactions with two catalysts, pyridine (PY) and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS). The materials produced were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. NBS proved more efficient than PY, with the resulting materials containing higher number of acetate groups, being more hydrophobic and with higher capacity to absorb soybean oil.

Data of methylene blue number and iodine number of activated carbons samples were calibrated against the respective surface area, micropore volume and total pore volume using multiple regression. The models obtained from the calibrations were used in predicting these physical properties of a test group of activated carbon samples produced from several raw materials. In all cases, the predicted values were in good agreement with the expected values. The method allows extracting more information from the methylene blue and iodine adsorption studies than normally obtained with this type of material.

En este trabajo se prepararon dos carbones activados (CA), utilizando como agentes activantes ZnCl2 yK2CO3, denominados CA/ZnCl2,CA/K2CO3, respectivamente, a partir de residuos generados en el proceso de extracción del aceite esencial de candeia, árbol nativo de Brasil. Estos carbones se caracterizaron por microscopía electrónica de barrido, análisis termogravimétrico, análisis elemental, superficie específica por el método BET e índice de iodo. Estos materiales se probaron en la adsorción de dos moléculas modelos: el fenol y el azul de metileno, y se comparó su capacidad de adsorción con un carbón activado comercial (Merck), denominado CA/Com. Las isotermas de adsorción para CA/ZnCl2, CA/K2CO3 y CA/Com mostraron capacidades de adsorción máxima de 297, 228 y 271 mg g-1, para azul de metileno y de 109, 195 y 161 mg g-1, para el fenol, respectivamente. Los resultados evidenciaron que los carbones son eficientes en el proceso de adsorción de las moléculas modelo ensayadas. Las isotermas fueron ajustadas a las ecuaciones de Langmuir y de Freundlich. El modelo de Langmuir entregó un ajuste mejor, mostrando que los adsorbentes presentan superficies energéticamente más uniformes. Los carbones activados producidos se presentan como potenciales adsorbentes para compuestos orgánicos, agregando un valor adicional al residuo.

In this work, two activated carbons were prepared, using as activating agents ZnCl2 and K2CO3, denominated CA/ZnCl2,CA/ K2CO3, respectively, from waste generated in the process of extraction of essential oil of Candeia, a tree native of Brazil. These carbons were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, elemental analysis, BET surface area and iodine index. These materials were tested in the adsorption of model molecules: Phenol and Methylene Blue, and a commercial activated carbon (Merck) was used for comparison purposes. Adsorption isotherms for CA/ZnCl2,CA/K2CO3 and CA/Com showed maximum sorption capacities of 297, 228 and 271 mg g-1 for Methylene Blue and 109,195 and 161 mg g-1 for phenol respectively. The results showed that the carbons are efficient in the adsorption process of molecules tested. The isotherms were fitted to equations of Langmuir and Freundlich. The Langmuir model provided better fit, showing that the adsorbents have energetically uniform surfaces. The materials produced were characterized as potential adsorbents for organic compounds that can be used as an alternative for obtaining activated carbons adding value to the residue.

Neste trabalho, foram preparados dois carvões ativados, utilizando como agentes ativantes o ZnCl² eoK2CO3, a partir de resíduos gerados no processo de extração de óleo essencial de Candeia, árvore nativa no Brasil. Estes carvões foram caracterizados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, análise termo-gravimétrica, análise elementar, área superficial BET e índice de iodo. E testados na Adsorção das moléculas modelo: Fenol e Azul de Metileno, foi utilizado um carvão comercial (Merck) para fins de comparação. As isotermas de Adsorção para o CA/ZnCl2, CA/K2CO3 e CA/Com apresentaram capacidades máximas de adsorção de 297, 228 e 271 mg g-1 para Azul Metileno e de 109, 195 e 161 mg g-1 para fenol respectivamente. Os resultados evidenciaram que os carvões são eficientes no processo de adsorção das moléculas testadas. As isotermas foram ajustadas as equações de Langmuir e Freundlich, o modelo de Langmuir forneceu melhor ajuste, mostrando que os ad-sorventes apresentam superfícies energeticamente uniformes. Os materiais produzidos se caracterizaram como potenciais adsorventes para compostos orgânicos podendo ser utilizados como alternativa para obtenção de carvões ativados, além de agregar valor ao resíduo.

In this work, composites based on activated carbon/iron oxide (AC/Fe) were prepared in two different proportions (AC/Fe 5/1 and 1/1) and evaluated in the removal of the organic dye methylene blue (MB). Physical-chemical properties of the composites were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), adsorption/dessorption of N2 isotherm, temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that goethite (α- FeOOH), with nanometer particle size, was formed over carbon surface for both composites. These materials showed high efficiency to remove MB from solution by combined adsorption and oxidation process. The AC/Fe 1/1 showed to be more active in (MB) oxidation then AC/Fe 5/1.

In this work were prepared composites of iron oxide and carbonaceous materials in two different weight proportions (Carbon/Fe 1/1 and 1/2). The physico-chemical properties of the composites were determined by temperature programmed reduction (TPR), adsorption/dessorption of N2, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and pulse titration H2. The XRD and XPS analysis showed a cubic iron oxide phase, identified as maghemite, formed over the carbon surface. The particle size of maghemite showed to be within 10-30 nm. Carbon/Fe 1/2 was the most active in MB removal kinetics and ESI-MS studies showed that MB removal by both composites leads to oxidized intermediates.

The black, green and sour coffee defect (PVA) contributes with 20% of the total coffee production. It should be separate from the normal coffee grains in order to improve the final quality of the beverage. In this way, the present work has the objective to use the PVA reject for the production of activated carbon. The activated carbon (CA) was prepared from PVA defect using zinc chloride as activating agent. The prepared material (CA PVA) was characterized and the adsorption tests were carried out using as organic models methylene blue (AM) and reactive red (VR). The CA PVA revealed to be more efficient in the removal of the organic contaminants compared to a commercial activated carbon.