Utilização de bentonita como adsorvente na remoção do antibiótico amoxicilina em efluentes

Abstract

Several techniques are currently being used for the treatment of water contaminated with pharmaceuticals. Among these techniques the adsorption presents great advantages when compared to others, since it can be used for both ballet and continuous processes in the removal of persistent chemical compounds, it can be applied in lower concentrations, it is easy to operate and the adsorbent material can be regenerated making the investment less, when compared to other techniques. Considering that amoxicillin is one of the most prescribed antibiotics in Brazil and in the world, the main objective of this work was to evaluate bentonite as an adsorbent in the adsorption of amoxicillin from contaminated waters by the study of bentonite PMT-3 in natura, subjected to chemical and thermal treatment. Isotherm models and adsorption kinetics were applied. In general, the thermally treated bentonite presented the worst results in the tests performed, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 24.42% and a removal capacity at equilibrium time of 0.49. The bentonite in natura and chemically treated presented close results, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 70.26% and 80.20% respectively, and removal capacity at equilibrium time of 0.74 and 0.78 respectively. In conclusion, PMT-3, under the conditions studied, does not need to undergo any kind of treatment or purification to achieve good results. Thus, better results are obtained by using the easier process and adding to this the fact that argilomineral presents a low cost and great abundance as advantages.