Estudo da eficiência de Processos Oxidativos Avançados (POAs) para a degradação de contaminantes emergentes

Abstract

To explore methods to contribute to the access of potable water for the population, this work employed Advanced Oxidative Processes (AOPs) for the recovery of aquatic effluents contaminated by contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). The chosen methods were photocatalysis, photolysis, and electrolysis, and the contaminants studied were the Brilliant Blue dye and the drugs Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Photocatalysis was conducted using an aquarium purifier equipped with an 18 W UV lamp as a photoreactor, and sodium niobate compound as a photocatalyst. Regarding the degradation of the dye, the photocatalytic process showed an efficiency of over 90%, while for the degradation of the drug Paracetamol, the efficiency was approximately 54%. When photolysis was employed at pH=9 for the degradation of Paracetamol, the efficiency was around 75%. In terms of electrolysis, when working with a Paracetamol solution with a concentration of 10 mg.L-1 and NaCl 0.05 mol.L -1 as an electrolyte, it was observed that after 5 minutes of the experiment, the process efficiency was around 90%. However, when the Paracetamol concentration increased to 20 mg.L-1 , the same degradation efficiency occurred after 15 minutes of testing. Regarding Ibuprofen, due to its low solubility in water, the results obtained were inconclusive.