Synthesis, characterization and application of sorbents obtained from waste materials



Synthesis, characterization and application of sorbents obtained from waste materials

Research is developing towards the application of economically suitable, cheap, locally available waste materials as precusor for the synthesis of porous materials with a developed specific surface, geopolymers and active carbons, which can be used for a effective sorption of heavy metals and dyes present in waste water.

Materials known as a geopolymers, produced by alkaline activation of aluminosilicate raw materials, structurally similar to zeolites, have proven to be potentially good sorbents of heavy metals from waste water. Preliminary research in this filds shows the validity of their sorption potential. The main advantages of geopolymers over the synthetic zeolites are milder synthesis conditions and simpler preparation, low price, flexibility and durability. Active carbon, due to the developed porosity and chemical reactivity of the surface, effectively removes numerous organic and inorganic substances from water, unpleasant smell and taste, reduces turbidity and hardness of water.

The main objectives of the research are:

·         Optimization of synthesis conditions and characterization of geopolymers using precursors based on various industrial wastes: red mud from the Aluminum Plant and fly ash from the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant via alkaline activation, as well as nanoporous carbon materials via thermochemical conversion of waste biomass generated in the wine, beer and olive processing industry in Montenegro.

·         Optimization of the basic parameters of the sorption process (pH value, contact time of sorbent and aqueous solution, size of sorbent particles, amount of sorbent in order to achieve maximum sorption capacity

·         Examination of the interaction of the sorbent - aqueous solution system based on the modeling of sorption processes with the aim to obatain the confirmation of the type of chemical bond, that is, the nature of the attraction between the two phases. For this purpose, various theoretical equilibrium models, as well as kinetic models of the sorption process, are applied.

Research is conducting in the Laboratory for Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry and the Laboratory for Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis, where equipment is available for material synthesis, structural characterization and methods of spectroscopic analysis.

The methods of research available yt the faculty of metallurgy and Technology

X-ray powder difraction

UV-VIS spectroscopy

The research group has developed scientific cooperation with the Institute of Nuclear Sciences "Vinča", and  University of Napoli Parthenope-Italija.

Contact:

prof. dr Ivana Bošković

e: ivabo@ucg.ac.me

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