SBA-15 MOLECULAR SIEVE: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND APPLICATION IN OIL/WATER SEPARATION

This work evaluates the use of molecular sieve SBA-15 as adsorbent in oil removal process. The synthesis and characterization tests used X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), physical N2 adsorption, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), adsorption capacity in organic solvents (gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil), and Foster Swelling. Following, this work performed the evaluation of SBA-15 as adsorbent in the process of removing oil from a synthetic effluent, through the finite bath system (Batch adsorption). Finite bath system tests used a factorial 22 experimental design with three experiments at the central point. At that stage, two variables were evaluated: initial oil concentration (100, 300, and 500 mg /L) and mechanical agitation (100, 200, and 300 rpm). Through the experiments, it was possible to observe the following response variables: percentage of total removal (% Rem) and removal capacity in equilibrium (qeq). For comparison level, the experiments also evaluated response variables for the tests without mechanical agitation. Characterization techniques (DRX, EDX, SEM, Physical N2 Adsorption) presented results compatible with the characteristics presented by mesoporous materials. Foster Swell tests confirmed the affinity of SBA-15 molecular sieve with the organic solvents used: gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil. The testing system determined both finite bath oil removal percentage (% Rem) 97.04%, and removal capacity at equilibrium (qeq) of 48.58 mg /g, indicating that the use of SBA-15 molecular sieve is a viable option in the oil removal process.