De residuo a recurso: Carbonos porosos a partir de corteza de eucalipto para la remediación de agua contaminada con fenol.
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Date
2025
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Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
La contaminación del agua por compuestos orgánicos, como el fenol y/o sus derivados, representa un grave problema ambiental y sanitario debido a su toxicidad, persistencia y baja biodegradabilidad. Frente a esta problemática, el uso de carbonos activados como materiales adsorbentes se presenta como una alternativa eficiente y sostenible. En esta memoria se estudió la viabilidad de producir carbonos porosos a partir de corteza de eucalipto, un residuo lignocelulósico abundante, para su aplicación en la remoción de fenol desde soluciones acuosas, para luego evaluar la regeneración de los carbonos saturados con fenol.
El trabajo se centró en la síntesis de biocarbonos mediante tres metodologías: hidrotermal clásico, hidrotermal asistido por microondas y activación química con ácido fosfórico seguida de pirólisis. Los materiales obtenidos fueron caracterizados mediante análisis de área superficial BET, distribución de tamaño de poros, pH superficial, microscopía SEM e isotermas de adsorción de N₂ a 77 K. Posteriormente, se evaluó su desempeño en ensayos de adsorción de fenol utilizando HPLC para la determinación de concentraciones residuales y se estudió la regeneración de los carbonos saturados mediante microondas.
Los resultados mostraron que los biocarbonos activados químicamente a 550 °C alcanzaron áreas superficiales entre 600 y 987 m²/g, comparables o superiores al carbón comercial, con predominio de microporosidad. En cuanto a la eficiencia de remoción, los carbonos activados con relación de impregnación 1:1 lograron hasta un 88 % de adsorción de fenol en 180 minutos, mostrando cinéticas rápidas y alta afinidad. Por su parte, los tratamientos hidrotermales sin activación presentaron bajos rendimientos (<4 %), lo que confirma la necesidad de la activación química y térmica. Además, la regeneración por microondas permitió recuperar parcialmente la capacidad adsorbente, evidenciando el potencial de reuso del material.
En conclusión, los biocarbonos derivados de corteza de eucalipto constituyen una alternativa eficiente, económica y sustentable para el tratamiento de aguas contaminadas con fenol, contribuyendo a la valorización de residuos forestales y al desarrollo de tecnologías de remediación ambiental más sostenibles.
Water pollution by organic compounds, such as phenol and its derivatives, represents a serious environmental and health problem due to their toxicity, persistence, and low biodegradability. In response to this issue, the use of activated carbons as adsorbent materials emerges as an efficient and sustainable alternative. This study investigated the feasibility of producing porous carbons from eucalyptus bark, an abundant lignocellulosic residue, for application in the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions, followed by the evaluation of the regeneration of phenol-saturated carbons. The work focused on the synthesis of biochars using three methodologies: conventional hydrothermal treatment, microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment, and chemical activation with phosphoric acid followed by pyrolysis. The resulting materials were characterized through BET surface area analysis, pore size distribution, surface pH, SEM microscopy, and N₂ adsorption isotherms at 77 K. Subsequently, their performance in phenol adsorption tests was evaluated using HPLC to determine residual concentrations, and the regeneration of saturated carbons was studied using microwave treatment. The results showed that chemically activated biochars at 550 °C achieved surface areas between 600 and 987 m²/g, comparable to or higher than commercial carbon, with a predominance of microporosity. Regarding removal efficiency, carbons activated with a 1:1 impregnation ratio reached up to 88% phenol adsorption within 180 minutes, showing rapid kinetics and high affinity. In contrast, hydrothermal treatments without activation yielded low efficiencies (<4%), confirming the need for chemical and thermal activation. Moreover, microwave regeneration partially restored the adsorbent capacity, highlighting the potential for material reuse. In conclusion, biochars derived from eucalyptus bark constitute an efficient, economical, and sustainable alternative for treating water contaminated with phenol, contributing to the valorization of forestry residues and the development of more sustainable environmental remediation technologies.
Water pollution by organic compounds, such as phenol and its derivatives, represents a serious environmental and health problem due to their toxicity, persistence, and low biodegradability. In response to this issue, the use of activated carbons as adsorbent materials emerges as an efficient and sustainable alternative. This study investigated the feasibility of producing porous carbons from eucalyptus bark, an abundant lignocellulosic residue, for application in the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions, followed by the evaluation of the regeneration of phenol-saturated carbons. The work focused on the synthesis of biochars using three methodologies: conventional hydrothermal treatment, microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment, and chemical activation with phosphoric acid followed by pyrolysis. The resulting materials were characterized through BET surface area analysis, pore size distribution, surface pH, SEM microscopy, and N₂ adsorption isotherms at 77 K. Subsequently, their performance in phenol adsorption tests was evaluated using HPLC to determine residual concentrations, and the regeneration of saturated carbons was studied using microwave treatment. The results showed that chemically activated biochars at 550 °C achieved surface areas between 600 and 987 m²/g, comparable to or higher than commercial carbon, with a predominance of microporosity. Regarding removal efficiency, carbons activated with a 1:1 impregnation ratio reached up to 88% phenol adsorption within 180 minutes, showing rapid kinetics and high affinity. In contrast, hydrothermal treatments without activation yielded low efficiencies (<4%), confirming the need for chemical and thermal activation. Moreover, microwave regeneration partially restored the adsorbent capacity, highlighting the potential for material reuse. In conclusion, biochars derived from eucalyptus bark constitute an efficient, economical, and sustainable alternative for treating water contaminated with phenol, contributing to the valorization of forestry residues and the development of more sustainable environmental remediation technologies.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a Civil Químico/a.
Keywords
Aguas servidas Purificación, Fenoles Biodegradación, Compuestos orgánicos