Neste trabalho é apresentado um método eficiente para a degradação de corantes, usando uma fonte de pó de ferro zero ambientalmente amigável (resíduo de um processo industrial). A influência de vários fatores experimentais (tais como: pH, massa de ferro, tamanho de partícula, concentração do substrato, atmosfera inerte ou oxidante) sobre a eficiência do ferro zero em reduzir o grupo cromóforo e o teor de carbono orgânico total de um azocorante (Preto Remazol B) foi avaliada. O processo de degradação do corante apresentou uma cinética de primeira ordem com uma constante de 0,153 min -1 . Nas condições otimizadas (pH=3, [Fe] = 5 g L -1 , tamanho de partícula ≤ 250 μm), este processo promoveu uma descoloração de 95% e redução de 70% na concentração de carbono orgânico total de uma solução 100 mg L -1 do corante. Este processo também foi empregado na degradação de um efluente industrial têxtil apresentando bons resultados e demonstrando capacidade para ser uma alternativa para a remediação de sistemas aquáticos poluídos.In this paper an efficient method for azo dye degradation using an environmentally friendly zero-valent iron powder source is presented (iron particles discarded from a manufacturing process). The influence of several experimental parameters (such as pH, iron mass, particle size, substrate concentration, oxidizing and inert atmospheres) on the ability of zero-valent iron to reduce the chromophoric groups and total organic carbon content of the azo dye Remazol Black B was evaluated. Kinetic studies revealed that the azo degradation by Fe 0 appeared to be first-order with respect to substrate, with an observed rate constant (k obs ) of 0.153 min -1 . Under the optimized operational conditions (pH 3, [Fe] = 5 g L -1 , iron particle size ≤ 250 μm), the iron-based process produced net a reduction in color and total organic carbon of about 95% and 70%, respectively. The process was also evaluated for the degradation of textile effluent. The studied process showed good characteristics, which can make it an effective alternative for polluted aquatic system remediation.Keywords: reductive degradation process, dye degradation, effluent treatment, Fenton´s reagent
IntroductionOver the last decades, the increasing demand for dyes by the textile industry has shown a high pollutant potential. It is estimated that around 10 -15% of the dyes are lost in the effluent during the dyeing processes. 1,2 The discharge of highly colored synthetic dye effluents can be very damaging to the receiving water bodies, since these dyes in the water strongly absorb sunlight, which decreases the intensity of light absorbed by water plants and phytoplankton, reducing photosynthesis and the oxygenation of water reservoirs. 3 Also, public perception of water quality is greatly influenced by its color. The presence of unnatural colors is esthetically unpleasant and tends to be associated with contamination. 4 In addition, dyes used in the textile industry may be toxic to aquatic organisms and can be resistant to natural biological deg...