Estudo da utilização da cinza da casca de arroz como adsorvente para remoção de BTEX de águas contaminadas com combustível

Abstract

The process of processing rice grains generates as main residue the rice husk, which in most cases is not correctly destined, becoming an environmental problem. Another relevant environmental problem is the water contamination with hydrocarbons derived from petroleum and it derivatives, with emphasis on benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylenes, BTEX, compounds with high toxicity. Previous studies indicate that the ash of rice husk is a compound rich in silica and could be used as an adsorbent. In this sense, this study had as aims the calcination of a sample of rice husk to obtain its ashes and the study of the applicability of the ashes for the removal of BTEX from water with gasoline. The work methodology was based on the contamination of water with a sample of commercial gasoline and adsorption tests with the ash of the calcined rice husk in laboratory, to observe the removal of BTEX from the sample. The results indicate that the ash of rice husk can be used as adsorbent for removal of these compounds, with a maximum efficiency of 54.87% for benzene, 72.17% for ethylbenzene, 65.10% for toluene and 74.04% for xylenes.